Wednesday Morning Link Roundup

-I've been trying to do some more research to familiarize myself with recent 2011 forward recruit Joseph Labate (pictured) out of the Academy of Holy Angels in the twin cities. I came across this fantastic interview that he did with McKeens hockey. The interview gives some great insight to his game and the recruiting process. Note that the interview was done February 22nd. He doesn't even mention Wisconsin as an option in the interview but committed a mere 12 days later. Shows you how fast things can move in the recruiting world.

-As you are probably already aware the United States Hockey League completed it's "Futures Draft" last week and the only player with Wisconsin ties to be selected was Notre Dame Academy forward Jason Reynolds. The DePere, WI native was selected by the Youngstown Phantoms. The club recently put out a release detailing the players selected, this is what they had to say about Reynolds.

“Jason is the top ’95 born forward coming out of the state of Wisconsin right now,” said Koehler. “Reynolds is a true competitor and he is developing into a “coaches’ favorite”. As a sophomore - he is already the top center playing on one of the elite high school hockey teams is his state and producing well at a young age compared to other older junior and senior forwards in the state.”

-As first reported on this website, Hudson forward Ryan Dau has committed to play for the Air Force Academy. Dplaya at the WSN Hockey In Wisconsin blog interviewed Dau about his decision to play at a service academy. Dau is the fourth player from this past season's Team Wisconsin squad to commit to a division 1 college program. Dau is also the fourth player to come out of the Hudson program in the past decade to division 1. (Davis Drewiske, Jake Drewiske, and Andy Bohmbach are the others)

-Minnesota picked up a goaltender recruit from the USHL in Des Moines Buccaneers netminder Michael Shibrowski. He's actually a transfer from Colorado College but decided to go back to the USHL after it became apparent that Joe Howe was going to be the guy for the Tigers. This brings up an interesting situation for the Gophers because they currently have Muskegon (USHL) goalie Joel Vienneau scheduled to come in to replace departing senior Alex Kangas.

I can't imagine Minnesota rocking three scholarship goalies next year with Kent Patterson, Shibrowski and Vienneau (they also have walk on third stringer Jake Kramer). To make things more complicated they have Green Bay Gamblers goalie Adam Wilcox committed for 2012. If I had to guess, it would be that the Gophers have pulled Vienneau's offer. He played pretty bad in the USHL this season. Should be interesting to follow.

-Internet rumors that Green Bay Gamblers head coach Eric Rud was at Michigan Tech today to interview for their head coaching opening were confirmed by Wes Hodkiewicz from the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Michigan Tech has reportedly already been turned down by Nebraska-Omaha head coach Dean Blais and Michigan assistant Mel Pearson. UNO assistant Mike Hastings has also interviewed for the position.

-Rumors are circulating from Grand Forks that North Dakota forwards Mike Cichy and Brett Bruneteau are considering transferring. According the rumors, Cichy is looking to transfer to Western Michigan in the CCHA, and Bruneteau to Vermont in Hockey East. Neither player saw much ice time for the Sioux last season so the news isn't entirely shocking.

I'll leave you with this little gem. Video of Wisconsin superstar forward Hilary scoring the game winning goal for Team USA in OT of the gold medal game at the IIHF Women's World Championships.



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Is Eric Rud Tech's New Leading Man?

When Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell "stepped down" shortly after the Huskies season ended in mid-March, the speculation as to who had big enough balls to take the job was underway.

I mean let's be honest, besides being in the WCHA there isn't a lot going for Tech right now. Under Russell the Huskies were 70-197-37 in eight seasons. I'm no mathematician but that's a little more than 8 wins a season. Considering only one school that made the NCAA tournament this season had less than 20 wins (Western Michigan, 19), it's safe to say that the Huskies haven't been close to sniffing the NCAA tournament in a decade.

A lot of the names being thrown around are pipe dreams. Cary Eades (North Dakota Assistant), Steve Miller (Denver Assistant) and Mel Pearson (Michigan Assistant) aren't leaving three of the top programs in the country even to be the head man at Tech.

The name that keeps coming to the top of discussions is Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) head coach Eric Rud. Formerly an assistant coach at St. Cloud State and before that Colorado College, Rud is currently in his first season with the Gamblers and has guided Green Bay to the second best record currently in the Eastern Conference with a 39-15-4 record. The Gamblers 82 points this season is tied for the second most in the entire league.

Sources that have unbelievable track records of truth in the past have indicated to me that Rud is Tech's man. Secondary sources have said the same. However, I have not been able to confirm this with someone that I feel is close enough to the situation to report it as a done deal yet so keep that in mind. But it certainly seems like a situation where if there is smoke, there is fire.

The Gamblers wrap up their regular season this weekend when they are on the road at Waterloo and Des Moines. Teams with an announcement like this usually like to have a press conference when they bring the coach in and the whole 9 yards. With Green Bay set to start the USHL playoffs soon, an official announcement could be weeks away.

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