USA National Developement Camp

[karl(east)]

Did Boyd for sure accept already? Makes sense - he already played two years of Varsity. Very nice player - wish him luck. Also makes sense for McNeely - didn't get much opportunity at STA this year and he is very talented. Any other MN boys get offers or is that it? I heard Van Voorhis accepted already. Wonder if that's why he got moved off first line for Edina in the State Tourney and off power play. Pretty lame if that's the case!! Defense sure struggled without him playing more in the fateful Moorhead game.

How about the EP defenseman - Molenaar? I saw him play in the State Tournament and was very impressed. Karl - what are your thoughts on how/why the offers went out? You always have great insight especially given your view from way up in the northern tundra. If the kids don't get an offer, do they still have a shot at the U17 team that goes to Europe to play for USA??? How does it affect their Adv. 16 status? Do they get an automatic bye to the National Team (you'd think they would if USA Hockey feels they are the best '93s in the country)?

I think the last couple posts covered a number of the questions pretty well. Kids without offers have perfectly good shots to get on the U17 team if they prove themselves, and spots on the national team are not guaranteed, though obviously making it helps.

On the MN kids:
-Boyd was pretty much a no-brainer.
-I haven't seen McNeely play, so I can't really comment on that one.
-Welinski might not have the gaudy high school numbers, but he is big and has potential. I suppose he's not as polished as some of the players who didn't make it, but he has a larger upside, which is probably why NTDP bit on him; their focus is developing kids for the next level, of course.
-VanVoorhis is more on the small side and is also not as polished as some, but again, I suppose they like his potential and think they can get him to bulk up in the weight room and teach him to pass instead of just running around a lot. I agree that the switch in the State Tourney was odd; I don't want to sound harsh, but the player who replaced VanVoorhis as Baker's partner made a number of very obvious mistakes in the Moorhead. Who knows what was going on there; I won't speculate.
-Molenaar was the one I was most surprised to not see make it also. He's got decent size and a very impressive shot. But then, I'm not a hockey scout, and I've only seen him play in this year's Tourney and maybe one EP game that I saw via myfoxhockey.

The bottom line, I think, is that the NTDP is not looking for the best players period, but the players they think they can turn into the best ones after a couple years in Ann Arbor. That's a probably a hard thing for scouts to pick up on, much less casual observers like ourselves. They're going to take some chances and make a few mistakes, and they know this.

[Doglover]

Thanks for the clarification. All great points and good insight. The list of 11 MN players I saw on the board looked pretty strong and inclusive. I'm sure all of those players will do fine at the Adv. 16 Final 54's. I think karl is right and the people at the National Dev. Camp know what they are looking for, especially in terms of potential.

Tough choice for MN kids to leave their High Schools, but can't deny the great opportunity in Ann Arbor. I would think they must take into consideration the likelihood of a player accepting an offer? That could be why Molenaar didn't receive one yet since he is with such a tight knit group of EP sophomore players. Didn't Leddy pass on the Ann Arbor? Good luck to them all - incredibly talented group of kids who I'm sure will do well wherever they land. Again - thanks for all the information.

[Gr8]

Did Boyd for sure accept already? Makes sense - he already played two years of Varsity. Very nice player - wish him luck. Also makes sense for McNeely - didn't get much opportunity at STA this year and he is very talented. Any other MN boys get offers or is that it? I heard Van Voorhis accepted already. Wonder if that's why he got moved off first line for Edina in the State Tourney and off power play. Pretty lame if that's the case!! Defense sure struggled without him playing more in the fateful Moorhead game.

How about the EP defenseman - Molenaar? I saw him play in the State Tournament and was very impressed. Karl - what are your thoughts on how/why the offers went out? You always have great insight especially given your view from way up in the northern tundra. If the kids don't get an offer, do they still have a shot at the U17 team that goes to Europe to play for USA??? How does it affect their Adv. 16 status? Do they get an automatic bye to the National Team (you'd think they would if USA Hockey feels they are the best '93s in the country)?

I think the last couple posts covered a number of the questions pretty well. Kids without offers have perfectly good shots to get on the U17 team if they prove themselves, and spots on the national team are not guaranteed, though obviously making it helps.

On the MN kids:
-Boyd was pretty much a no-brainer.
-I haven't seen McNeely play, so I can't really comment on that one.
-Welinski might not have the gaudy high school numbers, but he is big and has potential. I suppose he's not as polished as some of the players who didn't make it, but he has a larger upside, which is probably why NTDP bit on him; their focus is developing kids for the next level, of course.
-VanVoorhis is more on the small side and is also not as polished as some, but again, I suppose they like his potential and think they can get him to bulk up in the weight room and teach him to pass instead of just running around a lot. I agree that the switch in the State Tourney was odd; I don't want to sound harsh, but the player who replaced VanVoorhis as Baker's partner made a number of very obvious mistakes in the Moorhead. Who knows what was going on there; I won't speculate.
-Molenaar was the one I was most surprised to not see make it also. He's got decent size and a very impressive shot. But then, I'm not a hockey scout, and I've only seen him play in this year's Tourney and maybe one EP game that I saw via myfoxhockey.

The bottom line, I think, is that the NTDP is not looking for the best players period, but the players they think they can turn into the best ones after a couple years in Ann Arbor. That's a probably a hard thing for scouts to pick up on, much less casual observers like ourselves. They're going to take some chances and make a few mistakes, and they know this.

The Edina Defense pairings were switched in the Holy Angeles game to Baker-Heck, Everson-Jarrett, and Regan-Van Voorhis

They all looked great in the first two playing together but yes there were some struggles but no need to bring all that up it's been talked about enough.

[Doglover]

Sorry Gr8 - you must be an Edina guy! Topic was NTDP so obvious question was why Van Voorhis was moved to third line and off power play once it became known he had committed to Ann Arbor. It does beg the question if this was a wise move given the turn overs at the blue line that resulted, among other errors. I'm sure the Edina guys are still lamenting the loss but it does raise questions. I also don't want to speculate. Only the coaching staff knows the real reason for the pairing changes. Could be completely unrelated.

[scoreboard33]

I think it probably was an unrelated decision. I don't know when Van Voorhis decided to leave but it had been talked about for quite a while, even before the start of the season. I know he toured the NTDP facility before or directly after he made varsity.

[iwatchalotofhockey]

I've heard Matt McNeely accepted. Any confirmation on that?

Saw McNeely kid and other HS Players at the game tonight. McNeely did say to me he is going to play out there for sure. Not sure who else but he is gone from all indications straight from the player himself.

USA vs Sweden game wasn't that impressive albeit an exhibition game. Saw a few 2nd generation pro names on the ice so they make sense given their gene pool but as far as some of the others honestly wasn't that overly impressed. Tough to make medal round if they play like that when it matters.

Just my opinion and being from a deep hockey tradition program area orignally I hate to see kids leave but the elite best of best make sense making a jump to level where they play more games and get the exposure beyond HS. Although you cant get much more exposure than the State HS tourney here in MN. And if you are good enough you will play at next level as it shows with the Edina players and others in the state.

[Factsmatter1]

I've heard Matt McNeely accepted. Any confirmation on that?

Saw McNeely kid and other HS Players at the game tonight. McNeely did say to me he is going to play out there for sure. Not sure who else but he is gone from all indications straight from the player himself.

USA vs Sweden game wasn't that impressive albeit an exhibition game. Saw a few 2nd generation pro names on the ice so they make sense given their gene pool but as far as some of the others honestly wasn't that overly impressed. Tough to make medal round if they play like that when it matters.

Just my opinion and being from a deep hockey tradition program area orignally I hate to see kids leave but the elite best of best make sense making a jump to level where they play more games and get the exposure beyond HS. Although you cant get much more exposure than the State HS tourney here in MN. And if you are good enough you will play at next level as it shows with the Edina players and others in the state.

From what I hear the reality is most kids don't leave Minnesota go to Ann Arbor and the NTDP has struggled getting kids to leave. Of the 11 that went out there only four got offers. Of those four one isn't playing varsity (behind another goalie) so easy to understand why he would say yes. The forward is playing on a team that in reality will never have a high liklihood of ever making it to the section finals never mind the state tournament so it is easy to understand why he would grab the opportunity. The DE kid said no and the the Edina kid is the only real surprise although they lost a lot of senior talent this year and will be a serious rebuild so that may explain it. Last year all but one said no. Congrats and good luck to the kids that are leaving but their leaving doesn't change Minnesota High School hockey.

[thiscrazygame]

From what I hear the reality is most kids don't leave Minnesota go to Ann Arbor and the NTDP has struggled getting kids to leave. Of the 11 that went out there only four got offers. Of those four one isn't playing varsity (behind another goalie) so easy to understand why he would say yes. The forward is playing on a team that in reality will never have a high liklihood of ever making it to the section finals never mind the state tournament so it is easy to understand why he would grab the opportunity. The DE kid said no and the the Edina kid is the only real surprise although they lost a lot of senior talent this year and will be a serious rebuild so that may explain it. Last year all but one said no. Congrats and good luck to the kids that are leaving but their leaving doesn't change Minnesota High School hockey.[/quote]

Good luck to all players that choose to leave. I am sure all of you will do great. You will be on a different path then what alot of people think you should be on but, it will definitely be an experience.

[Moose Jaw, SK]

G Matt Mcneely-St Thomas
Rocco Grimaldi (Rossmor, CA/Little Caesars Midgets)

I am interested in these two players particularly. How is it possible that Mcneely can be that good and get an invite from the NTDP but not even play varsity at STA? Now I haven't seen him play so I am not sure but what I have seen from the other goalie at STA (Altrichter or something) I have not been overly impressed to say the least. If anyone has any insight on this I would love to hear it.

With Rocco I was interested if anyone knows if he accepted/made the team. He isn't a Minnesotan so I'm not sure if people have seen him play but I saw him play this summer and he is very very talented. From what I heard he was looking to play in the OHL which is common for kids playing in Michigan and the Detroit area. Though he is from California so he could even end up in the WHL. It would be interesting to see if he plays for the NTDP because kids often play major junior around 16-20 and this would at least put a halt to it for a bit. Anything is possible though and for all I know he could end up playing NCAA. Once again any insight would be appreciated and despite Rocco's size he is very skilled.

[KOHOHO]

The NTDP is looking exclusively at potential and not interested in current capability or past results. He is an athletic kid from an athletic family and NTDP as well as Maine are betting that he turns into a goalie. This is not unlike the bet Wisconsin made on Crandall.

This is a very different approach to Canada which offers solid coaching at a young age, allows all kids to compete, and relies on demonstrated results over time to be the best predictor of future success.

USA hockey has determined that the best approach is to identify potential at an early age and get them into a strong development program....just a different philosophy.

We'll have to wait and see on McNeely. At the end of the day you can't wish success on a goalie they can only develop through consistent challenge over time. McNeely will certainly be better of in Ann Arbor than sitting on the bench at STA. That said, this has to leave Altricher scratching his head...........

[johnnyquest]

every hockey player is different. they all have their own level of aspirations/goals etc. for some kids it is easy to leave home, for others maybe not so. some players are competing in conferences or even in sun belt states that, for them, ann arbor just makes sense. the path that a lot of people think you should be on doesn't mean squat. the path that each individual player/family chooses is the only path that matters.

if a player chooses ann arbor for any other reason than the reason(s) that matter to him. . . . . . well, an unhappy hockey player will only stagnate.

good luck to all who chose ann arbor (and to those that did not) and most importantly, remember where your roots are.

[Moose Jaw, SK]

The NTDP is looking exclusively at potential and not interested in current capability or past results. He is an athletic kid from an athletic family and NTDP as well as Maine are betting that he turns into a goalie. This is not unlike the bet Wisconsin made on Crandall.

Wait, I'm confused. Are you saying Mcneely is committed to Maine? If so that is news to me. With Crandall and Wisco, that didn't seem to have worked out too well seeing as they dropped his offer.

[Nonamer]

Yes, McNeely has committed to Maine.

[southernmnscout]

Wait, I'm confused. Are you saying Mcneely is committed to Maine? If so that is news to me. With Crandall and Wisco, that didn't seem to have worked out too well seeing as they dropped his offer.

Yes he commited awhile ago.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... CpqCpRsjRw

[RushnCircles]

It's not just Crandall. A number of hockey players and "wisco" have not seemed to work out. The number of de-commits winds around the block.

If you visit Heisenbergs recruit list, you should be able to stay current with the commits.

[Moose Jaw, SK]

Wait, I'm confused. Are you saying Mcneely is committed to Maine? If so that is news to me. With Crandall and Wisco, that didn't seem to have worked out too well seeing as they dropped his offer.

Yes he commited awhile ago.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... CpqCpRsjRw

Thanks for the link!

[rudy]

ok, what's the firmest info on who got invites and who is going?

someone? anyone?

[Doglover]

I don't believe all the offers are out yet, but could be wrong on that.

Good luck to the kids lucky enough to get invited to try out (great list) and those with an offer. Also good luck to those that decided to stay home. Both excellent choices and all great players. Tough choices but I'm sure they will all be successful.