6/30/00

 

U.S. Select 16 Team Named

Here are the players selected from the Select 16 Festival to represent the U.S. at the Four Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic, August 15-28. The team will be coached by Mark Kumpel, currently an assistant coach with the Portland Pirates of the AHL.  His assistants will be Damian DiGuilian and Kelly Miller.

A number of top players joining the U.S. National Program this fall will not be able to attend because the trip extends into orientation at the Ann Arbor high schools.

Goaltenders (2): Adam Geragosian (St. John's Prep/Mass.); Travis Russell (Essex Junction HS (Vt.)/New England).

Defensemen (6): Ben Lovejoy (Deerfield Academy/New England); Corey Potter (Honeybaked '84/Michigan); David Norton (Lawrence Academy /Mass.); Matt Carle (Alaska All-Stars/Pacific); Jake Wilkins (Alaska Mustangs/Pacific); Garrett Overlock (Brunswick School/New England.)

Forwards (12): Ray Ortiz (Belmont Hill/Mass.); Mike Dagenais (Marquette Electricians/Mich.); Tyler Hirsch (Shattuck-St. Mary's/Minn.); Nick Pernula (Osseo HS/Minn.); Matt Chacho (Fairbanks Arctic Blast/Pacific); Taylor Hustead (Culver Academy/Rocky Mt.); Nate Thompson (Alaska All-Stars/Pacific); Adam Ladd (Keene HS/New England); Dustin Brown (Syracuse Stars/N.Y.); Peter Cartwright (Alaska All-Stars Bantam/Pacific); Jim McKenzie (Hill-Murray HS/Minn.), Chris Collins (Rochester Americans Jr. B).

Alternates: G Matt Mouser (NorCal Reps Midget AAA/Pacific); D David Carlisle (Forest Lake HS/Rocky Mt.); D Dylan Reese (Pittsburgh Hornets/Mid-Am); F Dan Shribman (BB&N/Mass.); F Mike Howe (St. Cloud Apollo HS/Minn.); F Chris Porter (Sioux City Metros/Central).

 

6/29/00

Pacific -Minnesota Set to Play for Gold

St. Cloud, Minn. -- Sorry, folks! A busted LCD screen on my notebook computer -- not to mention wall-to-wall games, practices, and meetings -- has played havoc with what I'd originally hoped would be daily reports from here. Obviously, that didn't happen, and won't be happening. However, things are settling down, and I'm looking to start getting out some solid goods over the next week or so here.

The best team here is Pacific, followed by Minnesota. Each has gone undefeated, and will be going head-to-head later today in the gold medal game, with Massachusetts and New England meeting beforehand for the bronze. Massachusetts, which went 0-5 as 15's last summer, bounced back in a big way, even holding a 4-3 lead vs. Minnesota this afternoon. However, they gave up a heartbreaker of a goal with ten seconds left and had to settle for a tie. A win would have given them first place in their division and put them in today's gold medal game. Instead, they'll be playing New England, who have gotten steadily better as the tournament has progressed. The Mass.-New England winner? It's tough to call. For what it's worth, the two teams met in a pre-tournament exhibition game in New Hampshire 11 days ago, which Mass. won handily.

Today's Pacific-Minnesota gold medal game matchup, is highly anticipated. While Pacific doesn't have Gabe Gauthier here this year -- he elected not to come -- they do have forwards like Californian Brett Sterling, who's been lighting it up and sits on top of the tournament scoring board, and Alaskans Tim Wallace, Peter Cartwright, Nate Thompson, and Matt Chacho. Minnesota counters with Zach Parise, who scored three of his team's four goals today, linemate Nick Pernula, who added three assists; and Patrick Eaves, who missed the first couple of games with a groin injury but has been rounding back to form. Eaves is a threat both up front and on the blue line.

 

6/23/00

Select 16's Set to Go 

The Select 16 Festival gets underway this weekend in St. Cloud, followed by the Select 17's a week later. We'll be there for the duration, but with a difference. While in recent years, USHR provided game summaries, this time around we're leaving that to USA Hockey. While we were the first to provide summaries for those unable to make it to the festivals, last year Kevin McLaughlin's staff began doing the same thing, and this year, mostly through timelier updates, they are planning to take their efforts a step further. Rather than duplicate efforts, this typist will instead report on other topics, whether directly related to the festival or not, and, of course, will be scouting every game. The URL for USA Hockey is www.usahockey.com/players/00festivals.htm

In other news, we've added a link -- 2000 rosters -- here and on the front page, too, for the rosters to all three Select festivals. This is a bit of a work in progress. Look for at-large players to be added, and additional 15 teams to be named.

The US Hockey Report is looking for correspondents/scouts in different parts of the country. If you're at the select festival, ask for Chris Warner. If you're not in St. Cloud, just send an e-mail to chriswarner@ushr.com. We're also looking for someone with web design skills. 

 

6/22/00

Warner to Accelerate

Tim Warner, one of the top '83 goaltenders in the country, will be accelerating, thus entering his senior year in the fall. 

Warner, who plays for Avon Old Farms, this year's winner of the New England Prep School Championship, is getting a lot of attention already, with Boston University, Providence, UNH, and UMass-Amherst all in the mix. 

BU reportedly was onto Warner in the early spring, which would have covered them if Rick DiPietro had returned to school, and then turned pro after his sophomore year. Right now, of course, BU has the need for a goaltender immediately.  

Over the past year, Warner, who's 5'11", 170 lbs. and a 3/11/83 birthdate, has proven himself in pressure situations. Last summer, he was the top goaltender at the Select 16 Festival, leading Mass. to the title game. In March, he was the difference as Avon topped Deerfield for the prep title. The weekend before last, at the NECDL Showcase outside of Boston, a tournament well-attended by college recruiters in the Northeast, Warner stole at least one game for his team, and, in the minds of the scouts present, was the top goaltender there (he didn't get the MVP, however).

Warner is from Waltham, Mass. and played for Arlington Catholic before heading to prep school. Mike Warner, his older brother (and long-time teammate), will be playing for Toot Cahoon at UMass-Amherst in the fall.

 

6/21/00

Three for Ann Arbor

Several players have committed to the U.S. National Team Development Program over the past week. They are:

--  '83 goaltender Dwight Labrosse of the Pittsburgh Hornets Midget AAA program. Labrosse, who's from McMurray, Pa., was the highest-ranked goaltender in the OHL draft a couple of weeks ago, and was selected by Belleville. Stateside, the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) and the Texas Tornado (NAHL) also drafted him in their respective leagues. Labrosse, who will be filling the spot vacated by Steven Belanger (who is going major junior with Kamloops), will join fellow '83 goaltender Travis Weber on the Under-18 Team. Labrosse, who was coached by Joe Gaul in Pittsburgh, is 5'11", 160 lbs.  and a 10/6/83 birthdate.

-- '84 right-shot center Tim Wallace of Anchorage, Alaska and the Alaska All-Star Bantams. Wallace, who's 5'11," 174 lbs., is a smart, two-way forward with good size for his age. Wallace, who's an 8/6/84 birthdate and will be entering the 11th grade, was coached last winter by Dennis Sorensen. 

-- '84 left-shot defenseman Mark Stuart of Rochester, Minn. and Rochester Lourdes High School. Stuart, in this typist's opinion the best defenseman at last summer's Select 15 Festival, is 6'1", and a solid 201 lbs. Stuart is the younger brother of Lincoln Stars forward Colin Stuart, who'll be heading to Colorado College in a couple of months. The older brother, defenseman Mike Stuart, is a sophomore at CC. The boys' father, Dr. Michael Stuart, is an orthopedic surgeon who has been team doctor to a number of USA Hockey teams over the years. 

 

6/20/00

Farewell to the Teeny-Tiny State 

Brad Willner, an assistant at Providence College the past four years, will be returning to his home state of Minnesota to take an assistant's post at St. Cloud State. 

Look for an official announcement sometime next month. 

Willner, who's from Richfield, Minn., played defense at Lake Superior State, winning a pair of NCAA titles, then played in the N.J. Devils system for a year before coming to Providence College in the fall of '96. 

 

6/20/00

Old Nassau's Short List?  

Sources indicate that the assistant's job at Princeton could be filled by the end of the month. Leading candidates are reported to include former Miami assistant Dave Smith, Northfield-Mt.Hermon head coach Jim Ward, Clarkson assistant Ron Fogarty, and Denver assistant Steve Miller.

 

6/20/00

Strobel Heads North

Twin Cities Vulcans assistant coach Mark Strobel will be heading to Minnesota-Duluth as an assistant on the staff of Scott Sandelin. Strobel, who's from St. Paul, Minn., was a defenseman at the University of Wisconsin in the early '90s.

At Twin Cities, Strobel worked under coach Jim Hillman. The Vulcans, winners of the Gold Cup early last month in Green Bay, Wisconsin, are in the process of relocating to Kearney, Nebraska, where they will be reborn as the Tri-City Storm. (By the way, shouldn't it be Tri-Cities Storm?)

 

6/20/00

Schedule Changes at Select 16 &17 Festivals

The last-minute decision to scrap the all-star games scheduled for the conclusion of this year's Select 16 and Select 17 Festivals has necessitated minor schedule changes.  

The changes only affect the starting times of playoff games. 

With the all-star games scrapped -- one was scheduled for each festival -- all five playoff games will be played on the festivals' final day, at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:45 pm, 1:45 pm, and 3:00 pm (Gold Medal Game). The Closing ceremonies are at 5:00 pm. In other words, the schedule setup is back to the method of recent year, so make your travel plans accordingly.

Note: The players competing in the Select Festivals will shooting for spots on the Select 16 and Select 17 squads heading to Europe in August. 

The 17's will go over first, arriving in Slovakia Aug. 12. After playing some  exhibition games, they will, between Aug. 18-20, meet Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Canada. They return home to the U.S. on Aug. 21. 

The 16's will arrive in Slovakia Aug. 19 for exhibition games, but for the tournament will move on to the Czech Republic. From Aug. 25-27, they will play the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland. They return home to the U.S. on August 28. 

 

6/20/00

Model Camp Underway

The Model Camp is underway at the University of Minnesota's Mariucci Arena, running until the end of the week. We've taken the rosters -- orange team, green team, etc. -- and reconfigured them, arranging the players alphabetically as well as by position and school year. Consider it a checklist of the top high school players in Minnesota.

The coaches are Brian Bonin, Mike Guentzel, John Hill, John Harrington, Mike Schwartz, Joe Delich, Jim Knapp, John Hamre, Troy Jutting, Scott Sandelin, and Steve Rohlik

 

Class of 2001

 

Goaltenders:

Eric Aarnio, '83 G, White Bear Lake

Tom Aulik, '82 G, Elk River

Max Buetow, '82 G, St. Paul Academy

Landon Franzmeier, '83 G, Hill Murray

Adam Gronlund, '83 G, Coon Rapids

John Harstad, '82 G, Alexandria

Kevin Hennessey, '81 G, Minnehaha Academy

Dan Hoehne, '83 G, Duluth East

Jeffrey Jakaitis, '83 G, Rochester Mayo

Christian Kapsen, '83 G, Edina

Patrick Kelley, '83 G, Park Center

Dan Kuhl, '82 G, Eden Prairie

T.J. Kvilhaug, '82 G, South St. Paul

Timothy McCarthy, '82 G, Edina

Ryan Westbrook, '82 G, Century

 

Defensemen:

John Adams, '82 LD, Breck

Chad Anderson, '82 RD, Chisago Lakes

Steve Belde, '83 LD, Stillwater

Jeff Bredemus, '82 LD, Holy Angels

Jake Brenk, '82 RD, Breck

Mark Buchholz, '83 RD, Moorhead

Joe Cummings, '83 RD, Wayzata

Richard Ehmer, '83 RD, Rosemount

Tom Gilbert, '83 RD, Bloomington Jefferson

Tim Hambly, '83 LD, White Bear Lake

Tom Hartman, '82 LD, Faribault

Bill Jenkins, '83 LD, Edina

Aaron Johnson, '83 RD, Osseo

John Kalligher, '82 LD, Eden Prairie

Matt Kisskeys, '82 LD, Centennial

Dan Knapp, '82 LD, Hermantown

Adam LaMere, '82 LD, Holy Angels

Ross Miller, '82 LD, Roseau

Rico Murtha, '83 RD, Blake

David Olson, '82 RD, Eden Prairie

Eric Olson, '83 LD, Red Wing

Ryan Peterson, '82 LD, St. Francis

Mark Pettis, '82 RD, Rochester Mayo

Connor Phippen, '82 RD, Holy Angels

T.J. Renskers, '82 RD, Hibbing

Jim Rodberg, '82 RD, Duluth Denfield

Ben Schoff, '82 RD, Anoka

Jeff Schultz, '82 LD, Wayzata

Jon Septer, '82 RD, Breck

Judd Stevens, '83 RD, Wayzata

Weston Tardy, '83 RD, Duluth East

Dewey Worker, '82 LD, Thief River Falls

 

Forwards:

Digger Anderson, '82 RF Coon Rapids

Bret Bubeny, '82 LF, Spring Lake Park

Brandon Buskowiak, '82 RF, Rochester Mayo

Bobby Byfuglien, '82 LF, Roseau

Neal Cole, '83 RF, Minnehaha Academy

Travis Denzel, '82 LF, Cloquet

Nate Droogsma, '83 LF, Elk River

Matt Duncan, '83 RF, Bloomington-Jefferson

Mike Ellena, '82 RF, Cloquet

Mike Erickson, '83 RF, Eden Prairie

Luke Erikson, '82 RF, Roseau

Mike Forconi, '83 RF, Greenway

Matt Frauenshuh, '82 RF, Blake

Wade Harstad, '83 LF, Moorhead

Matthew Hoese, '83 RF, Hopkins

Colin Hohman, '83 LF, Breck

Dan Holmgren, '83 LF, Blaine

Kyle Holzinger, '82 LF, Hill Murray

Ryan Hopkins, '83 RF, Benilde St. Margaret's

Win Hornig, '83 LF, Blake

Joe Jensen, '83 LF, Osseo

Aaron Johnson, '82 LF, Armstrong

Andy Johnson, '82 LF, Chaska

Travis Kieffer, '82 LF, Hastings

Rob Kinsella, '82 RF, Bloomington Kennedy

Shawn Klevin, '83 RF, Crookston

Cole Koidahl, '83 RF, Minneapolis South

Beau Kretzman, '83 LF, Edina

Andy Letourneau, '82 RF, Duluth East

James Martin, '83 LF, Buffalo

Jeff McFarland, '83 RF, Wayzata

Brian McLean, '82 RF, Champlin Park

Kyle Menken, '83 LF, Wayzata

Mike Moe, '83 LF, Eastview

Critter Nagurski, '83 RF, International Falls

Chris Nathe, '82 RF, Elk River

Steve Nelson, '83 LF, Blake

C.J. Nibbe, '82 RF, Breck

Todd O'Hara, '82 RF, Breck

Garrett Olson, '83 RF, Buffalo

Tanner Paulseth, '82 LF, Silver Bay

Rob Rankin, '82 RF, Eagan

Daren Richardson, '82 RF, Cretin Durham Hall

Brandon Roberts, '82 RF, Mankato West

Marty Sertich, '82 LF, Roseville

Garrett Smaagaard, '82 RF, Eden Prairie

John Stanton, F, Ice Hawks Jr. B

Andrew Stearns, '82 LF, Wadena

Trevor Stewart, '82 RF, Elk River

Ryan Stutz, '83 RF, Centennial

Rolf Ulvin, '82 RF, Edina

Shawn Vinz, '82 RF, Shattuck

Mike Vlasak, '83 LF, Rochester Mayo

 

 

Class of 2002

 

Goaltenders:

Tom Anderson, '84 G, Roseville

Dusty Hall, '84 G, Buffalo

Tommy Mulligan, '84 G, Holy Angels

Kevin Piper, '84 G, Totino Grace

Brent Solei, '84 G, Elk River

 

Defensemen:

Justin Barron, '83 LD, Thief River Falls

Barney Birkeland, '83 RD, Buffalo

Matt Charbonneau, '83 LD, St. Thomas Academy

Matt Czech, '84 LD, Hill Murray

David Deterding, '83 RD, Alexandria

Adam Dirlam, '83 LD, Jefferson

Rob Dubel, '83 LD, Maple Grove

Adam Dunlap, '83 LD, Breck

Steve Eastman, '84 RD, Edina

Tyler Howells, '83 LD, Holy Angels

Brian Kilburg, '84 RD, Sibley

Johann Kroll, '84 RD, Wayzata

Eric Lindquist, '83 RD, Jefferson

T.J. Lokken, '83 RD, Bloomington Kennedy

Matt Maunu, '84 RD, Cloquet

Steve Nelson, '83 LD, So. St. Paul

Jake Pence, '83 RD, Owatonna

Derrick Pfeiffer, '84 LD, Hastings

Andy Sertich, '83 LD, Greenway

Mark Stuart, '84 LD, Rochester Lourdes

Ryan Swanson, '84 LD, Woodbury

Jake Taylor, '83 RD, Rochester Lourdes

Steve Van Pelt, '84 LD, Shattuck

Mike Vanelli, '83 RD, Cretin

Adam Welch, '83 RD, Hastings

Will Wetterlin, '84 LD, Edina

Josh Williams, '84 LD, Osseo

 

Forwards:

Joe Adams, '84 LF, Breck

Bob Anderson, '83 LF, Edina

David Backes, '84 RF, Spring Lake Park

Joe Bauer, '83 RF, Apple Valley

Mike Bernhagen, '83 RF, Bloomington Jefferson

Dan Carlson, '83 LF, Hill Murray

Tom Dickhudt, '84 LF, Woodbury

Luke Flicek, '83 RF, Apple Valley

Tom Flikeid, '84 LF, St. Thomas Academy

Joel Gasper, '83 RF, Crookston

Adam Gill, '84 LF, Rochester Lourdes

Gino Guyer, '83 LF, Greenway

Matt Hall, '83 RF, Park Center

Shane Holman, '84 LF, Hibbing

Ricky Hopkins, '83 LF, Benilde St. Margaret's

Chris Hussey, '83 RF, Wayzata

Matt Jackson, '83 RF, Apple Valley

Brian Kaufman, '84 LF, Mounds View

Kevin Krmpotich, '83 LF, Holy Angels

Dan Kronick, '84 LF, Holy Angels

Josh Leddy, '84 RF, Armstrong

Nick Licari, '84 LF, Duluth East

Mike MacMillan, '84 LF, Buffalo

Jim McKenzie, '84 RF, Hill Murray

Ryan Miller, '84 LF, Fergus Falls

Nick Miller, '83 LF, Totino Grace

Matt Miskovich, '83 LF, Grand Rapids

Dan Mossey, '83 LF, Coon Rapids

Nick Pernula, '84 RF, Osseo

J.P. Platisha, '84 LF, Brainerd

Michael Polansky, '83 RF, Blake

B.J. Radovich, '83 RF, Hermantown

Chris Rose, '83 LF, Eden Prairie

Josh Saete, '83 RF, Roseville

Neal Schneider, '83 LF, Moundsview

Kevin Smith, '83 LF, Moorhead

Jeff Snyder, '83 LF, Stillwater

John Stocklar, '83 RF, Princeton

Mark VanGuilder, '84 RF, Roseville

Brandon Wilcox, '84 LF, Apple Valley

Shawn Zeliman, '82 RF, Chaska

 

Class of 2003

 

Goaltenders:

None

 

Defensemen:

Brandon Longley, '84 RD, Elk River

Mike Reveland, '84 RD, Rochester Century

 

Forwards:

Cody Cotlin, '84 RF, Roseville

Mike Sertich, '84 LF, Roseville

Scott Thauwald, '84 LF, Rochester Mayo

Dane Kjono, '84 F, Thief River Falls

Mike Howe, '84 RF, St. Cloud Apollo

 

6/16/00

Rocky Mountain Select Teams Named

Both the Rocky Mountain Select 17's and 16's were allowed ten players from within their district this year, with another six coming from North Dakota, and four from the at-large pool. The 15's have 14 players from the district and six from North Dakota. This year, at the Select 15 Festival, all players go into a draft.

Rocky Mountain Select 17's ('83s)

Goaltenders: Kellen Briggs (Colorado); Layne Sedvie (North Dakota).

Defensemen: Zach Blom (Colorado); Brad Flaishans (Arizona); Evan Johnson (Arizona); Jeremy Flaig (North Dakota); Robbie Bina (North Dakota); Matt Jones (Illinois).

Forwards: Nick Buffington (Colorado); Sean Gagnon (Colorado); Stan Kensinger (Colorado); Brock McMorris (Colorado); Jake Sparks (Colorado); Dave Spina (Arizona); Jesse Lindenberg (North Dakota); Bill Johnson (North Dakota); Chris Garceau (Connecticut); Jordan Black (Michigan); Vinnie Pulera (Wisconsin). 

Team Leader: Charles Callaway (Austin, Texas). Head Coach: Steve Miller (Denver University). Assistant Coaches: Mike Corbett (Billings, AWHL) and Mike Provenzano (Colorado Springs, Col.).

Rocky Mountain Select 16's ('84s)

 

6/16/00

Notes

The all-star games that were slated to provide a bang-up finish to both the Select 16 and 17 Festivals upcoming in St. Cloud have been scratched. Reports indicate that Doug Palazzari, Executive Director of USA Hockey, felt that forcing players to play two games in one day would increase the chance of injury... Ted Carlson and Superland Sports have sold the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) to the venture group that brought the expansion Sioux Falls Stampede into the USHL last fall. Carlson, who already owns several USHL franchises, is handing over the reins to the Musketeers immediately... The dark horses of the eastern recruiting wars are Brooks School defenseman Paul Lynch, and Boston Jr. Bruins forwards Greg Mauldin and Chad Pillsbury. All are getting serious Hockey East interest, with Toot Cahoon reported to be pushing hard for the two forwards... 6'0", 195 lb. forward Joe Kautz of the Green Bay Gamblers has committed to the University of Michigan. Kautz posted a 17-15-32 line for the Gamblers, who won the Clark Cup Championship.... Look for another Gambler, 5'9" forward Allan Swanson to be committing to Northern Michigan shortly. For Swanson, who'll be heading to Northern in the fall of 2001, it'll be a homecoming. He's a native of Marquette and played for the Marquette Electricians Midgets before heading off to Green Bay last fall... Speaking of the Electricians, their fall tournament will be boasting a deep field this year, as the Shattuck Prep team, the Pittsburgh Hornets, and Team Illinois have all made verbal agreements to appear... The Chicago Freeze (NAHL) have put in a bid to host next year's Gold Cup... The other Sean Collins born in '83 -- the Michigan-born defenseman who played for Leamington Jr. B in Ontario this past winter -- fractured vertebrae in a tournament last month and will miss the Select 17 Festival. Collins' spot will be taken by Compuware Midgets defenseman Patrick McGrath, who was Collins' teammate several years ago on the Little Caesar's '83s.

 

6/14/00

Caron Commits to UNH

6'3", 218 lb. left wing Ed Caron, who has just finished his junior year at Phillips Exeter Academy, has committed to the University of New Hampshire.

Caron played for Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, N.H. in 1997-98 before transferring to Exeter, where he posted a 39-30-69 line and helped lead Exeter to the 1998-99 prep school championship. His 39 goals that season set a school record. Last winter, Caron was slowed by an injury the first half of the season but still finished with a 22-25-47 line.  

Caron, a 4/30/82 birthdate, is from Hudson, N.H., which is 49 miles from the Whittemore Center. UNH hasn't had a home-grown star in a long time so getting Caron is big. Even though Caron visited Boston College, it probably would have taken some serious prying to get him to play anywhere other than UNH.  

Caron is the third 11th grader to commit to the Wildcats, joining forwards Sean Collins of Reading (Mass.) HS; and Justin Aikens of Langley in the BCHL. 

 

6/14/00

DiPietro #1 Overall?

It's looking more and more like Boston University puckhandling goaltender Rick DiPietro could indeed move up and become the first overall pick in the NHL draft, which is only 10 days away. 

The New York Islanders, by dint of winning the draft lottery on May 31, moved up from the #5 slot to the top of the heap.  

Today, DiPietro is meeting with the Islanders new owners, who have a big decision: keep the pick or trade it. A source close to the scene has indicated the Islanders are getting some "incredible" offers and, because the Islanders already have top goaltending prospect Roberto Luongo, himself a first round pick (4th overall, 1997 draft), trading the pick is an option. Of course, trading Luongo is also an option.  

No NHL team has taken a goaltender first overall since 1968, when Montreal selected Michel Plasse with the top pick. NHL clubs tend to be reluctant to take a goaltender even in the top half of the first round, though in recent years (see Luongo, but also Brian Finley last year) that's begun to change. As well it should -- goaltenders are the only player that can win games for you single-handedly. Would Dallas have gotten past Colorado -- and into the cup finals -- without Ed Belfour (undrafted, signed as a free agent after one season as North Dakota)? Not bloody likely. 

 

6/14/00

Bonnett to CC

Miami assistant coach Joe Bonnett has been hired as an assistant at Colorado College. 

Bonnett, who played at Western Michigan, graduating in '93, was at Miami for five years, two as a grad assistant, and three as a full-time assistant. 

At CC, he'll join the staff of Scott Owens. Bonnett is the second assistant hired by the school this offseason. Norm Bazin, formerly with UMass-Lowell, also came on board recently. 

For Bonnett, the decision to take the CC job was a tough one, as he was also offered the head coaching job at Sioux City (USHL). 

 

6/12/00

Schremp Impresses 

"He's only a baby," said one NHL scout watching 13-year-old Robbie Shremp play over the weekend at the New England College Development League Showcase Tournament in Hingham, Mass., "but he can play with men."

In addition to NHL scouts, Schremp, a 5'10", 165 lb. left-shot centerman and 7/1/86 birthdate, from Fulton, N.Y., about 25 miles north of Syracuse, was being watched by agents -- yes, Bobby Orr was there -- and numerous Division I coaches. What they saw was a kid who, for  starters, has unbelievable hands and a great shot. Against the Interstate Junior Hockey League All-Stars, Schremp broke in alone from the red line, went to his backhand, and rifled the puck up under the crossbar. It was, another observer pointed out, a goal a college senior could have been proud of -- never mind a kid who won't turn 14 for a few more weeks. 

Schremp needs work on his defensive game, but that's true of practically all 13-year-old whiz kids. He also ran out of gas as the weekend wound down, but that's not surprising, either: Schremp reportedly played 130 games over the winter.   

Another '86 who had an excellent weekend was 6'0" 170 lb. RW Adam Pineault an eighth grader from Holyoke, Mass. Pineault, the top scorer for the '86 Minuteman Flames team that reached the semis of the World International Pee Wee Tournament in Quebec City in February, has a hard shot that the keeps low and on the corners. He can also take hard passes in full stride, can distribute the puck, and uses his teammates very effectively. In addition, his knowledge of the game is advanced for his age. Pineault has the size/skill combination to be the next star out of Western Massachusetts. Right now, two EJHL coaches are holding a tug-of-war for his services: Peter Masters, who coaches the Boston Jr. Bruins and often had Pineault practice with his team; and the New England Coyotes' Gary Dineen, the dean of New England's junior coaches. Enfield, where the Coyotes play, is only 20 minutes from the Pineault home, while the Junior B's home in Marlboro is considerably farther. Masters concedes that he might lose this one. 

Here is the all-star team from the NECDL Showcase:  

Goaltender: Bill Zaniboni. 

Defense: Jesse Lane, U.S. National Program 

Defense: Ryan Whitney, U.S. National Program 

Forward: Ryan Cordeiro. 

Forward: Chris Chaput, Mt. St. Charles 

Forward: T.J. Carmody, Tri-City Storm (USHL)

 

MVP: Chaput, 17 pts. in five games

Most Valuable Defenseman: Whitney

Most Valuable Goaltender: Zaniboni

The Paul Leman Memorial Trophy: Josh Hennessey. 

 

Notes: The Leman Trophy, which last year was won by Cushing defenseman Marvin Degon, goes to the top younger player in the tournament. Hennessey, an eighth grader from Milton Academy, is the top '85 we've seen in New England.... Zaniboni, who graduated this month from Catholic Memorial, was the subject of an erroneous report on Ch. 56, a Boston TV station which, last week, reported the CM senior as going to play for Boston University in the fall. It is not so. Zaniboni will either go to the USHL (he's protected by Dubuque) or stay home and play in the EJHL. As for BU, they continue to scour the world for a goaltender.... Cordeiro has transferred from UNH to Merrimack, where he'll be eligible in the fall of 2001.... Runner up for the top goaltender? Avon Old Farm's Tim Warner. Also playing well in net were Mike Ayers, Matt Hanson, and Rick Massey... The tournament was won by Hub City, which crushed the Cape Cod Whalers in the semis, then, on a Chaput goal in OT, edged Custom Crafted, 5-4, in the finals.... A down note to the weekend was the injury -- he displaced bones in his wrist -- to Catholic Memorial defenseman Chris Murray. It's no small deal, either. Murray, an '84 and the younger brother of Dartmouth College forward Mike Murray, will be out 6-8 weeks, meaning he'll miss the Select 16 Festival starting 11 days from today in St. Cloud, Minn.  

 

6/12/00

Fournier Signs with Moncton 

6'3", 210 lb. defenseman Mike Fournier of the Boston Junior Bruins (EJHL) has signed with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). Fournier, who's from Charlton, Mass. and attended St. John's-Shrewsbury, made visits to both Moncton and Halifax, the latter during the Memorial Cup. Fournier is a 12/17/81 birthdate. 

 

6/12/00

We Stand Corrected 

On Wed. June 7th, we reported on a split between the one-year old  New England Prep School Conference and the ISL's Keller Division; and the Founder's League, prep hockey's older, more-established leagues, over the issue of 20-minute periods.

One of the things we reported was that, at the spring New England Prep School Ice Hockey Association (NEPSIHA) meeting, the coaches of the older leagues voted down the 20-minute proposal. New NEPSIHA president (and St. Paul's head coach) Tim Pratt, who took over the position when Matt Corkery retired at the end of the season, says this is simply wrong, and that no vote was taken. Pratt has more to say in a letter to the editor of the USHR. Please click below to read the full text. And yes, Corkery will continue coaching at Salisbury  

Letter

 

6/12/00

Rohlik, Blue to New Postings 

New Minnesota-Duluth head coach Scott Sandelin has picked one of his new assistant coaches, naming University of Nebraska-Omaha assistant Steve Rohlik to the post. Rohlik, a winger at Wisconsin, coached five years at Hill-Murray High School before moving on to join Mike Kemp at UNO. 

Mankato State coach Troy Jutting has named Darren Blue, who played at Mankato from 1991-95 and captained the team his senior year, as an assistant coach. Blue has been coaching the Bozeman franchise in the AWHL. 

 

6/12/00

Five St. Seb's Players Selected in QMJHL Draft

The QMJHL draft was held Saturday at Aréna Jacques-Plante in Shawinigan, Que., and indeed 6'1" Magog Midget AAA goaltender Maxime Daigneault was picked first overall by Val d'Or Foreurs.. 

What follows is a list of the 14 U.S.-born players selected (five from St. Sebastian's?). Of the group, not a single one was selected higher than the fourth round, meaning most, if not all, will be a long shot to sign. 

The top-ranked skater in the league's pre-draft ranking put out by the league's central scouting (this includes both U.S. and Canadian players) was defenseman Ryan Whitney of Thayer Academy. 

Fourth Round: 

Bathurst, Brian Boyle,  '84, LW, St. Sebastian's

 

Fifth Round:

Cape Breton -- Matt Burto, LW, Connecticut Clippers

 

6th Round:

Montreal -- Ryan Whitney, '83, LD, Thayer Academy

 

7th Round: 

Bathurst -- John Toffey, '82, LW, St. Sebastian's '82

 

8th Round: 

Halifax -- Brian McConnell, '83, LC, U.S. National Program

 

9th Round: 

Cape Breton -- Eric Lundberg, '83, RD, New England Coyotes

Sherbrooke -- Ron Hainsey, '81, LD, UMass-Lowell

Hull -- Jesse Lane, '83, LD, Des Moines

 

12th Round: 

Halifax -- Ryan Trowbridge, '83, RW, Taft

Halifax -- Alexis Augsberger, '83, LW, Hotchkiss

 

13th Round:

Montreal -- Seamus Young, '83, LD, St. Sebastian's

Moncton -- Joe Callahan, '82 LD, BC High

Hull -- Chris Quinn, '82, RW, Springfield Pics Jr. B 

 

14th Round: 

Moncton -- Noah Welch, '82, LD, St. Sebastian's

 

6/11/00

Reading High Star to UNH 

Reading (Mass.) High School star forward Sean Collins, one of the top recruits for the fall of 2001, has committed to the University of New Hampshire, where he'll be a teammate of 2000 recruit Stephen Saviano, his linemate the past few years at Reading. 

Collins, who was also actively recruited by BC, BU, and Maine, will be returning for his senior year at Reading High where he scored 37 goals in leading Reading into the Mass. Super 8 tournament this past season. In April, as a member of the Eastern Mass. Senators Midget AAA team, he wowed observers at the National Tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa. by scoring five goals in a national semifinal -- that was in the morning -- and then five more in the afternoon final against the Chicago Chill, which gave Collins' team the national title.  

Collins is a gifted goal scorer who, at the high school and midget level, is pretty much unstoppable 1-on-1. Time and again, we've seen him pick up a pass, invariably from Saviano, explode through the offensive zone, turn a D -- often by turning on the afterburners -- and, using his body to shield the puck, move in on net alone. Collins, who's small but well put together, has a hard accurate shot.

Coach: Collins "Possessed" 4/11/00 News

 

6/9/00

Mass. Select Teams Named

The Massachusetts squads that will be heading out to St. Cloud, Minn. for the USA Hockey Select Festivals this summer have been named, and are listed below. 

The Select '83s, coached by Maine assistant Gene Reilly, went undefeated (2-0-2) in round-robin play last year, but bowed to Michigan in the gold medal game. One standout from last year, center Brian McConnell, will not -- as a member of the U.S. National Program last winter -- be available to the team. However, Ryan Whitney, who took last summer off to visit his grandfather in Alaska, will be playing this year. This team should be right in the hunt again. A lot will depend on Avon Old Farms goaltender Tim Warner, who won all-tournament honors last summer. Fourteen of the 18 players this year are returnees from last year. Players whose names below are followed by a * are returnees. Despite their strong finish, the Mass 17's lost two roster spots to at-large players. 

The '84s -- i.e., the 16's -- finished in the basement last summer, winding up play with an 0-5-0 record. Fourteen of the 20 players on the team are returnees. Northeastern assistant coach Paul Cannata will be coaching the 16's this year. 

Massachusetts Select 17's

Goaltenders (2): Steve Therrien (Lynn); Tim Warner* (Waltham).

Defensemen (5) Donnie Grover* (Rockland); Jesse Lane* (Needham); Ryan Whitney (Scituate); Brian Yandle* (Milton); Seamus Young* (Dedham).

Forwards (11): Derek Boudreau* (Weymouth); Brendan Byrne (Cohasset); Brian Carthas* (S. Boston); Mike Derderian* (Randolph); Rob Flynn* (Canton); Jack Greeley* (Scituate); Andrew Jewett* (Belmont); Mike Morris* (Braintree); Dan Murphy* (N. Andover); Jason Schuster (Hopkinton); Brendan Timmins* (Arlington).

Head Coach: Gene Reilly. Assistant Coaches: Mike Bavis and Jack Sweeney. 

Massachusetts Select 16's

Goaltenders (2): Adam Geragosian*; Kevin Regan*.

Defensemen (6): Colin Greenhalgh*; Chris Murray*; David Norton*; Evan Shaw; Adam Staniech*; Sean Sullivan.

Forwards (12): Mike Aylward*; Brian Boyle; Kevin Colwell*; Bryan Ciborowski*; Paul D'Agostino; Paul Dufault*; Lyle Gal; Brian Keane*; Scott McDougall; Raymon Ortiz*; Kenny Roche*; Danny Schribman*.

Head Coach: Paul Cannata. Assistant Coaches: Andy Heinze and Mike Geragosian.

Massachusetts Select 15's

Goaltenders (2): Phillip Greer (Franklin); Keith Longo (Hopedale).

Defensemen (6): Andrew Baird (Holbrook); Joseph Capellano (S. Boston); Alex DiPietro (Winthrop); Greg Goldman (Westwood); Phil McDavitt (Duxbury); Jacob Schuster (Hopkinton).

Forwards (12): Edward Brzek (Duxbury); Brendan Byrne (Dedham); Rob Centore (Framingham); Kevin Coughlin (S. Boston); Josh Hennessy (Rockland); Thomas Maregni (Ashland); Stephen McClellan (Milton); Brian McGuirk (Danvers); Aron Moore (Medfield); Joe Rooney (Canton); Michael Rosata (Needham); James Russo (Marshfield).

Head Coach: Pertti Hasanen.

 

6/9/00

QMJHL Draft on Tap

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft is set to begin tomorrow morning in Shawinigan, Quebec.

Val d'Or has the first pick overall and is expected to pick goaltender Maxime Daigneault, who was sensational for the Magog Midget AAA squad last winter. Daigneault, who's 6'1", 200 lbs., has the tools to join the long line of top goaltenders out of Quebec. 

New England is the exclusive U.S. territory the QMJHL. 

The league will be posting draft results on its web site, and promises to update it every few picks. The URL is www.lhjmq.qc.ca

 

6/9/00

Keating to Return

6'2" Northeastern University LW Matt Keating, a two-sport athlete, was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 35th round of the major league baseball draft this week. 

Keating, a first baseman, has indicated to the Northeastern staff that he intends to play minor league ball this summer, and return to Northeastern to skate his senior year with the Huskies. 

Keating, who's from Arlington, Mass., played for Eddie Burns at Arlington High before taking a PG year at Choate.

 

6/8/00

Atlantic District Select Teams Announced

Here are the players who will be representing the Atlantic District this summer at the USA Hockey Select Festivals in St. Cloud, Minnesota. 

The Select 17's, coached by Notre Dame assistant John Micheletto, will be attempting to improve on their lowly record as 16's last summer -- they were 1-3-1 and came in eighth. However, it won't be any easier this year. They have ten players back, but missing will be forward Ryan Murphy, their top scorer of last summer.  Murphy played this past winter in the U.S. National Program. (Players from the National Program -- i.e. those who've already put in a full season -- do not play in the Select Festivals.)

The 15's last year -- this year's 16's -- also finished 1-3-1 and in eighth. They'll be weakened by the loss of forward Stephen Werner, a Chevy Chase, Maryland resident and U.S. National Program recruit. Maryland falls within the Southeast District, which, starting this year, is no longer a combined entry with the Atlantic District. This summer, the Southeast District will be joining forces with Mid-Am.  

Atlantic District Select 17's (1983's)  

Goaltenders (2): Joe Aliseo* (Elizabeth, NJ); Ross Cherry (Basking Ridge, NJ).

Defensemen (6): Matt Baron (Cherry Hill, NJ); Joshua Kiner (Camp Hill, PA); Joseph Maglaque* (Plainfield, NJ); Bryan Miller* (Wayne, NJ); Jason Ortolano* (Carteret, NJ); Jeff Rohland (Havertown, PA).

Forwards (12): Chris Barling* (Livingston, NJ); Rob Brougham* (Randolph, NJ); James Canner (Wyomissing, PA); Josh Ciocco* (Atco, NJ); Alex Delaney (Hummelstown, PA); James Gehring (Exton, PA); Brandon Kape (Westfield, NJ); Michael Lagola* (Linden, NJ); Michael McMullen* (Chester Springs, PA); Sean Reilly* (Toms River, NJ); Henri Sanders (Gilbertsville, PA); Scott Schaub (Pennington, NJ). 

Team Leader: Lou Manzione. Head Coach: John Micheletto. Assistant Coaches: John DiNorcia and Mike Amato.

Atlantic District Select 16's (1984's)

Goaltenders (1): Tim Roth* (Teaneck, NJ).

Defensemen (5): Ryan Adler (Piscataway, NJ); Tim Cook (Montclair, NJ); Michael Gershon* (Sparta, NJ); Shawn Kiefer (Allentown, PA): Kevin Kielt* (Brick, NJ).

Forwards (12): Christopher Grunther* (Medford, NJ); Carter Lee (Pt. Pleasant, NJ); Brian Liamaro* (New York, NY); Steve Lunau* (Bergenfield, NJ); Evan Massaro (Lebanon, NJ); James McNally* (Ridgewood, NJ); Alex Minicucci* (Brookville, NY); Jonathan Ralph* (Chester, NJ); Vinny Rinaldi* (Norwood, NJ); Matt Spaulding (Mechanicsburg, PA); Tim Wochok* (Malvern, PA); Adam Zaccaria* (Turnersville, NJ).

Team Leader: Larry Wheatley. Head Coach: Pat Ferrill. Assistant Coaches: Tom Koester, Jr. and Rich Eby.

Atlantic District Select 15's (1985's)

Goaltenders (2): Zane Kalemba (Montvale, NJ); Jason Richardson (Perkasie, PA).

Defensemen (6): Matt Cohen (New York, NY); Justin Hastings (Dauphin, PA); Thomas Maldonado (Bronx, NY); Joseph McCabe (Jamison, PA); Denny Nemati (Holmdel, NJ); Jim Przybylowicz (Langhorne, PA).

Forwards (12): Greg Adamo (Manalapan, NJ); Michael Atkinson (Sparta, NJ); Steve Bruch (Downington, PA); Ryan Collis (Livingston, NJ); Greg Gallo (Dublin, PA): Steve Mandes (Doylestown, PA); Joseph Norman (Plainsboro, NJ); Dan Pencinger (Randolph, NJ); John Perrotta (Middletown, NJ); Chris Sabo (Harding, NJ); Patrick Sheridan (Short Hills, NJ); Tony Trocchia (Wayside, NJ).

Team Leader: Fred Hughes. Head Coach: Leigh Mendelson. Assistant Coaches: Dave Bauer and Todd Drevitch. 

 

6/7/00

Chico on the Move 

Team Illinois head coach Tom "Chico" Adrahtas, who has won five national titles at various levels in nearly two decades behind the bench, will be joining the NAHL champion Danville Wings as an associate head coach. Adrahtas, who has coached just about every top player to come out of the Chicago area in recent years, will be working with head coach/G.M. Josh Mervis and assistant Andy Vicari.... The five finalists for the Minnesota-Duluth assistants jobs -- that's plural; both are open -- are current Minn-Duluth assistant Glenn Kulyk, Nebraska-Omaha assistant Steve Rohlik, Waterloo (USHL) head coach Scott Koberinski, Shattuck St. Mary's head coach Tom Ward, and Minnesota-Duluth grad assistant Norm Maciver, who played defense for the Bulldogs in the '80s before going on to a 13-year pro career. Look for an announcement shortly... For the first time in five years, the U.S. National Junior team will have a new coach. The name we're hearing the most is former Yale goaltender Keith Allain. This past season, Allain scouted for the St. Louis Blues...Colorado College recruit Scott Polaski is reported to be returning to Sioux City  (USHL) for another year... Des Moines defenseman Jesse Lane, who's from Needham, Mass and played with Des Moines (USHL) this past season, will be taking his senior year with the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor starting this fall. Lane's an '83 and played a year with the Walpole Stars (EJHL) before heading west...In New England there's a split between the one-year old  New England Prep School Conference and the ISL's Keller Division and the Founder's League, prep hockey's older, more-established leagues. In April, the coaches of the new league voted in favor of going with 20-minute periods, as opposed to the traditional 15. However, at the spring New England Prep School Ice Hockey Association (NEPSIHA) meeting, the coaches of the other two leagues rallied against it. Given that all three leagues fall under the auspices of the NEPSIHA, a majority vote was needed. However, some autonomy is allowed individual schools, so coaches in the new league -- Cushing's Steve Jacobs, Exeter's Dana Barbin, NMH's Jim Ward, and others -- are totally free to play 20-minute periods if both coaches agree to it at any time before the start of a game.

 

6/6/00

From Sioux City to the Fighting Sioux

Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) head coach Dave Hakstol has been named as an assistant coach at the University of North Dakota, taking the position vacated by Scott Sandelin, now the head coach at Minnesota-Duluth.

Hakstol, who's from Warburg, Alberta, was a defenseman for the Fighting Sioux from 1989-92. After a five-year pro career Hakstol took over the   Musketeers after the start of the 1996-97. The team won only eight games that year, but the next year jumped up to 32 wins. Since then, Sioux City has posted a winning record each season.

Who's likely to take over in Sioux City? A top candidate would have to be current assistant Leigh Mendelson, a tireless recruiter who helped bring in Ruslan Fedotenko, Rostislav Klesla, David Hale, and many others. Another top candidate would be Todd Jones, a former assistant under Hakstol at Sioux City. This past season, Jones coached the now-defunct Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL).

In NHL circles, there's been talk about North Dakota head coach Dean Blais or former New Jersey head coach Jacques Lemaire getting the head coaching job with the expansion Minnesota Wild. If Blais gets the nod, the usual ripple effect in the NCAA Div. I coaching ranks will ensue. 

 

6/5/00

Lee Top Yank in OHL Draft

 

Brian Lee, a left-shot defenseman from Honeybaked '84, was the top American player selected in Saturday's OHL draft in Mississauga, Ontario, going 10th overall to Erie.

 

There were two other Americans selected in the first round:

 

-- Going 14th overall was Brampton Capitals (OPJHL) RW Justin McCutcheon, an overager ('83 birthdate) from upstate New York who was selected by Kingston..   

 

-- With the last pick in the first round the Plymouth Whalers selected James Wisniewski, an '84 defenseman who played last winter with the Compuware Ambassadors (NAHL). 

The OHL draft - as it regards Americans, anyway -- is not a particularly good indicator of talent, primariily because most of the picks are total shots in the dark, pre-emptive strikes, or pre-arranged deals. Anyway, for fun at least, here's the list of the 54 Americans (including dual citizens) selected. Of those 54 players, 30 are '84s, 21 are '83's, and three are '82s. 

The U.S. territory for the OHL runs from New York State west to Wisconsin. The Quebec League, which holds territorial rights to New England, holds their draft this Saturday. 

Sat. June 3; Mississauga, Ont.

1st Round: Erie, Brian Lee, LD, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam; Kingston, Justin McCutcheon*, RW, Brampton Jr. A; Plymouth, James Wisniewski, RD, Compuware Jr. A

 

2nd Round: Guelph, Dustin Brown, RW, Syracuse Bantam.

 

3rd Round: Windsor, Cam Jansen, RW/C, St. Louis Blues Bantam; Belleville, Dwight LaBrosse*, G, Pittsburgh Hornets Midgets.

 

4th Round: North Bay, Greg Goodnough, RW, Syracuse Jr. A.

 

5th Round: Brampton, Ryan Kesler, R, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam; Peterborough, Jimmie Howard, G, Westport Jr. B; Sudbury, Jason Hicks*, LD, Cleveland Jr. A; Plymouth, Brian Liamaro, LC, New Jersey Devils Bantams.

 

6th Round: Guelph, Frank Burgio*, LD, Rochester Americans Jr. A; Sarnia, David Booth, LC/LW, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam; Sarnia, Brad Robbins, RD, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam; Plymouth, Corey Potter, RD, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam.

 

7th Round: Soo, Chris Trick, RD, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam; Barrie, Josh Gartner, G, Toronto Nationals Bantam. 

 

8th Round: Windsor, Josh Elzinga, LD, Team Illinois Midget; Kingston,  Jordan Fox, RW/RC, St. Louis Blues Bantams; Peterborough, Adam Elzinga (1982), LD, Danville Jr. A; Kingston,  Lee Falardeau*, LC, US National Program.

 

9th Round: Erie, T.J. Fox, LW, Syracuse Jr. A.

 

10th Round: Toronto, Eric Nystrom*, U.S. National Program; Soo, Marco Trevino, RW/RC, Compuware Midgets.

 

11th Round: London, Stephen Werner, RC, Washington Caps Jr. B; Plymouth, Ryan Ecola, LW, Chicago Chill Bantams.

 

12th Round: Windsor, A.J. Greco*, LW, St. Michael's Jr. A; Sarnia, Patrick Murphy*, LC, U.S. National Program; Barrie, Mark Langdon*, LW/LC, Rochester Americans Jr. A.

 

13th Round: Toronto, Jason Paige, RC/RW, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam; Plymouth, Josh Griffith*, LD, Compuware Jr. A; Sarnia, Joey Coules, RW, Leamington Jr. B

 

14th Round: Guelph, Marty Guerin*, RC, Detroit Honeybaked Midgets; Windsor, Jason Tejchma*, LC, Detroit Honeybaked Midgets; Kingston, Joe Pomeranski*, RD, U.S. National Program; Soo, Justin Bodine*, LW, New York Bobcats Jr. B; Ottawa, Justin Tobe, G, Detroit Honeybaked Bantam.

 

15th Round: Toronto, Matt Jones*, LD, Green Bay Jr. A; Oshawa, Mike McKenna*, G, Springfield Jr. A; Erie, Jimmy Slater (1982), LC, Cleveland Jr. A.

.

16th Round: Erie, Ryan Murphy*, LC, U.S. National Program; Windsor, Michael Grenzy, LD, Toronto Marlies Bantams; Belleville, Dylan Reese, RD, Pittsburgh Hornets Midgets.

 

17th Round: London, Derek Smith*, LD, U.S. National Program; Brampton, Corey Clements*, RD.

 

18th Round: Windsor, Joe Bradigan, RW, Buffalo Stars Bantams; Barrie, Adam Brand, RD, Antigo (Wisc.) HS; Plymouth, Jason Bacashihua (1982), G, Chicago Freeze Jr. A.

 

19th Round: Kitchener, Jason Hill, LC/LW, Buffalo Stars Bantams; Peterborough, Lee Stempniak*, RC, Buffalo Jr. A; Sudbury, William Burgio, LD, Rochester Jr. B; Plymouth, Eric Sargent, LC, U.S. National Program.

 

20th Round: Guelph, Nick Pomponio, LW, Little Caesar's Bantams; Plymouth, Eric Werner*, RD, U.S. National Program.

 

6/5/00

Alaska High School Hockey Shut Down

The City of Anchorage School Board, after not getting the $11 million they were seeking for next year, has cut high school hockey out of the city budget.

Not surprisingly, there's a lot of anger over the moves in the Alaskan hockey community -- and the gymnastics and swimming community, too, as those programs were also cut (to say nothing of roughly 40-50 teaching positions). There's some hope, though, that this can be solved when a new mayor, recently elected, takes office July 1. 

Anchorage has six major high school hockey programs: Service, Dimond, Chugiak, Bartlett, East, and West. The combined cost to run the programs is said to be $200,000.  

There's a chance that if the Anchorage schools don't get the funding back, other top high school programs in the state, mainly on the Kenai Peninsula and in Fairbanks, would shut down, too. Among those schools are Lathrop, West Valley, North Pole, Soldotna, Skyview, Colony, Wasilla, and Palmer.

In terms of player development in the state, a high school shutdown would hurt severely, as many families could get squeezed out financially. In Alaska, as in a number of other states, the better players play bantam or midget in the fall and spring, which, given Alaska's remoteness, can run to as much as $6,000. In the winter, of course, high school hockey takes over and games between top teams like Service and Dimond pack them in. If the Alaskans had to go to bantam/midget for the full year, the cost, even with frequent flyer miles, could run to $14-15K per player per year. That's not chicken scratch. 

 

6/5/00

Pacific Select Squads Named

Here are the Pacific Select 15,16, and 17 teams. Of the 60 players selected, 30 are from Alaska, 19 from California, and 11 from Washington.

Returnees -- players who were on last year's Pacific Select 15 or 16 teams -- are denoted with a *. 

Pacific Select 17 Team

Goaltenders (2): Erik Hokum (California), Devan McConnell* (Washington).

Defensemen (6): Archie Dessert* (California), Ross Goff* (Washington), Thomas Huling* (Alaska), Patrick Lake (Alaska), Joe Matuszewski (Washington), Ryan McMullin (Alaska).

Forwards (12): Adam Bartholomay (California), Justin Childers* (Alaska), Grant Goeckner-Zoeller (California), Ryan Hakkinen* (Alaska), Nathan Hendrickson (Alaska), Julian Madden (Washington), Martin Mjelieli  (Washington), Adam Powell (Alaska), Chris Smith (Alaska), Ryan Stattner (Alaska)*, Nick Tsiantar (California)*, Merit Waldrop (Alaska).

Team Leader: Larry Conn (California). Head Coach: Derek Eisler (California). Assistant Coaches: Rob Newman (Alaska) and Joe Stanczyk (California).

Pacific Select 16 Team

Goaltenders (2): Matt Duval (Alaska), Matthew Mouser* (California).

Defensemen (6): Theodore Bancarz, Jr. (California), Matt Carle* (Alaska), Mike Hodgson (Washington), Shane Lovdahl (Alaska), Jeremy Smith (Alaska), Jake Wilkens* (Alaska).

Forwards (12): Peter Cartwright (Alaska), Matt Chacho* (Alaska), Matt Ford (California), Joseph Garofalo (California), Gabe Gauthier* (California), Mike Ramirez* (Alaska), Dane Smulick* (Alaska), Nick Solakian (California), Brett Sterling* (California), Nate Thompson (Alaska), Tim Wallace* (Alaska), Cy Young* (Alaska).

Team Leader: Dan Rogness (Alaska). Head Coach: Dennis Sorenson (Alaska). Assistant Coaches: Rob Sumner (Washington) and Kirk Benson (Alaska).

Pacific Select 15 Team

Goaltenders (2): Wylie Rogers (Alaska), Ryan Skier (Washington).

Defensemen (6): Jarel Baltazar (California), Spencer Dillon (California), Eric Jones (California), Justin Kovacevich (Alaska), Andrew Mahar (Washington), Graham McManamin (Alaska).

Forwards (12): Brian Bales (Alaska), Jason Beeman (California), Mike Cavanias (Washington), Sean DuPaul (California), Kyle Harris (Washington), Trevor Hyatt (Alaska), John Kazanchian (California), Daniel Lekavich (California), Derek Martin (Alaska), Steve Murphy (Alaska), Nick Overman (Washington), Jon Stralka (Alaska).

Team Leader: Bruce Urban (Alaska). Head Coach: Bob Freeland (Oregon). Assistant Coaches: Rob Kaufman (Washington) and Rodney Wild (Alaska).

 

6/2/00

OHL Draft Tomorrow

The Mississauga IceDogs will be picking first overall in tomorrow's OHL draft and plan to select 5'11", 175 lb. center Pat Jarrett of the Tier II Soo Thunderbirds. Jarrett, who's the younger brother of Plymouth Whalers defenseman Cole Jarrett, was one of the top 10 scorers in his league, posting a 22-32-54 line in 40 games -- and that's a 15-year old, remember. What Jarrett lacks in size he makes up for in tenacity. He'll take a hit and then give it back it twice as hard. He's more a distributor than a finisher.

Jarrett is not the kind of prospect that has scouts reaching for superlatives, as was the case last year when Jason Spezza was picked first overall. Scouts, by the way, feel that Spezza tailed off in his second OHL season (he played for the Brampton Battalion as a hometown underager in 1998-99). However, a lot of them are still projecting him as the #1 pick in the 2001 NHL draft. 

Jarrett will join Spezza and another talented centerman, Lou Dickenson, in the IceDogs lineup this fall. The IceDogs, owned by Don Cherry, have won only 12 times in 136 games and have gone through four coaches in their two-year history.

St. Michael's picks second and is said to be leaning toward Cambridge Jr. B centerman Tim Brent. Owen Sound, picking third, could go for Toronto Marlies Bantam defenseman Richard Power. 

Jarrett's first cousin, 6'2" Blair Jarrett, is rumored to be the Ice Dogs 1st pick in the second round. Blair is a late 1984 RW/RC who played  for the Soo Thunder bantams this past season. 

The top American skater in the draft is likely to be Honeybaked '84 defenseman Brian Lee, who has interest from Sarnia and Plymouth. Top American goaltender is likely to be 6'2" Mike McKenna of the Springfield Jr. Blues, an '83 birthdate. 

You can follow the whole draft at www.ontariohockeyleague.com. They'll be posting the first round as each individual selection is named. At the close of each succeeding round, another batch of names will be uploaded. The draft, which takes place at the Hershey Center in Mississauga, begins at 10 am.

This is the the second year of what is a transition to holding a full bantam draft next year. OHL scouts are already talking about the possibility of the league going to a 14-year-old draft before long. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. 

Anyway, this year teams will be selecting bantams (that is, players born in 1984) in the first 15 rounds only. Players born in 1983 can be selected in any of the draft's 20 rounds, though most of the top '83s were skimmed off in last year's draft. Note that only the first two bantams picked by each team tomorrow will be eligible to play in the OHL next season. The rest must wait until the fall of 2001.

 

6/2/00

USHL Puts Second Team in Chicago 

The Thunder Bay Flyers, for 16 years the lone Canadian-based franchise in the NHL, have been sold to a group of Chicago-area investors. 

Home for the new team, which will begin play in the fall of 2001, is Aurora, Illinois. The city, which is about 30 minutes west of Chicago, has a 5,000 seat downtown arena on the planning board. 

This is the second USHL team to move into the Chicago area this spring. Just last month, the Fargo-Moorhead franchise was sold, moved to Bensenville, Ill., and renamed the Chicago Steel. 

Aurora is about 45 miles southwest of Bensenville, and about 10 to 15 miles south of Geneva, Ill., home to the Chicago Freeze (NAHL). 

Moving franchises from small rural cities like Fargo and Thunder Bay to densely-populated metro suburbs -- i.e., following the dollars -- is something that minor league baseball, mainly at the Single-A level, has done consistently -- and with great box-office success -- over the past decade. 

The franchise is owned by Aurora Sports Ventures, which is headed up by Charles W. Bidwell III and Jeff Krol.

 

6/2/00

The Edge

Former Harvard head hockey coach Ronn Tomassoni has a burgeoning business going, a key component of which is helping young hockey players find the right fit for their abilities, both at the prep and college level. 

The company, Educational Edge, is designed for athletes looking to make the next move but uncertain as to what's best. Parents buried under a mound of advice (and not enough time to sort it all out on their own) can turn to Tomassoni for an unbiased opinion.   

Tomassoni, who was also Harvard's key recruiter during the Crimson's glory years of the '80s (three NCAA championship game appearances in six years, one NCAA title), goes out to scout the player, writes up a detailed report, and then advises the family on their options. 

"We help map a path that will enable the player to reach his goals and aspirations. We guide families through the school identification process, and continue on through admissions and recruiting while maximizing exposure for the player every step of the way. 

"If a family calls me," says Tomassoni, "I'll say, 'Don't hire me unless you want to hear the truth.' I'm kind of a reality check."

The approach, says Tomassoni, is working -- and in interesting ways. A father who thought his son was a sure-fire Division I college  prospect hired Tomassoni, and was promptly brought back to earth when the former Division I coach told him that he was being a bit unrealistic. "He was a bit taken back initially," Tomassoni says, "but when I met with the whole family I could see how receptive the boy was to my words. The father, it turns out, had been putting a lot of pressure on his son. After the meeting, the boy was able to just get back to having fun playing again. I got a really nice thank-you letter from the father later."

Tomassoni also did a report on a boy from the Midwest whose parents had no clue what level their son might aspire to. When Tomassoni scouted the player (name undisclosed due to company confidentiality), he saw a Division I prospect. Tomassoni wrote his report, used contacts developed from his 17 years (nine as head coach) at Harvard, and before long four schools wanted to bring the player in on an official visit. "He'll be playing at an Ivy school this fall," Tomassoni says.    

Educational Edge does more than just hockey. The company, run by Tomassoni and Dr. Parnell Hagerman, formerly an admissions director at Hotchkiss and Deerfield, is also evaluating athletes in other sports. One of the company's clients, a scratch golfer from Europe, will be entering an Ivy League school this fall. 

However, at USHR we're concerned about hockey, and we believe Tomassoni's company offers something useful. Just judging by the e-mail we get from parents asking for suggestions concerning where their son should be playing next, we know there's a need for the services Tomassoni's company provides.   

The phone # for Educational Edge is (781) 899-9401. The e-mail is educationaledge@aol.com and the web site is www.edu-edge.com

 

6/1/00

New York 16's, 17's Ready to Go

The New York District has named its squad for the Select 16 Festival (June 24-29; St. Cloud, Minn.) and Select 17 Festival (July 1-6; St. Cloud, Minn.).

The 15's will be named following the district's camp June 25-July 1.

Last year's 15's (2-3-0) finished in sixth place; last year's 16's (2-2-1) finished in 7th place. Players returning from those teams have a * following their names. The 16's have 10 returnees; the 17's have 12. 

New York 16's

Goaltenders (2): James Howard (Ogdensburg); David Leggio (Williamsville).

Defensemen (5): Casey Balog (Brockport); Brian Dobler* (Jericho); Michael Grenzy* (Lockport); Jeffrey Mosher* (Hilton); Patrick Oliveto (Rochester). 

Forwards (11): Joseph Bradigan* (Niagara Falls); Dustin Brown (Ithaca); Chris Collins* (Fairport); Peter Ferraro (Pleasantville); T.J. Fox* (Oswego); Andrew Gartman* (Baldwin); Greg Goodnough* (Mannsville); Jeff Harris (Clifton Park); Mark McCutcheon* (Pittsford); Mark Schwamberger (Spencerport); Tim Sestito* (Rome).

New York 17's

Goaltenders (2): Kevin Amborski (East Bloomfield); Robert Goepfert* (Kings Park).

Defensemen (6): Frank Burgio* (Rochester); Trevor Calamel (Lockport); Chris DiStefano* (Albany); Howard Jennings (Cadyville); Gerard Miller* (Lloyd Harbor); Dinos Stamoulis* (Carle Place).

Forwards (12): Matthew Blabac (Florida); Doug Conley (East Amherst); Stephen Gionta* (Rochester); Chris Higgins* (Smithtown); Mark Kuczmanski* (Cheektowaga); Mark Langdon* (Rochester); Jonathan Pakan (Syracuse); A.J. Palkovich (N. Bellmore); Michael Pasley (Pittsford); Jake Schwan* (Clifton Park); Lee Stempniak* (West Seneca); Mark Yurkewicz* (Troy).

 

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