Dog days

Time for a little summer housekeeping ...

On Thursday, Minnesota State announced its 2012 Hall of Fame class. It includes former hockey goalie Ken Hilgert, who played for the Mavericks 1984-1988. Hilgert was an All-American goaltender in 1986-87 and won the Small College Hobey Baker the next year. He was a two-time Mavericks MVP and a two-time All-NCHA selection.

Word is highly touted Minnesota State recruit Teddy Blueger had solid showing at the Pittsburgh Penguins' development camp earlier this month.

Staying on the subject of MSU recruits from Shattuck-St. Mary's, Ryan Schwalbe of the 2013 freshman class, will be playing junior hockey for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League next season.

It's been about a year since the big college hockey shakeup took place. What's changed since then? Well, Minnesota State has been able to turn the focus on itself rather than on the uncertainty coming next year.

There was some interesting news in the early signings department. Minnesota's Nick Bjugstad decided to return to the Gophers next season rather than sign with Florida, a move that likely will make them the favorite to win the WCHA. The early departure that did take place this month was Wisconsin winger Jason Clark, who played in just 35 games in two seasons with the Badgers but battled injuries.

So far 11 WCHA players have opted to sign early. That group includes: Denver's Drew Shore, Jason Zucker and Beau Bennett; St. Cloud State's David Eddy and Mike Lee; Wisconsin's Clark and Justin Schultz; Minnesota Duluth's J.T. Brown; North Dakota's Brock Nelson; Colorado College's Jaden Schwartz; and Nebraska Omaha's Terry Broadhurst.

Omaha is also losing goalie Ryan Massa for a year. Massa announced that he will skip the upcoming season due to personal reasons. You may recall Mass as the goalie who had to be hospitalized after a collision in an overtime game in Mankato last January.