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Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 11:40 am
by Hockeynerd
What is Maple Grove’s issue?
They consistently lose elite players to the NTDP, USHL, NAHL, and now with Brandon Reller signing with the Spokane Chiefs the WHL as well. A big time program like that should be having players wanting to come in instead of leaving for greener pastures. Is there something at work behind the scenes that most don’t know? As an MG guy myself, it is frustrating to see players who could dominate high school leaving year after year and gutting a program that could turn into a perennial powerhouse. I’ve also heard rumblings that incoming freshman Landon Gunderson has his sights set on the national program next year as well, which would be another big loss for the Crimson. Not to mention Kyle Kukkonen, who was drafted by the Madison Capitals in the USHL, and played 3 games there after last season as a sophomore. With his brother Trevor playing there this year you’ve got to think that Madison is on the younger Kukkonen’s mind.
What does Todd Bergland and the rest of the crimson staff need to do to keep top players returning and end this cycle?

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:56 pm
by kniven
Hockeynerd wrote:
Sat Sep 07, 2019 11:40 am
What is Maple Grove’s issue?
They consistently lose elite players to the NTDP, USHL, NAHL, and now with Brandon Reller signing with the Spokane Chiefs the WHL as well. A big time program like that should be having players wanting to come in instead of leaving for greener pastures. Is there something at work behind the scenes that most don’t know? As an MG guy myself, it is frustrating to see players who could dominate high school leaving year after year and gutting a program that could turn into a perennial powerhouse. I’ve also heard rumblings that incoming freshman Landon Gunderson has his sights set on the national program next year as well, which would be another big loss for the Crimson. Not to mention Kyle Kukkonen, who was drafted by the Madison Capitals in the USHL, and played 3 games there after last season as a sophomore. With his brother Trevor playing there this year you’ve got to think that Madison is on the younger Kukkonen’s mind.
What does Todd Bergland and the rest of the crimson staff need to do to keep top players returning and end this cycle?
It’s unfortunate that youth/high school kids chase more than their own school and buddies. So many options, especially in the metro.

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 3:01 pm
by hockey59
Hockeynerd wrote:
Sat Sep 07, 2019 11:40 am
What is Maple Grove’s issue?
They consistently lose elite players to the NTDP, USHL, NAHL, and now with Brandon Reller signing with the Spokane Chiefs the WHL as well. A big time program like that should be having players wanting to come in instead of leaving for greener pastures. Is there something at work behind the scenes that most don’t know? As an MG guy myself, it is frustrating to see players who could dominate high school leaving year after year and gutting a program that could turn into a perennial powerhouse. I’ve also heard rumblings that incoming freshman Landon Gunderson has his sights set on the national program next year as well, which would be another big loss for the Crimson. Not to mention Kyle Kukkonen, who was drafted by the Madison Capitals in the USHL, and played 3 games there after last season as a sophomore. With his brother Trevor playing there this year you’ve got to think that Madison is on the younger Kukkonen’s mind.
What does Todd Bergland and the rest of the crimson staff need to do to keep top players returning and end this cycle?
Don’t know how to break this to you...but for elite level players like Faber, Kelley, Janicke...representing the USA for two years while over $100k is invested to help you develop as a hockey player...isn’t exactly a bad gig (if you can get it) 😉 And there are plenty of other good players at MG, more than enough to still field a competitive team at MG high school. Boo who...

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 4:06 pm
by InThePipes
hockey59 wrote:
Sat Sep 07, 2019 3:01 pm
Hockeynerd wrote:
Sat Sep 07, 2019 11:40 am
What is Maple Grove’s issue?
They consistently lose elite players to the NTDP, USHL, NAHL, and now with Brandon Reller signing with the Spokane Chiefs the WHL as well. A big time program like that should be having players wanting to come in instead of leaving for greener pastures. Is there something at work behind the scenes that most don’t know? As an MG guy myself, it is frustrating to see players who could dominate high school leaving year after year and gutting a program that could turn into a perennial powerhouse. I’ve also heard rumblings that incoming freshman Landon Gunderson has his sights set on the national program next year as well, which would be another big loss for the Crimson. Not to mention Kyle Kukkonen, who was drafted by the Madison Capitals in the USHL, and played 3 games there after last season as a sophomore. With his brother Trevor playing there this year you’ve got to think that Madison is on the younger Kukkonen’s mind.
What does Todd Bergland and the rest of the crimson staff need to do to keep top players returning and end this cycle?
Don’t know how to break this to you...but for elite level players like Faber, Kelley, Janicke...representing the USA for two years while over $100k is invested to help you develop as a hockey player...isn’t exactly a bad gig (if you can get it) 😉 And there are plenty of other good players at MG, more than enough to still field a competitive team at MG high school. Boo who...
This is well stated. Departing for the NTDP is quite an honor and opportunity, I couldn't blame anyone for that. Departing for the WHL, well, everyone has a different path. MG is probably going to be just fine, it's a deep program.

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:10 pm
by SEC Scotty
In my neck of the woods most of the “elite” players play at Hill Murray. 8)

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 8:47 pm
by WestMetro
Just so the OMG association parents and MG HS parents are satisfied with the current talent pipeline model...

If they want to try to put more hardware in the HS trophy case , then they have to work with athletic and admin staff on what changes are needed .

HS Momentum seemed to change after the 2012
first round loss ?

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 2:28 am
by 612hockeytown
And? Regarding the 6 (impact) early departures last 3 years:

4 NTDP kids

1 WHL kid

2 NHL draft picks (Janicke and Haider). The other 4 are eligible in 2020 and ‘21.

So far. I’d say it’s working just fine for them. Parents all seem to dislike Bergland. At least the ones I have spoken too. Would the kids have stayed if a different coach was running the show? Doubtful. NTDP is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Goalies don’t get drafted playing high school hockey.

WHL? Following in the footsteps of Hanus, Kohner, DiLauea, Karki. Verdict is yet to be written.

Be happy for them. The days of playing with your peers and friends is long gone. How did that work out for Edina’s Jack Wolfe? Teams bringing in out of state players, recruiting, transfers, and so forth. There’s no loyalty on either side. The parents are crazy too!

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:51 pm
by WestMetro
Like I was trying to tell HockeyNerd, be happy.....just so all the association and HS parents and coaches and staff are OK with the current MG pipeline outcome trends

Speaking of Hanus, I hear he will get an invite to the Ottawa Senators camp.

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:44 am
by 612hockeytown
WestMetro wrote:
Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:51 pm
Like I was trying to tell HockeyNerd, be happy.....just so all the association and HS parents and coaches and staff are OK with the current MG pipeline outcome trends

Speaking of Hanus, I hear he will get an invite to the Ottawa Senators camp.
Hanus had a solid year last season. Much better than his rookie season. Would be interesting to see how he would do in RC. NCAA and USHL kids (who plan to play college hockey) can’t attend RC’s due to their amateur status, which is why you won’t see a lot of the MN draftees attending them.

Bergland needs to go from what I hear. I have yet to hear a good thing about him. Huff, Kelley, Janicke and so on - plenty of dads with fair, harsh criticism. No one has anything good to say about him parent or player wise. I’ve been around 5AA parents long enough to hear all the juicy crap.

Reller had 4 goals. Similar, or barely better numbers than a Kohner (who left after sophomore year and logged no WHL goals last year). Should he have been a top 6 player before leaving or been a team mvp? You could argue the other departures did/were OR went the NTDP part. Either way it’s worked out for 5/6. Reller’s story is still being written. I hope the kid succeeds.

Off topic

Also - “worked” out is subjective to what you think failing or succeeding is. Do all 6 need to log D1 or NHL minutes to be deemed a “good departure?”

Also it’s easy to whine about early departures until you have a child good enough to have the option to be one right?

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:49 am
by 612hockeytown
WestMetro wrote:
Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:51 pm
Like I was trying to tell HockeyNerd, be happy.....just so all the association and HS parents and coaches and staff are OK with the current MG pipeline outcome trends

Speaking of Hanus, I hear he will get an invite to the Ottawa Senators camp.
Always fun to read your comments WM.

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:18 am
by Schotzy
612hockeytown wrote:
Mon Sep 09, 2019 1:44 am
Also it’s easy to whine about early departures until you have a child good enough to have the option to be one right?
Exactly

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:34 am
by hockey59
To me, losing a couple kids to USHL teams (like DE did this year, which BTW, doesn’t happen very often to them) is one thing & losing 4 players to NTDP (over 4 years) including 2 brothers...is another. Kids from your youth program getting NTDP tryouts and/or invites is a BIG feather in your cap (for a program)

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:01 am
by Slap Shot
I think people are missing the point from the OP. I don't think he's asking for sympathy but rather to confirm/refute the perception that MG loses a higher % of players to other opportunities compared with other schools of similar levels of talent+enrollment, and if that is so why do they have a more difficult time retaining more of that talent? Are they developing that much more USDNT-level talent than EP, Edina, Wayzata....

Perhaps the numbers aren't that alarming and the OP is missing some perspective, but I don't think the question is all that crazy.

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:13 pm
by WestMetro
Exactly right Slapshot.

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:13 pm
by hockey59
“As an MG guy myself, it is frustrating to see players who could dominate high school leaving year after year and gutting a program that could turn into a perennial powerhouse” Wondering why kids leave MG early is one thing. Making a preposterous statement tourney assertion (as quoted above) is another. If you don’t understand why kids go to NTDP...further discussion won’t help (you). And Despite their losses, MG is far from being “gutted”

Re: Maple Grove departures

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:18 pm
by 612hockeytown
hockey59 wrote:
Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:34 am
To me, losing a couple kids to USHL teams (like DE did this year, which BTW, doesn’t happen very often to them) is one thing & losing 4 players to NTDP (over 4 years) including 2 brothers...is another. Kids from your youth program getting NTDP tryouts and/or invites is a BIG feather in your cap (for a program)
I think you are spot on - its a big deal for OMGHA no?

Secondly - you can attribute some of it to Curtis Janicke IMO. He coached all of those kids in PWAA and almost all of them (sans Reller) on a velocity 3 on 3 team back in the day that terrorized every team including my nephew's.

Using my terrible memory -

Trevor Janicke (NTDP and now Notre Dame) - Graduate
Trevor Kukkonen (USHL - Madison) - Graduate
Ethan Haider (USHL - Sioux City) - Senior
Connor Kelley (NTDP) - Senior
Kyle Kukkonen (MG Varsity F currently) - Junior
Brock Faber (NTDP) - Junior
Justin Janicke (NTDP) - Junior
Cal Thomas (MG Varsity D currently) - Junior

That's a damn good Velocity team :lol:
----
PWAA- but not on 3 on 3 team

Brandon Reller (WHL) - Junior

---------------------------

You can also say he ran a fine 2000 EuroAmerican team that included elder Janicke, Perbix and K'Andre Miller as well. I think it's safe to say these kids were all die hard rink rats who bought into their coach, but also had hockey talent and the proverbial IT factor and the same can be said for the 2000/2001 birth year Edina squad that also stayed good while also losing kids like Sillianoff and Jack Jensen (who was actually a MG kid at first before moving to Edina and then EP :D ). There will be 10-12 D1 kids off that squad as well.

---------------------------

Just my 2 cents.