Men's Player Previews: #10 Patrick Johnson

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Left
Height: 5-9
Weight: 155
Hometown: Madison, WI
Previous Team: Lincoln Stars (USHL) in 06/07

NHL Considerations: 7th Round pick (2008) of the Montreal Canadiens

07/08 Stats: 40 games, 8-13-21, +8, 36 PIM
06/07 Stats: 47 games, 11-16-27, -11, 50 PIM

08/09 Role: 1st or 2nd EV Line, PK and PP time for sure

07/08 Recap: In case you missed it, Patrick is the son of Badger great Mark Johnson and his grandfather is none other than the legendary "Badger" Bob Johnson. Patrick had huge shoes to step into as a freshman, and preformed admiralbly all year. Patrick is certainly not the scorer his father was, though he isn't so bad at it either, but he definately developed his own niche as a Badger and instantly became a fan favorite. What Patrick lacks in size he makes up w/ heart and hard work. He gave it his all every shift, and didn't have a problem going toe to toe w/ any of the big goons in the WCHA. My favorite memory of Patrick from his freshman season was his "owning" of North Dakota goon Joe Finley. To top off a successful freshman campaign, Patrick was a surprise pick (he wasn't even ranked by NHL Central Scouting) in June's draft going late to Montreal.

08/09 Thoughts: Patrick should do a lot of the same this season, working hard to make the most of his ice time. As wojo commented in Davies' preview, I have to wonder how the departure of Kyle Turris will affect Patrick from a scoring standpoint. Patrick isn't afraid to stand in front of the net and take a beating, so he should continue to record points in that fashion. It will be interesting to see how Patrick's game grows on offense. Though he won't be wearing a captain's letter, Patrick is still one of the most vocal players on the team, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Patrick wear the captain's C during his upperclassmen years. Joe Finley and other SOBs like Patrick Wiercioch better get their diapers ready, because Ratty is going to make you wish you never left the locker room.

Prediction: 36 games, 7-12-19

Photo from uwbaders.com

TSN's 30 Teams in 30 Days: Chicago Blackhawks

TSN is profiling each of the NHL teams in a little feature that they're calling "30 Teams in 30 Days".

Today, TSN profiled the Chicago Blackhawks. Adam Burish is mentioned as the team's penalty leader (214 PIM) last season, and Jack Skille is mentioned as a player to watch for, indicating that he has "plenty of offensive upside, could earn a full-time spot this year".

Oh, and speaking of Jack Skille, I just stumbled upon this article: Will Jack Skille Get a Chance to Prove Himself?

Chelios, Wings make it official

Thanks to Ody for the heads-up on this one!

The Wings have signed Chris Chelios to a 1-year deal. Next season will be his 25th season in the NHL. Wow.

Chelios acknowledges that his role this next season will be reduced due to the large number of young defensemen on the roster. He says he's happy to be back and looking forward to another great year.

For now, it sounds like Chelios feels that, when he's on the ice, he's able to contribute and not hurt the team. Until that changes, I get the impression that Chelios will do whatever it takes and play whatever role (however limited) his team asks, as long as he gets play and as long as his team keeps winning. It just remains to be seen how long he can continue to do this . . .


Edited to add: I just spotted this article that, while giving highlights of Chelios's career, also humorously points out just how long Chelios has been around.

More Hockey's Future: Top 20 Prospects, SM-Liiga

As you know, we've been posting Badgers that make HF's Top 20 lists as the Fall 2008 edition for each NHL team is released. Anyway, HF has released a few more teams, as well as feature on SM-Liiga. A number of Badgers make the Top 20 lists, and Badger Bernd Brückler and Coach Eaves' son Ben are mentioned in the SM-Liiga feature.

Montreal Canadiens:

2. (2) Ryan McDonagh, D, 19
Acquired 1st round, 12th overall, 2007

The Canadiens have placed a premium on blueliners over the past few seasons, and McDonagh represents the cream of the crop. Not only does he possess solid size on the blue line, at 6'1 and well over 200 pounds, but he represents the type of defenseman who's prized throughout the league -- a mobile, puck-moving presence with the ability to both start and finish the rush.

His skating has been described as "dimensional" by the team's player development guru, Trevor Timmins. McDonagh is expected to anchor a strong University of Wisconsin blue line this year. He is also expected to play a key role on Team USA for the upcoming WJC, despite being left off the squad last season.

Other notables: Patrick Johnson, C

Columbus Blue Jackets:

5. (NR) Cody Goloubef, D
Grade 7.0C Projection: Top 4 defenseman
Age: 18 Height/weight: 6'0, 195
Drafted 37th overall, 2008

Goloubef had a very good season in the NCAA, where impressively he played a regular shift as an 18-year-old defenseman. He finished the year with 10 points in 40 games for the Badgers. An extremely smart defender who makes an excellent first pass, Goloubef plays very well in his own end. He plays smart and safe, but there also is a good deal of offensive upside to his game.

Toronto Maple Leafs:

10. (6) Robbie Earl, LW, 23 -- Toronto Marlies (AHL) - 7C
Acquired: Sixth round, 187th overall in 2004.

While Earl improved during his second AHL season, he has yet to show the goal scoring touch that he did at the University of Wisconsin. The swift winger followed up his 12-goal, 30-point rookie season with 14 goals and 47 points last year, which earned him a nine-game stint with the Leafs that resulted in one assist. At times he was the best player on the ice last year, but there were also times he failed to make any impact at all. There is no questioning his speed and game-breaking ability from the wing, but whether or not he will ever produce like he did in college when he scored 41 goals and 90 points during his last 80 games, is another question. Earl will head to camp this fall hoping to lock down a spot on one of the Leafs' scoring lines with an impressive camp. No matter where he plays in 2008-09, he will have to produce more offensively to keep his prospect status.

New York Rangers:

11. (N/A) Derek Stepan, C, 7.5D
Age: 18
Acquired: Second Round, 51st overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft

A boom or bust prospect, Stepan was a major force at Shattuck St. Mary’s during the 2007-08 season. His 44 goals and 111 points led the team last year. Now a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, Stepan is a very good skater, with excellent hands, and a fast release. A natural playmaker, Stepan has a knack for making the right pass, and the speed to make things happen. Stepan will be looking to take his game to the next level on one of the best teams in collegiate hockey. Unlike some other hockey players, who take an extra year before beginning college, Stepan was extremely anxious to join the Wisconsin Badgers at age 18, and currently is one of the youngest players on the team. It is hard to predict at this point how long it will be before Stepan is ready for a professional hockey career. There is no question that he has a lot of potential, but it will be awhile before the Rangers know whether Stepan will be boom or bust.

LA Kings:
Other Notables -- Davis Drewiske (D), Joe Piskula (D)



Finnish SM-Liiga prospects 2008-09 season preview

BLUES
Like Karpat, Espoo Blues will have a primarily veteran lineup as they prepare for Champions League and SM-Liiga play. However, unlike their Northern rivals the Blues were able to keep much of their lineup intact – including top two scorers Ryan Keller and Stefan Ohman. Keller, a 24-year-old former Saskatoon Blade, is one of three North American imports for the Blues along with defenseman Dale Clarke and former Penguins’ draft pick Ben Eaves. Coach Petri Matikainen should have another strong club this season.

Austrian goalie Bernd Bruckler was drafted by the Flyers in 2001 and played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin (where Eaves’ father Mike is the head coach). Bruckler was a workhorse for the Blues last year and should again handle the bulk of the goaltending duties. Antti Harma (a 1987-born goalie) gained some professional experience last year playing for KooKoo (Mestis) and was also on the Finnish junior team in 2007. Mika Korhonen (21) and Mikko Koskinen (20) split the duties on Espoo’s A junior club.

WCHA 08/09 Previews: Minnesota-Duluth

School: Minnesota Duluth
Mascot: Bulldogs
Head Coach: Scott Sandelin, 9th year, 122-160-37

Last Season: 9-14-5, 8th place WCHA; 13-17-6 Overall

Predicted 08/09 WCHA Finish: 8th

Key Departures:
D Jason Garrison, 5-9-14*
F Matt McKnight, 6-10-16
F Mike Curry, 3-4-7
D Travis Gawryletz, 1-5-6
*All stats listed from 07/08

Key Returnees:
F Sharp McGregor (Sr), 7-10-17
F Nick Kemp (Sr), 7-8-15
F Andrew Carrell (Sr), 8-6-14
D Josh Meyers (Sr), 6-8-14
F Jordan Fulton (Jr), 5-9-14

Top Sieve: Alex Stalock (Jr), 13-17-6, 2.35 GAA

Key Additions:
D Brady Lamb, 10-22-32 in AJHL (Outstanding Defenseman Award)
F Jack Connolly, 26-46-72 in USHL (USA Junior POY)
F Mike Connolly, 25-41-66 in AJHL
G Brady Hjelle, 22-14-4, 2.50 GAA in USHL
F Travis Gleksuk, 14-30-44 in USHL

When Wisconsin Beats tUMD: @ DECC 11/14 & 11/15, KC 1/30 & 1/31

07/08 Recap: Similar to Michigan Tech, Duluth went out of the gate pretty strong last season. They were in the running for home ice until the very end of the season, but slowly slid down the standings as the weeks went by. Duluth’s biggest problem was offense, hard to win when you don’t score many goals. Alex Stalock was pretty solid in net, when he wasn’t taking a swipe at Blake Geoffrion, or taking other stupid penalties for a goalie.

08/09 Thoughts: Duluth could finish higher than my predicted finish of 8th. The obvious is that they are going to have to score more goals this season. They didn’t lose much to graduation, and have a solid group of seniors leading the way, though none of them jump out to me. Alexander “the great big sieve” Stalock should anchor a solid defense each night. I would think Scott Sandelin needs a good year too. It wasn’t that long ago that he had Duluth in the Frozen Four, but lately they’ve been battling to stay out of the WCHA basement. One thing that Duluth has going for them is their freshman class. In researching this post, it appears that Duluth has one of the better classes in the WCHA. Jack Connolly and Brady Hjelle are both coming off very good seasons in the USHL. While Hjelle won’t see a ton of time in net, Duluth should have a good one in the future. Being honored as the USA Junior POY is no small honor for Jack Connolly, who could be a top scorer for Duluth. Adding the AJHL Oustanding Defenseman in Brady Lamb doesn’t hurt either.

The blog is headed to Duluth in November. I can’t wait to see how big of a dump the DECC really is.

Women's Player Previews: #9 Mallory Deluce

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Left
Height: 5-7
Hometown: London, Ontario
Previous Team: Mississauga Aeros
Major: ?

07/08 Stats: 39 games, 12-19-31, +24, 8 PIM

Thoughts: Mallory was tied for 9th in the NCAA's for freshman scoring, which helped land her on the WCHA All-Rookie Team. Off the ice, she is working toward obtaining her private pilot's license and is a black belt in karate.

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Your 2008-09 Blaine Badgers . . .

(From left to right: Molly Engstrom, Kerry Weiland, Jinelle Zaugg. Photos from usahockey.com)

The US Women's National Residency Program began yesterday in Blaine, MN. The residency program runs through March and consists of post-collegiate players who will be vying for team USA roster spots for the Team Four Nations Cup (Nov 4-9, 2008) and the World Women's Championships (Apr 4-12, 2009).

Badgers participating in the Blaine Residency are Molly Engstrom (D, Siren, WI, 2001-05), Kerry Weiland (D, Palmer, AK, 1999-03), and Jinelle Zaugg (F, Eagle River, WI, 2004-08), although Jinelle will not be joining the program until December.

Tom Osiecki, father of Badger Men's Assistant Mark Osiecki, will be coaching the program, and USA Hockey has a fantastic article about him.

The training schedule consists looks like this:
Mondays 8:30 am - weight training, 10:00-11:30 - on-ice practice
Tuesdays 10:00-11:30 - on-ice practice
Wednesdays 8:30 am - weight training
Thursdays 10:00-11:30 - on-ice practice
Fridays 8:30 am - weight training

The game schedule consists of playing the Minnesota Whitecaps (the professional women's team in MN), women's NCAA (each of the WCHA teams and Mercyhurst), local boys' teams, and local men's league teams. The men's league games will be on Wednesdays evenings, and the other games will be on Saturdays and Sundays.

You can see the team play the Badger Women on Sat, Jan 3 at 7pm and the Madison Capitals Minor Midget AAA on Sun, Jan 4 (time TBA). So, I'm going to to do my best to get to the Sunday game. The Saturday game presents a scheduling conflict, as the Badger Men are hosting Northern that night. I wonder where they'll play on Saturday (it won't be the Kohl), and I sure wish they'd consider changing to an afternoon time. Because I sure wouldn't mind being able to catch 4 games in 1 weekend.

Given that the residency just started yesterday, USA Hockey has quite a bit of content up already. I'm hoping that this trend continues! We'll do our best to keep you updated here on our blog, but you can find coverage at any time by visiting the Blaine Residency Program Homepage. Looks like Caitlyn Cahow will be continuing to write her blog (which she started in July and continued during the National Festival) throughout the program, and she mentions that other members of the team will make guest appearances on the blog. Hopefully we'll see some Badgers!

Men's Player Previews: #9 Michael Davies

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Junior
Shoots Right
Height: 5-8
Weight: 182
Hometown: Chesterfield, MO
Previous Team: Lincoln Stars (USHL) in 05/06

NHL Considerations: None yet, but I think Michael has an outside shot.

07/08 Stats: 39 games, 13-11-24, +8, 40 PIM
06/07 Stats: 41 games, 11-13-24, +1, 32 PIM

08/09 Role: 1st or 2nd EV Line, 1st PP Line

07/08 Recap: Michael tied for the team lead in goals last season w/ 13, and led the team in PP goals (7) and shooting percentage (15.1%). There is no doubt that Michael had another good offensive season for the Badgers. His game also grew on the defensive side of the puck, and was much improved over his freshman season, where it often appears he was just out there for the offensive side of things, but he still has room to improve. Michael still doesn't appear to give it his all every shift, something Coach Eaves noticed which led one series to a saturday benching.

08/09 Thoughts: While it sounds like I'm being pretty hard on Michael in my recap, its because I think he could do a lot more for the Badgers if he put his all into every shift. Afterall, the name of the blog is 60 minutes, no alibis, no regrets. Along w/ Blake Geoffrion and Ben Street, Michael is our other top returning offensive threat. If he works to make more of his opportunities in the offensive end, and bury a few more shots, he could have a big season. The right combination on the PP w/ Michael could produce a rather potent unit, something the Badger's PP rarely sees. The following prediction could be low if he raises his game to another level this season, both on offense and defense.

Prediction: 35 games, 16-10-26

Photo from uwbadgers.com

And the Winner is . . . THE HALLUCINATION

With bonus points for incorporating McLeod and Sheppard into the same picture and for making Sheppard into a monkey (ok, he does that himself, lol), The Hallucination wins our little art contest.

Congratulations, TH!

Women's Player Previews: #35 Alannah McCready

Unfortunately there aren't 35 days in September, but 3+5=8, so why not post about Alannah McCready today.

Vitals:

Position: Goalie
Year in School: Junior
Catches Left
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Blaine, MN
Previous Team: Centennial HS
Major: Psychology

07/08 Stats: 3 games, 2-0-1, 0.00 GAA

Thoughts: W/ Jessie Vetter in net there isn't much playing time to go around, but it appears Wisconsin has a pretty good backup. In limited action last year Alannah's stats are rather impressive.

Men's Player Previews: #8 Podge Turnbull

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

60's Third-Annual Countdown

Just a heads-up that, once again, I'll be counting down the days until the puck drops to start the Men's Hockey Season. The theme this year is 32 All-Americans, so we'll be starting the countdown today with 32 days until the puck drops at Kelley Rink. Each day I'll profile one of the Badgers' 32 All-Americans, and I hope you'll all share your memories/stories/etc. So please participate in my Countdown Thread over on Buckyville! What fun!

DROP THE PUCK!

I know it's only been 2 games . . .

. . . but how cool is Justin Schultz?!

As Gandalf mentioned previously, Schultz scored a goal and an assist in his first game of the season Friday night (a 4-3 loss to Penticton), and he was named 1st Star of the Game for his efforts.

Last night, he scored a goal and was named 2nd Star of the Game as the Warriors defeated Quesnel 3-2.

Nice work, Justin!

Men's Player Previews: #7 Brendan Smith

Vitals:

Position: Defensemen
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Left
Height: 6-2
Weight: 174
Hometown: Mimico, Ontario
Previous Team: St. Michael's (OPJHL) in 06/07

NHL Considerations: 1st round pick (2007) of the Detroit Red Wings.

07/08 Stats: 22 games, 2-10-12, -5, 26 PIM
06/07 Stats: 39 games, 12-24-36, 90 PIM

08/09 Role: 2nd or 3rd EV pairing, 2nd PP pairing

07/08 Recap: Following his selection at the end of the 1st round of the 2007 NHL draft, Brendan went strong out of the gates last Fall and really showed his offensive skills in Dayton, OH and against Robert Morris. While Brendan showed a wealth of offensive skills for a defensmen, he didn’t show as much defending his own net last year. His pairing w/ Kyle Klubertanz to start the season was probably not the best decision for his growth, as he needed a stronger defensive presence to compliment his offensive skills. Brendan seemed to get down on himself following poor play as well, something he needs to shrug off in the future. Right after the Christmas break, Brendan suffered a back injury which ended his regular season.

08/09 Thoughts: Big year coming up for Brendan. His draft status comes w/ high expectations, and unlike his sophomore teammates Ryan McDonagh and Cody Goloubef who have begun living up those expectations, Brendan needs to takes a step forward this year. There is no doubt that Brendan has offensive skills and is a great skater, now he needs to start combining that w/ a strong defensive game. Brendan hasn’t played a game on the blue line since January, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that his work w/ Coach Osiecki has elevated his play. Though Brendan is only a sophomore, Jamie McBain is the only upperclassmen on the team, and he will need to step up and be a leader on the blue line. As 60 has pointed out a few times, it seems in interviews that Brendan is always worried about the future (aka when he’ll crack into the pros). If Brendan worries about one game at a time this season instead, his future will unfold all by itself and he’ll be skating in Detroit in a few years.

Prediction: 30 games, 4-13-17

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Women's Player Previews: #7 Meghan Duggan

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Junior
Shoots Right
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Danvers, MA
Previous Team: Cushing Academy
Major: ?

07/08 Stats: 38 games, 20-19-39, +24, 38 PIM

Thoughts: Well first off, Meghan and I share the same birthday, though I'm a few years older. Meghan happy birthday a few days late! Meghan has had quite a start to her UW career, being named WCHA Rookie of the Year in 06/07 and first team All-WCHA last year (among other accomplishments). Last year she led the team in points and will be one of the top players for the Badger Women again this year. Meghan also has some US Team experience, most recently playing in the 3 game series against Canada this summer.

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Women's Player Previews: #6 Anne Dronen

Vitals:

Position: Defense
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Left
Height: 5-4
Hometown: Chaska, MN
Previous Team: Minnesota Thoroughbreds
Major: Biology and Spanish

07/08 Stats: 33 games, 1-1-2, +12, 10 PIM

Thoughts: Not much to add, but it does appear she has some captain experience on her previous hockey team, and playing LaCrosse in high school.

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Men's Player Previews: #6 Tom Bardis

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Right
Height: 5-9
Weight: 186
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
Previous Team: St. Lawrence (ECAC)

NHL Considerations: None at this time.

07/08 Stats: Redshirt after transfer
06/07 Stats: 12 games, 2-2-4

08/09 Role: 4th Line

07/08 Recap: Tom transferred from St. Lawrence last school year and by NCAA rules had to sit out the season. Tom did practice w/ the team, spending most of the season paired w/ Craig Johnson to even out the defensemen.

08/09 Thoughts: No offense to Tom, but I’m still trying to figure out why he transferred to Wisconsin. His father was an athlete at UW for a year (wrestling), so there are definitely ties from that angle. Wisconsin is loaded w/ forwards this season, and Tom didn’t stand out during his freshman season at St. Lawrence. I’m always up for a surprise, perhaps Tom will provide that for the Badgers this season.

Prediction: 6 games, 1-1-2

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Meet the Freshmen: #4 Brittany Haverstock

Gandalf has been doing a bang-up job posting profiles of each member of the women's team, but I thought I'd add some additional information on the incoming freshmen.

First up: #4 Brittany Haverstock, D
Gandalf's profile
Uwbadgers.com profile
Team Canada profile (scroll to page 18)

(Photos from uwbadgers.com and pwhl.ca.)

Brittany has quite a bit of national and international experience, and I'll see what I can do to summarize it here.

Playing with Team Nova Scotia, she won gold medals at the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Atlantic Cup Championships and a bronze medal at the 2006 Atlantic Cup Championship. Also with Team Nova Scotia, she participated in the 2005 Esso Women's Championships and 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Playing with Team Atlantic, she won a bronze medal at the Nov 2005 National Women's U18 Championships - at the age of 14, she was the youngest player in the tourney. Also with Team Atlantic, she participated in the Jan 2005 NWU18 Championships and the 2007 NWU18 Championships.

Playing with Team Canada U18, she won a silver medal in the 2008 IIHF World Women's Championships in January -- in 5 games, she had 2 assists and finished +10. She was also a member of the 2007 U18 team that swept Team USA in the U18 series last summer -- she scored a PP goal in Game 3. By the way, after playing in that tourney, she was featured in the Canadian Sports Center-Atlantic Newsleter.

As Gandalf mentioned, this summer Brittany moved up to Canada's U22 team and participated in the U22 series v. Team USA. Click here and scroll to page 18 to see her profile in Team Canada's media guide. Team Canada won the series 2-1, but Brittany was held of the scoresheet.



Brittany played last season with the Stoney Creek Sabres of the Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL). With the Sabres, she won gold medals at the PWHL Championships and the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA) Provincials.

I'm a bit confused, because her profile at uwbadgers.com says the following: "Played for the Stoney Creek Junior Sabres of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League ... through 54 games tallied seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points for the Sabres ... two game-winning goals ... had a plus/minus of +29 ..." -- yet the PWHL stats page indicates she had 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 32 games. She finished second among Sabre defensmen in scoring.

It appears that Brittany has been a winner at every level -- prior to joining the Sabres, she played 2 years at the Warner Academy, a hockey academy in Warner, Alberta, where she helped the team win 2 consecutive league titles.



Brittany was named the 2008 IKON Female Team Athlete of the Year presented by Sport Nova Scotia.

Badgers Coach Mark Johnson says the following about Brittany:

“Brittany is an offensive defenseman who is a strong attacking threat from the blue line. She is a good skater with good skills, discipline and focus. She’s the type of defenseman who likes to join the rush.”

About hockey, Brittany says:

"You meet your closest friends through sport and no matter what you're doing with it you always have a great time. The opportunities are endless for hockey, you can get your education paid for and you can have the opportunity to represent your country on numerous occasions."

BCHL Starts Tonight

The BCHL regular season is underway! Why do we have to wait so long around here for hockey?!
Anyway, both Justin Schultz (Westside) and Derek Lee (Victoria) are in action tonight. I'll update the post in the morning w/ the details.

Justin's Westwide Warriors were on the losing end of things opening night, but he did have a goal and an assist to start the season. Nice work Justin!

Derek on the other hand saw his team get a win to start the season. Derek tallied a goal in the 3rd period. Nice work Derek!

Even More Erstad: Milewski talks to Wil Nichol

Todd Milewski just posted an article on TCT regarding Erstad's recent de-commitment to the Badgers. Todd talked to Pointers Head Coach Wil Nichol, and Nichol shares his knowledge of the situation. While Nichol isn't sharing Erstad's reasons, he does share that he tried to make sure that Erstad knew what he was doing by making this decision.

"I basically cross-examined the kid, and it was very evident to me that he had thought long and hard about this," Nichol said.

WCHA Previews: Michigan Tech

School: Michigan Tech
Mascot: Huskies
Head Coach: Jamie Russell, 6th year, 55-112-25

Predicted 08/09 WCHA Finish: 9th

Last Season: 14-20-5, 9th Place

Key Departures:
F Peter Rouleau, 12-17-29*
F Tyler Shelast, 16-10-26
F Jimmy Kerr, 9-10-19
G Michael-Lee Teslak, 8-11-4, 2.20 GAA
*All stats listed from 07/08

Key Returnees:
D Geoff Kinrade (Sr), 5-14-19
D Drew Dobson (Jr), 2-15-17
F Eric Kattelus (So), 2-8-10
F Jordan Baker (So), 3-6-9
F Alex Gagne (Sr), 5-4-9

Top Sieve: Rob Nolan (Sr), 6-9-1, 2.66 GAA

Key Additions:
F Seth Soley, 8-7-15 in USHL
F Brett Olson, 17-37-54 in USHL
F Bryce Reddick, 16-39-55 in BCHL
G Josh Robinson, 22-17-2, 2.94 GAA in USHL
F Mikael Lickteig, 34-40-74 in NAHL

When Wisconsin Beats MTU: KC 11/07 & 11/08

07/08 Recap: Tech started out of the gate pretty well and actually led the WCHA for a very short time last Fall. Following the quick start, things fell off as the season progressed and Tech couldn’t keep up w/ the race for WCHA home ice. It didn’t help that top netminder Michael-Lee Teslek spent some time out due to injury.

08/09 Thoughts: Tech lost their top three starters to graduation and one of the best goalies in the country in Teslek to the pros. Doing the research for Tech, maybe I should have had them 10th instead of UAA, things are looking pretty bleak for Tech from my prespective. They have a huge hole to fill in scoring from a team that is defense first to begin w/. In addition, there are questions in goal w/ “Red Light” Rob Nolan taking over the duties. Nolan did an adequate job last season, but now he will be the go to guy. One positive for Tech is what appears to be a strong recruiting class. They added two Wisconsin kids in Brett Olson and Seth Soley, who should both be immediate contributors to the team. Olson is an older freshman coming off an All-Star season in the USHL. Goalie Josh Robinson was actually born in Milwaukee though he grew up in Michigan. On thing Tech has going for it is a good coach. While I don’t see them competing for home ice, Jamie Russell should keep them out of the cellar.

Badger Women's Official 2008-09 Schedule

Uwbadgers.com has finally released the official 2008-09 schedule for the Badger Women. All times are local to the host institution.

SEPTEMBER
20 Sat Red/White Scrimmage Kohl Center
26-27 Fri/Sat Quinnipiac Kohl Center 7:07pm

OCTOBER
3-4 Fri/Sat Syracuse Kohl Center 7:07/12:07pm
10-11 Fri/Sat Ohio State OSU Ice Arena 7:07pm
17 Fri Bemidji State John Glas Fieldhouse 7:07pm
18 Sat Bemidji State Eveleth Hippodrome 6:07pm
24/26 Fri/Sun Minnesota Kohl Center 2:07pm

NOVEMBER
31/1 Fri/Sat Minnesota Duluth Kohl Center 2:07pm/11:07am
15-16 Sat/Sun North Dakota Engelstad Arena 2:07pm
21-22 Fri/Sat New Hampshire Fort Myers Skatium 7:07/2:07pm
28/30 Fri/Sun Minnesota State Kohl Center 2:07pm

DECEMBER
5-6 Fri/Sat St. Cloud State Kohl Center 2:07pm

JANUARY
9-10 Fri/Sat Minnesota Duluth DECC 7:07pm
16-17 Fri/Sat North Dakota Kohl Center 2:07/12:07pm
23-24 Fri/Sat St. Cloud State National Hockey Ctr. 7:07/2:07pm
31-1 Sat/Sun Ohio State Kohl Center 2:07/12:07pm

FEBRUARY
7-8 Sat/Sun Minnesota Ridder Arena 2:07pm
13-14 Fri/Sat Minnesota State All Season’s Arena 7:07/3:07pm
20-21 Fri/Sat Bemidji State Kohl Center 2:07pm
27-1 Fri-Sun WCHA Playoffs

MARCH
7-8 Sat/Sun WCHA Tournament Ridder, Minneapolis
13-15 Fri-Sun NCAA Quarterfinals Campus Sites
20/22 Fri/Sun NCAA Frozen Four Agganis Arena, Boston

A few Friday morning links

• Todd Milewski has more on Mike Valley and his new association with the Badger goaltenders.
  

• These alumni links come courtesy of uwbadgers.com. Somehow I missed them when they were first posted -- I suppose because uwbadgers.com posted them just before it posted Bill Howard's resignation.
  
  Here's a really nice video about Brian Rafalski's day with the Cup. Looks like Brian and his family had a really nice day. Nice to see Brian wearing a UW shirt during the fireworks.
  
  Here's a video about what Dany Heatley did this summer.
  

• Continuing with HF's Top 20 Prospects, Fall 2008 -- Chris Hickey is the #15 prospect for the Minnesota Wild.
  

  15. Chris Hickey, C, 19
  7th round, 192nd overall, 2006
  
  When the Wild picked Hickey, they knew they were getting a great athlete. He played in Minnesota state championship games his senior year of high school in football, hockey and baseball. He has a good frame to work with, listed at 6'1 and 185 pounds, and his work ethic is superb. However, as he discovered when he jumped from the high school ranks to Tri-City of the USHL, it only gets tougher from here on out. After scoring at a better than a goal a game clip in high school, Hickey tallied 15 goals and 16 assists in 55 games in his first USHL season. He will be skating this year with the perennial WCHA powerhouse Wisconsin Badgers where he will continue his development. The Wild will certainly have some eyes in the stands when the Badgers come to town to play the Gophers. If he can improve his game and develop the strength to play at the pro level, we could be hearing more from Hickey on the pro circuit in a few years.

• Gandalf has been previewing all 10 WCHA teams. He previously previewed UAA, and I'd expect a Tech preview shortly. Looks like a couple of other blogs are doing previews as well. This is the WCHA will begin previewing teams next week. Donald at UAA Hockey Fan Blog also has brief previews. Donald has CC running away with the top finish, Wisconsin finishing anywhere between #3 and #7, and UAA finishing no lower than #8 and possibly as high as #4. Interesting.
  

• The Third Man In has updated it's Blackhawks Depth Chart. For what it's worth, Adam Burish and Jake Dowell are listed as the #4 and #5 centers, and Jack Skille is listed as the #3 RW. You can see all 3 Badgers at the Hawks Red and White Event in Rockford on Sunday, September 21.
  

More Travis Erstad . . .

• From the Stevens Point Journal:
  

  [Erstad] acknowledged when push came to shove, he wanted to follow his heart and that meant staying closer to home.
  
  "Giving up on being a Badgers was pretty hard, but to go to school in your hometown, you can't beat that," Erstad said. "I thought about this at the end of last season and again in the middle of the summer. I decided that was what I wanted and went with it."

• From WAOW TV:
  

  According to a very surprised Nichol, Erstad wants to get school started instead of playing another year of junior hockey.

• When reporting this news, Todd Milewski speculates on the reason for Erstad's decsion:
  

  When he committed, Erstad said it was for either this fall or the 2009-10 season. One wonders whether not being included in this year's UW freshman class helped Erstad, a fourth-round NHL draft pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2007, change his mind.

• Chris of WCH shares his thoughts about the Erstad situation. Anticipating that some may point to this as a symptom of over-recruiting by the Badgers, Chris heads off the argument and contends that the Badgers were holding up their end of the bargain, reminding us that when Erstad committed it was for either the 08-09 or 09-10 season.
  

• By the way, we here at No Alibis No Regrets wish Travis the best of luck. We're sorry we won't see him wearing the Cardinal and White, and we wish him well in his career as a Pointer.
  

Men's Player Previews: #5 Blake Geoffrion

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Junior
Shoots Left
Height: 6-2
Weight: 187
Hometown: Brentwood, TN
Previous Team: US NTDP

NHL Considerations: 2nd round pick (2006) of the Nashville Predators. His great grandfather Howie Morenz, is in the HOF and had his # retired by the Montreal Canadiens. His grandfather Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion is largely credited for creating the slap shot, was a 7 time Stanley Cup winner and a HOF. His father also spent a few seasons in the NHL.

07/08 Stats: 36 games, 10-20-30, +11, 52 PIM
06/07 Stats: 36 games, 2-4-6, -2, 62 PIM

08/09 Role: 1st Line LW/C, 2nd PP Unit, 1st PK Unit

07/08 Recap: Blake took a HUGE step forward last season in his development. After what was a disappointing freshman campaign, Blake decided to play his game and that led to a lot of success. Blake did it all; he scored (2nd on the team in pts), took face-offs, grinded in the corner and was not afraid to get into it w/ opponents when necessary. Blake went from being the “penalty machine” as a freshman to being a team leader on and off the ice. It’s safe to say that Blake became a fan favorite. While not a glorious role, Blake was also one of our top PK guys. Blake joined Jamie McBain representing the United States at the WJC.

08/09 Thoughts: Blake’s return was not set in stone as there were thoughts he might join the Nashville Predators system, but instead he is back and co-captains the team w/ Ben Street. Some of Blake’s success last season arguably came from working w/ Kyle Turris on the 1st EV line and on the PP. W/ KT gone to the NHL, more pressure will fall on Blake’s shoulders this season, and Blake will have to work to make more of his own opportunities. I think Blake’s game will grow, but not necessarily on the scoresheet. Blake will continue to be our top PK forward, a role I think he is very happy to play. W/ his NHL bloodlines, Blake is a destined for a bright future.

Prediction: 36 games, 12-22-34, All-WCHA 3rd team

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Travis Erstad . . . ?

XYZ and oldtyme get credit for the scoop, posting over on uscho, and here's the story from the UWSP website.

Christmas has come early for UW-Stevens Point men’s hockey coach Wil Nichol. Travis Erstad, a 2007 fourth-round draft choice of the St. Louis Blues and UW-Madison recruit has announced his intentions to enroll at UWSP and play for his former coach.

Erstad, a standout forward at SPASH and the USHL’s Lincoln Stars has made the decision to play for his hometown Pointers this season. Erstad played for Coach Nichol at SPASH before joining the Stars in 2006-07 season. He played in eight games his first year and became a staple for the Stars in 2007-08.

“Travis stopped by my office, out of the blue, and said ‘I want to be a Pointer,’” said second-year head coach Wil Nichol. “ I just can’t believe it. It’s not every day a fourth round NHL draft pick says they want to be a Pointer.”

Nichol has good reason to be excited. The 6-4 200 pound Erstad played in 52 games last season for the Lincoln Stars at forward, notching nine goals and 10 assists.

“He can do it all,” said Nichol. “He has worked on the physical part of his game in juniors, which makes him a huge addition to a team that has a lot of components from last year coming back. From a hockey standpoint, this is huge.”

The Pointers open the 2008-09 season on Saturday, October 25 when they host Northland College at Willett Arena at 7:30 p.m.

So, does this mean that Erstad won't be a Badger, or does this mean he has some academic eligibolity problems that he's working on and is planning to transfer later to Wisconsin? Although, in the latter case XYZ indicates that Erstad would have to sit out a year if he transferred from UWSP to Wisconsin, so that seems like the less likely possibility.

I am curious about the timing of this in relation to Meuer's committment. I'm assuming that Erstad decided to enroll at UWSP shortly before Meuer committed?

Bill Howard Speaks . . .

Bill Howard tells us more about his decision to step down in this article by Andy Baggot. He admits that he and Eaves could have parted on better terms, but he is clear that he was not pushed out. He says he wasn't enjoying what he was doing as much anymore and that it just felt like the right time to step down. He maintains that the decision was his alone.

I'm sure part of the reason he wasn't enjoying himself as much was conflict with Eaves, but that's not much of a surprise. I'm still sad that Howard is gone, but I don't feel quite as bad about the situation anymore.

Valley to coach the Goalies

Some good news on this front has occurred, former UW netminder Mike Valley will sort of take over where Bill Howard left off in coaching the goalies.

I say sort of, because 1) no one will replace Bill Howard and 2) he will not be a volunteer assistant. Shane Connelly and Scott Gudmandson will actually pay to be coaching by Valley several times a week. Valley runs a business in Madison that tests hockey players, and it wouldn't work w/ in NCAA rules. How much our goalies will pay is another story, which isn't stated.

See how this all plays out in the future. For now, I think its a decent enough plan. Valley teaches a similar system to Howard, so the learning curve should be very small.

Thursday Odds & Ends

Well, right now I only have 1 item (not sure if it's an odd or an end), but hopefully I'll scrounge up a few more things by the end of the day, and I'll add them in as I find them.

• Andy Baggot reports that Mike Eaves can breathe a sigh of relief because classes have started without any further defections beyond KT and Bill Howard.
  

It's interesting, because he indicates that Howard's departure was not a surprise. While Baggot isn't very clear, I suppose he means that it wasn't a surprise to Eaves, because it sure seemed to shock pretty much everyone else, media included. But it makes sense that Eaves would have had an inkling that this was coming.

And while we know that Kevin Patrick was pursuing head coaching positions this offseason, Baggot also indicates that Mark Osiecki was sought after by college and NHL programs and that strength and conditioning coach Jim Snider turned down a position with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Men's Player Previews: #4 Eric Springer

Vitals:

Postition: Defenseman
Year in School: Freshman
Shoots Left
Height: 5-9
Weight: 186
Hometown: Wrightstown, WI
Previous Team: Sioux Falls (USHL) last season

NHL Considerations: None at this time.

07/08 Stats: 60 games, 8-23-31, +21, 94 PIM
06/07 Stats: Couldn't find any (please leave a comment if you know where I can find this info)

08/09 Role: 3rd EV Pairing, could see some PP time

07/08 Recap: In his one and only season in the USHL w/ the Sioux Falls Stampede, Eric did not disappoint. Eric was the top defenseman on the team in scoring and the top player in +/-. Eric's great season as an offensive defenseman landed him on the USHL All-Star team.

08/09 Thoughts: Eric was a late pickup for the Badgers to fill out the rest of the 08 freshman class, and frankly as I've stated it before, I think the Badgers got a steal here. Eric is going to be a good player for the Badgers, but probably won't see a ton of ice time this season. He sits behind McBain, McDonagh, Goloubef, Smith and Gardiner (all 1st or 2nd round NHL picks) and has to compete w/ Craig Johnson and Ryan Little for playing time (outside of injury and the WJC). Eric is also more of an offensive and left handed dman, on a team loaded w/ both. I have nothing concrete to go off of here, but I think he will share time w/ Johnson and Little. Even if he doesn't play a ton this year, Eric will be someone we can count on in the future, as he should be a 4 year player.

Prediction: 18 games, 1-4-5

picture from uwbadgers.com

Women's Player Previews: #4 Brittany Haverstock

Brittany is in Canadian Red fighting for the puck against future teammate Brooke Ammerman.

Vitals:

Position: Defense
Year in School: Freshman
Shoots Left
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Hammons Plains, Nova Scotia
Previous Team: Stoney Creek Junior Sabres
Major: Undeclared

07/08 Stats: 54 games, 7-20-27, +29

Thoughts: Despite her young age, Brittany already has experience on Canada's U22 team this summer. I remember nubeetle telling me she was one, if not the, top recruit coming from Canada to play NCAA Hockey. Regardless, she is from Nova Scotia, and while I haven't been there yet in my travels it sounds like a majestic place, and Wisconsin is glad to welcome one of their citizens for a few years.

AP Photo from John McIntosh from daylife.com

A few Wednesday afternoon items

• As mentioned yesterday, the Badger Men began working in small groups with the coaching staff. Todd mentions that the beginning of the season is still over a month away. To be precise, Todd, it's 37 days 'til the puck drops in Boston.


• A number of Badger men and women have attended prep schools prior to arriving at Wisconsin. Off the top of my head, Tom Bardis (Cushing Academy) and Ben Grotting, Jordy Murray, and Derek Stepan (Shattuck St. Mary's) come to mind on the men's side, and Meghan Duggan and Erika Lawler (Cushing Academy) come to mind on the women's side. The New England Hockey Journal has an interesting article on prep schools as a stepping stone to college hockey. (Thanks to The World of Junior Hockey for the link.)


• HIW has a link to a Youtube video that consists of 10 minutes of Gamblers highlights. As DPlaya points out, Aaron Crandall and Ryan Little make appearances.


• For those who don't follow recruiting much (Ma 60, this is for you!), The Bronco Hockey Blog has a nice primer on the recruiting process.
  
  

Men's Player Previews: #3 Craig Johnson

Vitals:

Position: Defenseman
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Left
Height: 5-10
Weight: 192
Hometown: Waupaca, WI
Previous Team: Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL) in 06/07

NHL Considerations: None at this time.

07/08 Stats: 16 games, 1-0-1, -1, 2 PIM
06/07 Stats: 60 games, 8-26-34

08/09 Role: 3rd EV Pairing

07/08 Recap: Craig was a late addition walk-on to the 2007 freshman class, to fill out the blue line core. Craig didn't see any action until the Badgers were shorthanded during the WJC. Due to an injury to Brendan Smith, Craig continued to see action after Jamie McBain's return from the WJC. Craig scored his lone goal and point against Michigan Tech. Overall, Craig ended up playing a lot more than anyone thought he would. He didn't play any special teams and rarely saw the ice in the 3rd period. While he wasn't flashy, he did an adequete job in his own end.

08/09 Thoughts: W/ all the top draft picks on the blue line, and the addition of two USHL All-Stars, Craig's time will likely be limited again this season. I would think this is to be expected, and while Craig won't play a large role in the 08/09 Badgers, he should see more ice time in his upperclassman seasons, especially w/ many early departures likely. Another year of learning under the wing of Coach Osiecki should go a long way for Craig's development. Craig turns 22 years old during the season.

Prediction: 10 games, 0-1-1

picture from uwbadgers.com

Women's Player Previews: #3 Olivia Jakiel

Vitals:

Position: Defense
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Left
Height: 5-10
Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
Previous Team: California Selects
Major: Journalism

07/08 Stats: 41 games, 1-4-5, +26, 10 PIM

Thoughts: Another California girl, Olivia and Kelly Nash were teammates before arriving in Madison. Her +/- is rather impressive from last season. She began playing ice hockey at age 11.

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Anyone want to coach Justin Schultz?

The Westside Warriors of the BCHL have a job opening as assistant coach. Justin Schultz is looking for another coach to help him prepare for a successful stay at Wisconsin starting next Fall, by finishing his BCHL career strong.

The only person I know who might be right for this job is Buckyville poster DoorCountyBadger or DCB for short. DCB turned down the assistant job at minnesota after Don Lucia required the new coach to grow a mullet.

Adam Burish on ESPN 1070

I was fortunate to be driving in my vehicle today and caught an interview w/ Adam Burish on the ESPN 1070 "On Wisconsin" program hosted by Brian Posick.

I don't have any links or anything cool like that, but I have a good summary of what he said. He wasn't expecting his role w/ the Blackhawks to be as the enforcer, but in camp he found a niche and went w/ it. He said there is nothing better than trying to "knock someone's face off" during a fight.

Despite all the NHL and recent US experience, the 2006 National Title is on the top of his list of accomplishments and he doesn't expect that to ever change. He also stated that he wished he could have had 4 more years of eligiblity, because he enjoyed his time at Wisconsin that much.

Sounds like he has a very strong relationship w/ Eaves too, said he talks to him weekly about various things.

He's hoping that Jack Skille and Jake Dowell can crack the 'Hawks roster this year and join him in the NHL.

Speaking of Skille, Burish mentioned how much he enjoyed beating down former rodent Keith Ballard after a cheap shot on Skille in a game last season. In case you haven't seen it, here it is.

Great to see Adam having success in the NHL!

Tuesday Evening Odds & Ends

• Per Todd, the Badger Men start working with coaches in groups of 4 tomorrow, Sept 3. On Sept 15, the coaching staff can begin skill work with the entire team 2 hours per week. Official practices begin Oct 4. Todd also has some height/weight info about this year's team in comparison to last year's team.


• Uwbadgers.com has finished updating men's bios to include stats and info from last season.

• Hey students -- uwbadgers.com reminds us that men's hockey student tickets are available, as are student Red Cards. Red Cards cost $25 and get you admittance to women's hockey, volleyball, softball, men's and women's soccer, and wrestling.

WCHA Previews: Alaska Anchorage

One last set of previews to set into motion, our opponents in the WCHA. I'm going to start w/ my projection for last place and move toward the top of the WCHA standings. Let's get things rolling...

School: University of Alaska Anchorage
Mascot: Seawolves
Head Coach: Dave Shyiak (4th year, 26-69-14)

Predicted 08/09 WCHA Finish: 10th

Last Season: 7-21-8, 10th Place

Key Departures:
F Peter Cartwright, 3-14-17*
F Marit Waldrop, 6-6-12
*All stats listed from 07/08

Key Returnees:
F Josh Lunden (Jr), 14-13-27
F Kevin Clark (Jr), 7-16-23
F Paul Chowder (Jr), 7-16-23
F Craig Parkinson (So), 7-9-16
D Mat Robinson (Sr), 3-10-13

Top Sieve: Jon Olthuis (Jr), 6-17-8, 2.90 GAA

Key Additions:
F Tyler Moir, 30-60-90 in AJHL
D Curtis Leinweber, 23-40-63 in AJHL
F Jake Portwood, 16-27-43 in AJHL

When Wisconsin Beats UAA: KC 12/05 & 12/06, Away 1/09 & 1/10

07/08 Recap: UAA again finished at the bottom of the WCHA. They were actually doing pretty well before Christmas, they sat at 6-7-3, but afterward fell apart (you can do the math). They did the WCHA proud by beating up on in-state and CCHA rival Alaska-Fairbanks, going 3-0-1 against them. While UAA was at the bottom of the WCHA, they are far from a bottom feeder overall in NCAA Hockey. If they were part of the CCHA, I would venture to bet they would compete for playoff home ice, something they will likley never see in the WCHA.

08/09 Thoughts: Not much will change this season. Looking at their roster they do have a solid group of upperclassmen, and regardless of talent difference, that is not common in the WCHA. Josh Lunden is a pretty good player who should head up the scoring for the Seawolves. While I think UAA will give teams a run for their money most nights, they will be fighting simply to stay out of the WCHA cellar.

Men's Player Previews: #2 Jamie McBain

Vitals:

Postition: Defenseman
Year in School: Junior
Shoots Right
Height: 6-2
Weight: 197
Hometown: Fairbault, MN
Previous Team: US NTDP in 05/06

NHL Considerations: 2nd Round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 06, currently ranked their #4 prospect by Hockey's Future

07/08 Stats: 35 games, 5-19-24, +12, 18 PIM
06/07 Stats: 36 games, 3-15-18, +1, 36 PIM

08/09 Role*: Top D Pairing, 1st PP Pairing, 2nd PK Pairing

07/08 Recap: Jamie's game took another big jump last season and he was the top defenseman on the team night in and night out. Along w/ Ryan McDonagh, they formed arguably the top pairing on the team. The coaches seemed to favor Drewiske and Klubertanz, but the fans knew to breathe easy when their pairing was on the ice. For the second year in a row, Jamie led the Badgers in scoring from the blue line. For his efforts he was selected to the All-WCHA 3rd Team. Jamie also played in the WJC for the second straight year for Team USA.

08/09 Thoughts: I'm of the opinion, that Jamie's return to the Badgers was the key piece it what should be a big year for Wisconsin. Along w/ Blake Geoffrion, Jamie anchors the huge junior class, and on top of that will be the leader on the blue line. His departure to the pros would have meant an all underclassman blue line, while very talented, would have lacked a proven leader. While Jamie is not a captain, his leadership role is obvious. W/ the return of McDonagh, McB and McD will again be the top pairing for Wisconsin and possibly the top pairing in the entire NCAA's. Jamie has progressed every season and this one should be no different. Jamie's play during the NCAA Regional last season was something special, if he brings that to the ice this season, he will be a force to be reckoned w/, both offensively and defensively. If this is his last season in Madison, it certainly won't be a disappointing one.

Prediction*: 36 games, 10-26-36; All-WCHA 1st Team; All-American

*The role and predictions are merely opinions of a hopeful Badger fan, and all predictions are based solely on the regular season of 36 games. Hopefully the Badgers play 44 games this season.

Women's Player Previews: #2 Kelly Nash

While I don't know much about the Womens's team compared to the Men's, I figured they deserve some face time (literally) on the blog as well. The Women get things rolling later this month on the 27th, so I better hurry up. Next year this should be a lot better, I have a season ticket coming and hope to make as many games as possible.


Start things off w/ forward #2 Kelly Nash (thanks to USCHO poster Grim Reaper for pointing out that Kelly is a forward, good thing I bought new glasses yesterday)


Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Sophomore
Shoots Right
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Bonita, CA
Previous Team: California Selects
Major: Business Management

07/08 Stats: 41 games, 7-7-14, +14, 6 PIM

According to uwbadgers.com she started playing ice hockey when she was 12.

NHL.com: Brendan Smith

NHL.com has an article today on Brendan Smith. (Thanks to DPlaya of HIW for pointing it out.)

Some quotes from Mike Eaves:

"He's still got lots to learn, but he's like that mustang that you corral and now you have to break him down a bit," Eaves said. "He has those things you can't teach, but you have to guide that energy, spirit and athleticism. That's the part we're in right now, still harnessing that."

"That's our hope," Eaves said. "There is definitely work to be done, but we think that with his ability, and now that he has a good solid half year under his belt after learning a ton, he should find it easier to play."

"Detroit looks at him as a young, talented hockey player who plays defense," Eaves said. "If he can learn to play better without the puck, he can turn into a well-rounded player and should be able to make the next step."

A quote from Wings Assistant GM Jim Nill:

"He's a very good skater, can jump into the play, and has some offensive upside to him," Nill said.

And a quote from Brendan himself:

"This season is huge because I want to come out just flying," Smith said. "I already have that first year under my belt. That's a big year because you are adjusting to everything, but this is a huge year. It helps everyone see where I'm going to end up, if I'm going to go the full four years or if I have a big year maybe it's only three years. I want to be one of the top defensemen and go from there."

I'm glad he wants to be one of the top defensemen, but it sounds to me (and maybe it's just me) that he's more focused on when he might leave rather than how he might play with the Badgers. Yeah, everyone's goal is to make the NHL as soon as possible, but Smith's quote just sounded odd to me.

NHL.com's prospects review

Not sure how I missed this, but during July and August NHL.com reviewed the prospects for each NHL team. Here are the Badgers who were included:

Chicago BlackHawks: Jack Skille

Skille is one of the headliners among the Hawks' prospects. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2005 Draft played in 16 NHL games this past season and had three goals and two assists. Skille also played in 59 games for the IceHogs and had 34 points on 16 goals and 18 assists.

The Blackhawks love his speed and his willingness to be physical. Expect the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder to make a splash in the NHL this coming season.

"Skille has great wheels and he's learning the pro game," Tallon said. "He had a real solid rookie year. He's going to be a good power forward, who is hard to stop with his speed and strength."

Anaheim Ducks: Jake Gardiner

The Ducks won't see Gardiner, their No. 1 pick (No. 17) for at least a year or two, as he'll play at Wisconsin. But they're content to wait for the 18-year-old to develop.

Gardiner led Minnetonka (Minn.) High School to a state championship game appearance with 20 goals and 48 points. With just 178 pounds on a six-foot frame, he needs to fill out and get stronger, but the Ducks think they've got a player who can anchor their back line for years to come.

"On the back end, you'd better be able to skate now," Murray said. "You've got to get the puck and get it out of your own zone, and this kid can skate. He's the type that when he glides, he still picks up speed. There's only a few that have done that over time. He's still going fast when he's gliding. He can skate."

Carolina Hurricanes: Jamie McBain

A 6-foot-1, 200-pound offensive defenseman with good puck-handling skills, McBain recently completed his second season at the University of Wisconsin where he had five goals, 19 assists and was plus-11 in 35 games. McBain spent 2005-06 with the U.S. Under-18 National Team and in 55 games had nine goals and 21 assists along with 41 penalty minutes. Six of his nine goals came on the power play. He was drafted by the Hurricanes in the second round (No. 63) in 2006.

"He's progressing well," Francis said. "He's in a good program with good coaches and he's shown a real good skill set, in addition to becoming more of a vocal leader. That's something we like to see, and we expect him to continue his progression."

Detroit Red Wings: Brendan Smith

Smith is another in a full lot of defensive prospects. He was the Wings' first-round pick (No. 27) in 2007 and will be entering his sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin after an injury-plagued freshman season.

Smith had six points in his first four games, but just six more in his next 18. He had some back problems that forced him to miss the last six weeks of the season, but Holland said he saw Smith in November and "he was starting to make good strides.”

"Growing up he was a winger and he converted to defense, so you know he can skate and handle the puck," Holland said. "He's still learning what to do in his own zone, but we like his natural skills like skating ability, ability to join the rush, hockey sense and his hands. He's got to get physically stronger. His dad is a big man and we're hoping he can grow into his body."

Kind of like how Kyle Quincey has. Quincey another Wings' defensive prospect, but he can't officially make NHL.com's list of Wings prospects because he is not officially still a rookie.

Quincey played in six games in each of the past two seasons. By definition a player loses eligibility for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year if he plays in at least 25 games in the preceding season, or six or more in each of the two preceding seasons.

Quincey, who also played in 13 playoff games for the Wings in 2006-07, is a true, stay-at-home defender.

"We like Kyle because he's gritty," Holland said. "He's a little different, a defensive-defenseman. He can make the first pass, but he's more of a stay-at-home and he's got a lot of grit to his game."

Montreal Canadiens: Ryan McDonagh

Ryan McDonagh -- McDonagh has more than a little bit of pressure awaiting him in Montreal, where the fans wanted the team to draft center Angelo Esposito with the No. 12 pick in 2007, but the Canadiens took the Minnesota defenseman instead. McDonagh, voted Minnesota's “Mr. Hockey" after leading Cretin-Derham High School to a state championship, had a fine freshman season at Wisconsin, scoring 5 goals and adding 7 assists in 40 games while going plus-7.

McDonagh was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team. He's a 6-foot-1, 204-pound, left-handed shooter with great skating skills. He has a quick first step and a fast top speed and is well-balanced on his skates. He makes good passes and is tough along the boards. Rushing the puck is one of his strengths.

"Ryan played this past year as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin and had a good development season," Timmins said. "He got good coaching from head coach Mike Eaves and his assistant, Mark Osiecki. He played on the power play as a freshman. He'll return to Wisconsin for this coming season and, hopefully, he'll continue where he left off. We're hoping for him to be a top-two guy on their defense and a go-to guy on the team. He's also going to the United States World Junior Team development camp at Lake Placid. We have hopes he'll play on the U.S. World Junior Team in December.

"Development-wise, Ryan is right on schedule. He is physically close to being ready to play in the NHL. He just needs more seasoning and he needs to get more defensive coaching over the next season before having that chance to turn pro."

Phoenix Coyotes: Kyle Turris

Phoenix's first pick (No. 3) in 2007 spent one season at Wisconsin, putting up 11 goals and 35 points in 36 games, before signing with the Coyotes this spring and getting one assist in three NHL games. He could make the roster in the fall, though having Jokinen and 2006 first-rounder Peter Mueller may take some of the pressure off.

"Kyle can be a special player," said Keith Gretzky, the Coyotes' director of amateur scouting. "He has speed and skill and a great work ethic. He really wants to win. He can be very special. When you've got a player with all that, it's hard not to like him."

Turris has added size and strength in the year since he was picked and appears ready to make the jump to the NHL.

"When we drafted Kyle, he was about 170 pounds," GM Don Maloney said. "Now he's about 190 and more ready to play. We're really excited about him."

Nashville Predators: Blake Geoffrion

One of the organization's top power forward prospects, Geoffrion will be entering his junior season at the University of Wisconsin after putting up 30 points in 36 games as a sophomore for the Badgers.

Geoffrion, who had only six points in the same amount of games as a freshman, could be a year away from turning pro. The Predators hope their first pick (second round, No. 56) in 2006 steps up his offensive production even more this coming season.

He is, by the way, a Brentwood, Tenn. native and the member of the Nashville Youth Hockey League to be in the NHL.

"He had a really good year, and jumped up in his production," Kealty said. "He's a good two-way guy. That's the core of his game. He kills penalties, blocks shots and has a physical aspect to his game. He blossomed on the offensive side this year, and should take on more of a leadership role at Wisconsin. It's a year-by-year analysis with him."

Ottawa Senators: Brian Elliott

With Martin Gerber and Alex Auld the goaltending tandem in Ottawa, Elliott and Jeff Glass will split time in the AHL.

Elliott, named the 2006 Frozen Four All-Tournament goaltender after leading Wisconsin to the NCAA title, went 18-19-1 in Binghamton last season with a 2.81 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. He's a 6-foot-2, 206-pound butterfly goaltender who is technically solid and challenges shooters. He has exceptional kick-save ability and plays very well under pressure. He has great work ethic and continues to work on his rebound control.

"What can you say, other than to give the scouts here credit," Murray said. "He was the second-to-last pick (No. 291) in 2003 and he's a real talent.

"Brian is doing all that he needs to do. He is a hard-working, conscientious kid. He missed the AHL playoffs last year because someone fell on him and he sprained a ligament (but) his knee is perfect now. We brought him here for our short playoff run and he was around our training staff and doctors. We kept him here 10 more days to make sure he was ready to do his work. He's working out every day at the University of Wisconsin. Brian has a bright future here."

HF's Top 20 Prospects, Fall 2008

Below are the Badgers' write-ups in the Top Prospects articles. You can also find their full HF profiles by clicking on their names.

Anaheim Ducks:
#3 Jake Gardiner, D (2nd-ranked defensive prospect)

Acquired: Drafted 17th overall in 2008

The first of five 2008 selections to make an appearance on the Ducks Top 20, Anaheim traded down twice in the first round to select Jake Gardiner. Considered one of the top players in the renowned Minnesota high school hockey program, it’s amazing to consider that Gardiner has only played defense for a single season. Despite his position on the back end, it is clear that creating offensive opportunities isn’t far from his mind. In 25 games with Minnetonka High School, Gardiner scored 16 goals and had 43 points.

Set to start at the University of Wisconsin for the 2008-09 season, Gardiner will benefit from the extra time afforded to him via the NCAA route. Although he’s plenty skilled, there are still rough edges that need to be smoothed out. With a little patience, Anaheim could have a real gem on its hands.

# 16 Justin Schultz, D (6th-ranked defensive prospect)

Acquired: Drafted 43rd overall in 2008

Playing for the Westside Warriors during the 2007-08 season, Schultz is the first player ever drafted out of the BCHL by the Anaheim Ducks. Committed to attend the University of Wisconsin for the 2009-10 season, Schultz will join fellow 2008 Ducks pick Gardiner there.

An offensively talented blue liner, Schultz pairs great skating ability with solid decision-making and in just a single season he already stood out as one of the top defensemen in the BCHL, being named Defenseman of the Year for the Interior Conference. In 57 games, he marked 40 points and he looks set to do even more damage in the 2008-09 season.

Other notables: Nick Pryor, D


Carolina Hurricanes:
#4 Jamie McBain, D (top-ranked defensive prospect)

Height: 6’2 • Weight: 197 • Age: 20

Through no fault of his own, McBain falls two spots from the fall rankings. It’s easy to forget that McBain has only two seasons at the University of Wisconsin under his belt because he has shouldered responsibility beyond his years with the Badgers. McBain exhibited his talents at Carolina’s prospect camp — a combination of size and skill that every NHL team craves. He will return to Wisconsin for his junior season.

Phoenix Coyotes:
#1 Kyle Turris, C

1st round, 3rd – 2007, 19, 6’2, 170

For obvious reasons, Turris has a stranglehold on the Coyotes top spot. After a one and done season with the University of Wisconsin, Turris’ sole focus remains on the Coyotes and the NHL. The talented centerman brings an equal amount of speed and skill. He is currently slotted to be the team’s second line centerman, where he’ll be matched with skill and size. Expect Turris to be in the hunt for the Calder Trophy right out of the gates.

Chicago Blackhawks:
#5 Jack Skille, RW

6’1, 205 pounds
Drafted Round 1, 7th Overall, 2005
Born: May 19, 1987

Skille is best known for his speed, blistering shot, strength and contact game. Some see him as a top-six forward based on his offensive talent alone. However, his style of play and lethargic defense could reduce his role to something less than this. Unlike Brouwer, who can create scoring chances regardless of those around him, Skille is highly dependent on his linemates. Fortunately, Chicago has the playmakers to compliment Skille’s game.

Other notables: Jake Dowell, C


St. Louis Blues:
Other notables: Travis Erstad, C


Florida Panthers:
Other notables: Zach Bearson, F -- His HF profile was updated Aug 25, 2008, but apparently they missed the memo that he's no longer playing with the Badgers.

Recruit Recap: Travis Erstad

This summer I plan to do a recap of every current committed recruit. While I have been slacking on this so far this summer, I still plan to try to get every recruit done in the next few months (or so). The first recruit that we profiled was forward Tyler Barnes from Burnsville. We've covered goaltender Aaron Crandall who is from Lakeville, MN and played for Green Bay last season. (He got traded to Des Monies in the off-season) We've also covered Jefferson Dahl, 2008 Wisconsin Mr. Hockey award winner from state champion Eau Claire Memorial who will play for Green Bay next season. Most recently we previewed Chase Drake from Mosinee, Wisconsin who will be a teammate of Dahl's in Green Bay for the upcoming 2008-2009 season. Today we take a look at Travis Erstad formerly of Stevens Point who plays for the Lincoln Stars in the United States Hockey League.


Name: Travis Erstad
Position: Forward
2008 Team: Lincoln Stars (USHL)
2009 Team: Lincoln Stars (USHL)
Commit date: 10/15/2007
Season entering Wisconsin: 2009
Height/Weight/Birth year: 6'4/185/1988
NHL Draft Status: 2007 St. Louis Blues, 4th Round, 100th Overall

Last Seasons Stats

Games: 52
Goals: 9
Assists: 10
Points: 19
Plus/Minus: -10


By far the tallest recruit Wisconsin has lined up, Travis Erstad is looking to have a monster season as he wraps up his USHL career. Erstad is originally from Madison and moved to Stevens Point with his mom before high school. While at SPASH, he was one of the best forwards the school has ever seen. (No disrespect to Joe Pavelski) He teamed up with Pavelski's brother Scott to form one of the top forward lines the state of Wisconsin has ever seen. (Scott is currently a forward with the Waterloo Black Hawks) While at Stevens Point Erstad guided his squad to the State Tournament his Junior and Senior seasons. After being eliminated from the tournament his senior year, Erstad joined the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League for the final 11 games of the season and the playoffs. Last year he continued with the Lincoln Stars and put up 19 points in 52 games.

Erstad is a prospect who has the opportunity to be a special forward when he enters the University of Wisconsin. 19 points last season in 52 games for Lincoln is somewhat of a disappointment considering the talent of Erstad. He is very tall and very lean, (6'4, 185) and moves very well for his size. His biggest knock is his lack of physicality on the ice. I'm sure this was the biggest factor moving from Wisconsin high school hockey to the USHL. At times during high school games he could get away from shying away from contact and just skating around everyone. Obviously you can't get away with that in a league like the USHL. For his size, he controls the puck extremely well. Once he learns to play to the contact, and with his skills with the puck there is no doubt he will be a productive forward in the USHL.

If I were to compare him to anyone, I would compare him to an advanced John Mitchell. Not just because of the size but because of the raw talent. I feel that Travis still has a great chance to play in the NHL once he fills out at Wisconsin and learns the defensive side of the game. St. Louis has an excellent scouting department and they took a 4th round pick on him so you know that they are high on him already. The strength and conditioning program at Wisconsin has done wonders for John Mitchell and will turn Erstad into a great player at UW.

Like I said earlier, expect Erstad to have breakout season in the USHL this winter. I expect him to average a point per game for Lincoln. There is no doubt that the talent is there and as long as he plays like he can, he will be one of the top forwards in the league. There are no excuses, It's his time to shine.


Tyler Barnes recap
Aaron Crandall recap
Jefferson Dahl recap
Chase Drake recap

Player Preview: #1 Scott Gudmandson

Happy September! Over the next 30 days, I will be previewing each and every Badger who will suit up and take the ice this coming season. Thankfully the roster has been updated, so each day in September will correspond to the players #, w/ the exception of Shane Connelly.

Today we start w/ goalie Scott Gudmandson.

Vitals:

Year in School: Sophomore
Catches Left
Height: 5-10
Weight: 179
Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Previous Team: Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) in 06/07

07/08 Stats: 6 games, 1-1-2, 2.63 GAA, 0.880 Save %
06/07 Stats: 24 games, 15-8-0, 2.84 GAA, 0.912 Save %

08/09 Role: Backup Goalie

Thoughts: Entering his sophomore season, Scott returns as the backup to Shane Connelly. Scott's playing time was limited last season, as he was new to Bill Howard's "system", and Connelly did a more than adequate job in net. Scott's role should expand this year as the coaching staff will prepare him to take over the reigns in goal in 09/10. One big question mark hanging over the entire Wisconsin program and especially the goaltenders is the sudden departure of Bill Howard as volunteer assistant coach. Howard did mention several times on the radio last season that Scott was making great progress in learning the system. Still, compared to Connelly, Scott only has one year of this legendary tutelage. Overall, Scott is a talented net minder, and should have little problem progressing this season regardless.

Bill Howard's departure still doesn't change my mind that Scott is going to be an outstanding backstop during his upperclassmen seasons. Wisconsin might have another All-American on their hands in the future.

Prediction: 8 games, 4-3-1, 2.52 GAA