motzko put his own kid in Tier one with Sioux Falls when he could have played with Tonka this year. More games, more structure, better hockey.
motzko put his own kid in Tier one with Sioux Falls when he could have played with Tonka this year. More games, more structure, better hockey.
The goalie? I don't think he would have seen much ice time at Tonka.
motzko put his own kid in Tier one with Sioux Falls when he could have played with Tonka this year. More games, more structure, better hockey.
The goalie? I don't think he would have seen much ice time at Tonka.
He played more than Nelson (their starter this year) last year but was worse, so I'm sure the writing was on the wall there.
Will be interesting to see who Bob targets out of that group. Potter and Fondrk might be the best players from MN but I don't know if you want to deal with Potter's parents, could be a Lucius situation, and Fondrk has bounced around a lot as well.
Kvasnicka, Moe, Simpson, Phillips, and West could all be Gopher level players but it's pretty early yet.
I have generally been leery about MN youth players who bounce around like they are shopping for the best deal. I understand going from HS to USHL/NTDP but when it is more broad than that... it raises an eyebrow for me.
I think of it as Jim O'Brien syndrome.
If I were Motzko, I wouldn’t touch Spehar or Potter with a 1000 yard stick!
Formerly known as davey j.
Will be interesting to see who Bob targets out of that group. Potter and Fondrk might be the best players from MN but I don't know if you want to deal with Potter's parents, could be a Lucius situation, and Fondrk has bounced around a lot as well.
Kvasnicka, Moe, Simpson, Phillips, and West could all be Gopher level players but it's pretty early yet.
I have generally been leery about MN youth players who bounce around like they are shopping for the best deal. I understand going from HS to USHL/NTDP but when it is more broad than that... it raises an eyebrow for me.
I think of it as Jim O'Brien syndrome.
I would agree. Recruiting a restive kid who is unstable of heart or mind, all with barking parents in the background, is just asking for trouble.
If it walks like a duck, it's a duck.
Another opinion on the NTDP camp invitees.
https://www.therinklive.com/junior-and-prospects/prospects/who-to-watch-for-at-next-weeks-ntdp-camp
Phillips really seems to be getting a lot of hype at this camp.
This is the modern world and some of the talent is going to be that way because there are more opportunities in today's hockey for them to compete. When you have very young players it is critical to find the correct level of hockey for them to play.
And using Jim O'Brien as an example, he played his freshman year at MN, was a NHL first round draft pick, then had the opportunity to move to the WHL. The WHL is a significant step up in competitive level and O'Brien played very well in his two years in the WHL. Previous to his stint in Minnesota I really did not see any bouncing around in his teams.
If a head coach stays 1000 yards away from all hockey recruits with insane parents, then you would have to stay away from a high percentage of them. The parents are part of hockey coaching from the earliest phases and continues all the way through.
I get that the Lucious experience has soured some and created this level of wariness, but that has happened in the past and will happen in the future, especially with the loosened transfer rules that are part of college athletics and with players that are high draft picks in the NHL. It sure would have been nice to have a 2nd year Tristan Broz and a freshman Crus Lucious this season but transfers and recruiting decommits are part of the game. We moved on from these issues and are on track for a national championship.
If the Spehar or Potter kids is a true prospect, the Gophers should recruit him as such. Let Bob handle the parents and coach the team.
I for one would love to have another generation of Spehars on the Gophers. Personally I think Dave Spehar was treated terribly by Gopher fans and media. He scored 20 goals and 17 assists his freshman year. 37 points the next. 36 points as a junior. His scoring collapsed to just 19 points as a senior and he never played hockey again. Thats actually a great career for one of the greatest, if not THE greatest high school players in Minnesota history. That should be part of the Gopher hockey story in a much bigger way.
Did you really just say that the WHL is a step up from the NCAA?
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Did you really just say that the WHL is a step up from the NCAA?
Yeah, nope. Gabe Guertler was a point per game in the CHL. Don’t know what he’s thinking.
School isn't for everyone. I don't know if Mueller chose to go Jr hockey over college, but some kids have no choice.The WHL drew top level prospects such as Peter Mueller.
That said, Connor Bedard plays in the NHL and some might consider him a top prospect. So, not a bad league.
Holy crap did Peter move around a lot over his hockey playing career. And he must be often injured as he doesn't seem to play more than 50 games per year.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/9220/peter-mueller
School isn't for everyone. I don't know if Mueller chose to go Jr hockey over college, but some kids have no choice.The WHL drew top level prospects such as Peter Mueller.
That said, Connor Bedard plays in the NHL and some might consider him a top prospect. So, not a bad league.
Holy crap did Peter move around a lot over his hockey playing career. And he must be often injured as he doesn't seem to play more than 50 games per year.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/9220/peter-mueller
Mueller had bad concussion problems if I remember correctly.
@bertogliat He had a scholarship offer from Minnesota.
Although it isn't that long ago I think there was differences in the WHL vs. college hockey. Today's college hockey is a lot different than 15 years ago, and hockey has a lot broader appeal to kids with solid prospects coming from all across the US, rather than an era of Minnesota, Michigan, and New England kids totally dominating the game.
Previous to his (O'Brien) stint in Minnesota I really did not see any bouncing around in his teams.
I am guessing you are saying this because you are looking at his Elite Prospects profile which doesn't capture it.
If the Spehar or Potter kids is a true prospect, the Gophers should recruit him as such. Let Bob handle the parents and coach the team.
I disagree with just randomly rolling the dice just because a kid has talent and I think Motzko is actually pretty smart about what he gets himself into. Just going for talent and ignoring what comes with it is a recipe for major problems. I can't tell you how many Gopher hockey examples alone I could give you from the past 25+ years. I don't want to drudge up dirt on long gone players but there are a number of examples where our coaches sold their soul for talent and ended up paying a price for it when it came to team distractions and chemistry issues.
@bertogliat He had a scholarship offer from Minnesota.
Although it isn't that long ago I think there was differences in the WHL vs. college hockey. Today's college hockey is a lot different than 15 years ago, and hockey has a lot broader appeal to kids with solid prospects coming from all across the US, rather than an era of Minnesota, Michigan, and New England kids totally dominating the game.
Even 15 years ago, it was highly debatable and many felt top tier college hockey teams were better. Most people that I talked to that scouted the various circuits at the time felt it was a wash (at best) and often felt that a kid would face more of a challenge in college hockey (especially a league like the WCHA was at the time) because of the greater physical maturity of the opponents.
As for Mueller, he had committed to Minnesota but everybody knew at the time that it was tenuous because of his academics (which were not good). I know how it was painted in the media at the time (as a hockey decision) but the issue there was always academics.
A kid could be super smart and earn a scholarship and just not like school very much. Some kids just want to go play hockey and not have to deal with the academic side of it.@bertogliat He had a scholarship offer from Minnesota.
Although it isn't that long ago I think there was differences in the WHL vs. college hockey. Today's college hockey is a lot different than 15 years ago, and hockey has a lot broader appeal to kids with solid prospects coming from all across the US, rather than an era of Minnesota, Michigan, and New England kids totally dominating the game.
motzko put his own kid in Tier one with Sioux Falls when he could have played with Tonka this year. More games, more structure, better hockey.
The goalie? I don't think he would have seen much ice time at Tonka.
He played more than Nelson (their starter this year) last year but was worse, so I'm sure the writing was on the wall there.
He was their starter. There's always more to any story than what one hears, but it wasn't just about tier one being better than HS hockey. Motzko needed a change of scenery after his brother was killed.
This was great!This reminds me of something Don Lucia said while he was the Gophers head coach. It's in the first 30 seconds of this video/speech.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
I know the conventional wisdom is that Hagens has already made his decision, but I can't help but notice the decision continues to not become public. Anway he's playing on a line with Moore and Eiserman today. Eiserman needs 1 goal to hit 60.
He’s been playing with Moore and Eiserman for awhile. Should be a pretty effective sales pitch?
https://twitter.com/usahockeyntdp/status/1643252099323424770?s=46&t=En79kNOBodeSvM-NwfbdtA
6 Minnesotans. 5 uncommitted. Plus Logan Cooley’s cousin John Mooney.
Quick breakdown of the Minnesotans.
Garrett Lindberg - D - Moorhead
Maceo Phillips - D - Benilde
William Belle - F - Shattuck (Notre Dame)
Jacob Kvasnicka - F - Wayzata
Conrad Fondrk - F - White Bear Lake (plays at some prep school out east)
Cullen Potter - F - Minneapolis but has moved all around playing AAA hockey, most recently in Texas. Son of two former Gophers, most notably Jenny Potter.
Quick breakdown of the Minnesotans.
Garrett Lindberg - D - Moorhead
Maceo Phillips - D - Benilde
William Belle - F - Shattuck (Notre Dame)
Jacob Kvasnicka - F - Wayzata
Conrad Fondrk - F - White Bear Lake (plays at some prep school out east)
Cullen Potter - F - Minneapolis but has moved all around playing AAA hockey, most recently in Texas. Son of two former Gophers, most notably Jenny Potter.
Added links for the high school guys. Looked for some information on William Belle as I didn’t know much about him. Found this ARTICLE. He’s had kind of an interesting path.
EDIT: Looks like all of the links went to Maceo Phillips when I first posted this. I think I’ve got them fixed now.
Doesn't necessarily mean anything, but James Hagens follows gopher hockey on instagram
And at least one Gopher women's player
Doesn't necessarily mean anything, but James Hagens follows gopher hockey on instagram
If he was a little older and it wasn’t his draft year I’d assume he’d just end up at Harvard with his brother but I couldn’t think of a better situation than setting up Eiserman all draft year long for a potential 1 overall pick.
Doesn't necessarily mean anything, but James Hagens follows gopher hockey on instagram
Wow. And for those questioning if this means anything, it’s 2023, this means a whole lot.
The team is also following him, which they don’t usually do.
Of course, I’m not actually believing anything until I see it.
He follows BC as well, but I found it interesting that he was following a Gopher Women's player. I don't know other schools' rosters well enough to know if he was following anyone at other schools.
Hagens? Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Hagens pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
I wonder if Hagens will announce his decision right after the u18 WC
Hagens? Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Hagens pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
Is he going to Ferris State? ?
@gopherpete pure speculation. The U18 WC is the culmination of the NTDP program for these kids (I know this is Hagens first year) and the end to their season. I feel like I’ve seen commitments right after this tourney before. Kid focuses on the end of their season and then switches quickly to selecting where he wants to play college. Also, wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already made his decision but won’t announce till after the tourney so it’s not a distraction.
Again, all speculation but you can kind of follow trends with commitments for these kids and for me signs are pointing to him making a decision know soon.
Is he old enough to be offered? I thought I heard an announcer on one of the clips refer to Hagens as a "double under-ager." Is he a Junior in high school or still a sophomore?@gopherpete pure speculation. The U18 WC is the culmination of the NTDP program for these kids (I know this is Hagens first year) and the end to their season. I feel like I’ve seen commitments right after this tourney before. Kid focuses on the end of their season and then switches quickly to selecting where he wants to play college. Also, wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already made his decision but won’t announce till after the tourney so it’s not a distraction.
Again, all speculation but you can kind of follow trends with commitments for these kids and for me signs are pointing to him making a decision know soon.
Is he old enough to be offered? I thought I heard an announcer on one of the clips refer to Hagens as a "double under-ager." Is he a Junior in high school or still a sophomore?@gopherpete pure speculation. The U18 WC is the culmination of the NTDP program for these kids (I know this is Hagens first year) and the end to their season. I feel like I’ve seen commitments right after this tourney before. Kid focuses on the end of their season and then switches quickly to selecting where he wants to play college. Also, wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already made his decision but won’t announce till after the tourney so it’s not a distraction.
Again, all speculation but you can kind of follow trends with commitments for these kids and for me signs are pointing to him making a decision know soon.
I thought I read somewhere he had accelerated but I could be misremembering.
I would guess Hagens - assuming he goes the college route - is accelerating to enter school in 2024 though cannot say I have any clue how it would impact his timeline to commit.
Hagens is not eligible to commit until August 1.
Hagens is not eligible to commit until August 1.
Not saying he has, but hypothetically, if he has finished his sophomore year and has already started taking junior level classes could he not commit somewhere now?
Hagens is not eligible to commit until August 1.
Not saying he has, but hypothetically, if he has finished his sophomore year and has already started taking junior level classes could he not commit somewhere now?
I believe that is correct. There have been instances of “sophomores” committing before Aug. 1 of their upcoming Junior year and in all cases the player has accelerated their schooling. I’m sure there are specifics on exact timing but I’ve not seen anything that outline the acceleration process.
A plethora of MN kids taken in the USHL draft. Recognizable names Spehar, Vanek, Kraft all went pretty early.
A plethora of MN kids taken in the USHL draft. Recognizable names Spehar, Vanek, Kraft all went pretty early.
https://ushl1draft.rinknet.com
A plethora of MN kids taken in the USHL draft. Recognizable names Spehar, Vanek, Kraft all went pretty early.
Man I'm old.