A.J. Thelen dismissed from MSU

[rcla2151]

A.J. Thelen from Savage, MN was released earlier from MSU, he is a product of the U.S. development team and a 1st round draft pick for the wild, heres the article.<br><br>Would it be a smart idea to have the U pick this kid up?<br><br> Thelen Dismissed From Spartans<br><br><br>EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State sophomore defenseman A.J. Thelen has been dismissed from the hockey team by coach Rick Comley. According to the shcool, Thelen's scholarship will still be honored as long as he remains in school and is academically eligible.<br>"A.J. did not meet the expectations for a student-athlete in the ice hockey program at MSU," said Comley. "It was in the program's best interest to dismiss him from the team immediately. Despite parting at this time, I certainly wish A.J. well in his hockey career."<br>A.J. Thelen was one of the top freshman in the country a season ago. (photo: Jim Connelly)<br>The move was unusual in its timing, coming just before the start of the CCHA tournament. It's also unusual because Thelen is a former first-round pick by his hometown Minnesota Wild in the NHL Draft, and was winner of the CCHA's Best Offensive Defenseman Award last season as a freshman. He was also a member of the 2004 All-USCHO Rookie Team.<br>Sunday night, Thelen told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "I feel the coach has double standards for certain players. I definitely was confident in my schooling and academics was not a problem. I've been eligible all season and would have been next season. He's set in his ways. I tried to work with him and he tried to work with me and it didn't work out." <br>Thelen was considered to be having a disappointing sophomore season, and there were whispers of his unhappiness in the program. He contemplated turning pro last summer, but ultimately returned to school.<br>Comley called out Thelen before the season started, saying he was out of shape and didn't have his head in it.<br>Thelen appeared in 33 games this season, posting 11 assists and no goals. In 74 career games, he totaled 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points and 98 penalty minutes.<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[MNPuckster27]

Wow. There must be a lot going on behind the scenes with A.J. and his coach. As far as the Gophers picking him up, I think they are the only team in the country that could honestly ask, do we really have a place for him? <p></p><i></i>

[andyrok]

I think there is definetly a spot for A.J. at the U. We're constantly putting Sertich back on defense because either our guys are hurt or Donny Luc sits them because they aren't playing well. Next year we'll have Harrington, Anderson, Hagemo, Goligoski, Atherton, Peltier, Kennedy, and Vannelli. And out of that group, Atherton, Peltier and Kennedy really don't play much.<br><br>Thelen is an outstanding talent and I think he'd really thrive here. He would definetly be a top four defensemen on the Gophers if they picked him up. It would just suck if he ended up at UND or Wisconsin... <p></p><i></i>

[Eddie Shore]

Thelen won't play college hockey again, so you don't have to worry about him ending up somewhere other than the U. The second he was drafted he began making noise about playing pro hockey - very little interest in school. Look for him to play major junior next year then sign a pro contract after that. <p></p><i></i>

[gunslinger]

Why would you want a cancer.....!!!! let him go pro and fall on his face............. If the U takes this kid... watch what happens!<br><br>-The SLinger <p></p><i></i>

[KodiakChew]

wow, wild number one draft pick not playing hockey right now! <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyiscool]

It's too bad this had to happen especially to a future (hopefully) Minnesota Wild player and one of the products of youth hockey in Minnesota. I'm pretty sure he really wanted to make the jump to the NHL but the Wild held him back and told him to develop another year in college hockey. This could be one possiblility for his troubles. <p></p><i></i>

[Hockeyisthebest21]

it comes as a huge shock to me. I expected this kid to be good for years to come. He was having an awful year and their was a story a couple months ago in the Star Trib about how he was having a down year. I am sure he will be a career minor leaguer at best from here on out. <p></p><i></i>

[CameronCamry]

Leaving school early to go pro when there's no NHL...what an idiot. I think Gophers could definitely use him, but I doubt they would want somebody who was dismissed from another program. There is obviously something big going on <p></p><i></i>

[Hockeyisthebest21]

o no the real reason comes out... he is a boozer<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.uscho.com/news/2005/03/08_01 ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>

[murraychadwick]

Props to the coach for taking the high road! Face it, not only is he getting rid of a very talented player, but this kid is slamming him and his program in the press, and the coach stays mum. This kid must be a real piece of work. <p></p><i></i>

[BabyBlueFan4Life]

Let's hope he can straighten his issues out. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, perhaps just a few troubles. It is not a good move on his part to be drinking the nights before games, but I don't think we can condone his underage drinking. It is something that just about every college student is guilty of. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyiscool]

Camry-They didn't know there wasn't going to be an NHL season right after the draft last year......think about it. <p></p><i></i>

[rcla2151]

Actually they started talking about the strike in the last weeks of last years regular season, bill clament(sp) john saunders(sp), john Buchigross(sp), and darrin pang all had said that that was the last of NHL hockey for 1 or possibly 2 seasons, and that the strike was inevitable. Everyone outside of hockey knew as well that this was going to happen, thats why it surprised me that any of these college kids decided to go pro. <p></p><i></i>