Just thought I'd add a link to today's Free Press story, which includes quotes from Dorr and Mavericks coach Troy Jutting.
It's great to see some comments here but am surprised that this move seems so controversial. It's not common, but it's also not unusual to see transfers within the league for multiple reasons. One of Colorado College's best players, Eric Walsky, transferred to CC from Alaska-Anchorage. St. Cloud State has three players who started their college careers at different schools, including Brent Borgen, who played two years with the Gophers.
It happens; this is just the first time that MSU has been the destination. Dorr, I think, saw the writing on the wall at Minnesota and decided it would be best to go elsewhere if he wanted to play hockey. It happens. Seems like a nice pickup for the Mavericks right now, too. As for his original commitment to Minnesota Duluth, he did that as a high school junior and, frankly, I'm stunned that kids who do that at that age don't change their minds more often.
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Former Minnesota player Michael Dorr has enrolled at Minnesota State and was at All Seasons Arena dressed in a Mavericks hoodie Wednesday afternoon. Dorr, a freshman, played just two games (including one against MSU) for the Gophers and opted to transfer during the semester break. While he'll be able to practice with the Mavericks, he can't play games for one calendar year, meaning he'll be eligible in January, 2010.
Dorr, a Roseville High School graduate, played on the same line as current MSU freshman and "best buddy" Adam Mueller. They grew up near each other and played together since they were in Squirts. During his senior season (2006-07), Dorr earned all-state honors, was a Mr. Hockey finalist and was the Star Tribune's Metro Player of the Year. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound forward played junior hockey for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League last season.
19 comments:
Good talent that was behind too much talent at the U. Brings much needed offense and will raise the level of talent here quite a bit!
Leave it to Jutting to pick up a player that bailed on UMD and the U of M. Quality pick right there.
Also, with him coming to the Mavericks is he considered a walk on or will scholarship money be given?
Listen to yourself LGM... If Jutting doesn't go after Dorr, he goes to St. Cloud State and kills the Mavericks for three years, you'd bag on him for not recruiting the kid. Leave it to you to find any reason to rip Jutting... I read your blog and it gets really old. Chill out.
On a side note, Dorr is a rock solid pick-up. Who cares if he's ditched out on UMD and the Gophers. He's here now!
He's here....for now, until something happens to make him unhappy and he bails to another program or league. Had he just left one school I wouldn't be so hesitant but bailing on two schools in a short amount of time is just a bit much for me?
Is the kid very talented and could be a major asset to the Mavericks? Absolutely. No argument there. Is he probably too much of a risk for the Mavericks to take? More than likely.
Also, if you don't like my views on Jutting it's ok to stop reading my blog. I'm perfectly fine with that. I'm not here to please everyone.
All right. All right. The Dorr and other hockey debates are fine here, but let's cut the personal attacks, please.
Too much of a risk? How is he too much of a risk? It's not like Jutting is pinning his hopes on whether Michael Dorr sticks around or not.
Cut the kid some slack. He made his original commitment when he was a 16 or 17-year old kid. He played a couple years of hockey and changed his mind. He grew up in Roseville, likely a lifetime Gopher fan, and they finally came calling. Who wouldn't at least entertain the thought? It's possible that when he got to the U, he just didn't fit in or he didn't think the system or the coach was a good fit for him. HE'S A KID! IT HAPPENS! In your youth, did you ever find that you made a mistake? Did you make the right decision all the time? Probably not. Mike has the power to right his wrong before its too late, and I applaud him for doing so. You don't think he knew his decision to leave Minnesota would catch the ire of many hockey fans? Turning your back on the cherished 'M'?
Relax, take a chill pill, and allow Minnesota's loss to become the Mavericks' gain.
And you know I'm exactly right when it comes to the SCSU thing. Had Dorr decided to go to the Huskies and had some success, you would call Jutting an idiot for not going after the kid.
Had Dorr not backed out on two WCHA programs I don't think it would be a "hot" topic.
I think that he can be a huge asset to the Mavericks for sure, I'm just leery that he's backed out on two schools already. While it's easy to say "he's just a kid, decisions are hard" it's not that D1 hockey players wing it on decisions. They consult family, coaches, and sometimes family advisors. Thus, it's not as though he just made the decision lightly.
Saying that, I'm sure he didn't make the decision to come to MSU lightly. I'm sure it was hard and that the underlying reason is because he wants to play hockey and probably would like to play it in the WCHA. Can't blame him for that.
I guess my issue is that I'm concerned on making a risky choice like this on a program that is still struggling to make a name for itself and goes against powerhouses in recruiting like UND, WI, and the U of M.
Am I saying the kid can't succeed here? Absolutely not. Am I saying he's a bad kid? Absolutely not. Am I saying that Mavericks could benefit greatly from him? Absolutely. Am I saying it's normal to worry about the risk of a player that's bailed on 2 WCHA programs? Yes. I think that's a normal concern.
I guess I'm curious as to what the Mavericks will have that will make him stay for his whole time? Or was there some stipulation put on scholarship money (if any was given)?
Voice of Reason- if you want to attack me personally, feel free to e-mail me (e-mail is on the blog). Shane's right, we don't need to comments you said (don't worry, I saw them via e-mail before Shane deleted them so your point was taken) on his blog.
LGM, I deleted the comment, not Shane. It was over the line and I apologize. No sense in making this debate a personal one.
I guess it makes no sense to me how you can rip Jutting for this move. If you want to question the kid, fine. If you want to question his motives, fine. If you want to rip his ability to make a decision and stick with it, fine.
But you can't possibly rip Troy Jutting for going out and getting a guy that can obviously play hockey. A guy that can help this program get to the next level. A guy that I think will help this team win some games in the coming seasons. You admit in your last comment about how you think Dorr is a talented kid and how you think he has a chance to help this team out, yet the other side of your mouth rips Jutting for going out and getting him.
This is exactly the kind of low risk-high reward thing Troy Jutting needs to do to help get this program to the next level. It's hard to get kids of Michael Dorr's ilk to choose MSU — why do you think UMD feels so jilted by the kid?
Brilliant move by Troy Jutting. Nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain.
Other than Borgen and Hepp, who is the third SCSU player that started his career at another college?
Frank- Dan Kronik
Voice- I can see your point of view and I do think you have some valid points. I guess that by nature I'm not a gambling person, so I think that this is maybe too much of a risk for MSU to take. If it works out, Jutting will be a genius. If not, he will be a moron. No doubt about that. I guess that if MSU was a little more secure in their program and had more of a solid foundation in the WCHA I wouldn't be so leery of this move. I just worry that *if* it doesn't work out that it could have very bad consequences on the reputation of the program. That's where I'm coming from.
We'll agree to disagree on Jutting. Like you said, I'm not a fan of him and would like to see change, but that's my opinon. It's based on many years of issues and many things I've noted. However, I don't expect you to jump on board just because I said so...that's something you'll need to come up with on your own.
I'll leave it that I really do hope the Dorr thing works out for everyone. If not, well...MSU will deal with it then.
Also, I don't know why UMD feels that way about this kid. Prior to this move I was given some information...some alleged "insider" information...and it still didn't really make sense to me. Pride would be my guess. I think any fan automatically hates a kid for leaving a program for another program in the same conference. Heck, sometimes they get irrate over kids just choosing at the beginning another program. Prime example? Mention the name Justin Jokinen to UMD fans and most will spew out a blue streak. They'll end it with "well, we really didn't want him anyways" but in reality, they're stung because he ditched the "home town" (sorta...home area more) for Mankato.
I guess with Dorr I would take what the UMD fan say with a grain of salt because they're bitter...and really, alot of them are just cranky lately and saying off the wall stuff.
Personally, I'm waiting to see the kid play as a Mav to form my full opinion about him.
Brent Borgen, Chris Hepp, and Mitch Ryan are the three players to transfer into SCSU's program. Dan Kronick and Adam Coole are two others in recent memory.
Just because a kid left two bad situations doesn't necessarily mean he'd be a problem if he landed in a better situation. It's worth giving the kid a chance.
So the kid changed his mind a few times. I don't see what the big argument is. Jutting had a chance to land a good player and he did. He agrees to go to UMD because he wants to play college hockey and when the Gophers call -- like someone else said, probably the team he grew up loving -- he couldn't turn them down. He gets there and doesn't get as much PT as he wants; he comes to MSU, not a big deal. And I don't think he will leave again. The bottom line is that he wants to play hockey. I can't see him transferring again and losing more eligibility. I don't think he's that dumb.
Good pick up for the Mavericks.
I think Jutting gets a bad wrap from alot of Maverick fans. Don't get me wrong, I am not a Jutting apologist by any means. A part of me thinks he has brought the team about as far as its gonna go under him. Overall, I think Jutting has had a pretty nice run. How many coaches in the league can lay claim to two Coach of the Year trophies?
When it comes to this, you really only have to ask one question: If Dorr is a massive failure in three years, is it really going to make or break the career of Troy Jutting (given he's still the coach)? Probably not, if you're truly honest with yourself.
If the kid turns into Travis Morin (the last Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year to play for the Mavs), does Jutting look like a genius? He sure does.
I think some of the Jutting haters are hoping this move blows up in his face, thinking it would get him dismissed as coach. Is that really how bad some of you want him gone?
Jutting's contract is up this summer. It's unlikely that this move will have showed it's outcome by then. Thus, it's not about that.
As I've said earlier...I'm more concerned what picking up a risky somewhat notable (both negative and positive) will have on the reputation of the program. Keep in mind, MSU's program is still growing and looking to gain respect and be taken seriously.
I think many people...Jutting fans or not, would agree with you saying he's taken this program as far as he can. He would be a great D3 coach, I just don't see him having what it takes to be a D1 coach, especially in the WCHA.
You guys are missing the point. The villian here is not Mike Dorr or Troy Jutting - it's the Lucia/UM coming in and selling this kid a bill of goods. Mike Dorr is a fantastic kid who had a nice deal at UMD but was talked out of it by Lucia et al and then left hanging. I'm sure Mike didn't feel he could go back to UMD (and who would). Knowing Mike, the Mavs are getting a highly motivated kid who will be a huge asset to the program. Wish him luck and get behind him.
Here here, Leafs17! You're preaching to the choir!
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