Predictions for Advanced 16 and 17 national team.

[keepyourheadup]

For what its worth, the 23 man roster for next years ntdp program has 10 forwards allready commited along with 6 defensemen and one goalie. That leaves the rest of the players attending the national camp competing for six spots. Its a great honor for those invited but the chances of earning even an invite from the Rochester camp are very small. While its not the goal of all the kids attending the national camp to play in Ann Arbor it seems to me that USA hockey could leave a few more spots open for those that excel at the national camp.

Some have questioned why the 17's only had 14 kids picked. Not sure this has any effect but there are 4 minnesotans on the ntdp team this year and I assume they'll be invited as well. That puts the 17's at the same number as the 16's.

[Bwheeler26]

Think whatever you want, but there is no forsure way to make everybody happy out this proccess. The judges obviously know who the big name players are coming in to the weekend and will give them advantages regardless of how they play. They also find out who the better players are that are on the bubble and pick based on how they play(points, teamwork, coach ability, attitude..ect..). Minnesota hockey cant be perfect, because on person sees the game different than the next. And saying the Advanced program is a joke, is just a reason to feel better about you, your son, or buddy not making it. Frankly every kid in minnesota that wants to have a future in hockey knows that if he wants to get noticed, he's going to do the Advanced program. I'm not saying that it is the only way to get noticed but, I was there for the 15's 102's festival last year, and got to attend both the 16 and 17's section and 54's festiva this year, and no question in my mind it is the biggest gathering, other than the state tournament, of scouts in minnesota. There must have been a representitive from every WCHA team and a fair amount of USHL teams there. Minnesota hockey, keep up the good work!

[PoniesDad45]

Hey, there are things about the program that I don't like, hell I just don't like it--BUT their results are pretty good. Seems there are more MN kids on active rosters in the NHL than any other state so they aren't failing or anything.

I just look at this from the school's perspective and not the individual's....

There is no perfect system and never will be, I'll readily admit that.

[Factsmatter1]

Guys,

I think everyone is trying smoke the "We are The State of Hockey peace pipe" on this but I can't buy it. And as I said I don't have a dog in the hunt and I certainly can't speak for the 16's but, though the 17's Final 54 was a good job, the national team was a hatchet job plain and simple. Why doesn't someone start the 'people's choice thread" ... and list a group of 8-10 players that almost everyone would agree with rather than the final team that was put out that almost everyone disagrees with and is a false claim to the "best players in MN". And the reason they don't agree is because many of us actually watched these kids over the season and during the Advanced Camp... I already submitted my list so someone else take a crack at it...

[jancze5]

this topic sure took off in about 8 directions.

here's my 2 cents...

the value in making the national camp is exposure and experience

- the exposure to EVERY NCAA school in the country, every USHL team, NHL scouts/teams, the list goes on.

- exposure to the top of your age group from the US. For many kids in Minnesota who play on top teams, you play 10-12 games a year against teams/players of your speed/caliber. Getting on the ice where everyone is very very good and can skate is a horse of a whole nother' color. I think for Minnesotans that believe D6 is the Holiest Hotbed of hockey in the world, you're in for a rude awakening.

-possibly most important, exposure to Coaches and a program trying to foster growth in the game. the national camp gives feedback, coaches you, tells you what they want a player like you with your skillset to do on the ice. I believe that 15's last year at St Cloud offered a similar feedback. The 54's system doesn't help the player(s) who didn't make it know..."well johnny, we thought you were lazy in the neutral zone and didn't forcheck with any passion at all"...Minnesota should be embracing the 16 and 17's and fostering growth at 54's, not stirring a pot of huh's?

-Good luck to the 16's selected, my son has played with or against all of them at some point in the last 4 spring/summers and all of them are worthy to rep Minnesota.

[northwoods oldtimer]

Great post jancze5 could not have said it any better than that.

[sorno82]

Being selected to one of these teams is a great honor, but it does not predict future success. There are two Minnesota players playing tonight in the Canuck/Blackhawk game. One was born in 1981. The Blades alumni from 1981 include:

1981
Dahl, Jim Breck Alaska-Anchorage Pro
Flaig, Luke Eden Prairie Alabama-Huntsville
Gill, Tony Rochester Lourdes Notre Dame NHL
Hengen, Billy Academy of Holy Angels St. Cloud Pro
Iannazzo, Dave Maple Grove St. Cloud
Reimers, Jason Cottage Grove Wisconsin Pro
Riddle, Troy Roseville Minnesota Pro
Roed, Shawn White Bear Lake Minnesota Pro
Smaagaard, Garrett Eden Prairie Minnesota
Taffe, Jeff Hastings Minnesota NHL
Tharp, Ben Hastings Minnesota/Miami of Ohio
Welch, Dan Hastings Minnesota Pro

Don't see Andrew Alberts on that list, though all the players above were probably who people were talking about at the time. He did play the equivalent of Junior Gold B though as a sophmore.

Dustin Byfuglien was born in 1985-some of the top players from that time were:

Akins, Drew Minnetonka Minnesota-Duluth
Bayers, B.J. St.Louis Park Connecticut
Berenguer, Chris Eden Prairie Northern Michigan
Bernier, Mark North St. Paul Nebraska-Omaha
Borer, Casey Shattuck-St Mary's St. Cloud NHL
Borgen, Brent Mahtomedi Minnesota/St. Cloud
Carlisle, David Forest Lake St. Cloud
Carroll, Andrew Mahtomedi Minnesota-Duluth
Cascalenda, Jay Hill Murray Minnesota-Duluth
Fitzgerald, Zack Duluth East Major Juniors Pro
Friesen, Blake Benilde-St. Margaret's Minnesota State-Mankato
Garrity, Sean North St. Paul St. Cloud
Gill, Riley Shattuck-St Mary's Western Michigan Pro
Gordon, Ben International Falls Minnesota
Harrington, Brandon Rochester Lourdes U Mass-Amherst
Kilpatrick, Jimmy Academy of Holy Angels Colorado College Pro
Marshall, David Buffalo Quinnipiac
Obermeyer, Jake Chaska Robert Morris
Patera, John Blake Canisus
Plaszcz, Brian Eastview Maine
Regan, Garrett Hill Murray Notre Dame
Schaser, Ian Benilde-St. Margaret's U Mass-Lowell
Wiley, Jason Bloomington-Kennedy Minnesota State-Mankato
Woodard, Matt St. Louis Park American International
Zacharias, Mike Armstrong Minnesota State-Mankato


Again- a lot of good players, but few still playing. Not making any statements, just a bit of perspective.

[observer]

The 16s just finished their Advanced Festival in NY. 6 Minnesota 94s were named to the final two All-Star teams.

Colin Olson
Kyle Osterberg
Brady Skjei
Gage Torrel
Nate Arentz
Zach Stepan

http://usahockey.com/Tournament/Tournam ... ionID=1784

Anyone that was there care to comment?

[Hoops]

The 16s just finished their Advanced Festival in NY. 6 Minnesota 94s were named to the final two All-Star teams.

Colin Olson
Kyle Osterberg
Brady Skjei
Gage Torrel
Nate Arentz
Zach Stepan

http://usahockey.com/Tournament/Tournam ... ionID=1784

Anyone that was there care to comment?

Some guys like Michaelson were in the title game...and therefore not part of the all star game right after.

[observer]

Thanks. I was curious about that because the goalie with the top stats wasn't in the All Star game.

[The Exiled One]

How do we feel about Zach Stepan being positioned as a Minnesotan? Sure, he's playing at Shattuck in Faribault like his cousin Derek Stepan did, but Balsam Lake, WI is definately NOT like Hastings. Since he's no more likely to play for a Minnesota based college than one from a different state, I motion that we stop putting Zach the cheesehead on lists with TRUE Minnesotans. Can I get a second?

[observer]

Interesting. He was at the Minnesota Advanced 16 tryouts and he's mentioned in a post regarding Hastings losing another player to Shattuck so I thought his home was Hastings. I don't know why he attended the Minnesota tryouts as opposed to the Wisconsin one. It seemed like USA Hockey may get some kids some tryout where they want to see them because it seems there were a few players that don't live in Minnesota. The Shattuck kids are in school during the tryouts so maybe they make some allowances for them as opposed to having them tryout in their home state. He's not listed on the list of Minnesota players invited to the Festival so didn't count against any number of players from Minnesota. 15s are based on residence and 16s and 17s are based on high school. Did he participate in Wisconsin for 15s but in Minnesota for 16s because his high school is based in Minnesota?

http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/docu ... t_2010.pdf

Regardless, an outstanding 94 player. Maybe the best I've seen in Minnesota this spring.

[flatontheice]

The 16s just finished their Advanced Festival in NY. 5 Minnesota 94s were named to the final two All-Star teams.

Colin Olson
Kyle Osterberg
Brady Skjei
Gage Torrel
Nate Arentz


http://usahockey.com/Tournament/Tournam ... ionID=1784

Anyone that was there care to comment?

Nate Arentz was the only one that really stood out.

[CB00]

How do we feel about Zach Stepan being positioned as a Minnesotan? Sure, he's playing at Shattuck in Faribault like his cousin Derek Stepan did, but Balsam Lake, WI is definately NOT like Hastings. Since he's no more likely to play for a Minnesota based college than one from a different state, I motion that we stop putting Zach the cheesehead on lists with TRUE Minnesotans. Can I get a second?

I know Zach and his family well. I consider myself a close friend.

Zach Stepan grew up in Hastings until he was 12. Moved to New Richmond for a few years while he played on the Fire out of convenience to get to practice. He never lived in Balsam Lake, his grandparent do. Now he is at Shattuck where his family has bought a house in Fairbault. Seems to me he is very much a Minnesotan. I want to claim him as one of "ours."

Zach and his family are outstanding people. They made some decisions to help Zach's hockey career. While everyone on this board may not agree with them, most of your kids aren't on the same path as Zach. You may have made some of the same decisions they have made if your kid was as good as Zach. Congrats to Zach and always the best of luck where ever you decide to play your college hockey.

[The Exiled One]

How do we feel about Zach Stepan being positioned as a Minnesotan? Sure, he's playing at Shattuck in Faribault like his cousin Derek Stepan did, but Balsam Lake, WI is definately NOT like Hastings. Since he's no more likely to play for a Minnesota based college than one from a different state, I motion that we stop putting Zach the cheesehead on lists with TRUE Minnesotans. Can I get a second?

I know Zach and his family well. I consider myself a close friend.

Zach Stepan grew up in Hastings until he was 12. Moved to New Richmond for a few years while he played on the Fire out of convenience to get to practice. He never lived in Balsam Lake, his grandparent do. Now he is at Shattuck where his family has bought a house in Fairbault. Seems to me he is very much a Minnesotan. I want to claim him as one of "ours."

Zach and his family are outstanding people. They made some decisions to help Zach's hockey career. While everyone on this board may not agree with them, most of your kids aren't on the same path as Zach. You may have made some of the same decisions they have made if your kid was as good as Zach. Congrats to Zach and always the best of luck where ever you decide to play your college hockey.

Okay, sounds good. Motion to have Zach rebranded as a cheesehead is withdrawn.

[observer]

10-4 and I love his game.

Isn't on the Minnesota player list though?

[observer]

From the Star Tribune,

5 94 players with Minnesota connections will play in a under 17 Tourney in Switzerland August 18-22.

Teddy Doherty, Zach Stepan and Miles Koules from Shattuck, Kyle Osterberg from Lakeville South and AJ Michaelson from Apple Valley.

GOALTENDERS (2)
Brandon Hope 3/18/94 Canton, Mich. Honeybaked
James Howe 4/4/94 Northville, Mich. Little Caesars

DEFENSEMEN (6)
Grant Webermin 2/24/94 Novi, Mich. Honeybaked
Tim Davison 3/20/94 De Pere, Wis. Team Wisconsin
Teddy Doherty 4/25/94 Hopkinton, Mass Shattuck St. Mary’s
Sam Piazza 1/27/94 Darien, Ill. Chicago Mission
Justin Wade 4/13/94 Aurora, Ill. Chicago Mission
Troy Donnay 2/18/94 Fenton, Mich. Belle Tire

FORWARDS (12)
Cristoval Nieves 1/23/94 Baldwinsville NY Syracuse Nationals
Brian Morgan 4/1/94 Windham, N.H. Boston Junior Bruins
Nicholas Schilkey 5/12/94 Smiths Creek, Mich. Honeybaked
Kyle Osterberg 9/5/94 Lakeville, Minn. Lakeville South Varsity
A.J. Michaelson 2/8/94 Lakeville, Minn. Apple Valley Varsity
Riley Barber 2/7/94 Livonia, Mich. Compuware
Ryan Fitzgerald 10/19/94 North Reading MA Malden Catholic
Zach Stepan 1/6/94 Fairbault, Minn. Shattuck St. Mary’s
Joseph Cox 1/7/94 Chelsea, Mich. Compuware
Miles Koules 6/25/94 Los Angeles, CA Shattuck St. Mary’s
Sheldon Dries 4/23/94 Macomb, Mich. Honeybaked
Jack Rowe 3/7/94 Cary, Ill. Team Illinois

http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usah ... 4&ID=25764

[O-townClown]

4 Jan
4 Feb
3 Mar
5 Apr
1 May
1 June
0 July
0 Aug
1 Sept
1 Oct
0 Nov
0 Dec

Either summer is mating season for those prone to produce great hockey players or there is a real advantage to being born early in the year.

[observer]

This is not the U17 NTDP team in fact they often take players to this tournament not selected to the team. Sounds like Skjei and Osterberg will be on that roster when it's named.

Michigan 8
Minnesota 3
Illinois 3
Massachusetts 2
Wisconsin 1
California 1
New York 1
New Hampshire 1

[Vapor]

4 Jan
4 Feb
3 Mar
5 Apr
1 May
1 June
0 July
0 Aug
1 Sept
1 Oct
0 Nov
0 Dec

Either summer is mating season for those prone to produce great hockey players or there is a real advantage to being born early in the year.

This is why you have to be careful not to read to much into these Select programs. It is typically the older players that are picked at these age groups. Keep in mind, the kids with the later birthday will still get all the same looks as those that are on the squad. Colleges are not going to offer a player a scholarship just because he/she made a Select team. The players regular season / playoffs performance, academics, attitude, etc. ALL play a huge role. PLUS, kids with July and later bd are typically in a different grade than those with early bd's.

[The Exiled One]

1993's start action tomorrow. You can follow stats here.

First up: Everson and Cameranesi (and Duininck and Ambroz) against Molenaar and Lucia.

[shakey]

How did Lucia end up in Rochester? He did not skate in the 54s (illness) and was not on the list to advance.

[12345]

Shakey,

It happens sometimes (a lot in my opinion) that Minnesota doesn't get it right. I don't know about Lucia, but I know it's happened in the past... When USA hockey finds out that a kid was missed, and they think the kid is good enough to be there, they extend the invitation anyways and bypass Minnesota all together. This can't make Minnesota look too good...especially if Lucia is good enough to make the team that goes overseas.

[shakey]

Shakey,

It happens sometimes (a lot in my opinion) that Minnesota doesn't get it right. I don't know about Lucia, but I know it's happened in the past... When USA hockey finds out that a kid was missed, and they think the kid is good enough to be there, they extend the invitation anyways and bypass Minnesota all together. This can't make Minnesota look too good...especially if Lucia is good enough to make the team that goes overseas.

"Who" is USA Hockey and what do "they" know about Lucia that "Minnesota" doesn't? Somebody looks bad here but it's not necessarily the Minnesota Select 17 evaluators. Does something smell funny?

[InTheKnow]

You don't think "THE DON" had anything to do with that, do you?