Ex-Minnesota State player Tyler Pitlick signed a three-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers, the Oilers announced last week.
Pitlick played one season with the Mavericks (2009-10) before leaving to play major junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. This season in The Hat, the 19-year-old center had 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points in 56 games.
With the Mavericks, he showed tremendous college potential, scoring 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points in 38 games. Pitlick seemed poised to have a breakout sophomore year (how bad did the Mavs need him this past season?!?!) but decided that school wasn't his thing and headed to Canada.
During last summer's NHL draft, Edmonton selected Pitlick with the first pick of the second round (31st overall), making him the highest draft pick with MSU ties.
According to capgeek.com, Pitlick's deal will pay him $2.665 million over three years if he plays the entire time with the big club ($67,500 annually if he's in the AHL).
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
MSU award winners, captains
Minnesota State announced its 2011-12 captains as well as its '10-11 award winners on Sunday.
Tyler Elbrecht and Michael Dorr will be next season's captains, with the alternate captains rotating monthly throughout the season. Cameron Cooper will be the October alternate captain. Elbrecht, a defenseman, will be a junior next season. Dorr, a forward, will be a senior. Cooper, a defenseman, will be a senior.
As for the awards ...
Most Valuable Player: Kurt Davis, sr. D
Unsung Hero and Star of the Year: Ben Youds, sr. D
Most Improved Player: Cameron Cooper, jr. D
Hustle Award (hardest worker): Tyler Elbrecht, so., D
Don Brose Leadership Award: Rylan Galiardi, sr. F
To see player bios, read the entire MSU release on the awards here.
Tyler Elbrecht and Michael Dorr will be next season's captains, with the alternate captains rotating monthly throughout the season. Cameron Cooper will be the October alternate captain. Elbrecht, a defenseman, will be a junior next season. Dorr, a forward, will be a senior. Cooper, a defenseman, will be a senior.
As for the awards ...
Most Valuable Player: Kurt Davis, sr. D
Unsung Hero and Star of the Year: Ben Youds, sr. D
Most Improved Player: Cameron Cooper, jr. D
Hustle Award (hardest worker): Tyler Elbrecht, so., D
Don Brose Leadership Award: Rylan Galiardi, sr. F
To see player bios, read the entire MSU release on the awards here.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
News & Notes
A few ramblings from around MSU and college hockey ...
• The national signing period began Wednesday but we're still waiting on anything official out of Minnesota State yet. Expect the Mavericks to officially announce the signing of defenseman Mat Knoll from the AJHL's Spruce Grove Saints, but that's probably it. The Mavericks have four other recruits coming who inked their names during the November early signing period.
• MSU is also counting on Matt Leitner to join the team after sitting out last year for academic reasons. On Thursday, I saw Leitner skating with teammates during a spring workout, so that's good news for the Mavs. Leitner was in school all last year but did not practice with the team.
• Back to Knoll, he had tremendous postseason, assisting on 10 goals in 13 games during the Saints' run to the AJHL championship. Spruce Grove is currently playing the BCHL-champion Vernon Vipers for the Doyle Cup, essentially Canada's Junior A national championship, the winner of which moves on to the Canadian Junior A national championship tournament.
• 2012 recruit Dan Carlson is playing for the U.S. National Team in the Under-18 World Championships in Germany. The U.S. is 2-0 so far, and Carlson has a goal and an assist. The Americans' next game is Sunday against Russia.
• The NHL's final Central Scouting Service rankings were released recently, and Carlson was No. 143 out of the North American skaters. MSU '12 goalie recruit Stephon Williams was ranked 27th among North American goalies.
• We're still waiting for the MSU women's recruits for next year, too (expect five players), however, the Mavericks already have a big name coming in 2013. Mankato East/Loyola sophomore Savannah Quandt revealed that she has already verbally committed to play for the Mavericks.
• Channing Boe's hockey season is still going, as he is playing in the ECHL playoffs with the Wheeling Nailers. Boe played in eight regular-season games and has played in six playoff games so far.
• College hockey's early departures have started, and six WCHA players have decided to turn pro rather than complete their eligibility. The national champs, Minnesota Duluth, have already lost two players — forward Mike Connolly and defenseman Justin Faulk. Others include a slew of other defensemen: Minnesota D Aaron Ness, Denver D Matt Donovan, St. Cloud State D Oliver Lauridsen and Wisconsin D Jake Gardiner.
• 2012 recruit Dan Carlson is playing for the U.S. National Team in the Under-18 World Championships in Germany. The U.S. is 2-0 so far, and Carlson has a goal and an assist. The Americans' next game is Sunday against Russia.
• The NHL's final Central Scouting Service rankings were released recently, and Carlson was No. 143 out of the North American skaters. MSU '12 goalie recruit Stephon Williams was ranked 27th among North American goalies.
• We're still waiting for the MSU women's recruits for next year, too (expect five players), however, the Mavericks already have a big name coming in 2013. Mankato East/Loyola sophomore Savannah Quandt revealed that she has already verbally committed to play for the Mavericks.
• Channing Boe's hockey season is still going, as he is playing in the ECHL playoffs with the Wheeling Nailers. Boe played in eight regular-season games and has played in six playoff games so far.
• College hockey's early departures have started, and six WCHA players have decided to turn pro rather than complete their eligibility. The national champs, Minnesota Duluth, have already lost two players — forward Mike Connolly and defenseman Justin Faulk. Others include a slew of other defensemen: Minnesota D Aaron Ness, Denver D Matt Donovan, St. Cloud State D Oliver Lauridsen and Wisconsin D Jake Gardiner.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Duluth wins national title (updated)
Senior forward and Hermantown native Kyle Schmidt scored the game-winning goal at 3:22 of overtime to give Minnesota Duluth a 3-2 win over Michigan and its first national championship Saturday night at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Two of the Bulldogs' goals came from local guys, Duluth native Max Tardy, a fourth-line freshman, scored his first career goal. Travis Oleksuk had the other UMD goal and assisted on Schmidt's game-winner. Oleksuk's and Schmidt's linemate, freshman J.T. Brown was named the tournament's most outstanding player.
Freddy's Three Thoughts of the Game:
1. The best team: When Michigan knocked out North Dakota on Thursday, Wolverines coach Red Berenson said that sometimes the best team doesn't win the title and made the comparison to 1997 when his team was upset in the semifinals and UND won the championship. But Saturday, UMD coach Scott Sandelin said, "The best team wins. I believe that. Maybe not (the best team) talent-wise." With all of the focus on the lawfirm line of Connolly, Connolly & Fontaine, the Bulldogs got contributions from other areas: the second line of Schmidt, Brown and Oleksuk; Tardy on the second power-play unit; and a pretty hot goalie in Kenny Reiter (22 saves).
2. Marrying man: Most of the Bulldogs bleached their hair for the postseason, giving themselves a blonde (and sometimes orange) look this weekend. One player who didn't was Schmidt, the hero of the game. The reason he stayed away from the peroxide? He's getting married this summer. When asked if he thought his natural-brown hair was the reason he got the game-winner, he said, "Yep," and got a roar of laughter from the assembled media. But then he added, "I think it was more the other guys on my line than me. I was just in the right spot at the right time. So blonde hair, just the tips, either way, I think I would have buried that one, and luckily I did."
3. Minnesota nice: The last time the Frozen Four was held in St. Paul, Minnesota defeated Maine 4-3 in overtime. It was home for Minnesota Duluth and its 17 Minnesotans (12 in uniform Saturday). "It's great for the players, the coaches, everyone," Schmidt said. "It's been way too long a time coming for everyone in Duluth, the Twin Ports, Up North." It was the first national title for Duluth. "Wow. Pretty special," Sandelin said. "I am so extremely proud of these guys. ... But to do something the school's never done, as I said a couple of days ago, it would mean everything. And not just for these players, but for the alumni, the program and city."
OT: A few more notes ... It was the 15th overtime game of the season for UMD, who had a 7-2-6 record OT games. ... Berenson didn't, uh, appreciate the fact that Duluth had nine power plays (it scored one PPG) and his team had four: "I can't tell you what I really think. I mean, you can't talk about refereeing and penalties, but when one team gets nine and the other four, it doesn't add up." Later: "Every time a player falls down it shouldn't be a penalty, not in NCAA championship hockey." ... Next year's Frozen Four will take place in Tampa, Fla. When that was announced during the game, most of the crowd of 19,222 booed. "This is one of the best venues you could have in this tournament, if not the best," Sandelin said of St. Paul. "It's a hockey city. It's a great building and a great atmosphere."
So that's it for the 2010-11 college hockey season. See you around the blog.
Two of the Bulldogs' goals came from local guys, Duluth native Max Tardy, a fourth-line freshman, scored his first career goal. Travis Oleksuk had the other UMD goal and assisted on Schmidt's game-winner. Oleksuk's and Schmidt's linemate, freshman J.T. Brown was named the tournament's most outstanding player.
Freddy's Three Thoughts of the Game:
1. The best team: When Michigan knocked out North Dakota on Thursday, Wolverines coach Red Berenson said that sometimes the best team doesn't win the title and made the comparison to 1997 when his team was upset in the semifinals and UND won the championship. But Saturday, UMD coach Scott Sandelin said, "The best team wins. I believe that. Maybe not (the best team) talent-wise." With all of the focus on the lawfirm line of Connolly, Connolly & Fontaine, the Bulldogs got contributions from other areas: the second line of Schmidt, Brown and Oleksuk; Tardy on the second power-play unit; and a pretty hot goalie in Kenny Reiter (22 saves).
2. Marrying man: Most of the Bulldogs bleached their hair for the postseason, giving themselves a blonde (and sometimes orange) look this weekend. One player who didn't was Schmidt, the hero of the game. The reason he stayed away from the peroxide? He's getting married this summer. When asked if he thought his natural-brown hair was the reason he got the game-winner, he said, "Yep," and got a roar of laughter from the assembled media. But then he added, "I think it was more the other guys on my line than me. I was just in the right spot at the right time. So blonde hair, just the tips, either way, I think I would have buried that one, and luckily I did."
3. Minnesota nice: The last time the Frozen Four was held in St. Paul, Minnesota defeated Maine 4-3 in overtime. It was home for Minnesota Duluth and its 17 Minnesotans (12 in uniform Saturday). "It's great for the players, the coaches, everyone," Schmidt said. "It's been way too long a time coming for everyone in Duluth, the Twin Ports, Up North." It was the first national title for Duluth. "Wow. Pretty special," Sandelin said. "I am so extremely proud of these guys. ... But to do something the school's never done, as I said a couple of days ago, it would mean everything. And not just for these players, but for the alumni, the program and city."
OT: A few more notes ... It was the 15th overtime game of the season for UMD, who had a 7-2-6 record OT games. ... Berenson didn't, uh, appreciate the fact that Duluth had nine power plays (it scored one PPG) and his team had four: "I can't tell you what I really think. I mean, you can't talk about refereeing and penalties, but when one team gets nine and the other four, it doesn't add up." Later: "Every time a player falls down it shouldn't be a penalty, not in NCAA championship hockey." ... Next year's Frozen Four will take place in Tampa, Fla. When that was announced during the game, most of the crowd of 19,222 booed. "This is one of the best venues you could have in this tournament, if not the best," Sandelin said of St. Paul. "It's a hockey city. It's a great building and a great atmosphere."
So that's it for the 2010-11 college hockey season. See you around the blog.
It's national-title day!
Minnesota Duluth will go for its first national championship and the WCHA's first since 2006 when it plays Michigan at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul at 6 p.m. tonight. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Duluth undoubtedly will get the support of a lot of the "home" crowd, although Michigan will have plenty of fans there, too. The Wolverines are going for their NCAA-leading 10th national title.
The Bulldogs are carrying the banner for the WCHA and will be playing not just a CCHA team, but a Big Ten team that will be breaking away, along with Minnesota and Wisconsin, in a couple of years. Michigan, which has the hottest goalie (a former walk-on, no less) in the tournament, has defeated three WCHA teams to get to the title game — Nebraska-Omaha, Colorado College and North Dakota — to get to tonight's game against a fourth from the conference.
On Friday, Miami's Andy Meile won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's best player. He led the country in scoring and was the highest point-producing player (71 points) since the 2002-03 season. I was a Hobey voter for three years (2002-2004) and probably would have voted for North Dakota's Matt Frattin if I had a vote this year. However, I don't think a voter could go wrong with either pick. (Actually, voters list their top five of the top 10 finalists in order of preference. It was a top-three list when I voted, if memory serves.)
UPDATE: All-American teams were also announced on Friday, and seven WCHA players earned first- and second-team honors. Here's the list:
AHCA All-Americans
West first team
F — Matt Frattin, North Dakota
F — Andy Miele, Miami
F — Jack Connolly, Duluth
D — Chay Genoway, North Dakota
D — Justin Schultz, Wisconsin
G — Pat Nagle, Ferris State
West second team
F — Mike Connolly, Duluth
F — Carter Camper, Miami
F — Carl Hagelin, Michigan
D — Jake Gardiner, Wisconsin
D — Zach Redmond, Ferris State
G — Aaron Dell, North Dakota
East first team
F — Cam Atkinson, Boston College
F — Paul Thompson, New Hampshire
F — Chase Polacek, RPI
D — Blake Kessel, New Hampshire
D — Brian Dumoulin, Boston College
G — Keith Kinkaid, Union
East second team
F — Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack
F — Gustav Nyquist, Maine
F — Paul Zanette, Niagara
D — Taylor Fedun, Princeton
D — Nick Bailen, RPI
G — John Muse, Boston College
So who do you like in tonight's game? The best line in the country? The hottest goalie? The home-state 'Dogs? The mighty Wolverines?
Duluth undoubtedly will get the support of a lot of the "home" crowd, although Michigan will have plenty of fans there, too. The Wolverines are going for their NCAA-leading 10th national title.
The Bulldogs are carrying the banner for the WCHA and will be playing not just a CCHA team, but a Big Ten team that will be breaking away, along with Minnesota and Wisconsin, in a couple of years. Michigan, which has the hottest goalie (a former walk-on, no less) in the tournament, has defeated three WCHA teams to get to the title game — Nebraska-Omaha, Colorado College and North Dakota — to get to tonight's game against a fourth from the conference.
On Friday, Miami's Andy Meile won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's best player. He led the country in scoring and was the highest point-producing player (71 points) since the 2002-03 season. I was a Hobey voter for three years (2002-2004) and probably would have voted for North Dakota's Matt Frattin if I had a vote this year. However, I don't think a voter could go wrong with either pick. (Actually, voters list their top five of the top 10 finalists in order of preference. It was a top-three list when I voted, if memory serves.)
UPDATE: All-American teams were also announced on Friday, and seven WCHA players earned first- and second-team honors. Here's the list:
AHCA All-Americans
West first team
F — Matt Frattin, North Dakota
F — Andy Miele, Miami
F — Jack Connolly, Duluth
D — Chay Genoway, North Dakota
D — Justin Schultz, Wisconsin
G — Pat Nagle, Ferris State
West second team
F — Mike Connolly, Duluth
F — Carter Camper, Miami
F — Carl Hagelin, Michigan
D — Jake Gardiner, Wisconsin
D — Zach Redmond, Ferris State
G — Aaron Dell, North Dakota
East first team
F — Cam Atkinson, Boston College
F — Paul Thompson, New Hampshire
F — Chase Polacek, RPI
D — Blake Kessel, New Hampshire
D — Brian Dumoulin, Boston College
G — Keith Kinkaid, Union
East second team
F — Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack
F — Gustav Nyquist, Maine
F — Paul Zanette, Niagara
D — Taylor Fedun, Princeton
D — Nick Bailen, RPI
G — John Muse, Boston College
So who do you like in tonight's game? The best line in the country? The hottest goalie? The home-state 'Dogs? The mighty Wolverines?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Michigan stuns the X
Is it an upset when Michigan wins in the Frozen Four? Usually not; it has nine of them. But it certainly seemed like an upset on Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center when the Wolverines knocked off North Dakota 2-0 in the Frozen Four semifinals.
Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick stopped 40 shots, as UND outshot Michigan 40-20. Michigan got a first-period goal from Ben Winnett and was pretty much content on playing defense the rest of the way until Scooter Vaughan's empty-net goal in the final minute clinched the win.
Hunwick had to make two huge saves on Evan Trupp in the final minute before the empty-netter. However, Michigan's defense seemed to have North Dakota frustrated and discombobulated throughout the night. The Sioux simply had trouble making good, clean plays when they needed them most. Their power play, at times, looked more like MSU's this season than UND's.
That sets up a Michigan-Minnesota Duluth championship game on Saturday night. Michigan will be going for its 10th national title, while UMD will be going for its first.
Duluth is in the national title game
Minnesota Duluth got three power-play goals and overcame an early deficit to defeat Notre Dame 4-3 in the first semifinal of the Frozen Four at the Xcel Energy Center Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs are in the title game for the first time since 1984 when they lost the championship to Bowling Green in four overtimes.
The Duluth power play was fantastic, as J.T. Brown, Mike Connolly and Jack Connolly had goals with the man advantage. Defenseman Justin Faulk had three assists, and Kyle Schmidt added an even-strength goal.
UMD goalie Kenny Reiter overcame a shaky start and stopped 31 shots, including 14 in the third period. The Irish outshot the Bulldogs 34-21, including a 15-2 advantage in the third period.
Notre Dame did not score on five power-play chances but did have a short-handed goal early in the third period to make it a one-goal game the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs are in the title game for the first time since 1984 when they lost the championship to Bowling Green in four overtimes.
The Duluth power play was fantastic, as J.T. Brown, Mike Connolly and Jack Connolly had goals with the man advantage. Defenseman Justin Faulk had three assists, and Kyle Schmidt added an even-strength goal.
UMD goalie Kenny Reiter overcame a shaky start and stopped 31 shots, including 14 in the third period. The Irish outshot the Bulldogs 34-21, including a 15-2 advantage in the third period.
Notre Dame did not score on five power-play chances but did have a short-handed goal early in the third period to make it a one-goal game the rest of the way.
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