All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

[Garibaldi83]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Are we going to have 2 divisions next year or just the large 12 team conference?

[Dmann]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

We should just relax and enjoy these two weeks with the first Denver major hardware of the year - The Virg Foss Trophy for Mid Season Excellence.

Let's hope it's not the last hardware this year.

Tell more about this Virg Foss that you speak of... Why have I never heard of it?, who has won it in the past, what is the general criteria? and who is likely to win it this year?

As far as the two week period with no games, I am just hopeful that they will all get healthy and be ready to put it together for the second half. I mean really, how are we not scoring 5 goals or more this year with all of this firepower?

[brianvf]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Tell more about this Virg Foss that you speak of... Why have I never heard of it?, who has won it in the past, what is the general criteria? and who is likely to win it this year?

The Foss is a mythical award named after former GF Herald sportswriter Virg Foss. It got it's name about 7 or 8 years ago after the first season that Parise was on the Sioux and the team started the season so well only to fade in the second half. It is given to the WCHA team that steamrolls everyone in the 1st half (it always happens) and gets out to an early lead for the MacNaughton.
Winning the Foss has been somewhat of a curse for most teams...

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Tell more about this Virg Foss that you speak of... Why have I never heard of it?, who has won it in the past, what is the general criteria? and who is likely to win it this year?

The Virg Foss Trophy is a USCHO "inside joke."

Virg Foss is a semi-retired sports writer for the Grand Forks Herald who was known for wild exaggerations and hyperbole. Many years ago USCHO posters started giving the mythical "Virg Foss Trophy" to the WCHA team that was in first place at Christmas break.

The joke being that the season was over and the team in first place was "the greatest team ever." Of course, the WCHA race really heats up in the 2nd half and the team in first place at Christmas almost never held on to win the the regular season championship.

Once everyone realized this, winning the Virg Foss Trophy was seen as a curse and a good way to jinx the opposing team. So you don't really want to "win" the mythical Virg Foss Trophy.

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Are we going to have 2 divisions next year or just the large 12 team conference?

Unless they change their mind over the summer, just a 12 team conference.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Chris Heisenberg has listed '92 goalie Sam Brittain of Canmore (AJHL) as committing to Denver for 2011. He played for Team West in the CJHL prospects game earlier this month.

His Canmore page http://canmoreeagles.com/players/profile/sam_brittain/
His AJHL page http://www.ajhl.ab.ca/leagues/roster...D=473155&pos=G

[du78]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Chris Heisenberg has listed '92 goalie Sam Brittain of Canmore (AJHL) as committing to Denver for 2011. He played for Team West in the CJHL prospects game earlier this month.

His Canmore page http://canmoreeagles.com/players/profile/sam_brittain/
His AJHL page http://www.ajhl.ab.ca/leagues/roster...D=473155&pos=G

Thanks Ralph.

This looks to be Chevy's replacement as Chevy will graduate in June 2011. He's another big goalie 6' 3', 210 lbs and is from Calgary. Heisenberg has him listed as the #1 goalie prospect in the AJHL.

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Chris Heisenberg has listed '92 goalie Sam Brittain of Canmore (AJHL) as committing to Denver for 2011. He played for Team West in the CJHL prospects game earlier this month.

His Canmore page http://canmoreeagles.com/players/profile/sam_brittain/
His AJHL page http://www.ajhl.ab.ca/leagues/roster...D=473155&pos=G

Million dollar question, is can he come in next year if Chevy leaves early. I'm guessing this would have to be an option.

[du78]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Million dollar question, is can he come in next year if Chevy leaves early. I'm guessing this would have to be an option.

He will be 18 this coming May and was born in 1992. My guess is that he's a senior right now and could come in early if needed.

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

I think DU is preparing for the likelihood that Chevy will leave after this season for the pros, and Murray has not yet proven he's a WCHA level goalie. By signing Brittian early, DU has options. This is goalie that Wisconsin and UNO were after, and is rated as an "A" prospect for next years draft by Central Scouting (top 2-3 round pick) inthe first 2010 ranking this fall.

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

I think DU is preparing for the likelihood that Chevy will leave after this season for the pros, and Murray has not yet proven he's a WCHA level goalie. By signing Brittian early, DU has options. This is goalie that Wisconsin and UNO were after, and is rated as an "A" prospect for next years draft by Central Scouting (top 2-3 round pick) inthe first 2010 ranking this fall.

Recruit Beau Bennett is rated "B" and Shawn Ostrow is rated a "C" by Central Scouting.
Tyler Pitlick of Mankato was the only "A" rated skater currently playing in the WCHA.

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Recruit Beau Bennett is rated "B" and Shawn Ostrow is rated a "C" by Central Scouting.
Tyler Pitlick of Mankato was the only "A" rated skater currently playing in the WCHA.

Here's the rating on Brittain. Needless to say he's probably going to be the highest drafted goaltender in the history of DU. Other DU goaltenders drafted: (there may be others)

Pete LoPresti 3rd (42)
Bryan Schoen 5th (91)
Stephen Wagner 6th (159)
Adam Berkhoel 8th (240)
Glenn Fisher 5th (148)
Marc Cheverie 7th (193)

http://ajhl.ca/news/2009/10/21/four-...tral-scouting/

Four Alberta Junior Hockey League players were recognized on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s “Players to Watch” list for 2010 draft.

The preliminary listing is comprised of players who have been identified by NHL Central Scouting using the following criteria: A Rating: A must-see player who is predicted to be a potential first- or second-round draft selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft; B Rating: A player to note if a scout is in the area, a potential selection in the third-to-fifth round; C Rating: A player that Central Scouting is tracking, a potential late-round selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

A Goaltenders
BRITTAIN, SAM CANMORE 10-May-1992 6′ 2.75″ 215 lbs. * G L

[du78]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Here is from Hockey's Future regarding their goalie prospects from the Fall 2009. There are two Euros ahead of Chevy plus they have Vokunon and Clemmensen up at the NHL level and both of them are in their early 30s. One of the Euros came over here this year (Salak) and the "crown jewel" (Markstrom) is expected to arrive next season. Salka is tearing up the AHL with Rochester (see the second quote from a 12/16 Florida AHL Prospects Update by HF). Based on these reports I don't see them needing Chevy next season except for maybe the ECHL.

Goaltending

Jacob Markstrom is the crown jewel of the system, and his anticipated arrival to North America may be just over the horizon. Currently in the last year of a multi-year deal with Brynas IF of Elitserien, Markstrom will certainly be pursued by the Panthers this coming offseason.

This past offseason, the Panthers lured 22-year-old Czech netminder Alexander Salak to local soil. Salak was also a standout in Europe, with TPS Turku of the SM-Liiga. Salak is currently a member of the Rochester Americans. Between he and Markstrom, the Panthers have a pair of European goalies who could take the helm as NHL starters one day.

The Panthers also have a tandem of NCAA goaltenders with promise. It was a coming out of sorts for the University of Denver's Marc Cheverie, who has emerged as a solid prospect. He was second in the WCHA with a 2.34 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. In four games this year, he has a 2.00 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

Also, the University of New Hampshire's Brian Foster posted a 2.68 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in his first year as the No. 1 in net last season. He will look to finish his college hockey career strong this year as a senior.

Sergei Gayduchenko is the wildcard at the position. A tall, talented goaltender, Gayduchenko is being groomed in the KHL. He is starting to earn playing time as the backup, with nine games played to date. He has a 2.84 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.

Salak has so far duplicated his professional success in North America, after standing out in Finland's SM-Liiga. He is credited with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage, and most impressive of all, he has 16 wins and only three losses.

Drew Shore and John Lee are also Florida draft picks. read the commenst about them and the full report at the link below.

Hockey's Future

[duper]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

The break sucks. I'll be in town in a few days, but obviously no game.

[du78]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Here's the rating on Brittain. Needless to say he's probably going to be the highest drafted goaltender in the history of DU. Other DU goaltenders drafted: (there may be others)

Pete LoPresti 3rd (42)
Bryan Schoen 5th (91)
Stephen Wagner 6th (159)
Adam Berkhoel 8th (240)
Glenn Fisher 5th (148)
Marc Cheverie 7th (193)

Jim Bales 13th (132)
Scott Robinson 10th (208)
Tom Allen 10th (203)
Chris Olson 1st (1) Supplemental Draft
Chris Burns 9th (195)