8/24/05
Yandle Makes the Move
Keith Yandle’s college career has come to an end before it’s begun.
Yandle, who has agreed to terms with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), flew out of Boston this morning and will be on the ice with the Wildcats, whose training camp has begun, starting either today or tomorrow.
No financial details were disclosed.
Yandle will leave Moncton on Sept. 6 to take part in the Phoenix Coyotes rookie camp, then return 8-9 days later. The Coyotes selected the 6’2”, 195 lb. Cushing graduate in the fourth round of last month’s NHL draft.
8/30/05
Dahl Bids Adieu to St. Cloud State
Craig Dahl, after 18 years behind the bench, has resigned -- effective immediately -- from his head coaching position at St. Cloud State.
Bob Motzko will be the new head coach.
Motzko was hired in May to be Dahl's successor. It was thought that the changeover would come a year from now, but, as we see, it was accomplished more quickly.
8/29/05
Vacation
The US Hockey Report will be closed until Labor Day. However, if anything of more than passing interest should occur, and we hear of it, we will post it --either as soon as possible, or next week.
8/26/05
Barons Name Fritsche New Head Coach
The Cleveland Barons (NAHL) have hired John Fritsche as their new head coach/GM. Fritsche, a Parma, Ohio native and the uncle of Danny and Tom Fritsche, has worked for the past two seasons as associate head coachof Ambri-Piottain the SwissProfessional Hockey League, as well as head coach of their Jr. A squad. Before that, Fritsche had a 21- year playing career, mostly with Ambri-Piotta.
Current Barons assistant coach Josh Harrold will stay on staff, and move up to associate head coach. Assistant GM Rob Gagne will continue with his duties as well.
8/26/05
New Forward for Dutchmen
5’11”, 180 lb. Northwood School forward Mario Valery-Trabucco has committed to Union College for the ’06-07 season.
Valery-Trabucco, a Montreal native, is a right shot center going into his third year at Northwood. He’s a speedster with good skills, a little flash, and a lot of energy. He’s also a pretty good goal scorer.
He’s a 2/19/87 birthdate.
8/25/05
Former Prep Hockey Player Shuts Down Red Sox
Followers of prep hockey watching the Boston Red Sox beat the K.C. Royals Tuesday night might have noticed the rookie Royals reliever, Jonah Bayliss, who pitched two perfect innings in a mop-up role.
Bayliss is a 1999 graduate of Lawrence Academy, where, in addition to baseball, he played hockey.He was on one of Charlie Corey’s better teams, overshadowed by the likes of Tony Voce, Chris Vail, and Steven Wood, but he was there nonetheless, and suited up for two years.
Bayliss, now 25, is a resident of Williamstown, Mass. who was drafted out of Trinity College in 2002 (7th round) and has been making his way through the Royals system for the past few years.
He looked very strong against the Red Sox, throwing hard and striking out the first two batters he faced --(Varitek and Olerud – and then getting Mueller, Graffaninio, Damon, and Renteria on pop ups or fly balls. He threw 19 pitches, 14 of them for strikes.
It was Bayliss’ ninth major league appearance, and his longest. He’s thrown a total of 8 2/3 innings, and has a 0-0 record and a 4.15 era.
8/25/05
Richardson Trial Gets Underway
Bobby Richardson, 51, a former Div I assistant at Yale, BU, and Northeastern, went on trial yesterday in Suffolk County (Mass.) Superior Court on charges that he raped a 14-year-old boy at an International Hockey Academy summer camp five years ago.
Richardson, director of the now-defunct camp, allegedly assaulted the victim on July 30, 1998 in a Boston University dorm room during an IHA summer camp. Prosecutors say Richardson assaulted the boy, who is now 21 and living in Houston, Texas, twice more in the winter of 1998-99, both times at Richardson's Dorchester home.
Richardson was indicted two summers ago, in July 2003. The previous winter he had worked as an assistant coach of the girl's team at Milton Academy and as a scout for the NHL's Calgary Flames. In addition, he ran IHA clinics and camps.
Richardson, who did not play college hockey, was an assistant at Yale in the late 70's-early '80s, at BU in the mid-to late '80s and then at Northeastern in the early '90s.
One of his recruits for BU was former BC High forward Mike Sullivan, currently the head coach of the Boston Bruins.
Richardson has written extensively on hockey coaching and philosophy, and is well known in Mass youth hockey circles.
Today’s Boston Globe has a more extensive article on the trial. Here’s the link:
Boston Globe Article, Thurs. Aug. 25
8/24/05
Finalists for Skidmore
Word through the grapevine is that Bruce Crowder and Neil Sinclair are the finalists for the Skidmore College head coaching job which became vacant when Paul Dion resigned earlier this month after 22 seasons behind the bench.
Crowder, of course, is the “name” guy and needs no introduction to readers of this page.
Sinclair, a 1993 Div. III All-American at Middlebury College, went on to coach Middlebury Union High School before returning to his alma mater to join Bill Beaney’s staff. When Beaney took a sabbatical in 2002-03, Sinclair took over the Panthers as interim head coach. For the last two years Sinclair has been head coach of the Williams College women’s team.
8/24/05
Cullity Staying Put
While on the subject of Omaha, Boston University recruit Patrick Cullity, who had been planning to play the upcoming season with the Lancers, has decided at the last minute to return to prep school.
Cullity, a 6’1” LD from Tewksbury, Mass., will be a senior at the Berkshire School this year.
8/24/05
Moran to Lancers
5’11”, 185 lb. forward Chris Moran who, as a member of the Buffalo Lightning (OPJHL) last season, was the first American ever named OHA Junior A Player of the Year, decided this week not to return to the Lightning (recently renamed the Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and will play the upcoming season with the Omaha Lancers (USHL).
Moran, who was drafted by Omaha in May and attended their camp, finished last season with a 38-62-100 line in 49 games, falling just two points short of the league scoring crown, which was won by St. Mike’s Andrew Cogliano, a Michigan recruit.
Moran, a 5/18/87 birthdate, is a native of Buffalo and committed last fall to Niagara University for ’06-07.
“I haven’t seen too many kids go up to that league and put up the points he did,” Omaha coach/GM Mike Hastings said. “He will be a guy who will come in here and do the same. His greatest gift is his stick. He’s most comfortable from the tops of the circles in, and he has the ability to be a goal scorer and a distributor.”
“I also like his demeanor,” Hastings added. “He’s a likeable kid.”
8/20/05
A Hometown Kid
Northern Michigan has a verbal commitment from 6’4”, 189 lb. LW Justin Florek.
Florek, a Marquette native who in 66 bantam games last season had a 103-55-158 line, will be at Northern for the 2008-09 season.
Florek, along with Phillip McRae and Vinny Saponari, constituted the top line at the recent Select 15 Festival. Florek, though, missed the last two games as he was cut on his wrist by a skate blade. Tendons were cut, though not severed.
Florek, when healed, will play the coming season with the Marquette Electricians Midgets.
Florek, though he just turned 15 in May, has huge upside, with the potential to be a first round NHL draft pick, and likely the best player to ever come out of Marquette.
8/20/05
Early Arrival
6’0”, 185 lb. RD Jake Gannon, who split last season between the Team Illinois Midgets and the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) and was all set to play another year in Sioux City, will instead be heading to Colorado College with the beginning of school next month.
Colorado College has been hit hard by pro signings, as defensemen Mark Stuart (Boston) and Brady Greco (Tampa Bay) have both recently turned pro.
8/18/05
U.S. Takes First Place at Five Nations
The U.S. Under-17 Select Team came back from a 4-3 second period deficit, scoring three unanswered goals to defeat Germany 6-4 Thursday in their final game at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Huttwil, Switzerland, With the win, the US, which went undefeated (3-0-1) against teams from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany, took first place.
There is no medal round in the tournament.
Germany led 3-2 after the opening period, scoring their third goal on a penalty shot. U.S. goals in the first period were both power play goals, from defensemanNick Petrecki at 8:35 and forward Tom Serratore at 9:12.
In the second period, Robbie Vrolyk scored his first of two power play goals at the 17 second mark to tie it up at 3-3. After Germany went ahead 4-3, Vrolyk struck again with three seconds left in the period to make it 4-4.
The U.S. went ahead to stay on a Dan Durham goal at 9:21 of the third period. Jimmy Hayes added a power play goal at 14:15 to give Team USA its 6-4 win.
The U.S.outshot Germany, 37-26. Reid Ellingson made 22 saves for the US.
Note:
Five of the six U.S. goals came on the power play. Three of Germany’s four goals came on the power play – their other goal came on a penalty shot.
Game Summary:
GER 3 1 0 -- 4
USA 2 2 2 -- 6
First Period - Scoring: 1, GER, Wegrich (Chiist), 5:01 (pp); 2, USA, Petrecki (Diamond, Bruneteau), 8: 35 (pp); 3, USA, Serratore (Johnson, Hayes), 9:12 (pp); 4, GER, Chiist (Siegert), 12:45 (pp); 5, GER, Ruderer (penalty shot), 19:07. Penalties: USA, Diamond (hooking), 2:14; USA, Llewellyn (cross checking), 3:59; GER, Stuim (interference), 6:46; GER, Heyer (tripping), 8:17; USA, bench - served by Vrolyk (too many men), 10:55; USA, Hoeffel (hooking), 11:39; GER, Eickmann (hooking), 17:00; USA, McDonagh (hooking), 19:07; GER, Rupptich (roughing), 19:26.
Second Period - Scoring: 6, USA, Vrolyk (unassisted), 0:17 (pp); 7, GER, Fischbach (Huebscher), 16:27 (pp); 8, USA, Vrolyk (unassisted), 19:57 (pp). Penalties: GER, Heyer (holding), 7:24; USA, Dyer (interference), 11:59; GER, Chiist (tripping), 13:14; GER, Ackermann (roughing), 13:37; USA, Petrecki (roughing), 13:37; USA, Petrecki (cross checking), 13:37; USA, Cross (hooking), 15:06; USA, Dyer (hooking), 17:00; GER, bench - served by Leismuller (too many men), 19:17.
Third Period - Scoring: 9, USA, Durham (White), 9:21; 10, USA, Hayes (Serratore), 14:15 (pp). Penalties: GER, Hinlerstocker (interference), 3:00; GER, Heyer (holding), 5:22; USA, Llewellyn (hooking), 7:35; GER, Huebscher (tripping), 8:07; GER, Heyer (tripping), 12:36; GER, Heyer (hitting to the head, misconduct), 12:36; GER, Stuim (interference), 18:02.
Goaltending: 1 2 3 TS GA
USA, Ellingson (60:00) 9 7 6 22 4
GER, Tanzer (60:00) 12 9 10 31 6
8/19/05
EJHL vs CJHL and OPJHL Weekend
8/19/05
Two ‘90s for the Wolverines
Both Rob Czarnik and A.J. Jenks, standout forwards at the recent Select 15 Festival in St. Cloud, Minn., have committed to the University of Michigan for the ’08-09 season.
Czarnik, who had a 4-3-7 line and played center at the Festival, is 6’0”, 151 lbs. and a right shot. He’s skinny for his height right now, but he’s still growing and obviously has a long way to go before he fills out. He has speed, good puck skills, competes, and is involved physically. A 1/25/90 birthdate from Washington, Mich., he played for the Honeybaked ‘90s last season.
Jenks, who had a 3-2-5 line at the Festival, is already a rangy 6’2”, 184 lbs. A left shot, he, too, played center at the Festival, though he looks more like he’ll be a wing in the long run (the same could apply to Czarnik). Jenks played up with the Compuware midget minor squad last season; will be moving over to Honeybaked this season. Jenks, like Czarnik, was hard to miss amongst the other 15s, not just because of his size, strength and physical play, but because of his ability to make a play and finish. He’s a 6/27/90 birthdate from Wolverine Lake, Mich.
8/19/05
Ostrow to Pioneers
5’9”, 175 lb. LC Kyle Ostrow, the second-leading scorer in the Alberta Midget League while playing for the Calgary AAA Flames last winter, has committed to Denver for the ’07-08 season.
Ostrow, who made his final choice from between UNH and Denver, is a fast, creative, unselfish centermanwho can shoot the puck hard and accurately.
In 34 games last winter, Ostrow, a Calgary native, had a 25-32-57 line. He was named the top forward in the league.
Ostrow will be playing this season – and next – for the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)
8/19/05
Latest on Dowzak, Yandle
6’5”, 223 lb. LD Tysen Dowzak is taking the major junior route. He's signed with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) and will be reporting there for the start of camp on the 25th.
Dowzak, a native of Fergus Falls, Minn., played for Shattuck-St. Mary’s last season.
The Lincoln Stars own Dowzak’s USHL rights, and it appeared there was a chance that he would have played the upcoming season there.
Dowzak, who, like the Everett Silvertip’s Peter Mueller, had academic issues, was selected by Kelowna in the sixth round of the 2003 WHL Bantam Draft.
***
University of Maine recruit Keith Yandle is seriously considering going major junior with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) right away, and is simply trying to make up his mind one way or the other before the start of the school year.
Yandle’s Cushing teammate, Chris Bourque, will not be with Moncton this year, as the Washington Capitals signed him to a hefty rookie contract. Bourque will likely be suiting up for the Hershey Bears (AHL) this fall.
8/16/05
Patrick Joins Wisconsin Staff
Kevin Patrick has been hired by Mike Eaves as an assistant at Wisconsin.
Patrick, 36, an assistant at Bowling Green for the past three years, replaces Troy Ward, who was fired last month.
Patrick, a Schenectady, NY resident who played his college hockey at Notre Dame, started his coaching career in 1993 at Deerfield Academy, where he stayed four years. In 1997-98 Patrick was an assistant coach for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) on the staff of Gamblers head coach/GM – and current Badgers assistant -- Mark Osiecki.
The following year, Patrick went to Union College, where he spent four years as an assistant on Kevin Sneddon’s staff.
When Scott Paluch was hired at Bowling Green in 2002, he hired Patrick for his staff there. Patrick just completed his third season with the Falcons.
Paluch has started a search for a new assistant to join current assistant Ron Fogarty on his staff at Bowling Green.
8/17/05
A pair of goals by Jake Johnson of Duluth Denfield High School led the way as the U.S. Under-17 Select Team came back from a 2-0 second period deficit to tie Switzerland 2-2 at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Huttwil, Switzerland today.
With the tie, the United States can clinch first place with a win or a tie against Germany tomorrow (Thurs.).
After a scoreless first period, host Switzerland scored a pair of goals early in the second period to take a 2-0 lead over the U.S. Johnson put the U.S. on the board with a power play goal at 13:49. Assists went to Tommy Cross of Simsbury (Conn.) HS and Jimmy Hayes of Noble & Greenough.
Switzerland held that 2-1 advantage until late in the third period, when Johnson’s second power play goal, an unassisted effort at the 15:33 mark, knotted the score at 2-2.
The U.S. outshot Switzerland 31-20.
U.S. goaltender Kent Patterson of the Blake School kicked out 18 shots for the tie.
Game Summary:
SWI 0 2 0 0 -- 2
USA 0 1 1 0 -- 2
First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: USA, Dyer (interference), 3:13; SWI, Kebede (high sticking), 5: 54; SWI, Houenstein (slashing), 7:52; USA, Bruneteau (roughing), 11:18; SWI, Zanatta (tripping), 17:28.
Second Period - Scoring: 1, SWI, Sciaroni (Gartmeinn, Hasani), 2:05; 2, SWI, Berger (unassisted), 5:41 (pp); 3, USA, Johnson (Cross, Hayes), 13:49 (pp). Penalties: SWI, Camichel (slashing), 2:41; USA, Diamond (hooking), 4:14; USA, Serratore (hooking), 4:42; SWI, Schlaggnamue (slashing), 7: 36; SWI, Boillat (tripping), 10:32; USA, Petrecki (holding), 10: 49; SWI, Schlaggnamue (interference), 11:46; SWI, bench - served by Lathi (too many men), 12:54; USA, Malchoff (slashing), 14:19.
Third Period - Scoring: 4, USA, Johnson (unassisted), 15:33. Penalties: USA, Darnell (slashing), 0:59; USA, Petrecki (high-sticking), 3:26; SWI, Marzo (slashing), 8: 18; USA, Llewellyn (hitting to the head - misconduct), 9:49; SWI, Muller (tripping), 10:33; SWI, Gartmeinn (tripping), 14: 44; USA, Petrecki (hooking), 17:33.
Goaltending: 1 2 3 TS GA
USA, Patterson (60:00) 5 7 6 18 2
SVK, Mayer (60:00) 12 12 5 29 2
8/16/05
U.S. Under-17 Select Team Romps in First Two Games
The U.S. Under-17 Select Team has handily won their first two games at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Huttwil, Switzerland, topping the Czech Republic, 9-4, on Monday and Slovakia, 8-2 today.
U.S. Under-17 Selects 9, Czech Republic 4:
-- In the opening game, the U.S. fell behind 3-1 less than ten minutes into the game, but answered with eight unanswered goals in rolling over the Czech Republic.
The onslaught started with Jimmy Hayes and Dan Durham getting things going with a pair of unassisted goals that allowed the U.S. to take a 3-3 tie into the first intermission.
The United States scored the only three goals of the second period, with Hayes notching his second of the game off a rebound at 5:15, Brian Malchoff scoring on an unassisted wraparound at 6:30, and Tom Serratore finishing up the second period’s scoring with a power play goal at 17:40.
Team USA scored three goals in less than one minute early in the third period to increase its advantage to 9-3, with Chris Darnell scoring on a rebound, Durham picking up his second goal, and Joey Diamond adding an unassisted goal.
The U.S. outshot the Czech Republic, 29-23.
For the game, Hayes (2g), Durham (2g), Diamond (1g,1a), Serratore (1g,1a), and Malchoff (1g,1a) each had two points.
Kent Patterson stopped 23 shots in goal to pick up the win for the United States.
CZE 3 0 1 -- 4
USA 3 3 3 -- 9
First Period - Scoring: 1, CZE, Soucek (unassisted), 0:34; 2, USA, Hoeffel (Diamond), 1:25; 3, CZE, Mavuna (Roman, Ostvcil), 5:46 (pp); 4, CZE, Juvik (Mavuna, Ostvcil), 9:12 (pp); 5, USA, Hayes (unassisted), 12:32; 6, USA, Durham (unassisted), 15:53. Penalties: USA, Llewellyn (interference), 4:03; USA, Bruneteau (high-sticking), 7:11; USA, Durham (slashing), 8:13; USA, Petrecki (high-sticking), 9: 51; USA, Bruneteau (checking from behind), 10:38; USA, Bruneteau, misconduct (checking from behind), 10:38; CZE, Povodna (interference), 10:49; CZE, Ostvcil (delay of game), 17: 38.
Second Period - Scoring: 7, USA, Hayes (Serratore), 5:15; 8, USA, Malchoff (unassisted), 6:30; 9, USA, Serratore (Johnson), 17:40 (pp). Penalties: CZE, Matula (tripping), 1:31; USA, Petrecki (tripping), 2:17; CZE, Maxa (interference), 3:08; USA, Petrecki (holding), 8:20; USA, Llewellyn (high-sticking), 12:00; USA, bench minor (delay of game), 12:28; USA, Dyer (interference), 14:55; CZE, Janacek (interference), 16:14; CZE, Ostvcil (interference), 16:59; CZE, Ostvcil (delay of game), 19:36.
Third Period - Scoring: 10, USA, Darnell (Vrolyk), 2:37; 11, USA, Durham (Malchoff, Dyer), 2:51; 12, USA, Diamond (unassisted), 3:31; 13, CZE, Kana (Poskotil, Karpov), 19:20. Penalties: USA, McDonagh (interference), 4:49; CZE, Mavuna (interference), 6:09; USA, Cross (slashing), 11:01; CZE, Panuska (high-sticking), 14:41; USA, Diamond (holding), 16: 59.
Goaltending: 1 2 3 TS GA
USA, Patterson (60:00) 9 9 5 23 4
CZE, Benda (26:30) 5 5 0 10 5
CZE, Dubina (33:30) 0 7 12 19 4
***
U.S. Under-17 Selects 8, Slovakia 2:
-- In today’s 8-2 win over Slovakia, Mike Hoeffel scored two goals and added two assists in the second period to lead the way as the U.S. improved to 2-0-0 here.
Team USA tallied the game’s first eight goals before allowing Slovakia two third-period power play tallies.
Joey Diamond opened the scoring at 5:40 of the first period with the United States on a two-man advantage.
Hoeffel’s tallies at 2:25 and 18:54 of the second period were sandwiched around goals by Patrick White, Brett Bruneteau, Ryan McDonagh, and Robbie Vrolyk.
Jake Johnson completed Team USA’s scoring streak with a rebound tally at 0:55 of the third period.
The U.S. outshot Slovakia, 37-16.
Hoeffel (2g.2a), Bruneteau (1g,2a), Diamond (1g,1a), Vrolyk (1g,1a), and Jimmy Hayes (2a) all had multiple point games.
U.S. goaltender Reid Ellingson kicked out 14 in the U.S. net.
Game Summary:
SVK 0 0 2 -- 2
USA 1 6 1 -- 8
First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Diamond (Bruneteau), 5:40 (pp). Penalties: USA, Serratore (hooking), 1: 37; SVK, Valach (interference), 4:00; SVK, Kopecky (checking from behind, misconduct), 4:16; USA, Bruneteau (tripping), 8: 41; SVK, Marincin (interference), 8:41; SVK, Baron (interference), 10:24; SVK, Stepan (tripping), 13:07; USA, Serratore (roughing), 18:25.
Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA, Hoeffel (Vrolyk), 2:25; 3, USA, White (unassisted), 5:37 (sh); 4, USA, Bruneteau (Hoeffel, Malchoff), 11:35 (pp); 5, USA, McDonagh (Hayes), 12:18 (pp); 6, USA, Vrolyk (Hoeffel), 14:23; 7, USA, Hoeffel (Bruneteau, Diamond), 18:54. Penalties: USA, Diamond (charging), 2:49; USA, Steingraber (interference), 5:12; USA, Dyer (interference), 6:50; SVK, Ficko (interference), 7:39; SVK, Baron (interference), 11:14; SVK, Fajth (roughing), 11:14; USA, Serratore (tripping), 16:09; SVK, Misura (tripping), 19: 32.
Third Period - Scoring: 8, USA, Johnson (Hayes), 0:55; 9, SVK, Baca (Babkovic), 9:13 (pp); 10, SVK, Misura (Stepan), 10:08 (pp). Penalties: USA, Llewellyn (tripping), 8:16; USA, Durham (roughing), 8:16; USA, Llewellyn (tripping), 11:41; USA, Hayes (slashing), 11:41; SVK, Valach (hitting to the head, misconduct), 15:37; USA, Serratore (boarding), 18:39.
Goaltending: 1 2 3 TS GA
USA, Ellingson (60:00) 3 6 5 14 2
SVK, Janus (60:00) 11 11 7 29 8
The Team:
Goaltenders (2): Reid Ellingson (Cloquet HS); Kent Patterson (Blake School).
Defensemen (6): Tommy Cross (Simsbury HS); Tristin Llewellyn (Indiana Ice); Brian Malchoff (Avon Old Farms); Ryan McDonagh (Cretin-Derham Hall); Nick Petrecki (Cap District Selects); Christian Steingraber (Honeybaked).
Forwards (12): Brett Bruneteau (Shattuck); Chris Darnell (Atlanta Fire); Joey Diamond (NY Apple Core); Dan Durham (TI); Chris Dyer (Honeybaked); Jimmy Hayes (Nobles); Mike Hoeffel (Hill-Murray); Jake Johnson (Duluth Denfield); Anthony Maiani (Honeybaked); Tom Serratore (Colorado Thunderbirds); Robbie Vrolyk (New England Jr. Falcons); Patrick White (Grand Rapids HS).
Head Coach: Stan Moore (Providence College). Assistant Coaches: Brad Willner and Toby O’Brien (Johnstown Chiefs).
NOTE: Brett Bruneteau was named captain of the team. Malchoff and Serratore were named as alternates.
8/16/05
Beantown Rosters/Schedule
The rosters for the annual Beantown Classic, to be held Thurs. Aug. 18-Sun. Aug. 21 at the Iorio Arena in Walpole, Mass., have been completed and can be found at the tournament’s web site:
http://www.beantownclassic.com/
The schedule can be found at:
http://www.beantownclassic.com/calendar.htm
8/15/05
Select 15 Green Books In the Mail!
The 2005 Select 15 Green Books are back from the printer and the first batch has been mailed out.
Because of the youth of the players, the 15 Green Book is the most challenging of the three we do, and it’s also the most fun. These, after all, are the college stars of tomorrow, and the Select 15 Festival is their coming out party, the first place they’re seriously looked at by college recruiters and junior scouts.
Over the last few years, the Select 15 Festival has been dominated by high-end defensemen. This year, the pendulum swung a bit, as a deep and diverse group of forwards made their mark.
There was drama at the Select 15s. One of the elite forwards at the festival had his wrist cut by a skate blade, causing so much blood to be spilled – don’t worry, he’ll be out of action for a few months, but will be fine -- that the Zamboni had to come out and redo the ice.
There was also human interest. One of the goaltenders in camp only had one hand due to a birth defect – and he was better than most two-handed goalies we’ve seen.
Included as well are comments on all 100 ranked players, as well as height/weight, hometown, birthdate, team played for last year and next, addresses and phone numbers, and statistics.
If you attended the Select 15s, the book is a good historical record of that time, as well as a useful reference tool. If you didn’t make it, and you need to track these prospects over the coming season, it’s a must-have. In addition to the rankings, there’s news and opinion galore.
We believe you will find it compelling reading.
You can order the Select 15 Green Book by clicking on the link below, which will take you to our secure page. We still have copies of the 16 and 17 Green Books available. Our special discount on all three is still in effect.
Books will be mailed first class on the day the order is received.
Receipts, which also serve to let you know your order is being processed, will arrive automatically by email. Questions concerning orders can be made by writing admin@ushr.com or calling (413) 303-1215.
Don't miss out -- order now!!
8/13/05
U.S. Under-18 Select Team Tops Switzerland
The U.S. Under-18 Select Team scored twice in 48 seconds in the second period today en route to a 4-2 victory over Switzerland in Under-18 Junior World Cup consolation round action at Breclev, Czech Republic Saturday.
Team USA will face Slovakia in the fifth place game Sunday in Piestany, Slovakia.
The United States took an early lead at 6:52 of the first period when Taylor Matson scored. Assists on the play went to fellow Minnesotans Kyle Okposo and Michael Forney.
After a Swiss goal at 7:19 of the second period, Team USA responded quickly, with a Mike Borisenok goal at 8:38 and one by Tyler Ruegsegger just 48 second later, at 9:26.
Switzerland cut the United States lead to 3-2 at 10:17 of the second period, but a Ben Ryan goal at 1:49 of the third, with assists from Ben Smith and Borisenok, gave Team USA its final margin of victory.
Team USA goaltender Billy Sauer turned aside 28 shots for the win. Meanwhile, the United States fired 33 shots on Switzerland’s net.
8/12/05
Friday’s Junior Evaluation Camp Recaps
Both U.S. teams at the National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid won today, running their combined record to 6-0-0 entering the final day of play.
In the early game, Team Blue topped Finland, 5-0, with Jonathan Quick (13 saves) and Ian Keserich (13 saves) combining for the shutout.
Adam Pineault scored a power play goal at 8:20 of the first period to get the U.S. out to a 1-0 lead.
The game remained a one-goal affair until the third, when Team Blue reeled off four unanswered goals, from Nate Davis, Blake Wheeler, Chad Kolarik and Bobby Ryan.
Jordan LaVallee had two assists in the game.
In the late game, Team White’s Robbie Schremp scored a power play goal with just over three minutes remaining in regulation to break a 1-1 tie and lead his squad to a 3-1 win over Sweden.
Tom Fritsche put Team White up 1-0 with nine seconds remaining in the first period. As in the first game, both teams would play a scoreless second period. In the third, however, Sweden tied the game at the 2:10 mark, the first goal allowed by goaltender Jeff Frazee at the camp.
Schremp, with his team on the power play, crashed Sweden’s net and scored the game-winner, with an assist from Chris Bourque, at 16:14 of the third.
Porter picked off an opponent's pass and added the final goal with two seconds on the clock. It was Porter's second point of the game as he also assisted on Fritche's first period goal.
Notes:
Team White and Team Blue traded players on Thursday, as Ryan, Davis, Kolarik and Mike Brennan (Smithtown, N.Y.) went to Team Blue in exchange for Schremp,Bourque, and Fritsche.
The camp ends today, with Team Blue taking on Sweden at 1:00 p.m., and Team White taking on Finland at 4:00.
Game 1 Summary:
USB 1 0 4 -- 5
FIN 0 0 0 -- 0
First Period – Scoring: 1, USB, Pineault (Chorney), 8:20 (PP) Penalties: USB, Pineault (cross checking), 2:39; FIN, Lehikoinen (slashing), 6:28; USB, LaVallee (roughing), 10:31; FIN, Joensuu (holding), 11:27; USB, Weller (elbowing), 15:15; USB, Maiani (high sticking), 19:14.
Second Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: USB, Ryan (roughing), 3:30; FIN, Koistinen (holding), 5:19; USB, Abdelkader (slashing), 11:20; FIN, Jokila (cross checking), 11:20; FIN, Sailio (elbowing), 12:19; USB, Weller (holding), 16:19.
Third Period – Scoring: 2, USB, Davis (LaVallee), 5:32; 3, USB, Wheeler (LaVallee, Kessel), 10:12 (PP2); 4, USB, Kolarik (Zalewski), 18:10; 5, USB, Ryan (unassisted), 19:58. Penalties: USB, Yandle (cross checking), 0:47; FIN, Ahtola (tripping), 3:17; FIN, Jokinen (roughing), 8:15; FIN, Haapanen (roughing), 9:51; USB, Weller (slashing), 11:37; FIN, Joensuu (roughing), 12:15; USB, Weller (slashing), 15:20.
Power Plays – USA 2-8 , FIN 0-8
Shots – USW 51, FIN 26
Saves – USB: Quick (13, 13 shots, 30:00), Keserich (13, 13 shots, 29:38) FIN: Ahlqvist (46, 51 shots, 59:27)
Game 2 Summary:
USB 1 0 2-- 3
SWE 0 0 1-- 1
First Period – Scoring: 1, USW, Fritsche (Porter, Paukovich), 19:15; Penalties: USW, Dubinsky (hooking) 6:21; SWE, Viklund (interference), 9:57; SWE, Stralman (cross checking), 11:53; SWE, Demen-Willaume (interference), 14:14; SWE, Stralman (high sticking), 15:30; USW, Johnson (roughing), 19:28.
Second Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: USW, Fraser (tripping), 2:36; SWE, Demen-Willaume (interference), 8:03; SWE, Wargh (slashing), 9:25; USB, Skille (roughing), 9:25; SWE, Pettersson (slashing), 12:29; SWE, Demen-Willaume (high sticking), 13:16; SWE, Karlsson, double minor(roughing), 17:50.
Third Period - Scoring: 2, SWE, Axelsson (Karlsson), 2:10; 3, USB, Schremp (Bourque), 16:14; 4, USB, Porter (unassisted), 19:58. Penalties: USB, Dubinsky (high sticking), 2:22; USB, Lashoff (delay of game), 3:43; SWE, Pettersson (slashing), 3:53; USB, Schremp (roughing), 6:28; SWE, Demen-Willaume (high sticking), 7:09; SWE, Stralman, (roughing), 10:50; SWE, Hellstrom (high sticking), 15:09;
Power Plays – USB 1-10 , SWE 0-4
Shots – USB 44, SWE 39
Saves – USA: Schneider (13, 13 shots, 29:25), Frazee (14, 15 shots, 30:35) SWE:
Akerlund (32, 35 shots, 60:00).
8/13/05
Saturday’s Junior Evaluation Camp Recaps
The U.S. teams split in final day action at the 2005 National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, NY, with Team Blue losing to Sweden, 4-3 in a shootout; and Team White beating Finland, 3-2.
In Game 1, Team Blue went ahead of Sweden, 2-0, after first period goals by Matt Niskanen at 9:48 and Phil Kessel at 18:37.
Sweden came back, though, scoring three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead into the final minute of regulation, when, with 56 seconds on the clock, Team Blue defensmanTaylor Chorney tied the game at 3-3 with a slap shot from the blue line.
Sweden won the ensuing shootout, 3-2, Team Blue’s goals coming off the sticks of Robbie Schremp and Peter Mueller.
In Game 2, Team White topped Finland, 3-2.
After a scoreless first period, Finland went ahead 1-0 at the 12:40 mark of the second period, but the United States quickly got it back as Kevin Porter tied things up at 16:09.
Finland scored again at the 18:46 mark and took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Team White came out in the third period and got goals from Brian Lerg, at 2:15, and Domenic Maiani, at 14:04 to pick up the 3-2 win.
Team White goaltender Cory Schneider, in just under 30 minutes of action, stopped all 12 shots he faced. Schneider did not allow a goal in the four games he played here.Jeff Frazee kicked out 11 of the 13 shots he faced in the second half of the game.
Game 1 Summary:
PER123SO
USB 2 0 13-- 3
FIN 0 1 22-- 4
First Period – Scoring: 1, USB, Niskanen (Schremp, Pineault), 9:48 (PP); 2, USB, Kessel (Brennan), 18:37. Penalties: USB, Jones (holding), 2:32; USB, Fraser (elbowing), 15:27; SWE, Sundh (elbowing), 14:38.
Second Period – Scoring: 3, SWE, Karisson (Axelsson), 19:26. Penalties: SWE, Pettersson (charging), 1:05; USB, Chorney (high sticking), 7:11; SWE, Wargh (holding), 15:11; USB, Dubinsky (slashing), 15:26; SWE, Demen-Willaume (slashing), 15:26; USB, Abdelkader (interference), 19:08.
Third Period – Scoring: 4, SWE, Harju (Stralman), 6:58; 5, SWE, Sundh (Bergfors), 15:37; 6, USB, Chorney (unassisted) 19:04. Penalties: None.
Shootout – Scoring: USB: Schremp, MuellerSWE: Andersson, Pettersson, Bergfors
Power Plays – USA 1-4 , FIN 1-4
Shots – USB 36, SWE 34
Saves – USB: Keserich (15, 15 shots, 30:28), Quick (16, 19 shots, 29:32),SWE: Akerlund (33, 36 shots, 60:00)
Game 2 Summary:
USW 0 1 2-- 3
FIN 0 2 0-- 2
First Period – Scoring: None Penalties: FIN, Haapanen (tripping) 2:22; FIN, Wirtanen (hooking), 9:29; USW, bench minor (too-many men), 18:20.
Second Period - Scoring: 1, FIN, Gardstrom (Lehtonen), 12:40; 2, USW, Porter (Gerbe), 16:09; 3, FIN, Ahtola (Jaatinen), 18:46. Penalties: USW, Johnson (roughing), 0:42; FIN, Lindgren (interference), 2:59; FIN, Haapanen (holding), 10:02; USW, Porter (high sticking), 13:58; USW, Maiani (cross checking), 19:17;
Third Period - Scoring: 4, USW, Lerg (Skille, Lee), 2:15; 5, USW, Maiani (Bourque, Porter), 14:04. Penalties: USW, Gentile (roughing), 0:19; FIN, Korpikosky (hooking), 15:13.
Power Plays – US 0-6 , FIN 0-4
Shots – USW 34, FIN 25
Saves – USA: Schneider (12, 12 shots, 29:33), Frazee (11, 13 shots, 30:27) FIN:
Ramo (31, 34 shots, 59:13).
8/11/05
Wednesday Junior Evaluation Camp Recaps
Team White defeated Finland, 4-0, and Team Blue smacked Sweden, 8-2, in Wednesday action at USA Hockey’s National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, NY.
In Game 1, goaltenders Cory Schneider and Jeff Frazee shut out their opponent for the second straight night, as Team White defeated Finland, 4-0. Schneider turned away all nine shots he faced. Frazee took over midway through the second period, and kicked out all 14 shots he faced.
Nate Gerbe and Chad Kolarik scored power play goals, Jack Skille scored an unassisted even-strength goal, and Bobby Ryan added an empty-netter in the final seconds.
Team White outshot Finland, 33-23.
In the night’s second game, Chris Bourque, Jordan LaVallee, and Peter Mueller each scored twice to lead Team Blue to a 8-2 victory over Sweden.
Justin Abdelkader and A.J. Thelen also scored for Team Blue, while Taylor Chorney, Domenic Maiani, and Tom Fritsche each had two assists. The U.S. squad outshot Sweden, 44-39.
Jonathan Quick stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced. Midway through the second period, he was replaced by Ian Keserich (Parma, Ohio), who stopped 16 of 17.
Today is an off day. Both U.S. teams resume play Friday and Saturday.
Game 1 Summary:
USW 0 1 3 -- 4
FIN 0 0 0 -- 0
First Period – Penalties: FIN, Lehtonen (roughing), 6:04; USW, Paukovich (charging), 8:37; FIN, Korpikosky (interference), 11:45; USW, Lashoff (holding), 14:35; FIN, Korhonen (goaltender interference), 15:43; FIN, Korhonen (holding), 18:58.
Second Period – Scoring: 1, USW, Gerbe (Johnson), 16:11 (PP); Penalties: USW, Lee (holding), 5:48; FIN, Ahtola (slashing), 15:18; FIN, Ahtola (roughing), 17:16; FIN, Mielonen (boarding), 19:46.
Third Period – 2, USW, Kolarik (Ryan, Porter), 7:46 (PP); 3, USW, Skille (unassisted), 14:12; 4, USW, Ryan (unassisted), 19:49. Penalties: USW, Kolarik (hooking), 4:48; FIN, Koistinen (slashing), 6:10; FIN, Tuomainen (high sticking), 9:30; USW, Lerg (interference), 14:42; USW, Ryan (roughing), 17:32; FIN, Korhonen (roughing), 17:32.
Power Plays – USA 2-9, FIN 0-5
Shots – USW 33, FIN 23
Saves – USW: Schneider (9, 9 shots, 30:22), Frazee (14, 14 shots, 29:38) FIN: Ahlqvist (29, 32 shots, 59:27)
Game 2 Summary:
USB 3 3 2-- 8
SWE 0 1 1-- 2
First Period – Scoring: 1, USB, Abdelkader (unassisted), 2:10; 2, USB, LaVallee (Kessel), 8:32 (SH); 3, USB, Mueller (Maiani, Chorney), 19:53. Penalties: USB, Pineault (roughing) 6:37; SWE, Viklund (tripping), 9:53; USB, Weller (slashing), 15:48;
Second Period - Scoring: 4, SWE, Wargh (Bergfors), 4:15; 5, USB, Thelen (Pineault, Weller), 7:03 (PP); 6, USB, Bourque (Fritsche), 11:54; 7, USB, Mueller (Schremp, Maiani), 14:48; Penalties: SWE, Stralman (tripping), 5:51;
Third Period - Scoring: 8, USB, Bourque (Fritsche, Chorney), 4:51 (PP); 9, SWE, Pettersson (Karisson), 11:23 (PP2); 10, USB, LaVallee (Wheeler, Zalewski), 18:00. Penalties: SWE, Karlsson (holding), 3:45; USB, Yandle (slashing), 7:45; USB, Niskanen (hooking), 10:11; USB, Yandle (cross checking), 10:39; SWE, Demen-Willaume (slashing), 11:54; SWE, Demen-Willaume (slashing), 14:39; USB, Pineault (roughing, 15:08; USB, Bourque (cross checking), 16:05; SWE, Wargh (holding), 16:05.
Power Plays – USB 2-5, SWE 1-5
Shots – USB 44, SWE 39
Saves – USA: Quick (21, 22 shots, 29:53), Keserich (16, 17 shots, 30:07) SWE: Modig (24, 30 shots, 40:00), Akerlund (12, 14 shots, 20:00).
8/10/05
Coaching News
-- Look for Joe Shawhan, coach/GM of the now-defunct Soo Indians (NAHL) for the last 10 years, to be named as an assistant at Lake Superior State, possibly within the next couple of weeks. The hangup preventing his hiring – and it could still derail things -- has been the lawsuit former head coach Frank Anzalone, recently named head coach of the Johnstown Jets (ECHL), has filed against the university. But the slot at Lake State is being reserved for Shawhan.
If things don’t come through at Lake State, the former Lakers goaltender will be coaching the Cleveland Barons (NAHL), where owner Tom Goebel is holding the position open for him. So either way, Shawhan will be coaching somewhere this season. If, as expected, it’s Lake Superior State, look for Jackie Fritchse to be named the new head coach of the Barons. Fritsche, who played in Europe for 14 years, is the uncle of Parma, Ohio natives Danny Fritsche (Columbus – NHL) and Tom Fritsche (Ohio State).
-- Former Cushing Academy and Merrimack College goaltender Joe Exter, recently retired from pro hockey, has been hired as an assistant at American International College in Springfield, Mass.
-- Jim Hughes, whose name was in the picture for the Providence College job that went to Tim Army, has been hired as head coach by the New Hampshire Monarchs (AHL). The strange thing here is that Hughes, an assistant with the Monarchs last season, was, along with the rest of last season’s staff, fired by the club just a few months ago. Hughes formerly played at Providence College and his NCAA coaching experience included stints as an assistant at his alma mater as well as at RPI.
-- Mike Haviland, a New Jersey native and Elmira College forward in the late ‘80s, has been hired as head coach of Norfolk Admirals (AHL), the Chicago Blackhawks top affiliate.
Haviland replaces Trent Yawney, who was hired to coach the Blackhawks.
Haviland, 38, spent much of the ‘90s knocking around New Jersey, working his way up through the region’s youth and junior ranks. He was hired as an assistant coach with the Trenton Titans (ECHL) in 1999, and two years later was hired as the head coach at Atlantic City (ECHL). In his four years as head coach in the Coast League, Haviland’s teams have all finished with a winning percentage of .639 or better.
8/11/05
U.S. Under-18s Gain First Win; Consolation Games Next
Michael Forney notched a hat trick as the U.S. Under-18 Select Team defeated Under-18 Junior World Cup host Slovakia 7-4 in Piestany today.
With the win, the U.S. finishes round-robin play 1-1-1, tied for fourth place. They will not advance to the medal bracket, as their goal differential for the tournament was one less than Finland’s. The U.S. will face Switzerland in Breclav, Czech Republic, Aug. 13 in the first of two consolation games.
After the first period today, the U.S. trailed Slovakia, 2-1, with the only U.S. goal coming off the stick of Ben Youds at the 14:19 mark, with assists going to Joe Whitney and James Marcou.
In the second period, the U.S. scored twice: Forney, from Kyle Okposo, at 14:13; and Ben Smith on a penalty shot at 19:06.
Slovakia tied the score at 3-3 before the second intermission while on the two-man advantage, but the U.S. came back with three consecutive third-period goals. Brian Keane put the U.S. up 4-3 at 3:37, with assists fromTyler Ruegsegger and Barry Almeida. Forney’s second goal came less than a minute later, with Okposo picking up his second assist on the play. Mike Borisenok, with an assist from Taylor Matson, extended Team USA’s lead to 6-3 at 15:41.
The U.S. then pulled goaltender Billy Sauer in an attempt to improve its goal differential, and give themselves a chance to make it into the medal round. However, Slovakia was able to sink an empty-netter with 47 seconds left in the period. With 29 seconds remaining, Forney completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal.
The U.S. outshot Slovakia 55-19. U.S. goaltender Billy Sauer kicked out 16 shots for the win.
Game Summary:
SVK 2 1 1 -- 4
USA 1 2 4 -- 7
First Period - Scoring: 1, SVK, Marcinko (Caladi), 12:51; 2, USA, Youds (Marcou, Whitney) 14:19; 3, SVK, Sinkovic (Rehus), 17:04 (PP). Penalties: USA, Okposo (hooking) 6:11; SVK, Sinkovic (hooking), 6:11; SVK, Bielik (hooking) 8:54; SVK, Sinkovic (hooking), 14:54; USA, Wehrs (interference) 15:58; USA, Wehrs, misconduct (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:30; SVK, (bench minor), 18:19.
Third Period - Scoring: 7, USA, Keane (Ruegsegger, Almeida), 3:37; 8, USA, Forney (Okposo), 4:12; 9, USA, Borisenok (Matson), 14:51; 10, SVK, Sinkovic (Caladi), 19:13 (ENG); 11, USA, Forney, 19:31. Penalties: USA, Cooper (interference), 4:32; USA, Kampfer (roughing), 5:51.
8/10/05
Tuesday Junior Evaluation Camp Recaps
Blake Wheeler (2g) and Adam Pineault (1g,1a) each had two points in Team Blue’s 5-3 win over Finland.
Nick Foligno (1shg,1a), Bobby Ryan (1g,1a), and Bryan Lerg (2a) each had two points, and Cory Schneider and Jeff Frazee combined for a shutout in Team White’s 5-0 win over Sweden.
Game 1 Summary:
USB 1 2 2 -- 5
FIN 0 1 2 -- 3
First Period – Scoring: 1, USB, Wheeler (LaVallee, Abdelkader), 10:10. Penalties: FIN, Jokila (cross checking), 12:01; USB, Pineault (roughing), 15:55; FIN, Seitsonen (elbowing), 16:02; USB, Abdelkader (elbowing), 18:26.
Second Period – Scoring: 2, FIN, Joensuu (unassisted), 7:10; 3, USB, Weller (Pineault, Zalewski), 14:49; 4, USB, Pineault (unassisted), 15:33. Penalties: FIN, Koistinen (interference), 5:46; FIN, Wirtanen (holding), 9:43; FIN, Ahtola (tripping), 19:06.
Third Period – 5, FIN, Sailio (Wirtanen), 12:27; 6, FIN Joensuu (Sailio), 15:57; 7, USB, Wheeler (unassisted), 18:21; 8, USB, Schremp (Fritsche), 19:42 (en). Penalties: USB, Kessel (cross checking), 6:38; USB, Abeldkader (cross-checking) 8:08; USB, Mueller (roughing), 13:41; USB, Pineault (roughing), 20:00; FIN, Kolehmainen (roughing), 20:00.
Power Plays – USA 0-5, FIN 0-5
Shots – USA 37, FIN 35
Saves – USA: Keserich (16, 17 shots, 29:26), Quick (16, 18 shots, 30:34) FIN: Karri (32, 36 shots, 59:10)
Game 2 Summary:
USW 3 1 1 -- 5
SWE 0 0 0 -- 0
First Period – Scoring: 1, USW, Dubinsky (Davis, Lerg), 1:36; 2, USW, Foligno (unassisted) 14:45 (sh); 3, USW, Skille (Gerbe, Lee), 18:11. Penalties: USW, Lerg (roughing) 13:51.
Second Period - Scoring: 4, USW, Ryan (Foligno), 19:57. Penalties: USW, Foligno (tripping), 0:51; SWE, Anderson (cross checking), 5:36; SWE, Demen-Willaume (holding), 6:40; USW, Fraser (slashing), 11:16; SWE, Svennson (high sticking), 14:37; SWE, Hedman (delay of game), 17:53.
Third Period - Scoring: 5, USW, Lashoff (Ryan, Lerg), 6:47. Penalties: USW, Lashoff (roughing), 3:32; USW, Foligno, (high sticking, double minor), 6:56; USW, Fraser (elbowing), 16:23.
Power Plays – USW 0-4, SWE 0-6
Shots – USW 36, SWE 25
Saves – USA: Schneider (11, 11 shots, 30:00), Frazee (14, 14 shots, 30:00) SWE: Akerlund (31, 36 shots, 60:00)
Notes:
-- "The purpose of this camp is to evaluate players in a lot of situations,” said Walt Kyle, 2006 U.S. National Junior Team head coach. “The scores aren't indicative of so much, and they're probably not worth reading much into, but it's great competition and it's a great environment to evaluate in."
-- Defenseman Jack Johnson did not arrive in Lake Placid with the other candidates, and is not expected. U.S.A. Hockey personnel report that Johnson had dental work done just before the start of camp. Johnson, the #3 overall pick (by Carolina) in the July 30 NHL draft, was inexplicably passed over for the 2005 U.S. junior team, Moorhead HS defenseman Brian Lee going in his stead.
Here are the rosters:
USA Team Blue:
Goaltenders -- Jonathan Quick, Ian Keserich.
Defensemen -- A.J. Thelen, Taylor Chorney, Zach Jones, Nate Hagemo, Matt Niskanen, Keith Yandle, Chris Butler.
Forwards -- Robbie Schremp, Phil Kessel, Justin Abdelkader, Peter Mueller, Chris Bourque, Tom Fritsche, Shawn Weller, Adam Pineault, Blake Wheeler, Steve Zalewski, Domenic Maiani, Jordan LaVallee.
USA Team White:
Goaltenders -- Cory Schneider, Jeff Frazee.
Defensemen -- Mark Mitera, Matt Lashoff, Brian Lee, Mike Brennan, Kyle Lawson, Brandon Gentile, Erik Johnson.
Forwards -- Bobby Ryan, Kevin Porter, Nathan Davis, Geoff Paukovich, Jack Skille, Chad Kolarik, T.J. Oshie, Brandon Dubinsky, Nate Gerbe, Bryan Lerg, Nick Foligno, Jim Fraser.
Upcoming Games (All Times EDT)
Today – USA Rink
USA White vs. Finland – 4:00 p.m.
USA Blue vs. Sweden – 7:00 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 12 – Herb Brooks Arena
USA Blue vs. Finland – 4:00 p.m.
USA White vs. Sweden – 7:00 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 13 – Herb Brooks Arena
USA Blue vs. Sweden – 1:00 p.m.
USA White vs. Finland – 4:00 p.m.
8/10/05
Russia Tops U.S. Under-18 Select Team, 5-2
The U.S. Under-18 Select Team gave up four straight goals today and lost to Russia, 5-2, in their second game at the 2005 Under-18 Junior World Cup in Piestany, Slovakia.
The U.S. went up at 7:51 of the first period when Kevin Wehrs scored his second goal of the tournament on a 5-on-3 powerplay.
Russia then turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead, notching a shorthanded tally exactly two minutes later, then scoring an even-strength goal with 34 seconds left in the period, and adding power play goals in the second and third periods.
Kyle Okposo scored an unassisted goal late in the third, but Russia got it back just a minute later for the 5-2 final margin of victory.
Notes:
Ben Ryan failed to convert on a penalty shot two minutes into the second period with the United States trailing 2-1 ... The U.S. outshot Russia, 32-27. US goaltender Neil Conway had 22 saves.
Team USA will meet host Slovakia tomorrow (Thurs.). The U.S. defeated Slovakia 4-2 earlier this week in an exhibition game.
Box Score:
Russia 5, US Under-18 Select Team 2
RUS 2 1 2 -- 5
USA 1 0 1 -- 2
First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Wehrs (Marcou, Youds), 7:51; 2, RUS, Anisimov (Vasyunov) 9:51; 3, RUS, Popov (Mamin) 19:26. Penalties: USA, Whitney (boarding) 0:35; USA, Kampfer (holding), 3:26; RUS, Zharkov (interference) 6:15; RUS, Mamin (charging), 6:47; RUS, Glavatskyi (interference) 9:25; USA, Forney (slashing), 10:30.
Second Period - Scoring : 4, RUS, Ryabev (Anisimov), 13:13 (PP). Penalties: RUS, Ishmametiev (tripping), 2:23; USA, Whitney (slashing), 4:18; RUS, Grachev (slashing), 4:18; RUS, Zubov (hooking), 8:32; USA, Keane (hooking), 12:41; RUS, Mamin (hooking), 16:57; USA, Pacioretty (boarding), 17:27.
Third Period - Scoring: 5, RUS, Ryabev (Zubov), 3:42 (PP); 6, USA, Okposo, 15:04; 7, RUS, Alexandrov, 16:05. Penalties: USA, Pacioretty (boarding), 2:09; RUS, Doronin (charging), 4:43; USA, Youds (hooking), 5:33; RUS, Maximkin (hooking), 7:55; RUS, Ishmametiev (hooking), 17:43.
Goaltending: 1 2 3 TS GA
USA, Conway (60:00) 9 7 6 22 5
RUS, Varlamov (60:00) 7 12 11 30 2
8/9/05
Beantown Classic Schedule
The schedule for the annual Beantown Classic, to be held Thurs. Aug. 18-Sun. Aug. 21 at the Iorio Arena in Walpole, Mass., can be found at:
http://www.beantownclassic.com/calendar.htm
Teams are not set, as tryouts are not yet over. However, a list of players already invited can be found at the main page of the tournament’s web site at:
http://www.beantownclassic.com/
8/9/05
U.S. Under-18 Selects Open With a Tie
Kyle Okposo scored the game-tying goal with 6:19 remaining in regulation to lift the US Under-18 Select Team to a 2-2 tie with Finland today in its first game at the Under-18 Junior World Cup in Piestany, Slovakia.
The US jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Michael Forney goal at 4:33 of the first period.
Finland tied up the game with an even-strength goal at 12:04 of the first and then took the lead while on a two-man advantage at 5:54 of the second.
The United States outshot Finland 39-29 in the game. US goaltender Billy Sauer kicked out 27 shots in the game.
Notes:
Prior to the game, Okposo was named captain of the U.S. team and Steven Kampfer and Tyler Ruegsegger were named assistant captains.
Tomorrow, the U.S. faces off against Russia, then on Thursday they meet Slovakia in the finale of the three-game round robin. The semifinals are on Sat. Aug 13, and the medal games on Sun. Aug. 14.
Box Score:
FIN 1 1 0 0 -- 2
USA 1 0 1 0 -- 2
First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Forney (Pacioretty), 4:33; 2, FIN, Juutilainen (Antonen, Heikkinen) 12:04. Penalties: USA, Borisenok (hooking) 4:47; FIN, Heikkinen (tripping), 8:51; FIN, Antonen (roughing) 15:30.
Second Period - Scoring: 3, FIN, Kemppainen (Heikkinen, Stahlhammar), 5:54 (PP2). Penalties: FIN, Stahlhammar (tripping) 2:23; USA, Okposo (hooking), 4:37; USA, Wehrs (roughing), 5:10.
Third Period - Scoring: 4, USA, Okposo (Youds), 13:41. Penalties: USA, Ruegsegger (hooking), 12:34; FIN, Stahlhammar (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:34.
Overtime – Penalties: USA, Wehrs (slashing), 0:25; FIN, Puustinen (roughing), 0:25.
Goaltending:
USA, Sauer (65:00; 29/27)
FIN, Helenius (65:00; 39/27)
U.S. Team Roster (Teams listed are last season’s team).
Goaltenders (2): Neil Conway (Owen Sound – OHL); Billy Sauer (Chicago Steel – USHL).
Defensemen (6): Cameron Cooper (Holy Angels); Steven Kampfer (Sioux City – USHL); Dan Lawson (Chicago Chill Midget AAA); Kevin Quick (Salisbury School); Kevin Wehrs (Wayzata HS); Ben Youds (Maple Grove HS).
Forwards (12): Barry Almeida (New England Jr. Falcons – EJHL); Mike Borisenok (Albany Academy); Michael Forney (Thief River Falls Lincoln HS); Brian Keane (Rochester Americans Jr. B); James Marcou (New York Bobcats Jr. B); Taylor Matson (Holy Angels); Kyle Okposo (Shattuck-St. Mary’s); Max Pacioretty (Taft); Tyler Ruegsegger (Shattuck-St. Mary’s); Ben Ryan (Victory Honda Midget AAA); Ben Smith (Westminster School); Joe Whitney (Lawrence Academy).
Head Coach: Jack Capuano (Pee-Dee Pride -- ECHL). Assistant Coach: Kenny Rausch (UMass-Lowell). Goaltending Coach: David Lassonde (UNH).
8/9/05
Kinsella Hired at Sioux City
The Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) have hired from within, naming the team’s East Coast scout, Bobby Kinsella, as their new assistant.
Kinsella will be replacing Marty Quarters, who was named as an assistant at Merrimack last week.
A native of Brockton, Mass., Kinsella, 30, played at New Hampton Prep, then played club hockey at the University of Tennessee, where he studied sport management. After graduation, he went overseas and played in Sweden and Germany’s lower divisions with the aim of getting into player development, teaching, and coaching.
Back in the states, while coaching at Derby Academy in Hingham, Mass., Kinsella started scouting for the Musketeers, and has done so for the last two years.
“Bobby knows the east very well, and now he’ll be getting to know Michigan and Minnesota and the rest of the country better,” said Musketeers head coach/GM Dave Siciliano. “He was very involved at our camps with the evaluation and selection process, and he understands our needs. When it came to the job he received top priority in my mind and I left it up to him to decide if he wanted to come. We had numerous candidates, but the fact that Bobby has been loyal and hard-working for two years spoke volumes.”
Note:
Speaking of Sioux City, ’89 defenseman Brendan Smith, who was on the Musketeers 25-man roster, was unable to get a release to play in the U.S. from Hockey Canada. He will return home to Toronto and play for the St. Mike’s Buzzers (OPJHL). Smith is getting a lot of NCAA interest, with BU, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Miami all in the picture.
8/8/05
Schafer to Omaha
5’11”, 187 lb. Ohio State recruit Patrick Schafer, a forward who played for the Cleveland Barons (NAHL) last season, will join the Omaha Lancers (USHL) for the upcoming season.
Schafer, who’s from Columbus, Ohio, is a hardworking left wing with good hands and the ability to finish. A 12/24/87 birthdate, he’s verbally committed to the Buckeyes for the fall of ‘07.
8/8/05
Dobson Picks Tech
5’11”, 180 lb. Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) defenseman Drew Dobson has verbally committed to Michigan Tech for the fall of ’06.
Dobson, a Team Illinois product from Palatine, Ill., is a mobile, puck-moving blueliner who had a 5-17-22 line in 55 regular season games with the Black Hawks last season. At the end of the year, he was named to the USHL All-Rookie team.
8/8/05
A Native Son
Brett Bruneteau, a top college prospect who played last winter for Shattuck-St. Mary’s Under-16 Team, will be joining the Omaha Lancers (USHL) for the upcoming season.
Bruneteau, who we ranked among the top five forwards at this summer’s Select 16 Festival, has been getting a ton of early college attention, with Michigan, Wisconsin, UNH, BU and BC all in the hunt.
He’s an excellent student, with a 3.9 GPA.
A 1/5/89 birthdate, Bruneteau will be entering the 11th grade this fall. A 5’11”, 180 lb. left-shot center, he’s an unselfish player with a knack for knowing where to go on the ice. His playmaking skills are superb, and he’s excellent on faceoffs.
In the wake of his performance at the Select 16 Festival, Bruneteau, who leaves for Switzerland with the U.S. Under-17 Select Team next week, was offered a spot with the NTDP, which he declined. His other two options were to return to Shattuck, where his younger brother, Matt, plays -- or join the Lancers.
The Bruneteau boys are the grandsons of the late Ed Bruneteau, who played on Omaha’s first professional team. A St. Boniface, Manitoba native, the elder Bruneteau signed with the Detroit Red Wings when he was 17 and was assigned to the Duluth Zephyrs. However, in the winter of 1939, the Zephyrs home rink collapsed after a heavy snowstorm and the franchise moved to Omaha. After a year with the Omaha Knights, Ed, a forward, was called up by the Red Wings, and played in Detroit with his older brother, Mud, whose claim to fame is the goal he scored at 116:30 of OT that gave the Wings a win over the Montreal Maroons in game one of the 1936 Stanley Cup playoffs.
By the late 1940s, both brothers were back in Omaha, with Mud as head coach and his younger brother as star forward and league MVP.
In the early 50s, Ed Bruneteau retired from pro hockey, but stayed in Omaha to raise his family. He went to work as a welder -- a trade he had learned in the shipyards of Quebec City during the war years.
In the ensuing years Ed started youth hockey in Omaha. In 1986 Omaha was awarded an expansion team in the USHL as we know it today (the pro league had also been known as the USHL). In their first season, 1986-87, the Lancers went winless, finishing 0-48-0.
Ed’s son – and Brett’s father – is Rick Bruneteau, today a plastic surgeon in Omaha (and one of the eight men who got the University of Nebraska-Omaha program off the ground). Rick remembers his father coaching the expansion Lancers squad as a mid-season replacement after the first coach had been fired.
“At the time, my father had had two heart attacks and a stroke,” his son remembers. “He called me up and asked me what I thought about his coaching the team. I told him it didn’t sound like the best of ideas.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say,” Ed replied. “But I’ve already decided to take the job. These kids need some help and I’m going to help them.”
A few years later, under Frank Serratore, the Lancers won the Clark Cup. They’d win it again the following season, under Dave Morinville. In the early 90s, they’d win it twice more, under Mike Guentzel. Since then, Mike Hastings has won two Clark Cups.
So, 66 years after his grandfather first arrived in Omaha to play hockey, his grandson will be suiting up this fall for the Lancers. Hastings has temporarily unretired Ed Bruneteau’s number, 15, which will be worn by his grandson this fall.
8/7/05
Mendelson Hired as Gamblers’ Assistant
Leigh Mendelson, who’s coached the last two years for Pelicans Lahti of the Finnish Elite League while studying at the Vierumaki Sports Institute, has been hired as an assistant on Mark Mazzoleni’s staff at Green Bay.
Mendelson is no stranger to the USHL, having previously worked as an assistant at Waterloo, Sioux City, and Omaha. In addition, he’s coached in the NAHL, ECHL, and with the National Team Development Program.
In addition, Mendelson, representing the Atlantic District, has coached at Select 15, 16, and 17 Festivals for years, where he has also worked extensively with goaltenders.
Mendelson, who has recruited high-end players like David Hale and Rostislav Klesla in previous USHL stints, will fill the slot vacated by Luke Strand, an assistant with the Gamblers for the last two seasons. Strand recently was hired as head coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, his alma mater.
8/5/05
Gerbe Wins Eligibility
Boston College recruit Nathan Gerbe has received a waiver from the NCAA and has been admitted to Boston College, where he will be eligible to play hockey immediately.
The NCAA granted the waiver on the grounds that Gerbe was able to lift his GPA despite being diagnosed as learning disabled last fall.
After August 1, a player cannot sign a National Letter of Intent, so Boston College is not allowed to issue any press releases concerning Gerbe, and the coaching staff is not allowed to make any comments about their recruit. That all changes when Gerbe enrolls for the fall semester and joins the student body.
Gerbe is leaving today for the National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid.
8/4/05
Gagnon Takes Over at Hebron
Former Avon Old Farms and UNH forward Rob Gagnon has been named the new head coach at Hebron Academy in Maine.
Gagnon, a three-sport athlete who captained soccer, hockey, and baseball in his senior year at Avon, went on to play at UNH from 1994-98.
A native of South Windsor, Conn., Gagnon, after graduating from UNH, worked as an executive recruiter, volunteered at Avon under John Gardner, coached youth hockey, and, most recently, was head coach for the Northern Connecticut Wings and Conard High School in West Hartford.
In addition to coaching hockey at Hebron, Gagnon will work in the admissions department.
8/4/05
Pallos to Union
Union College has a commitment from 5’9”, 175 lb. forward Justin Pallos, who has played the last three seasons at the St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Mass.
Pallos, a native of Glastonbury, Conn. and an ’87 birthdate, is leaving St. Mark’s to play his senior season with the Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL).
A left shot, Pallos is nominally a center, but could also be a wing at the college level. A goal scorer, Pallos is quick, skilled, and has a good stick.
8/2/05
Merrimack Names Quarters to Assistant's Position
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) assistant coach Marty Quarters has been named as an assistant on Mark Dennehy’s staff at Merrimack College.
Quarters has carved out a niche as a workaholic with an extensive knowledge of the U.S. player pool. As a recruiter he’s ultra-competitive, going hard after players he’s identified as talented. A dogged road warrior, Quarters has been known on many an occasion to ruffle the feathers of guys he’s recruiting against, but those same guys, often grudgingly, will also admit that he’s successful at what he does.
Quarters, a Detroit-area native, began making a name for himself as a coach in the Little Caesar’s and Honeybaked organizations. He parlayed his success there into a job as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator with the Cleveland Barons (NAHL), where he also coached the midget program and directed the youth hockey program from 1998-2001.
When he moved from Honeybaked to Cleveland, he brought with him some of his top Honeybaked bantams, guys like Jimmy Slater, who would play three years at Cleveland, go on to star at Michigan State, and get selected in the first round of the NHL draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. Quarters has always worked ceaselessly promoting his players and the programs for which he works. For example, when Slater was 15, Quarters urged the NTDP to consider the center for the program even though he would lose him. The NTDP passed on Slater, who followed Quarters to Cleveland, was a key to that team’s success, and will be competing for a job at the Thrashers training camp next month.
In 2002, Dave Siciliano hired Quarters as an assistant at Sioux City. This past May, the Musketeers, loaded with 15 Div. I committed players, reached the finals of the Clark Cup playoffs, bowing three games to two to Cedar Rapids.
Darren Yopyk, an Alberta-born defenseman who played at Princeton in the late ‘90s and was a volunteer graduate assistant at UMass last season, will, as we reported earlier, also be an assistant on Dennehy’s staff at Merrimack.
8/1/05
Gerbe Waits for Word on His Future
5’5”, 160 lb. center Nathan Gerbe, a Boston College recruit out of Oxford, Mich. and the US NTDP, described getting picked in the fifth round Saturday by the Buffalo Sabres as “just awesome.”
He’s also looking forward to heading out to the National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid at the end of this week.
After that, though, there are a lot of questions, mainly because Gerbe still hasn’t gotten through the NCAA Clearinghouse.
“We should be hearing from them in about two weeks,” he said.
If Gerbe fails to get through the clearinghouse, Boston College will file an appeal. This is not an uncommon procedure, and has been done successfully for other athletes, at Boston College and elsewhere. But that’s no guarantee it will work for Gerbe.
“If it doesn’t work out,” he said. “I’ll talk to Buffalo. If they really want me to go to college, then I’ll go to the USHL for a year and try again. If they say major junior is fine, then I’ll go play there.”
“But,” Gerbe added. “BC is really where I want to be. Hopefully, I’ll get in.”
Gerbe’s major junior rights are owned by the Windsor Spitfires (OHL). If he heads to the USHL it will be with the Omaha Lancers, where he played the 2002-03 season as a 15-year-old.
