Festler Officially Declares for USHL

[The Exiled One]

Ah ha, so you have some info! I know he was looked at by the Gophers at some point in time. Don't tell me they wouldn't take him as a very small partial or a walk on in 2008 or 2009! He's at least that good!

I am trying to figure out how you even think they have the need given what they already have on the team and given what they have already recruited in the next two classes. Unless you are expecting them to carry a few more defensemen than the typical college team.

1. Defections
2. Could be an '09
3. Waste little to no scholie to carry a solid dman

Hey, it's just a hypothosis!

Sorry to all for hijacking the Festler thread! I'll be a good boy now!

[Gopher Blog]

1. Defections
2. Could be an '09
3. Waste little to no scholie to carry a solid dman

Unless they want to carry a rather unheard of number of defensemen on the roster (and I suppose anything is possible), it wouldn't make much sense.

Five defensive recruits over the next two classes (and three incoming freshmen this year) doesn't leave much room. If you want to remove Fischer and O'Brien (I doubt either will leave until 2008-2009 is done), they'd still have nine d-men on the roster for 2009. Brian Schack, Cade Fairchild, Kevin Wehrs, Stu Bickel, Grant Scott, Sam Lofquist, Seth Helgeson, Aaron Ness, and Brandon Martell.

(Granted the number also depends on how they use Grant Scott in college since he is moving up to forward for the NTDP this next season and he seems to be more comfortable in that role as evidenced by his 17s performance)

I wouldn't rule it out completely but I think the odds are not very good. Even if they do add one, I think they would probably look in another direction.

[The Exiled One]

1. Defections
2. Could be an '09
3. Waste little to no scholie to carry a solid dman

Unless they want to carry a rather unheard of number of defensemen on the roster (and I suppose anything is possible), it wouldn't make sense.

Five defensive recruits over the next two classes (and three incoming freshmen this year) doesn't leave much room for anything new until 2010. If you want to remove Fischer and O'Brien (I doubt either will leave until 2008-2009 is done), they'd still have nine d-men on the roster for 2009. Brian Schack, Cade Fairchild, Kevin Wehrs, Stu Bickel, Grant Scott, Sam Lofquist, Seth Helgeson, Aaron Ness, and Brandon Martell.

(Granted the number also depends on how they use Grant Scott in college since he is moving up to forward for the NTDP this next season and he seems to be more comfortable in that role as evidenced by his 17s performance).

Let's also remember that a few of the local defensive commitments in recent times were not even pursued by the Gophers. Which should hint how they look at their depth chart needs in the near future.

Okay, to adjust my original post then... Matt Crandell was supposedly a fan of both the Huskies and the Gophers, so take the Gophers out of the scenario, and it's a matter of how much Matt really wants to play for his hometown team versus taking a higher percentage scholarship at a different school. He's no oak, but he's probably a bit more talented than even some of the defensemen SCSU has now. He'll be an asset to whichever team he winds up with.

BTW, the Huskies currently have 8 (9 with Rioux) defensemen. Three are seniors. Three defensemen are committed for '08, none for '09. They have some room and a definate need for somebody good!

Sorry, now I'll be a good boy!!

[BlueGoose5]

Back to my previous question, seeing that Crandell has not been offered a D1 scholarship to date, would he have a had a better chance at getting a good offer by now had he stayed in H.S. and had a sensational season?

[Blue&Gold]

Back to my previous question, seeing that Crandell has not been offered a D1 scholarship to date, would he have a had a better chance at getting a good offer by now had he stayed in H.S. and had a sensational season?

BlueGoose, you're making assumptions that you shouldn't.. What you know is that he isn't committed to a school at this time, but you don't know about offers, pending or otherwise. You're also asking questions about one player in a thread dedicated to another. Let's talk about Jared, eh? I'm sorry for bringing him up as an example.

[BlueGoose5]

That's true, B & G. My comments aren't meant to detract from Festler or pertain solely to Crandell or any other player. I just happened to use Crandell as an example. I really was wondering whether the USHL is the way to go to get a D1 offer or if a truely gifted player could do just as well, or even better, by staying with his HS team and having a superb senior season?

[Blue&Gold]

That's true, B & G. My comments aren't meant to detract from Festler or pertain solely to Crandell or any other player. I just happened to use Crandell as an example. I really was wondering whether the USHL is the way to go to get a D1 offer or if a truely gifted player could do just as well, or even better, by staying with his HS team and having a superb senior season?

Unfortunately, there is no "answer" to that question. It all depends on so many things. For the most part, the USHL teams are watched by so many more college teams than just the WCHA teams that proliferate the MN games. I can tell you that the thrill of playing in 60+ USHL games against top competition is so great compared to playing in a few tough HS games while not really playing hard in most of the rest.

A question that each player will have to ask: "Do you want to be the big fish in a little pond, or test yourself against the sharks?" Some would rather be the big fish and get all the press in MN, while others want to test their abilities daily in an effort to get better. Should a player leave AHA or Elk River to play in the juniors? Probably not. Should a player take a chance when they are in the St. Cloud / Little Falls area? Maybe.

So, again I say good luck to Jared, he'll do well. It'll be fun when Lincoln plays Sioux City..