94 USHL Central Scouting List

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:44 am

conditioningsucks wrote:This list looks like the checkbook hockey club.

Compare the nominees with the rosters of:

Minnesota Blades (Black)
Minnesota Blades (Grey)
Team Midwest
Easton Synergy

I believe most of these players have played in the Prospects Tourney in Toronto or NAPS in Rochester, NY. The USHL basically takes the rosters of the kids from the tourneys and puts them 'on the list'.

Some of these kids were nice squirts but are average bantam As. There are a lot of Bantam As, JV, or varsity players that could replace about 30% of this list. The other 70% is pretty sound.

As far as the Blades players, compare those rosters with current D1 rosters. I'll make it easy on you, just look at their Alumni Page. That ain't "checkbook hockey" as you call it. I can't speak for Team Midwest or Easton Synergy, though.

Leave It To Beaver · Post by **Leave It To Beaver** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:38 pm

I heard that those who run the FHIT training centers are a big part of the USHL scouting team and that majority of the players that you see on this list have worked out at their facilities at some point in time. (Individually or with their association). Maybe this is why you see some players on the list and others that are not.

puckboy · Post by **puckboy** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:49 pm

very accurate Beaver- Well said and very true.

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:00 pm

Very interesting Beaver.

Think there is any link between this being released right now and Advanced 15s starting up in the next week? Be an excellent marketing coup by FHIT - you want to get on the USHL list, come to our centers and workout. We'll help market your player right before Advanced 15s.

.....hmmmmmmm.

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:06 pm

I think people really need to settle down about this list. The USHL does a pretty good job drafting quality players to fill their rosters, this list is but one of many tools at their dispense. If there is a good player out there not on this list that is worthy to be considered, I'm sure their scouts will find them one way or another.

rudy · Post by **rudy** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:07 pm

Are you a parent with a player on the list that has NOT been in FHIT? that could test this suspicion.

auld_skool · Post by **auld_skool** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:16 pm

Although I have no idea how the entire things works, I can say that I've been contacted about my son by 3 different guys that work at FHIT. All 3 wore jackets that said USHL scouting on them and their FHIT business cards said USHL Scout under their names.

Is FHIT in any way a part of the USHL?

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:17 pm

Instead of speculating, why don't you go right to the source???

http://www.ushl.com/centralscouting/about.cfm

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:02 pm

Via USHL website : Berg is USHL Central Scouting - lead scout for MN.

Berg's USHL Central Scouting Bio lists his business has PUCKFEET Enterprises which is aka FHIT hockey. No mention of FHIT in his USHL bio, but google it and PUCKFEET FHITS nicely into said business.

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:06 pm

If a player is not USHL "material", he will not be drafted. It doesn't matter WHAT list he is on. If there is a good player out there who is not on this list...don't despair, 94's can't be drafted this year anyways. Plenty of time to get noticed.

Leave It To Beaver · Post by **Leave It To Beaver** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:09 pm

Instead of speculating, why don't you go right to the source???

http://www.ushl.com/centralscouting/about.cfm

Five of the eight Minnesota scouts on this web site have ties to the FHIT program. (That I know of or can see). Three of them are wearing FHIT hats, One actually says that he works for FHIT. Two others worked at the Herb Brookes Training Center at the Schwans Super Rink. (Which is run by FHIT). Thanks for the heads up on the web site muckandgrind!

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:28 pm

Guess that pretty much explains things Beaver.

Easton Stealth and Easton Synergy are FHIT related programs. Their players are found in this list. Blades (Black and Gray) have played in Toronto at the Prospects Tourney which is run by the head of Central Scouting. Further, the head of MN Scouting has coached the Blades and the Icemen.

While I agree with 70% of the list that was posted based on the players I have watched this year, I just find it odd that it would be posted by the USHL on the eve of Advanced 15 tryouts in Minnesota. Anyone find it strange or is it just me?

cooper26 · Post by **cooper26** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:45 pm

conditioningsucks wrote:Guess that pretty much explains things Beaver.

Easton Stealth and Easton Synergy are FHIT related programs. Their players are found in this list. Blades (Black and Gray) have played in Toronto at the Prospects Tourney which is run by the head of Central Scouting. Further, the head of MN Scouting has coached the Blades and the Icemen.

While I agree with 70% of the list that was posted based on the players I have watched this year, I just find it odd that it would be posted by the USHL on the eve of Advanced 15 tryouts in Minnesota. Anyone find it strange or is it just me?

Yes, strange, but not unexpected. It's a racket.

I believe Adv. 15 tryouts are at different times in different districts? Does anyone know if the invitations are out in all districts?

jerzy3208 · Post by **jerzy3208** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:45 pm

A Lot of Icemen and players from FIT. It could be better, but we will se here down the road. Watch the select 15's, it will change after that.

MoreCowBell · Post by **MoreCowBell** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:11 pm

Maybe they're at FHIT because they are the best players.

dumbpuck · Post by **dumbpuck** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:48 pm

Zach Lawdermilt #9 from East Grand Forks- had around 140 pts- if you question this ask anyone who played EGF this year

Leave It To Beaver · Post by **Leave It To Beaver** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:54 pm

Maybe they're at FHIT because they are the best players.

Maybe they're at FHIT because their parents have $1500 burning a hole in their pocket and they think that it might help them get their kid on a USHL scouting list!

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:56 pm

dumbpuck wrote:Zach Lawdermilt #9 from East Grand Forks- had around 140 pts- if you question this ask anyone who played EGF this year

If this kid is as good as you say, then I'm sure the scouts will be aware of him....

And if people have an issue with scouts being employed by FHIT, then take it up with the USHL. They are the ones who are using these guys. Again, I've yet to see anyone dispute the fact that the USHL does a pretty good job scouting and drafting players...and considering Central Scouting is one of their main scouting resouces, I'd have to say they must do a pretty good job also...otherwise the USHL would not be using them.

My bet is that this list of 94's will evolve over the next couple of years. I would like someone familiar with the 92's and 93's to scour that list and tell us what they think.

drop the puck · Post by **drop the puck** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:00 am

The USHL is a business. Each team is a separate business with owners. Now if this business decides to partner with another business than they can and they do not need to tell anyone about their relationship (financial or otherwise).

The USHL and FHIT hockey obviously have a business relationship. Maybe it is as simple as Mr Berg needs to earn more $$ than FHIT brings in or maybe it is deeper than that.

College hockey has become reliant upon the USHL to provide training for players they suspect are not ready for the caliber of play in their Division of play. College hockey for many Universities is also a business.

That all said, in what aspect of life does politics and/or relationships not influence the outcome of events? What is fair?

The top, top caliber players will be identified regardless of who they are, who they know, who they train with, etc. Even in the USHL - roughly half the players to not end up in D1 schools.

nickel slots · Post by **nickel slots** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:24 am

The USHL is a business.

Enough said. There is zero merit to it. Just because Junior is on this list doesn't mean he'll play in the USHL... and there are lots of 94s that aren't on this list that will. Work hard, HAVE FUN, and if you are gifted enough or lucky enough, in the end you will meet the goals that you aspire to.

I would be curious to see a Central Scouting list of the 88 or 89 birth years (from when they were pre-draft age) that now make up many of the USHL rosters. What's the correlation?

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:33 am

nickel slots wrote:
The USHL is a business.
Enough said. There is zero merit to it. Just because Junior is on this list doesn't mean he'll play in the USHL... and there are lots of 94s that aren't on this list that will. Work hard, HAVE FUN, and if you are gifted enough or lucky enough, in the end you will meet the goals that you aspire to.

I would be curious to see a Central Scouting list of the 88 or 89 birth years (from when they were pre-draft age) that now make up many of the USHL rosters. What's the correlation?

Bingo. In the end, a player's talent level will trump whatever list they are on.

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:59 am

As I put it before, I am less worried about the list, but more worried about integrity.

FHIT runs a business. The Easton Stealth and Synergy teams are affiliated with FHIT. All of the '94s on those rosters made the USHL scouting list (some of these players were Bantam B1s this year).

While I don't have a problem with FHIT running their business the way they want to run it, I have a problem with FHIT using their affiliation with the USHL to pump those who are writing checks to them.

As I mentioned, when this "list" appears on the "eve" of Minnesota Advanced 15 tryouts it comes off to me as trying to influence the process with FHIT's "selected" individuals.

In addition, FHIT can turn around and market that "work out at FHIT and we will shortcut you to the USHL watch list". Perhaps I am over-reading into this or don't understand the process, but it seems to me to be 'on the edge'.

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:04 am

One final thought.

Are any of the FHIT instructors on the Central Scouting Committee participating in the Advanced 15 evaluation process? This seems like a conflict of interest if any are and they should step aside.

FHIT does run a great program and I am not here to rip on FHIT. I just think a little more transparency is warranted.

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:08 am

conditioningsucks wrote:As I put it before, I am less worried about the list, but more worried about integrity.

FHIT runs a business. The Easton Stealth and Synergy teams are affiliated with FHIT. All of the '94s on those rosters made the USHL scouting list (some of these players were Bantam B1s this year).

While I don't have a problem with FHIT running their business the way they want to run it, I have a problem with FHIT using their affiliation with the USHL to pump those who are writing checks to them.

As I mentioned, when this "list" appears on the "eve" of Minnesota Advanced 15 tryouts it comes off to me as trying to influence the process with FHIT's "selected" individuals.

In addition, FHIT can turn around and market that "work out at FHIT and we will shortcut you to the USHL watch list". Perhaps I am over-reading into this or don't understand the process, but it seems to me to be 'on the edge'.

Are you certain that EVERY player on those rosters made the list? As of right now, there are no rosters even posted for 94 Stealth and Synergy. What B1 teams are we talking about? If it's programs like Wayzata or Edina, I don't think that's a big deal at all.

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:34 am

Muck,

I am not going to take the time to compare lists but here are two rosters. One is for the MN Stars (Easton Synergy on Steroids) and the other is for Easton Stealth. Both teams are managed by Bob Capra - who manages the Easton teams. The Easton teams are affiliated with FHIT.

MN Stars (aka Easton Synergy on steroids!)
7 A.j. Michaelson (F)
15 Zach Stepan (F)
44 Alex Johnson (F)
91 Hunter Anderson (D)
23 Louie Nanne (F)
9 Max Coatta (F)
87 Lucas Dickison (F)
12 Kody Beckers (F)
21 Brady Skjei (D)
8 Jake Horton (D)
19 Kyle Osterberg (F)
22 Treavor Meador (F)
27 Andy Herlofsky (D)
5 Stevie Johnson (D)
6 Joe Freemark (D)
11 Nate Arentz (F)
17 Andrew Commers (F)
77 Tanner Barnes (F)

# NAME
39 Collin Olson
33 Connor Beaupre

Staff
TYPE NAME
Head Coach Marty Nanne
Manager Bob Capra

EASTON STEALTH

16 Tj Roo (F)
6 Rory Court (F)
5 Blake Winiecki (F)
25 Michael Hughes (F)
2 Frankie Mork (D)
19 Matt Pilot (D)
7 Jake Oborsky (F)
22 Connor Kelly (F)
10 Eric Bigaouette (D)
12 Jake Guentzel (F)
11 Patrick Graham (D)
9 Chad Dahlquist (D)
17 Zach Doerring (F)
4 Jake Peterson (D)
27 Jake Horton (D)

Goalie Stats
# NAME
24 Blake Cates
33 James Simmer

Staff
TYPE NAME
Head Coach Chris Dahlquist
Manager Bob Capra

Granted - the Stars roster is a loaded roster which cast off half of the crew from the Independent Cup last year to put together this roster for the International Cup.

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94 USHL Central Scouting List

94 USHL Scouting List

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94 USHL Scouting List

94 USHL Scouting List