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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:32 pm
by Puckguy19
The Exiled One wrote:
MNHockeyHub wrote:Bischoff, a 6-foot, 180-pound defenseman who has committed to play at Minnesota, was selected in the seventh round (185th overall) by the New York Islanders. He is expected to play his senior season with the Indians starting in the fall.
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/155585
Who are the
Indians the story refers to? Not very politically correct of the Hub!
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:06 am
by The Exiled One
Code: Select all
Class Pos Player Previous Team New Team
So D Jack Walker* Edina Victoria-WHL
So D Keegan Iverson Breck Portland-WHL
So F Paul Bittner Crookston Portland-WHL
Jr D Jack Glover BSM NTDP
Jr D Ryan Collins BSM NTDP
Jr F Connor Hurley* Edina Muskegon-USHL
Jr F Karson Kuhlman* CEC Dubuque-USHL
Sr D Blake Heinrich Hill-Murray Sioux City-USHL
Sr D Jordan Gross Maple Grove Green Bay-USHL
Sr D Michael Brodzinski Blaine Muskegon-USHL
Sr F Johnny Wiitala Lakeville South Waterloo-USHL
Sr F Louie Nanne Edina Penticton-BCHL
Sr F Jake Guentzel Hill-Murray Sioux City-USHL
Sr F Vinnie Letteri Minnetonka Lincoln-USHL
Sr F Connor Valesano Duluth East Sioux Falls-USHL
*Some of these guys are not confirmed, but highly likely. My apologies if I'm wrong.
Any more confirmations on this list or additions to it?
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:38 am
by xy
John Wiitala is a forward, not a defenseman.
And judging from his Twitter feed he is in fact leaving. Cue up another "why does everybody leave Lakeville?" thread, I guess.
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:07 am
by wblhcky24
Guentzel and Heinrich are both gone
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:19 am
by The Exiled One
FYI, 21 players last year, 15 so far this year.
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:13 am
by mulefarm
Both Lucia and Guentzel sons have left high school hockey before they graduated. Is this an indication that development in Mn is falling behind?
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:21 am
by mngopherfan
mulefarm wrote:Both Lucia and Guentzel sons have left high school hockey before they graduated. Is this an indication that development in Mn is falling behind?
The sky is falling, the sky is falling, ohhh my god Armageddon...
HS Hockey
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:55 am
by stpaul
mulefarm wrote:Both Lucia and Guentzel sons have left high school hockey before they graduated. Is this an indication that development in Mn is falling behind?
This is not exactly a new trend. Top players have been leaving MN high schools early to play in Ann Arbor and the USHL for going on 30 years. Kids going to Western Canada is a newer phenominon. College coaches like Don Lucia and Mike Guentzel know better than most that the USHL is a better place to develope recruits (or sons) than another year of high school. There is no way high school hockey can match the junior leagues with 70 game seasons and its much higher and more physical level of hockey. Best of luck to both of them. Blake Heinrich will be at UMD in a year or two and I'd love to eventually see Jake Guentzel in maroon and gold. He is certainly the most talented of the 3 Guentzel brothers.
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:09 am
by OnFrozenPond
mulefarm wrote:Both Lucia and Guentzel sons have left high school hockey before they graduated. Is this an indication that development in Mn is falling behind?
Also, both of Lou "mr HS Hockey" Nanne's grandsons are leaving early.
But to answer your question. No it is not an indication that development in MN is falling behind. Lost in the who's leaving question are the number of boys that have an opportunity to leave for next year, but have chosen to stay in HS.
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:20 am
by Sartellcelly
more
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:37 am
by Sartellcelly
And now Gross from Maple Grove and Wiitala at Lkvl S.
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32760
one more
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:12 pm
by Sartellcelly
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:38 pm
by The Exiled One
mulefarm wrote:Both Lucia and Guentzel sons have left high school hockey before they graduated. Is this an indication that development in Mn is falling behind?
Most of the U18 midget teams in CA, IL, and MI are way less talented than their U16 counterparts. Why is that? Is it because AAA midget hockey is declining just like HS hockey? No, it's because the best players from the U16 teams move on to junior hockey, not U18 hockey. (Shattuck is an exception, of course.) Essentially, that's the same thing happening in Minnesota, just without the distinctive break between U16 and U18.
Only a handful of Minnesota HS aged kids are good enough to hold their own in the USHL (or even the NAHL, as long as we're at it). They have a choice to make... be the best in HS or switch to a steeper learning curve.
A larger segment of the kids Minnesota have the choice between HS and AAA, but the level is about the same, so very few make the switch. Some may still make the switch if they're unsatisfied with the level of competition on their team's schedule or if their coaching is sub-par.
Perhaps the largest segment of all are the kids who will never play past HS and are just thrilled to make the varsity team with a chance to play in the State Tournament.
It is what it is. As long as there is a higher level somewhere, a player is going to try to get there. Asking why kids would want to play in the USHL rather than HS is like asking why men would want to play in the NHL rather than the AHL. (Hint: it's not all about the money)
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:11 pm
by O-townClown
Exiled, that's a real good post. Thanks for sharing, especially the comment about U16 vs. U18.
another?
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:54 am
by Sartellcelly
Hurley next? That's the buzz.
Re: another?
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:29 am
by The Exiled One
Sartellcelly wrote:Hurley next? That's the buzz.
He's already on the list with the asterisk, so it won't catch anybody off-guard. When a kid gets picked 3rd overall in the USHL entry draft, it's highly likely that he's already had that conversation with the USHL team that picked him.
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:07 pm
by Reg7
wblhcky24 wrote:Guentzel and Heinrich are both gone
Heinrich is not confirmed yet...
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:45 pm
by wblhcky24
Sounds like Lance Carney is leaving WBL not sure where to though
Re: another?
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:53 pm
by Lowstickside
Sartellcelly wrote:Hurley next? That's the buzz.
You don't pick a player in the regular draft 3rd overall if that player does not intend on joining the team this year, IMO. I guess they could protect him for another year but I just think you pick a player that early who will likely contribute right away and take a "flyer" on someone who might not play for a year. He was not a "futures" pick where they can hold his rights for three years. My prediction; GONE!
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:45 am
by keepyourheadup
Three more announced in the trib this morning, the USHL is making strides into high school hockey and I see no reason this trend doesn't continue and grow stronger. I've been a high school hockey fan for 45 years and its tough to watch what is happening. Its not the kids fault but the fact that the mind set of the entire game has shifted. The MSHSL offers most of these players very little in terms of development and its not difficult to understand why we are seeing more and more kids leave. Loyalty is a great concept but I'm not sure it really applies in most of these cases. The truth is that little by little we keep creeping closer and closer to the Canadian development model. The next 10 years should be interesting to see where this goes.
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:49 am
by O-townClown
Keep, wasn't the number of players leaving higher a decade ago?
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:59 pm
by keepyourheadup
maybe so but I don't think so. The number of options has certainly increased in that time and more so the proliferation of off season AAA hockey. Having just finished with two boys going through the whole process it seems that leaving is becoming a much more attractive option. My kids chose to stay but it really is getting difficult to fault a kid for leaving and following his dream. While I don't personally support it, I've come to accept that its a reality that I believe we are likely to see even more of. I'm a strong advocate for high school hockey but with the reduced schedule, new rules and the apparent lack of respect by NHL scouts it is easy to understand the move on mentality. As I've stated in the past...each kids situation is uniquely there own, its hard to really understand the choice without complete information.
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:47 pm
by karl(east)
According to this article, Kuhlman can probably be taken off the list:
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32760
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:33 pm
by old goalie85
Where is Carney going ?? He was an average Sub-East D last year. This is starting to get crazy. A coach that could keep his kids would have a huge upside.
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:37 pm
by mulefarm
old goalie85 wrote:Where is Carney going ?? He was an average Sub-East D last year. This is starting to get crazy. A coach that could keep his kids would have a huge upside.
Seems like a lot of teams are loosing players, why do you want to blame the coach? I would say the blame lies with the MSHSL.