Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Wisconsin is out of the running for Joey Fiala. He's down to Western Michigan, Ohio State, and Miami.

[bucky15]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

At what point does Ohio State have more kids from Wisconsin than the Badgers do? Oz really wants to keep the recruiting base that he has established in the state.

I think it is a great sign of the quality of hockey being played in the state when Wisconsin born players are playing other places. The quantity of D1 recruits from the state has increased a lot in the last 5-10 years. Hopefully, this trend continues.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Wisconsin is out of the running for Joey Fiala. He's down to Western Michigan, Ohio State, and Miami.

Is this a bad thing or not? UW will lose Johnson to graduation, and could lose Gardiner, Schultz and possibly Rammer early.

That leaves for 2011, Drake, Faust, Little, Simonelli, Springer with McCabe and Hekseth coming in.

How does Fiala stack up against guys like Drake, Faust, McCabe and Hekseth?

[MaizeRage]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Is this a bad thing or not?

With no inside knowledge, I'd say Western still being on the list, and Wisconsin not gives you a pretty good indication of how UW felt.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

With no inside knowledge, I'd say Western still being on the list, and Wisconsin not gives you a pretty good indication of how UW felt.

I know how UW feels, but I'm curious what the UW recruiting "experts" think. I realize he's not a blue chippah, because DU, UND and UW aren't still recruiting him, but is he better than the ones on my list below.

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Is this a bad thing or not? UW will lose Johnson to graduation, and could lose Gardiner, Schultz and possibly Rammer early.

That leaves for 2011, Drake, Faust, Little, Simonelli, Springer with McCabe and Hekseth coming in.

How does Fiala stack up against guys like Drake, Faust, McCabe and Hekseth?

I would take every defenseman we have on our team/already committed with the exception of Drake over Fiala. And I like Fiala.

I've mentioned I would like Fiala, but he's looking at playing college hockey in 2011. Best we could offer him is a 2012 spot with the option of coming in 2011 if we lose Rammer, Schultz, and Gards. And I don't think he's willing to wait around for that.

Ps...I think the only reason western is on the list is his connection with Blashil. Blashil drafted him in the USHL futures draft when he was at Indiana so they have had a relationship for a while. It was only natural that when Blashil went to Western he would recruit Fiala.

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Fiala to Western Michigan.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I would take every defenseman we have on our team/already committed with the exception of Drake over Fiala. And I like Fiala.

So you really like the guys already lined up. Thank you for your insight.

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Wisconsin Recruiting: Zach Stepan Keeping Options Open http://tinyurl.com/2ae8gjw

I'm trying a new feature on the blog this year where we interview a potential recruit every few weeks. We led off with an interview of Verona, Wisconsin native Joey Fiala.

Next up in the series is Zach Stepan, cousin of former Badger and current New York Ranger, Derek. Zach is a 1994 born forward who plays for the Shattuck Prep team. He's considered one of the most elite 1994 born players uncommitted in the country.

Chuck Schwartz: You were given the opportunity this summer to go overseas with Team USA and you guys won a gold medal. Can you talk a little about what it was like to represent your country and play with some of the other elite players from around the United States?

Zach Stepan: The opportunity I was given over the summer is one that I will never forget! It was by far the best experience I have ever gotten not only on the hockey side of it, but on the touring side of it because we got to go to a couple different cities and walk around. It was a lot of fun. Also playing with the players I did get to play with made it all worth while because I knew after our first couple of practices that we were going to be a very talented team in all aspects of the game of hockey.

Chuck Schwartz: Your cousin, Derek made the move from Hastings high school to Shattuck St. Marys and you too have chosen to play your prep hockey at Shattuck. How has your experience been so far and do you anticipate playing your senior season there or moving on to the USHL where I believe Waterloo holds your rights?

Zach Stepan: Shattuck St. Mary's is an unbelievable school and I personally love the experience I get at this school. The hockey as well has been an amazing experience to play with some players that I have. I really do not know what I will do next year, all I can say is that I love this school and I love being here.

Chuck Schwartz: Its widely known that you missed a large chunk of last season due to the h1n1, and then mononucleosis and pneumonia. How nice is it to be back and (I’m assuming) healthy and primed for a big season with the Shattuck Prep team?

Zach Stepan: To be honest it is the most amazing feeling to be healthy again after going through that. That was the worst possible thing that could happen to a hockey player during the season other than hockey ending circumstances. It all happened so fast and it was so horrid to have h1n1 and than right after having mono and pneumonia at the same time. I felt like I would never get my legs back after those illnesses. Now to be back and playing good hockey is a great feeling that hopefully does not go away.

Chuck Schwartz: By the nature of your last name and the success of your cousin (who is doing awesome in the NHL by the way), I would surprised if there wasn’t an added pressure for you to live up to expectations. How are you handling the pressure of the Stepan name?

Zach Stepan: There actually is no pressure with the last name that I have. A lot of people think there is and I can see where they are coming from. I look at it as cool because I get to tell people how much fun it was when we were younger that I played street hockey with him in my driveway and taught him a few things that probably helped him haha. But I looked at it as we are two different people fighting for the same dream and no matter how hard it is to play in the NHL, all I am worried about is making it, not to one up the accomplishments he has acquired.

Chuck Schwartz: By my count, over forty 1994 born hockey players have committed to colleges so far, do you feel pressure to get your commitment out of the way and when do you see yourself making a decision?

Zach Stepan: I do not feel pressure at all to get my commitment out of the way, I want to pick the right school and I know it will hit me when I see the right school, that that is the school I will want to go to.

Chuck Schwartz: In an interview over the summer you mentioned you had interest in Denver, Boston College, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Have you narrowed your list at all and who is on it at this point?

Zach Stepan: That was just a couple I would be interested in. I am pretty much open for anything at this point because there are so many great schools out there that I do not want to keep my mind stuck on just a couple unless I really know deep down those are truly possible places I would like to attend.

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I wonder how far we should read into the keeping the options open deal...I'm really hoping he can play w/Mcguire and Woods

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I wonder how far we should read into the keeping the options open deal...I'm really hoping he can play w/Mcguire and Woods

Yeah I mean I'm a bit surprised we haven't locked him up already but if I were putting odds on it, we would still be the favorites.

[bucky15]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Thanks Chuck, keep them coming!

[UWisco]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

What's up not much news in the recruiting world for the Badgers lately.

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

fwiw - I didn't see Gary Schuchuk on the bench for the saturday tech game. where he might have been potentially recruiting is anyone's guess. I'm hoping he cements that Canadian pipeline while Butters can help w/Minnesota. best of all worlds right there.

"From SASKATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON, Saskatchewan"!

[UWisco]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Shuchuck is in the press box or whatever you call it for the games. Gives better view of what's going on.