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

[sig]

I think some of you, er Michigan fans, hold the NDTP in a little to high regard. You can have the top four off that team and i will take none or maybe one. Dream team:rolleyes: Now that is Dream! If you want a dream team, they are going to be recruited from all over. Too many great players out there and most off them are not with the NDTP!

[LordViperScorpion]

Originally posted by joeyv
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.

That was me, but it is taken out of context.

Dream team is the term that according to BB is being used to discribe what some NTDP players all joining up and going to Michigan would be. IMO while they are all good recruits, usually there are only two or three very elite recruits comming off of the NTDP squad and Michigan will get two of those per year. That is no dream team, but I don't see what they NTDP players are talking about doing as being anything more than an usual Michigan class, but yet it has been discribed as a dream team. Also, IMO, those kids may be being a little arrogant in discribing themselves as a potential dream team if indeed they are.

I would say there are about twicet as many top flight guys in the USHL, then also about twice as many comming out of Canada, and the odd European, and the odd top flight guy out of Minnesota HS or New england prep... and then there is Shattuck. Even if all the NTDP guys went to the same place, there would still be plenty of competitive talent to go around.

[sagissoor]

The Major Midget roster is up. Among the names to be watching include Garrett Suter and Kyle Bates. Of course, one of those forwards are likely to tear it up too. I thought Mitch Kerns was playing there, but apparently he got picked back up by Team Wisconsin and will stay at Stoughton. I also heard he MADE the Gamblers but wasn't ready to leave his high school and the area. He left them, rather than what I had thought (they cut him).

Wisconsin Hockey: A year away from juniors

[joeyv]

sig and LVS,

Well said. The NTDP does have some very solid D-1 talent on it, but a team full of NTDP recruits isn't going to be some type of "dream team". I think the NTDP is a great place to do some "one stop shopping", if you will, but its not the end all be all with so much talent in the USHL, Tier II in Canada, and Minnesota.

If Jack Johnson is arrogant enough to believe that he's going to be part of some kind of "Fab Five on Ice" at Michigan, the guy is going to get pounded. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be surrounded by your friends and other good players, but if he thinks he's going to be a part of some kind of "dream team", he's going to learn and learn quickly.

Sig, are you saying you wouldn't take Hensick, Pineault, Earl, or Suter? And sig, for this year's U-18 NTDP you don't want Kolarik, Porter, Auffrey, or Hagemo? Really? And for '05 you don't want Skille, Kessel, Stoa, or Johnson? Really? I'll take those kids if Minnesota/sig doesn't want them... :rolleyes: :)

Wisconsin Hockey: Okey Dokey Smokey.

[sagard]

Originally posted by joeyv
And for '05 you don't want Skille, Kessel, Stoa, or Johnson? Really? I'll take those kids if Minnesota/sig doesn't want them... :rolleyes: :)


Will all these players stick with the program?

[joeyv]

sagard,

Well, Kessel has made it clear (to date) that he intends to stick with the program for two seasons, as has Skille. I'm not sure as to Stoa and Johnson.

With all the talk surrounding the long term viability of the NTDP, you may see these kids heading off to the USHL if the NTDP folds. This is what makes Osiecki's choice of Kessel so very shrewd, is he knows that if the NTDP closes shop or there is some type of mass-defection, GB holds Kessel's rights.

I think Skille and Kessel would do well in whatever league they played in.

Wisconsin Hockey: Viability.

[Bobby Baun]

I think (have heard) the NTDP has a 2-3 year lease on the rink, so, guessing it has a couple more years to prove itself. I also have heard that the new President of USA Hockey supports the program, if thats so, and it is around next year, I would bet all the kids return. The Gamblers were smart to draft like they did, I agree.

[joeyv]

A lease on the rink as indicative of the program's viability? Nah. Leases are negotiable, and a buyout of the lease by USA Hockey should the NTDP fold, is not that big of an issue in my estimation.

In the days of the USFL, many of those teams held long term leases. Was that any indication of long term viability? Nah.

The NTDP has a a lot of proving to do this season. I think some questions will be answered following this season.

Wisconsin Hockey: Viability?

[Eric Hybert]

Scroll down to the article about Wisconsin recruiting for some additional comments on Kyle Klubertanz:

http://www.hockeyscouting.ca/

Picture of Kyle Kuk who looks quite a bit like his big bro:

http://www.stormhockey.com/kuk.html

Wisconsin Hockey: Kukie!

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by Bobby Baun
The Gamblers were smart to draft like they did, I agree.

In reference to Kessel, he is only a HS sophomore this year so unless he accelerates academically, he will have to play an additional year of jr hockey after he's done with the 18's. I think that's why the Gamblers took him more than it's an indication that he's looking to bolt from the NTDP early or anything. I would imagine he'll likely accelerate, though, rather than "waste" a year since he could pretty much name his school for '05.

Wisconsin Hockey: Kessel and Skille..do they REALLY hate each other???

[Slap Shot]

Does my impression the NDTP has taken a disproportionate number of kids from MI have merit?

[Badgers1]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
In reference to Kessel, he is only a HS sophomore this year so unless he accelerates academically, he will have to play an additional year of jr hockey after he's done with the 18's. I think that's why the Gamblers took him more than it's an indication that he's looking to bolt from the NTDP early or anything. I would imagine he'll likely accelerate, though, rather than "waste" a year since he could pretty much name his school for '05.

Wisconsin Hockey: Kessel and Skille..do they REALLY hate each other???

USHR mentioned a month or so ago that Kessel was NOT planning on accelerating. Of course that could change, but if thats the case Osiecki and company would have Kessel for his season after the NTDP.

[bigfish]

Originally posted by Slap Shot
Does my impression the NDTP has taken a disproportionate number of kids from MI have merit?
this year? over the course of the program? proportional to what?

[Slap Shot]

Originally posted by bigfish
this year? over the course of the program? proportional to what?

Over the course of the program and propotional to the % of players from each state playing Div I hockey.

[Eric Hybert]

Looks like Waterloo has picked up Wisconsin native Casey Mapes and he could start tonight in goal against Cedar Rapids:

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2003/09/17/sports/local/160644f726baa70086256da3005d3a48.txt

Skille, Kessel and Lawrence are also in action again tonight against Toledo in addition to the afforementioned Mapes, Joe Pavelski and Dan Sturges for the Hawks.

Looks like a pretty crappy year for goaltenders in the USHL...thankfully we don't need one!

Wisconsin Hockey: Drop the Puck!

[bigfish]

Originally posted by Slap Shot
Over the course of the program and propotional to the % of players from each state playing Div I hockey.

hmmm

well, first, let me say that as an Easterner, I've always felt there was a Midwest bias( which includes MN) in the selections, just as there is in most things USAHockey. with that out of the way....

too many unknowns for me. Do more MA and MN kids turn down the NDTP? I know there were active efforts to discourage kids from going in at least the first few years in both states. Is it an easier "yes" for MI kids since it is in MI? and some YOB's, things will not be evenly distributed i.e. you'll see 5 of the top 20 kids from NJ or something.

PS don't forget that more MI kids go MJ than elsewhere

[Tomb]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
Skille, Kessel and Lawrence are also in action again tonight against Toledo in addition to the afforementioned Mapes, Joe Pavelski and Dan Sturges for the Hawks.
USNDTP U-17 beat Toledo 7-2 (IIRC) tonight. First time I've seen a game at the Ice Cube, which is a nice facility. Skille and Kessel both did well, I'll wait for the box score for specifics. I was more impressed with Skille's play, though. Peter Mueller looked very good, too. He's an '88 but it looks like he's got very good hockey sense. He just seemed to be in the right place at the right time an awful lot. Frazee in goal looked solid. I like goaltenders that seem to be very smooth and efficient. It didn't look like he was making spectacular saves but that was because he seemed to do a very nice job of positioning himself so that he didn't have to.

Just my impressions after one game. I think it's harder to judge defensemen by seeing only one game. Now that I've moved to Michigan I'll probably see more USNDTP games so maybe I'll talk about them later.

[WebGuy]

Under the 'not that anyone here really cares' that much heading, Mike Brodeur will dress and play tonight in the Blackhawks first pre-season games versus the Predators in Chicago. I guess that leaves little doubt that he has impressed at least some at that level.

Kodiaks rookies updates:
Lee Jubinville - hat trick last game, 5 points.
Dan Bertram - 4 points, but a bit of a slow start - leads team in shots on goal - they will start going in.
Mason Raymond - 4 points, size speed great hands.
Ryan Armstrong - 3 assists, great two way player.
Muth, Antoniuk, Gorsalitz - already producing as well.

These guys are most of the pick of the litter out of the AJHL rookie forwards this year- all will play somewhere south of the border in the next couple years.

The Kodiaks have their home opener tonight and are 2-2 on the season.

[Eric Hybert]

WebGuy & Tomb-

Thanks for the updates (from about a week ago) please keep up posted as the various seasons go on!

I jumped for joy when I saw Kessel AND Skille assist on a goal this past weekend! I think that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship!:-)) Good to see them playing well.

If Kessel continues to play this well, we might have to worry more about him playing major junior rather than going to another school...IF he doesn't accelerate. Spending a year in the USHL would appear to be a big waste of his development!

It looks like the top scorers of the 17's so far might be a pretty accurate summary of their top forwards. Kessel, Skille, Gerbe and MacVoy are probably the top 4 forwards. It'll be interesting to see where Gerbe ends up considering he's about 5'4". MacVoy will likely be a Mich/MSU in-state type of recruit. No word on whether he wishes to be part of the "Dream Team" or not as of yet!:-)) Speaking of Michigan, I thought Jack Johnson was supposed to be good...ZERO points in 5 games!:-)) I understand that Chad Morin has been very impressive so far.

Wisconsin Hockey: It's so close.....

[Eric Hybert]

Joe Pavelski was recently named the Captain at Waterloo:

http://www.waterlooblackhawks.com/news/nw030925_team.htm

http://www.waterlooblackhawks.com/gallery03-03/P9270088.jpg

JoePa had 2 goals in a 3-2 win in their opener.

Sounds like Robbie Schremp has left his OHL team and will join the NTDP. I'm sure that'll make his old buddy, Matt Auffrey, happy. Hopefully it'll get Auffrey going a little bit..a slow start with just one assist so far. Nate Hagemo's off to a feisty start with 21 PIMs in just 4 games. He does lead all dmen with 3 pts., though.

I read a while back that Ross Carlson was back in Waterloo to rehab his injury and workout/practice with his old team. It'll be interesting to see if he ever makes it to Madison.

Wisconsin Hockey: An Auffrey you can't refuse!!!