11/29/05

Oreskovich Leaves College for OHL, and Other News

After pulling talented Albany, NY native Matt Lashoff away from the USNTDP a few years back, this season Peter DeBoer has added two college sophomore forwards so far this season: Matt Auffrey formerly of the Wisconsin Badgers,  and, yesterday, forward Victor Oreskovich of Notre Dame. Oreskovich is an Oakville, Ontario native who played for the Milton Merchants, and then one year in the USHL with Green Bay before moving onto Notre Dame. As a freshman last season, Oreskovich, put up an unimpressive 1-2-3 line in 37 games. This season, playing mostly right wing on the Irish's second line, Oreskovich dressed in 9 of 12 games and had a 2-1-3 line. Things never panned out in college for the 6’3”, 215 lb. Oreskovich, a second-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2004 draft.

Auffrey, since leaving the Badgers in early October, has posted a very respectable 5-7-12 line in 15 games. Auffrey was also a 2004 draft, by Anaheim (6^th round).

Lashoff, who can quarterback the power play and kill penalties, is back from an early-season injury and has a 1-12-13 line in 16 games.  However, his -7 (+/-) might be of some concern to the US National Team selection group, which will shortly be announcing a preliminary roster for the US team competing in the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec 26-Jan 5 in Vancouver, BC.  

In the QMJHL, Keith Yandle (4th Round, Phoenix 2005), who opted for the Moncton Wildcats when he couldn’t qualify at Maine, is putting together a terrific first season in major junior and is making a strong bid to be on the blue line for the US team in Vancouver. Yandle leads all defenseman in scoring with an impressive 11-27-38 line in 28 games and leads the entire league with a staggering +30 (+/-). 

Peter Mueller, in his first season with the Everett Silvertips (WHL) continues to put up solid rookie numbers with a 11-16-27 scoring line in 27 games while enduring a recent six-game game scoreless streak.  The former Minnesota Badger recruit is expected to be a high first round draft pick in the 2006 NHL Draft. For now, though, Mueller, who is only an ‘88, needs to be a little more consistent, especially in his defensive responsibilities.  

Minnesota's Nate Hagemo is still sidelined indefinitely with a shoulder injury and, as of now, looks doubtful for the US National squad.

-- In college hockey this weekend the marquee matchup has Red Berenson bringing his #3 ranked Michigan (9-3-1) into Miami’s Goggin Ice Arena to battle the #8 Red Hawks (9-2-1) who lead the CCHA Conference.  Michigan is coming off losses to both Minnesota and Wisconsin in the College Hockey Showcase.  Miami is riding a three game win streak and has only lost once since their opening game against North Dakota.  The games scheduled for Friday and Saturday night feature several players vying for spots on the US National Junior team roster, including goaltenders Billy Sauer (6-2-1, 2.83 GAA, .899 save percentage) for the Wolverines, and Jeff Zatkoff (5-2, 1.58 GAA and .936 save percentage) for Miami.  Not a bad head-to-head matchup. Others competing for a spot behind Cory Schneider on the junior team include Ben Bishop (Maine), Jon Quick (UMass) and Jeff Frazee (Minn).  

Miami, by the way, has the most goals for -- and least goals against -- in the CCHA: 37 GF, 16 GA in ten games. Overall, in 12 games, the Red Hawks have allowed just 19 goals (1.58 per game). Impressive numbers, to be sure.

USHL Note:

Sioux City Musketeers GM/Coach Dave Siciliano, with his team still sitting in the basement of the USHL Western Division, continues to shake things up, adding goaltender Beau Erikson to the roster.  Erikson, a 6' 0”, 160 lb. ‘85 goalie from Merrill, Iowa had been playing this season for the North Iowa Outlaws (NAHL) where in 10 games he had 5-4 record with a 2.79 GAA and .912 Save Pct.  Now, only 20 games into the season, Erikson is the fifth goaltender to have appeared on the Musketeers roster. The Musketeers have already released ‘88 Philip Tetzlaff, now with Cleveland in the NAHL, and ‘87 Billy Blasé, now with Salmon Arm in the BCHL (6-1 record 2.32 GAA and .925 Save Pct). It's rare in the USHL for teams to carry three goaltenders and with Eddie Wheeler and newly arrived Jerry Kuhn still providing inconsistent results in net, another release is not unlikely

11/29/02

A Big, Smooth-Skating Blueliner for Crimson

6’2”, 187 lb. LD Ian Tallet of the Chicago Steel (USHL) has committed to Harvard for next fall.

Tallet, a 10/1/87 birthdate is in his first USHL season after playing for the St. Louis Blues Midget AAA squad in his native St. Louis.

Tallet has a lot of upside as he is an excellent skater, especially considering his size. He handles the puck well, and has good defensive awareness.

In 23 games so far this season, Tallet has a 0-1-1 line with a –11 and 29 pims for the last-place Steel.

Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Colorado College, and Michigan State were other schools in the picture for Tallet.

Chicago Rules

The 2005-06 season is shaping up as a great one in the annals of Chicago midget hockey. Two weeks ago, we saw the Chicago Chill Midgets shred the competition at the Top Gun Blue Chip Tournament in Salem, NH, outscoring opponents by a hefty margin en route to the tournament championship. The Chill, now 29-3-1, skated hard, hit hard, played with focus, were well coached by Anders Sorensen, and were a joy to watch. They had little trouble with short-season New England midget teams and, while it’s not likely to happen anytime soon, it would be fun to watch them come east and play against some of the top New England prep programs.

Also very impressive were the Chicago Young Americans, who came east to last weekend’s Beantown Classic in New Hampshire, and knocked off Shattuck-St. Mary’s to take home the title. CYA plays a strong team game, and is more than the sum of its parts. They’re not going to blow any teams out of the building but, as they did in New Hampshire, they will win games by dint of their tenacity. The close, tight games, like a 3-2 win over Victory Honda, and a classic double-overtime shootout win over Shattuck-St. Mary’s went their way. They don’t beat themselves.

Note:

In addition to the Chill and CYA, we have also, earlier this fall, seen the Chicago Mission. They're another nice team though, like CYA, not quite in the Chill’s class.

The one Chicago midget team we have yet to see is Team Illinois, the #1-ranked midget team in the country. TI, which takes a 31-0 record into their annual Thanksgiving tournament, is coached by Jim Marchi and features the likes of Miami recruit Tommy Wingels. It could be a historic season for Team Illinois, which has won the midget nationals twice, in 1982 and 1997. This could be that kind of season -- and then some. We’ll have to wait to April to find out.

***

The biggest disappointment at the Beantown Classic was the play of the U.S. National Under-17 Team, 2-0 losers to the Boston Jr. Bruins on Saturday, and 3-1 losers to the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs on Sunday.

If CYA is a team that is more than the sum of its parts, the Under-17 team, which could only muster one goal in two games, was definitely less than the sum of its parts. Most troubling was the cookie-cutter style of play. There was something eerily robotic about the Ron Rolston-coached team. They skated hard, hit hard, played at a nice tempo, but were not much fun to watch. Highly-skilled players like Ryan Hayes – to name just one -- seemed extremely stifled (or perhaps physically exhausted). Defensemen seemed unwilling to handle the puck, fearful of making a mistake. We miss the coaching style of a number of Rolston’s predecessors, men who took players’ strengths and played to them, allowing room for individual creativity within the framework of team play. The Under-17 Team could use some of that right now. These kids came to the program as top players, and will in all likelihood leave as top players. We're asking one question: are they leaving as significantly better players than they would have if they had chosen another path for their final two years of high school?

11/25/05

Friars Land Top Goalie for ‘07

Providence College has a commitment from 6’1”, 180 lb. New Hampshire Monarchs (EJHL) goaltender Ryan Simpson.

A 2/10/88 birthdate from Bow, NH, Simpson is currently a senior in high school. He’ll take one more year in juniors, most likely with the Monarchs, before joining the Friars in the fall of ’07.

Simpson, who recently missed two weeks with a concussion, returned to action last weekend. On Sunday, he kicked out 31 of 32 shots in a 3-1 Monarchs win over the US National Under-17 Team.

Statistically, Simpson, who is eligible for June’s NHL draft, is the top goalie in the EJHL with a 2.10 gaa and a .930 save percentage in 14 games played. He’s a mechanically solid, extremely athletic, competitive goaltender.

Simpson played for St. Paul’s School in 2003-04, then joined the Monarchs last season.

A number of schools were interested in Simpson, some for next fall and some for ‘07. In the end, Simpson made his choice from among Cornell, Clarkson, Dartmouth, and Providence.

When Simpson joins Providence as a freshman, Tyler Sims will be a senior and Steven Ritter will be a junior. 

11/24/05

Another Major Defensive Recruit for the Terriers

6’4”, 200 lb. RD Eric Gryba of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) has committed to Boston University, giving the Terriers yet another major recruit on defense. The Terriers already have commitments from Brian Strait (for ‘06), Kevin Shattenkirk (’07), and Colby Cohen (’07).

An April ’88 birthdate and a potential NHL first round draft choice, Gryba will arrive at Agganis Arena next season. A very good student, he made his final choice from between North Dakota, Michigan, and BU. Prior to narrowing his choices to those three, Gryba, who played midget hockey for the Saskatoon Contacts last season and was a bit of an unknown when the season began, was bowled over by college options. To give an example, 15 schools were lined up to talk to him at the season-opening Buc Bowl.

Gryba came to the USHL because of Hockey Canada’s rule that bars midget age players from one province moving to another to play junior hockey. When Hockey Canada blocked Gryba’s transfer from Saskatchewan to the BCHL, it forced him to look to the U.S. to play at a high level.

A big, strong, mobile defenseman, Gryba enjoys physical play but at the same time has excellent puck skills, poise, and vision. He makes a strong first pass out of the zone, and has offensive upside. He competes hard and is reported to be a character kid who is respected by his teammates. His biggest challenge right now is being 6’4” and 17 years old. In other words, he’s still growing into his body. The best is yet to come.    

11/23/05

Mea Culpa

Yesterday, we erroneously stated that two Tabor players, Keif Orsini and Nick Lampson, have been expelled from the Marion, Mass. boarding school. While this could turn out to be true, it is not true right now.

Right now, the school is in Thanksgiving break. The two players will be going through the school’s disciplinary process when school resumes, a procedure in which they will be granted due process.

Early this afternoon, Tabor head hockey coach Gerry Dineen said, “It was irresponsible of the U.S. Hockey Report to report this story before due process. The boys are in the process, and the school is still dealing with the issues. Until the issues are settled there isn’t an official decision.”

11/22/05

USHL Wrap Up: Ever Heard of Rich Drazin?

While scoring is down, there appears to be greater parity in the USHL this season, and, with that, closer contests. Of the 13 games on the schedule over the weekend, six were decided in shootouts, and one in overtime. Only one game was decided by more than two goals. In an interesting side note all the home teams (Chicago, Indiana and Omaha) lost on Tuesday night but came back to finish the weekend with two wins each.  Indiana and Chicago ended six and five-game skids, respectively. Cedar Rapids won all three of their games to move past Des Moines (1-2) into first place in the East.  West-leading Sioux Falls (1-0) was idle most of the week and squeaked out a 2-1 shoot out win over Sioux City.  Omaha (2-1) gained a couple of points on the Stampede but still trail by four points and have played two more games. One disturbing trend we have noticed this year is the release of several high school aged players.  We’ll have more on this subject at a later date, but for now let’s move onto the game highlights:

Cedar Rapids (3-0) opened the week with a 6-4 win at Indiana. The RoughRiders, after leading 3-0 and 5-1, almost blew it in the third period as Indiana took advantage of a misplayed center ice dump-in and then added two shorthanded goals to close the gap to 5-4.  An empty-netter by Maine recruit Ted Purcell sealed the win with 50 seconds to play.  Cedar Rapids’ top guns --  Michigan Tech recruit Phil Axtell (2G, 1A), Purcell (1G, 2A) and Chad Costello (1G, 1A) -- led the way, with defenseman Kevin Wehrs (Minnesota) picking up two assists and Ray Kaunisto (Northern Michigan) and Nik Sellers scoring the other goals.  Pat McGann picked up the win in net.  In a home-and-home battle with West-leading Des Moines, the RoughRiders put together two excellent games, a 3-2 home win in overtime and 4-3 shootout win on the road to sweep into first place. Friday night, in a see-saw battle, Dustin Cloutier, off a Kaunisto feed, beat Des Moines goalie Brian Foster (UNH) from the right wing circle with 30 seconds left in overtime for the win.  Ryan Gunderson (Minn St-Mankato), playing in his first game for Cedar Rapids after being acquired from the Tri-City Storm, scored in the first period for a 1-0 lead.  After Des Moines tied it up 1-1, Jacob Cepis (Bowling Green) put the RoughRiders back up 2-1 on a shorthanded breakaway goal.  Des Moines tied it midway through the second period and the score stayed 2-2 until Cloutier’s overtime heroics.  Alex Stalock (Minn Duluth) stopped 36 of 38 shots for the win.  On Saturday, Cedar Rapids jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead on power plays goals by David Strathman (Northeastern), Wehrs and Purcell.  The Bucs, who outshot the Riders 35-6 the rest of the way, chipped away at the lead and after two periods closed the gap to 3-2.  Des Moines got the equalizer with a minute and half remaining in regulation and dominated the OT but couldn’t solve Stalock in net.  Both Chad Costello and Gary Steffes (Miami), with the game winner, scored in the shootout. Stalock stood on his head and kicked out 48 of 51 shots for his second win in two nights. 

Chicago (2-1).  The struggling Steel, like Indiana, dropped their fifth straight on Tuesday at home in a tough 4-3 shootout loss to Des Moines.  Trailing 3-1 going into the third period, the Steel got goals from Western Michigan recruit Chris Clackson and Randy Guzior to send the game into OT.  Shaun Williams, who just committed to Union, turned away 29 of 32 shots in the game, but gave up three goals in the shootout for the hard luck loss. Mike Embach also scored for Chicago. On the weekend, Chicago went on the road and came away with two wins at Lincoln, 3-2 Friday night and a 5-4 shoot out win on Saturday.  In the 3-2 win, Clackson, Brandon Coccimiglio and Guzior scored for the Steel.  Williams made 31 saves on 33 shots for the win. On Saturday, the Steel blew a 4-2 third period lead but pulled it out in the shootout for the sweep over the Stars.  Rich Drazin, making his first start and second appearance for the Steel, turned in an impressive 45 save performance and stopped four of five shootout attempts for his first USHL victory.  Scoring for Chicago were Dan Kissel, Coccimiglio and Guzior (twice).  Clackson and Guzior (game winner) scored in the shootout.   The Steel have been struggling to score goals of late and received a huge lift from Guzior, a 6’2” 190 86 forward from Lemont, Il in his first year in the USHL.  Guzior who was named the USHL Offensive Player of the Week, scored four goals in three games, including two clutch third period game-tying goals, plus the shootout winner Saturday night.  Guzior has an 8-7-15 line in 19 games. (Chicago’s Sami Liimatainen received a match penalty after kicking Lincoln’s Ben Grotting in a second period fight on Saturday. Liimatainen faces a league suspension.)  

Indiana (2-1).  On Tuesday, Cedar Rapids rode into Indy and scored three goals on their first eight shots to take a 3-0 lead and chase Ice starting goaltender Jay Clark after one period. The RoughRiders increased their lead to 5-1 before the Ice, riding a five-game skid made it a game with three third-period goals.  Michigan recruit Tristin Llewellyn made it 5-2, scoring his first goal of the year on a dump-in from center ice which was misplayed by Cedar Rapids goaltender Pat McGann. Sloppy play by the RoughRiders then led to two shorthanded goals by Ice forwards Lukas Klimek (Neb.-Omaha) and Mike Hull to cut the lead to 5-4 with two minutes remaining.  However, with 34 seconds left, an empty netter by Ted Purcell “iced” the game. Brian Gifford (Denver) scored Indiana’s first goal on the power play.  On the weekend, Indiana rebounded with two home wins over the Storm.  On Friday, Indiana pulled out a 5-4 OT shootout thriller with Klimek and Eddie Del Grosso (Neb.- Omaha) scoring in the shoot-out and goaltender Cody Reichard making 34 saves and then turning away all four Tri-City shoot-out attempts.  Indiana got goals from Justin Milo (Cornell), Gifford, and Hull. The equalizer, with six minutes remaining, came off the stick of Del Grosso, his eighth goal of the season (and his seventh on the powerplay).  John Kemp, another Nebraska-Omaha recruit, had three assists in the win.  On Saturday, Indiana made it two in a row with a convincing 4-0 shutout of the Storm. Reichard earned his first career shutout with a 28 save performance. Klimek, Kemp and highly-regarded Sean Dolan, recently named to the US Viking Cup team, scored for the Ice.  Llewellyn added a late empty net goal to close out the 4-0 win.  Llewellyn will also be joining Dolan on the US team for the Viking Cup.

Omaha (2-1) opened the week with a hard-fought 2-1 loss at home to Lincoln.  Ryan Turek (Michigan State) scored the Lancers lone goal off an assist from BC recruit Nick Petrecki.  Both players were also recently named to the US Viking Cup team.  Eddie Neville stopped 27 of 29 shots in the loss.  The Lancers, however, rebounded with two impressive 5-3 road wins at Waterloo and Sioux City.  On Friday night, despite being outshot 41-26, the Lancers came away with a big win as Neville made 38 saves in net.  Robbie Dee (Maine), Travis Kauffeldt, and defenseman Nick Schaus (Mass-Lowell) staked the Lancers to a 3-1 lead.  Matt Schepke, a 5’9”, 196 lb. ‘85 forward from Warren, Michigan, scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season at the 48 second mark of the third period to extend the lead back to 4-2.  It was Schepke’s third shorthanded goal of the season. Rookie Matt Olver, a 5’11’, 185 lb. ‘88 forward committed to Northern Michigan, closed out the scoring with his first USHL goal.  On Saturday, despite being out shot again, 41-24, the Lancers came away with another road win.  Scoring for Omaha were Chris Meyers, Chris Moran (Niagara), Ryan Raven, Matt Thurber and Tony Lucia (Minnesota). Lucia’s goal was an empty-netter with 20 seconds left. Neville kicked out 38 of 41 shots for the win. Neville could have (should have?) won USHL Defensive Player of the Week honors, having led the Lancers to two road wins, stopping 103 of 111 shots for a .928 save percentage. Instead, the award went to goaltender John Murray , who kicked out 27 of 28 in Sioux Falls’ only game of the weekend.      

East Division-leading Des Moines (1-2) went into Chicago Tuesday night and crept out with a 4-3 shoot out win despite being outshot 43-33 and blowing a 3-1 third period lead.  Notre Dame recruit Ben Ryan figured in all of the Bucs scoring with two goals and an assist.  Shane Sims, a 6’1”, 190 lb. ‘88 defenseman from the Buffalo, NY area, added a goal and assist. Troy Davenport picked up the win, making 40 saves and stopping all three shots in the shootout.  On Friday night, despite out shooting the host RoughRiders 40-26, the Bucs came up short in a 3-2 overtime loss.  Kyle Okposo (Minnesota) and Ken Rowe (Army) scored for the Bucs. Saturday night at home, the Bucs again fell to Cedar Rapids, this time in a 4-3 shootout which dropped Regg Simon’s squad out of first place. After staking the RoughRiders to a 3-0 lead, goals by Trevor Lewis and Alex Laseen closed the gap to 3-2.  Late in the third period, Ben Van Lare got the equalizer, with Okposo picking up his second assist of the game. It was Van Lare’s first USHL goal. Davenport made 20 saves in the losing effort.   

On Friday night, Western Division leading Sioux Falls (1-0) pulled out a 2-1 shootout victory at home over Sioux City.  Leading scorer Andreas Nodl notched his 12^th goal of the season on the power play off a Nate Prosser assist and also added the shootout winner.  John Murray made 27 saves and stopped all five shots in the shootout. As mentioned, Murray was named USHL Defensive Player of the Week.  Murray leads the league with a 1.86 GAA and is third in save percentage (.929).  His teammate, Alex Kangas, leads the league with .936 save percentage and is second to Murray with 1.98 GAA. It’s not for nothing that the Stampede is in first place.  

Lincoln (1-2) on Tuesday went into Omaha and came out with an impressive 2-1 road win as Michigan recruit Steve Jakiel stopped 33 of 34 shots.  Eli Vlaisavljevich (Michigan Tech) and Josh Brodeen scored for the Stars, and Mike Davies picked up two helpers in the win.  The Stars, however, disappointed the home crowd over the weekend, dropping both games to the Steel, who had been winless in their previous five games.  In Friday night’s 3-2 loss, Chad Langlais (on the power play) and Danny Baco (shorthanded and unassisted) each scored goals. Jakiel made 17 saves in the losing effort.  Saturday night, despite out shooting the Steel 49-26, the Stars dropped a 5-4 SOL in spite of a four-goal third period to tie up the game.  Bryan Hogan took the loss for the Lincoln, kicking out 22 of 26 shots.  James Perkin, Kyle Hardwick, Jared Brown and Davies scored for the Stars.      

Waterloo (1-1).  On Friday night the Black Hawks dropped a 5-3 decision at home to Omaha.  Isak Tranvik, Joe Sova and Mike Testwuide scored for Waterloo. Ken Wochele (9 saves on 12 shots) and Joe Grossman (12 saves on 14 shots) split time in net, with Grossman taking the loss. Saturday night, in a game between two teams that have little offensive firepower, the Black Hawks rebounded to pull out a 2-1 shootout win over Green Bay.  Testwuide, a 6’3”, 210 lb. ‘87 power forward from Vail, Colorado who leads the team in scoring with an 8-2-10 line in 11 games, scored on the power play off a Pasko Skarica helper. Mike Arhontas was the lone scorer in the shootout.  Grossman made 30 saves and stopped all five shots in the shootout for his fourth win of the season. 

Green Bay (0-1) dropped their lone game of the week at Waterloo in a 2-1 shootout.  Kevin Deeth (Notre Dame) scored the lone goal for the Gamblers and Brown recruit Dan Rosen stopped 33 of 34 shots in the loss.

Tri City (0-2) rolled into Indiana to face an Ice team winless in their previous six games --  and came away with only one point. On Friday, the Storm dropped their third consecutive shootout in a 5-4 loss to the Ice.  Jaroslav Markovic, Matt Ambroz, Zach Cohen and Alex Hudson scored for the Storm.  Derek Brennan, a 6’3”, 190 lb. ‘88 goalie from Grand Island, NY took the loss for Tri-City, stopping 22 of 26 shots.  On Saturday, the Storm were defeated 4-0 by the Ice. Aaron Rock took the loss, stopping 20 of 23 shots. 

Sioux City (0-2) remained in the Western Division basement, dropping a tough 2-1 shoot out loss on the road in Sioux Falls and following that up with a 5-3 home loss to Omaha.  In Friday’s loss, Notre Dame recruit Chris Minella netted the lone Musketeer goal and newly acquired Jerry Kuhn, a Michigan native brought in from the Wasila Spirit (NAHL),  stopped 26 of 27 shots.  On Saturday, in spite of outshooting the Lancers 41-25 the Musketeers came up a little short. Minella, Sam Gagner and Ryan Hohl (shorthanded) each scored in the losing cause. Eddie Wheeler made 20 saves.  

BCHL Update:

Since we last reported on the BCHL, the top two US scorers continue to put up impressive numbers. Vernon Vipers defenseman Erik Felde, who recently signed his official letter of intent to Alaska-Anchorage for next season, has netted four goals and chipped in eight assists in eight games since moving over from Chilliwack. Felde, eighth in the league in scoring, continues to lead all defenseman with an impressive 12-25-37 line in 28 games.  

Penticton forward Evan Trupp has been on fire (4G, 6A), leading the Vees to four wins in their last five games. For the season, Trupp, who is 11^th in the league in scoring has a 10-25-35 line in 26 games.

Salmon Arm goalie Billy Blasé, after dropping his first decision, has won four in a row.  In five games, since arriving from Sioux City (USHL), Blasé has a 2.40 GAA and .926 save percentage for the first place Silverbacks in the Interior Division.  

11/22/05  For update, please see above article

Tabor Hockey Hit by Expulsions

Tabor senior RW Keif Orsini, the team’s top returning scorer, and forward Nick Lampson, a talented new player from the New Jersey Rockets Jr. B (AJHL), have both been expelled from Tabor Academy, reportedly for stealing.

Orsini, a Montreal native, had committed to play at Union College next year. Today, Union head coach Nate Leaman pulled the plug on that, withdrawing the school’s offer.

Orsini, a 5’11”, 165 lb. ’87 birthdate, had a 12-11-23 line last year, making him the team’s fourth-leading scorer, trailing only Matt Cook, Chris Potts, and Steve Silva, all of whom have moved on – Cook and Potts to college, Silva to the USHL.

Orsini’s QMJHL rights are owned by the Halifax Mooseheads. Originally, he was drafted in June 2003 by Rouyn-Noranda (Round 3, #38 overall). But this past Aug. 22, his rights were traded to Halifax. Not coincidentally, that date was one day after the conclusion of the Beantown Classic in Walpole, Mass. The tournament was scouted by Halifax, and Orsini played very well. He played on the team that won the title, and he was named first team all-tournament.

Lampson, a 5’9”, 170 lb. forward from Basking Ridge, NJ, formerly played at Seton Hall Prep. Last year, he played Jr. B with the Rockets, where he was the team’s leading scorer (24-18-42 in 36 games) and was named to the league all-star team.

11/21/05

The Wildcats’ Recruiting Coup

The University of New Hampshire came out on top of a major recruiting battle, landing one of the country’s most-coveted ‘89s in 6’3”, 187 lb. U.S. Under-17 Team forward James Van Riemsdyk.

Van Riemsdyk, a 5/4/89 birthdate from Middletown, NJ, is among the elite ’89 college-eligible forwards, along with Jimmy Hayes (Nobles), Sam Gagner (Sioux City – USHL) and Mike Hoeffel (Hill-Murray HS). In addition to size, Van Riemsdyk has vision, and patience with the puck. He’s a big man with finesse, and has the potential to be a first-round NHL draft pick in 2007.

In 2004-05, Van Riemsdyk led Christian Brothers Academy to the NJ State High School Championship, scoring the winning goal in overtime to beat Delbarton in the title game.

The battle for Van Riemsdyk came down to two schools: Michigan, which he visited last week, and UNH. Other schools Van Riemsdyk visited included BU, BC, and Notre Dame. In addition, Van Riemsdyk, a top student, early in the process considered the Ivy route. Brown was the main contender there, but Dartmouth and Yale were also in the picture.

Van Riemsdyk, a left wing, and his Under-17 teammates were at UNH over the weekend, playing in the Beantown in New Hampshire tournament. Van Riemsdyk’s U.S. Under-17 Team teammate, defenseman David Kolomatis, committed to the Wildcats on Saturday, so the weekend turned out to be a major recruiting coup for the Wildcats. Kolomatis, like Van Riemsdyk, is a New Jersey native. The two players are friends, they knew each other before going out to the National Program, and they also share the same family adviser. While the two cannot be considered a ‘package deal’ their friendship undoubtedly helped in the decision-making process. 

11/21/05

Harbor Wolves Fire Coach

The Boston Harbor Wolves (EJHL) have fired head coach Steve Hoar and replaced him with Bob Greenberg.

Greenberg will hold the title of interim head coach/assistant general manager.

The Harbor Wolves, at 3-12-1-1, have the worst record in the EJHL. The biggest problem is lack of goal scorers. The Harbor Wolves average roughly two goals a game, and the team’s leading scorer has but five goals on the season.

Noble & Greenough senior wing Ryan Maguire played for the Harbor Wolves this fall and had a 3-9-12 line in 13 games. Maguire, who last winter had committed to Brown for hockey, has committed to play baseball at Div. I Marist College, the MAAC’s traditional baseball power. Maguire, from Arlington, Mass., is a shortstop.  

11/21/05

USHL's Youngest Player Picks His College

Indiana Ice RD Nick Bailen has committed to Bowling Green for the 2008 season.

Bailen, a 12/12/89 birthdate, is from Fredonia, NY, where he played for St. Francis HS last season. He’s 5’10”, 170 lbs. and growing. In 12 games he has a 0-4-4 line with a +3 and 8 pims.

A good skater who is strong on his skates, Bailen has offensive upside – and nearly three years to refine his skills before he arrives at BGSU.

Other Commitments:

-- Chicago Steel (USHL) goaltender Shaun Williams has committed to Union College, where he just finished up his visit today.

Williams will enter Union next fall.

Williams, who is a little unorthodox, but gets in front of the puck, is a 5’11”, 185 lb. ’86 birthdate from Erie, Pennsylvania. He’s played 17 of the Steel’s 19 games and has a 3.50 gaa (15^th in league) and a .899 save percentage (10^th in league). He sees, on average, over 30 shots a game.

Last season, Williams played for the Springfield (MO) Spirit of the NAHL where he finished with a 2.83 gaa and a .910 save percentage in 31 games played.

-- The current regime at Merrimack College has its third recruit in 6’0”, 185 lb. RD Brandon Sadlowski of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL). Sadlowski, a 9/11/86 birthdate from St. Paul, Alberta, has played 28 games for the first-place Oil Barons and has a 4-11-15 line with 65 pims. Sadlowski, who played on Alberta’s Under-17 Team in the 2003 Canada Games, has offensive skill and projects as a player who’ll contribute on the power play.

11/20/05

Hoosac Gets Two Years Probation

As expected, the NESCAC ADs followed the recommendations of the NEPSIHA coaches and put the Hoosac School on two years probation.

The term of the probation includes the upcoming season as well as 2006-07.

This punishment comes on top of Hoosac's previous punishment banning them from the Div. II playoffs this season. Both punishments are due to Hoosac's illegal game Nov. 5 against the Northwood B team. 

Barring further infractions, Hoosac will be eligible for the playoffs in 2006-07. 

The Hoosac School, which is in Hoosick, NY, northeast of Albany, has already suspended head coach Gary Rabinowitz. His return is dependent on the school, and has nothing to do with NEPSAC, which is directing their punishments toward the program. Rabinowitz could be taken back by Hoosac this season – or never. Time will tell.

11/20/05

Changes at Canterbury

Peter LaVigne, who has coached Canterbury School for the last eight years, will be stepping down from the head position, but will continue with the program as an assistant coach.

LaVigne has taken on additional administrative duties at the school, and will also shortly be expecting his fifth child.

Assistant coach Paddy McCarthy, a Canterbury and St. Anselm’s alum who’s been at the New Milford, Conn. prep school as a coach and history teacher for the last five years, will be taking over the head position.

LaVigne, who coached Fairfield University before coming to Canterbury, stabilized the school’s hockey program back in the wake of the Joe King era, and this past season returned them to the prep playoffs.

11/20/05

Kolomatis Picks Wildcats

U.S. Under-17 Team defenseman David Kolomatis has committed to the University of New Hampshire for the fall of '07.

Kolomatis, a 5’11”, 171 lb. native of Basking Ridge, NJ, played last season for the NJ Jr. Rockets Jr. B team. An ’89, he’s still a little raw, but he skates the puck well and moves it efficiently. He’s strong and balanced on his skates.

He’s coming off an shoulder injury – he has stretched ligaments which will need to be operated on after season – and didn’t go on the recent European trip or play in this weekend’s games at the Beantown Classic in New Hampshire.

11/20/05

CYA Takes Beantown in New Hampshire

The Chicago Young Americans and Shattuck finished regulation tied 2-2, played two exciting overtimes, and a shootout round before CYA emerged as the winner in a sudden death shootout.

With the win, which featured great up-and-down hockey and excellent goaltending, CYA, not the most skilled team here, but definitely one of the most tenacious, took the tournament’s championship.

In the third-place game, the Pittsburgh Hornets topped the Portland Junior Pirates, 7-2.

In exhibition games, the NH Junior Monarchs (EJHL) topped the U.S. Under-17 Team, 3-1, to send Ron Rolston’s Under-17 team back to Ann Arbor winless on the weekend. Ryan Simpson, who missed two weeks recuperating from a concussion, picked up the win for the Monarchs, making 31 saves in the process.

The Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL) edged the Northwood School, 1-0.

Up the road in Biddeford, Maine, the US Under-18 Team topped the AJHL Selects, 7-2. 

11/19/05

Saturday at Beantown in NH

The matchups for Sunday are set and can be found below.

Here are today's results:

Shattuck-St. Mary’s 6, Dallas Stars 1

Shattuck: Eli Zuck (1g,2a), Ben Youds (2a), Brian Volpei (g), Tyler Ruesegger (g), Ben Umhoefer (g), Alex Stuart (g), Masa Takahashi (g), Zach Harrison (a), Jeff Smith (a), Daniel Wood (a).

Dallas: Chris Waterstradt (g), Justin Giles (a).

Portland Jr. Pirates 2, Victory Honda 0

Portland: Andrew Letellier (2g), Nick Payson (2a), P.O. Michaud (a).

Victory Honda: No scoring.

Chicago Young Americans 6, Dartmouth Subways 0

CYA: Brian Pickett (1g,1a), Richey Allen (1g,1a), Sean Phelan (1g,1a), George Isham (2a), Ralph Massuci (g), Sean-Michael Tisdall (g), Billy Allen (g), Jared Rickord (a), Sean Curran (a), Corey Evans (a), Kurt Akers (a), Michael Fransen (a), Kyle Greco (a).

Dartmouth: No Scoring

Pittsburgh Hornets 4, Dallas Stars 3

Pittsburgh: Mark Polidor (2a), Furman South (g), Patrick Gaul (g), Andrew Blazek (g), Chris Cerutti (g), Dan Sidle (a), Jake Della Vale (a), Dave Spadacen (a), Matt Celin (a).

Dallas: Jarrod Yost (2g), Justin Giles (g), Nate Daugherty (a), Kevin Bodker (a), Keir Ross (a), Andrew Hamburg (a).

Boston Junior Bruins (EJHL) 2, U.S. National Under-17 Team 0

Junior Bruins: Chris Donovan (g), Nick DeCroo (g), Bobby Butler (a), Justin Pallos (a).

U.S.: No Scoring

Goaltenders: Chris Rossi (Jr. Bruins) and Brad Phillips (US).

Shattuck-St. Mary’s 5, Junior Bruins 4

Shattuck: Ben Umhoefer (1g,1a), Masa Takahashi (1g,1a), Tyler Ruegsegger (1g,1a), Justin Brossman (1g,1a), Alex Stuart (g), Jeff Smith (a), Brian Volpei (a), Zach Harrison (a).

Junior Bruins: Joey Caveney (3a), Cody Warila (2g) Alan Dionne (g), Mike Cichy (g), Jon Wolter (a), Joey Dillon (a).

Goaltenders: Kevin Murdock (Shattuck) ox (Jr. Bruins)

Cushing 2, Northwood 1

Cushing: Ryan Flanigan (g), Alex Curran (g), Aaron Blades (a), Dave Warsofsky (a), Broc Little (a).

Northwood: Nick Sheehan (g), Kyle Haas (a), Steve Mallaro (a).

Goaltenders: Richard Bachman (Cushing) and Alex Petizian (Northwood).

Note: Both Jr. Bruins vs. U.S. Under-17 and Cushing vs. Northwood are exhibition games and have no bearing on Sunday’s playoffs.

Sunday’s Playoff Matchups: All games at the Rinks at Exeter:

8:00 am – 7^th Place Game -- Dallas vs. Dartmouth
9:00 am – 5^th Place Game -- Victory Honda vs. Junior Bruins
10:00 am – 3^rd Place Game -- Portland vs. Pittsburgh
11:00 am – 1^st Place Game -- CYA vs. Shattuck

11/18/05

Meyers Earns a Home

6’3” Green Mountain Glades goaltender Dan Meyers has committed to UMass-Amherst for 2006.

Meyers, an 8/30/85 birthdate from Voorhees, NJ, has been impressive this season, posting a league-leading .939 save percentage. His gaa of 2.15 is second in the league.

Last season, in 30 games with the Glades, Meyers posted a 3.21 gaa and a .913 save percentage.

11/18/05

NHL Central Scouting Releases Preliminary Ranking

The National Hockey League Central Scouting Service has released its preliminary ranking of NCAA, major junior, and European players.

Click to the page below, and then click on "Preliminary Ranking" in the left-hand column.

NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Ranking -- Nov. 2005

11/18/05

Vadnais to Bemidji State

Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) RD John Vadnais has committed to Bemidji State for next season.

Vadnais, a 6’0”, 205 lb. ’86 born RD from Stillwater, Minn., is in his third year in the USHL and his second in Des Moines).

Prior to coming to the USHL Vadnais played for the NTDP’s Under-17 Team.

This season, in12 games, Vadnais has a 5-7-12 line with 12 pims and a +7. 

11/18/05

Four More Suspended at Maine

University of Maine hockey players Travis Wright, Brent Shepheard, Bret Tyler, and Rob Bellamy have all been suspended for one game, albeit a meaningless one.

All four will be on the sidelines when the U.S. Under-18 Team plays an exhibition game at Maine Saturday night.

In addition, all four have been ordered to appear in court next month to answer to summons charging them with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor charge.

Police said the four were among the group that accompanied Mike Hamilton and Wes Clark when, on Sunday night, they went to the off-campus apartment of University of Maine baseball player Will Carroll, who had been involved with Hamilton’s ex-girlfriend.

Carroll was beaten by the two players.

Hamilton and Clark have been charged with assault and aggravated criminal mischief, and have both been suspended indefinitely from the team.

11/18/05

Friday at Beantown in New Hampshire

Here are the scores after the first day of action:

Victory Honda 3, Dartmouth Subways 1

Game sheet missing in action. Victory Honda goalie was Dayn Belfour.

Chicago Young Americans 5, Portland Jr. Pirates 1

CYA: Sean Phelan (2g), Ryan arlock (2a), Kyle Greco (2a), George Isham (g), Billy Allen (g), Brian Pickett (g). Portland: Cameron Robichaud (g).

Pittsburgh Hornets 7, Junior Bruins 3

Pittsburgh: Mark Polidor (2g,2a); Furman South (4a), Patrick Gaul (2g,1a), Ron Cramer (1g,1a), Matt Celin (2a), Chris Cerutti (g), Jeff Hannan (g), Andrew Blazek (a), Jake Machal (a).
Junior Bruins: Jordan Messier (g), Edwin Shea (g), Steve Moses (g), David Boehm (a), Justin Alonzo (a), Cody Warila (a).

Portland Jr. Pirates 4, Dartmouth Subways 2

Portland: Mike Carpenter (2g), Cameron Robichaud (g), Kelen Corkum (g), Mark Anthoine (a), Nick Payson (a), John Retelle (a), Dan Smith (a).
Dartmouth: Ryan Hayes (g), Jeff Marchand (g), Taylor MacGillivary (a), Alex Beaton (a), Christian Morin (a). 
The Portland goaltender was Nick Broadwater.

Chicago Young Americans 3, Victory Honda 2

CYA: Sean Curran (1g,1a), Brian Pickett (g), Billy Allen (g), Gabe Heller (a), Kyle Greco (a), George Isham (a). Victory Honda: Brad Reck (g), Mark Silverman (g), Matt Wooster (a), Jeff Ceccaci (a), Bill Stemzynski (a), Kevin LaPointe (a).
Goalies: Scott Pederson (CYA), and Andrew Duff (CYA).

Junior Bruins 1, Dallas 0

Junior Bruins: Josh Burrows (g), Justin Alonzo (a).

Shattuck-St. Mary’s 6, Pittsburgh Hornets 4

Shattuck: Zach Harrison (1g,1a), Joe Brock (1g,1a), Masa Takahashi (g), David Adams (g), Justin Brossman (g), Tyler Ruegsegger (g), Peter Lompado (a), Daniel Wood (a), Jeff Smith (a), Stepan Novotny (a), Brian Volpei (a).
Pittsburgh: Brian McGinty (1g,1a), Jake Machel (1g,1a), Ron Cramer (g), Chris Morford (g), Gerry Raymond (a), Robby Madore (a), Eric Windmueller (a), Jeff Hannan (a).
Goaltenders were Jake Anderson (Shattuck) and Robby Madore (Pittsburgh).

Goalie Stats for above games unavailable.

Standings:
Division A: 1. CYA (2-0-0) 2. Shattuck (1-0-0). 3. Portland (1-1-0) 4. Darmouth (0-2-0). 
Division B: 1. Jr. Bruins, Pittsburgh, and Victory Honda are all 1-1-0. Dallas is 0-1-0. 
 

11/17/05

A New Warrior

6’1”, 200 lb. New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) defenseman Pat Bowen has committed to Merrimack College for next season.

Bowen, who graduated from the Pomfret School in ’04, played with the Chicago Steel (USHL) last season.

This season, in 18 games for the Monarchs, Bowen has a 3-12-15 line with 36 pims. An 8/7/85 birthdate from Marshfield, Mass., Bowen handles the puck well, and has a powerful shot.

He’s the second player the Warriors have committed to since Mark Dennehy took over the program, the first being big Sioux City RW Matt Jones.

USHL Notes:

Indiana Ice (USHL) owner Paul Skjodt has fired assistant coach Fred Knipscheer.

Replacing Knipscheer will be Charlie Skjodt, the owner’s older brother. Most recently Charlie Skjodt has been coach of Cathedral-Chatard HS, the top high school team in Indiana. The elder Skjodt, who is 49, played for the Indy Checkers (IHL) in the mid-80s and was an assistant coach for one year.

The Ice have lost six games in a row.

***

Kevin Bodker, a promising ’90 defenseman out of St. Louis, has left the Sioux City Musketeers. Bodker, who has been with the club all season, has only played in four games. He’s practicing now with the St. Louis Midget AAA squad, but they’re full up, so he’s playing weekends with the Dallas Stars midget. The Stars will be playing in the Beantown Classic this weekend.  

***

Ben Rosen, another promising young defenseman who had been seeing limited playing time – just two games – with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers, was on his way back east to join the Boston Junior Bruins (EJHL) when the Omaha Lancers picked up his rights. Rosen, an ’89 from Long Island, will now be skating with the Lancers.

11/16/05

Viking Cup Team Named

USA Hockey has announced the roster for the 2006 U.S. Junior Select 18 & Under Team that will represent the U.S. at the Viking Cup in Camrose, Alberta Dec. 26-Jan. 2.

Goaltenders (2): Brian Foster (Des Moines); Alex Stalock (Cedar Rapids).

Defensemen (6): Jeremy Dehner (Green Bay); Drew Dobson (Waterloo); Steven Kampfer (Sioux City); Tristin Llewellyn (Indiana); Chad Morin (Sioux City); Nick Petrecki (Omaha).

Forwards (14): Matt Arhontas (Waterloo); Zach Bearson (Waterloo); Sean Dolan (Indiana); Kai Kantola (Fargo-Moorhead – NAHL); Mario Lamoureux (Tri-City); Trevor Lewis (Des Moines); Tony Lucia (Omaha); James Marcou (Waterloo); Justin Milo (Indiana); Kyle Okposo (Des Moines); Tony Romano (NY Bobcats – AJHL); Gary Steffes (Cedar Rapids); Ryan Turek (Omaha); Chris Vande Velde (Lincoln).

Alternates (3): Goaltenders Bryce Christianson (Fairbanks – NAHL) and Ryan Simpson (NH Jr. Monarchs – EJHL); and defenseman Brian Schack (Southern Minnesota – NAHL).

Head Coach: P.K. O’Handley
Assistant Coaches: Al Bloomer and Bob Crawford

11/16/05

Beantown Classic in NH – Updated Schedule

There have been some changes made to this coming weekend’s Beantown Classic in New Hampshire schedule, the revised version of which follows.

Games are scheduled for Friday (@ the Rinks at Exeter), Saturday (@ UNH), and Sunday (@ the Rinks at Exeter). One game will be at the Governor Dummer school.

If you’re from out of town, we should tell you that the Rinks at Exeter are not to be confused with Phillips Exeter Academy. Same town, but different place. Go to http://www.therinksatexeter.com/

There are eight teams in the midget division, all of whom are eligible for Sunday’s playoffs. They are: the Junior Bruins (Empire League), Pittsburgh Hornets, Victory Honda, Dartmouth Subways, Portland Jr. Pirates, Chicago Young Americans, Dallas Stars, and Shattuck-St. Mary’s.

Also taking part in the tournament, but not eligible for the playoffs are: the Junior Bruins (EJHL), NH Jr. Monarchs (EJHL), U.S. Under-17 Team, Northwood School, Governor Dummer Academy, and Cushing Academy.

Here is the complete and up-to-date schedule.

Friday 11/18/05 @ Exeter Rinks
8:00 am – Victory Honda vs. Dartmouth Subways (Rink 1)
9:00 am – Portland Jr. Pirates vs. CYA (Rink 2)
10:00 am – Junior Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Hornets (Rink 1)
1:30 pm – Portland Jr. Pirates vs. Dartmouth Subways (Rink 2)
3:30 pm – Junior Bruins vs. Dallas Stars (Rink 2)
4:00 pm – Northwood vs. Gov. Dummer (@ GDA)

Saturday 11/19/05 @UNH Whittemore Center
8:00 am – Dallas Stars vs. Shattuck-St. Mary’s
9:50 am – Victory Honda vs. Portland Jr. Pirates
11:40 am – CYA vs. Dartmouth Subways
1:30 pm – Dallas Stars vs. Pittsburgh Hornets
3:20 pm – USA Under-17 vs. Junior Bruins (EJHL)
6:10 pm – Jr. Bruins vs. Shattuck-St. Mary’s
8:00 pm – Northwood vs. Cushing Academy

Sunday 11/20/05 @ Exeter Rinks
8:00 am – 7^th Place Game (Rink 2)
9:00 am – 5^th Place Game (Rink 1)
10:00 am – 3^rd Place Game (Rink 2)
11:00 am – 1^st Place Game (Rink 1)
12:00 pm – Northwood vs. Junior Bruins (EJHL) (Rink 2)
1:00 pm – USA Under-17 vs. NH Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) (Rink 1)

11/15/05

USHL Weekend: Roloff and Jakiel Come up Big

DES MOINES: On Friday night, the East-leading Buccaneers’ six-game winning streak ended in a hard-fought 3-2 loss at Lincoln. However, back home on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 3,526, the Bucs hammered Omaha, 7-3. In a balanced, dominating attack, 13 players figured in the scoring with seven different players lighting the lamp for Des Moines. UNH recruit Brian Foster stopped 18 of 21 shots in picking up his second win in two starts since returning from a preseason injury.    

CEDAR RAPIDS: The RoughRiders split their weekend games at home, beating Sioux City 4-1 Friday night and then dropping a disappointing 4-0 game to Sioux Falls on Saturday.  On Friday, Chad Costello notched his seventh of the season and is second behind Ted Purcell (Maine) in team scoring with an impressive 7-12-19 +8 line in 13 games.  Also scoring for the Rough Riders were Jacob Cepis (Bowling Green), Gary Steffes (Miami) and Nik Sellers. In net, Alex Stalock (Minn- Duluth) kicked out 31 of 32 shots for the win.

GREEN BAY: The Gamblers followed up an emotional, come-from-behind 4-3 shootout win over Tri-City on Thursday with two more weekend wins to move into third place in the East Division with a 7-10 record.  In a rematch of Thursday’s game, Green Bay pulled out another 4-3 shootout win at home over the Storm. Green Bay then traveled down to Indy where they thumped the Ice, 6-2.  Leading the Gamblers’ charge in the three wins was Vermont recruit Brian Roloff who tallied three goals, three assists and the shoot-out winner Friday night.  Roloff, a 5’11’ 175 winger from the Buffalo, NY area was named the USHL Offensive Player of the Week and is the current scoring leader for Gamblers with a 9-6-15 +7 line. The Gamblers, under Mark Mazzoleni, last won three in a row back in February of last season.  Despite the three wins, the Gamblers need to look for some additional punch up front, something they sorely lacked last season as well. Those kinds of players, though, are hard to find this time of year, and they’re not exactly lining up to go to the Gamblers. 

INDIANA: On Saturday night, Indiana, now winless in their last five games, dropped a 6-2 decision at home to Green Bay in front of a crowd of 4,919 and one rather large wookie named Chewbacca as Peter Mayhew was on hand to promote the DVD release of Star Wars -- seriously.  Maybe Coach Dean Grillo should have had “Chewie” strap on some skates to help out on the backline as the Ice dropped to fourth place in the East with 5-5-3 record.   Eddie Del Grosso (Neb- Omaha) did notch his league leading sixth power play goal of the season and leads USHL defensemen in scoring with a 7-7-14 line in 13 games.  Nathan Lawrence scored the other goal for the Ice.  Lawrence, since being picked up off waivers from Waterloo, has played in all 13 games for the Ice and posted up a solid 5-3-8 +2 line. 

CHICAGO: The Chicago Steel dropped both games over the weekend, 4-2 Friday night in Omaha, and 7-4 in Sioux City on Saturday.  On Friday, leading scorers Dan Kissel and Chris Clackson (Western Michigan) each notched a goal and on Saturday, Lake Superior State recruit Nathan Perkovich picked up a hat trick in the loss. Newly signed Rich Drazin, Chicago’s fourth goalie of the season, kicked out eight of nine shots in the final 17 minutes after relieving Shaun Williams (23 saves on 29 shots). The Steel’s losing streak now stands at four. They have been outscored 25-13 in those games.  

WATERLOO: The Black Hawks split two games at home to remain in last place in the East Division at 5-7.  Friday, the Black Hawks pulled out an impressive 3-1 win over Sioux Falls to snap the Stampede’s nine-game winning streak.  Andy Bombach, Mike Testwuide and UMass recruit James Marcou (empty netter) scored for Waterloo as their stifling defense limited the Stampede to just 12 shots.  Kenneth Wochele earned the victory in net.  On Saturday, the Hawks fell to Lincoln 3-1 with Marcou scoring his second goal in two nights and newcomer Garrett Suter (Wisconsin) picking up an assist.  The Black Hawks acquired Suter from Salmon Arm of the BCHL. The addition of Suter will strengthen an already very solid backline for coach P. K. O’Hanley.  To make room for Suter, the Black Hawks traded Kurt Davis to Green Bay for future considerations.  Davis had one assist in 5 games.

***

SIOUX FALLS: The Stampede, which remains atop the Western Division with a 12-3 record, saw its nine-game winning streak stopped Friday night in a 3-1 loss at Waterloo.  However, the Herd rebounded Saturday night and shut out Cedar Rapids, 4-0, on the road behind a 29-save effort from Alex Kangas.  It was Kangas’ first shutout of the season to go along with his league leading 1.98 GA average and .936 save percentage.  Drew Akens scored two goals and  Jake Bauer and Andreas Nodl (St Cloud) each scored one apiece. Casey Parenteau picked up two assists in the win.  Parenteau a 5’11”, 180 lb. ‘86 forward from White Bear Lake, Minn., leads the league with 16 assists and has an overall line of 2-16-18 +10 in 15 games this season. 

OMAHA: At home on Friday, Omaha knocked off Chicago 4-2 and then, as mentioned above, the Lancers went into Des Moines and got blown out, 7-3.  In Friday night’s win, Matt Schepke scored twice to boost his league-leading total to 13; Maine recruit Robbie Dee, back from an injury, scored his first of the season; and Ryan Raven picked up the other goal.  Eddie Neville stopped 24 of 26 shots for the win. On Saturday night, the Lancers gave up seven even-strength goals in the loss to Des Moines. Brett Bruneteau, Tony Lucia (Minn.), and Ryan Turek (Mich St) scored while Michael Spillane (Vermont) made 30 saves in net and took the loss.  

TRI-CITY: Tri-City, playing Thursday and Friday nights on the road, dropped consecutive 4-3 overtime shootout loses at Green Bay.  Aaron Rock was the hard-luck loser in both games, saving 31 of 34 and 28 of 31 in the two losses.  Six different players scored for the Storm. 

SIOUX CITY: The Musketeers split a pair over the weekend, with a 4-1 loss on the road Friday night at Cedar Rapids, and a 7-4 win at home over Chicago.  On Friday, goaltender Eddie Wheeler was pulled at the 4:30 mark of the second period after making only eight saves on 12 shots. Phil Tetzlaff, an ‘88 from Westlake, Ohio, came in and stopped all 18 shots in relief.  Saturday night, Blake Martin (3G, 2A), Phil DeSimone (1G, 2A), Sam Gagner (1G, 2A), Dustin Gazely (3A), and Anthony Maiani (1G, 1A) led the way for the Musketeers.  Wheeler got the win but struggled again in goal, giving up four goals on 18 shots. 

LINCOLN: The Lincoln Stars, behind excellent defense and the goaltending of Michigan recruit Steve Jakiel, won both weekend games, 3-2 over Des Moines in a Friday home game, and then 3-1 at Waterloo on Saturday. In Friday’s game, Chris Vande Velde (North Dakota) picked up the game winner with 3:30 remaining.  Jared Brown and James Perkin (Bowling Green) also scored for the Stars. Eli Vlaisavljevich (Michigan Tech) and J.J. Koehler chipped in two assists each. Jakiel stopped 24 of 26 shots for the win.  On Saturday, Mike Davies figured in all the scoring with a goal and two assists. Jared Brown added a goal and an assist, and James Perkin scored the other goal for the Stars. Jakiel kicked out 28 of 29 shots for his second win of the weekend.  

11/15/05   Updated 11/16/05

Two Maine Players Charged in Beating

Maine junior forward Mike Hamilton and sophomore forward Wesley Clark have been charged with assault and aggravated criminal mischief after allegedly beating a fellow student at a local apartment complex on Sunday night.

Hamilton, who is from Victoria, BC, and Clark, who is from Oakville, Ont., are free on $5,000 bail. They are scheduled to appear Dec. 23 in Bangor District Court.

Others may be charged in connection with the fight, possibly quite a few, as 12-15 people, including other members of the hockey team, went along with Hamilton to confront a resident of the housing complex.

Hamilton’s ex-girlfriend was at the complex, presumably with the man that Hamilton challenged to a fight upon arrival. After an exchange of words, Hamilton allegedly attacked the man in the apartment doorway.

When the fight spilled into the apartment, Clark and four others got involved. Clark allegedly punched and kicked the man, who has not yet been identified but is reported to be a member of the Black Bears baseball team.

The victim, after being stitched up, went to the police, who shortly afterward arrested both Hamilton and Clark.

University of Maine interim AD Blake James said that both players will be punished in accordance with the university’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, with decisions expected within a few days.

Head coach Tim Whitehead will be involved in the process, said James, but it will be the AD who will be handing down the punishment.

Hamilton, who had been playing on a line with center Michel Leveille and RW Greg Moore, has been out of action since injuring his knee in the Black Bears recent loss to BU.

Clark, who broke his leg in the off-season, has yet to see game action, though he has recently started skating again.   

Maine, with a 9-3-0 record, is currently ranked #4 in the USCHO Div. I poll.

Updated 11/16/05:

Hamilton and Clark have both been suspended indefinitely. Also, the victim has been named. He's Will Carroll, a 6'1", 200 lb. Black Bears sophomore pitcher from Boothbay, Maine. 

11/15/05

AJHL Select Team Roster

On Sunday, November 20^th the Atlantic Junior Hockey League Select Team will face off against the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the Biddeford Arena in Biddeford, Maine. Game time is 1:30 pm.

The game will cap off the league’s showcase, which will feature regular league games starting Friday morning and continuing into Saturday evening. All games will be in Biddeford, at the Portland Jr. Pirates home rink,

For a schedule click here.

For the All-Star game, six players were chosen from the first place New York Bobcats; five were chosen from the second place Northern Mass Cyclones; and four were chosen from the third place Boston Bulldogs. Of the remaining six players, four came from the host Portland Jr. Pirates; two came from the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack; and one came from the New Jersey Rockets.

No players came from the Hudson Valley Eagles, Laconia Leafs, Philadelphia Little Flyers, Washington Jr. Nationals, and Walpole Express.

AJHL Select Team

Head Coach: Aleksey Nikiforov (Bobcats)
Assistant Coach: Bill Flanagan (Cyclones)
Assistant Coach: Mike Addesa (Bulldogs)
G.M.: Jay Pecora (Pirates)

Note:

The Boston Bulldogs and head coach Mike Addesa will once again be hosting the Northeast Hockey Showcase Tournament during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The games this year will take place at the Iorio Arena in Walpole, Mass. and will begin on Friday the 25^th and conclude with playoffs on Sunday the 27^th.

For the full schedule, click here.

11/14/05

A Defenseman for the Engineers

5’11”, 185 lb. Noble & Greenough senior defenseman Chris Huxley has committed to RPI for next season.

Huxley, an ’87 birthdate from Weymouth, Mass., is a solid two-way defenseman who posted a 9-18-27 scoring line as he helped lead Nobles to the prep semis in Salem, NH this past March.

11/14/05

Hoosac Coach Suspended

The Hoosac School has indefinitely suspended head hockey coach Gary Rabinowitz for violating NEPSAC rules by playing a game in advance of the conference’s allowed starting date.

In addition, it’s almost certain that, when the NEPSAC athletic directors hold their annual meeting on Thursday, they will vote to ban Hoosac from postseason play this season.

Also, following a vote by NEPSIHA coaches, the organization recommended that, in accordance with the NEPSAC Code of Conduct, the conference’s athletic directors place the school on probation for two years.

Hoosac, a small school of 120 students in Hoosick, NY, northeast of Albany, surprised observers this past March by reaching the Div. II playoffs, beating Vermont Academy in the quarters and St. Mark’s in the semis before bowing to St. George’s, 6-0, in the title game.

The current trouble stems from a game Hoosac played on Sat. Nov. 5^th against  Northwood’s B team.

Hoosac headmaster Richard Lomuscio and assistant headmaster Dean Foster immediately suspended Rabinowitz after learning of the infraction. 

The permissible starting date for all NEPSAC schools is the second Saturday in November. There is an exception for preps in District I (Maine schools such as Bridgton, Hebron, Kents Hill, North Yarmouth Academy). They are allowed to start on the first Saturday of the month.

11/13/05

U-18s Shut Out Switzerland; U-17s Tie Them

The U.S. Under-18 Team defeated Switzerland, 6-0, to finish in second place at the Under-18 Four Nations tournament in Kuortane, Finland yesterday.

Six different players scored for Team USA while Joe Palmer (12 saves) earned the shutout. All six USA goals were scored at even-strength.

Team USA outshot the Swiss 22-1 in the first period, but Switzerland goaltender Lukas Flueler stopped all 22 shots, keeping the game scoreless through one period.

James O’Brien, Tony Mosey, and Billy Sweatt scored second period goalsfor Team USA.

In the third, Switzerland changed goaltenders, and the U.S. scored three more times, with Mike Ratchuk, Patrick Kane, and Mike Carman lighting the lamp.

In addition to their goals, Kane and O’Brien picked up assists. Defenseman Brian Strait had two assists for the U.S.

The U.S. outshot Switzerland, 42-12.

SCORING SUMMARY
USA                0  3  3 -  6
Switzerland     0  0  0 -  0

FIRST PERIOD
Scoring - No Scoring. Penalties - SWI, Welti (holding the stick), 1:35; USA, Squires (roughing), 8:27; SWI, Margitola (interference), 10:19.; USA, Atkinson (hooking), 13:09;

SECOND PERIOD:
Scoring - 1, USA, O’Brien (Squires) 8:27 ; 2, USA, Mosey (Sperry), 15:19; 3, USA, Sweatt (O’Brien, Strait), 17: 16. Penalties - USA, Carman (interference), 4:05; USA, Popko (holding the stick), 8:52; USA, Johnson (tripping), 11:17; SWI, Schommer (slashing), 17:53.

THIRD PERIOD:
Scoring - 4, USA, Ratchuck (Rahkshani, Atkinson), 1: 36; 5, USA, Kane (McBain), 15:57; 6, USA, Carman (Kane, Strait), 19:30. Penalties - USA, Carman (interfernce), 6:55; USA, Sperry (hooking), 8: 17; USA, Squires (high stick), 10:48; USA, Atkinson (hooking), 17:11.

Shots Per Period      1      2       3   Total
USA                         22     11    9     42
SWI                           1      8      3     12

Goaltending (SH-SV)        1          2             3              Total
USA, Palmer                   1-1        8-8         3-3            17-15
SWI, Flueler                   22-22     11-8                         33-30
SWI, Terrazzano                                         9-6              9-6

Power Play
USA 0-4
SWI 0-9

Penalties
USA 9-18
SWI 4-8

FOUR NATIONS - U.S. NATIONAL UNDER-18 TEAM  RESULTS

DATE          OPPONENT                                           SITE
Nov. 10        SWE 5, USA 1                                       Kurikka
Nov. 11        USA 4, FIN 3 (SO)                                 Vaasa
Nov. 12        USA 6, SWI 0                                        Kuortane