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

[BadgerFan]

Hey Kid,

Don't sweat it. Hammy loves to troll Badger recruiting threads. Personally I don't have time to troll other threads; it has something to do with having a life.

Thanks for the updates.

[WebGuy]

Originally posted by Eric Hybert
The Vancouver (WHL) owner seems pretty confident that Dan Bertram will be in the Vancouver lineup next season...but what else would you expect him to say?:

Wisconsin Hockey: You can get to the NHL from here, too!!!

The 'best' quote from a similar article in the Vancouver Province went like this:

"Giants' majority owner Ron Toigo said Friday: .....He is committed to Camrose for the year, that's just a part of his character. But if his team was to falter and not make it to the playoffs, I wouldn't be surprised to see him here at the end of the year."

This would be the most accurate indication of just how much the Giants owner knows of the situation here. The Kodiaks are currently riding a 5 game win streak and a 15 game undefeated streak in regulation time. They are 12-2-3 on the season, 4 points up in 1st place in the division. The possibility of them missing the playoffs is zero or less.

Also to correct the Giants owner(and apparently 'Bertram expert'), Dan did play in the Sunday game, despite a very bad bout with the flu.... and played well enough to scoring the game winning goal and then the insurance marker in a 4-2 Kodiaks win. He was also named the player of the game.

Where Mr Bertram ultimately decides to play next year is anybody's guess - but one thing is for certain. It will be on Dan's terms, with his best interests in mind.... and no one elses, including Mr. Toigo.

[Eric Hybert]

Webguy-
Why would Bertram wanna play for that pushy weasel, anyway?:-)) I don't know if you've mentioned this before, but is accelerating academically an option for him, do you know?

In checking the BCHL site for kicks, it looks like Travis Zajac (an '85) could be quite the prospect. Currently leads the BCHL in scoring with 17-16-33 in 17 games with Salmon Arm. Listed at 6'2, 205lb. SA website lists him as a center. He's a center AND a goal scorer..does Coach Eaves have his phone #?:-)) Another one to keep an eye on, perhaps....

Wisconsin Hockey: Screw Vancouver!!!

[Eric Hybert]

Anyone know who has the record for goals in the NTDP's brief history?

Phil Kessel has almost TWICE as many points as the second highest scorer on the 17's. In 17GP, 15G-9A-24PTs. He has 6 PPG. There's nobody else on the team that even has 7 goals!!!!

Wisconsin Hockey: Come home, Phil!

[Hobart Higgins]

Freshman Matt Nickerson, the 6-5, 255 pound monster with Clarkson Tigers scored two lovely power play goals on the weekend against Colorado College. Wins ECAC Honor Roll recognition. :D

[br1]

Originally posted by Hobart Higgins
Freshman Matt Nickerson, the 6-5, 255 pound monster with Clarkson Tigers scored two lovely power play goals on the weekend against Colorado College. Wins ECAC Honor Roll recognition. :D
When did Clarkson change their nickname to Tigers? Isn't Clarkson's board called The Round Table, or something like that? I can see it now...The Tigers of the Round Table. :confused:


How unlike Hobart to mangle facts... :eek: ;)

[joeyv]

Good for Matt Nickerson. Who really gives a $hit?

And dumbarse...its Clarkson GOLDEN KNIGHTS. What a dunce. :rolleyes:

Dope (c).

Wisconsin Hockey: :rolleyes:

[markwojo]

preliminary roster (http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/04_us_jr_announce/)

[irbbkid]

Nice goal for Nate Hagemo in 8-3 loss for U-18. Game was tied 2-2 at mid second period. U-18's having trouble after mid-point of D-1 games. Matt Auffrey rested hip flexor problem for U-18 Four Nation tourney in Switzerland this week. Did not play.

[Eric Hybert]

Prospects to watch:

In talking to a USHL observer, I was told that Brett Motherwell and Evan Rankin are the two best UNcommitted players in the USHL. Motherwell ('86,d, River City) just returned to action this weekend after a broken foot kept him out of the lineup. He had a goal and 2 assists in his first weekend back. Rankin ('86, f, Lincoln) is already amongst the leading scorers in the league with 16 points in 13 games. Not bad for an '86 playing on a pretty bad Lincoln team.

Waterloo and Joe Pavelski started the year on fire, winning their first 4 games but turned around and lost their next 5. Granted, they've played fewer games than most teams but they're too good to be in last place. JoePa needs to start scoring some goals!!!

It'll be interesting to see how the US squads matchup against some of the worlds best this week at the 4 Nations. Good luck to all of them.

Wisconsin Hockey: Any room for more in '04???

[Badgers1]

Eaves mentioned today that they have a half scholarship left for next season. Of course if Suter would leave that would open another so I hope they have another Defenseman in mind if that happens. Can't be many scholarships left for 2005 either with only 2 Juniors and Olinger I believe will go onto scholarship that season as well.

[Eric Hybert]

The article B1 mentioned also said that Pavelski, Auffrey, Klubertanz and Hagemo are all expected to sign their LOI's next Wednseday when the early signing period starts. I look forward to hearing Coach Eaves' comments on all 4 of them.

A half scholarship doesn't leave you with much to work with. As much as the Badgers need another scorer, you'd have to assume that'll be used on a defenseman to protect against the loss of Suter. You can't afford to have another Tanabe situation and have Suter leave so late in the summer that you have to scramble and go after someone you probably wouldn't normally.

Of course, an early departure or two is a good possibility, too!

Wisconsin Hockey: The Best Available Player?

[sagissoor]

Well, saying Suter leaves, we would still look very solid at D.

Likens
Gilbert
Sawatske
Hagemo
Klubertanz
Olinger
Julka

That's not bad at all. The first six will be regulars next year easily even if we add someone else. I would think a decent walkon as a 7th or 8th defenseman would be enough. So, I don't see us "needing" another defenseman with our last scholarship. I wouldn't be disappointed with a d recruit, but I see scoring forwards as a bigger need given that the guys I have listed above could more than tread water on the blue line next year.

[Eric Hybert]

Sags-

You could be right. Obviously the Badgers most glaring need is scoring so they might overlook some depth on defense to add a scorer. I still think Eaves will probably "free up" some more money, though, for this recruiting class before all is said and done.

The Wisconsin natives and recruits (Kessel, Skille, Hagemo and Auffrey) are off to a pretty good start at their 4 nations tourneys overseas. Kessel had 3 goals and 2 assists today while Skille added two goals in a 10-3 win. Auffrey had a goal in a 4-3 loss. Hagemo had a goal and an assist, I believe, in an earlier exhibition game against Russia. It's far from over, but has anyone had a better season than Kessel in the brief history of the NTDP..****!!!

Wisconsin Hockey: Skille and Kessel..the start of a beautiful friendship!:-))

[MadCityRich]

My son played with Phil Kessel for 6 years with the Madison Capitols. Just wondering; Any word on him leaning towards any particular program? He's a natural scorer and obviously the jump from AAA midget has been smooth for the 16 year old (if he is 16 yet).

[Eric Hybert]

Originally posted by MadCityRich
My son played with Phil Kessel for 6 years with the Madison Capitols. Just wondering; Any word on him leaning towards any particular program? He's a natural scorer and obviously the jump from AAA midget has been smooth for the 16 year old (if he is 16 yet).

It's hard to get a read on this situation. At different times I've heard Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Michigan State mentioned as favorites. Obviously he's from Madison, has a cousin that plays at Michigan and his dad was a star QB at NMU while Comley was there so I understand they know each other. There are quite a few connections. I'm not sure if there's any truth to the rumors that Kessel and Jack Skille basically can't stand each other (they hooked up nicely today on at least one goal against Slovakia) so we'll just have to wait and see. His dad said that they won't make any decisions until this summer. He could go anywhere so it makes sense to check out all of his options.

Hopefully the ongoing improvement of this Badger squad will lead him back home to Madison. They should be a pretty **** good club by the time he's a freshman.

Have you seen Kessel's younger bro play with the Caps? I understand he's a defenseman. What do you think about Garrett Suter..could he be a solid defensive-defensman at this level at some point?

Wisconsin Hockey: King of the Kessel!

[alnike]

Who is Kessel's cousin at Michigan?

[MadCityRich]

The rumors of Skille and Kessel not getting along, have always been out there. They played together in mite hockey, and one year at the Capitols, then Skille played club hockey with his dad coaching. I've even heard some kids won't go to WI 'cause Skille is, but I'm sure that's all parent rumor. As we all know, you have 20-22 people together, we're not all going to get along.
ALNIKE...Kessel's cousin at MI is Moss (I don't care much for MI, don't recall his first name).
ERIC.. Phil's younger bro, Blake, is a d-man. I haven't watched him for a couple of years, so I can't comment on his play. When I did watch him, he was good for his age and was having fun; he's a great kid. His younger sister, Amanda, is a helluva player. She'll probably be able to pick her college.
Garrett Suter is a big, strong, tough kid, with the Suter attitude, with Bobby coaching him most of his playing days...does it get any better than that? He has improved greatly the last few years. I think he made the Gamblers roster this year, but decided to continue with Capitol Midget AAA.

Eaver, let's keep our "homies" home!

[LuckyPuck]

Originally posted by alnike
Who is Kessel's cousin at Michigan?

Dave Moss. Came out of Catholic Central High (aka Detroit Catholic Central) in Redford, MI. Brief stint with the (then) NAHL St Louis Sting before heading to Cedar Rapids of the USHL and finishing his season there.

[Eric Hybert]

Congrats to the 17's and 18's on successful trips overseas at their 4 nations tourneys. The 17's finished 1st today with a win over Switzerland. Badger recruit Jack Skille had a natural hat trick and assisted on a Phil Kessel goal in the finale. Skille had a great tourney finishing with 7 goals and 3 assists in just 3 games. Kessel, I believe had 4-4-8. Madison native Nathan Lawrence also chipped in with a goal and an assist in the last game. This is a pretty **** good team with all the firepower they have up front and Johnson on d and Frazee in net..they're tough!

The 18's finished 2nd. They didn't list all the boxscores for their games so it's hard to say who really played well. Including the exhibition game, though, Nate Hagemo had 3 goals in 4 games.

Wisconsin Hockey: The All-Wisconsin Show!!!