Former Hill Murray d-man Blake Heinrich commits to Portland

scorekeeper · Post by **scorekeeper** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 4:40 pm

Congrats to Blake and his family. A great player who will do well with the Winterhawks
http://www.winterhawks.com/article/wint ... e-heinrich

The Exiled One · Post by **The Exiled One** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 4:47 pm

That didn't take long...

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32760

keepyourheadup · Post by **keepyourheadup** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:06 pm

Always liked this kids game, but from the outside this seems odd. He'll age out of the W in two years....then what? At Duluth he gets 4 more years of hockey. I realize its a personal choice but it seems like a funny time to go. Was Duluth pushing him out another year? Is he ready for the show in two years? I really hope he made the right choice here, one of the most fierce competitors I've ever watched play high school hockey.

JSR · Post by **JSR** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:23 pm

keepyourheadup wrote:Always liked this kids game, but from the outside this seems odd. He'll age out of the W in two years....then what? At Duluth he gets 4 more years of hockey. I realize its a personal choice but it seems like a funny time to go. Was Duluth pushing him out another year? Is he ready for the show in two years? I really hope he made the right choice here, one of the most fierce competitors I've ever watched play high school hockey.

I agree with you but there is always the ECHL and AHL if he is not ready for "the show" quite yet, he can still "work" his way there if he has the drive and ability.

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:42 pm

JSR wrote:
keepyourheadup wrote:Always liked this kids game, but from the outside this seems odd. He'll age out of the W in two years....then what? At Duluth he gets 4 more years of hockey. I realize its a personal choice but it seems like a funny time to go. Was Duluth pushing him out another year? Is he ready for the show in two years? I really hope he made the right choice here, one of the most fierce competitors I've ever watched play high school hockey.
I agree with you but there is always the ECHL and AHL if he is not ready for "the show" quite yet, he can still "work" his way there if he has the drive and ability.

How did that work out for Shawn Roed? or Dan Welch? Who I realize both had 'academic' issues at the U, but I'll guarantee you if both could do it over they would have taken 'school' a bit more seriously so they could have played 4 years in college before trying to play pro.

Of course every situation is unique and different, however I agree with keepyourheadup, just seems like an odd choice.

puckbreath · Post by **puckbreath** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:59 pm

Sats81 wrote:
JSR wrote:
keepyourheadup wrote:Always liked this kids game, but from the outside this seems odd. He'll age out of the W in two years....then what? At Duluth he gets 4 more years of hockey. I realize its a personal choice but it seems like a funny time to go. Was Duluth pushing him out another year? Is he ready for the show in two years? I really hope he made the right choice here, one of the most fierce competitors I've ever watched play high school hockey.
I agree with you but there is always the ECHL and AHL if he is not ready for "the show" quite yet, he can still "work" his way there if he has the drive and ability.
How did that work out for Shawn Roed? or Dan Welch? Who I realize both had 'academic' issues at the U, but I'll guarantee you if both could do it over they would have taken 'school' a bit more seriously so they could have played 4 years in college before trying to play pro.

Of course every situation is unique and different, however I agree with keepyourheadup, just seems like an odd choice.

Maybe academics came into play here ? Don't know, just an idea.

green4 · Post by **green4** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 7:54 pm

Good luck to Blake! I hope he continues to work hard and to succeed. I enjoy the style of hockey he plays and over the last couple of seasons from the high school level he was one of the most exciting players for me to watch.
Hope to see him play in the future.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:31 pm

puckbreath wrote:
Sats81 wrote:
JSR wrote: I agree with you but there is always the ECHL and AHL if he is not ready for "the show" quite yet, he can still "work" his way there if he has the drive and ability.
How did that work out for Shawn Roed? or Dan Welch? Who I realize both had 'academic' issues at the U, but I'll guarantee you if both could do it over they would have taken 'school' a bit more seriously so they could have played 4 years in college before trying to play pro.

Of course every situation is unique and different, however I agree with keepyourheadup, just seems like an odd choice.
Maybe academics came into play here ? Don't know, just an idea.

You would be making the correct assumption.

dlow · Post by **dlow** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:25 pm

How does USHL play stack up against WHL? I realize these leagues wont schedule against each other but isn't really just a lateral move?

4chex · Post by **4chex** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:43 pm

This was a decision that was academically based. He didn't really have a choice. Best of luck to Blake.

puckbreath · Post by **puckbreath** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:03 am

4chex wrote:This was a decision that was academically based. He didn't really have a choice. Best of luck to Blake.

Ah.

The Vannelli Experiment

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:25 am

4chex wrote:This was a decision that was academically based. He didn't really have a choice. Best of luck to Blake.

But he went to Hill Marley...?

The Next One · Post by **The Next One** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:44 am

4chex wrote:This was a decision that was academically based. He didn't really have a choice. Best of luck to Blake.

He didn't have a choice?...I have known quite a few past UMD players and it is not like they were rocket scientists or brain surgeons. Best of luck to a very good dman.

JSR · Post by **JSR** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:30 am

The Next One wrote:
4chex wrote:This was a decision that was academically based. He didn't really have a choice. Best of luck to Blake.
He didn't have a choice?...I have known quite a few past UMD players and it is not like they were rocket scientists or brain surgeons. Best of luck to a very good dman.

Yea, he might not have been able to get into the "U" or Wisconsin or Michigan but schools like say Bjemdji could have likely taken him if in fact it is academics. Nt a rip on Bjemidji but their admissions standards are not even close to the same as the U and others....... So I think school was still an option but perhaps the schools that wuld take him were not what he was thinking hockey wise???? Just somethoughts and ideas, don't know the kid at all.

JSR · Post by **JSR** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:31 am

Sats81 wrote:
JSR wrote:
keepyourheadup wrote:Always liked this kids game, but from the outside this seems odd. He'll age out of the W in two years....then what? At Duluth he gets 4 more years of hockey. I realize its a personal choice but it seems like a funny time to go. Was Duluth pushing him out another year? Is he ready for the show in two years? I really hope he made the right choice here, one of the most fierce competitors I've ever watched play high school hockey.
I agree with you but there is always the ECHL and AHL if he is not ready for "the show" quite yet, he can still "work" his way there if he has the drive and ability.
How did that work out for Shawn Roed? or Dan Welch? Who I realize both had 'academic' issues at the U, but I'll guarantee you if both could do it over they would have taken 'school' a bit more seriously so they could have played 4 years in college before trying to play pro.

Of course every situation is unique and different, however I agree with keepyourheadup, just seems like an odd choice.

I said I agreed with him, but merely pointing out the door doesn't atuomatically close after two years if he isn't quite ready for the biggest stage

northwoods oldtimer · Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:10 am

JSR wrote:
The Next One wrote:
4chex wrote:This was a decision that was academically based. He didn't really have a choice. Best of luck to Blake.
He didn't have a choice?...I have known quite a few past UMD players and it is not like they were rocket scientists or brain surgeons. Best of luck to a very good dman.
Yea, he might not have been able to get into the "U" or Wisconsin or Michigan but schools like say Bjemdji could have likely taken him if in fact it is academics. Nt a rip on Bjemidji but their admissions standards are not even close to the same as the U and others....... So I think school was still an option but perhaps the schools that wuld take him were not what he was thinking hockey wise???? Just somethoughts and ideas, don't know the kid at all.

The 'U' has 100 some odd football players and a basketball team that is not exactly Harvard qualified. The 'U' is on a quota system first and foremost and white anglo saxon is not top priority in euphoria. College is not the holy grail to life success that's been proven time and again.

puckbreath · Post by **puckbreath** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:36 am

What I don't understand, is how these type of kids get recruited in the first place.

It's not like they suddenly became lousy students; chances are they were in high school too.

Ken Dryden · Post by **Ken Dryden** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:09 pm

dlow wrote:How does USHL play stack up against WHL? I realize these leagues wont schedule against each other but isn't really just a lateral move?

Umm...not quite lateral here IMO. Take a look at Central Scouting - the WHL better prepares kids for ECHL/AHL and even NHL. School is the ideal route but it is not for everyone. No shortage of talent in the WHL that is for sure.

I am pretty sure kids gain 'credits' to pay for school while they play in the CHL as well...in case hockey doesn't work out.

Best of luck!

Post by **karl(east)** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:24 pm

JSR wrote:Yea, he might not have been able to get into the "U" or Wisconsin or Michigan but schools like say Bjemdji could have likely taken him if in fact it is academics. Nt a rip on Bjemidji but their admissions standards are not even close to the same as the U and others....... So I think school was still an option but perhaps the schools that wuld take him were not what he was thinking hockey wise???? Just somethoughts and ideas, don't know the kid at all.

He'd already signed a National Letter of Intent, to UMD, though. He would have been ineligible to play anywhere else in the NCAA next year, even if UMD dumped him for academic reasons. Great system, no?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/w ... index.html

JSR · Post by **JSR** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:35 pm

northwoods oldtimer wrote:
JSR wrote:
The Next One wrote: He didn't have a choice?...I have known quite a few past UMD players and it is not like they were rocket scientists or brain surgeons. Best of luck to a very good dman.
Yea, he might not have been able to get into the "U" or Wisconsin or Michigan but schools like say Bjemdji could have likely taken him if in fact it is academics. Nt a rip on Bjemidji but their admissions standards are not even close to the same as the U and others....... So I think school was still an option but perhaps the schools that wuld take him were not what he was thinking hockey wise???? Just somethoughts and ideas, don't know the kid at all.
The 'U' has 100 some odd football players and a basketball team that is not exactly Harvard qualified. The 'U' is on a quota system first and foremost and white anglo saxon is not top priority in euphoria. College is not the holy grail to life success that's been proven time and again.

No one said Harvard, but the fact is they have minimum admissions standards , for ALL athletes, that are higher than D2 or D3 schools. As many of those 100 some odd kids that you are talking about play there, there are a whole bunch of other alented kids who might have been better ballers but couldn't get into the school due to those admission standards. Example, Ryan Suters younger brother "had" a scholarship to Wisconsin, he played Junior hockey until his eligibility was over trying to gain admission to Wisconsin, he was never able to muster the test scores, ended up at Stevens Point where he was a D3 All-American because UW-Stevens Point's admission standards are not the same as Wisconsins. ANother current D1 player by the name of Cody Strang played at Bjemidji because he was unable to gain admission to UW after oroginally committing to the Badgers, sufficed to say he actually quit hockey after his freshman season to play for Bjemidji's golf team and concentrate on golf where he had a "professional" future supposedly, to my knowledge he is no longer on the golf team there either, not really sure where he is now.... Tons more examples but there are two for you right outta the gate....

northwoods oldtimer · Post by **northwoods oldtimer** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:00 pm

JSR wrote:
northwoods oldtimer wrote:
JSR wrote: Yea, he might not have been able to get into the "U" or Wisconsin or Michigan but schools like say Bjemdji could have likely taken him if in fact it is academics. Nt a rip on Bjemidji but their admissions standards are not even close to the same as the U and others....... So I think school was still an option but perhaps the schools that wuld take him were not what he was thinking hockey wise???? Just somethoughts and ideas, don't know the kid at all.
The 'U' has 100 some odd football players and a basketball team that is not exactly Harvard qualified. The 'U' is on a quota system first and foremost and white anglo saxon is not top priority in euphoria. College is not the holy grail to life success that's been proven time and again.
No one said Harvard, but the fact is they have minimum admissions standards , for ALL athletes, that are higher than D2 or D3 schools. As many of those 100 some odd kids that you are talking about play there, there are a whole bunch of other alented kids who might have been better ballers but couldn't get into the school due to those admission standards. Example, Ryan Suters younger brother "had" a scholarship to Wisconsin, he played Junior hockey until his eligibility was over trying to gain admission to Wisconsin, he was never able to muster the test scores, ended up at Stevens Point where he was a D3 All-American because UW-Stevens Point's admission standards are not the same as Wisconsins. ANother current D1 player by the name of Cody Strang played at Bjemidji because he was unable to gain admission to UW after oroginally committing to the Badgers, sufficed to say he actually quit hockey after his freshman season to play for Bjemidji's golf team and concentrate on golf where he had a "professional" future supposedly, to my knowledge he is no longer on the golf team there either, not really sure where he is now.... Tons more examples but there are two for you right outta the gate....

Good example of apples and oranges comparison between the athlete and non athlete registration into a major university. I get that and had forgotten the obvious difference that exists for entrance.

Lecroixwhl · Post by **Lecroixwhl** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:09 pm

I believe starting in 2016, the NCAA has implemented rules that to even qualify for an athletic scholarship you will need to have a minimum of a 2.3 GPA in core classes. This does not include any courses except the core courses: Math, Science, English.

The current system I believe is 2.0 GPA for Core classes.

Although this is not rocket science type grades, unfortunately, not all our kids are going to be rocket scientists.

Don't know this situation, but just saying.. there are academic standards that have to be met, it's not as simple as many people think. You have to be a good student as well.

I'm not saying there aren't exceptions, but those are becoming less and less as the NCAA can take away scholarships from schools that don't graduate players because of academic reasons.

warriors41 · Post by **warriors41** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:08 pm

JSR wrote:
The Next One wrote:
4chex wrote:This was a decision that was academically based. He didn't really have a choice. Best of luck to Blake.
He didn't have a choice?...I have known quite a few past UMD players and it is not like they were rocket scientists or brain surgeons. Best of luck to a very good dman.
Yea, he might not have been able to get into the "U" or Wisconsin or Michigan but schools like say Bjemdji could have likely taken him if in fact it is academics. Nt a rip on Bjemidji but their admissions standards are not even close to the same as the U and others....... So I think school was still an option but perhaps the schools that wuld take him were not what he was thinking hockey wise???? Just somethoughts and ideas, don't know the kid at all.

Hey hey hey, we Beavers always refer to Bemidji State as the Harvard of the North for a reason! I can't remember what that reason is though

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:17 pm

puckbreath wrote:What I don't understand, is how these type of kids get recruited in the first place.

It's not like they suddenly became lousy students; chances are they were in high school too.

It is a balance between risk/reward. If you think a kid has the ability to really do something good for your program despite a questionable academic record, you still might be willing to take a chance... especially if you think there is a chance that he will get his act together academically as he matures. Sometimes that gamble works, sometimes it doesn't.

gitter · Post by **gitter** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:00 pm

northwoods oldtimer wrote:The 'U' has 100 some odd football players and a basketball team that is not exactly Harvard qualified. The 'U' is on a quota system first and foremost and white anglo saxon is not top priority in euphoria. College is not the holy grail to life success that's been proven time and again.

JSR wrote:No one said Harvard, but the fact is they have minimum admissions standards , for ALL athletes, that are higher than D2 or D3 schools. As many of those 100 some odd kids that you are talking about play there, there are a whole bunch of other alented kids who might have been better ballers but couldn't get into the school due to those admission standards.

No not ALL athletes have to adhere to admission standards. When it comes to NC$$, a lot of people have the tendency to look the other way. If the sport is a big time money maker, rules don't always apply...all you other schools must play by the rules though.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-a ... ng-scores/

Pretty eye-opening.