Minnesota State forward (ex-forward?) Tyler Pitlick is among the 100 players invited to the NHL Scouting Combine, which will be held in Toronto at the end of May.
Grand Forks Herald hockey writer Brad Scholssman's blog has links to NHL.com mock drafts and Pitlick is listed as a first-round pick in two of five. One had him 19th and the other had him 22nd.
I stopped by the MSU hockey office today, and there was nothing new to report on Pitlick's situation.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Hobey hat trick released
The three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award were unveiled on Wednesday. Will this be the year Wisconsin gets its first Hobey?
The group includes Badgers senior forward Blake Geoffrion, as well as New Hampshire senior forward Bobby Butler and Maine sophomore forward Gustav Nyquist.
I don't have a vote (although I did serve a three-year term as a voter earlier in my career) but really think Geoffrion, Wisconsin's captain, would be a great choice for this award. For the Hobey hat trick, he edged out his teammate Brendan Smith as well as WCHA player of the year Marc Cheverie, the goaltender from Wisconsin. No doubt Cheverie and teammate Rhett Rakhshani saw their Hobey stock drop after a rough Final Five and NCAA regional.
All three Hobey candidates are fine candidates, but Geoffrion, whose grandfather is Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion and great grandfather is Howie Morenz -- both Hockey Hall of Famers with the Montreal Canadiens -- has led the Badgers to the Frozen Four and was simply a force all over the ice in the WCHA all season.
The WCHA hasn't had a Hobey winner since 2007 when Ryan Duncan won the league's sixth Hobey in a row. The award will be announced on April 9, the Friday of the Frozen Four weekend.
The group includes Badgers senior forward Blake Geoffrion, as well as New Hampshire senior forward Bobby Butler and Maine sophomore forward Gustav Nyquist.
I don't have a vote (although I did serve a three-year term as a voter earlier in my career) but really think Geoffrion, Wisconsin's captain, would be a great choice for this award. For the Hobey hat trick, he edged out his teammate Brendan Smith as well as WCHA player of the year Marc Cheverie, the goaltender from Wisconsin. No doubt Cheverie and teammate Rhett Rakhshani saw their Hobey stock drop after a rough Final Five and NCAA regional.
All three Hobey candidates are fine candidates, but Geoffrion, whose grandfather is Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion and great grandfather is Howie Morenz -- both Hockey Hall of Famers with the Montreal Canadiens -- has led the Badgers to the Frozen Four and was simply a force all over the ice in the WCHA all season.
The WCHA hasn't had a Hobey winner since 2007 when Ryan Duncan won the league's sixth Hobey in a row. The award will be announced on April 9, the Friday of the Frozen Four weekend.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Pitlick on the move?
"I do know he is looking," Jutting said.
Multiple online reports over the weekend speculated that Pitlick is strongly considering MSU and will be making that decision soon. One report put the likelihood at 90 percent according to an unnamed source.
Jutting didn't put odds on Pitlick's return or departure.
"I really can't clear anything up," Jutting said. "I don't know anything for sure, but it wouldn't shock me (if he leaves)."
Some of the speculation involves Pitlick opting to play major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League, and there's talk that he will visit the Medicine Hat Tigers in the near future in order to weigh his decision. Medicine Hat apparently holds Pitlick's WHL rights.
Jutting didn't put odds on Pitlick's return or departure.
"I really can't clear anything up," Jutting said. "I don't know anything for sure, but it wouldn't shock me (if he leaves)."
Some of the speculation involves Pitlick opting to play major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League, and there's talk that he will visit the Medicine Hat Tigers in the near future in order to weigh his decision. Medicine Hat apparently holds Pitlick's WHL rights.
It's odd timing, considering that Pitlick will be drafted in June, possibly as high as the first round and could wait until he finds out which NHL team drafts him (and hears that team's thoughts for his development -- turn pro, play major junior or play college) before deciding his immediate future. School may be a larger factor in his decision to leave than development.
Voice mail and text messages were left with Pitlick on Saturday but neither was returned.
"It's not like he didn't have success (at MSU)," Jutting said. "It's not like he didn't move up the ladder."
Voice mail and text messages were left with Pitlick on Saturday but neither was returned.
Pitlick finished his first college season with 11 goals and eight assists. He moved up to No. 21 on the NHL Central Scouting Service's midseason list of draft-eligible forwards and defensemen from North America. Clearly, the scouts have been watching him closely, and flocked to watch him play late in the season. Many of the same scouts were seen at all three playoff games between MSU and St. Cloud State. Pitlick (and his line) was pretty good that weekend, too.
Because of his talent and potential, Pitlick probably would not have been long for the college game anyway. Certainly the Mavericks were hoping to get more than one year out of him.
"I'll try to tell him why I think he should stay," Jutting said. "Obviously, I want him to be successful. As much as I think (leaving) would be the wrong decision, I hope everything works out in the future for him."
Because of his talent and potential, Pitlick probably would not have been long for the college game anyway. Certainly the Mavericks were hoping to get more than one year out of him.
"I'll try to tell him why I think he should stay," Jutting said. "Obviously, I want him to be successful. As much as I think (leaving) would be the wrong decision, I hope everything works out in the future for him."
RIT (yes that RIT), Wisco punch Frozen Four tickets
A year ago, I was talking to someone about Bemidji State's impressive yet unlikely berth to the Frozen Four and he said that all you need is one good weekend to get there (of course, you have to get in the NCAAs first). This year, Rochester Institute of Technology is that team. The Tigers shocked Denver on Friday and then followed that up with a 6-2 victory over New Hampshire on Saturday.
It's still inexplicable that RIT is in after watching them nearly three months ago in Mankato. Not to take anything away from the accomplishment but there's no way the Tigers looked like a Frozen Four team that weekend. If anything, Minnesota State, which won the series 6-1 and 3-1, looked like the team poised to make a second-half run.
RIT will play Wisconsin in two weeks in Detroit. The Badgers avenged their WCHA semifinal loss to St. Cloud State at the Xcel Energy Center by beating the Huskies 5-3 (with an empty-netter) eight days later in the same building. Wisco senior forward Blake Geoffrion may not have been put up for WCHA player of the year by the Badgers but he might have moved up in the Hobey Baker race with a West Regional MVP performance over the weekend.
Meanwhile, North Dakota (PucKato's pick to win the title) was stunned by Yale 3-2 on Saturday, meaning the Elis will play Boston College Sunday for a trip to Detroit. Michigan knocked off Bemidji 5-1 and will play CCHA rival and top-ranked Miami Sunday.
It's still inexplicable that RIT is in after watching them nearly three months ago in Mankato. Not to take anything away from the accomplishment but there's no way the Tigers looked like a Frozen Four team that weekend. If anything, Minnesota State, which won the series 6-1 and 3-1, looked like the team poised to make a second-half run.
RIT will play Wisconsin in two weeks in Detroit. The Badgers avenged their WCHA semifinal loss to St. Cloud State at the Xcel Energy Center by beating the Huskies 5-3 (with an empty-netter) eight days later in the same building. Wisco senior forward Blake Geoffrion may not have been put up for WCHA player of the year by the Badgers but he might have moved up in the Hobey Baker race with a West Regional MVP performance over the weekend.
Meanwhile, North Dakota (PucKato's pick to win the title) was stunned by Yale 3-2 on Saturday, meaning the Elis will play Boston College Sunday for a trip to Detroit. Michigan knocked off Bemidji 5-1 and will play CCHA rival and top-ranked Miami Sunday.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Badgers, Huskies win; Denver falls ... to RIT?
Wisconsin and St. Cloud State eked out wins in the West Regional on Friday night, with the Badgers defeating Vermont 3-2 and the Huskies getting their first NCAA tournament victory with a 4-3 double-overtime win over Northern Michigan. Wisconsin and St. Cloud will play each other for a trip to the Frozen Four at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The shocker came out in Albany, N.Y., where RIT, a team that was blasted out of Mankato's Verizon Wireless Center 6-1 and 3-0 over New Year's weekend, upset Denver 2-1. RIT goalie Jared DeMichael stopped 39 shots and allowed only a late power-play goal. He's the goalie whom Minnesota State hung six even-strength goals on with 32 shots on New Year's Day. The Tigers played a different goalie the next night. Just goes to show what a difference almost three months can make.
RIT will play New Hamsphire, which knocked off Cornell.
The Midwest and Northeast regionals begin today. In Fort Wayne, Ind., it will be the CCHA vs. the CHA with Miami and Michigan playing Alabama-Huntsville and Bemidji State, respectively. In Worcester, Mass., Boston College will play Alaska and North Dakota will face Yale.
For the Sioux, Yale will be no easy test. But North Dakota is red-hot, thanks, in part to the play of junior Evan Trupp.
The shocker came out in Albany, N.Y., where RIT, a team that was blasted out of Mankato's Verizon Wireless Center 6-1 and 3-0 over New Year's weekend, upset Denver 2-1. RIT goalie Jared DeMichael stopped 39 shots and allowed only a late power-play goal. He's the goalie whom Minnesota State hung six even-strength goals on with 32 shots on New Year's Day. The Tigers played a different goalie the next night. Just goes to show what a difference almost three months can make.
RIT will play New Hamsphire, which knocked off Cornell.
The Midwest and Northeast regionals begin today. In Fort Wayne, Ind., it will be the CCHA vs. the CHA with Miami and Michigan playing Alabama-Huntsville and Bemidji State, respectively. In Worcester, Mass., Boston College will play Alaska and North Dakota will face Yale.
For the Sioux, Yale will be no easy test. But North Dakota is red-hot, thanks, in part to the play of junior Evan Trupp.
Friday, March 26, 2010
National tourney time
The NCAA men's hockey tournament begins on today. Got your bracket filled out?
I think the national champion is coming out of the WCHA this year. North Dakota looked like a world beater during the Final Five, and I've liked Wisconsin and Denver all year (although neither had its best performances in St. Paul last weekend). St. Cloud State has the pieces to make a run, if it can put them all together at the same time.
Three WCHA teams will be in action on the first day, with St. Cloud State taking on Northern Michigan and Wisconsin playing Vermont at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and Denver playing RIT in Albany, N.Y., (the other game in Albany is Cornell vs. New Hampshire).
Madison.com has done a nice tournament preview, which can be found here. Also, there's a feature on Wisconsin defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who is an amazing +21 this season.
For St. Cloud State, defenseman Garrett Raboin, who was a difference maker in the Huskies' first-round WCHA tourney win over Minnesota State, is still playing through pain. The Huskies' Garrett Roe is expected to play after getting carted off the ice on stretcher a week ago. Also, Kevin Allenspach writes a column about Walt Kyle, coach of red-hot NMU.
Denver's probably glad it's not playing at the X, where it had a rough couple of games in the Final Five. The Pioneers are hoping to shore up their defense against RIT. RIT has won 10 games in a row and is 17-3 since getting blasted 9-1 over two games by Minnesota State.
On Saturday, North Dakota will take on Yale in the Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass. The Sioux have a tough bracket that also features Boston College and Alaska. North Dakota is playing for their captain Chay Genoway, who hasn't played since November with a concussion.
The Midwest Regional in Fort Wayne, Ind., which also begins on Saturday, features Bemidji State, which will join WCHA next season. The Beavers will take on Michigan with the winner playing either Miami or Alabama-Huntsville. This bracket features two teams from the now-defunct College Hockey America conference (BSU and UAH). Read about that conference's player of the year, Bemidji's Matt Read, here.
I think the national champion is coming out of the WCHA this year. North Dakota looked like a world beater during the Final Five, and I've liked Wisconsin and Denver all year (although neither had its best performances in St. Paul last weekend). St. Cloud State has the pieces to make a run, if it can put them all together at the same time.
Three WCHA teams will be in action on the first day, with St. Cloud State taking on Northern Michigan and Wisconsin playing Vermont at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and Denver playing RIT in Albany, N.Y., (the other game in Albany is Cornell vs. New Hampshire).
Madison.com has done a nice tournament preview, which can be found here. Also, there's a feature on Wisconsin defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who is an amazing +21 this season.
For St. Cloud State, defenseman Garrett Raboin, who was a difference maker in the Huskies' first-round WCHA tourney win over Minnesota State, is still playing through pain. The Huskies' Garrett Roe is expected to play after getting carted off the ice on stretcher a week ago. Also, Kevin Allenspach writes a column about Walt Kyle, coach of red-hot NMU.
Denver's probably glad it's not playing at the X, where it had a rough couple of games in the Final Five. The Pioneers are hoping to shore up their defense against RIT. RIT has won 10 games in a row and is 17-3 since getting blasted 9-1 over two games by Minnesota State.
On Saturday, North Dakota will take on Yale in the Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass. The Sioux have a tough bracket that also features Boston College and Alaska. North Dakota is playing for their captain Chay Genoway, who hasn't played since November with a concussion.
The Midwest Regional in Fort Wayne, Ind., which also begins on Saturday, features Bemidji State, which will join WCHA next season. The Beavers will take on Michigan with the winner playing either Miami or Alabama-Huntsville. This bracket features two teams from the now-defunct College Hockey America conference (BSU and UAH). Read about that conference's player of the year, Bemidji's Matt Read, here.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Rewind and repent
Well, I just went back on the blog and found my preseason picks for the 2009-10 season. Now that it's over (for MSU, anyway), I should at least own up to my so-called preseason prognostications. Here they are, along with the actual winners in bold:
1. Denver (Denver)
2. North Dakota (Wisconsin)
3. Wisconsin (St. Cloud State)
4. Minnesota (North Dakota T-4)
5. St. Cloud State (Minnesota Duluth T-4)
6. Minnesota-Duluth (Colorado College)
7. Minnesota State (Minnesota)
8. Colorado College (Minnesota State)
9. Alaska-Anchorage (Alaska-Anchorage)
10. Michigan Tech (Michigan Tech)
Player of the year: Jordan Schroeder, F, UM (Marc Cheverie, G, DU)
Rookie of the year: Mike Lee, G, SCSU (Danny Kristo, F, UND)
All-WCHA first team:
F-Jordan Schroeder, UM (Blake Geoffrion, UW)
F-Ryan Lasch, SCSU (Rhett Rakhshani, DU)
F-Kael Mouillierat, MSU (Jack Connolly, UMD)
D-Chay Genoway, UND (Brendan Smith, UW)
D-Patrick Wiercioch, DU (Wiercioch)
G-Marc Cheverie, DU (Cheverie)
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