League News

Just a couple of transactions to report today.

Chicago has released forward Jonathan Milhouse.

Omaha has re-added Nick Larson to their roster, and have also placed stand out forward Robby Dee on season ending IR. Tough break for the Lancers.

Tri-City re-added defenseman Jay Fifield to their roster. Jay spent some time in Sante Fe, New Mexico with the Roadrunners of the NAHL. Fifield gives the Storm 8 defensemen now.

Lincoln's Jason Gregoire has committed to the University of Denver. Heisenberg has it for 2007 or 2008. Gregoire is an impact player for the Stars, averaging over a point per game this season. He missed a lot of time due to injury, but he's back now and scoring left and right. Great signing by the Pioneers.

NHL Won't Pass on Murray Again.

"Whenever you are jumping into a new league and a different level and changing countries, you never know exactly how long the transition period will take and how successful a player is going to be," DeBoer said. "To John's credit, the transition period was about two days. He jumped right in and has been outstanding."

Ehn Flying High at Air Force Academy.

Ehn received minimal interest from any of the schools in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, but Air Force coach Frank Serratore was after him for two years to get him out to Colorado Springs. "Eric is a very special young man,'' Serratore said. "He understands the game like a coach, and he's got instincts like only the elite players in the game have.'' Ehn, who Serratore said sees the game in slow motion, wins an astounding 65 percent of his faceoffs and has a plus-20 plus/minus rating. In a "Hobey Watch'' weekly poll done by CSTV, Ehn, who has points in 21 of 26 games, ranks sixth. He has put the Falcons in contention for the Atlantic Hockey title.

Kevin Wilson writes an article about former Cedar Rapids RoughRider Chris Snavely.

Upon arriving in Cedar Rapids, the 5-8, 175-pound Snavely learned his first defensive partner would be Kurt Sauer, a 6-4, 225-pound d-man who now plies his trade on the blue line of the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche.

"The guy was huge," Snavely said. "Kurt said `just go play your game, and if you need anything just yell'. I didn't think anything of it until a couple years later when he was playing in the NHL."

Snavely admits he really didn't know much about the sport until arriving in the USHL. He had always relied on talent and speed, not knowing the work that went into being an elite hockey player.

Sioux Falls Argus Leader writes another article about Corey Tropp.

“He’s a fun player to watch,” said teammate Jake Drewiske. “I’m not at all surprised at the success he’s had this year. He’s a hard worker, and he deserves everything he’s got this year.”

Des Moines Register puts out an excellent article about their young players and how they have to deal with everyday things.

"Most people don't get what junior hockey is," Waterloo assistant coach Shane Fukushima said. "They don't get the word junior. They think it's semi-pro. Fans sometimes don't realize that it's a 17-year-old kid out there they are yelling at for him to fight, and he goes to the high school down the street.

Des Moines' Ryan Ruikka posts a blog entry of his own.