Team Record: 11-48-1
Total Points: 23
Goal Leader: Radoslav Illo - 21
Assist Leader: Anthony DeCenzo - 26
Points Leader: Anthony DeCenzo - 44
PIM Leader: Bo Dolan - 62
+/- Leader: Danny Heath - +1
Wins Leader: T.J. Massie - 5
Tri-City had some funds cut and that left Coach Tom Rudrud with a difficult season ahead of him. He was forced to recruit off the internet and could never really find quality players. The Storm went through a few goalies before hanging onto T.J. Massie, who had left U-Mass. Massie struggled a bit once he first joined the Storm, but despite the team being bad, Massie played pretty well. Matt Margitan went 0-12 for the Storm and didn't post very good numbers. Massie could be a solid goalie and post some better numbers if he had some help in front of him. If he stays with the Storm next season, I'd expect a much improved T.J. Massie.
The defense, like the rest of the team, really struggled. There were a few bright spots in Rick Pinkston and Charlie Carkin. Pinkston was a draft pick and was a very reliable player for the Storm. Carkin was added after the season had started, and he proved to be a very good addition. Though both were a -29 on the season, it didn't reflect on their play at all. Another defensemen I enjoyed watching was St. Paul native Bo Dolan. He made the Stampede roster as a futures pick and was eventually traded in a deal that sent him and David Donnellan to the Storm in exchange for Sean Escobedo. Dolan is a smaller guy, but throws his body around and isn't afraid to scrap. He's a player that will be even more fun to watch come next season.
The forwards were led by Mike Cichy to start the season, and then he was traded to Indiana. Cichy continued his success out East, but the Storm offense really struggled without him in the lineup. Anthony DeCenzo picked up as much slack as possible and led the team in points with 44. Not bad for a guy who was originally unprotected by the Storm prior to last May's entry draft. Josh Berge put up some decent numbers, but was hampered by injuries to conclude the season. He's a 2010 Minnesota State recruit, so keep an eye on him next season. The Zarbo's, Matt and Joe, played very well together and put up some solid seasons for rookies. Matt Bailey was another rookie to post a solid campaign and should be a key forward come next season. And lastly, the biggest surprise for me was the import, Radoslav Illo. Illo made the team as a free agent and was scorching hot to end the season, though he battled some injuries as well. I believe Illo is still uncommitted, so he may return and he could be one of the better forwards in the entire league come next season.
Team Grade: D-
Showing posts with label USHL Report Cards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USHL Report Cards. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2009
Report Card: Sioux City Musketeers
Team Record: 24-30-6
Total Points: 54
Goal Leader: Stephane Da Costa - 31
Assist Leader: Stephane Da Costa - 36
Points Leader: Stephane Da Costa - 67
PIM Leader: Mike Keenan - 129
+/- Leader: Drew Daniels - +8
Wins Leader: Steve Thompson - 16
Sioux City had some promise in net coming into the season, but the veteran under-performed and the rookie couldn't match his tryout camp results. Thompson still played well and earned a scholarship, but couldn't keep his record above .500 on the season. Thompson was one of only four goalies to see over 1000 shots (1040) and he played in the least amount of games of those four. Adam Janecyk had a tremendous tryout camp, but he didn't appear to adapt to the USHL level as quickly as hoped. I feel Janecyk has a bright future in front of him at this level and beyond. The team never seemed like they got going, but never seemed to give up, either.
The Musketeer defense was the team's achilles heal this season. Mike Keenan was the Musketeers' anchor on the blue line and was on the ice for every situation. He was very solid in his own zone and was also able to contribute on the offensive side as well. Also a fixture on the blue line was projected NHL draft pick, Seth Helgeson. Helgeson has a laser from the point, but always seemed reluctant to use it. He is big and physical, so he will most likely get drafted before suiting up for Minnesota next fall.
The Musketeers offense was led by the import line of Stephane Da Costa, Stephan Vigier, and Mitch Bruijsten. Da Costa was one of the biggest threats on the ice and one of the better forwards this season. Da Costa was used in all situations and was successful wherever he was playing. He could stick handle around the defense to drive in or he could take a blast from the outside. Da Costa was extremely tough to defend. Another player I enjoyed watching this season was Austin Mattson. He was never the biggest guy on the ice, but threw his body around and would do all he could to get a puck. Clarkson recruit, Adam Pawlick, ended the season with 20 goals. He had a great shot and used it effectively.
Team Grade: D
Total Points: 54
Goal Leader: Stephane Da Costa - 31
Assist Leader: Stephane Da Costa - 36
Points Leader: Stephane Da Costa - 67
PIM Leader: Mike Keenan - 129
+/- Leader: Drew Daniels - +8
Wins Leader: Steve Thompson - 16
Sioux City had some promise in net coming into the season, but the veteran under-performed and the rookie couldn't match his tryout camp results. Thompson still played well and earned a scholarship, but couldn't keep his record above .500 on the season. Thompson was one of only four goalies to see over 1000 shots (1040) and he played in the least amount of games of those four. Adam Janecyk had a tremendous tryout camp, but he didn't appear to adapt to the USHL level as quickly as hoped. I feel Janecyk has a bright future in front of him at this level and beyond. The team never seemed like they got going, but never seemed to give up, either.
The Musketeer defense was the team's achilles heal this season. Mike Keenan was the Musketeers' anchor on the blue line and was on the ice for every situation. He was very solid in his own zone and was also able to contribute on the offensive side as well. Also a fixture on the blue line was projected NHL draft pick, Seth Helgeson. Helgeson has a laser from the point, but always seemed reluctant to use it. He is big and physical, so he will most likely get drafted before suiting up for Minnesota next fall.
The Musketeers offense was led by the import line of Stephane Da Costa, Stephan Vigier, and Mitch Bruijsten. Da Costa was one of the biggest threats on the ice and one of the better forwards this season. Da Costa was used in all situations and was successful wherever he was playing. He could stick handle around the defense to drive in or he could take a blast from the outside. Da Costa was extremely tough to defend. Another player I enjoyed watching this season was Austin Mattson. He was never the biggest guy on the ice, but threw his body around and would do all he could to get a puck. Clarkson recruit, Adam Pawlick, ended the season with 20 goals. He had a great shot and used it effectively.
Team Grade: D
Report Card: Sioux Falls Stampede
Team Record: 28-28-4
Total Points: 60
Goal Leader: Terry Broadhurst - 27
Assist Leader: David Eddy - 35
Points Leader: Terry Broadhurst - 58
PIM Leader: Marcus Perrier - 128
+/- Leader: Max Grover - +23
Wins Leader: Eric Hartzell - 20
Sioux Falls was very inconsistent this season. They would lose a handful of games and roar back to win a bunch in a row. Coach Hartzell kept going to his son, Eric, in almost every situation. Young rookie, Clay Witt, saw action in only 18 games, yet posted better stats than Hartzell. Assuming Witt returns, the Stampede have a solid goalie to build around for next season. Witt played well in his limited action and helped the Stampede win a game in Lincoln during the playoffs. Witt lost the following game, and despite many fans wanting Clay in net for Game 4, the Stampede went back to Hartzell. Eric just didn't seem to have it in the playoffs and that game was no different.
The Stampede defense was anchored by veteran Max Grover. Outside of Grover, the Stampede didn't really have any standout defensemen. Sean Escobedo, a BU recruit, is a highly regarded player, but hasn't quite reached that potential though. Chad Ruhwedal and Dan Furlong turned in solid rookie campaigns and should anchor the blueline next season. Another defensemen that is intriguing to me is Marcus Perrier. Following tryout camp, some fans were raving about this kid and he was a physical presence in the games he appeared in this season. Coach Hartzell had claimed he was going to have a team built around old time hockey. Perrier seems to be the only one who really fits the profile. He is still pretty young, but should be able to be a force on the blue line for the Stampede.
The Stampede had some talent up front and were led by Terry Broadhurst. Broadhurst led the team in goals and points. He was always a threat when on the ice, along with rookie David Eddy. Eddy is the type of player you can't help but enjoy and be a fan of. He gives 110% on every shift and isn't afraid to take a hit. He's gotten the bad end of a couple of hits a few times this season, but he was able to continue. One incident, he collided with Max Grover and ended up with a bloddy mouth. He was able to come back and finish the game after some repairs and a jersey change. Third year veteran, Robbie Vrolyk, posted 24 goals. With those 24, he eclipsed his goal total in his previous two seasons in Sioux Falls. The Stampede could return some key players in Patrick Divjak, Josh Holmstrom, and Dane Walters. Walters may not return and that's good news for the rest of the players in the league. Dane is one of the hardest hitters in the league, and he's a small guy to boot.
Team Grade: C
Total Points: 60
Goal Leader: Terry Broadhurst - 27
Assist Leader: David Eddy - 35
Points Leader: Terry Broadhurst - 58
PIM Leader: Marcus Perrier - 128
+/- Leader: Max Grover - +23
Wins Leader: Eric Hartzell - 20
Sioux Falls was very inconsistent this season. They would lose a handful of games and roar back to win a bunch in a row. Coach Hartzell kept going to his son, Eric, in almost every situation. Young rookie, Clay Witt, saw action in only 18 games, yet posted better stats than Hartzell. Assuming Witt returns, the Stampede have a solid goalie to build around for next season. Witt played well in his limited action and helped the Stampede win a game in Lincoln during the playoffs. Witt lost the following game, and despite many fans wanting Clay in net for Game 4, the Stampede went back to Hartzell. Eric just didn't seem to have it in the playoffs and that game was no different.
The Stampede defense was anchored by veteran Max Grover. Outside of Grover, the Stampede didn't really have any standout defensemen. Sean Escobedo, a BU recruit, is a highly regarded player, but hasn't quite reached that potential though. Chad Ruhwedal and Dan Furlong turned in solid rookie campaigns and should anchor the blueline next season. Another defensemen that is intriguing to me is Marcus Perrier. Following tryout camp, some fans were raving about this kid and he was a physical presence in the games he appeared in this season. Coach Hartzell had claimed he was going to have a team built around old time hockey. Perrier seems to be the only one who really fits the profile. He is still pretty young, but should be able to be a force on the blue line for the Stampede.
The Stampede had some talent up front and were led by Terry Broadhurst. Broadhurst led the team in goals and points. He was always a threat when on the ice, along with rookie David Eddy. Eddy is the type of player you can't help but enjoy and be a fan of. He gives 110% on every shift and isn't afraid to take a hit. He's gotten the bad end of a couple of hits a few times this season, but he was able to continue. One incident, he collided with Max Grover and ended up with a bloddy mouth. He was able to come back and finish the game after some repairs and a jersey change. Third year veteran, Robbie Vrolyk, posted 24 goals. With those 24, he eclipsed his goal total in his previous two seasons in Sioux Falls. The Stampede could return some key players in Patrick Divjak, Josh Holmstrom, and Dane Walters. Walters may not return and that's good news for the rest of the players in the league. Dane is one of the hardest hitters in the league, and he's a small guy to boot.
Team Grade: C
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Report Card: Omaha Lancers
Team Record: 28-20-7
Total Points: 63
Goal Leader: Louis Leblanc - 28
Assist Leader: Pat Mullane - 34
Points Leader: Pat Mullane - 57
PIM Leader: Ian Ruel - 119
+/- Leader: Jake Hauswirth, Joe Marciano - +15
Wins Leader: Jeff Teglia - 19
The Lancers lost arguably the best goalie in Drew Palmisano during the off season, so that put them in a bind. Jeff Teglia was brought in to be the backup, though coach Bliss Littler couldn't find the veteran goalie to take the #1 spot. Teglia is young and raw, but made the most of his opportunity to play and kept the Lancers in games early in the season. The Lancers then added Kris Lazaruk out of the WHL, and he has been given the #1 spot over Teglia. Lazaruk continues to get starts, though he has been less than stellar. He's had a couple of great games, but they seem to be followed up by not so great performances. I feel that if the Lancers want to go anywhere in the playoffs, Lazaruk needs to step up his game or Teglia needs to play.
The Lancers defense is very inconsistent. Joe Lavin is one of the best overall defensemen in the entire league and helps anchor the Lancers blue line. C.J. Ludwig is a player who has developed very well over the course of the season and has become a reliable force. Dennis Brown is very offensive minded and has great puck handling abilities, though he lacks strength to win one on one battles routinely and hurts his team. Drew Olson is another player that has been developing very nicely. He still makes mistakes here and there, but brings a lot of energy to the team and isn't afraid to throw his weight around.
Omaha may just have the most talented forwards in the entire league. Led by Montreal Canadiens draft pick Danny Kristo and projected 1st rounder Louis Leblanc, this team has many options to put the puck in the net. Pat Mullane is currently leading the team in points and assists, and is also a threat whenever he steps on the ice. Jake Hauswirth is a goal scoring machine and has an extremely hard and heavy shot. I remember one goal where he deked around the defenseman, took the shot, and hit the puck out of midair into the back of the net. The Lancers are able to roll all four lines and still put the puck in the net. Steven Whitney has been really impressive so far. He is small, but very quick and has a knack for the net.
Team Grade: B
Total Points: 63
Goal Leader: Louis Leblanc - 28
Assist Leader: Pat Mullane - 34
Points Leader: Pat Mullane - 57
PIM Leader: Ian Ruel - 119
+/- Leader: Jake Hauswirth, Joe Marciano - +15
Wins Leader: Jeff Teglia - 19
The Lancers lost arguably the best goalie in Drew Palmisano during the off season, so that put them in a bind. Jeff Teglia was brought in to be the backup, though coach Bliss Littler couldn't find the veteran goalie to take the #1 spot. Teglia is young and raw, but made the most of his opportunity to play and kept the Lancers in games early in the season. The Lancers then added Kris Lazaruk out of the WHL, and he has been given the #1 spot over Teglia. Lazaruk continues to get starts, though he has been less than stellar. He's had a couple of great games, but they seem to be followed up by not so great performances. I feel that if the Lancers want to go anywhere in the playoffs, Lazaruk needs to step up his game or Teglia needs to play.
The Lancers defense is very inconsistent. Joe Lavin is one of the best overall defensemen in the entire league and helps anchor the Lancers blue line. C.J. Ludwig is a player who has developed very well over the course of the season and has become a reliable force. Dennis Brown is very offensive minded and has great puck handling abilities, though he lacks strength to win one on one battles routinely and hurts his team. Drew Olson is another player that has been developing very nicely. He still makes mistakes here and there, but brings a lot of energy to the team and isn't afraid to throw his weight around.
Omaha may just have the most talented forwards in the entire league. Led by Montreal Canadiens draft pick Danny Kristo and projected 1st rounder Louis Leblanc, this team has many options to put the puck in the net. Pat Mullane is currently leading the team in points and assists, and is also a threat whenever he steps on the ice. Jake Hauswirth is a goal scoring machine and has an extremely hard and heavy shot. I remember one goal where he deked around the defenseman, took the shot, and hit the puck out of midair into the back of the net. The Lancers are able to roll all four lines and still put the puck in the net. Steven Whitney has been really impressive so far. He is small, but very quick and has a knack for the net.
Team Grade: B
Monday, March 9, 2009
Report Card: Fargo Force
Team Record: 28-20-3
Total Points: 59
Goal Leader: Andy Taranto - 23
Assist Leader: Matt Leitner - 34
Points Leader: Matt Leitner - 46
PIM Leader: Jake Areshenko - 111
+/- Leader: Luke Witkowski - +29
Wins Leader: Mike Lee - 22
Fargo's goalie situation was crowded when the team first started participating in the league. They had tendered Cody Campbell and Mike Lee, drafted Matt Hemingway, and held the rights to Ohio standout goalie Pasquale Terrazzano. If that wasn't enough, Dean Blais ended up adding another goalie in Tyler Bruggeman. Lee was the most hyped and made the tough decision to leave Roseau for a year in the USHL. Fargo ended up releasing Terrazzano and left Hemingway on their affiliated list, deciding to go with three goalies. Mike Lee has seen the bulk of the action and has posted some good numbers. He struggled a bit out of the gate, as he went 1-4 in his first 5 USHL games. Since that time, he has gone an impressive 21-9-3. Lee is arguably the best goalie prospect in the USHL right now, and quite possibly the best in recent memory. Cody Campbell has been the backup for much of the season, and has posted respectable numbers for such a young player. He is 6-6 in 14 appearances this season. Tyler Bruggeman has appeared in just one game, and that was at the Ice Box in Lincoln. He played well, despite the loss, stopping 37 Lincoln shots.
The Force defense is led by Ohio holdovers Luke Witkowski and Steve Spinell. Both are big and physical in their end, and both have racked up over 100 PIM this season. A surprise for me has been Eamonn McDermott. He's very small, so I wasn't sure how he'd adjust to the size and pace of the USHL, but he has done a tremendous job for the Force and has adapted quite well.
Fargo's offense is loaded with lots of young and talented forwards. Leading that pack is highly touted Josh Birkholz. Birkholz is a projected 1st round NHL draft pick and is a Minnesota Golden Gopher recruit. He has been fairly consistent this whole year so far and capped his season with a four goal performance against Chicago. Colten St. Clair is a kid out of Arizona and he has lots of potential. Already committed to Colorado College, St. Clair has posted a respectable 18 points in his rookie campaign. Nate Condon is yet another young gun on this Fargo squad. He is a draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, and is averaging roughly a point every other game. Rounding out my group of young guns for this team is point leader Matt Leitner. Yes, I know he's not a rookie, but he's still just 18 and is a great player.
Team Grade: B+
Total Points: 59
Goal Leader: Andy Taranto - 23
Assist Leader: Matt Leitner - 34
Points Leader: Matt Leitner - 46
PIM Leader: Jake Areshenko - 111
+/- Leader: Luke Witkowski - +29
Wins Leader: Mike Lee - 22
Fargo's goalie situation was crowded when the team first started participating in the league. They had tendered Cody Campbell and Mike Lee, drafted Matt Hemingway, and held the rights to Ohio standout goalie Pasquale Terrazzano. If that wasn't enough, Dean Blais ended up adding another goalie in Tyler Bruggeman. Lee was the most hyped and made the tough decision to leave Roseau for a year in the USHL. Fargo ended up releasing Terrazzano and left Hemingway on their affiliated list, deciding to go with three goalies. Mike Lee has seen the bulk of the action and has posted some good numbers. He struggled a bit out of the gate, as he went 1-4 in his first 5 USHL games. Since that time, he has gone an impressive 21-9-3. Lee is arguably the best goalie prospect in the USHL right now, and quite possibly the best in recent memory. Cody Campbell has been the backup for much of the season, and has posted respectable numbers for such a young player. He is 6-6 in 14 appearances this season. Tyler Bruggeman has appeared in just one game, and that was at the Ice Box in Lincoln. He played well, despite the loss, stopping 37 Lincoln shots.
The Force defense is led by Ohio holdovers Luke Witkowski and Steve Spinell. Both are big and physical in their end, and both have racked up over 100 PIM this season. A surprise for me has been Eamonn McDermott. He's very small, so I wasn't sure how he'd adjust to the size and pace of the USHL, but he has done a tremendous job for the Force and has adapted quite well.
Fargo's offense is loaded with lots of young and talented forwards. Leading that pack is highly touted Josh Birkholz. Birkholz is a projected 1st round NHL draft pick and is a Minnesota Golden Gopher recruit. He has been fairly consistent this whole year so far and capped his season with a four goal performance against Chicago. Colten St. Clair is a kid out of Arizona and he has lots of potential. Already committed to Colorado College, St. Clair has posted a respectable 18 points in his rookie campaign. Nate Condon is yet another young gun on this Fargo squad. He is a draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, and is averaging roughly a point every other game. Rounding out my group of young guns for this team is point leader Matt Leitner. Yes, I know he's not a rookie, but he's still just 18 and is a great player.
Team Grade: B+
Monday, January 19, 2009
USHL Report Card: Lincoln Stars
Team Record: 21-10-1
Total Points: 43
Goal Leader: Ryan Kretzer, Kirt Hill - 15
Assist Leader: Kirt Hill - 24
Points Leader: Kirt Hill - 39
PIM Leader: Michael Sdao - 79
+/- Leader: Ross Henry - +19
Wins Leader: Kevin Murdock - 12
Lincoln's goalie situation couldn't be any better right now. Lincoln boasts two of the best (statwise) goalies in the league right now. Kevin Murdock, a veteran, is performing quite well. Newer addition, Anthony Borelli, is right along with Murdock and they continue to push each other, and as a result, both have eye popping stats for the Stars. Borelli may remind many of David Reekie from last season. Lincoln brought in Anthony part way through the season, and he has just exploded on the scene, posting an 8-3-1 record with a 1.83 GAA. Murdock carries a 12-6-1 record and a slightly worse GAA of 2.29. Murdock had a battle with mono around the Christmas time, and that allowed Borelli to get his feet wet with USHL competition and more. He won his debut and played it cool in front of thousands of screaming fans in Lincoln. I had some questions surrounding Murdock after he spent most of last season watching David Reekie put on clinics. He has been outstanding and you wouldn't even know he played in just 15 games last season.
The Lincoln defense is anchored by often unnoticed Ross Henry. Henry is probably one of, if not THE, best defenseman in the entire league. He's not going to wow you with his offensive ability, but he's back on his blue line doing his job, and doing it almost flawlessly. With his defensive ability, I gave him one of my Unofficial USHL Blog Awards last season. Don't be surprised to see Ross nab that one again. A great story on Lincoln's blue line is Mike Dalhuisen. He's not a big point producer...yet. In his first two seasons, he had 10 assists. This season, he has scored his first USHL goal as well as posted 10 points. Jimmy McGroarty was quoted in an article featuring Mike saying that he thought Mike could very easily make it to the NHL due to his work ethic.
The Stars offense has been paced by former WHLer, Kirt Hill, and Ryan Kretzer. Hill spent four seasons in the WHL, where the closest he came to his current 39 points was last season when he notched 29 in 71 games for Regina. Kretzer enrolled at UNO this season, only to decide to return to the Stars for one last season before returning to UNO. The addition of Kretzer has really energized the team and he's constantly a threat on the ice. Garrett Vermeersch has been a very pleasant surprise for Lincoln. Last season, Garrett played in 42 games for Cedar Rapids, posting just 10 points. So far this season, the Macomb, Michigan native has posted 27 points in 28 games for the Stars. I don't think the Stars have a lot of offensive guys that are going to wow you, but they have a lot of depth and they all buy into what Coach McGroarty preaches, and the product on the ice shows that. They don't need to rely on the same guys each night to win, and that should help them in the playoffs. Their defense is top notch and their goalies are probably the best duo in the league, so the offense shouldn't have to do a whole lot to get this team on top. In the pre-season, Lincoln was my pick to win the Clark Cup this season.
Team Grade: A
Total Points: 43
Goal Leader: Ryan Kretzer, Kirt Hill - 15
Assist Leader: Kirt Hill - 24
Points Leader: Kirt Hill - 39
PIM Leader: Michael Sdao - 79
+/- Leader: Ross Henry - +19
Wins Leader: Kevin Murdock - 12
Lincoln's goalie situation couldn't be any better right now. Lincoln boasts two of the best (statwise) goalies in the league right now. Kevin Murdock, a veteran, is performing quite well. Newer addition, Anthony Borelli, is right along with Murdock and they continue to push each other, and as a result, both have eye popping stats for the Stars. Borelli may remind many of David Reekie from last season. Lincoln brought in Anthony part way through the season, and he has just exploded on the scene, posting an 8-3-1 record with a 1.83 GAA. Murdock carries a 12-6-1 record and a slightly worse GAA of 2.29. Murdock had a battle with mono around the Christmas time, and that allowed Borelli to get his feet wet with USHL competition and more. He won his debut and played it cool in front of thousands of screaming fans in Lincoln. I had some questions surrounding Murdock after he spent most of last season watching David Reekie put on clinics. He has been outstanding and you wouldn't even know he played in just 15 games last season.
The Lincoln defense is anchored by often unnoticed Ross Henry. Henry is probably one of, if not THE, best defenseman in the entire league. He's not going to wow you with his offensive ability, but he's back on his blue line doing his job, and doing it almost flawlessly. With his defensive ability, I gave him one of my Unofficial USHL Blog Awards last season. Don't be surprised to see Ross nab that one again. A great story on Lincoln's blue line is Mike Dalhuisen. He's not a big point producer...yet. In his first two seasons, he had 10 assists. This season, he has scored his first USHL goal as well as posted 10 points. Jimmy McGroarty was quoted in an article featuring Mike saying that he thought Mike could very easily make it to the NHL due to his work ethic.
The Stars offense has been paced by former WHLer, Kirt Hill, and Ryan Kretzer. Hill spent four seasons in the WHL, where the closest he came to his current 39 points was last season when he notched 29 in 71 games for Regina. Kretzer enrolled at UNO this season, only to decide to return to the Stars for one last season before returning to UNO. The addition of Kretzer has really energized the team and he's constantly a threat on the ice. Garrett Vermeersch has been a very pleasant surprise for Lincoln. Last season, Garrett played in 42 games for Cedar Rapids, posting just 10 points. So far this season, the Macomb, Michigan native has posted 27 points in 28 games for the Stars. I don't think the Stars have a lot of offensive guys that are going to wow you, but they have a lot of depth and they all buy into what Coach McGroarty preaches, and the product on the ice shows that. They don't need to rely on the same guys each night to win, and that should help them in the playoffs. Their defense is top notch and their goalies are probably the best duo in the league, so the offense shouldn't have to do a whole lot to get this team on top. In the pre-season, Lincoln was my pick to win the Clark Cup this season.
Team Grade: A
Friday, January 9, 2009
Report Card: Des Moines Buccaneers
Team Record: 6-16-3
Total Points: 15
Goal Leader: Brett Bruneteau, Alex Chiasson - 10
Assist Leader: Ryan Walters - 15
Points Leader: Brett Bruneteau - 24
PIM Leader: Andrew Panzarella - 59
+/- Leader: Brett Skalski - -1
Wins Leader: Aaron Crandall - 5
Des Moines' goalie situation has been pretty bad all year long. They traded for Aaron Crandall at the entry draft, and I felt that was a great trade for Des Moines. Crandall started off poorly, but he apparently went back home for a week to work with his goalie coach there. Since his return, had played very well. Futures pick Michael Houser has taken over the backup role and Fredrik Bergman has been dealt to the NAHL's Owatonna Express. Houser has appeared in just 5 games, but he has been solid in his outings. He has posted very respectable numbers thus far, with a 2.76 GAA and a 92.1 save percentage. Houser looks to be a very nice find by the Buccaneers staff and should be dependable when called upon the rest of this season.
The Buccaneers have a couple of highly touted players on their blue line in Nick Pryor and Joey Gleason. Pryor is an NHL draft pick and has posted respectable numbers thus far. His +/- isn't pretty, but that's not all that judges a player. He likes to jump into the play, which may lead to a few of the minuses. Austin Handley is one of those defenseman, such as Ross Henry, that does his job night in and night out and doesn't get much attention for it. Andrew Panzarella made himself known for his fighting last season, but this season he has been a little more quiet on that end and has been a lot better in his own end.
Brett Bruneteau, Ryan Walters, and Alex Chiasson have been the leaders offensively. Walters is a highly touted player from Minnesota and he has been living up to the hype. He has posted 23 points in 25 games this season, good for second on the team. Chiasson is a player that I feel is extremely dangerous every time he touches the ice. He is very good with the puck and is an excellent sniper. Chris Knowlton hasn't produced like I thought he would have so far, but I believe he is a quality forward and can breakout at any point. Josh Balch started off blazing hot, but he slowed down a little. The Bucs have a lot of talent and offense up front, but they just seem too inconsistent. Their goalies have also been a letdown thus far, but I think both goalies are capable of playing well and helping the Buccaneers climb.
Team Grade: D
Total Points: 15
Goal Leader: Brett Bruneteau, Alex Chiasson - 10
Assist Leader: Ryan Walters - 15
Points Leader: Brett Bruneteau - 24
PIM Leader: Andrew Panzarella - 59
+/- Leader: Brett Skalski - -1
Wins Leader: Aaron Crandall - 5
Des Moines' goalie situation has been pretty bad all year long. They traded for Aaron Crandall at the entry draft, and I felt that was a great trade for Des Moines. Crandall started off poorly, but he apparently went back home for a week to work with his goalie coach there. Since his return, had played very well. Futures pick Michael Houser has taken over the backup role and Fredrik Bergman has been dealt to the NAHL's Owatonna Express. Houser has appeared in just 5 games, but he has been solid in his outings. He has posted very respectable numbers thus far, with a 2.76 GAA and a 92.1 save percentage. Houser looks to be a very nice find by the Buccaneers staff and should be dependable when called upon the rest of this season.
The Buccaneers have a couple of highly touted players on their blue line in Nick Pryor and Joey Gleason. Pryor is an NHL draft pick and has posted respectable numbers thus far. His +/- isn't pretty, but that's not all that judges a player. He likes to jump into the play, which may lead to a few of the minuses. Austin Handley is one of those defenseman, such as Ross Henry, that does his job night in and night out and doesn't get much attention for it. Andrew Panzarella made himself known for his fighting last season, but this season he has been a little more quiet on that end and has been a lot better in his own end.
Brett Bruneteau, Ryan Walters, and Alex Chiasson have been the leaders offensively. Walters is a highly touted player from Minnesota and he has been living up to the hype. He has posted 23 points in 25 games this season, good for second on the team. Chiasson is a player that I feel is extremely dangerous every time he touches the ice. He is very good with the puck and is an excellent sniper. Chris Knowlton hasn't produced like I thought he would have so far, but I believe he is a quality forward and can breakout at any point. Josh Balch started off blazing hot, but he slowed down a little. The Bucs have a lot of talent and offense up front, but they just seem too inconsistent. Their goalies have also been a letdown thus far, but I think both goalies are capable of playing well and helping the Buccaneers climb.
Team Grade: D
Report Card: Chicago Steel
Team Record: 15-13-1
Total Points: 31
Goal Leader: Andrew Miller - 21
Assist Leader: Andrew Miller - 28
Points Leader: Andrew Miller - 49
PIM Leader: Ryan Schnell - 97
+/- Leader: Andrew Miller - +9
Wins Leader: Hudson Stremmel - 10
Chicago had a lot of question marks going into the season in goal. They had lost their workhorse in Rob Madore and backup, Nick Pisellini, opted to head to college late. This left the Steel with no returning goalies and a lot of goalies to look at. Following their camp, the goalies on the team were Matt Delaney and Hudson Stremmel. Delaney looked like a nice find for Coach Poapst, but as the season grew on a little, Delaney appeared to be letting more soft goals in and becoming more frustrated. He has since been shipped off to the NAHL's Motor City Machine. I'd look for him to make a return effort to the USHL come next season. Hudson Stremmel is a young kid and he was able to step in and keep the Steel in a majority of their games. Recently, Nick Pisellini returned from college and has been manning the pipes for Chicago. He's had a rough start so far, but his numbers were outstanding in college, so I have to believe it's only a matter of time before Pisellini starts posting some excellent numbers for the Steel.
Chicago's defense boasts a couple big name players in John Moore and Max Nicastro. Nicastro was a Red Wings draft pick last season and Moore is a potential first round selection this season. Nicastro is the type that's not going to wow you with his offensive skills, but he's very solid in all aspects of the game. I think Detroit got a nice player and if they allow him to continue to develop, they will be very happy. Moore was a late addition to the team last season, and has been turning heads since. A guy who doesn't seem to get much attention that I've taken a liking to is Kevin Lind. Lind was a futures pick for Chicago, and they brought him in while a few players were suspended. He's been with the team ever since and has played well, despite being just 16 years old. Brett Kostolansky is a solid guy as well. He's small, but plays his position quite well and is very speedy.
Chicago has made a couple of trades that have helped them out. Brett Beebe is a guy they brought in from Waterloo and he has been a solid contributer since his arrival. He has posted 10 points in 14 games with Chicago, while posting 0 points in 7 games for Waterloo. The other was Dean Chelios. He wasn't putting up much for points in Cedar Rapids, but he has exploded ever since his trade to Chicago. He was placed on a line with Andrew Miller and Eric Alexander, and they have been one of the most deadly lines in the league. Miller leads the league in scoring, with 49 points in 28 games. He has failed to register multiple points in just 12 games, including going scoreless in only 3 of those games. If Miller isn't at the top of the points when the season ends, it will be because something crazy happened like an injury or he quit hockey. Mark Anthoine is the type of player you love to have. He seems to fly under the radar, but he's a hard-nosed hockey player that's not afraid to go in corners and battle in front for the puck. The Steel, in my opinion, need consistency from their goalies and they are going to be a force the rest of the way. I feel their forwards and defense are really good and can compete with anyone in the league.
Grade: B-
Total Points: 31
Goal Leader: Andrew Miller - 21
Assist Leader: Andrew Miller - 28
Points Leader: Andrew Miller - 49
PIM Leader: Ryan Schnell - 97
+/- Leader: Andrew Miller - +9
Wins Leader: Hudson Stremmel - 10
Chicago had a lot of question marks going into the season in goal. They had lost their workhorse in Rob Madore and backup, Nick Pisellini, opted to head to college late. This left the Steel with no returning goalies and a lot of goalies to look at. Following their camp, the goalies on the team were Matt Delaney and Hudson Stremmel. Delaney looked like a nice find for Coach Poapst, but as the season grew on a little, Delaney appeared to be letting more soft goals in and becoming more frustrated. He has since been shipped off to the NAHL's Motor City Machine. I'd look for him to make a return effort to the USHL come next season. Hudson Stremmel is a young kid and he was able to step in and keep the Steel in a majority of their games. Recently, Nick Pisellini returned from college and has been manning the pipes for Chicago. He's had a rough start so far, but his numbers were outstanding in college, so I have to believe it's only a matter of time before Pisellini starts posting some excellent numbers for the Steel.
Chicago's defense boasts a couple big name players in John Moore and Max Nicastro. Nicastro was a Red Wings draft pick last season and Moore is a potential first round selection this season. Nicastro is the type that's not going to wow you with his offensive skills, but he's very solid in all aspects of the game. I think Detroit got a nice player and if they allow him to continue to develop, they will be very happy. Moore was a late addition to the team last season, and has been turning heads since. A guy who doesn't seem to get much attention that I've taken a liking to is Kevin Lind. Lind was a futures pick for Chicago, and they brought him in while a few players were suspended. He's been with the team ever since and has played well, despite being just 16 years old. Brett Kostolansky is a solid guy as well. He's small, but plays his position quite well and is very speedy.
Chicago has made a couple of trades that have helped them out. Brett Beebe is a guy they brought in from Waterloo and he has been a solid contributer since his arrival. He has posted 10 points in 14 games with Chicago, while posting 0 points in 7 games for Waterloo. The other was Dean Chelios. He wasn't putting up much for points in Cedar Rapids, but he has exploded ever since his trade to Chicago. He was placed on a line with Andrew Miller and Eric Alexander, and they have been one of the most deadly lines in the league. Miller leads the league in scoring, with 49 points in 28 games. He has failed to register multiple points in just 12 games, including going scoreless in only 3 of those games. If Miller isn't at the top of the points when the season ends, it will be because something crazy happened like an injury or he quit hockey. Mark Anthoine is the type of player you love to have. He seems to fly under the radar, but he's a hard-nosed hockey player that's not afraid to go in corners and battle in front for the puck. The Steel, in my opinion, need consistency from their goalies and they are going to be a force the rest of the way. I feel their forwards and defense are really good and can compete with anyone in the league.
Grade: B-
Friday, January 2, 2009
Report Card: Green Bay Gamblers
Team Record: 16-7-2
Total Points: 34
Goal Leader: C.J. Lee, William Rapuzzi - 11
Assist Leader: Reed Seckel - 18
Points Leader: Reed Seckel - 26
PIM Leader: Chris Crane - 67
+/- Leader: Dalton Speelman - +13
Wins Leader: Reid Ellingson - 11
Coach Jon Cooper used his first two picks on players returning from the college ranks. Lots of people scratched their heads, but it turns out that Cooper knew exactly what he was doing. Reid Ellingson has been their workhorse so far this year, playing in 20 games and posting a 11-6-2 record. Steve Summerhays has been able to step in and provide some quality goaltending as well. Steve has a record of 5-1-0, with the lone loss coming at Sioux City. Ellingson was a former futures pick of the Chicago Steel before he decided to accept a scholarship offer from Northern Michigan and bypass the USHL. Things didn't work out and Ellingson wasn't playing like he had hoped. Now he's in juniors getting that valuable game experience and will head back to Northern Michigan next fall.
Chris Saracino has been one of Green Bay's most reliable defenseman this season. I've seen a giant improvement from last season at the Fall Classic, and that's what this league is all about. The Gambler defense as a whole doesn't look like they put up a ton of points, but they are all solid players that are good at keeping the puck out of their zone and net. Taylor Johnson returns and he is a very solid player that seems to go unnoticed all too often.
Up front, Mike Forney has been a force. Injuries have derailed so much of his career, it's great to see him showing everyone what he is capable of. C.J. Lee and rookie William Rapuzzi lead the team in goals, with 11 each. C.J. Lee is in his third season, and I believe he was recently named team captain. I've liked what I've seen from C.J. over his time in the USHL and won't hesitate to call him a quality player. Rapuzzi is a speedy forward that has a knack for the back of the net. Anthony Hayes has been quiet so far this season, but he really looked improved at the Fall Classic and even looked quicker on the ice. I feel he will get going before too long and surpass his point total last season by a good margin. Dalton Speelman has been a nice surprise. He was a draft pick of Sioux City's, but was cut from tryout camp. He was awesome in the shootouts, going a perfect 5 for 5, but it didn't translate during the games. Green Bay added him and he has done nothing but surprise, posting 13 points and leading the team in the +/- category.
Team Grade: A-
Total Points: 34
Goal Leader: C.J. Lee, William Rapuzzi - 11
Assist Leader: Reed Seckel - 18
Points Leader: Reed Seckel - 26
PIM Leader: Chris Crane - 67
+/- Leader: Dalton Speelman - +13
Wins Leader: Reid Ellingson - 11
Coach Jon Cooper used his first two picks on players returning from the college ranks. Lots of people scratched their heads, but it turns out that Cooper knew exactly what he was doing. Reid Ellingson has been their workhorse so far this year, playing in 20 games and posting a 11-6-2 record. Steve Summerhays has been able to step in and provide some quality goaltending as well. Steve has a record of 5-1-0, with the lone loss coming at Sioux City. Ellingson was a former futures pick of the Chicago Steel before he decided to accept a scholarship offer from Northern Michigan and bypass the USHL. Things didn't work out and Ellingson wasn't playing like he had hoped. Now he's in juniors getting that valuable game experience and will head back to Northern Michigan next fall.
Chris Saracino has been one of Green Bay's most reliable defenseman this season. I've seen a giant improvement from last season at the Fall Classic, and that's what this league is all about. The Gambler defense as a whole doesn't look like they put up a ton of points, but they are all solid players that are good at keeping the puck out of their zone and net. Taylor Johnson returns and he is a very solid player that seems to go unnoticed all too often.
Up front, Mike Forney has been a force. Injuries have derailed so much of his career, it's great to see him showing everyone what he is capable of. C.J. Lee and rookie William Rapuzzi lead the team in goals, with 11 each. C.J. Lee is in his third season, and I believe he was recently named team captain. I've liked what I've seen from C.J. over his time in the USHL and won't hesitate to call him a quality player. Rapuzzi is a speedy forward that has a knack for the back of the net. Anthony Hayes has been quiet so far this season, but he really looked improved at the Fall Classic and even looked quicker on the ice. I feel he will get going before too long and surpass his point total last season by a good margin. Dalton Speelman has been a nice surprise. He was a draft pick of Sioux City's, but was cut from tryout camp. He was awesome in the shootouts, going a perfect 5 for 5, but it didn't translate during the games. Green Bay added him and he has done nothing but surprise, posting 13 points and leading the team in the +/- category.
Team Grade: A-
Report Card: Waterloo Black Hawks
Team Record: 17-7-1
Total Points: 35
Goal Leader: Craig Smith - 15
Assist Leader: Craig Smith - 17
Points Leader: Craig Smith - 32
PIM Leader: Nick Larson - 61
+/- Leader: Chris Student - +20
Wins Leader: Joe Howe - 12
When it comes to Waterloo, you know you're going to get a top notch team on the ice every year with P.K. O'Handley behind the bench. Waterloo had some early struggles, but they have roared back and currently sit in 2nd place in the East. Joe Howe emerged as a very capable goalie last year, splitting time with Matt DiGirolamo. When this season rolled around, you knew Waterloo would be a force just due to them having a top notch goalie. They brought in Parker Milner before the Fall Classic, and he's stuck. He has only played in 8 games, but he boasts a 5-2-0 record for the Hawks. Milner has been solid in the couple of games I've been able to see him, so Waterloo has a very capable goaltending duo to keep them in games.
As far as the defense goes, Waterloo is generally one of the best overall defensive teams year in and year out. They clog up the neutral zone and teams find it hard to break out and get into Waterloo's zone. Lee Moffie is someone who has really stood out to me. When the pre-season rolled around, it sounded like Moffie was just there to get looked at and didn't have much of a shot to make the squad. He showed the coaching staff he was worthy, and he has been pretty impressive for such a young kid at this level. He is tied for the team lead in points by a defenseman with 14 and is a +5 on the year. Another guy I really like on this team is Dan Sova. He attended a futures camp a couple years back, and I thought he was one of the best players out there. He had size and was very mobile for how big he was. Waterloo snatched him up, and he has been a nice addition to their blue line. He's chipped in offensively, and is also good on the defensive side. He's also not afraid to drop the gloves and stand up for his teammates.
The offense has been led by team captain Craig Smith and Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Smith, in his third year, has developed into one of the league's best. He's one of those kids you just can't help but root for. Came in his rookie season and had a decent point output, but he just kept working hard. He is one of the hardest workers on the ice I've seen over the last few years, and this year it is paying off big time. Jordan Samuels-Thomas is another guy that has developed nicely. After posting just 11 points last season, he is on the verge of doubling that before the halfway mark. Derek Arnold has been a nice surprise as well. He's come in and has netted 14 red-lighters, second most on the team so far this season.
Team Grade: A
Total Points: 35
Goal Leader: Craig Smith - 15
Assist Leader: Craig Smith - 17
Points Leader: Craig Smith - 32
PIM Leader: Nick Larson - 61
+/- Leader: Chris Student - +20
Wins Leader: Joe Howe - 12
When it comes to Waterloo, you know you're going to get a top notch team on the ice every year with P.K. O'Handley behind the bench. Waterloo had some early struggles, but they have roared back and currently sit in 2nd place in the East. Joe Howe emerged as a very capable goalie last year, splitting time with Matt DiGirolamo. When this season rolled around, you knew Waterloo would be a force just due to them having a top notch goalie. They brought in Parker Milner before the Fall Classic, and he's stuck. He has only played in 8 games, but he boasts a 5-2-0 record for the Hawks. Milner has been solid in the couple of games I've been able to see him, so Waterloo has a very capable goaltending duo to keep them in games.
As far as the defense goes, Waterloo is generally one of the best overall defensive teams year in and year out. They clog up the neutral zone and teams find it hard to break out and get into Waterloo's zone. Lee Moffie is someone who has really stood out to me. When the pre-season rolled around, it sounded like Moffie was just there to get looked at and didn't have much of a shot to make the squad. He showed the coaching staff he was worthy, and he has been pretty impressive for such a young kid at this level. He is tied for the team lead in points by a defenseman with 14 and is a +5 on the year. Another guy I really like on this team is Dan Sova. He attended a futures camp a couple years back, and I thought he was one of the best players out there. He had size and was very mobile for how big he was. Waterloo snatched him up, and he has been a nice addition to their blue line. He's chipped in offensively, and is also good on the defensive side. He's also not afraid to drop the gloves and stand up for his teammates.
The offense has been led by team captain Craig Smith and Jordan Samuels-Thomas. Smith, in his third year, has developed into one of the league's best. He's one of those kids you just can't help but root for. Came in his rookie season and had a decent point output, but he just kept working hard. He is one of the hardest workers on the ice I've seen over the last few years, and this year it is paying off big time. Jordan Samuels-Thomas is another guy that has developed nicely. After posting just 11 points last season, he is on the verge of doubling that before the halfway mark. Derek Arnold has been a nice surprise as well. He's come in and has netted 14 red-lighters, second most on the team so far this season.
Team Grade: A
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Report Card: Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Team Record: 15-5-0
Total Points: 30
Goal Leader: Mike Seidel, Jeff Costello - 10
Assist Leader: Mike Seidel - 22
Points Leader: Mike Seidel - 32
PIM Leader: Paul Phillips - 31
+/- Leader: Kyle Flanagan - +16
Wins Leader: Mike Johnson - 12
Cedar Rapids is generally a team you know is going to be good each year. They always seem to have great starts to the year, and this one is no different. They have guys who can put the puck in the net night after night to go along with guys who can keep the puck out of the net night after night and that is a scary combination for any opponent. Coach Mark Carlson always brings in some top notch goalies, and this year the trend continues with Mike Johnson and Troy Grosenick. Though Johnson has gotten the majority of the games this season, Grosenick has been excellent in his limited time. He is 3-2-0 with a 1.95 GAA and a 92.1 save percentage. Meanwhile, Johnson showed some promise when he appeared in a couple of games last season for Cedar Rapids. He spent last season in the NAHL with St. Louis (with current Gambler head coach, Jon Cooper), so you know he had some great coaching down there. He boasts a 1.94 GAA and a 92.6 save percentage.
The Riders have not only scored the most goals so far (88) but have also given up the least goals (39). That says a lot about this team. They are disciplined and know how to score and, maybe most importantly, know how to keep the puck out of their net. Mike Seidel is in his 3rd year now, and he is putting up some very impressive numbers. Only 5 times this season has Seidel been held to no points in a game, and he's still averaging well over a point-per-game. The offense seems pretty well spread out, so it's hard for teams to set up a game plan for Cedar Rapids. The Riders seem to do most things right, and right most of the time and I feel this team is going to go places this year. One player to watch is Greg Burke. He was really impressive at the Fall Classic, but has only appeared in 8 games this season. I don't know if he's injured or what the deal is, but he is a pleasure to watch.
Defensively, this team is one of the best out there. Overall team D is really good for this team as well. On the season, only 3 players are in the minus column. Two of those players (Burke and Tobias Nilsson-Roos) have appeared in only a handful of games. Derik Johnson was recently traded and he was only a -2. Matt Donovan is the best defenseman Cedar Rapids has, and may be one of the better ones in the whole league. He is followed closely by Paul Phillips and Darren Rowe. This defense not only stops the shooter from getting quality shots, or even shots off at all, but they can burn you and put points up on the board, almost at will. A player like Doug Leaverton is one that is fun to follow along. He made the team last year as a free agent and played in only 20 games. He took it all and worked hard and is now a very dependable USHL defenseman who should have colleges talking to him soon, if they're not already.
This team is just simply flawless from what I can see right now. I can only give them an A+ for their efforts through 1/3 of the season.
Total Points: 30
Goal Leader: Mike Seidel, Jeff Costello - 10
Assist Leader: Mike Seidel - 22
Points Leader: Mike Seidel - 32
PIM Leader: Paul Phillips - 31
+/- Leader: Kyle Flanagan - +16
Wins Leader: Mike Johnson - 12
Cedar Rapids is generally a team you know is going to be good each year. They always seem to have great starts to the year, and this one is no different. They have guys who can put the puck in the net night after night to go along with guys who can keep the puck out of the net night after night and that is a scary combination for any opponent. Coach Mark Carlson always brings in some top notch goalies, and this year the trend continues with Mike Johnson and Troy Grosenick. Though Johnson has gotten the majority of the games this season, Grosenick has been excellent in his limited time. He is 3-2-0 with a 1.95 GAA and a 92.1 save percentage. Meanwhile, Johnson showed some promise when he appeared in a couple of games last season for Cedar Rapids. He spent last season in the NAHL with St. Louis (with current Gambler head coach, Jon Cooper), so you know he had some great coaching down there. He boasts a 1.94 GAA and a 92.6 save percentage.
The Riders have not only scored the most goals so far (88) but have also given up the least goals (39). That says a lot about this team. They are disciplined and know how to score and, maybe most importantly, know how to keep the puck out of their net. Mike Seidel is in his 3rd year now, and he is putting up some very impressive numbers. Only 5 times this season has Seidel been held to no points in a game, and he's still averaging well over a point-per-game. The offense seems pretty well spread out, so it's hard for teams to set up a game plan for Cedar Rapids. The Riders seem to do most things right, and right most of the time and I feel this team is going to go places this year. One player to watch is Greg Burke. He was really impressive at the Fall Classic, but has only appeared in 8 games this season. I don't know if he's injured or what the deal is, but he is a pleasure to watch.
Defensively, this team is one of the best out there. Overall team D is really good for this team as well. On the season, only 3 players are in the minus column. Two of those players (Burke and Tobias Nilsson-Roos) have appeared in only a handful of games. Derik Johnson was recently traded and he was only a -2. Matt Donovan is the best defenseman Cedar Rapids has, and may be one of the better ones in the whole league. He is followed closely by Paul Phillips and Darren Rowe. This defense not only stops the shooter from getting quality shots, or even shots off at all, but they can burn you and put points up on the board, almost at will. A player like Doug Leaverton is one that is fun to follow along. He made the team last year as a free agent and played in only 20 games. He took it all and worked hard and is now a very dependable USHL defenseman who should have colleges talking to him soon, if they're not already.
This team is just simply flawless from what I can see right now. I can only give them an A+ for their efforts through 1/3 of the season.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Report Card: Indiana Ice
Team Record: 14-3-1
Total Points: 29
Goal Leader: Stanislav Galiev - 11
Assist Leader: Brandon Richardson - 15
Points Leader: Brandon Richardson - 22
PIM Leader: Will MacDonald - 34
+/- Leader: Garrett Kennedy - +13
Wins Leader: Brett Bennett - 11
I thought Indiana may start off slow and have some growing pains with a new coach, but they have made me look bad with that and are playing some great hockey. Brett Bennett seems to be the real deal and he has played in 15 of Indiana's 18 games. He has compiled an impressive 11-3-1 record along the way. Backup goalie, Chris Paliafito, has chipped in when his name is called, posting a 3-0-0 record.
Their offense has been great so far, notching 71 total goals. That's almost FOUR goals per game. The offense is led by USHL rookies Brandon Richardson and Stanislav Galiev. Also chipping in is USHL veteran Max Cook and newcomer Shane Berschbach. Berschbach has been a pleasant surprise for me. I had heard good things about him, though I wasn't sure he'd be able to produce like he has at this level right out of the gate. He stands in at 5'8" and weighs a hefty 135 lbs. Brent Gwidt hasn't factored much on the scoresheet, but you can bet he's doing all those little things for the team. He is one of, if not the best, defensive forward in the USHL. A player I'd keep an eye on now is Dan Cecka. He had a solid career in HS up in Minnesota, but hasn't translated that success to the USHL...yet.
Defensively, Indiana has allowed only 42 goals, good for 2nd best in the league. Leading the way offensively from the blue line are Torey Krug and Joe Hartman. Mikael Owilli has also been a nice surprise. I thought he played fairly decent at the Fall Classic, but Indiana has a surplus of overage players and I thought he may be the odd man out. Head coach, Jeff Blashill, decided to keep him and it has definitely paid off. Owilli has posted 8 points and is a +11.
For Indiana's first third of the year, I give them a very high A.
Total Points: 29
Goal Leader: Stanislav Galiev - 11
Assist Leader: Brandon Richardson - 15
Points Leader: Brandon Richardson - 22
PIM Leader: Will MacDonald - 34
+/- Leader: Garrett Kennedy - +13
Wins Leader: Brett Bennett - 11
I thought Indiana may start off slow and have some growing pains with a new coach, but they have made me look bad with that and are playing some great hockey. Brett Bennett seems to be the real deal and he has played in 15 of Indiana's 18 games. He has compiled an impressive 11-3-1 record along the way. Backup goalie, Chris Paliafito, has chipped in when his name is called, posting a 3-0-0 record.
Their offense has been great so far, notching 71 total goals. That's almost FOUR goals per game. The offense is led by USHL rookies Brandon Richardson and Stanislav Galiev. Also chipping in is USHL veteran Max Cook and newcomer Shane Berschbach. Berschbach has been a pleasant surprise for me. I had heard good things about him, though I wasn't sure he'd be able to produce like he has at this level right out of the gate. He stands in at 5'8" and weighs a hefty 135 lbs. Brent Gwidt hasn't factored much on the scoresheet, but you can bet he's doing all those little things for the team. He is one of, if not the best, defensive forward in the USHL. A player I'd keep an eye on now is Dan Cecka. He had a solid career in HS up in Minnesota, but hasn't translated that success to the USHL...yet.
Defensively, Indiana has allowed only 42 goals, good for 2nd best in the league. Leading the way offensively from the blue line are Torey Krug and Joe Hartman. Mikael Owilli has also been a nice surprise. I thought he played fairly decent at the Fall Classic, but Indiana has a surplus of overage players and I thought he may be the odd man out. Head coach, Jeff Blashill, decided to keep him and it has definitely paid off. Owilli has posted 8 points and is a +11.
For Indiana's first third of the year, I give them a very high A.
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