From LetsGoMavs: Is Schiller going to be a forward again?
LGM, no, it looks like he's back to D and will be the extra D going on the trip this weekend. Jutting said that Zuck was sick and Thompson, Wiley and Gaulrapp couldn't go last Saturday, so he put Joe Schiller in at forward.
From MSUMaverickFan: Have you been able to watch the World Junior Championships? How do you think the game dynamics compare to college, especially the WCHA? Guys like Schroeder and Kristo seem to stand out more in that setting then they do in conference play. It goes to show that there is much maturing to be done ages 20-24. I believe our coaching staff knows this and considers it in their recruiting. As skilled as those talents look in the WJC, there are facets of the game that MSU guys, for example, have better mastered.
MSUMaverick Fan, I didn't get to watch as much as I would have liked. Although I saw highlights of the championship game, I didn't get to sit down and watch it because I was covering the East/Loyola vs. Waseca boys high school game. I did see some of the first U.S.-Canada game and the U.S.-Sweden semifinal. You're onto something about the older players. Jutting and I were talking about that this week. With a few exceptions, juniors and seniors should be your top-end guys. They're not just more experienced, but their bodies have made great developmental leaps since their freshman seasons. Depending on their junior-hockey experience, those players range in age from 20 to 24. Schroeder is a tremendous talent, and I'm looking forward to seeing Kristo play this weekend. They're doing just fine in the WCHA, but because of the older players, it is a different kind of competition compared to the U20 tournament.
From BIGhkyfan: Does the team bus to UND? If so, will those not dressing travel as well? Do you feel Cook will get back-to-back games this weekend? Same lineup as this past weekend barring any injuries?
BIG, yes, the Mavericks bus to Grand Forks. Per the WCHA rules, the team can take 22 players on road trips. They dress 20, including two goalies, and have two extras. The lineup is the same as last Saturday with one exception: Jason Wiley is good to go and will play on the fourth line where Schiller played. Schiller is the extra D on the trip, and Eli Zuck will be the extra F. As for goaltending, Jutting would only commit to Cook starting on Friday. Saturday's starter will probably depend on Cook's Friday-night performance. Austin Lee is also on the trip.
From hockey25: Is the WCHA still going tot have a 28-game regular-season league schedule with 12 teams? If so, who will MSU pick up as nonconference opponents?
hockey25, yes, the league is staying with 28 games. Since the Mavericks always play Bemidji and Omaha, they have been scrambling to fill out their out-of-league schedule for next year. I don't know if they've completed it yet, but I've heard that they will be playing in a holiday tournament of some kind.
From Nation: 1) Will Cook get the start on Friday in ND? 2) Who will be the extra players on the bus to ND? 3) Injury report. Is Sackrison going to be back in the lineup this week?
Nation, 1) Yes. 2) See above. 3) No, Sackrison's not ready. He was talking about trying to skate on the leg this week. I didn't see him, though. He's not practicing yet, though.
From Sam: I have been pleasantly surprised with how well Cook has played of late. Should he come back down to earth, is Kevin Murdock going to get another shot? It seems like forever since he's been in a game.
Sam, I'm not sure. Last week, Jutting said he does not have a true No. 1 and probably won't this season. Whether that means he just rides the hot goalie or goes with a rotation, I don't know. I think Cook deserves to get the Friday start, and I think Lee has shown he can play, too. Murdock hasn't played since the loss in Anchorage and he really struggled that night, I'm told. That might leave Murdock out for now, but he should take note of Cook, who earned a start based off of his practice habits and has run with the opportunity so far. If there's one thing I've learned after following this program and college hockey in general for as long as I have, every goalie should be ready to go at any time.
From Holly: Do you think any of the seniors will go on to play anywhere next year?
Holly, I would guess they will try. They may end up in the ECHL or, maybe, in the AHL, but I don't know if there are any locks. I wouldn't be surprised if they're all playing pro hockey of some kind -- minor pro or in Europe -- but I don't see any NHLers yet.
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