Several Tuesday evening links

Some random stuff this evening . . .

• Jacqueline Boscacci has twittered that 1070 has an interview with Tracey DeKeyser. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but I'd imagine it's interesting.

• This month's issue of USA Hockey Magazine has a nice article about training for the US Women's National Team, including quotes from Meaghan Duggan, Jinelle Zaugg, and Kerry Weiland. There are also several photos, including one of Erika Lawler and one of Mark Johnson with a couple of players (I think one is Molly Engstrom, but don't quote me on that).

• Andy Baggot tells us that Josh Engel has been offered a contract by Toronto. I can't find anything more specific than that right now. Last season, Engel played for the ECHL's Gwinnett Gladiators, the AHL's Providence Bruins, and the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

• In the same post, Baggot tells us that Jake Gardiner, Derek Stepan, and Mark Osiecki will leave Wednesday for the World Junior Team evaluation camp in Lake Placid. The camp runs from Aug 7 through Aug 15 and will include practices, intrasquad scrimmages, and 4 games v. Russia.

• Also in the same post, Baggot notes that 16 y.o. defenseman Barrett Kaib recently made an unofficial campus visit. Kaib previously played for Culver Military Academy and will play for the USNTP U17 this upcoming season. Can't say I know anything about Kaib. Anyone know anything they can share?

• We had previously linked THN's top-10 American-born players, and now we bring you NHL.com's top-10 current American-born players. Brian Rafalski comes in at #5:

  5. Brian Rafalski, D, Detroit -- Rafalski finished with career highs in assists (49) and points (59) in 78 games last season. He averaged 23:10 of ice time per game and finished with a plus-17 rating, mostly playing alongside Nicklas Lidstrom. Rafalski, who has never finished a season with a negative plus/minus rating, has produced 425 points in 692 career games in his nine NHL seasons.

• Former Badger assistant and USNTDP U17 head coach John Hynes is leaving USA Hockey to be an assistant coach for the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

  "John has done a tremendous job and had a positive impact on hockey in our country on many fronts. He’s got a bright future and we wish him and his family the very best." -- Scott Monaghan, director of operations for the NTDP
  
  "We were fortunate to have John as part of our coaching staff at the NTDP for seven years. He has certainly left his mark on the way we develop players in this country." -- Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey

• Patrick Eaves, who was recently traded to Boston and then placed on waivers, has signed a 1-year $500,000 deal with the Detroit Red Wings.

• UND's Matt Frattin pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and and received a $225 fine and a 10-day suspended sentence. The fleeing charge was dropped. I wonder if all the charges would've been dropped if the lawnmower had been maroon and gold . . .

  A UND hockey player pleaded guilty Monday to disorderly conduct for throwing dinnerware, a kitchen table and a red lawnmower onto a Grand Forks street.