UW recruiting: And the sign said non-blue chippahs need not apply!

[sagissoor]

Interesting to see Lawrence as the first star in something as superficial as a "star of the game" deal where they usually look at points. Lawrence had none from what I saw. It would be interesting to me to hear exactly what he did that made him the top star of the game.

[Eric Hybert]

The 17's lost to the Soo last night, 4-3. Jack Skille and Phil Kessel had goals for the good guys. Kessel was named the #1 star of the game. A great start for the Wisconsin boys!

http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/ntdp/under_17/090702soo/

Wisconsin Hockey: Skille and Kessel and Lawrence...OH MY!!!!

[sagissoor]

Lutz is a defenseman that scored for Soo, and he is a Stevens Point native!

I think we all kind of thought Skille and Kessel would be two of the top five scorers on this years USNTDP, maybe even top three. At least I did. Still, you never know when going to the next level. We all know of guys that we thought were just awesome at one level, and they couldn't take the next step at all. It is nice that, early, all three are showing they are going to be ok in that regard.

[joeyv]

Skille or Kessel will likely lead the NTDP U-17s in scoring. Lawrence's stock has continued to rise, and if his solid play continues with the NTDP, he's a kid Wisconsin will be watching very closely, I'm sure.

"I'd take an impact scorer v. a solid D"

Depending on the needs of the club. D just cannot come in and make the same impact immediately. However, I think Suter's going to be an exception to that rule, and UW's D corps is going to really be a very solid unit this season.

kid,

Auffrey's going to be an outstanding player. How did Nate Hagemo play?

Wisconsin Hockey: Shades.

[LordViperScorpion]

Originally posted by joeyv
"I'd take an impact scorer v. a solid D"

Depending on the needs of the club. D just cannot come in and make the same impact immediately. However, I think Suter's going to be an exception to that rule, and UW's D corps is going to really be a very solid unit this season.


Take David Tanabe for an example of another exception to that rule.

Was he a true freshman?

[joeyv]

Yes, David Tanabe was a true frosh. David Tanabe was one of the finest skating D I've ever seen. I was very sorry to see him go so early, and I think in retrospect, he probably should have stayed an extra year or two.

Wisconsin Hockey: Tah-nah-bee.

[LordViperScorpion]

Did he play USHL as opposed to High School for his senior year?

[joeyv]

Tanabe played for the NTDP. He and Matt Doman were the first UW recruits from that program.

Wisconsin Hockey: NTDP.

[con1977]

Originally posted by joeyv
Depending on the needs of the club. D just cannot come in and make the same impact immediately. However, I think Suter's going to be an exception to that rule, and UW's D corps is going to really be a very solid unit this season.

I think you are right that Suter is going to have the level of impact that a front man would. In addition to that, HH failed to consider to two ways to win a game. Yes, if you have a guy putting ridiculous numbers up, you are going to get wins, but also, if a guy adds to an already solid D that PREVENTS scoring, then you will also win games.

Wisconsin Hockey: Heavy scoring not needed for wins.

[JoeGopher]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
Good to see hockey is finally back!!!

Any Gopher fans care to share their opinion on Jeff Frazee? He had a good night last night with 40 saves. Everything I've read about him suggests that he could be one of the best goaltending prospects to come out of MN in quite some time. Is he considered a MN lock like so many other in-staters, anyone know? I'm sure the Badgers would have some interest in seeing him replace Bruckler in '05. Hopefully the Wisconsin contingent can push him in the "right direction". Them and Nate Hagemo, who I believe was a teammate of his on the Holy Angels team that won the state title a couple years ago.

Wisconsin Hockey: Is it STILL raining???

Frazee is a good tender. I've seen him play about a half-dozen times in the last two years. He has good positioning and can make some spectacular saves when necessary. My only thought would be surrounding the help he received. Holy Angels had a pretty good defensive corps in front of the goalie and rarely let a lot of high-quality stuff get to the net. Of the two goalies at HA, Frazee was clearly the better of the two.

As for Minnesota's interest, I'm sure The Don and crew have looked him over. I saw Don at a game against SSM last year and Guentzel watching against Mt. Saint Charles. Hard to tell who they were looking at in particular, but Frazee got time in both games. I can't imagine they wouldn't try to take a shot at him if they thought he could deliver the goods.

An intersting note, the HA head coach is Greg Trebil, the father of Gopher star Dan Trebil, and also-ran Ryan Trebil. I'm not sure how this plays into things, but there hasn't been any HA players on the Gopher roster (of course, there are only a handul currently playing D1 right now).

[Bobby Baun]

Jeff is the real deal. He stopped SSM"s Crosby on a couple breakaways last year in a great game. I would assume Minnesota is interested, but don't rule out the influence of his teammates at the NTDP. Word is that several are considering getting together and form a "dream team" at Michigan.

[LordViperScorpion]

Would that really be any better than the usual Michigan recruiting class?

Didn't they basically do that at BU with the Whitney/Maiser class?

I think that Minnesota can match that with what the Minnesota born guys they can pull out of the USHL year after year along with a few supplimental guys.

[joeyv]

A "dream team"? LOL. :rolleyes:

No program in the country has recruited more NTDP players the last two seasons than Wisconsin. The current group of Suter, Dowell, Likens, and Earl, with Auffrey and Hagemo committed for '04, and Skille for '05 makes for 7 NTDP committments the last two seasons for UW. I certainly don't think these guys huddled up and said "let's all go to Wisconsin to make a DREAM TEAM...". I would think with 7 already committed, along with UW being in the mix for Lawrence, Kessel, and others, that UW might have the "lobby" already in place... ;)

Wisconsin Hockey: Dream Teams?

[Bobby Baun]

Your right, UW has had great success with the program, and I'm sure will continue to. I would be willing to bet you a cup of coffee that Kessel does not go to UW. Someone else mentioned that the typical Michigan class is usually a dream team anyway, certainly, but if some (3-4) of the NTDP kids, particulary the top ones, should decide to play together, it would be an interesting team. Don't fool yourself, these kids all know each other and they talk, so going to one school, whichever one, is not unusual. Good players like to play with good players. It just seems that the recruiting game has gotten tougher with the early committments by some kids. It should be fun to watch.

[Eric Hybert]

Comments I received from someone who attended the Buc Bowl, on Pavelski and Klubertanz:

"Joe Pavelski-I always find when you look at a player, the really good ones have a look about them that when you look at them for a couple seconds they just look like a player. Pavelski, along with Mike Howe (Gopher recruit) of River City have that look. Watching Pavelski in warmups I was thinking to myself, wow, he's unreal. I'm sure this is probably going through the preseason motions but he didn't do a thing in the game I saw him. Looks like a helluva player and I'd love to see him again this year to see if he does more."

"I really like Kyle Klubertanz. He has good size, skates well, looks like he has a good offensive upside and doesn't seem to force the issue and get caught too much up ice. It's hard to say how his defensive skills are because of how bad the Green Bay goalies are."

Wisconsin Hockey: Building our own Dream Team!

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by Bobby Baun
Jeff is the real deal. He stopped SSM"s Crosby on a couple breakaways last year in a great game. I would assume Minnesota is interested, but don't rule out the influence of his teammates at the NTDP. Word is that several are considering getting together and form a "dream team" at Michigan.

Wasn't Sidney Crosby part of this dream team, too? I thought I remember reading that he and Jack Johnson were best pals and wanted to play at Michigan together!:-))

JoeGopher-

Thanks for the scoop on Frazee. A good year with the 17's and he should be able to name his school.

Wisconsin Hockey: Meatchicken..it's what's for dinner!

[joeyv]

Hybs,

Dream Team? OK, but I think if the point is that players talk, well...there's more UW kids talking than there are any other school...

Pavelski did have an assist in the pre season opener. I'm sure he didn't see a whole helluva lot of ice time. Waterloo has a nice club, and with Pavelski hitting all cylinders will be really tough.

GB's goaltending is just AWFUL this coming season. Klubertanz is probably the top returning D in the league, and I'm looking for him to have an outstanding season for GB.

BB,

Who's saying the "usual Michigan class is a dream team anyway"? They are usually pretty good, but come on guys, let's not get delusions of grandeur here.

Wisconsin Hockey: How Many Days to the Opener? :confused:

[Eric Hybert]

Joe-

I'm sure most USHL coaches view the Buc Bowl as a chance to see their new kids and see how they perform in game conditions since they're meaningless games. I'm not too concerned that Pavelski didn't rip it up. Considering his ENTIRE line is back from a year ago, he should have a pretty decent season!

http://www.wcfcourier.com/extras/special_sections/sports.fall.preview/WlooBlackHawks.html

I don't really care what Michigan fans say. Until the Badgers prove they can win and recruit on a yearly basis with the big boys, they have a right to talk. Plus, I have my own doubts on Kessel ever being a Badger, myself. Of course, him living in Ann Arbor for two years has got to help our chances some, doesn't it?

Wisconsin Hockey: Ann Arbore!

[Bobby Baun]

The Crosby boy was destined for junior from the start, nevertheless, he himself said several times that if he would choose the college route (which his mother favored) he would have played with Johnson at Michigan. The recruiting battles will be generating tons of rumors etc. I guess that's part of the beauty and fun in college sports. Looks like it's shaping up to be another great season.

[joeyv]

Hybs,

**** right. It aint braggin' if you can back it up.

Kessel seems to have kept his options wide open. Still, I'd like to see a Wisconsin kid playing at Wisconsin. It bothers me when I see the Jeff Sangers, Bret Englehardts, and Brady Greco's heading off to other schools, but I temper that with the thought that UW doesn't have room for them all.

If UW starts winning, I think you'll see Kessel's interest pick up. JMHO.

Wisconsin Hockey: Winning Cures All.