High School Players Committing to UMD?

[oldbarn7]

ColdasIce

You're probably right that Sandelin won't be around much longer. But super recruits you say? Surely you mean the local kids...

Rob Bordson (Duluth Marshall) got increasingly better as the year went

Chad Huttel (Hermantown) was surprisingly solid for the Dogs in comparison to what many people thought he would be out there on the ice

Brady Hjelle (I'Falls) is arguably the most solid and consistent goalie in the USHL this year,

Drew Olsen (Brainerd) has been very good for a while and has been invited to play for team USA overseas a few times after making all of their developmental camps and will be good after a year of seasoning of juniors if they go that route.

Scott Kishel (Virginia) doesn't score many points in the USHL but is a very, very sturdy defenseman and always has been. He skates well and will be solid for the Dogs his 2nd and 3rd year especially

Jack Connolly (Duluth Marshall) it's obvious that he has been a VERY dynamic player his whole life. He currently is leading the USHL in pts (21g 46a for 67pts and is a +19). He competes and puts up numbers wherever he plays. He is very good and will be big for the Dogs in the coming years.

Max Tardy (Duluth East) Still has another 2 years to develop before putting on a Dogs sweater. Whether he plays 2 years in the USHL or 1 year of high school and one in the USHL is yet to be seen. He is a very good playmaker. His skating has improved 10 fold in the last year and a half and he continues to work hard and improving his game. He has all the tools and I feel that he was a little underused at East this year. Next year will be his year to be the focal point for the Hounds (which he should have been this year IMO) he was the most skilled forward they had and will be next year if he return.

Chris Stafne (Denfeld) Even with his "crap" schedule he still was noticed and truly was one of the top players in the Northland. He didn't get as much press as his linemate Jake Johnson, but personally I think Stafne is better than Jake. IMO he was the best uncommitted forward playing in Duluth this year. He's a complete player who plays with grit and determination night in and night out whether his team won or lost. He can skate, he's pretty good-sized, he can score, and he's a leader. I am surprised it took him this long to finally be noticed and have the opportunity to commit to a D 1 school.

These players along with a couple of Twin Cities players and the every year Canadians that UMD loves will prove to be a pretty good group of recruits for a couple of years

[Gopher Blog]

These players along with a couple of Twin Cities players and the every year Canadians that UMD loves will prove to be a pretty good group of recruits for a couple of years

With all due respect, the line of thinking you are communicating has been the same stuff said by UMD fans for years.

[Penalty Shot]

Have to disagree with the Gopher Blog guy. UMD's program has not had as much success as they have lately in recruiting local kids. I agree with oldbarn7 when he says Bordson got better as the year went, Huttel better than excpected (he also was a low risk kid for the Dogs as he is a great student and received scholorship money based upon his ACT and curriculum), Connelly, Kishel, Hjelle, Olson, Tardy, and Stane will have to prove themselves. In addition the local focus will also help their local identity and help recruit the Whites, Fairchilds, and Sacchettis of the world. Maybe there will be more Dog jerseys at the local rinks then Gopher or Sioux jerseys. I am also encouraged by the recruiting of some good Metro kids like O"neill, Hendrickson, and others. These are all positive items as long as the most important thing follows WINNING. I liked the grit and determination UMD showed this year. Mainly watching UMD, the Gophers, and Wisconsin I was bored to tears the first 2/3 of the year but UMD might have played three of there best games of the year against ND and CC at the end of the year even though they lost all 3 and showed me there is the potential for a solid run in the coming years. The Gophers as well played more inspired hockey coming down the stretch. The three game series in Mankato was awesome and reminded me of the Dogs series against St. Cloud in the playoffs last year. It made a guy who is a stubborn Gopher hater hope they do well in the NCAA. The Gophers showed more grit then they have in a while.

[Gopher Blog]

Have to disagree with the Gopher Blog guy. UMD's program has not had as much success as they have lately in recruiting local kids.

It isn't so much the local kids angle I was talking about as much as the thought that somehow the incoming recruits are going to change things to a large degree. That has been said year after year in Bulldog country and the results stay roughly the same most years. Whether it is with local kids or Canadian kids wasn't my point.

[hockey59]

Have to disagree with the Gopher Blog guy. UMD's program has not had as much success as they have lately in recruiting local kids.

It isn't so much the local kids angle I was talking about as much as the thought that somehow the incoming recruits are going to change things to a large degree. That has been said year after year in Bulldog country and the results stay roughly the same most years. Whether it is with local kids or Canadian kids wasn't my point.

I think the Dogs recruits will do just fine (despite your skeptical view on them)...and when the Dogs get their new Arena...(hopefully opening in 2011-2012) the recruiting landscape will definitely improve for UMD...but in any event...I get a kick out of seeing you take shots at the Bulldog coaches earlier in this thread...during a year when the Gophs finished 7th in the WCHA.

[fkahckyprofessor20]

Article in todays DNT about Stafne playing for UMD in a couple years.

Thats true hes going to play one year in juniors then come to UMD also, D-Man Brian Lamb from Calgary is coming to play for UMD

another local kid, from a small school who played a crap schedule signs with the dogs....bet sandelin isn't even around to see these super recruits he's bringing in

Yeah you're right.. Playing Duluth East, Grand Rapids, I Falls, Superior (twice - ranked #1 in WI), Lourdes, Albert Lea, Hibbing, Cloquet, Totino Grace, St. Cloud Cathedral, and Warraod constitutes a poor schedule..

Get real with your life you wannabe

[Gopher Blog]

I get a kick out of seeing you take shots at the Bulldog coaches earlier in this thread...during a year when the Gophs finished 7th in the WCHA.

If my kid were going to play for UMD, I might have that same rose colored glasses view you have too. So I don't blame you for taking that attitude.

If you want to get a kick out of something, then it should be if you are going to bring up the 7th place finish this year, you should remember that is about an average year for UMD lately.

[hockey59]

My point is I'm surprised you bother to even comment on future UMD recruits and coaches...from your high perch atop a suite in Marriucci Arena...I'd expect you to focus you energy more on the Sioux, who have won recruits from the Gophers who were actually coveted (Danny and Nick Mattson).

GB (aka Mr Steinbrenner) Reusse pointed out in a very accurate analogy...the Gophs are the Yankees of college hockey...Sioux are the Red Sox...the Dogs are the Twins. Your Yanks finished 7th and are likely one and done today...but I enjoyed their 5 game play-off run...it was a blast to watch!

PS: If your going to make reference to my favorite player...kindly do it in a PM format. Thanks

[Gopher Blog]

My point is I'm surprised you bother to even comment on future UMD recruits and coaches...from your high perch atop a suite in Marriucci Arena...I'd expect you to focus you energy more on the Sioux, who have won recruits from the Gophers who were actually coveted (Danny and Nick Mattson).

It is a discussion board. The topic of this thread is on a specific situation of a WCHA team. Why not discuss it? It's not like I say all that much about them anyway. I barely mention them on most of the boards I use.

The Sioux have lost more recruits to the Gophers in recent head to head battles than they have won. But the Gophers will never be perfect against any team in that regard. Never have, never will.

I didn't reference your favorite player by name. But if you are going to promote him to some degree on various boards, people are going to eventually figure it out anyway. It wasn't that hard to figure out here and you use a different nom de plume on this board than you do elsewhere.

[oldbarn7]

Gopher Blog

I'm only saying their recruits aren't just local kids who play crap schedules and really won't amount to anything.

We all know that many of players in this state dream of wearing the "M" on their chest someday, but the reality is that not everyone will and that they only have enough spots on the team and enough money to give. Yea the U has gone to the NCAA tourney 32 times and won it 5 and is one of the most storied programs in the nation, but they aren't getting THE best players in the state year in and year out like they used to in the past. Think of the Mr. Hockey Finalists this year (I know that these guys aren't necessarily the BEST players in the state they are only the seniors)

Ness Minnesota
Yuouso Minnesota
Gardiner Wisconsin
Barnes Wisconsin
Finehage North Dakota
Gleason North Dakota
Lehrke Mankato
Olson UMD
Brown Undecided (rumored to be UMD)
Jokinen Undecided (rumored to be Wisconsin, CC, UMD, not
Minnesota though)

UMD is starting to get some of the better high school players in the state an it's exciting to see. Growing up in Duluth and spending many years now in the Twin Cities I am loyal to the Dogs. I like the Gophers and hope they do well today, but it's exciting to see Duluth get some quality players from high school hockey.

[Gopher Blog]

Think of the Mr. Hockey Finalists this year (I know that these guys aren't necessarily the BEST players in the state they are only the seniors)

Considering you have kids like Jake Hansen, Jordan Schroeder, and Nico Sacchetti that would likely had been finalists this year had they been playing HS hockey (and a few other kids outside of the Gopher realm), I'd say using the Mr. Hockey stuff as evidence of anything is lacking merit these days. If all the top kids from MN never left the state for the NTDP or for the USHL, I could see using something like that as proof of something. But it really doesn't hold water like it used to 10 or 15 years ago because some of the best kids aren't around as seniors.

You also have to remember that the Gophers didn't pursue some of those kids you named. Not because they aren't necessarily worthy but simply because there is a finite amount of opportunity in any one program. They have to go after the guys that fit into their needs the best. The Gophers NEVER got all the guys they wanted in decades past so I really don't know how you think it is any less than before. That is more hyperbole opinion than it is reality.

[oldbarn7]

All I am saying is that it is nice to see UMD get some pretty good high school players from our state and that the Gophers in the past USUALLY got the BEST players from the state I know it's a stretch to say that they don't anymore, but it isn't a stretch to say that they are losing more possible recruits than they had in the past to their rival schools Wisconsin and North Dakota. I know they lost some in the past it just seems like there are more now than there have been in the past.

[Gopher Blog]

I know they lost some in the past it just seems like there are more now than there have been in the past.

"Seems" implies an opinion. Not fact. They don't lose any more to their rivals than they did long ago. Finite roster space and finite scholarships have been an issue for many years. That is nothing new.

All you need to do is go back in UND or UW history and you'll see a number of good MN players that went there. Nothing new. Can't win em all. Just as long as the Gophers keep winning over most of the top in-state players they go after, it is all good.

[oldbarn7]

Yea...we'll see I like the U and hope they continue to be good but I will always hope UMD will someday they will be better and not just work harder than the Gophers some year haha. Well Go Gophs tonight and let's hope our MN guys can get it done

[toivo22]

oh canada, umd is not the canadian national team. could have fooled me.

[fkahckyprofessor20]

oh canada, umd is not the canadian national team. could have fooled me.

Of this season's 25-man roster just 7 were from Canada. How does that make them the Canadian National Team?

[ColdasIce]

ColdasIce

You're probably right that Sandelin won't be around much longer. But super recruits you say? Surely you mean the local kids...

Rob Bordson (Duluth Marshall) got increasingly better as the year went

Chad Huttel (Hermantown) was surprisingly solid for the Dogs in comparison to what many people thought he would be out there on the ice

Brady Hjelle (I'Falls) is arguably the most solid and consistent goalie in the USHL this year,

Drew Olsen (Brainerd) has been very good for a while and has been invited to play for team USA overseas a few times after making all of their developmental camps and will be good after a year of seasoning of juniors if they go that route.

Scott Kishel (Virginia) doesn't score many points in the USHL but is a very, very sturdy defenseman and always has been. He skates well and will be solid for the Dogs his 2nd and 3rd year especially

Jack Connolly (Duluth Marshall) it's obvious that he has been a VERY dynamic player his whole life. He currently is leading the USHL in pts (21g 46a for 67pts and is a +19). He competes and puts up numbers wherever he plays. He is very good and will be big for the Dogs in the coming years.

Max Tardy (Duluth East) Still has another 2 years to develop before putting on a Dogs sweater. Whether he plays 2 years in the USHL or 1 year of high school and one in the USHL is yet to be seen. He is a very good playmaker. His skating has improved 10 fold in the last year and a half and he continues to work hard and improving his game. He has all the tools and I feel that he was a little underused at East this year. Next year will be his year to be the focal point for the Hounds (which he should have been this year IMO) he was the most skilled forward they had and will be next year if he return.

Chris Stafne (Denfeld) Even with his "crap" schedule he still was noticed and truly was one of the top players in the Northland. He didn't get as much press as his linemate Jake Johnson, but personally I think Stafne is better than Jake. IMO he was the best uncommitted forward playing in Duluth this year. He's a complete player who plays with grit and determination night in and night out whether his team won or lost. He can skate, he's pretty good-sized, he can score, and he's a leader. I am surprised it took him this long to finally be noticed and have the opportunity to commit to a D 1 school.

These players along with a couple of Twin Cities players and the every year Canadians that UMD loves will prove to be a pretty good group of recruits for a couple of years

Can you explain to me how Max Tardy was "underused" as you say? He was on the ice the majority of every game,centered the top line, played every power play and killed every penalty, are you nuts? He is a skilled forward who had two very capable linemates in Johnson and Boese giving him the puck the majority of EVERY game. UMD will not be good with these recruits, Gopherblog is correct, but like I said earlier, Sandelin won't be around to see anyway.

[oldbarn7]

ColdasIce

You know just as well as I do that he was underused for one reason only.

Because of your "FAVORITE" player. Rob Johnson. He was the focal point of the team and he shouldn't have been. For whatever reason Rob has caught every break from the coaching staff since his 10th grade season. Rob didn't give up the puck unless he absolutely had to. Max is a playmaker not a goal scorer so much and if Rob wanted to score goals he should have let Max play his game and reap the benefits by scoring more goals than he did this season and possibly would have boosted his status with junior teams, colleges, and so on...

My point of him being underused: He was THE most skilled player on the team this year and his body caught up to his skills. He should have been their go to guy but he wasn't for whatever reason...I feel they would have succeeded as a team (aka got to state) with him at the reigns rather than Rob. Just my opinion think of it what you would like.

UMD will be a surprise you can hold me too it. They'll be pretty decent I won't say best in the WCHA but they'll be in the Final Five a couple of times again coming in the next few years just you watch...

[CEC lumberhack]

I'd say UMD has one of the best recruits possible coming in judging by this USHL season. . . .

http://www.ushl.com/news/story.cfm?id=1126

[hockey59]

Results from Day 1 of the Great 8 Tourney:

Section 7AA/7A - 9
Section 6AA/6A - 3

For Section 7, UMD recruit John O'Neill scored 2 goals and added 3 assists.

Also...Justin Jokinen scored 2 goals; Cory Belisle, Rob Roy, David Hafferty, Matt Sonday and one other (un-identified player)...with single tallies.

For Section 6, Steve Zierke scored 2 goals and Cory Thorson scored one goal...on a nice assist from Beau Hanowski.

Section 5AA/5A - 4
Section 4AA/4A - 3

(I heard) UMD recruit Chris Stafne had 2 goals and 2 assists for Section 5.

[oldbarn7]

Does anyone have the final stats for the UMD recruits from the Great 8?

[money]

OldBarn7 -

I wish I had some official link to some stats for all players but, I don't. Sorry!

Old Barn7 - Check your private messages...sent you an e-mail.
Thanks!

$$

[wannagototherink]

ColdasIce

You know just as well as I do that he was underused for one reason only.

Because of your "FAVORITE" player. Rob Johnson. He was the focal point of the team and he shouldn't have been. For whatever reason Rob has caught every break from the coaching staff since his 10th grade season. Rob didn't give up the puck unless he absolutely had to. Max is a playmaker not a goal scorer so much and if Rob wanted to score goals he should have let Max play his game and reap the benefits by scoring more goals than he did this season and possibly would have boosted his status with junior teams, colleges, and so on...

My point of him being underused: He was THE most skilled player on the team this year and his body caught up to his skills. He should have been their go to guy but he wasn't for whatever reason...I feel they would have succeeded as a team (aka got to state) with him at the reigns rather than Rob. Just my opinion think of it what you would like.

UMD will be a surprise you can hold me too it. They'll be pretty decent I won't say best in the WCHA but they'll be in the Final Five a couple of times again coming in the next few years just you watch...

My understanding, from what I've heard from my friends in Duluth is, this is absolutly the case. I wasn't there so I don't know, but this issue tore this team a part over the year.

To which I say, be real people, would you really expect anything different? The fact is his dad has been a member of that staff since they took over that program, so why wouldn't the kid get the benefit of the doubt. I would think that is human nature, after all the kid did grow up around the team. I'd find it hard to believe that if the same situation was going on at any other high school or in any other sport in this country the outcome would be similar to this one more often than not.

Like Coldasice said it's not like the others didn't get to play, sometimes coaches build around a player whether that player is the right or wrong player when it is all said and done the coach has to deal with that on his own. The bottom line is if you aren't one of the people on the team (on the team, being a parent of a player does not put you in this category believe it or not) if you aren't a member of the team at practice, in the locker room etc. than you don't know what is going on truely. To say a team didn't get to a state tournament because of a player is wrong, you can't fault a kid for doing what he is told to do. That ultimately falls on the coach. Which is not to say that the coach was wrong either, he knows his team better than anyone does, me, you or mom and dad, so if he feels that was the guy to ride, than that was the guy to ride, because he is there day after day. Fact is, there are only 8 spots at the state tourney and rarely are all 8 of those teams the top 8 in the state. Thats why you play the game.

[ColdasIce]

ColdasIce

You know just as well as I do that he was underused for one reason only.

Because of your "FAVORITE" player. Rob Johnson. He was the focal point of the team and he shouldn't have been. For whatever reason Rob has caught every break from the coaching staff since his 10th grade season. Rob didn't give up the puck unless he absolutely had to. Max is a playmaker not a goal scorer so much and if Rob wanted to score goals he should have let Max play his game and reap the benefits by scoring more goals than he did this season and possibly would have boosted his status with junior teams, colleges, and so on...

My point of him being underused: He was THE most skilled player on the team this year and his body caught up to his skills. He should have been their go to guy but he wasn't for whatever reason...I feel they would have succeeded as a team (aka got to state) with him at the reigns rather than Rob. Just my opinion think of it what you would like.

UMD will be a surprise you can hold me too it. They'll be pretty decent I won't say best in the WCHA but they'll be in the Final Five a couple of times again coming in the next few years just you watch...

My understanding, from what I've heard from my friends in Duluth is, this is absolutly the case. I wasn't there so I don't know, but this issue tore this team a part over the year.

To which I say, be real people, would you really expect anything different? The fact is his dad has been a member of that staff since they took over that program, so why wouldn't the kid get the benefit of the doubt. I would think that is human nature, after all the kid did grow up around the team. I'd find it hard to believe that if the same situation was going on at any other high school or in any other sport in this country the outcome would be similar to this one more often than not.

Like Coldasice said it's not like the others didn't get to play, sometimes coaches build around a player whether that player is the right or wrong player when it is all said and done the coach has to deal with that on his own. The bottom line is if you aren't one of the people on the team (on the team, being a parent of a player does not put you in this category believe it or not) if you aren't a member of the team at practice, in the locker room etc. than you don't know what is going on truely. To say a team didn't get to a state tournament because of a player is wrong, you can't fault a kid for doing what he is told to do. That ultimately falls on the coach. Which is not to say that the coach was wrong either, he knows his team better than anyone does, me, you or mom and dad, so if he feels that was the guy to ride, than that was the guy to ride, because he is there day after day. Fact is, there are only 8 spots at the state tourney and rarely are all 8 of those teams the top 8 in the state. Thats why you play the game.

whoever said team was torn apart is nuts, this was by far the closest team at east on and off the ice in quite awhile, the only thing that tore the team apart was the loss of senior keegan flaherty who should have stayed at east as he had a bad year in juniors and the loss of a senior goalie who quit the team half way through. I believe johnson, boese being seniors and max tardy played their hearts out the entire year, coach's son or not, they all deserved their ice time.

[oldbarn7]

wannagototherink

To get this out of the way I am not a player for East or a parent of anyone playing for East.

I do agree and know for a fact that this issue really was the sole reason for tearing the team apart, if you will.

I wouldn't expect anything different, especially because I know Terry and have met his wife. I REALLY wouldn't expect anything different. As the article in Duluth's paper said, they've been through some rough times and want to put their son in the best possible position they can. I can't fault that, but I have to say if you're going to be a coach, coach at the rink and parent at home. I have heard from a few parents and players from this team that Rob was treated differently then every other player for the last few years, but especially this year. I don't know the details on how or why, but I just know that it was said to have been happening and that many players, especially the younger players, thought it was ridiculous.

ColdasIce

How can you say Keegan Flaherty tore apart this team by choosing to leave early? Keegan is an excellent kid and a very good player. He didn't leave because he wanted to. He's trying to hopefully get to the next level and saw this road as the best for him. Don't fault a kid for trying to better himself and his hockey abilities. He had a learning year in the USHL this year that is true. His stats weren't great but Keegan, if he continues to work will be in a very good position to go Division 1 IMO. And this is my opinion as well....him and Rob have always been unnecessarily compared all the way up. And to compare them again, Keegan is in a much better position for going D1 than Rob is at this point.

Neil Larson is a decent goalie don't get me wrong, but he knew as well as you and I do that Matt Cooper was the go to guy by the time Larson quit.

Also, do you blame Cade Fairchild for the last 2 years before this one? Or Podge Turnbull for his senior year? Or Zach Fitzgerald for his 3 years? Tom Sawatski for his years gone? You cant throw blame around on guys that aren't there? I don't think that's fair.

Ice time wasn't the issue of my post about this...