HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Posted: **Fri Sep 20, 2013 8:09 pm**

Slap Shot wrote:Too bad he didn't stick around for his senior year - may have helped them make a run - and then done a year of juniors. Que sera, sera.

He did stick around for his senior year. He graduated from Minnetonka and was a Mr. Hockey finalist.

If the Gopher people are to be believed, this decision didn't have much to do with development or playing time.

Posted: **Fri Sep 20, 2013 8:39 pm**

karl(east) wrote:
Slap Shot wrote:Too bad he didn't stick around for his senior year - may have helped them make a run - and then done a year of juniors. Que sera, sera.
He did stick around for his senior year. He graduated from Minnetonka and was a Mr. Hockey finalist.

If the Gopher people are to be believed, this decision didn't have much to do with development or playing time.

Oops. Was thinking of Lettieri on that angle. Big oops.

Posted: **Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:18 am**

My inside sources are telling me that tommy and school didn't get along so well.

I also think you can tell by Lucia's comment stating that "tommy wasn't prepared to handle school and hockey at this moment in his life"

Posted: **Sat Sep 21, 2013 9:04 am**

Tigers33 wrote:My inside sources are telling me that tommy and school didn't get along so well.

I also think you can tell by Lucia's comment stating that "tommy wasn't prepared to handle school and hockey at this moment in his life"

Contrary to popular opinion, college isn't for everybody.

Posted: **Sat Sep 21, 2013 9:14 am**

College isn't for everyone but you should take more than 2-3 weeks to decide that. And even then you might want to take a year in USHL/NAHL and revisit decision. Slamming the door on college hockey seems pretty drastic.

Wish him the best. Good player.

Posted: **Sat Sep 21, 2013 12:37 pm**

barry_mcconnell wrote:College isn't for everyone but you should take more than 2-3 weeks to decide that. And even then you might want to take a year in USHL/NAHL and revisit decision. Slamming the door on college hockey seems pretty drastic.

Wish him the best. Good player.

He, like all Gopher freshmen, took classes over the summer. I think he has had more than enough time to determine whether or not juggling classes and athletics is the thing for him.

Posted: **Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:25 pm**

summer classes and fall term are vastly different experiences

Posted: **Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:03 pm**

keepyourheadup wrote:summer classes and fall term are vastly different experiences

They are similar enough to let a kid know if he is going to have issues managing class and athletics. He obviously didn't think it would work out. It's his decision.

Posted: **Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:56 pm**

This story is pretty complex, lets just leave it at that. Summer school is a breeze compared to the structure and limited personal time these kids are going through now. PM me if you care to more know JD

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2013 7:12 am**

keepyourheadup wrote:This story is pretty complex, lets just leave it at that.

Vanneli cleared it up a little for the Canadian press ...

Medicine Hat News wrote: Vannelli had originally committed to playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, but his feelings about where he wanted to be changed when the Blues made him their first draft selection.

“I didn’t like where I was at,” said Vannelli. “It was nothing personal. I just didn’t like the situation I was in.

“I looked into Medicine Hat. They have a great coaching staff and a great team. It was just the perfect opportunity for me.”

Vannelli wanted to start playing a hockey schedule that was like that of the NHL’s. Joining the Tigers proved to be the perfect opportunity.

“It is a big part of it just getting used to the NHL schedule,” said Vannelli. “Everybody that plays in this league that is their end goal.

http://medicinehatnews.com/sports/tiger ... t-chapter/

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2013 7:51 am**

I truly hope Tommy succeeds and achieves his goal, but was he made aware that on average only 2 guys each year from a WHL team ever make it to the NHL?

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2013 8:48 am**

Sounds like the best decision for him.

Does his adviser earn a check for getting him to Medicine Hat? Would the move be in the advisers best interest too?

Go Tommy! Good luck for the season!

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2013 12:34 pm**

The reality is if it really had to do with when he was drafted, etc., he could have changed course a few months ago and decided to go north of the border back then.

You'll notice he didn't mention anything about the academics he'll be exposed to in the WHL...

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:47 pm**

Gopher Blog wrote:You'll notice he didn't mention anything about the academics he'll be exposed to in the WHL...

Yup, the kid decided he didn't want to go to college. It's not any more complicated than that. The WHL is a good fit for him, just like Mueller, Pitlick, and a few others for similar reasons.

Posted: **Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:49 pm**

[quote="Gopher Blog"]The reality is if it really had to do when he was drafted, etc., he could have changed course a few months ago and decided to go north of the border back then.

Exactly!

Posted: **Sat Sep 28, 2013 10:40 pm**

Gopher Blog wrote:he could have changed course a few months ago and decided to go north of the border back then.

He could have. Or he could have taken the summer to think about it. Seems like he did just that. It's a big decision

Looks like Tommy made an impact in his first WHL game earlier tonight
http://www.whl.ca/schedule/show/game/65437

Posted: **Sun Sep 29, 2013 1:48 am**

scorekeeper wrote:
Gopher Blog wrote:he could have changed course a few months ago and decided to go north of the border back then.
He could have. Or he could have taken the summer to think about it. Seems like he did just that. It's a big decision

It is a tad laughable to act like he suddenly came to some major epiphany based on anything related to a draft that took place a few months before that. The brief press release from the U spoke volumes... especially considering the U has lost a player to the CHL before and there was never any remarks about academics in those situations.

Posted: **Sun Sep 29, 2013 7:20 am**

Once out of high school do players have to take college courses while they play up in Canada?

Posted: **Sun Sep 29, 2013 11:06 pm**

Tigers33 wrote:Once out of high school do players have to take college courses while they play up in Canada?

It's not a one size fits all type of thing. It's up to the player. In addition to the scholarship money, the team will pay for whatever college courses a player wants to take while they are with the team. More and more are taking advantage of it, but it's not forced on them. Completely up to the player.