Vitals:Position: Forward
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Hometown: Hayward, WI
Previous Team: Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) in 06/07
NHL Considerations: 5th round selection (2007) of the LA Kings.
07/08 Stats: 37 games, 4-7-11, +3, 44 PIM
06/07 Stats: 60 games, 25-29-54, +18, 66 PIM
08/09 Role: 4th Line (this could easily change to 2nd Line)
07/08 Recap: Following a very successful season in the USHL, Podge started last season off as the top line RW w/ Kyle Turris and Ben Street. This didn't last too long, and for most of the season Podge found himself skating w/ the 4th line. Podge showed flashes of scoring touch, but didn't get the chances skating fewer minutes.
08/09 Thoughts: I think Podge will play in most games again this season, but competition will be fierce. Podge is going to have to step up his play to stay in the lineup w/ the strong freshman class coming in. It looked like Podge took awhile last season to adjust to the WCHA, and that adjustment could mean he is ready for a breakout year this season. The kid can score, now he just needs to show it at the higher level of the WCHA.
Prediction: 28 games, 4-8-12
Photo from uwbadgers.com
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