Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. IV - It's all coming together

[First Time, Long Time]

Wasn't it Bob that got heated with Montgomery over flipping Guttman?

Heated argument yes. Over Guttman? Don't know for sure.

[solovsfett]

Gentleman's agreement was a joke, and Bob's finally at a school where he can steal instead of get stolen from. God forbid we let kids change their minds on a decision they made when they were 16.

It wil snap back in motzko’s face and I can’t wait to see your reaction (and alums) when it does.

[solovsfett]

He's 15, as we know a lot can happen these days. Wake me up in 3 years when he makes a decision.

Agreed! Plus now there’s a poacher vs recruiter in rodent town so Granato and Oseicki best beware.

It would be nice to wake up to news of another blue chip forward. Losing Ranta and Cruikshank has really ****ed me off.

[Bonin21]

It wil snap back in motzko’s face and I can’t wait to see your reaction (and alums) when it does.

We will be on the good side of it more often than the bad side, just like your school. If you aren't doing everything you can to win you aren't going to last long at the big hockey schools.

[mnstate0fhockey]

This is a message board. Of course people will gloat and troll fans from other teams. The days of 50 page game threads may be over, that had opposing fans either sandbagging or predicting massive sweeps may be gone. But opposing fans need to keep some of the reason for hating the other team intact to keep things interesting. IF we all start looking at the other teams and their fans as humans just like us, and the player as kids just giving it their best, and not accepting that the opposing fans are all lying jerks and players cheap-shotting, cheating, punks, what fun will it be watching the games?

Meh, I’m getting too old for the banter. Love the rivalry and some good natured trash talking, but hard to really hate opposing fans anymore. I’ve also lived in Wisconsin for almost 20 years now, so hard to hate people from this state. That said, I am still a Gopher hockey fan to the core, and will be until I die.

[solovsfett]

We will be on the good side of it more often than the bad side, just like your school. If you aren't doing everything you can to win you aren't going to last long at the big hockey schools.

I don’t think Bob Johnson and Herb Brooks ever conducted themselves in such a scummy manner. Neither did Sauer, Eaves, Granato or Lucia. Fact.

[Bonin21]

I don’t think Bob Johnson and Herb Brooks ever conducted themselves in such a scummy manner. Neither did Sauer, Eaves, Granato or Lucia. Fact.

Lucia was a main proponent of killing the gentleman's agreement.

Kids didn't commit before they got their licenses in the Brooks era.

This Ranta thing is a weird one off that no one has actual facts about.

[BlackI]

Well, there is a big boy from out east I like and would be willing to make a trade. Watched him play beantown summer classic. Patrick Keegan Jr. Is a beast. If you guys don't want him let me know. He'd look real good in a Maine uni.

[altazo]

This Ranta thing is a weird one off that no one has actual facts about.

Well, if the problem indeed has to do with his TOEFL Test score, and people are certain he speaks great English because he attended a U.S. high school during his USHL time, it seems to me that tanking the test would be an easy way for him to get out of his Wisconsin commitment and open up other options...

[Bonin21]

Like I said, no one has facts lol that is a message board guess

[Koho]

I don’t think Bob Johnson and Herb Brooks ever conducted themselves in such a scummy manner. Neither did Sauer, Eaves, Granato or Lucia. Fact.

Johnson and Brooks were recruiting 18 year olds about 6 months before they started playing collegiate hockey. Until recently, kids weren't committing as early as they are now. Do you think schools that over-recruit might also see an issue in the long run?

[Timothy A]

Well, if the problem indeed has to do with his TOEFL Test score, and people are certain he speaks great English because he attended a U.S. high school during his USHL time, it seems to me that tanking the test would be an easy way for him to get out of his Wisconsin commitment and open up other options...

That would require a lot of forethought, how would you gauge while taking the test you are doing bad enough not to get into UW and good enough to get into a safety school to the west? Doesn't see plausible.

[mnstate0fhockey]

That would require a lot of forethought, how would you gauge while taking the test you are doing bad enough not to get into UW and good enough to get into a safety school to the west? Doesn't see plausible.

I highly doubt many high end recruits care as much about the educational quality of the schools as they do the quality of the hockey programs they are considering. Most don’t plan on staying more than a year or two, and few who stay that short of time go back for their degree. Some do, but many don’t. So I don’t think the term “safety school” applies much.

[Timothy A]

I highly doubt many high end recruits care as much about the educational quality of the schools as they do the quality of the hockey programs they are considering. Most don’t plan on staying more than a year or two, and few who stay that short of time go back for their degree. Some do, but many don’t. So I don’t think the term “safety school” applies much.

If a player plays 2 years in college, goes pro, then has a career ending injury and subsequently has finish their degree and get a real job, it will indeed matter if they went to a safety school or a real university.

[mnstate0fhockey]

If a player plays 2 years in college, goes pro, then has a career ending injury and subsequently has finish their degree and get a real job, it will indeed matter if they went to a safety school or a real university.

First off, we can save the hyperbole. I graduated from Eau Claire and am making a very good living. But I do agree that having a college education would be extremely beneficial. That doesn’t mean a high percentage of top-end recruits that only stay a year or two go back. I’d say even a smaller percentage who know they won’t be staying long put education above their hockey development.

If what you’re saying is true, how does North Dakota get any recruits over Minnesota and Wisconsin?

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

We all know that’s North Dakota doesn’t recruit players: they grow them in a lab, like in Westworld.

How else does one explain the fact that Joe Finley exists?

[Timothy A]

If what you’re saying is true, how does North Dakota get any recruits over Minnesota and Wisconsin?

People who go to UM are smart enough make a conscious decision to reject the awesomeness of UW, UW people are smart enough to realize the awesomeness of UW and go there, UND people not are smart enough to understand the awesomeness of UW or the unawesomeness of UM, they like the color green and they hate trees.

[Wisko McBadgerton]

For the players that weren't already criminals, I always assumed Gino and Blaiser and Hak, etc. kept a member of the player's family duct-taped to a chair in the basement under the Ralph for four years.

[Wisko McBadgerton]

John Prokop is a defenseman out of Wausau West, and will be playing for Omaha in the USHL this season. He was just named to the the All American Prospects Game and is uncommitted. I'm a bit surprised UW has not taken an interest. Perhaps because there is/was no room...

Prokop has committed to Miami as of today. The lack of room had to be a factor, but time will tell. Wish him luck in joining "the Brotherhood".

Which, incidentally, has always struck me as just a bit eerie... I'm worried behind the scenes they're plotting to overthrow Costa Rica or Poland or something.

[Bonin21]

Just saw a post that Turcotte grew a lot in the last year. Wouldn't be surprised if you have a top 5 pick coming in next year along with another first rounder that could sneak around 15-20.