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

[markwojo]

...to lead Waterloo to a 2-0 lead in their series w/ danville. Jo Pa in now second in playoff scoring with eight points in 7 games (5 goals & 3 assists). He is tied for the playoff lead with the 5 goals and 33 shots on goal. After a slow start to the season, it is nice to see him have a good offensive second half that has carried over into the playoffs!!

[Timothy A]

Originally posted by aktick
Very true, but I think con1977 meant the fact that he's on a line with 2 future Badgers, Auffrey and Skille. I would really be curious to see how much campaigning goes on though. In a lot of situations I wouldn't feel right saying to my teammate "come to Wisconsin with me, screw Michigan" or vice versa. Anybody know?

Why wouldn't a player want to recruit a great player to de-commit from their chosen school and come to play with you? The least you can do is ask. If they tell you to buzz off, don't be a *****, drop it. If they show weakness, go for the kill.

[Eric Hybert]

Good to see JoePa and Waterloo having some success in the playoffs. Nice timing by Danville to be announcing a move to Indy next season...morons!:-))

Coverboy, Kyle Klubertanz:

http://www.usajuniorhockey.com/

Team Wisconsin has made it to the final four at the Chicago Showcase. A lot of the top seniors that we've mentioned from time-to-time are playing for TW:

http://www.ahai2.org/showcase/

Another minor tidbit I picked up recently on Tom Gorowsky:

He won 85% of his faceoffs this season! It'd be nice to add another faceoff specialist to the team since Dowell's basically the only current guy you could throw in that category. A talented, goal scorer that can also take critical faceoffs is something this team could definitely use...and something that could propel Gorowsky up the depth chart once he gets here.

Wisconsin Hockey: JoePa..the last UW recruit standing!

[BadgerFan]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
Another minor tidbit I picked up recently on Tom Gorowsky:

He won 85% of his faceoffs this season! It'd be nice to add another faceoff specialist to the team since Dowell's basically the only current guy you could throw in that category. A talented, goal scorer that can also take critical faceoffs is something this team could definitely use...and something that could propel Gorowsky up the depth chart once he gets here.

It seemed to me that Burish really improved in this area this year.

[ZentWasTheMan]

I'm a lifelong Badger hockey fan and have been coming here to get my recruiting information, where in the world do you guys get all this inside info? I go to madison.com to get the latest from the state journal and cap times, is there somewhere else you guys go?

[tb2]

Being so far from Madison and the hockey world, I look at sites like:
hockeyscouting.ca
ushr.com
usahockey.com
ushl.com
ajhl.ca
bchl.ca
And a few others. Some of these other posters, (like Hybert, Joeyv, Sagissor, Andringa, and several others ---- don't mean to slight anyone else) seem to have more inside connections.

Maybe one of these guys (or someone else) can give us the recap on what scholarship money is available the next couple of years and the specifics on who we think we have "probably" or "should be" offering to. Definitely a D-man, goalie and Kessel!

[con1977]

tb, you forgot to mention the recruiting guru's site. Chris Heisenberg(yes that Heisenberg family) has a web site that will tell you absolutely everything you would ever want to know. This link will take you to a directory listing for the site, and if anyone has a standard homepage link, post it after me. The directory is pretty clear so you should find what you want here(and a ton of older stuff you didnt know you wanted).

http://members.aol.com/cheisenber/

[ZentWasTheMan]

Thanks a million fellas, Badger hockey appears to be headed back to where it belongs, lets keep it there this time!

[joeyv]

Wisconsin does not have a great deal of cash out there to work with in terms of scholarship money.

However, Eaves has shown a propensity to work well with what he's got available, and when you look at how he's been able to get kids in at less than a full ride (e.g. Dowell), you've got to think he's got a "master plan" for the upcoming recruiting season.

There are three kids that I think UW's zoned in on at this point and those are Brock Bradford (BCHL), Phil Kessel (NTDP), and Chad Morin (NTDP). These are the "headliners" at this point. UW has had visits from Jimmy Kilpatrick (USHL-Green Bay), Kyle Kuk, et al. but I would put Bradford, Kessel, and Morin at the top of the UW wish list at this point.

Goaltending is an interesting question. You've got some really good prospects for UW. Connelly (USHL-Chicago) is for some people's money, the top available G. However, Pearce (NTDP) has a very uncertain future with his recent injury status, and prior to that injury, he was the top UW target IMO. UW basically can pick and choose who they want at this point with Elliott appearing to be a very capable goaltender, and a kid who from all accounts that Howie is very impressed with. Howie doesn't laud praise too often, as you probably know.

As for the incoming kids, I think UW gets an immediate boost offensively with Ford, Pavelski, and Auffrey (three kids who I expect to see immediately in the lineup) and having Drewiske and Klubertanz (who for my money might be the top frosh D in the WCHA coming in with his skating ability and offensive skill) coming in makes for a top notch incoming class.

For '05 you've got Jack Skille, who as a u-17 player has spent a great deal of time with the U-18's along with Kessel. Skille's a big time prospect. Tom Gorowsky's progress in the USHL next season will be interesting to watch. He's Minnesota's Mr. Hockey this season and the knock I've heard on him is his average skating ability. Well, John Pohl was an absolutely awful skater when he came to Minnesota, and he was a pretty darn good player by the time he left. Gorowsky will be a solid addition for '05.

UW's got a very young team and it will a weekly battle for the returning guys as well as the new guys for ice time. Guys I see battling for ice time are Heatley, Rowe, Gibson, Sawatske, Olinger, Drewiske, Talafous, Brandt, and Funk.

Wisconsin Hockey: Depth.

[con1977]

Joey, you missed Piskula fighting for ice time on your list. In fact, based on reports from various people, it is more likely that between the two linemates (Drewiske and Piskula) that Drewiske is more likely to be a regular if one if them becomes a regular.

So in your opinions (badger posters) would you rather see Bruckler carry ice time again next year IF he returns, or would you rather see Elliot pick up more games than the non conference and the weak conference opponents. What I mean is giving him some of the bigger games to work with too like UND, UMn, UMD . . . LIke Joey said, Howie doesnt dole out praise to anyone, so you gotta think that Elliot is progressing to a point where he can legitmately anchor this team at least at a level expected of a Badger goalie. I dont know if that would be enough for a championship run which is basically on the table as an expectation from here on out, but just interested in everyone's opinion IF we have both of them next season.

[tb2]

Thanks Con for the Heisenberg site------how could I forget that one?

Interesting question about Elliot. I wonder how highly regarded he would have been if he was just now coming to the Badgers after another year of Juniors?

Joey, Engel is another potential recruit that has been talked about(must be part of the et al...). As far as some of the ones you listed on the wish list, I would be surprised if Bradford came, and Kessel is 50/50 at best.

[ZentWasTheMan]

With Auffrey/Pavelski/Ford coming in next year as forwards, I hope some of you guys are wrong with saying some of the 4th line guys from this year will see the ice next year. All we lose really is Bourque as an every game forward, and Eichelberger as a forward who played every once in a while. I guess what I'm saying is I pray that none of our 4th line from this year see the ice, because they were god-awful in series against the good teams in the WCHA. Teams like Minnesota put four lines out there that can skate really well and one can hardly notice the difference between their first and fourth lines; whereas our 4th line gets out there and they look like they still belong in high school. Hopefully that will change a little with some added talent.

[con1977]

Originally posted by ZentWasTheMan
With Auffrey/Pavelski/Ford coming in next year as forwards, I hope some of you guys are wrong with saying some of the 4th line guys from this year will see the ice next year. All we lose really is Bourque as an every game forward, and Eichelberger as a forward who played every once in a while. I guess what I'm saying is I pray that none of our 4th line from this year see the ice, because they were god-awful in series against the good teams in the WCHA. Teams like Minnesota put four lines out there that can skate really well and one can hardly notice the difference between their first and fourth lines; whereas our 4th line gets out there and they look like they still belong in high school. Hopefully that will change a little with some added talent.

You have to keep in mind that these kids were walk-on freshman last year. I certainly dont expect much from walk-on freshman, and some of them exceeded my expectations (Heatley specifically). I think an offseason of work and one year under their belt will make them better players. Also, if they arent getting ANY playing time during good times, how can we expect these kids to fill in and provide depth at their positions during the bad times (read: injuries and WJC absentees)? They may not get much ice time, but Eaves would be a fool to keep them off the ice entirely because they are gonna be green and inexperienced if they ever need to fill in.

[ZentWasTheMan]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by con1977
[B]You have to keep in mind that these kids were walk-on freshman last year.

I certainly respect that, this is just my opinion as an observer that hopefully these kids can step right in and be a force. I do agree that Heatley did some good things, but that unit as a hole was beaten night in and night out. John Funk was scrappy at times, but doesn't belong. Talafous was nothing special, and I guess Brandt was alright. I trust Eaves though obviously, so whatever he goes with I will definitely respect.

[Timothy A]

Bruckler/Elliott

Bruckler deserves to get most of the playing time. He offers the best chance to win night in and night out. If Elliott is that good, he won't need a lot pf playing time to get seasoned for the next year, he'll just step up and play to a high level like all the others have (Derksen, Melanson, Cujo ect.). In 2 years we'll be averaging 5 goals a game anyway, so he won't have to have a low 2 gaa and 92 save % for us to win. He'll still have the numbers, but it won't be essential.

[NEWI Badger Fan]

In five attempts over the past several weeks, I have attempted to access the Heisenberg site. A message explains that the site has exceeded its bandwidth and to try again. Any body else having problems getting on the website??

[TJbadgerfan]

Originally posted by joeyv
Tom Gorowsky's progress in the USHL next season will be interesting to watch. He's Minnesota's Mr. Hockey this season and the knock I've heard on him is his average skating ability.

Rene Bourque was also an average skater when he came to the Badgers. His last 2 years under Eaves, he improved tremendously. I don't doubt that Gorowsky will also improve under Coach Eaves.

[con1977]

Originally posted by NEWI Badger Fan
In five attempts over the past several weeks, I have attempted to access the Heisenberg site. A message explains that the site has exceeded its bandwidth and to try again. Any body else having problems getting on the website??

Chris's site is hosted by AOL which limits the number of people that can view his site in a day. Since his site is popular, he uses that up by the afternoon/evening. If you want to get on there, try earlier in the day, like when you get up in the morning or in the morning at work/home. He has said he is in the process of working on dealing with the issue. There were several people on this board that offered him free w no strings attached mirroring on their server, but I dont know if he is in the process of taking advantage of that.

[NEWI Badger Fan]

Thanks for the update.

[markwojo]

This is a top dman prospect for '05 that according to hockeyscouting.ca, a family source says will not go to the OHL but return to Ann Arbor to play for John Hynes again.
""Chad Morin will be returning to the NTDP next season," says a close family source."
"He is one of the best 1988 born defenseman in all of hockey," says one scout, "he will have his pick of any school."
"Morin is not expected to commit to a NCAA school until next season."
Let hope we can tap back into the NTDP pipeline to bring in Morin, and oh yeah, Mr. Kessel would be pretty good in Cardinal as well.

Jo Pa is in the Clark Cup finals with Waterloo and picked up an assist in the the last game. He has 5 goals and 4 assists in 8 playoff games with a +2 and 40 shots.

chad morin link (http://www.hockeyscouting.ca/newsitem.aspx?news_id=628&league_id=6)