CHL Import Draft

The Canadian Hockey League (OHL, WHL, QMJHL) held their import draft today. Four USHLers were selected, including Chicago's Simon Olsson and Luca Cunti, Indiana's Stepan Novotny, and Des Moines' Alexander Denezhkin.

Olsson was selected by the Prince Edward Island Rocket of the QMJHL and I wouldn't be surprised if he went to play there.

Cunti was selected by the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL. He wasn't protected by the Steel, so he could go to Rimouski or back to Europe to play.

Novotny was selected by the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, in a trade with the Saskatoon Blades. Kelowna gave a couple quality players, so they must believe Novotny is interested in heading north. Novotny is committed to the University of Denver.

Denezhkin was selected by the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. Alexander wasn't protected by Des Moines, so perhaps his plan is to go north of the border to play.

Storm, Arena to be Sold?

This could be some great news for Storm hockey and their fans. If Joel Wiens is selling the team and arena, that will be good for all. Wiens is a good businessman, but he doesn't know about hockey and that led to changes that didn't sit well with the fans, most notably trying to change to Nebraska Storm and use the old Nebraska Cranes color scheme.

This sale has been rumored for quite awhile, but now according to their fan board, it sounds like it is done and could be announced later today. I don't know who would be buying the franchise/arena, though I had heard previously that a group that owns the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the BCHL were looking into it. I think this group included Andy Murray, head coach of the St. Louis Blues.

Tom Rudrud is also supposed to be named head coach, eventually. It has been thought he'd get the nod ever since Bliss Littler resigned. The latest update from the Storm site was they were negotiating the contract. If the team is sold, this could change things and the new regime could look for another coach.

I believe Mr. Wiens has sold his motels in the Kearney area, so it would make sense if he is indeed looking to sell the team and arena.

Crazy Weather

From severe storms to flooding to tornadoes, this season has been a crazy one for weather.

Hockey is a funny sport. Fans can dislike other teams or players can play like they dislike others from opposing teams, but they're all supporting/playing the same sport and they all have a love for it. They have much respect for each other and support each other in bad situations. I hope this can be a topic in which we, as hockey fans, can come together and comment/discuss/support all that is going on with the people affected by the weather.

I know this isn't really "hockey" related, but it involves cities and fans that support our great league, and I feel this post is necessary at this point. I have opened up the comments, so feel free to chat about this and share anything about it you'd like. This is not the time to comment on other topics or bash anyone or thing. Those comments will be removed immediately. I will also be posting some youtube video links and some pictures.

This is truly an awful time, thoughts and prayers go out to the people that have had to deal with this.


Cedar Rapids flood.

CNN article on the Cedar Rapids flood.

Various photo galleries of the CR flood.

Little Sioux tornado. Little Sioux is roughly the halfway point between Sioux City and Omaha.

Waterloo flood.

Kearney tornado damage.

John Meissner took some photos of the tornado damage here and here.

F-5 tornado in Parkersburg, IA destroys home. Parkersburg is located near Waterloo.

Parkersburg tornado caught on bank surveillance tape.

Aerial footage of Parkersburg.

Wisconsin flooding.

Wisconsin flood waters take entire house.

Millard (Omaha) tornado damage.






















Photos courtesy of www.kcrg.com, www.waterlooblackhawks.com and www.waterloobucks.com.

June Update

Team will come to Wausau if arena is built. A second article.

Q & A with Matt Thurber, Barry Almeida, and Mike Fink.

Greg Pateryn to enroll at Michigan; Won't play for Fargo.

Garrett Clarke opts for Q.

O'Handley, Blashill named to National Team coaching staff.

Check out Sixty Minutes. No Alibis. No Regrets. Blog. This blog covers Wisconsin hockey.

NHL has features on players in their Central Scouting rankings. I'll list some, though some aren't a whole lot.

John Carlson - Indiana

Corey Fienhage - Indiana

Adam Comrie - Ohio/Omaha

Nick Larson - Waterloo

Jimmy Hayes - Lincoln

Patrick Wiercioch - Omaha

Nate Condon - Fargo

Seth Soley - Omaha

Max Nicastro - Chicago

Justin Daniels - Sioux City

Mark Goggin - Chicago

Jack Downing - Omaha

Drew Daniels - Sioux City

Tyler Barnes - Waterloo

Steve Quailer - Sioux City

Jordan Samuels-Thomas - Waterloo

Chase Drake - Green Bay

Greg Pateryn - Ohio

Jared Festler - Lincoln

Jake Youso - Des Moines

Bryce Aneloski - Cedar Rapids

Jake Hendrickson - Sioux City

Joe Gleason - Des Moines

Steven Spinell - Ohio

Max Cook - Green Bay

Brock Montpetit - Waterloo

Drew LeBlanc - Chicago

Nick Pryor - Des Moines

Blog Updates

Just a few things...

First, the links on the right are now updated. You can find the 2008-09 protected lists, as well as the 2008 tryout camp rosters. I think I have all of them that have taken place so far (minus the Omaha all-star game) so everything should be up to date. I am still looking for a few camps that are coming up if anyone would be willing to send in rosters. The list will be below.

Second, I am going to be taking a break from the blog. I may pop in from time to time to put something new on the blog, but don't be expecting regular updates. I will also be turning off comments.


The list I am still looking for:
Fargo Open II
Waterloo I
Waterloo II
Waterloo III

If you can provide a roster for any of these camps (yes, I know some have not taken place just yet) please email me.

Omaha Lancers 2008-09 Preview

To finally conclude with the 08-09 previews, the Anderson and Clark Cup Champion Omaha Lancers will round things out. Should be an extremely interesting season in Omaha now that Mike Hastings has moved on to Minnesota. Bliss Littler brings loads of coaching experience to the table, but how will the fans like the style he likes to play?


Key Departures:
Chris Hepp-Team leader.
Matt Thurber-One of the best two-way forwards in the league.
Barry Almeida-One of the most dynamic players in the league.
Chris Connolly-Another great forward.


Goalie (1):
Drew Palmisano (1988) - One of the league's best, returns for another year.

Goalie Evaluation:
Palmisano was originally slated to head off to Michigan State, but with former Lancer Jeff Lerg still there, it didn't make much sense. Drew was a solid goalie in his time with Ohio before they traded him to Omaha. Since being acquired by the Lancers, Palmisano has been nothing short of great. With Palmisano in net, the Lancers will continue to be a force.

Defense (3):
Jake Sloat (1990) - Rarely played, and when he was suited, didn't see a ton of ice.
Tyler Elbrecht (1988) - Developed into a reliable defenseman.
Patrick Wiercioch (1990) - Had an injury, and came back to be one of the best D in the league.

Defense Evaluation:
Wiercioch is still slated as an 08 or 09 recruit for Wisconsin, so it's uncertain as to whether or not he will return. If he does, he will be one of the best in the league. Elbrecht is a great team players, as he was willing to step up and play forward when the Lancers needed him to. He consistently got better as the season went on, so I look for him to be a leader on the blue line. Sloat didn't play much, and didn't appear in a single playoff game. If he is to return, I think he'd still be too inexperienced to be relied on early in the season.

Forward (3):
Ben Arnt (1989) - One of the best uncommitted forwards.
Dakota Eveland (1991) - Highly regarded, could have a big year.
Matt White (1989) - Really came on in the playoffs, look for that to continue into next season.

Forward Evaluation:
Though a small group, this is a very talented trio of returners. Ben Arnt is probably one of the best forwards yet to commit, and could be a 30 goal scorer next season. He had shown interest in schools out east and possibly signing over the summer, but I'm not sure on the interest there. He's definitely ready to move on. Eveland had a lot of hype coming into the season as one of the better 91 born players, and had a pretty solid rookie season. I feel he's ready to be a big producer already next season and should be watched carefully by other teams. Matt White really found his stride in the playoffs, putting up 10 points in 13 games. I see that momentum and production carrying into next season, as well as a larger role for the California native.

Futures Evaluation:
The Lancers boast some top notch young guns on their futures list. Danny Kristo is a kid fresh out of the NTDP, so you have to believe he's a gamer. A few elite players from the Minnesota high school ranks include Drew Olson, Ben Hanowski, and Danny Mattson. This trio of Minnesotans have the potential to be great in the USHL. Kyle Beattie and Michael Chiasson are a couple of 91 born players that have a load of potential and could sneak into the Lancer lineup with a good tryout camp. The best of this group is probably Quebec native, Louis Leblanc. I think he can be a dynamic player right of the gate.


Overall Evaluation: B

John Carlson to London

Nathan Fournier at The NHL Source is reporting that John Carlson will not enroll at UMASS, but will instead head north of the border to play for the London Knights.

EDIT: I have received more confirmation from another source saying this is a done deal. Too bad for the NCAA, as this kid is the real deal.

A few weeks ago I did an interview with John Carlson a top defensive prospect for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He would not comment to me about the London Knights of the OHL. He said he was heading to UMass-Amherst to play college hockey.

A rumor came out on Hfboards today that he was going to London. I can confirm this rumor. I talked to someone today who’s at the NHL Combine and he said he’s been telling NHL teams he’s heading to London.

If you don’t follow junior hockey, this is nothing new. Major Junior teams do this all the time to get high profile players to play for them. The London Knights are no strangers either as they are one of the teams that does this often.

I will have more on this situation later on.

USA Names Player and Goalie of Year

Jack Connolly was named USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year, while Drew Palmisano was named Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year.

"We're very happy for Jack Connolly to have received this prestigious award from USA Hockey. What he did in this league as a first-year player was truly remarkable and he is most deserving of this," said USHL president Gino Gasparini. "He joins some very big names from the USHL who have also received the honor and we wish him all the best as he continues his hockey career at the college level and beyond."

Connolly, a native of Duluth, Minn., finished the season tied atop the USHL scoring chart with 26 goals and 72 points in 58 games for the Stampede. He will leave Sioux Falls and play Division I hockey for the University of Minnesota-Duluth beginning next season.

Omaha Lancers goaltender Drew Palmisano has been named the 2008 recipient of the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year Award by USA Hockey. Palmisano was among the top goaltenders in the USHL during the regular season and helped Omaha to the 2008 Clark Cup Championship earlier this month.

Palmisano will receive the award at a banquet which coincides with USA Hockey's annual congress, June 3-7 in Colorado Springs.

"The USHL and its members wish to congratulate Drew Palmisano on this wonderful honor. Last season he was a big reason that Omaha turned around their season, but he took his game and his team to another level this season," said USHL president Gino Gasparini. "He has a bright future ahead of him in the game and we're happy that we had a hand in his development."

Jimmy Hayes Updates

Jimmy Hayes is at the NHL Combine, and he has been kind enough to write a little piece each day for the Hockey Journal.

1st entry; Last Dance.

2nd entry; In Demand.

Hastings to Minnesota?

The Gopher Hockey Blog is reporting that the Minnesota Golden Gophers search for a new assistant coach is about to come to a close. It is being reported that Omaha's Mike Hastings will be accepting that role, and most likely giving Bliss Littler the GM role. I'm not sure what his role would be with the Lancers, if he'd have one at all, but it's definitely interesting.

After about a month of speculation on who would replace Mike Guentzel, the Gopher hockey program is apparently about to announce the answer. Word along the grapevine earlier today is that the Gophers are expected to announce in the next few days that former Omaha Lancers head coach Mike Hastings will be stepping into the position.

Hastings is a Crookston, MN native that had been coaching in Omaha for the last 14 seasons and has been (arguably) the best coach in the league for some time.. He coached the Lancers to USHL regular season titles three times (2001-2002, 2004-2004, and this past season) and has also led them to the USHL playoff title three times (1997-1998, 2000-2001, and this past season). In addition to the team success, Hastings had been chosen as USHL coach of the year twice and general manager of the year five times over his tenure (source: Wikipedia). In other words, the man knows how to coach and he knows how to put together a strong team.

EDIT: Star Tribune is reporting it's a done deal.

Mike Hastings, the team president, general manager and owner of the USHL's Omaha Lancers, will be officially named a Gophers' assistant hockey coach later today.

Hastings, named the Lancers' president earlier this month, had coached the Omaha team for 14 seasons and never had a losing year. He gave up his coaching position after the Lancers won their third Clark Cup this spring. His career record with the Lancers was 529-210-36.

"I wanted someone who has experience as a coach and a recruiter," Gophers head coach Don Lucia said, "and Mike has a proven record of success in both."

Hastings is a native of Crookston, Minn. He graduated from St. Cloud State. He replaces Mike Guentzel who coached the Minnesota defensmen before resigning in April.

Former Gambler Joins Coaching Ranks

Former Green Bay Gambler, A.J. Degenhardt, has been named head coach of the Twin Cities Northern Lights. The Northern Lights play in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MJHL).

Lights appoint Degenhardt head coach

May 21, 2008

The Twin Cities Northern Lights have announced that Adam (AJ) Degenhardt has been named the team’s head coach for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

In addition, former Lights head coach Eric Fink, who recently accepted the assistant coach position with the Owatonna, Minn., team in the Tier 2 Junior A NAHL, has graciously agreed to serve as the Lights’ coaching mentor as Degenhardt prepares for the fall.

“I’m pleased to announce the coaching ensemble for the upcoming season” said president-GM Ross Smith. “They each bring different skills and passions, so we’re looking forward to a summer together exploring how to re-craft our program to highlight each person’s strengths."

Degenhardt, from Middleton, Wis., was a full-scholarship, four-year letter winner with the University Wisconsin-Madison program that won the 2006 NCAA national championship. As a Badger student-athlete under coaches Mike Eaves and Mark Osiecki, Degenhardt became known for his hard work ethic, community service leadership and advocacy for drug-free activities.

Before joining the Badgers, Degenhardt played two years with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL for a total of six years under the tutelage of Osiecki, who praises Degenhardt’s eagerness to learn and then teach the game while helping players find the appropriate balance of time and energy to succeed at higher levels.

Since college graduation, Degenhardt has been coaching at Verona High School, the Madison Stars AAA program and the Inside the Red Hockey School in preparation for a full-time coaching career.

Fink was named MJHL Coach of the Year and helped lead the team to two national tournament appearances before becoming assistant coach position with the Southern Minnesota Express and then with Augsburg College last season.

“Since he and Josh Hauge helped formed the team in 2002, they’ve both been a tremendous resource,” Smith said, “so we’re excited to have Fink formally mentoring our new staff as they prepare for their new roles.”

Also noteworthy, Hauge was recently named the head coach of the NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs after serving as the team’s assistant coach for several years.

Smith publicly thanked former head coach Tony McGee for his year of service with the Northern Lights.

“We wish Tony and his family well as he continues his full-time employment and pursues other opportunities,” said Smith.

The Lights other coaching and support staff will return with some adjustments of responsibilities.

News and Notes

Green Bay's Jefferson Dahl commits to Wisconsin.

Local players heading to DI.

A few articles from the New England Hockey Journal.

#1: Through the Pipeline.

#2: Clearer Hayes.

#3: Mean Streets.

Former Storm radio voice, John Meissner, has found a new job.

Waterloo Black Hawks 2008-09 Preview

The Black Hawks are coming of a great season, but came up just short in the finals in Omaha. They return a good core and could be early on favorites to start the season.


Key Departures:
Brett Olson-Good player, team leader.
Billy Maday-Good playmaking forward.
Matt DiGirolamo-One of the better goalies in the league.
Blake Kessel-Team's top defenseman.

Goalie (1):
Joe Howe (1990) - Quality goalie, should be ready to be the #1.

Goalie Evaluation:
Howe left high school early for an opportunity to play in Waterloo. He was playing great and he and Matt DiGirolamo kept pushing each other. Howe came down with an untimely sickness, mono I believe, and was unable to play. During that time, DiGirolamo got hot and when Howe was ready to come back, he only played in five games, but he did go 5-0. When in net, Howe played very well and I think he's ready to become a #1 in this league and I also feel he will be extremely successful.

Defense (3):
Michael Montrose (1991)
Patrick Wey (1991) - Lots of potential. I'm feeling a very solid campaign for Wey in 08-09.
Mike Marcou (1989) - Solid defenseman, could be a good leader.

Defense Evaluation:
Waterloo is set to return just two on the blue line. These two are still very young, but will need to step up and help lead this defensive corps. Montrose and Wey are still young, but the experience they worked to obtain this year will be huge for next season. I remember Wey from the feature the USHL did on him awhile back. He seems to have a load of potential and lots of promise. Marcou has really developed into a reliable defenseman. He played in a handful of games in his rookie season, but was given a larger role this past season, and took advantage of it. Marcou is set to enroll at Massachusetts in 2009.

Forwards (11):
Keegan Meuer (1989) - I'm expecting a solid campaign from him this season.
Eddie Olczyk (1989) - Good energy guy and penalty killer.
Craig Smith (1989) - Could be a team leader, good energy guy.
Nick Larson (1989) - Started off slow, but quickly became a top tier forward.
Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1990) - One of the more physical players on the team.
Brett Beebe (1990) - Beebe was a Storm draft pick, but found his way to central Iowa. Has some potential.
Scott Pavelski (1988) - Had a great pre-season, but just kinda faded away during the season.
Mike Fink (1990) - Highly regarded, though he didn't produce as much as expected.
Brock Montpetit (1990) - Good player, could be a force next season.
Siim Liivik (1988) - Not a flashy player, but was always fighting for the puck and getting under the other team's skin.
Jan-Mikael Juutilainen (1988) - NHL draft pick, but has never really shown why.

Forward Evaluation:
Waterloo returns a great core up front, though it's not known where Liivik and Juutilainen will be playing come next season. Larson will be the best forward of this group, while Montpetit and Fink have the skills and potential to be among the top forwards on the team. Smith seems to be a great energy guy, but is able to chip in on the offensive side when needed. Meuer didn't light the lamp as many times as last season, but he made a huge mark on the assists chart. This season, Keegan racked up 22 assists, good for 5th on the team. He had a great playoff run, and should look to build on that success. Samuels-Thomas isn't the largest guy, but he likes to play a physical game. He may not be the best hitter, but he's out there trying to play the body as much as possible and let everyone else know it's not going to be easy. Beebe is a bit of a wildcard. He didn't play in a whole lot of games, but he is still on the young side and has potential.

Futures Evaluation:
Waterloo has a lot of talent on their futures roster. Tyler Barnes spent some time with the Hawks last season, and had a goal and an assist in 1 game. Chris Student had the opportunity to play for Waterloo this past season, but chose to finish out his high school career. Student will be with the Hawks this coming season before heading off to Northeastern. He should be a quality player on the Waterloo blue line. Eric Ringel has consistently been one of the best players in the NAHL, and would be a great addition to the team, though it doesn't appear he will ever make it to Waterloo. Lee Moffie and Kevin Nugent are others to keep an eye on.


Overall Evaluation: A-

NAHL Entry Draft

The NAHL held their entry draft today, and there were plenty of USHL veterans selected, along with many draft picks and futures. I'll try to list them all. Results can be found here.


Alexandria Blizzard
Joe Knoepke, US, F, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Ben Nelson, US, F, Roseau High School

Alpena IceDiggers
Jordan Miller, US, F, Belle Tire Midget Major

Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Alan Armour, US, G, Selkirk Steelers (MJHL)
Loren Barron, US, D, Valley Jr. Warriors (EJHL)
Michael Juola, US, F, Westside Warriors (BCHL)
Brandon Martell, US, D, Tri-City Storm (USHL)

Mahoning Valley Phantoms
Nate Brown, US, D, Team NXI Major Midget

Marquette Rangers
Austin Accettura, US, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Kevin Albers, US, D, Belle Tire Midget Major

North Iowa Outlaws
Justin Cseter, US, F, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL)
Dan Durham, US, F, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL)
Ryan Peltoma, US, D, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Brendan Sheehan, US, F, Bay State Breakers (EJHL)

Owatonna
Stephen Carew, US, F, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Dan Cecka, US, F, Hill Murray High School
Anthony Hayes, US, F, Green Bay Gambers (USHL)
Justin Lee, US, D, Texas Tornado (NAHL)
Thomas McCarthy, US, D, Benilde-St. Margret's High School
Adam Schmidt, US, F, Valley Forge Midget Major
Jake Sloat, US, D, Omaha Lancers (USHL)
Tim Smith, US, D, Superior High School
Cam Stowers, US, F, Russell Stover Midget Major
Zach Vierling, US, F, Coon Rapids High School
Scott Winkler, Norway/Canada, F, Russell Stover Midget Major

Springfield Jr. Blues
Justin Filzen, US, F, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Jarrett Galbreath, US, D, Red River High School
Tom Janosz, US, D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL)
Andy Taranto, US, F, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL)

St. Louis Bandits
Nick Dowd, US, F, Culver Military Academy
Keith Kinkaid, US, G, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Craig Kitto, US, F, Washington Jr. Nationals (AJHL)
Cullen Lundholm, US, D, Des Moines Bucanners (USHL)
Kris Reinthaler, Austria, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Chris Saracino, US, D, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

Traverse City North Stars
Mike Miller, US, D, Honeybaked Midget Major
Cody Walsh, US, D, Chicago Young Americans Midget Major

Wenatchee Wild
Brandon Burrell, US, D, North Metro High School
Chad Ruhwedel, US, D, LA Jr. Kings
Nick Schaefer, US, F, Red River High School
Berkley Scott, US, F, Anoka High School
Dalton Speelman, US, F, San Jose Jr. Sharks Midget Major

Wichita Falls Wildcats
Kyle Beattie, US, F, P.F. Chang's Midget Major

Lincoln Stars 2008-09 Preview

Fresh off a Division Finals appearance in Jimmy McGroarty's first season as a head coach, the Stars will need to replace a lot of firepower if they want to try and repeat last season's success.


Key Departures:
Jason Gregoire-One of the best players in the league.
Ryan Kretzer-Big offensive threat for the Stars.
Matt Bartkowski-Quality, physical defenseman.
David Reekie-Top goalie in the league.


Goalie (1):
Kevin Murdock (1990) - Played just 15 games, not overly impressive numbers.

Goalie Evaluation:
Murdock made the Stars as a free agent and quickly became the more reliable goalie to start the season. Lincoln eventually added David Reekie, and he played virtually every game. Murdock only saw action in five games, with just three starts. The biggest concern I see here is the lack of experience Murdock has in USHL game situations. In his starts since Reekie arrived, he went 1-1-1, so he can win and keep his team in it, but how will he handle more than 15 games in a season?

Defense (5):
Mike Dalhuisen (1989) - Greatly improved since his Chicago days.
Jake Newton (1988) - Quality defenseman with good offensive upside.
Taylor Kuypers (1990) - Played in very few games, so I won't comment.
Ross Henry (1990) - One of the league's best, but doesn't get much praise.
Michael Sdao (1989) - Probably one of the most improved players on Lincoln's roster.

Defense Evaluation:
This group of returners is, for the most part, large and physical. Dalhuisen stands out as one who could step up as a team leader as well. Newton loves to carry the puck up the ice and seems to do well with it most of the time. The way he goes up the ice reminds me of Dan Lawson, only a little slower. Kuypers was a standout in high school in Wisconsin, so he should be able to step in and be a dependable player after he gets a few more games under his belt. Henry rarely makes mistakes on his end of the ice, and that makes him extremely valuable to any team. He also likes to play physical, so if he were to become more offensive, he'd be the total package. For the sake of the Stars fans, let's just hope he can become more offensive, but not get Eli Vlaisavljevich syndrome. Sdao was drastically improved from the start of the season, and will continue to be a big physical presence on the ice.

Forwards (5):
Chris Forfar (1988) - Big power forward, best returning forward.
Travis Erstad (1988) - Could this finally be the year he breaks out?
Josh Myers (1990) - Early season addition, but spent most of his time on the 4th line.
Tyler Brickler (1991) - Highly regarded by Lincoln coaches, should have a bigger role.
Eric Meland (1989) - Hard working forward, played a big part in Lincoln's playoff run.

Forward Evaluation:
Lincoln has a LOT of offense to replace, but Forfar is a good guy to start with. He started off with Waterloo, but wasn't able to do a whole lot. He ended up in Lincoln, and quickly became a fan favorite, and now has the chance to be the main guy up front for the Stars. Erstad had a lot of promise coming out of high school, and even earned an NHL draft selection. However, he has not tapped into that potential, and Lincoln, Wisconsin, and St. Louis are all hoping this last season of juniors can be the year he breaks out. Myers played in 45 regular season games, but didn't factor in on the scoresheet too often. He spent most of the time of the 4th line, and that line didn't seem to get a whole lot of shifts during games. Brickler saw action in a limited amount of games, but has a lot of potential to breakout this season. Meland ventured south to Lincoln after his high school season was complete in North Dakota, and was only able to score one goal. Come playoff time, Meland was more of a force, putting up five points in eight games, so I feel he is ready to have an increased role for next season.

Futures Evaluation:
David Toews appears to be the gem of this group, though he will most likely be suiting up for North Dakota come next fall. Matt Bruneteau is a little small, but he is bulky and plays a physical game. I think his style will fit well into what Lincoln wants. Cory Hibbeler and David Gerths offer up a lot of potential, and both were teammates at Culver Academy with current Star, Michael Sdao. That could be enough reason for those two to give Lincoln a shot. Former Star, Carter Camper, has his little brother Jay looking forward to getting a shot to play in Lincoln. 1991 born goalie, Ryan Walsh, will likely be given a shot to earn the #1 spot out of camp, though I feel he may be too young and inexperienced for that job right now.


Overall Evaluation: C

Former Black Hawk Joins Coaching Ranks

This is from March, but I hadn't seen or heard about it anywhere before now. Former Waterloo Black Hawks player, Mike Dagenais, has been named the new head coach of the Marquette Electricians hockey club.

Mike Dagenais New Electricians Coach
Takes over for Scott Nevenhoven

The Marquette Electricians announced that Mike Dagenais would be replacing Scott Nevenhoven as Head Coach.

Dagenais, 24, a Marquette native, has been performing as Interim Head Coach for the Electricians since early December. This will be Dagenais’ first solo stint behind the bench. He was named Assistant Coach of the Electricians last summer, and prior to that, was Associate Head Coach of the American Legion Post #44 AA Bantam team in 2006-07, and has also been Assistant Coach of the ReMax Pee Wee AA team and the U.P. Sports Connection Squirt AA team.

As a player, Dagenais played two seasons for the Marquette Electricians under Head Coach Jon Nebel. He won the Gold Medal in the “Four Nations Tournament” for the United States U17 Select Team in the Czech Republic, defeating the host team, Germany, Canada and Sweden. Dagenais also played three seasons for the United States Hockey League Waterloo Blackhawks.

“To have the opportunity to step into this leadership role for a team that I played for is a great honor.” Dagenais said. “I look forward to building upon the proud tradition of Electricians hockey. My first duty is to build a competitive team around the strong returning base that we have from last season.”

Dagenais’ first duties will be running the Electricians Spring Evaluation Camp, which will take place at the Berry Events Center on May 2-4. Information on the Spring Camp along with information on the Electricians Summer Skate is available on the Electricians web site at www.mqtelectricians.com , or you can contact Coach Dagenais at 906-362-3406.

Dagenais is currently a senior at Northern Michigan University majoring in Nursing and will receive his R.N. Degree in December.

Regg Simon finds a home

Former Des Moines Buccaneers head coach has found a new home. There had been some talk of him ending up in Indiana, but that never happened. Next was Tri-City, but that never happened. Simon finally found a home, and it's a pretty good place. He takes over in St. Louis for Jon Cooper, who recently left for Green Bay.

Regg Simon has been named the new Head Coach and General Manager of the St. Louis Bandits’ NAHL franchise, announced V.P. of Hockey Operations and Bandits partner Kelly Chase.

“Regg Simon has the hockey experience and management skills necessary to continue the Bandits’ winning performance and advancement of players to NCAA Division I programs,” said Chase.

Simon begins his employment immediately and will be selecting the Bandits’ picks in the NAHL Entry Draft on Wednesday, May 21, said Chase.

Simon, a native of Elk River, Minn., brings a wealth of experience and success at the junior hockey level. He started his coaching career during the 2002-03 season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL as an assistant coach and later as an interim head coach. The next season, he joined the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2005, he was promoted to the head coach and general manager position for the Buccaneers.

In his first full season as the head coach in Des Moines, Simon led the Buccaneers to the USHL Cchampionship. A season later, the Buccaneers lost in the semifinals in their bid to repeat as champions.

Over 100 wins, a 15-4 playoff record, 12 NHL draft picks and over 60 players sent to Division I college hockey later, coach Simon is coming to St. Louis.

“I’m excited and honored to be a part of what I believe to be the premier organization in the North American Hockey League,” said Simon. “The opportunity to come to a team whose success of winning and putting players into college hockey wasn’t a difficult decision.”

The Bandits have won back-to-back Robertson Cup national championships in 2007 and 2008. The most recent was hosted in St. Louis in early May, seeing the hometown team capture its second title on home ice in front of a crowd of over 2,000 people.

“At the end of the day, I wanted to be in a place where the players are taken care of and the ownership group has the same principals that I do,” added Simon. “The professionalism and honesty that I’ve been treated with here has impressed me.”

At the NAHL draft, the Bandits will look to replace a key group of players who were a large part of the their championship team.

“I believe there is a core group of returning players here that we can build around,” said Simon. “We’re going to go after players who we feel can play our style of hockey and come with a winning attitude that is expected in this organization.”

Larson Commits

Waterloo Black Hawks forward Nick Larson has committed to the University of Notre Dame, most likely for 2009.

Larson had a lot of hype around him coming into the year, but didn't seem to dent the scoresheet too often. He did however, get red hot about mid-way through and finished out the season extremely hot, including a six point game along the way.

Chicago Steel 2008-09 Preview

Fresh off an award winning season, head coach Steve Poaspt will look to build on the success he and the Steel had last season. The Steel are no longer the joke of the league, and are going to be a team to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.


Key Departures:
Brian O'Neill-Top player, won Unofficial POY Award.
Rob Madore-Top notch goalie.
Will Weber-Team's best defenseman.

Goalie (1):
Nick Pisellini (1990) - Will have a larger role now that Madore is gone.

Goalie Evaluation:
Pisellini returns for his 3rd year, 2nd full, with the Steel. He will have a larger responsibility now that Madore has moved on, but I'm not sold he is ready to be Chicago's #1 just yet. Nick is continuing to get better though, and could surprise a lot of people this season.

Defense (4):
John Moore (1990) - Probably one of the most underrated defenseman for Chicago last season.
Mike Walsh (1989) - Physical in your face type player.
Max Nicastro (1990) - Had a solid campaign with 20 points and +7.
Barron Smith (1991) - Big and young, could jump to OHL.

Defense Evaluation:
Only 3 returning, but they are all very good in their own way. Walsh is a leader and a physical player. Moore is quick and like I said before, is very underrated. He's a quality player and should continue to get better. Nicastro was a nice surprise this season. He will be a top defenseman in the league come next season and he has size to go along with his offensive talents.

Forwards (11):
Robin Sjoren (1989) - Didn't notice him.
Luca Cunti (1989) - Dynamic player, not sure his intentions for next season.
Dominic Morrone (1989) - Quick player, should make a bigger impact with a year under his belt.
Mark Anthoine (1990) - Gritty forward that is tough and can score.
Jak Knelman (1988) - Seems more of a character guy and chips in when he can.
Ryan Schnell (1989) - Big and tough, Chicago's enforcer.
Eric Alexander (1989) - Big hitter and scored some big goals in the playoffs.
Andrew Miller (1988) - A nice surprise for the Steel. Should be near the top of the point chart this season.
Corey Chakeen (1989) - He's probably good for 13 goals next season :)
Alex Simonson (1990) - Don't remember seeing him play.
Simon Olsson (1989) - Small, but very gritty and quick. Could jump to OHL.

Forward Evaluation:
Chicago returns a lot of power up front, though it remains to be seen what Cunti and Olsson will be doing next season. Miller and Alexander should be the main scoring threats next season, though I'd keep an eye on Anthoine. Chakeen has kept a steady pace of goal scoring, as he has scored 13 goals in each of his first two season with the Steel. Schnell is the type of player you love to have. He's big and strong, and isn't afraid to muck it up as well as stand up for his teammates.

Futures Evaluation:
The Steel feature a couple top notch players in Mark Alt and Brett Kostolansky. I'm not real familiar with the others, though J.R. Lafferty could be a good one to watch, as the New Jersey Rockets tend to develop some top notch kids. Also, keep an eye on Josh Kesler. Yes, he's related to Vancouver's Ryan Kesler.


Overall Evaluation: B

Indiana Ice 2008-09 Preview

With a new face on the bench, the Ice will look to continue the success Charlie Skjodt had.

Note: I am going to continue with these without talking about draft picks or kids who were protected that weren't originally thought would be. So the rest of these will be as if the draft hadn't happened yet. This is simply because my intentions were to have these completed PRIOR to the draft. With all the other stuff taking place lately, these took a backseat to the coaching changes.


Key Departures:
John Kemp-One of the best players in the league.
Scott Darling-Team's top goalie.
John Carlson-Great player, soon to be 1st round NHL pick.
Paul Carey-30 goal scorer.
Brent Gwidt-One of the best two-way forwards in the league.
Gregory Squires-Top forward.

Goalie (0):

Goalie Evaluation:
The Ice lose both of their goalies to college, and will hope futures player Chris Paliafito can step up and fill that void. Paliafito played last season for the NAHL's Traverse City North Stars, so hopefully for the Ice's sake, that will help him in the long run. He did not have great numbers for the North Stars, but that team didn't appear to be that great anyhow.

Defense (3):
Ian Ruel (1990) - Big, tough defenseman.
Matt Smith (1988) - Not too flashy, but responsible in his own zone.
Corey Fienhage (1990) - Still raw, but has loads of potential.

Defense Evaluation:
The Ice return very few on the blue line, but there is a lot of potential there. Smith could be a leader for this group. Fienhage spent the last part of the season with the team after finishing with high school, so he should be ready for the long haul. Ruel missed a lot of games due to broken bones in his hand stemming from a fight at the Fall Classic. Indiana is usually very physical, and with the size of Ruel and Fienhage, that should be no different come next season.

Forwards (2):
Will MacDonald (1989) - Very fast and good with the puck, should have a lot of points.
Chris Darnell (1989) - Never saw him play.

Forward Evaluation:
The Ice lost a lot of power up front, and don't return much to compensate for that. MacDonald is very quick and should have added responsibilities now that there isn't so much fire power. Darnell played in just 11 games, so he's still very fresh to the USHL level of play.

Futures Evaluation:
Indiana's futures list is headed by Justin Jokinen, though it appears he is headed to Minnesota State. Kyle Bonis was released early last season, and turned into a goal scoring machine for the Traverse City North Stars. He notched 25 goals in 39 games, giving him a tie for the lead on the team in goals scored. Other players to keep an eye on are Ethan Werek and Mike Miller, both of whom are committed to college already.


Overall Evaluation: D

Hastings Steps Aside; Littler Takes Over

It's official. Mike Hastings has gone out on top and Bliss Littler will be the new head coach.

The Omaha Lancers announced today that Mike Hastings has relinquished his head coaching duties to assume the role of President/General Manager of the organization. The Lancers have hired Bliss Littler to take over as Head Coach of the Lancers.

"I am excited to be joining a Lancers organization that is rich in tradition. I am looking forward to working with the returning players as well as the new faces during the 2008-09 season," Littler said. "Mike has set the bar extremely high with his professionalism and his winning ways. It will be a challenge, but the seat is already warm and it is one that I am looking forward to. My wife and I are excited to put down our roots in Omaha."

"We are excited to have Bliss join the Lancers organization. He brings the integrity, work ethic and individual disciplines to continue the commitment to excellence that the Lancers are known for," Hastings commented. "His coaching record speaks for itself. In the past, he has shown an ability to develop athletes off the ice as well as on the ice. The 2008-09 Lancers are in great hands."

Littler has spent the last seven seasons as a Head Coach and General Manager in the United States Hockey League. He began his USHL career with the Topeka Scarecrows during the 2001-02 season before taking over the reigns with the Tri-City Storm in 2003-04. During his first season at Tri-City, Littler and the Storm earned the Anderson Cup as the USHL regular season champions. That same season Littler was named the USHL General Manager of the Year. Littler has compiled a USHL record of 209-150-37.

Prior to joining the USHL, Littler won three regular season championships, five playoff championships and earned four National Tournament appearances with the Billings Bulls of the AWHL/NAHL from 1993-94 to 1999-2000. He was selected to serve as an AWHL All-Star game coach five times and King of the Hill head coach three times during his tenure in Billings. Littler left Billings after amassing a record of 251-104-30.

Heavy involvement with USA Hockey and its programs has been a focus of Littler's during his coaching career. The Minot, N.D. native served once as the head coach and three times as the assistant coach for the National Junior Team that participated in the Viking Cup. He has coached at the USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp (four times) and USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp (two times). Littler was also selected to coach at the National Junior Camp, which is for players competing for spots on the United States National Junior Team roster.

Littler played hockey and attended college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He will be joined in Omaha by his wife Gretchen and their two children Cade and Grace.

Hastings, who has served as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Omaha Lancers for the past 14 seasons, will continue as General Manager of the Lancers, but will be given added responsibilities as the organization's President. Lancers partner and former NHL-great Luc Robitaille, who has served as the team's President for the past two years, will relinquish his duties to Hastings immediately.

The Lancers' organization has experienced much success throughout the years under Hastings' guidance. The 2007-08 season proved to be one of the most successful yet. The Lancers earned the Anderson Cup and then the Clark Cup to cap off their season. Hastings also achieved personal records throughout this season. On November 30, 2007, Hastings joined only two other coaches in USHL history to reach the 500 wins plateau, but is the only one to claim all 500 victories with the same team. A 7-0 victory over Sioux Falls on February 16, 2008 set a new standard for USHL coaching success as Hastings became the USHL's all-time winningest coach by eclipsing Bob Ferguson's record of 517 wins.

While at the helm, Hastings has guided the Lancers to three Anderson Cups (2001-02, 2004-05, 2007-08) and three Clark Cup Championships (1997-98, 2000-01, 2007-08). Personal awards for Hastings include being named USHL Coach of the Year twice (1996-97, 2001-02) and USHL General Manager of the Year five times (1996-97, 2001-02, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08). His teams have never had a losing season and have continued the Lancers tradition by adding 14 years of consecutive playoff appearances for a USHL record of 19 seasons.

Hastings' USA Hockey involvement includes serving as an assistant coach for the United States National Junior Team in 2003 and 2005 that participated in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. He also guided the 2000 USA Hockey Junior Select Team to its first-ever gold medal at the Viking Cup, after leading the team to a silver medal finish in 1996.

Hastings, a Crookston, Minn. native, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from St. Cloud State University. He resides in Omaha with his wife Jean Ann and their children Hannah and Hudson.

Hastings steps off the bench with a 529-210-56 record.

The USHL is America's only Tier I league and the premier path for developing players in America. The league has over 170 current players committed to Division I colleges and 19 players that have been selected in the NHL Draft. For more information on the USHL and its member teams, visit us on the web at www.ushl.com.

News and Notes

Former La Crescent hockey standout selected in USHL draft.

Fargo secures North Dakota talent.

Late Arrival. An article on Barry Almeida.

Gophers sign Patterson to National Letter of Intent.

Gamblers complete 2008 USHL draft.

Gamblers add pair of college veterans in draft.

Forney headed to USHL. (bugmenot.com to get around login)

RoughRiders pick up some grit in draft.

Stars pick quickly in USHL draft.

Lancers go for defense in Entry Draft.

Herd focus on defense in draft.

Hawks take forward with first pick in USHL draft.

Steel draft recap.

Donnellan picked eighth in USHL draft.

Jeff Blashill Appointed in Indy

Indiana has hired Miami of Ohio assistant, Jeff Blashill, to be their new head coach after Charlie Skjodt recently resigned.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—The Indiana Ice is proud to announce the hiring of Jeff Blashill to the position of general manager and head coach through the 2010/2011 season.

Blashill comes to the Ice after holding the role of Assistant Coach with the Miami University (OH) Redhawks for the last five years and the four previous seasons with the Ferris State Bulldogs of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).

The Sault Ste. Marie, MI native leaves a Miami program which has made the NCAA tournament the last three seasons which also includes one CCHA Championship and an overall record of 83-31-9 during that span.

“During his tenure with the Redhawks, he was a major part of the rebuilding process that firmly established the Redhawks as one of the premier division one hockey programs in the nation,” said Ice CEO Paul Skjodt. “Miami has created a culture under the direction of Head Coach Enrico Blasi, Blashill and Assistant Coach Chris Bergeron where some of the most sought after recruits have indeed found a very comfortable nesting place.”

Four of his 07-08 players just signed NHL contracts in forwards Ryan Jones (Minnesota), Nathan Davis (Chicago), defenseman Alec Martinez (Los Angeles) and goaltender Jeff Zatkoff (Los Angeles) and he also worked with current Anaheim Might Ducks forward Chris Kunitz while at Ferris State.

At Miami University, the rebuilding process also saw the university procure and build one of the most beautiful college arenas in the nation, which opened for play in the 2006/07 season. Former Indiana defenseman Mike Findorff will be a senior in Oxford, OH next season, while 07-08 Ice blueliner Cameron Schilling begins his freshman campaign this fall.

“The first priority for me when I accepted the position as President of Hockey Operations was to continue to build a winning program for the Indiana Ice, its fans and partners in the community,” said Charlie Skjodt. “Your general manager and head coach is the most important hire for a hockey program at any level and we have kept a close eye on Jeff over the years. In order to be successful in this league, we need a person who can not only coach, but has the ability to recruit and who is well-respected in the hockey circles and Jeff is all of that.”

Blashill comes to Indy with wife, Erica and two children (Teddy and Josie). He arrived early this morning and took part in the team’s USHL Draft which began at 10 a.m.