Wisconsin Badger Hockey: Linkin' It Up

So I decided to be somewhat lazy today and just do some links. Whatever, it's Friday right?

Chris at Western College Hockey has an interesting post on Scott Harrington and the OHL draft coming up on Saturday. If that doesn't scream I have a pre-draft deal done with a team drafting later in the first round, than I don't know what does. The only thing more obvious would just be him saying, "If I don't get drafted by one of these 3 teams, I'm going to play college, so suck on these." If you weren't aware, the OHL draft is on Saturday and I did a little bit of a Wisconsin preview a few days ago.
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Chris also has a list of players drafted in the recent WHL Bantam draft. The WHL drafts it's players a year earlier than it's OHL and QMJHL counterparts. For reference, here is a map of the CHL and which leagues represent which states. The states not colored in are also part of the OHL.
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Couretesy of Iceburg on GPL, here are the rosters out of Minnesota for the Select 16 and 17 festivals. Obviously there is a ton of good players on those two rosters. Players already committed to colleges: Forbort, North Dakota; Marshall, Minnesota; Benik, St. Cloud; Bjugstad, Minnesota; and Gardiner, Minnesota. (I think thats all for now, I'm probably wrong)
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Courtesy of USA Hockey on Sioux Sports, here is a link to the prestigious 1994 Prospects tournament in Toronto this weekend. Not a ton of local players playing but there is some. Lots of Team Illinois players on the Complete Hockey Selects roster. We all know that TI is a huge pipeline to UW.

Cal Peterson, a goalie playing for the Madison Capitols Bantam team is playing for the Waterloo Jr. Blackhawks squad. Ian McCoshen, a defenseman from Hudson via Shattuck St. Marys is also playing for Waterloo. Same goes for New Richmond defenseman Zach Stepan also via Shattuck. Austin Kath, a defensman from the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals program, who played at Select 14's last year, is also playing for Waterloo. Another Admirals player on Waterloo is forward Ashton Wackym who also played at the select 14 festival last summer.

Other Wisconsin players: Goaltender David Zevnik from the Wisconsin AAA program will be playing for the West Coast Selects. Defenseman Nicholas LeSage from the Green Bay Jr. Gamblers is also listed on the West Coast Selects roster. Zach Merrick from the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals is listed with Team Harrow.
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Earlier in the week we talked about Jake Dowell getting called up to be Blackhawks for playoff depth. It looks like Jack Skille has also been called up. Thanks to MadCityRich for the heads up.
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Thanks to ExileOnDaytonStreet for pointing out that Dany Heatley had a goal yesterday for team Canada at the World Championships.
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Chris Vande Velde has announced that he will return to UND for his senior season. I honestly thought that he would probably sign. He should be a favorite to be on the All conference team next season. Vande Velde is a really good player who is learning how to use his size to his advantage.
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Brad Schlossman from the GF Herald has a post up about Omaha to the WCHA. It makes a ton of sense for UNO to make the move, let's hope they do it.
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Let's go DU, which is obviously a Denver Pioneer blog, is moving to a full scale website and message board this summer. They do a great job over there so I'm interested to see how this goes for them.
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In other Denver news, Rhett Rakhshani, who has the BEST name in college hockey, and is one of my favorite players in the WCHA, has announced he is returning to DU for his senior season. He is another player that I thought would bolt to the NHL. But, his rights are held by the Islanders, and honestly who wants to leave school early to play for that dismal franchise?