Official commits to NTDP

southernmnscout · Post by **southernmnscout** » Tue May 05, 2009 3:04 pm

http://www.usahockey.com/USANTDP/defaul ... edNews=yes

Love4Hockey · Post by **Love4Hockey** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:14 pm

Congrats Travis Boyd and Matt Van Voorhes, show them how dominant Minnesota hockey is

RushnCircles · Post by **RushnCircles** » Tue May 05, 2009 9:35 pm

didn't mcneely commit as well ?

rudy · Post by **rudy** » Wed May 06, 2009 8:56 am

http://www.startribune.com/local/444532 ... :_Yyc:aUUl

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:56 pm

I do believe that McNeely did commit so it's odd that they didn't include him in the press release. Frankly I find it odd they would issue a press release before the U17 team is complete. Guessing they must have offers out they are waiting for players to accept or decline still but still curious about the timing.

High Flyer · Post by **High Flyer** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:20 am

Doglover wrote:I do believe that McNeely did commit so it's odd that they didn't include him in the press release. Frankly I find it odd they would issue a press release before the U17 team is complete. Guessing they must have offers out they are waiting for players to accept or decline still but still curious about the timing.

Making a verbal commitment and signing the contract are two different things. I would assume the USANTDP has not yet revieved McNeely's contract yet, which is why they did not include him in thier official press release.

Is it possible that other options besides the U17 team are now being explored????

Issuing a press release when a player makes a formal commitment is SOP. Colleges do this, so do Jr. A teams. Nobody waits until a team is done and then just issue one press release.

Love4Hockey · Post by **Love4Hockey** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:00 pm

Is there a specific time where the players need to have their contracts turned in? I'd imagine they would want to have them in soon so they know who they offically have and what they can work with

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:40 am

Article in Strib today (back page sports section) on McNeely committing to Ann Arbor. He gives credit to the Blades Club and cites lack of playing time at STA as a reason for choosing Ann Arbor. Good luck to him. Great goalie and great kid!

MNHockeyFan · Post by **MNHockeyFan** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:47 am

Doglover wrote:Article in Strib today (back page sports section) on McNeely committing to Ann Arbor. He gives credit to the Blades Club and cites lack of playing time at STA as a reason for choosing Ann Arbor. Good luck to him. Great goalie and great kid!

Here's the link:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps ... c:_Yyc:aUU

nickel slots · Post by **nickel slots** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:18 am

"The surprise was that his high school coaches didn't play him like they should."

I find it appalling that a sophomore goalie's dad feels that his kid should be the no. 1.. Especially behind a kid like Altrichter (who had to bide his time to get his shot), and especially in a program like STA that has gotten a pretty decent reputation for turning out goaltenders.

What's dad's rush??

RushnCircles · Post by **RushnCircles** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:40 am

One would like to think that in H.S. hockey, words like "sophomore" and
"biding one's time" shouldn't really factor into the equasion. McNeeley was offered a D1 scholarship before Kurt was. That alone says something. If a younger athlete is as accomplished as the older athlete, grade and age should be irrelevant.

I would hardly say "dad is in a rush." It is difficult to watch your son sit on the bench when you know just how much hard work, effort, and dedication your child has invested into the sport and into his specific position, only to have someone tell you "wait until it's your turn."

Ann Arbor just told the McNeeleys "it's your turn."

nickel slots · Post by **nickel slots** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:13 am

I'm sure Altrichter has put forth some effort, too.

Grade and age don't make the difference, performance does. Altrichter won state for cripe's sake. If McNeeley had been the goalie that won state, then had to ride the pine as a youngster took his job, I'm sure his dad would have a different opinion.

STA Regular season stats (per Pointstreak):
# GOALIES GP MIN W L T SO GA GAA SV SV%
30 Altrichter, Kurt 16 777:17 11 3 1 3 30 1.97 311 .912
1 McNeely, Matt 10 466:13 7 1 1 1 18 1.97 182 .910

Their numbers are almost identical. No compelling reason for the coaching staff to put aside the returning state champ for an up-n-comer.

There is no denying that Ann Arbor is an excellent opportunity, and I would never say that it isn't the right thing for McNeeley (or anybody else that gets the opportunity), I'm just saying that dad came across as Mr. Sourgrapes in the newspaper article when he said that the high school coaches didn't play him like they should.

keepyourheadup · Post by **keepyourheadup** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:24 am

sometimes things don't work out as planned. His school by home location was in need of a goalie all year. Likely would have played every game. Maybe this is the side of enrolling in private schools that doesn't get brought up to often. At any rate good luck to Matt, he's a heckuva goalie.

MNHockeyFan · Post by **MNHockeyFan** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:26 am

nickel slots wrote:I'm just saying that dad came across as Mr. Sourgrapes in the newspaper article when he said that the high school coaches didn't play him like they should.

That's the way I read it too...

O-townClown · Post by **O-townClown** » Fri May 08, 2009 12:32 pm

keepyourheadup wrote:sometimes things don't work out as planned. His school by home location was in need of a goalie all year. Likely would have played every game. Maybe this is the side of enrolling in private schools that doesn't get brought up to often. At any rate good luck to Matt, he's a heckuva goalie.

Which school? As I read this I was wondering where he's from.

The whole went-to-STA-and-didn't-play-as-much-as-he-should comment from Dad didn't sit with me either. Face it, you have two good goaltenders that chose St. Thomas rather than the school they are zoned for. And your problem is what?

hockeyboys · Post by **hockeyboys** » Fri May 08, 2009 12:54 pm

he is from Lakeville - but not sure if he would have gone to north or south

breakout · Post by **breakout** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:01 pm

MNHockeyFan wrote:
nickel slots wrote:I'm just saying that dad came across as Mr. Sourgrapes in the newspaper article when he said that the high school coaches didn't play him like they should.
That's the way I read it too...

That was my take as well. Didn't seem to express himself in a classy way.

The kid probably would have had a lot of PT in his home town. Did the Dad and kid make their own bed by moving on to STA?

What will it be like if his kid is not "the guy" at NTDP? Stay tuned.

Oh well, good luck to the young man as he moves on.

keepyourheadup · Post by **keepyourheadup** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:12 pm

Matt was one of six kids who left lakeville south and enrolled at sta in 2007. Trust me when I say there is much more to this story, but lets wish the best for Matt, he is really a polite and respectful young man in addition to being a fine goalie.

High Flyer · Post by **High Flyer** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:43 pm

Doglover wrote:Article in Strib today (back page sports section) on McNeely committing to Ann Arbor. He gives credit to the Blades Club and cites lack of playing time at STA as a reason for choosing Ann Arbor. Good luck to him. Great goalie and great kid!

Goalies need to play in order to develop. This is one of the problems for any goalie who is from MN has, as 12-25 games is pale by comparison to what goalies from other states get. Can anyone tell me who are some of the last MN home grown, developed goalies are who eventually played in the NHL??? We seem to produce a fair share of skaters, but is it a compriable amount of goalies also?

I'm not sure he will see a significantly more amount of PT there as they also carry multiple goalies. Maybe 10 more games???

I know nothing about the quality of goalie training he will get there. But should see some better shooters in practice and games, especially if they are getting USHL PT time next year.

There were two very good goalies at STA, but probably not enough PT for both. In that respect, it's not hard to understand McNeelys decision.

I'm happy he has another option and I'm sure he will do well there, as he is a talented goalie with a good work ethic.

hockeyboys · Post by **hockeyboys** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:59 pm

and... with the transer rules as they are now... not like he could just transfer to another school and become the guy. what choice did he have if he wasn't going to get to play at sta?

High Flyer · Post by **High Flyer** » Fri May 08, 2009 2:04 pm

hockeyboys wrote:and... with the transer rules as they are now... not like he could just transfer to another school and become the guy. what choice did he have if he wasn't going to get to play at sta?

SSM is only 15 miles from his house. No worries about transfer rules there, plus they play alot more games.

I'm sure there would also be some other midget programs who are looking for a go to guy, ie Compuware, Honeybaked, LA Selects, etc...

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Fri May 08, 2009 3:23 pm

Highflyer - are you suggesting those options are superior to the training and experience he will receive in Ann Arbor? Somehow just can't agree with that. You do bring up an excellent point though about the number of MN goalies that have gone on to the NHL. Certainly many different factors to consider as a goalie - especially playing time - but I wish him luck as well. Seems like a great option for a great kid and should prepare him well for Maine.

breakout · Post by **breakout** » Fri May 08, 2009 4:12 pm

hockeyboys wrote:and... with the transer rules as they are now... not like he could just transfer to another school and become the guy. what choice did he have if he wasn't going to get to play at sta?

He chose to transer to STA. You have to know the landscape before you make an important decision like that.

As for PT, there are plenty of schools that don't split time because one goalie is far superior to the other. Apparently there wasn't that kind of seperation at STA.

TrojanMan1 · Post by **TrojanMan1** » Fri May 08, 2009 4:49 pm

The decision to go play for the NTDP is more than how much playing time you received last year, and how good your team is the next year. It should be because the kid truly WANTS to go.

In addition the questioning about playing time in Ann Arbor you play a thirty game USHL schedule I believe or something around that, plus a few international events. The goalies switch off every game no matter what, so playing time is not an issue at the NTDP. Overall each goalie plays about 20-25 games each maybe more.

Love4Hockey · Post by **Love4Hockey** » Fri May 08, 2009 4:56 pm

It seems like he wants to go, he will see an increase in playing time and he will practice and play with some of the best players in the world at the high school age level

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Official commits to NTDP

Official commits to NTDP

ndtp

excellent point