High School Players/Teams Observations

[ARM]

Also another top senior-to-be, C/E/C's Michelle Maunu.

[brookyone]

Also another top senior-to-be, C/E/C's Michelle Maunu.
Thank you ! I don't know how I missed her name with the level of visibility she had during the recent tourney.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned, perhaps even to the extent of harping upon my belief it's time for some new blood on the US rosters in our previous discussions. Accordingly, I'm extremely pleased to see these young ladies get this opportunity...and I also would have no trouble with Warroads #6 following the path of her teammate to Gold Country...may have mentioned that a time or two also.

[3703]

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned, perhaps even to the extent of harping upon my belief it's time for some new blood on the US rosters in our previous discussions. Accordingly, I'm extremely pleased to see these young ladies get this opportunity...

It is certainly a nice opportunity for all involved - but unfortunately for most of the girls, it is nothing more official than an informal chance to skate with players who have proven themselves at a high level. Not to take anything away from them... any chance to play with the big dogs and show that you belong in their company is great. But it doesn't mean that we will see "new blood" in the US National program. Despite the name, the team was not a "Select" squad in the same respect that the team USA Hockey sent to the Four Nations was. The Battle of the Border team was kind of copyright-infringing on the Select name, if you will. The team was formed when the X-Treme asked Dwayne Schmidgall to pull together a squad and come north for some games. He filled some roster spots with those who were available to leave work and travel on those weekends and then collaborated with Angela Ruggiero to pull in some similarly available players from the east and the NWHL to shore up the line-ups. So, definitely a nice way for the high schoolers to close out the winter, and hopefully a chance to impress some people, but there weren't exactly try-outs for the team.

[coolsports]

That is ashame. Team USA really needs some new blood. Something to shake things up. There is too much talent backing up waiting for the old gaurd to move on. Hey ladies it is time to step aside.

[brookyone]

It is certainly a nice opportunity for all involved - but unfortunately for most of the girls, it is nothing more official than an informal chance to skate with players who have proven themselves at a high level. Not to take anything away from them... any chance to play with the big dogs and show that you belong in their company is great.
That was basically my point. I should clarify that the previous discussions I referred to were not in this forum but face to face. I absolutely do not want to mention specific players nor start a debate here on who should continue to represent the US in marquee international competitions, and who shouldn't, even though I do have specific opinions of that nature. It seems to have been quite a controversial & volatile subject in the past. Suffice to say, my opinion is there are some players who are no longer able to sustain the level of play that some of the talented, younger, and yes, inexperienced on an international stage players can. So as I said, I'm pleased to see them get any opportunity to play with the big dogs and as you note, hopefully make those impressions. You have to get the next generation started at some time. I guess I feel sooner is better than later. One individual aspect where I may feel differently than most, If I'm a coach assembling a national team, I want the most skilled available players to fill that roster even if those players may be less experienced than others on the international scene.

[toots]

originally posted by goalcam
New England Preps
Nobles, Berkshire, Lawrence, Cushing

didn't see the Herald or Globe rankings, but these are obviously the Massachusetts top 4 only. Cushing, although a recent power, is not the team of the past and has 5 losses (albeit all to higher ranked teams). Cushing split games with Tabor, another Mass team that has legitimate playoff aspirations.
Connecticut teams that are ranked higher than Cushing this year are Choate, Loomis Chaffee and Pomfret.

NEPSAC Playoffs will be announced Sunday, Feb 27 - will post the bracket as soon as I see it

[moxie]

NEPSAC Playoffs will be announced Sunday, Feb 27Games to be played Wednesday, Mar. 2:

#8 Tabor @ #1 Nobles
#7 Cushing @ #2 Berkshire
#6 Choate @ #3 Loomis
#5 Pomfret @ #4 Lawrence

[toots]

thanks, moxie. I'm going to post game times for Div I and also Div II schedule on a new thread, so we can update scores this week.

[brookyone]

Rosters for the various participants in the 2005 Chicago Showcase...

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

...with The Minnesota girls contingent including eight 2005-06 WCHA rookies that I'm aware of (at this time). I think BSU recruit Ashley Leopold is actually a little further beyond her eighth birthday than is indicated.

[dhmn]

No Ellison on 'Team Minnesota'.. hmm.. maybe that was her own personal decision??.. actually.. very slim pickings from up north. ....1 player.. from Lake of the Woods... Amy Hasbargen.... I guess I would've expected either Chelsea Davis from Hibbing, or Kirsti Hakala, or even Mattila from Central/Denfeld to at least make that team.. even if just to pick someone from the north (not a knock on Hasbargen... I can't find "stats" for her anywhere right now at 3 am)

[OhiohockeyDad]

Rosters for the various participants in the 2005 Chicago Showcase...

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

...with The Minnesota girls contingent including eight 2005-06 WCHA rookies that I'm aware of (at this time). I think BSU recruit Ashley Leopold is actually a little further beyond her eighth birthday than is indicated.


Brooky..SSHHHHHH- they aren't allowed to be signed to a college and play in this. So, keep it quiet!! :)
Never mind Minnesota has always ignored that :D

[kustomice]

Brooky..SSHHHHHH- they aren't allowed to be signed to a college and play in this. So, keep it quiet!! :)
Never mind Minnesota has always ignored that :D

Who is it that over sees this program? USA hockey?

Also wondering who can participate and how the teams/coaches are drawn?

[hockeyyfan]

Who is it that over sees this program? USA hockey?

Also wondering who can participate and how the teams/coaches are drawn?

It's a privately run tournament from what I understand. In the past they wouldn't allow the Southeast team to roster kids that went to a nepsac (D1 Prep) because they theoretically had enough exposure there. It IS a good chance for the kids to be seen so that is a plus.

[OhiohockeyDad]

Who is it that over sees this program? USA hockey?

Also wondering who can participate and how the teams/coaches are drawn?


AHAI runs it (which is the Illinois Amateur Hockey Assn.)- The teams are based on the USA Districts, or individual states, if they have enough players- one example of this is Minny, and the Dakotas (Minkota in USA hockey- but each enter a team here).
Here in MidAm, we hold tryouts for the team. open to all HS age players- each state/district follows their own guidelines somewhat- Michigan used to only HS players- no club players, but thats changed I think- supposed to be for players that don't get the exposure with their normal team, and is supposed to be closed to seniors that are already commited to a college(because why would they need exposure?)- but some teams I've seen there are 90% commited seniors, which is causing a dropoff in the scouting in the last couple years. Because why would you want to go watch girls that are already commited if you are a college coach?
The boys side is 21 years old, this is the 4th for the girls.

[brookyone]

No Ellison on 'Team Minnesota'.. hmm.. maybe that was her own personal decision??.. actually.. very slim pickings from up north. ....1 player.. from Lake of the Woods... Amy Hasbargen.... I guess I would've expected either Chelsea Davis from Hibbing, or Kirsti Hakala, or even Mattila from Central/Denfeld to at least make that team.. even if just to pick someone from the north (not a knock on Hasbargen... I can't find "stats" for her anywhere right now at 3 am)
I think in the case of Team Minnesota it's pretty clear this is in no way an attempt to put the absolute best team on the ice. The fact it's comprised entirely of seniors gives that indication. That may be the case for all teams...I suspect it is...at least to some extent. I don't know a great deal about the event but I gather it's mostly about the exposure for those as yet uncommitted players as OhiohockeyDad indicates. I've heard several of the top seniors in Minnesota, most of whom have committed to a collegiate program purposely decline invitations so as to allow others the opportunity to play / be seen. Also, a considerable number of Minnesota's top players are involved with other off season teams of what might be called an "elite" level.

There has been a couple changes to the Minnesota roster. I'm told two players have backed out, SSP's Ashley Young being one of them.

P.S. If your objective was to put the best Team Minnesota on the ice there are several juniors you would likely have to have on the roster. Why no juniors for Minnesota ? :confused: Must be someone's policy.

[Hux]

I don't know a great deal about the event but I gather it's mostly about the exposure for those as yet uncommitted players as OhiohockeyDad indicates. ....
P.S. If you're objective was to put the best Team Minnesota on the ice there are several juniors you would likely have to have on the roster. Why no juniors for Minnesota ? :confused: Must be someone's policy.

If the objective is to be a true "showcase" then one would think that it ought to be primarily for underclassmen.

However, as is the case with most of these types of events (think HNIB) it is more about making money for the promoters, than it is in showcasing talent. As mentioned, the top talent is absent, as they have already commited to schools. That leaves a group of second level players, and their hopeful parents, to enter these events in the hope of securing a college or prep scholarship.

And unfortunately, as the talent level has dropped, so too has the attendence by coaches, and the likelihood of getting an offer for a scholarship.

[kustomice]

And what about the coaches? How are they selected? Are they hired by the promoters?

I noticed a few college coaches involved. Is this okay by NCAA recruiting rules?

[hockey15]

Minnesota Team going to Chicago
1 Lindsay Savat Bl. Jefferson Goalie
2 Jenny Pusch Academy of Holy Angels Defense
3 Leigh Landgraf Park (Cottage Grove) Defense
4 Jessie Dyslin South St Paul Defense
5 Erin Shepherd North St Paul Defense
6 Ashley Leopold Stillwater Defense
7 Amy Hasbargen Lake of the Woods Defense
8 Sammy Nixon Blaine Forward
9 Maggie Fisher South St Paul Forward
10 Madison Darud Eastview Forward
11 Megan McCarthy Eden Prairie Forward
12 Forward
13 Katie Jaeger Eden Prairie Forward
14 Lindsay Block Chaska Forward
15 Jessie Doig New Prague Forward
16 Felicia Nelson South St Paul Forward
17 Jenna Daggit Park (Cottage Grove) Forward
18 Monica Rawlings Hill-Murray Forward
19 Kelly Reddin Eden Prairie Forward
20 Kim Hanlon Blaine Goalie
Coach Tim Morris Eden Prairie HS
Coach Dave Palmquist South St. Paul HS

About 14 girls committed to schools for next year

[OhiohockeyDad]

And what about the coaches? How are they selected? Are they hired by the promoters?

I noticed a few college coaches involved. Is this okay by NCAA recruiting rules?


That would be up to the district/state and their governing body. As far as the college coaches go- it's fine as long as they stay within the rules- NAHA Showcase and numerous other camps do the same thing.

[OhiohockeyDad]

If the objective is to be a true "showcase" then one would think that it ought to be primarily for underclassmen.

However, as is the case with most of these types of events (think HNIB) it is more about making money for the promoters, than it is in showcasing talent. As mentioned, the top talent is absent, as they have already commited to schools. That leaves a group of second level players, and their hopeful parents, to enter these events in the hope of securing a college or prep scholarship.

And unfortunately, as the talent level has dropped, so too has the attendence by coaches, and the likelihood of getting an offer for a scholarship.


Agreed completely, except that they can't be making money off this- not knowing what MidAm kicks in (which could be a lot I guess), my daughter has went twice and paid $200 for at least one practice, a warmup, hoodie,
t-shirt, 4 games min. at the showcase- the girls are bused to and from the rink, jersey and socks, we get a team picture and one team dinner. So, based on the other hockey weekends we have had- it's about free :D
When they are underclasssmen, then is it second level? Maybe....which should be the time for the D3s to swoop in, I would think.....Or maybe they're not, just younger.
The real issue has been the committed seniors- if you look at Minnesota's team, as brookyone said, 8 future WCHA players (I think), not second tier for sure, but why would you burn recruiting budget for that? I know girls that have got to play in college because of this event, but it certainly has some downfalls.