thunderhawks in 07/08

[ndirishfighting]

back to back state tournaments,

what are these gonna have left after losing white,jensen,stejskal, morse, makkinen.
there is a big class of seniors & barely any juniors, roy,sparen,kosak,rendle, & palkki.
what do they have for sophmores coming in.

My big question? WHO IS GONNA BE THERE GOALIE?
MAYBE TOM HOW CAN PLAY, SINCE HE ONLY PLAYED IN LIKE 5 GAMES. MAYBE THE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE WILL GIVE HIM SOME ELIGIBILITY?

[TheHockeyDJ]

They tried that with Matti Korhonen, but it didn't work. Shame they only got one year out of him. I think you'll see a Rapids team that is different from the sense they won't have a big boost from one or two guys, but it will be a more balanced attack. They'll have probably a 17-8 record going into the playoffs, and then they'll turn it on there as usual. Remember, Elk River, East, and CEC all lost a lot of good players and goalies as well.

[northwoods oldtimer]

2007-2008 Rapids will have a ton of Seniors to choose from. The JV was I think 19-4-1 this past season.
Great group of kids who have played good team hockey all the way through.
Tabaka and Figgins will spar early on to see who is most consistant in goal.
Young guns from the Bantam A club that recieved great coaching from Trent Klatt and Scot Klienendorst under a great system should help Bruce out a lot after mixing in some JV and Varsity time.
Possible up and comers:
Skrbec
Merrit
Billy Shaw
Grady Anderson
There are certainly more to add here.
Keys:
Will Rob Roy put on some size and strength to enhance that great rink rat ability. Will Tony Palkki become a 20 plus point goal scorer for 2007-2008?
Lot of positives coming into next season with the always constant unknowns of high school hockey. A lot comes down to Senior leadership and off season work...only time will tell. I personally like the group and think they can fair quite well.

[grindiangrad-80]

I really liked watching Rendle play. He works very hard, and has a lot of skill with the puck. I think you will see some good things from him during the next 2 years. They will be solid again. Hopefully, they will be playing well in Februry and March.

[breakout]

I really liked watching Rendle play. He works very hard, and has a lot of skill with the puck. I think you will see some good things from him during the next 2 years. They will be solid again. Hopefully, they will be playing well in Februry and March.

He is a nice player. Played with a stud this year. Hopefully he gets bigger and faster in the off-season.

[The Best 4th Liner]

Who are the Thunderhawks???

Being at state and seeing all the Go Indians! I figured they changed the name back

haha

[Frequent_MN_Flyer]

If they guys hit the weight room with consistency and intensity in the off-season they'll be a very good team. The tools are there for another run.

[boblee]

I will now predict a 14-9-2 regular season. Tough schedule, need to grow as a squad, but I do predict a section final appearance.

[PASTRAPIDSFAN]

I will predict 19-5-1 only if there goalies get the job done.These guys need some summer training.

[LetsPlayHockey22]

Im sorry but Aj Merrit is very over-rated. I dont know how he would do at forward, but I saw him in a tournament playing defense and I was not impressed especially after hearing all the select teams he is on and how he is a dominant force. Grand Rapids should be good, but I see him contributing to the team, and he will only be a sophmore next season.

[Reggie]

back to back state tournaments,

what are these gonna have left after losing white,jensen,stejskal, morse, makkinen.
there is a big class of seniors & barely any juniors, roy,sparen,kosak,rendle, & palkki.
what do they have for sophmores coming in.

My big question? WHO IS GONNA BE THERE GOALIE?
MAYBE TOM HOW CAN PLAY, SINCE HE ONLY PLAYED IN LIKE 5 GAMES. MAYBE THE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE WILL GIVE HIM SOME ELIGIBILITY?

The word in Rapids is Timmy Chow was just a Jr. last year. The coaching staff just got his birth certificate from japan and he just turned 17, so I think going back to state with Brismick contender and his blazing orange pads (very Cool) might be no problem. boblee what have you heard?

[PuckTime]

Im sorry but Aj Merrit is very over-rated. I dont know how he would do at forward, but I saw him in a tournament playing defense and I was not impressed especially after hearing all the select teams he is on and how he is a dominant force. Grand Rapids should be good, but I see him contributing to the team, and he will only be a sophmore next season.

So, is he over-rated or will he contribute to the team?

From what I've seen, he's a good, strong player that is somewhat inconsistent. I think he used to play D and was used mostly as a forward this past season. What tournament did you see him in as a defensemen?

He's got the size and the drive and good hands, and will need to dig deep and find that consistency. If that happens, he will definately help the T-hawks in their next few seasons as you're correct, he will only be a sophomore next year.

[boblee]

Rapids will look something like this next year...

Palkki-Roy-Sparen
Greniger-Prokop-Moore
Jerulle-Mackey-Skrebec
Schneider-Dumm-Maher

Rendle-Kosak
Bishop-Horseman
Serratore-Leingang

Tabaka
Figgins

[crosby087]

What are people worrying about? Rapids is always good

crosby

[TIME&SPACE]

Should be a fun group to watch. With 17 seniors and 6 juniors returning from a strong varsity/Jr. varsity program, it will be difficult for more than 1 or 2 of the 9 sophmores to crack the varsity roster. Size and strength may be an issue with this bunch when playing the upper echelon teams. Look for good puck movement and hope that the offense first mentality doesn't lead to a collapse on defense ala the last 3 minutes of the Burnsville game. Figgins and Tabaka are both good senior goalie prospects and have shared time fairly evenly in the past. One of them will need to step up to the next level to be declared the number 1 starter. Should certainly be capable of reaching the section finals if they play like they can.

[LetsPlayHockey22]

I think he will contribute to the team, but not next year, maybe when he is a junior and will for sure when he is a senior, bu lik you said he needs to find consistancy

[hockeyfan92621]

Either way, they'll be a fun group to watch the next few years!

[PuckTime]

Rapids will look something like this next year...

Palkki-Roy-Sparen
Greniger-Prokop-Moore
Jerulle-Mackey-Skrebec
Schneider-Dumm-Maher

Rendle-Kosak
Bishop-Horseman
Serratore-Leingang

Tabaka
Figgins

I disagree with some of these "picks" , but I guess time will tell. Let's see what work in the off-season may bring some of the younger boys.

[Former Indian]

I've been reading this forum all winter and finally wanted to weigh in on a subject. I've been around Grand Rapids a long, long time and have had the oppurtunity to take in a lot of hockey up here - both youth and high school. I was able to take in almost all the Bantam A games this year as well as almost all of the jv and varsity games. I'm going to offer an opinion of players for next year's varsity, and hope not to offend anyone. I'll try to break down both Bantams and returning players.

Advancing Bantams :

Kleinendorst - Strong and mobile, but doesn't play enough defense. A year on the jv with some new coaching will benefit his play.
Skrbec - Talented with a great work ethic. Team leader on the ice and in the box. Needs to work on shooting the puck more and gaining accuracy.
Anderson - Smallish forward who needs to get stronger. Good ice vision, and good forchecker. Can see him being a player somewhat like Welliver in a year or 2.
Mendoza - Has some skill, but needs to buy into the team concept. Needs to just let plays happen instead of trying to make everything look like a highlight reel. JV for a year or 2.
Merritt - Big kid with good hands. Inconsistent play throughout the year. Came on strong when it mattered in Regions. With work this summer, could crack the V lineup as a checking forward or 4th D.
Schulte - Sniper who can shoot from any angle. Needs to lose the tunnel vision and find his linemates. Should get a look by January.
Hamman - Junior class could make things tough on him. Kid can play when he wants, but doesn't seem to take things seriously. Hit or miss with this one.
Tatter - Raw skills need to be honed. Bigger kid who needs to play more physical. Work hard this summer on getting stronger. JV this year.
Larson - Has the potential to be a great high school goalie. Quick feet for a big kid. Lacks focus at times and gets into trouble. If he stays sharp, he could give either of the seniors a serious run for their money.

My Varsity picks for next season :

Palki - Hard work does pay off. Scoring touch will return. Top line player.
Roy - Should be the team leader. Two good linemates will help him bury the puck.
Skrbec - Big jump for a sophomore, but he has the skill to compete. Would be a great compliment to the hard working Palki and goal scoring Roy.

Sparren - Off year as a junior. Needs to go back to the beginning and work harder. Hopefully he can provide leadership on the ice and in the locker room as this year's seniors did. Lots of questions with this one's attitude.
Prokop - One of my favorite players to watch. Always on the go, gritty and tough for a small guy. 20 pts this season.
Jerulle - Great skills. Good hands, good shot. Selfish at times, and at this level, that needs to change.

Moore - Hard worker. Good checking forward, should be a valuable penalty killer.
A. Anderson - All depends on his attitude. Can be the best player at any given time or disappear for weeks. We'll see.
Greniger - Another tireless worker. Could be a second liner in place of Jerulle, but will be called upon for some key minutes.

Swentkofske - Big kid who can play D also. Better served as a power forward though.
Shaw - Should be a solid forchecker on the fourth line.
Schneider/Maher - Battle for the last forward spot

D Pairings :

Rendle - Solid all around player. Don't let his size fool you. Leader both on and off the ice and will be their veteran defenseman.
Kosak - Injury plagued year will make this one hungrier next season. Will be an impact player.

Horseman - Good skater, can move the puck. Needs to work on strength.
Merritt - If he's moved back to D and has a solid summer, could end up as the 4th D. Size matters and the Indians lack it. 6'3" and 180 could help. All depends on how hard he works.

Bishop - Lost half the year due to injury. If he's committed to hard work, he'll see lots of ice.
Serratore - Strong and physical. Mobility is an issue, but is a worker.

Goaltending :

Not much to pick from here. Figgins and Tabaka will start as one and two. Look for them to split a lot of time until one decides to step up. If Larson keeps improving and either guy falters, look for Ryan to get a look.

Knowing Grand Rapids had a junior dominated jv team that won 19 games shouldn't fool people into thinking that you just automatically plug those players into the missing holes. Juniors tend to fair better playing a full schedule against younger, less experienced opponents. If Rapids takes that route, look for them to be a sub .500 team. If they mix in the younger guys, they could be in the section final.

That's it, not saying I'm right, just stating an opinion.

[boblee]

I've been reading this forum all winter and finally wanted to weigh in on a subject. I've been around Grand Rapids a long, long time and have had the oppurtunity to take in a lot of hockey up here - both youth and high school. I was able to take in almost all the Bantam A games this year as well as almost all of the jv and varsity games. I'm going to offer an opinion of players for next year's varsity, and hope not to offend anyone. I'll try to break down both Bantams and returning players.

Advancing Bantams :

Kleinendorst - Strong and mobile, but doesn't play enough defense. A year on the jv with some new coaching will benefit his play.
Skrbec - Talented with a great work ethic. Team leader on the ice and in the box. Needs to work on shooting the puck more and gaining accuracy.
Anderson - Smallish forward who needs to get stronger. Good ice vision, and good forchecker. Can see him being a player somewhat like Welliver in a year or 2.
Mendoza - Has some skill, but needs to buy into the team concept. Needs to just let plays happen instead of trying to make everything look like a highlight reel. JV for a year or 2.
Merritt - Big kid with good hands. Inconsistent play throughout the year. Came on strong when it mattered in Regions. With work this summer, could crack the V lineup as a checking forward or 4th D.
Schulte - Sniper who can shoot from any angle. Needs to lose the tunnel vision and find his linemates. Should get a look by January.
Hamman - Junior class could make things tough on him. Kid can play when he wants, but doesn't seem to take things seriously. Hit or miss with this one.
Tatter - Raw skills need to be honed. Bigger kid who needs to play more physical. Work hard this summer on getting stronger. JV this year.
Larson - Has the potential to be a great high school goalie. Quick feet for a big kid. Lacks focus at times and gets into trouble. If he stays sharp, he could give either of the seniors a serious run for their money.

My Varsity picks for next season :

Palki - Hard work does pay off. Scoring touch will return. Top line player.
Roy - Should be the team leader. Two good linemates will help him bury the puck.
Skrbec - Big jump for a sophomore, but he has the skill to compete. Would be a great compliment to the hard working Palki and goal scoring Roy.

Sparren - Off year as a junior. Needs to go back to the beginning and work harder. Hopefully he can provide leadership on the ice and in the locker room as this year's seniors did. Lots of questions with this one's attitude.
Prokop - One of my favorite players to watch. Always on the go, gritty and tough for a small guy. 20 pts this season.
Jerulle - Great skills. Good hands, good shot. Selfish at times, and at this level, that needs to change.

Moore - Hard worker. Good checking forward, should be a valuable penalty killer.
A. Anderson - All depends on his attitude. Can be the best player at any given time or disappear for weeks. We'll see.
Greniger - Another tireless worker. Could be a second liner in place of Jerulle, but will be called upon for some key minutes.

Swentkofske - Big kid who can play D also. Better served as a power forward though.
Shaw - Should be a solid forchecker on the fourth line.
Schneider/Maher - Battle for the last forward spot

D Pairings :

Rendle - Solid all around player. Don't let his size fool you. Leader both on and off the ice and will be their veteran defenseman.
Kosak - Injury plagued year will make this one hungrier next season. Will be an impact player.

Horseman - Good skater, can move the puck. Needs to work on strength.
Merritt - If he's moved back to D and has a solid summer, could end up as the 4th D. Size matters and the Indians lack it. 6'3" and 180 could help. All depends on how hard he works.

Bishop - Lost half the year due to injury. If he's committed to hard work, he'll see lots of ice.
Serratore - Strong and physical. Mobility is an issue, but is a worker.

Goaltending :

Not much to pick from here. Figgins and Tabaka will start as one and two. Look for them to split a lot of time until one decides to step up. If Larson keeps improving and either guy falters, look for Ryan to get a look.

Knowing Grand Rapids had a junior dominated jv team that won 19 games shouldn't fool people into thinking that you just automatically plug those players into the missing holes. Juniors tend to fair better playing a full schedule against younger, less experienced opponents. If Rapids takes that route, look for them to be a sub .500 team. If they mix in the younger guys, they could be in the section final.

That's it, not saying I'm right, just stating an opinion.

I don't recall an Austin Anderson being on a Bantam team last year... JV went 20-4-1, and those Juniors will do just fine next year with the big club.

[boblee]

I've been reading this forum all winter and finally wanted to weigh in on a subject. I've been around Grand Rapids a long, long time and have had the oppurtunity to take in a lot of hockey up here - both youth and high school. I was able to take in almost all the Bantam A games this year as well as almost all of the jv and varsity games. I'm going to offer an opinion of players for next year's varsity, and hope not to offend anyone. I'll try to break down both Bantams and returning players.

Advancing Bantams :

Kleinendorst - Strong and mobile, but doesn't play enough defense. A year on the jv with some new coaching will benefit his play.
Skrbec - Talented with a great work ethic. Team leader on the ice and in the box. Needs to work on shooting the puck more and gaining accuracy.
Anderson - Smallish forward who needs to get stronger. Good ice vision, and good forchecker. Can see him being a player somewhat like Welliver in a year or 2.
Mendoza - Has some skill, but needs to buy into the team concept. Needs to just let plays happen instead of trying to make everything look like a highlight reel. JV for a year or 2.
Merritt - Big kid with good hands. Inconsistent play throughout the year. Came on strong when it mattered in Regions. With work this summer, could crack the V lineup as a checking forward or 4th D.
Schulte - Sniper who can shoot from any angle. Needs to lose the tunnel vision and find his linemates. Should get a look by January.
Hamman - Junior class could make things tough on him. Kid can play when he wants, but doesn't seem to take things seriously. Hit or miss with this one.
Tatter - Raw skills need to be honed. Bigger kid who needs to play more physical. Work hard this summer on getting stronger. JV this year.
Larson - Has the potential to be a great high school goalie. Quick feet for a big kid. Lacks focus at times and gets into trouble. If he stays sharp, he could give either of the seniors a serious run for their money.

My Varsity picks for next season :

Palki - Hard work does pay off. Scoring touch will return. Top line player.
Roy - Should be the team leader. Two good linemates will help him bury the puck.
Skrbec - Big jump for a sophomore, but he has the skill to compete. Would be a great compliment to the hard working Palki and goal scoring Roy.

Sparren - Off year as a junior. Needs to go back to the beginning and work harder. Hopefully he can provide leadership on the ice and in the locker room as this year's seniors did. Lots of questions with this one's attitude.
Prokop - One of my favorite players to watch. Always on the go, gritty and tough for a small guy. 20 pts this season.
Jerulle - Great skills. Good hands, good shot. Selfish at times, and at this level, that needs to change.

Moore - Hard worker. Good checking forward, should be a valuable penalty killer.
A. Anderson - All depends on his attitude. Can be the best player at any given time or disappear for weeks. We'll see.
Greniger - Another tireless worker. Could be a second liner in place of Jerulle, but will be called upon for some key minutes.

Swentkofske - Big kid who can play D also. Better served as a power forward though.
Shaw - Should be a solid forchecker on the fourth line.
Schneider/Maher - Battle for the last forward spot

D Pairings :

Rendle - Solid all around player. Don't let his size fool you. Leader both on and off the ice and will be their veteran defenseman.
Kosak - Injury plagued year will make this one hungrier next season. Will be an impact player.

Horseman - Good skater, can move the puck. Needs to work on strength.
Merritt - If he's moved back to D and has a solid summer, could end up as the 4th D. Size matters and the Indians lack it. 6'3" and 180 could help. All depends on how hard he works.

Bishop - Lost half the year due to injury. If he's committed to hard work, he'll see lots of ice.
Serratore - Strong and physical. Mobility is an issue, but is a worker.

Goaltending :

Not much to pick from here. Figgins and Tabaka will start as one and two. Look for them to split a lot of time until one decides to step up. If Larson keeps improving and either guy falters, look for Ryan to get a look.

Knowing Grand Rapids had a junior dominated jv team that won 19 games shouldn't fool people into thinking that you just automatically plug those players into the missing holes. Juniors tend to fair better playing a full schedule against younger, less experienced opponents. If Rapids takes that route, look for them to be a sub .500 team. If they mix in the younger guys, they could be in the section final.

That's it, not saying I'm right, just stating an opinion.

I don't recall an Austin Anderson being on a Bantam team last year... JV went 20-4-1, and those Juniors will do just fine next year with the big club. Also, don't look for Larson to get a look. They way they do it up there doesn't give him much of a shot.

[Former Indian]

Anderson - Smallish forward who needs to get stronger. Good ice vision, and good forchecker. Can see him being a player somewhat like Welliver in a year or 2.

Was actually meaning Grady Anderson. I spoke of Austin as a possibliity for next year as a returning high schooler.

[boblee]

Anderson - Smallish forward who needs to get stronger. Good ice vision, and good forchecker. Can see him being a player somewhat like Welliver in a year or 2.

Was actually meaning Grady Anderson. I spoke of Austin as a possibliity for next year as a returning high schooler.

Thanks, sorry for the confusion.

[woody22]

Rendle did not seem that good to me.

[boblee]

Rendle did not seem that good to me.

Then you shouldn't be posting.