Michigan Hockey October 18, 2010

Michigan Hockey michiganhockeyonline.com V.21:I.6 | October 18, 2010 FIRST CLASS

LCAHL 2010-11 Season Calendar see lcahl.org for more info

August 2010

September continued

January 2011

16

Registration Opens for Travel and House

17

House Registration Closes

9

League Play Ends

18

Travel League Play Begins

25

Travel Registration Closes

10-13

Make-up Days

21

Initial House Alignments Posted

28-29

Travel Alignment Meetings

14

Post Playoff Pools and Schedules

22-23

House Alignment Appeals

18

24

Final House Alignments & Schedules Posted

Start of League Playoffs First Round Robin

25

House Scheduling Begins

February 2011

26

Face-Off Meeting at Motor City Casino & Conference Center

18

Playoff First Round Ends

26-27

Playoff Quarters and Semis

30

House League Play Begins

September 2010 3

Initial Travel Alignments Posted

8-9

Travel Alignment Appeals

10-12

LCAHL Faceoff Festival

13

Final Travel Alignments & Schedules Posted

14

Begin Scheduling Travel Games

g n i t e e M ff O e Fac s s e c c u s g i b a

March 2011 5-6

Playoff Quarters, Semi’s and Finals

11-19

Playoff Finals

PHOTOS BY BOB BEGUELIN/LCAHL

Over 500 coaches and team managers attended the 2010 LCAHL Face-Off Meeting on September 26 at the Motor City Casino Hotel in Detroit.

Also thank you to Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock (with from left Communications Director Lisa Zarzycki and League Secretary Carrie Camrat) who took time out from his busy schedule to be the event’s guest speaker.

Thank you to all the LCAHL Directors and Volunteers who helped make everything run smoothly, the vendors who attended and the Breakout Session presenters’ Brian Secord, Laura Ramus and Bob Mancini. Travel Director Laurie Golden Birchler (left) watches as Jeff Anderson fills out a raffle ticket.

Table of Contents October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6 AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

Macomb’s Alex Knapp was a hero on and off the ice Grand Traverse Hockey Association’s Mite Jamboree a success

SPEAKING OF HOCKEY

What are you looking forward to most this season?

BEYOND THE STRIPES

10

GET BETTER Mike Babcock’s message to youth coaches

11

STATE OF THE GAME By Lyle Phair FROM THE CREASE By Joe Messina

12 Setting Goals

14

REEBOK TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

16

COLLEGE PREVIEW ‘10

JUNIOR HOCKEY

U.S. Under-18 Team’s Rocco Grimaldi starts out hot NAHL’s Warriors overcome rough start at home Whalers’ Beau Schmitz ready to step up Saginaw streaks to first place in OHL West

RED WINGS AND NHL INSIDERS

Dave Waddell: Red Wings aren’t old, they are experienced Kevin Allen: Steve Yzerman creates a buzz in Tampa Bay

COMING IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

PAGE 14 Hometown Hero Marquette’s Justin Florek begins senior season at Northern Michigan

4

Michigan Hockey

PAGE 27 Junior Hockey NAHL’s Michigan Warriors rebound

PAGE 30 NHL Insider Steve Yzerman creates a buzz in Tampa Bay

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

13

HOMETOWN HERO Marquette’s Justin Florek

Wolverines’ Carl Hagelin just keeps getting better CCHA Notebook Ferris State and Lake Superior State previews Michigan and Michigan State previews Northern Michigan and Western Michigan Wayne State women and Michigan Tech previews Adrian College Division III previews Finlandia University Division III previews

College Preview ‘10 CCHA teams, Michigan Tech, Wayne State women, Adrian and Finlandia

8

Expectations of officials

The problem with playing to win

PAGES 18-26

6 6

Our annual Holiday Gift Guide will give you ideas for the hockey player, coach and fan in your family. The issue will also include a Training Table feature on Livonia’s Brandon Naurato, Hometown Hero Mike Modano and our yearly rundown on the state’s Top College Prospects.

Look for it on arena stands, on michiganhockeyonline.com and in your e-mail In Box on October 29.

Advertising copy for the next issue of MH is due on October 20.

Contact Lucia Zuzga at (248) 479-1134 or lucia@ michiganhockeyonline.com or Philip Colvin at (248) 479-1136 or phil@michiganhockeyonline.com for more information.

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26

26 27 28 28

30 30

From the Editor

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor-in-Chief Philip D. Colvin

phil@michiganhockeyonline.com

Advertising Lucia Zuzga

lucia@michiganhockeyonline.com

Everyone plays

Database Manager Josh Curmi

jcurmi@michiganhockeyonline.com

In March, at the end of every season, I talk to numerous coaches whose teams have just won the MAHA state tournament. And almost every coach touts the fact that they tried to play everyone all the time, regardless of the situation. And by December, the kids who started out on the third line had improved so much “that you couldn’t tell which one was our first line and which was our third line.”

Even if you don’t win a state title, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock believes playing everyone on your team makes the game more fun and is the right thing to do. Check out Babcock’s number one priority for a youth coach in our “Get Better” column (page 11).

“State of the Game” columnist Lyle Phair checks in with how playing only to win can cloud a youth coach’s judgment (page 12).

Also in this issue is a feature on Michigan senior left wing Carl Hagelin, a top student athlete from Sweden who was voted team co-captain, and previews of the state’s CCHA teams, Michigan Tech, Wayne State women and both the men’s and women’s squads at Division III Adrian College and Finlandia University.

And with the season underway we’d like to hear about your team. All you have to do is e-mail or snail mail us a photo and story about your team, including all the players and coach’s names, and it will be featured in our Amateur Hockey Report in an upcoming issue.

If you take the time to send it to us we will publish it.

We’re also on our annual Quest for the Best Arena. By answering each month’s new question at michiganhockeonline.com you’ll be entered in a prize drawing and we’ll tally the votes at the end of the season to determine Michigan’s 2011 Quest for the Best arena winner.

Design Chuck Stevens Contributing Editor Kevin Allen Rob Murphy Distribution Lucia Zuzga Administrative Director Amy Jones EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob DeSpirt, Christine Szarek, Derek Blair, James Jenkins, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda Holland Lisa Zarzycki, Mark Vansaw, Nyron Fauconier, Randy Paquette Rob Mattina, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer's full home address and day and evening telephone numbers.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY is published by SUBURBAN SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829.

Have a great season,

A preview of the rest of the CCHA teams

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN HOCKEY®, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 483352829. ©2010 by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN HOCKEY or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY 23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200 Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829 (248) 478-2500 • FAX: (248) 478-1601 EMAIL: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com WEBSITE: www.michiganhockeyonline.com

Dear Michigan Hockey,

ACHA Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League preview

Cover: Michigan senior left wing Carl Hagelin courtesy UM Sports Information.

Photos at left (from top, L to R): CCHA playoff action at Joe Louis Arena last season by Dave Reginek/DIG Photo; Marquette’s Justin Florek by Dave Reginek/DIG Photo; Michigan Warriors bench by Rich Schultz/iCapture Images and Steve Yzerman

by Tom Turrill/Michigan Hockey.

Cover reprints available email: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Red Wings Insider: Detroit’s not old, they are experienced

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

Surprisingly Kevin Allen stated that the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks are the class of the NHL’s Western Conference (MH’s NHL Preview, September 20 issue).

All right, that might be consequently true. These three teams quite honestly took advantage in the off-season by scouting for the perfect matches to try to help their team in the future.

A depressing part that happens in the off-season is when players that have helped you win a Stanley Cup or advance your team into the playoffs (leave). Now you have to say farewell to them because of the woes of the salary cap. I bet many owners wish that the cap didn’t exist.

And just because a team might have lost some players it doesn’t mean when the season starts there will not be a “wow” factor or that they won’t come out on top in the end. The Chicago Blackhawks are an example.

Another point to remember is if a team has talented young players, but little leadership, it doesn’t mean they will finish on top. An example is the Los Angeles Kings.

Just remember Allen’s predictions stated in the article. The three teams he stated that would finish on top in the West is just an assumption. We’ll have to wait and see if his predictions are correct.

Sincerely, Raymond Carnaghi Washington, MI

Michigan Hockey welcomes Letters to the Editor, either by e-mail (mh@michiganhockeyonline.com) or by regular mail to the address at left.

Michigan Hockey

5

Email us articles and photos at MH@michiganonline.com

SEND MICHIGAN HOCKEY YOUR NEWS!

Amateur Hockey Report

6

Michigan Hockey

FUN SNAKCS for

Hockey Moms

submitted by Hockey Moms Submit your recipe & photo to: lucia@michiganhockeyonline.com

CARAMEL CRUNCH BARS Knapp on and and off offthe theice ice Knapp was was aa hero hero on

Macomb Township’s Alex Knapp, a double-amputee after suffering war wounds in Iraq, passed away on October 2 at the age of 24 from an apparent heart attack after playing sled hockey in Big Rapids.

In March 2008, Knapp was a U.S. Army specialist on patrol near Baghdad, Iraq when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. He and three other soldiers suffered severe injuries, and Knapp had both of his legs amputated above the knee.

Knapp endured multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, and after returning to Shelby Township last September he poured his energy into playing sled hockey with the Fraser-based Michigan Sled Dogs team

Known for his courage, optimism and passion for the game, Knapp attended the USA Hockey Sled Development Camp in July and was named to the 2010-11 U.S. National Junior Sled Hockey Team in August. “Alex was an extraordinary individual and he died doing what he loved, bringing the game of sled hockey to new players,� MAHA Disabled Sports Director Carol Schwanger wrote in an e-mail. “He was awarded two Purple Hearts for his military service and he quickly applied the same dedication and determination he had in the Army on the ice.�

After Knapp moved into the first home built in metro Detroit by Homes for Our Troops last December, he added an artificial ice surface to the barrier-free home so he could practice stickhandling and shooting.

A 2004 graduate of Utica Eisenhower, Knapp studied criminal justice at Michigan State University for two years before joining the Army military police. He spoke at the Shelby Township Veteran’s Day ceremony in 2009 and his upbeat, positive attitude rubbed off on everyone he met.

The first-year Mid-American Great Lakes Sled Hockey League plans to honor Knapp by naming an award after him that will be given to a player that displays Knapp’s dedication and commitment. “I have received beautiful e-mails from all over the country that express not only the sadness of Alex’s passing, but the huge impression he made in such a short time with us,� wrote Schwanger.

By Philip Colvin

Grand Traverse Hockey Association’s Mite Jamboree a hit at Center Centre Ice At the beginning of every season the Grand Traverse Hockey Association in Traverse City holds a free Mite Jamboree at the Centre Ice arena for players 3-8 years old.

The association sent flyers home to area school children and put up 100 yard signs to promote the event.

This year’s Mite Jamboree was on September 25 and drew 100 young players to Centre Ice to try out the game for free.

GTHA mite coaches help the beginner players on the ice, and the association provides food and drinks for the kids, free skate and helmet rental and held a used equipment sale during the day. Board members, coaches and managers are on hand to answer any questions and help sign up the players for GTHA programs.

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Speaking of Hockey

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

What are you looking forward to most this season?

“Winning some games.”

Gordie Niethammer, 9, Saline, Ann Arbor Squirt Wolves

“Better coaching with my new team.”

Brendan Smith, 11, Clio, Flint Phantoms Pee Wee AA

“The Big Chill at the Big House.”

Sam Chapman, 12, Ann Arbor, Chelsea Chiefs Pee Wee AA

“Probably some improvement. I am a beginner.”

Clair Harris, Ann Arbor, Goon Squad

“The whole excitement of stopping shots.”

Edward Gilbert, 9, Ann Arbor, Squirt Dragons

“Getting to play with my new teammates.”

Diana Milne, 11, Ann Arbor Cougars

“Getting back with the guys and hanging out in the locker room.”

Ben Finn, 16, Dexter High School

8

Michigan Hockey

“Scoring most of the goals.”

Mason Kelley, 8, Commerce Township, Belle Tire North Mite AA

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

“Being able to contribute both offensively and defensively.”

Rob Havui, Ann Arbor, Goon Squad

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Beyond the Stripes DEAN KRISPIN

Dean Krispin is a former official that is back watching youth hockey. Contact him at: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com

STRONG EFFORT AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Proper expectations of officials

Coaches at all levels talk about wanting officials to be “consistent.” Pat Cherry and Don Finn of Lake Orion High School look for consistency in an official’s effort and attitude. Judging the calls an official makes or doesn’t make is more difficult. ”Calls can vary greatly because frankly the officials can only call what they see in context to the rules and how the game is being played,” said Finn. “As a coach on the bench, I may not have the same vantage point or angle a referee has while on the ice in making calls or not making calls. The same goes for the spectators in the stands.”

In Cherry’s mind coaches and parents can really only scrutinize the referee’s effort and attitude.

“People make mistakes, but not giving 100% and not having a positive attitude has no excuse and is the highest expectation I have for all officials,” he said. “It becomes easy to see how

official’s poor effort and attitude opens up the flood gates for further scrutiny of their performance if your team loses.”

TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION The two veteran coaches also stressed that they personally expect good two-way communications with the officials.

“My coaching staff does not expect play-by-play detailed explanations of every call or no call,” said Cherry. “At the very least a simple explanation when requested is what most coaches expect. But more times than not, coaches experience a communication wall with officials.”

KNOWLEDGE OF THE RULES Was that a trip or just two players getting tied up and falling down? Regardless of how the official saw it, he or she must know the rule and be decisive.

“Coaches should expect that officials have a strong knowledge of the rules and a firm and unwavering ownership of their judgment as a minimum standard,”said Jason Woodrum, a Level 3 referee in Michigan. “I feel that this is what coaches, players and parents expect from my performance while on the ice, and this is what I expect of my partner as well.”

COMMITMENT TO GETTING BETTER Jim Seidel, a scheduler of referees, has a different focus on what he expects of the officials that make up his crew.

“I personally expect all officials to have a commitment to continuously improve,” he said. “Continuous improvement in the knowledge of rules, conditioning, skills, communication, effort and attitude.”

In the end the expectations that coaches, player and parents have for referees should be centered on just one thing - providing a fair and fun competitive environment for all girls and boys of all ages and skill levels.

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At rinks all across the state it’s not hard to find parents and coaches spending a lot of time, energy and emotion scrutinizing referees.

Often referees are viewed as adversaries or incompetent, while the officials themselves are amazed how vastly different their performances are assessed from game-to-game.

The typical scenario is if a team wins the coaches, parents and players are pleased, while the losing team is not. Obviously there is an expectations gap.

The skills of referees vary from official-to-official and from game-to-game. Since officials subject themselves to the spotlight for various reasons and handle the pressure differently the question arises, what are the proper expectations of an official?

Feedback from last season from both officials and coaches provides a pretty straightforward and simple list of expectations we all should have for officials this season.

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Get Better

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

nce Finding the right insura . program just got easier

A message to coaches Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock makes it clear that he appreciates all of the hard work and dedication shown by youth coaches.

But he is also wants to make sure that youth coaches know that they have made a very important commitment when they volunteer.

“Once you say you are the coach then you have a responsibility to those kids and those parents to do one heck of a job,” Babcock said. “You have to be there, you have to be prepared, you have to be organized and you have to love the kids.”

Babcock remembers all of his youth coaches, and said the“when we are looking for a place for my son or daughter to play the number one thing we look at is the coach.”

The reason Babcock remembers them all is because they all had an impact on his life.

“So who do you want to impact your kid’s life?” he asked. “Good people who care about them? I would assume that would be a priority. People say ‘this guy has won three state championships.’ They get good players, but to me that is not what it’s about. Do they care about them? Do they treat them with respect? Do they demand a work ethic and attention to detail? That to me is what coaches do.”

INCREASE THEIR PASSION Babcock got into coaching because he “loves people” and to survive the pressure at the NHL level he has to “get better every day.”

“But you’re not coaching pro hockey though, you’re coaching kids and they want to feel good about themselves everyday,” said Babcock. “You have to help them get better and increase their passion for the game.

“Your number one job, your number one priority as a youth coach is for your players to love the game more when they leave then when they arrive.”

Babcock believes hockey is pretty simple and that we sometimes make it more complicated than we have to.

“Players need to be able to skate – if you can’t skate you won’t be able to continue to play. You have to be able to pass and shoot, and you have to be able to think the game.”

EVERYONE PLAYS And it’s clear to Babcock that when kids have fun they get better and they love the game more. And having fun means playing in every situation.

“If you play for the Red Wings, everybody plays. Some play a little bit more, but everybody is important because everyone has a role,” said Babcock.

Ice Rinks Ice Skating Rinks

Sports Complexes Hockey Figure Skating Adult Leagues PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock’s message to youth coaches: “your number one priority is for your players to love the game more when they leave then when they arrive.”

And that philosophy is even more true in youth hockey.

“Everybody has got to play,” said Babcock. “Everyone on your team is important.

That little Johnny, who can’t even skate, if he loves the game more than your star player, in two years Johnny is going to be better.

“So if you get a penalty and you’ve got three guys on a line. Two of them go out first and the third one goes out next with the guy on the next line. And you have to actually teach everyone to penalty kill.

“And then the powerplay comes and you got to put everyone out on the powerplay.

And you have to work on the powerplay and have a system so they believe they will be successful.”

Babcock knows he got to where he’s at with the help of youth coaches that cared about him.

“They really cared about kids,” he said. “And that’s what you want your players to say about you one day. The way they are going to do that is if you cared about them, if you’re organized, if you know how to deal with the parents and if you have a development plan and you play them all. Not just the best ones.”

By Philip Colvin

Youth Leagues Special Events Civic Centers Exhibitions Directors & Officers Coverage Designed for Hockey Associations/ Leagues, prep and other non-profits.

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Three Passes and a Shot Drill

Source: weisshockey.com

1. Players line up in two lines on the blueline at opposite sides.

2. Each line has pucks.

3. On the whistle the first player from each line skates down the blueline and receives a pass from the opposite line.

4. The receiver controls the pass and sends a pass back to the player who passed to him.

5. After giving the return pass, the player continues around and presents himself as an option in the receiving zone (green), where he receives a pass from the line he originally left from.

6. Receiver turns up ice to take a shot and then skates to back of the other line.

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

Michigan Hockey

11

State of the Game

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

State Game of the

by Lyle Phair

COACH

MIKE SULLIVAN Where do you live: Chelsea Level: Head coach ‘01 and assistant coach ‘99 Ann Arbor Wolves Years coaching: 11 Why do you coach?: I have four boys that play, it was a natural fit. I also love to coach the kids and the life lessons.

Most memorable moment: Watching kids develop.

When you see kids advance in leaps and bounds that’s what makes coaching great.

Coaching philosophy: Challenge them every day and make sure they are having fun.

Coach you admire: Tim Helber (Head coach ’99 Wolves).

He is a great leader, always a calm and level headed coach.

One thing you would change: Add free form, competitive scrimmages with referees and no scoreboard. It would be a great way to develop skills with a structure for the kids.

presented by:

To recognize and promote the commitment of youth coaches in the state, Michigan Hockey would like youth coaches to tell us a few things about yourself and why you coach youth hockey.

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Michigan Hockey

THE PROBLEM WITH PLAYING TO WIN

realize the benefits derived from participating in a team sport.

But all too often we lose sight of the process and get fixated on the outcome. We are so worried about our objective that we don’t take the opportunity to enjoy the ride.

If we really opened our eyes we would see that there is way more to the journey than there is to the destination. The problem is that it is much more difficult to gauge where you stand without a unit of measure like winning a game or sitting on top of the standings. Can we really determine that our team played well if they lost the game? How can we really tell if there was any improvement or growth by the players? Can we really call ourselves a good team if we are sitting at or near the bottom of the standings?

SHORT-TERM SOLUTION

The ultimate goal of any competition is to win. It’s doubtful that there would be any debating that statement.

Some games or events are bigger or more significant than others so winning might seem more important in those cases, but in the end it all comes down to which team comes out on top in any game that is played.

Oddly enough a team could play poorly and still win on the scoreboard and the perception by most people would be that everything is peaches and cream. Winning will do that.

Conversely, a team could play unquestionably its best game of the season yet come out on the wrong end on the scoreboard and the consensus would probably still be that they came up short. Losing will do that.

Obviously, winning is important. We always play to win. The more wins we get the better. The more wins we get the higher in the standings we finish.

And that is where we often get into trouble as it relates to playing to win.

Getting the win becomes all too important because it is the only way we can assess where we stand. The measurement becomes way more important than anything else. Way more important than it should be.

In youth sports, when coaches make decisions based on the scoreboard in a game or the team’s position in the standings, the results are typically more negative than positive. The short-term solution to winning a game is to play the better players more and the weaker players less or not at all.

If you really think about it, there really is not much in the way of“coaching” involved in that decision. There is no opportunity for the players that are perceived to not be able to get it done to actually get it done. It’s tough to do anything sitting on the bench. How does a coach really know what they can or can’t do if they never have the chance? How do those players improve and learn how to compete and get experience in different situations if they never have the opportunity?

Worse yet, all too often the better players get over-played, even to the point where it is detrimental to their performance because they are too worn out to be able to compete to the level that they should and could if they were getting a proper amount of time. So nobody wins in that scenario.

At least not from the players’ standpoint.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T?

SKILL DEVELOPMENT TAKES TIME

But what if we don’t win? What if the team has little or no chance of winning, because of circumstances beyond their control, like when their coach enters them at a level where they are over-matched and have no chance of success? And what if a team is so good that it never loses or is never challenged and wins every game with little effort? Are those wins really that important? Are they even really wins if the outcome was never ever in doubt?

Ultimately wins are nothing more than units of measure, like markings on a ruler or mileage on the odometer of a vehicle. The difference is that some of those miles are on a much better trip than others. Some are of a much higher quality than others.

The concept of winning and losing in youth sports is a bird of a different feather than at the professional level. And by professional level I mean the levels of play where people’s jobs are at stake. That is definitely not the case, or if it is it shouldn’t be, at the youth level. It would be pretty sad that someone’s livelihood was determined by the ability or inability of the performance of kids in a recreational sport.

WAY TOO SERIOUS Even so, there are many coaches and parents who take winning way more seriously than they should. They get far too excited and feeling good about themselves (even though they were not involved in the outcome) when their child’s team wins and far too upset after a loss.

At the end of the day, the outcome of a single game or a team’s position in the standings really shouldn’t have that much of a positive or negative impact on any adult’s life. Other than we should be proud and supportive of our kids’ efforts and glad that they have the opportunity to compete and

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

When the scoreboard and the standings influence decision-making too much, coaches tend to get impatient in practice planning and begin to spend a disproportionate amount of time attempting to teach their team concepts that they think might give their team a better chance of winning.

Typically coaches will spend a great deal of time working on organizational and strategic things like breakouts and power plays.

The problem is that to execute breakouts and power plays and offensive zone cycling and neutral zone forechecking, players need to have the technical skills to skate and be in the right position, handle the puck, pass, receive and shoot with their heads up and have a sense of positioning, timing and the decision-making ability to do the right thing at the right time.

Without the technical skill sets that require hours and hours of proper repetition in practice, the execution of breakouts and power plays is virtually impossible and the practice time wasted.

Probably the most frustrating feeling as a coach is when it seems like you aren’t making a difference. Skill development can be time-consuming and tedious and improvement never seems to come fast enough. It can be easy to think that you are going nowhere. Especially when the only quantifiable unit of measure for most people is wins and losses and the team’s position in the standings. Especially when you are doing more losing than winning and the team is closer to the bottom of the standings than the top.

Probably the worst mistake a coach can make is to coach by the scoreboard and the standings. More often than not, bad short-term decisions translate into worse long-term results for the players.

It’s not that winning is not important. It is. But it should be the by-product of good coaching decisions, not the driving force for bad ones.

From the Crease Lake Erie Monsters goaltender Jason Bacashihua (left), looks to longtime mentor and goalie coach Stan Matwijiw, the director of Bandits Goalie School for support and advice.

52999 Dequindre Rd. Rochester MI 48307

www.onyxicearena.com Check out all the fun programs at the ONYX!

Joe Messina

From the crease

For Ages 3-Adult

The power of setting goals In order to master something you have to do it properly over and over again. This article is going to outline not only how to set goals but also how to achieve them.

Remember, you must not get bored by fundamentals but energized about the ongoing improvements you’re creating each day. With the power of goals, we are able to create our future in advance.

Some players never set particular goals but for those that do, they will affect you. Goals can create the power to develop our skills. When setting goals, it’s essential to establish goals that are beyond your present ability. Regardless of what your beliefs or spirituality are, if you operate from the belief that if you get inspired enough you can figure out how to achieve that goal even if it seems impossible at the time. If you limit your future based on your past, you’re not going to go anywhere!

THE PURPOSE Many of the goalies that I talk to do set goals. However, setting goals is not enough! Make sure that you’re clear why you want them. The fundamental key is purpose, which is stronger then outcome.

What does that mean? Purpose of a goal is what everyone will make of you not only as a goalie but as a person. Set goals and know why you’re doing it. Setting a goal to one day play in the NHL is not enough. You have to know why this is important to you. In other words, why does making the NHL excite you? Make your dreams real. When you set a goal, it becomes a part of your life.

THE REASONS Remember, setting a goal is not enough. Come up with the reasons that you want to accomplish it. Remember, reasons come first and answers come second. If you get a big enough

reason for accomplishing something you will find the answer.

In every great success, the person finds the “why” behind their goal and that’s their power to achieve it. With the ability to have a goal, instantly comes the ability to achieve it.

WRITE IT DOWN To set your goals, I want you to pretend that you’re writing a letter to Santa Claus (it might sound silly but think about how excited we all got when we wrote a letter to Santa and told him what we wanted for Christmas).

You need to get excited about this because if you really fall into this it will make a difference!

To start, set a stop watch for six minutes or have someone time you. In six minutes write down everything that you’d like to accomplish as a hockey player this season. Be sure that you don’t stop writing! Fill the page with everything you can think of!

Once you have a full page of things you’d like to accomplish, you need to go through and pick the top five things. Once you pull those five a side, write a paragraph on why you are absolutely committed to achieving that goal.

TOP 5 AGAIN Finally, write down your top five again. But this time write down what it would mean to you if you didn’t achieve each goal. Pick five or six things that it would cost you. The more creative you can be with this the more you’ll empower yourself to fulfill each and every goal you have set.

This is what is called the carrot or the stick. What becomes more powerful to you? All the positive things that you’ll get if you achieve them (the carrot) or all the disappointment you want to avoid by not following through (the stick).

Session 3

November 3 - December 18 (7-Weeks)

Class Times:

Wednesday 10-11am, 1-2pm, 4-6pm Friday 10-11am, 1-2pm, 4-6pm Saturday 10:30am-1:00pm Taking first steps to playing hockey and freestyle skating

Hockey skating skill classes 5RGGF ENCUUGU Ő (TGGUV[NG UMCVKPI ENCUUGU

Phone: 248.601.6699

email: aarcher@suburbanice.com

Messina is the lead Instructor at Bandits Goalie School.

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

Michigan Hockey

13

Le Left eft Win Wing ng B orn: M ayy 18 8, 199 90 Born: May 18, 1990 He eightt/Weig ght: 6-4, 6-4 200 Height/Weight:

Hometown: Marquette Shoots: Left

Season S Se a on as n T Team ea am

League

GP

G

A

Pts

PIM

Marquette M rq Ma rque u tte Legion ue Leg Bantams NA Marque Ma Marquette uett ue tte Ele Electricians e MWEHL U.S. U.S National Nat atiional U Under-17 NAHL U.S. U S. U. S National Nat aattiona t n lU Under-18 NAHL No Nort Northern orrtthe ern rn Michigan Mich h CCHA No Northern ort rthe ern Michigan Mic i h CCHA

66 55 66 47 40 41

103 26 20 5 9 12

55 33 11 8 8 23

158 59 31 13 17 35

NA 38 52 24 6 22

2004 2004-05 4-0 05 2005-06 2005 20 0 -06 2006-07 2006 0 -0 06 - 7 2007-08 2 20 07-0 07 -08 -0 8 2008-09 2008 20 0 -09 2009-10 20 009-1 10

PHOTOS BY DAVE REGINEK/DIG PHOTO

A bi big b g po power forward with a long reach, Florek will play an even e ven ve larger lar a g role at Northern Michigan as a Wildcats’ assistant captain this year… Good around the net with soft hands and capt ca p ain pt ai th an excellent excel xcce elllen wrist shot… Started skating at age two when his mother mo oth her took took him to open skating on her lunch breaks… Grew up watching Wildcats and dreaming of playing for his hometown w tcchi wa h ng g tthe he h eW school… scho h ol ho o … Was as named nam the MVP of the Marquette American Legion Bantam two Banttam am AA A team m tw w seasons in a row (2004, 2005)… Moved up to the Electricianss Midget squad the following season before heading Midget Major M Ann Arbor ssouth so uth h to oA nn n Arbo o to play two years with the USA Hockey NTDP… Led the National Under-17 Team in scoring his first year (21-11-32)… th he U.S. N atio ona na U nal Received R Re ceivved the ce he e Don Do Waddell Award as the Wildcats’ top freshman Selected

by Boston in the fifth round (135th overall) in n 2009… Sel ee in n the 2010 201 010 NHL N Entry Draft and attended the Bruins prospect development d de velopmen camp in July… Also worked at the Marquette YMCA summer… Member of the bronze medal-winning U.S. team llast ast summ 2008 Under-18 World Championships… Graduated at the 20 from fr om m Ann An Arbor Pioneer High School in 2008… Likes to hunt and d fissh.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR Advanced Tournaments October 15-17, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Squirt House, Squirt A, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Advanced Tournaments November 5-7, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Mite House, Squirt House, Bantam A & Girls 19U Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

West Shore Tournament Series Scottville, MI October 15-17, 2010 JV Preseason I 231-843-9712 www.westshoreice.com

Dirty 30 Women’s over 30 Tournament November 5-7 Kensington Valley Ice House 3-Game Guarantee $675 per team Registration Deadline: October 8 810-494-5555 www.kensingtonvalleyicehouse.com

Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Series Fall Color Tournament Traverse City, MI October 15-17, 2010 Squirt A & AA 231-933-4842 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Action Tournaments Battle at the Border Cup Brownstown, Dearborn, Garden City, Melvindale, Westland, MI October 15-17, 2010 Girls U-12 & Girls U-16 734-751-9105 actiontournamentscentral.com Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Squirt AA, Pee Wee House, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Series Fall Color Tournament Traverse City, MI October 22-24, 2010 Pee Wee A & AA 231-933-4842 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI October 22-24, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com Advanced Tournaments October 29-31, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Pee Wee A, Bantam House, Midget Major/HS & Girls 16U Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI October 29-31, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com USA Wild Flowers Halloween Weekend Tournament Detroit, MI October 29-31 Girls 12-U & 14-U Tier II molsoncosmo@prodigy.net 248-496-1744

Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Series Traverse City Challenge Cup Traverse City, MI November 5-7, 2010 Bantam A & AA 231-933-4842 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI November 5-7, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com Manon Rheaume International Girls Tournament November 12-14, 2010 Farmington Hills, MI 19UAAA, 16UAAA, 14UAAA and 12UAAA 248-479-1139 jjones@suburbanice.com Advanced Tournaments November 12-14, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Mite A, Pee Wee House, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Big Rapids Hockey Association Squirt B Weekend Big Rapids, MI November 12-14, 2010 Squirt B 231-591-2881 www.bigrapidshockey.org Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI November 12-14, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com Advanced Tournaments November 19-21, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournaments Series Mite AA, Squirt A, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Series Traverse City, MI November 19-21, 2010 Bantam B 231-933-4842 gthatournaments@yahoo.com

Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI November 19-21, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com West Shore Tournament Series Scottville, MI November 19-21, 2010 Squirt B 231-843-9712 www.westshoreice.com Michigan Thanksgiving Classic Monroe, Michigan November 26 – 28, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 BOYS - Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA - GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com McCann Ice Arena 7th Annual Thanksgiving Tournament Grosse Pointe Woods, MI November 26-28, 2010 Mite-Midget House and Travel 313-343-0947 Mt. Pleasant Patriots Get Into the Cold Tournaments November 26-28, 2010 Mt. Pleasant, MI Bantam B www.mtpleasanthockey.com

OUT OF STATE Advanced Tournaments October 15-17, 2010 Nashville, TN Music City Tournament Series: Nashville Fall Classic Mite through Midget: B, A, and AA, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www. advancedtournaments.com Las Vegas Old-Timers Classic Las Vegas, Nevada October 22 - 24, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+: A/B,C,D,E 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http:// www.canlanclassictournaments.com Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Chicago, IL CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Fall ClassicMite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www. advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Fall ClassicMite through Midget: B, A, AA, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

COMPLETE and UP-TO-DATE TOURNAMENT LISTING ON WEBSITE

www.michiganhockeyonline.com

Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Rochester, NY Empire State Tournament Series: Empire State Showdown Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

New Jersey Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, New Jersey November 26 – 28, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com canlanclassictournaments.com

Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH October 22-24, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com

Fort Wayne Thanksgiving Blast Fort Wayne, Indiana November 26-28, 2010 BOYS - 2002/2001, 2000, 1999/1998, 1997/1996, 1995/1994/1993,1992/1991 Tier II - B, A, AA 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com canlanclassictournaments.com/

Advanced Tournaments November 5-7, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Veterans CupMite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Advanced Tournaments November 26-28, 2010 Chicago, IL CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH November 5-7, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Hoosier Cup Tournament Series Ft. Wayne, IN November 5-7, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com Las Vegas Youth Blast Las Vegas, Nevada November 5 - 7, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com Hockey for Heroes / Armed Services Las Vegas, Nevada November 11-14, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com Las Vegas Hockey Classic III Las Vegas, Nevada November 19 - 21, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http:// www.canlanclassictournaments.com Chicago Wolves Windy City Challenge Series Wishbone Challenge West Dundee, IL November 25-30, 2010 Mite-Midget B, A & AA 847-844-8700 Ext. 224 glapato@clubsportconsulting.com www.leafsicecentre.com

Advanced Tournaments November 26-28, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments November 26-28, 2010 Rochester, NY Empire State Tournament Series: Rochester Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget: B, A, AA, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments November 26-28, 2010 Washington, DC Congressional Cup Tournament Series: Congressional Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget: B, A, AA, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments November 26-28, 2010 Riverside, CA Golden State Tournament Series: Golden State Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget: B, A, AA, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH November 26-28, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com Hockey Time Productions Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series Pittsburgh, PA November 26-28, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com

Niagra Sports Tournament Festival of Lights Niagra Falls, NY November 26-28, 2010 Mites, Squirts, Pee Wees, Bantams, and Midgets B, A & AA available.

716-791-4068 www.niagratournaments.com Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH December 3-5, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com Gene Harrington Invitational Shootout Classic Niagra Falls, NY December 3-5, 2010 781-710-6560 www.nahockey.com New Jersey Christmas Classic Vineland, New Jersey December 27-29, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com Chicago Wolves Windy City Challenge Series Arctic Challenge West Dundee, IL December 27-30, 2010 Mite-Midget B, A & AA 847-844-8700 Ext. 224 glapato@clubsportconsulting.com www.leafsicecentre.com

CANADA October Classic Oshawa, Ontario October 15-17, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com canlanclassictournaments.com November Classic Oshawa , Ontario November 19 - 21, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com canlanclassictournaments.com New Years Ultimate - 2011 Oshawa, Ontario Dec 31 - Jan 1 - 2011 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com canlanclassictournaments.com Winter Whiteout - 2011 Oshawa, Ontario Feb 11 – 13, 2011 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com canlanclassictournaments.com

Wolverines’ Hagelin ready for big year

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DIG PHOTO

College Hockey

Michigan senior Carl Hagelin of Sweden is a Wolverines captain this season.

Thanksgiving Clinics NOV. 24 & 26 2NC[GTU ITQWRGF D[ UMKNN CPF GZRGTKGPEG NGXGN Ŗ (WNN JQEMG[ GSWKROGPV TGSWKTGF Ŗ %NCUUGU NKOKVGF VQ RNC[GTU

BY PHILIP COLVIN

The first time Michigan senior left wing Carl Hagelin came over from Sweden and skated at Ann Arbor’s Yost Ice Arena it was for the Wolverines Hockey Camp and he wasn’t thinking about playing college hockey.

“I was 11-years old, there are no college sports in Sweden and I wasn’t that good of a player back then,” said Hagelin. “I was sort of a late bloomer.”

Later when Hagelin’s older brother, Bobbie, began a pro career in Sweden, Carl started thinking about coming back to the U.S to play.

“I got a call from a college coach and we talked about all the opportunities and how good college hockey was,” Hagelin said.“And school has always been important to me and I figured why not get an education and play hockey at a high level at the same time?”

A sixth-round pick (168th overall) of the New York Rangers in 2007, Hagelin’s top end skating ability helped him earn a spot on the Wolverines’ penalty killing unit as a freshman.

He has steadily improved in his three years at Michigan and developed into a Hobey Baker Award candidate and legitimate NHL prospect.

“We’ve had some great skaters and Carl is as good as it gets,” said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. “And it’s not just his top speed, it’s his acceleration. He is as quick off the mark as anyone I have ever seen. Two strides and he’s gone. And most guys can go 20 seconds, Carl can go as long as we need him to.”

After taking a regular shift his sophomore year, Hagelin broke out with a big junior season, finishing second on the Wolverines in goals (19) and leading the team in assists (31), points (50) and shots on goal (170). He also had a career-high 11 multi-point games, an 11-game point scoring steak and was a force in Michigan’s run to the CCHA playoff title and NCAA Midwest Regional final.

“He can skate, he has offensive skill and he’s committed on both sides of the puck,”said Northern Michigan head coach Walt Kyle, who spent four seasons as a NHL assistant coach with Anaheim and the Rangers. “He’s the prototype of the kind of top players that college hockey is developing. He’s a late draft pick and comes in and just keeps getting better and better. And he’s going to come out of college hockey ready to step in and have a chance to crack (the Rangers) lineup.”

Before his freshman season Hagelin quickly made an impression on his future teammates by going undefeated in

18

Michigan Hockey

races up the steps at Michigan Stadium in the squad’s first off-ice workout.

“They are really tough - every other step and two-legged hops - and he won every one of them,” said Berenson. “That really got him the respect of his teammates before he even got on the ice.”

Hagelin has played with center Matt Rust his whole career at Michigan and has made the all-CCHA academic team the last two seasons.

“He’s really grown, his patience, his confidence (have improved) and his work ethic has always been there,” said Berenson. “He’s a great penalty killer, a great two-way player.

But now if we can get him to finish on half his chances – he’s so fast he creates offense just with his speed. And that is a work in progress – you don’t do all that in a day or a week.”

Hagelin agrees that he has matured physically and mentally in his time in Ann Arbor.

“I started here in a defensive role and did a lot of running around,” said Hagelin, who earned a silver medal with Team Sweden at 2008 World Junior Championship. “But as I have gotten older I have gotten stronger, more patient with the puck and smarter about where to be to create scoring chances.”

Before this season Hegelin was voted a Wolverines’ cocaptain (along with junior forward Luke Glendening) and Berenson believes he’s still a work in progress.

“He’ll be on the powerplay, kill penalties and be a front line player for us this year,” said Berenson. “Anyone I put Carl with plays well. He’s is one of those players that you’d like to have on every line. I can’t play him enough.”

“He’s pushed himself to get better every day and if you look at Detroit, Carl is already a (Darren) Helm, (Kris) Draper type of player and I think his game is still growing, so I would hate to pigeon hole him at this point.”

Hagelin loves playing at Yost, where fans display a huge Swedish flag before games, and enjoys being on the Michigan campus.

“Driving down State Street on a football Saturday is amazing,” he said. “Going to school and playing here has been a great experience.”

And while he knows the Rangers are keeping tabs on his progress, he’s trying to focus on his final season with the Wolverines.

“We’ve got a really good team and I want to take more responsibility, work hard, and get better every day,” he said.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

TIME

DAYS

Stickhandling & Puck Control (Ages 5-8) Outside Edges (Ages 6-14) Stickhandling & Puck Control (Ages 9-14) Backward Power Skating (Ages 9-14) Shoot to Score (Ages 5-8) Quick 'n' Fast (Ages 6-14) Shoot to Score (Ages 9-14) Defense Clinic (Ages 9-14)

9:30 - 11:00 am 11:00 am - 12:30 pm 12:30 - 2:00 pm 2:00 - 3:30 pm 9:30 - 11:00 am 11:00 am - 12:30 pm 12:30 - 2:00 pm 2:00 - 3:30 pm

Wednesday, November 24 Wednesday, November 24 Wednesday, November 24 Wednesday, November 24 Friday, November 26 Friday, November 26 Friday, November 26 Friday, November 26

TM

CLASS DESCRIPTION

TIME

DAYS

Stickhandling & Puck Control (Ages 5-8) Outside Edges (Ages 6-14) Stickhandling & Puck Control (Ages 9-14) Shoot to Score (Ages 5-8) Quick 'n' Fast (Ages 6-14) Shoot to Score (Ages 9-14)

10:00 - 11:30 am 11:30 am - 1:00 pm 1:00 - 2:30 pm 10:00 - 11:30 am 11:30 am - 1:00 pm 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Wednesday, November 24 Wednesday, November 24 Wednesday, November 24 Friday, November 26 Friday, November 26 Friday, November 26

CLASS DESCRIPTION

TIME

DAYS

Shoot to Score (Ages 5-8) Quick 'n' Fast (Ages 6-14) Shoot to Score (Ages 9-14)

9:30 - 11:00 am 11:00 am - 12:30 pm 12:30 - 2:00 pm

Wednesday, November 24 Wednesday, November 24 Wednesday, November 24

www.suburbanhockey.com

( 248) 478-1600

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

MEDIA POLL

COACHES POLL Rank Team

Points

Rank Team

GET YOUR FIT ON

Points

1.

Michigan (8)

108

1.

Miami (57)

877

2.

Miami (3)

103

2.

Michigan (17)

825

3.

Alaska

81

3.

Michigan State (1)

651

4.

Michigan State

76

4.

Alaska

618

5.

Notre Dame

75

5.

Notre Dame

567

6.

Northern Michigan

65

6.

Ferris State

546

7.

Ferris State

64

7.

Northern Michigan

536

8.

Ohio State

56

8.

Ohio State

428

9.

Lake Superior

35

9.

Lake Superior

312

10.

Western Michigan

29

10.

Western Michigan

225

11.

Bowling Green

23

11.

Bowling Green

190

(first place votes) PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DIG PHOTO

College Preview

The New CCM U+ Crazy Light

CCHA starts 40th season Since starting play in 1971 the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has eight national champions and six Hobey Baker Award winners.

The CCHA starts its 40th season with a special logo to celebrate the anniversary.

“The CCHA has developed a great tradition and proud history,”said Commissioner Tom Anastos. “Our 40th anniversary season will be a time to recognize the accomplishments of those who have set the standard of excellence in the conference over the past four decades and to look ahead to celebrating many more championship teams and outstanding individual performances in the years to come.”

MORE SHOOTOUTS

Ferris State senior Pat Nagle of Bloomfield

2010-11 CCHA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS First Team Position Forward Forward Forward Defense Defense Goaltender

Name, Year, School Carl Hagelin, SR, Michigan Andy Miele, SR, Miami Louie Caporusso, SR, Michigan Zach Redmond, SR, Ferris State Chris Wideman, JR, Miami Cody Reichard, JR, Miami

First 10 7 6 8 5 8

Totals 50 44 39 46 38 46

Name, Year, School Carter Camper, SR, Miami Andy Taranto, SO, Alaska Matt Rust, SR, Michigan Torey Krug, SO, Michigan State Chad Langlais, SR, Michigan Pat Nagle, SR, Ferris State

First 3 3 0 3 3 1

Totals 34 31 21 30 27 20

Second Team Position Forward Forward Forward Defense Defense Goaltender

Honorable Mention (next six point totals, regardless of position with firstteam votes in parentheses): Joe Sova, JR, D, Alaska, (2) 23; Greger Hanson, SR, F, Northern Michigan, (2) 20; Calle Ridderwall, SR, F, Notre Dame, (1) 19; Scott Greenham, JR, G, Alaska, (1) 16; Drew Palmisano, JR, G, Michigan State, (1) 14; Justin Florek, JR, F, Northern Michigan, (1) 12.

Vote Values: 1st place = 5, 2nd place = 3, 3rd place = 1 Voting was conducted among the 11 head coaches in the CCHA.

The conference also voted to continue using shootouts and the three-point system this year, and also added the use of standardized media timeouts in all league games and non-conference games hosted by CCHA teams.

In 2008 the CCHA became the first Division I men’s ice hockey conference to institute the shootout in league play. For the 2009-10 season, the CCHA adopted a standings format for league play where a team that wins in regulation or overtime receives three points, a team that wins a shootout is awarded two points, a team that loses a shootout gets one point, and a team that loses in regulation or overtime earns no points. Last season 25 CCHA games went to a shootout, with Alaska being the most frequent participant at eight shootouts.

The new standardized media timeout policy states that there will be three timeouts in each period of play. Timeouts will be at the first stoppage with under 14:00, 10:00 and 6:00 minutes on the clock for each period in all games. Teams must be at even strength. A timeout cannot be taken following an icing call, following a call for shooting the puck out of play, following a goal or during a power-play situation. A timeout can be taken going into a power-play situation.

FIFTY GAMES ON TV The CCHA TV schedule this season will feature all 11 teams and 50 games on FOX Sports Detroit (FSD), Comcast Television, CBS College Sports (CBSC) and Big Ten Network (BTN).

FOX Sports Detroit celebrates its 14th season of televising CCHA hockey during the 2010-11 campaign with a slate of 11 regular-season games including The Big Chill at the Big House between Michigan and Michigan State at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 11 that will set a new world record for attendance at a hockey game.

The FSD lineup also includes a campus-site playoff contest and all the drama from the CCHA Championship at Joe Louis Arena on March 18-19. The first game on Dec. 4 will feature Michigan State and Ferris State in a matchup between the league’s second- and third-place teams last season.

For the first time this season, all of FSD’s college hockey programming will be presented in high-definition.

Nine of the CCHA’s 11 teams will appear in regular-season action on FOX Sports Detroit, including four during the fifth annual ‘Hockey Day in Michigan’ on Saturday, Jan. 29. Miami will visit Notre Dame in the first game at 5:05 p.m., followed by Michigan and Michigan State playing at Joe Louis Arena at 7:35 p.m.

Twenty-two conference games, including a pair of CCHATournament second-round contests, will be shown as part of Comcast Television’s weekly CCHA package. All of the CCHA’s members will appear on Comcast at least once and telecasts will originate from the home venues of six schools: Bowling Green, Ferris State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Western Michigan.

CBS College Sports has committed to an eight-game package and the Big 10 Network is set to air five games involving CCHA teams.

Coaches could not vote for their own players.

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Michigan Hockey

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College Preview

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

Defense, goaltending will drive Ferris State

BY PHILIP COLVIN

Proponents of building a team from the net out will like this year’s Ferris State squad.

The Bulldogs had the third best defense in the country last season and return both veteran goaltenders in senior Pat Nagle and junior Taylor Nelson and a strong group of defensemen led by All-American candidate Zach Redmond, a seventh round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2008.

But this year’s Ferris State team faces the same question as last year’s Bulldogs.

Where are the goals going to come from?”

The Bulldogs had the same concern a year ago when Daniels started the season expecting big years from seniors Blair Riley, Casey Haines, Cody Chupp and Aaron Lewicki and they delivered.

“Last season there were a lot of question marks,” said Daniels, who is starting his 19th season behind the bench at Ferris State. “I felt Riley had a chance for a breakout year and Haines was a career third-line center for us.”

“This year we have the same thing – it’s our greatest unknown, but we have the same possibilities of some other players to emerge.”

With Riley, Haines, Chupp and Lewicki all graduated, Daniels believes a trio of senior forwards - Mike Embach (9-11-20), Justin Menke (8-12-20) and Todd Pococke of Saginaw (5-7-12) – could have similar breakout seasons.

“I think all three of those players are big, they’re strong, and I think they can step up and score and show up on a consistent basis on the score sheet.”

Sophomore right wing Matthew Kirzinger led all Bulldogs’freshmen in scoring last season (9-5-14). Sophomore center Travis Ouellette (7-4-11) and sophomore right wing Eric Alexander of Kentwood (3-4-7) are expected to add to their scoring totals.

“I have a lot of confidence that we do have some guys on this season’s team who will step up to the challenge and carry us offensively,” said Daniels.

Nagle and Nelson are two of the league’s top goalies, and the pair will start the season splitting time in the net, but Daniels said he isn’t locked in to keeping it that way.

Nagle, a Bloomfield native and a pre-season all-CCHA second team selection, played in 26 games last season, went 12-10-3, had a 2.13 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. Nelson went 9-3-3 with a 2.49 goals-against average

and a .915 save percentage in 16 games.

“We return two of the top goalies in the CCHA, who for the most part split the games last year,” Daniels said. “At the end of last season, Pat took over the reins but I have complete confidence in both and we’re starting the season with a healthy competition between the two again.”

Daniels also believes the Bulldogs have a defensive unit that ranks in the “topfour” in the CCHA. The unit is anchored by Redmond, a Traverse City native and the Bulldogs captain, who will be counted on to create offense from the blueline. Redmond was named to the All-CCHA Second-Team last season after recording a career high six goals and 27 points.

“He’s one of the best skating defensemen in the CCHA and he elected to stay and lead this team,” said Daniels.

Redmond will be joined on the blueline by junior Chad Billins (Marysville), junior Brett Wysopal and senior Scott Wietecha, who is back after missing the last 16 games of last season because of an injury.

A trio of junior defensemen - Michael Trebish, Aaron Schmit and Tommy Hill (Portage) - will also vie for icetime.

Traverse City’s Zach Redmond is an all-american canidate.

Head coach: Bob Daniels (19th season) Home arena: Ewigleben Ice Arena Last season: 21-13-6 overall, 13-9-6-4 CCHA (3rd), lost CCHA Semi-Final to Miami Skinny: Solid defense, but who is going to score?

BY JAMES DOWD

While there may not be much doubt that Miami, Michigan and Alaska will be the class of the CCHA this season, there’s a world of opportunity for the next tier of teams and waiting in the wings is one of this year’s most intriguing dark horses: Lake Superior State.

Led by senior captain Rick Schofield — a leader in every sense that a studentathlete can be — the Lakers boast a dynamic top line and an experienced netminder in senior Brian Mahoney-Wilson, who coach Jim Roque was happy to grant a clean bill of health after offseason hip surgery.

Schofield will likely continue to team up with fellow senior Will Acton and sophomore Ben Power after leading the team with 15 goals and 28 points last season. He should improve on those totals and has generated some interest from the professional ranks, including an invitation to the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects camp this summer.

The senior set aside any plans of playing pro hockey at any level for another year to make sure he would finish up his degree, with the added bonus of playing on a team that could shake up the upper-middle class of the CCHA standings.

“He’s not only a great player, but he’s a tremendous leader and tremendous student,” Roque said about Schofield. “He had a couple small offers to turn pro but he felt getting his degree was really important. He’s a School of Business scholarship winner. I just look for him to have a tremendous season this year and he will be one of the better free agent signings for the next level in the spring.”

While Schofield, who plays a nice defensive game himself, and the returning forwards will be looked on to add some scoring punch, Roque’s club will depend on Mahoney-Wilson to hold down the fort behind a defense that will count at least two freshmen among its ranks. Mahoney-Wilson, a San Jose Sharks’ draft pick, had a save percentage above .910 in each of the last two seasons, and should be rewarded with a few more victories if Schofield, Acton and Power can jumpstart the offense.

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Mahoney-Wilson struggled down the stretch last year, but Roque points to the hip injury his goaltender had surgery on this summer for those struggles.

“He’s fully recovered and feels good,” Roque said. “Obviously I look for him to build on that. The last six weeks of the season he didn’t play as well but he never practiced the last month, he was basically just playing in games and trying to do it that way and it didn’t really work out. We didn’t have a lot of confidence in our next guys and Brian still had to give us the best chance to win the game. Look for him to build on that.”

Behind Mahoney-Wilson, the Lakers have two freshmen backing him up, including Kevin Kapalka, the likely heir to the starting job. Beyond Kapalka, look for the rest of his rookie classmates to have an impact as well.

“I would say right now, you’re probably talking six freshmen will play, plus the seventh for a backup goalie for Brian,” Roque said. “So I would say two on defense for sure, four forwards and a goalie. I like them and I think they are going to be good players. I don’t think we need to lean on them. We don’t really have to put those guys in situations where they can’t have some success. I think they are going to be good though and they will challenge for ice time.”

PHOTO COURTESY LSSU SPORTS INFORMATION

Lakers strong up front and in the net

Lake Superior will again be led by senior Rick Schofield.

Head coach: Jim Roque (6th season) Home arena: Taffy Abel Arena Last season: 15-18-5 overall, 10-15-3-2 CCHA (10th), lost to Michigan in the first round of the CCHA playoffs Skinny: The Lakers could have six freshmen in the lineup every night.

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

College Preview

Wolverines have very high expectations

BY JOHN RAFFEL

After a thrilling postseason run a year ago, Michigan starts this season with some high expectations.

The Wolverines return eight seniors and 19 letter winners, including their top five scorers and two starting goaltenders, from a squad that slumped to seventh place in the regular season standings but caught fire to win the CCHA playoff title and lost to Miami in double overtime in the NCAA regional final.

This season’s veteran Michigan squad includes four top seniors, left wing Carl Hagelin, center Louie Caporusso, center Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills) and defenseman Chad Langlais (Cranbrook), that were all named to the all-CCHA preseason teams.

The speedy, relentless Hagelin has improved every year, finished last season with 19 goals and 50 points, and is one of the league’s top players and a Hobey Baker Award candidate. Caporusso led the team with 21 goals and finished second in points behind Hagelin (43).

Rust, who will center the Wolverines top line with Hagelin and sophomore right wing Kevin Lynch (Grosse Pointe), had 13 goals and 40 points last season and was a finalist for the CCHA’s best defensive forward honor.

They all avoided the tendency among college players to skip their senior season of college play and sign early with a NHL team.

“It means that we’ll be a team with a good senior class,”said Michigan head coach Red Berenson, who recorded his 700th career win at Bowling Green on October 8th.

“I’ve always judged our team by how good our seniors are. We should have good leadership and have a good team. All three of these kids have their heads screwed on.

They’re realizing why give up your best year, your senior year, to play in the minors?”

Langlais is mobile, moves the puck well and led the Wolverines defensemen in scoring last season (5-16-21). He’ll pair with freshman Jon Merrill (Brighton), a smart, talented top recruit who should be able to step right into the lineup.

“We have a deep group of seniors,” said Rust. “But anything can happen in this league. Miami is a good team. But I think we can do some good things.”

Up front expect junior left wing David Wohlberg and sophomore right wing Chris

Brown to form a formidable second line with Caporusso at center.

Hagelin and junior forward Luke Glendening (East Grand Rapids) are the team’s co-captains.

“Luke is one of those walk-on players that is a player’s player and a team player,” Berenson said. “I like the character of this team.”

The defensive unit also is experienced. Junior Greg Pateryn (Sterling Heights) came on strong at the end of last season, junior Brandon Burlon has a lot of offensive potential and physical senior Tristin Llewellyn (Ann Arbor) could end up in the top four.

A pair of seniors - Shawn Hunwick and Bryan Hogan – will start the season competing for time in the net. Hunwick’s play late last season opened some eyes and boosted the Wolverines in the postseason.

“We have two solid goaltenders,” Rust said. “‘They’ve both done a good job.”

A big feature on the schedule is“The Big Chill at the Big House”at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 11 with the Wolverines taking on Michigan State.

“There will be a big build up to that,” Berenson said. “Our team went through that last year at Wisconsin. It will be great for college hockey and will be a memorable experience. We were fortunate to be a part of the game at Spartan Stadium (Oct. 2001) that was a tremendous success.”

Senior Matt Rust will center Michigan’s top line.

Head coach: Red Berenson (27th season) Home arena: Yost Ice Arena Last season: 26-18-1 overall, 14-13-1 CCHA (7th), won CCHA playoff title and lost in NCAA regional final Skinny: Hagelin, Rust and Caporusso lead a team with veterans at all positions.

PHOTO BY BOB BRUCE/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Spartans have talent at every position

BY NEIL KOEPKE

Before last season, Michigan State wondered where their scoring was going to come from.

A group led by junior forwards Corey Tropp (20-22-42 points) and Andrew Rowe (17-11-28), junior defenseman Jeff Petry (4-25-29) and freshman left wing Derrick Grant (12-18-30) stepped up and provided most of the Spartans offense.

This year with Tropp, Rowe and Petry all giving up their final year of eligibility to sign pro contracts, the Spartans are again facing uncertainty about their offense.

Who’s going to create offense and put the puck in the net?

Will Grant be the go-to forward and improve on his successful-but-somewhatinconsistent rookie season?

Is this the year that center Daultan Leveille, a first-round NHL draft by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2008, becomes more of an offensive threat after scoring nine goals and 17 points as a freshman and six goals and 25 points last year?

Will senior right wing Dustin Gazley, a speedy 5-foot-8, 155-pounder who’s always moving fast, better last season’s career-high output of nine goals and 21 points?

How much of an offensive boost can be expected from junior Brett Perlini (7-5-12 in 20 games), Chris Forfar (6-4-10), Dean Chelios (4-6-10), Trevor Nill (2-7-9), Zach Golembiewski (2-4-6), and Anthony Hayes (2-2-4)?

“We’re all used to losing players and thrusting kids into new rolls. Just about everybody can play and compete, but you find have find the guys who can put the puck in the net in critical times,’’ Spartans coach Rick Comley said.

The Spartans’ top five returnees totaled 40 goals in 2009-2010.

“Our talent is good. We get up and down the ice fairly well and we do well 5-on-5,’’ Comley said. “Now, who can separate themselves and make an impact?”

“Offense is critical, but we better make sure we play well defensively early. But when you have a goalie to build around, you have a good starting point.’’

In his first season as a starter, Drew Palmisano posted a 15-10-5 record, a 2.44 goals-against average, two shutouts and a .917 save percentage. Palmisano, now a junior, was an All-CCHA second team selection.

Other positives include depth on defense, work ethic, team chemistry and camaraderie and strong leadership provided by captain Torey Krug, a standout

sophomore defenseman, and assistant captains Gazley and Nill.

“When you look at our team, there’s not many players with proven track records.

But that’s going to keep everyone fighting for spots,’’ said Krug, the first sophomore solo captain in Spartan history. “What I really think is going to help us win games and be successful is our camaraderie.’’

The defense includes juniors Matt Crandell, Tim Buttery and Brock Shelgren and A.J. Sturges, sophomores Matt Grassi and Zach Josepher and freshmen Jake Chelios and Chris Sandmeyer. Freshman Will Yanakeff will backup Palmisano.

Leveille and Grant, who are likely to start the season on the same line, with Gazley on right wing, are eager to set the tone on offense.

“I’ve always been more of a playmaker but with our offense, we need people to step up and score goals so I may have to alter my game and bit and to put the puck on goal more,’’ Leveille said.

Grant’s mission is to improve on last season by being more consistent, especially in the second half.

“I feel more comfortable with the speed of the game and learning how to prepare for an opponent,’’ he said. “I think one of our strengths is depth (at forward). Coach will have a tough time putting together lines because the competition is higher than it was last season.”

Spartans’ junior Drew Palmisano was named to the preseason All-CCHA second team.

Head coach: Rick Comley (9th season) Home arena: Munn Ice Arena Last season: 19-13-6 overall, 14-8-6-2 CCHA (2nd), lost to Michigan in the second round of the CCHA playoffs Skinny: All-CCHA goalie Drew Palmisano is back, but who provides offense?

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Michigan Hockey

21

College Preview

Wildcats start year with plenty of upside

BY JAMES DOWD

With the league’s top scorer, a stalwart defenseman leading an experienced blue line corps and an excellent senior goaltender holding down the fort, Northern Michigan finally broke through to the CCHA Championship game at Joe Louis Arena last spring and earned an NCAA Tournament bid in the process.

But now that Mark Olver and Erik Gustafsson signed pro contracts and Brian Stewart graduated, who is going to step up for the Wildcats?

“We are going to be a team that is looking for and trying to find who is going to fill those holes offensively,” Northern Michigan coach Walt Kyle said.

Focus up front will be squarely on senior Gregor Hanson (16-22-38 last season) and junior Justin Florek (12-23-35), along with juniors Andrew Cherniwchan (1216-28) and Tyler Gron.

“Hanson has been a real solid offensive contributor for us throughout his career,” said Kyle. “And I think Florek really came into his own last year, started to put up numbers and started to make himself dangerous, a real effective guy in front of the net on the power play.”

“Cherniwchan and Gron both played in our top six last year and are guys that look to us to have the potential to pick up the slack offensively,” said Kyle.

Senior forward Phil Fox, who was injured most of last season, returns as the team captain.

“Phil was as easy guy for us to name captain,” said Kyle. “He has been a real good honest soldier in his entire career and is well respected in the room.”

Making up the lost contributions of Gustafsson and fellow graduate T.J. Miller could present challenges for the Wildcats on their defensive end. Look for sophomore Kyle Follmer to lead a group that will need to gel together quickly as a unit to help take pressure off of new starting goaltender Reid Ellingson.

“Kyle really grew and developed and became a very good player throughout last year,” said Kyle.

Ellingson, a junior, played in 11 games for the Wildcats in both 2007-08 and 2009-10 and spent the season in between with Green Bay (USHL).

“Reid is certainly a guy who’s paid his dues, and has really matured,” Kyle said.

“I’m really pleased with his development and his mentality. We feel he’s a really capable goaltender.”

While Ellingson should get the the lions’ share of starts in goal, look for Jared Coreau, a freshman who boasts Stewart-like size to push for his chance to start his career on a strong note.

“I think (Ellingson) will be challenged and pushed right away by Coreau,” Kyle said. “He’s 6-foot-5, a big kid with a ton of talent, he’s real athlete in net, and he’s a guy who certainly needs to adjust to the college level. His athletic ability and his size is something we’re really looking forward to molding and developing him into a quality goaltender in his career.”

Freshmen that should make an impact include defenseman CJ Ludwig (the son of former NHL defenseman Craig Ludwig), and forwards StephanVigier (brother of former Wildcats standout J.P. Vigier, now playing pro in Switzerland), Reed Seckel (Melvin) and Erik Higby, who led the NAHL last year in scoring with 37 goals and 80 points.

While the loss of Northern Michigan’s big three talents is devastating on paper, Kyle’s teams always compete hard and get better as the season progresses.

The Wildcats have some question marks, but return enough players that had a taste of the CCHA championship game and the NCAA tournament and it will only make them hungrier to take the next step.

PHOTO COURTESY NMU SPORTS INFORMATION

Senior forward Phil Fox is the Wildcats captain this year.

Head coach: Walt Kyle (9th season) Home arena: Berry Events Center Last season: 20-13-8 overall, 13-9-6-3 CCHA (4th), lost to Michigan in the CCHA finals; lost to St. Cloud State in first round of the NCAA tournament.

Skinny: Lost a lot of firepower. Who will step up?

Broncos will work to climb out of basement

BY JAMES DOWD

It’s no secret that things haven’t gone well for Western Michigan over the past few seasons.

After winning just four games and finishing in last place last season, the Broncos hired former CCHA assistant coach Jeff Blashill as the team’s new head coach. Blashill spent four seasons at Ferris State and six at Miami and was most recently the head coach of the USHL’s Indiana Ice, where he won a league title in 2009.

Blashill plans to build a program in Kalamazoo with the tenets that made the RedHawks so successful — a commitment to teammates and constantly striving for greatness.

“Our success is going to depend on the culture we are able to create and most of that is off the ice,” Blashill said. “We want guys to choose greatness on a daily basis and understand that it’s a daily choice we are going to make. It takes work and great sacrifice to achieve that. We are working towards building that as well as having a group of guys who are going to commit to each other, to a Bronco hockey family, guys that are selfless and care about their teammates success equal to their own.”

The Broncos will need leadership and scoring from junior captain Ian Slater and alternate captains Max Campbell and Ryan Watson, both senior forwards who had six goals each last season.

Junior forwards Greg Squires (4-20-24) and J.J. Crew (8-11-19), along with freshman Shane Berschbach of Clawson (20 goals last season in the USHL), will also play a key role in reviving an offense that hovered just above Bowling Green at the bottom of the league, notching just 2.11 goals per game.

“We did not score very many goals last season,”Blashill said.“Goal scoring doesn’t happen on your first effort. It’s going to take a second, and a third and a fourth effort and we are going to have to learn to be aggressive and relentless to get on pucks.

If we do that our goal scoring will increase.

“I think we are quick and have a group of guys that can be very good on the power play. I think we are going to score by committee.”

In goal, the Broncos return Jerry Kuhn, a veteran of 34 career appearances

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and a .911 career save percentage and a 2.99 goals against average. Sophomore Nick Pisellini had a 6-2-1 record for Quinnipiac during the 2008-09 season before transferring to Western Michigan.

On the blueline Western Michigan suffered a big loss with the graduation of Tyler Ludwig, but sophomore Luke Witkowski (Holland) will lead a group Blashill hopes will be able to take some pressure off the netminders. Witkowski, a Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick, made strides last season while adjusting to the college game, and has the potential to be one of the league’s better defensemen.

Mike Levendusky is the lone senior defenseman on the roster. Sophomore defenseman Matt Tennyson will pair with Witkowski, and another sophomore, Ross Henry, returns after playing in 33 games last season.

Even with some intriguing pieces in place, Blashill knows that culture change likely won’t happen overnight, but there is still an opportunity for the Broncos to win some games and turn the program in the right direction.

“This year reminds me of my first year with the Indiana Ice where I really don’t have expectations low or high,” said Blashill. “There are a lot of unknowns and until we figure that stuff out it is impossible to set any true expectations. We are going to take it day by day.”

Senior Max Campbell is big part of Broncos offense.

Head coach: Jeff Blashill (1st season) Home arena: Lawson Ice Arena Last season: 8-20-8 overall, 4-17-7-2 CCHA (12th), lost first round of CCHA playoffs to Alaska Skinny: First-year coach Jeff Blashill solid pieces to build with.

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

College Preview

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

BY MATT MACKINDER

Wayne State opened the season with two straight splits and is looking forward to winning even more as the season gets into full-swing.

Warriors’ head coach Jim Fetter, starting his seventh season in Detroit, sees great potential in his team, especially after taking No. 4-ranked Minnesota to the limit in a 1-0 loss on Oct. 9.

“We have a tough schedule, but it’s a challenge for our players,” said Fetter, also the head coach for Canada’s Under-22 national team. “We want to continue to get better and I think we need to play those programs so that our players can see where we need to get to.”

Last season, WSU went 9-18-4 and lost in the first round of the College Hockey America post-season tournament.

Wayne State returns 17 letter-winners, including an eight-member junior class.

Three of those juniors – forwards Veronique Laramee-Paquette and Alyssa Baldin and defenseman Ciara Lee – will serve as team captains this season. Laramee-Paquette and Baldin will be co-captains, while Lee will be an assistant captain.

“This year we are expecting Vero to become more of a leader,” said Fetter. “She has another year of experience to understand what it takes. The team admires her work ethic both on and off the ice.”

Baldin led Wayne State with 11 assists and 20 points (both career-highs) a year ago.

“She was a captain for past teams growing up and she is a player who brings a strong work ethic and leads by example,” said Fetter.

Forward Adrianna Pfeffer (Farmington Hills), who has played in 80 career games and totaled a career-high six points last season, is the lone senior on the team.

Lee will help anchor the WSU defense with junior Jill Szandzik (Warren).

“Jill was a great addition two years ago,”noted Fetter.“She may not be the flashiest player, but she gets it done. She’s steady. Every time she steps on the ice, you know what you’re going to get and as a coach, you want consistency.”

Also up front, redshirt junior Lauren Ragen (Grosse Ile) won almost 60 percent of her faceoffs last season and Micheline Frappier recorded six of her seven points from January on.

Seven sophomores that were first-year players a year ago will be counted on to

make a bigger impact this season.

“One thing that you just can’t teach is experience,” said Fetter.

Jenaya Townsend, Julie Ingratta (WSU’s top rookie last year), Gina Buquet, Julie Hebert, Lauren Coxon, Jaclyn Stapleton and Lauren Lovold should be valuable go-to players and depth role players for the Warriors.

Ingratta had 15 points, including nine goals, last season.

“She worked hard on her skating, which was something she needed to improve on,” said Fetter. “She has great hands and can really shoot the puck.”

Wayne State has four freshmen skating into Motown this year, including Little Caesars U-19 teammates in forward Rachel Hardwick (Algonac) and goalie Lisa Marshall. California native Cari Coen, who can play both forward and defense, and defenseman Katie Gaskin will be counted on right away.

The WSU goaltenders will also be a strong suit for the Warriors.

Delayne Brian enters her junior season with WSU’s all-time best career winning percentage (.551). She is one of two third-year goalies on the squad, along with Brittany Zeches (Westland).

“Delayne came into camp in really good shape,” said Fetter. “Goaltending wins championships, so she’s definitely a person we’re going to be relying on.”

WSU opens CHA conference play Nov. 12-13 at Robert Morris and also has backto-back home weekends Nov. 19-20 against Mercyhurst and Nov. 26-27 versus Minnesota State.

PHOTO BY KARL HENKEL/MICHIGANCOLLEGEHOCKEY.COM

Wayne State women continue to improve

Sophomore forward Julie Ingratta led WSU freshmen in scoring last season with nine goals and 15 points.

Head coach: Jim Fetter (7th season) Home arena: City Sports Center Last season: 9-18-4 overall, 5-10-1 CHA (5th), lost to Robert Morris in the first round of the CHA playoffs.

Skinny: Difficult schedule will test veteran squad.

PHOTO BY RENATO JAMETT/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Huskies looking forward to big rebound

BY JOHN RAFFEL

Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell is confident that the summer trip the Huskies took to Europe will pay off this season.

In August, Tech traveled to Germany and Austria and played five games against pro teams.

“We had a great experience,” Russell said. “We made use of an NCAA rule that allows you to take a foreign tour. It was an absolutely amazing experience for our returning guys to go over there.”

“We really feel like we have our feet hitting the ground running. We look to get off to a good start flying out of the gate.”

The Huskies opened the season with a 5-3 win over Nipissing in an exhibition game and four of their five goals were scored by freshmen, including Milos Gordic, who has freshman eligibility after suffering a season-ending injury eight games into the 2009-10 season.

The Huskies are coming off a tough 2009-10 season. They were 5-30-1 overall and 4-24 in the WCHA for 10th place out of 10 teams. Key returnees are sophomore goalie Kevin Genoe, junior forward Brett Olson (18-12-30) and sophomore defenseman Steven Seigo.

“We have a big team,” Russell said. “We’ll be physical and hard to play against.

The last two years, we’ve had such a tough time of adversity with the number of injuries we’ve had. Last year, ended up in the playoffs playing at Denver where we had 10 forwards dressed. Our first-line center was out, our second-line and first-line left wings were out. Two senior defensemen were out. It was a continued stream of major injuries we went through.

“We’re looking forward to a healthy year,”said Russell. “We have great leadership.

Our captains Brett Olson and Deron Cousens have done a terrific job.”

The Huskies were young last season with 18 freshmen and sophomores, and hope to benefit from that experience.

“We had a young defensive corps last year where we had two freshmen in our top four. Steven Seigo is a very talented defenseman who quarterbacked our power play last year and had 19 points.”

In addition to Genoe, junior Josh Robinson (4.68 GAA) will see time in goal.

“We’re a little more experienced in the net,” Russell said. “For us to be successful, we have to start with good goaltending. We have to play good team defense. We’re looking to score more goals. We return a lot of our scoring from last season. We need to be a physical team that’s tough to play against. We’d like to improve our special teams from a year ago.”

Robinson is optimistic for the season.

“I think we look really good,” he said. “We only lost six guys and we brought in eight freshmen. The guys who returned are our top scorers and top D men. A bunch of our freshmen are looking really good. We’re all really confident.”

Olson is expected to have another big season.

“He plays in all situations. He has good vision and he can finish,” Russell said.

“And we’re excited to get Gordic back. He was a freshman for us last year but ended up being medically redshirted. He only played in eight games. He came to us after leading the BCHL in goals. We expect him to step in right away and make a contribution. He’s a big power forward.”

Senior forwards Eric Kattelus (Traverse City) and Jordan Baker, coming off offseason surgery, are also expected to provide offensive punch. And the in coming freshmen class includes Dennis Rix, who scored 100 points in the Alberta Junior Hockey League last season.

Traverse City’s Eric Kattelus is looking for a big senior season with the Huskies.

Head coach: Jamie Russell (8th season) Home arena: MacInnes Ice Arena Last season: 5-30-1 overall, 4-24 WCHA (10th), lost in first round of WCHA playoffs to Denver Skinny: More experience and fewer injuries could help Huskies climb out of WCHA cellar.

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

Michigan Hockey

23

College Preview

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

Deep, veteran Bulldogs hungry for first-ever DIII national title

BY LARRY O’CONNOR

As the Adrian College men’s team enters its fourth season, the to-do list gets smaller.

In its first three campaigns, the Bulldogs have won three Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cups while compiling a 77-8-1 overall mark. Last year, the Division III outfit finally received it’s first-ever NCAA tournament invite, which narrowly eluded the upstart program the previous two seasons.

What’s left to settle?

“We’ve got our core back and I think you are really going to see a driven team to do whatever they can to win the

Adrian junior forward Shawn Skelly (Wolverine Lake) led the Bulldogs with 21 goals last season national championship this year,”says senior right winger Mike Dahlinger, who tallied a league-leading 54 points on 13 goals and 41 assists last season.

That’s a bold statement, but one the Bulldogs are prepared to back it up. The team’s hasty exit in its first-ever national tournament - a 4-3 setback to perennial DIII powerhouse St. Norbert - has made the senior-laden squad more determined.

Dahlinger, who along with Livonia’s Chris Stansik, earned Second Team All-American honors, is one of 18 seniors returning as Adrian loses only two upperclassmen, left wing Kyle Frieday

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Michigan Hockey

and defenseman Rob Hodnicki from last season’s 24-4-0 team.

The predominance of seniors made the captain’s role more of a figurehead.

Though right winger Mike Towns says the team captaincy was a “huge honor,” “At the same time, we have such a veteran team and there are so many leaders on the team that it makes my job pretty easy,” Towns says.

All of the team’s top-10 scorers - including Wolverine Lake’s Shawn Skelly (team leading 21 goals) and last season’s freshman sensation Zach Graham who notched 13 goals and 38 points are back as is the defensive nucleus that held opponents to a meager 69 goals in 28 games, or 2.46 per game.

The team’s architect for such austerity, senior goalie Brad Fogal, returns. The Sharon, Ontario, native started all but one game last season while posting a 23-4 win-loss mark with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.

Fogal will be challenged this season by incoming goalie Mike Morissette, who backstopped the Ontario Junior Hockey League Oakville Blades to both league and Ontario Hockey Federation Central Canadian crowns last season. Morissette posted a 25-7 win-loss record to along with a 2.48 GAA and .907 save-percentage.

“He’s going to be someone we won’t be afraid to put in if things are not going well,” says Bulldogs Coach Ron Fogarty says. “He gives us a different dynamic.

Over three years, all everyone is seen is a 5-foot-10 butterfly goaltender. Now you have a 6-foot athletic goaltender.”

The newcomer in net is one of a handful of incoming players as Fogarty looks to replenish a bulk of the roster that leaves after this season.

Center Josh Cousineau and right wing Jordan Watts are expected to vie for spots on the team’s top two lines.

Cousineau scored 69 goals and 189 points in three seasons with Couchiching of OJAHL. Watts is a transfer from R.P.I. where he scored two goals and three assists in two seasons. The 5-foot9 forward was a teammate of Dahlinger’s on the 2007 national champion Ontario Junior Hockey League Aurora Tigers team.

“He’s a real skilled forward and knows what it takes,” Dahlinger says about Watts.

Other newcomers include left wing Zack Wilson, who played with Kemptville (Ontario) of the Central Junior Hockey League last season; and redshirt defenseman Jordan Principalli who last played for Okotoks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Principalli had a brief stint with the Major Junior A Saskatoon Blades in 2006-07.

The continual influx of talent will keep the Bulldogs from getting stale, which pleases fans. The team typically sells out most home games at the 750-capacity Arrington Arena where it was undefeated in 14 games last season. Last season, a record crowd of 1,054 watched the Bulldogs beat Lawrence University on Jan. 22.

In addition to a tough MCHA slate, Adrian hosts the Under-18 Czech National Team on Nov. 17. The team will return the favor for an extended visit to European nation in 2012, Fogarty says.

This season’s Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 26-27 features nonconference foes Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Hamline (Minn.).

A preseason coaches poll has Adrian as favorites to capture its fourth consecutive Harris Cup. Adrian received six first-place votes while Marian garnered two first-place ballots.

“I think people understand that we’re a good team,”Fogarty says. “At the same time we are a focused group. The first group to go through is very dedicated and they not only want to be (known as) the first group that came through, but the first group to win a national championship.”

Toledo native Brooke Zaleski led Adrian College in scoring last season with 10 goals and 27 points.

Adrian women have good mix of veterans and newcomers Depending on which way you look at it the Adrian College women’s team is either dominated by wily veterans or one marked by the youthful zeal of a bunch of freshmen.

Either characterization won’t be off the mark as the Bulldogs have a proven core of returnees from last season’s 15-11-2 squad as well as a bevy of incoming first year players expected to make an immediate impact. The program enters its fourth season and the third under coach Melissa Lomanto.

“We have a solid crew, but we should be a very veteran team right now,” says Lomanto, whose team is 33-17-3 on her watch. “We were able to bring in some freshmen so when our seniors graduate they will be ready to step in.

“I think with the players we brought in, we’ll be much deeper than in the past.”

Returning are the team’s top-five scorers last season, including No. 1 sniper Brooke Zaleski who notched 10 goals and 27 points in 26 games. The Toledo forward is joined by Jessica Grubbs (14-9-23), Stacey Kempson (11-7-18), Kelly Salis (5-11-16) and Danielle Maludy (2-14-16).

All five saw significant time on the Bulldogs’power play, which converted on only 15 percent or 21 of 144 attempts last season. Opponents were a shade better in man-advantage situations, scoring on 17 percent of them.

An influx of what Lomanto terms “crafty” players could inject venom into the team’s special teams.

Heading the list is freshman Lauren Turner, who is a Thunder Bay Queens Midget AA product. Turner was listed at 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds on the Queens roster, but punches well above her weight, the coach says.

“Her passing is on every time,” Lomanto says. “She has a great sense of the game. She’s always in the right spot.

We’re excited to see how she fits into our lineup.”

Nina Laurie, a 5-foot-2 Palatine, Ill., freshman, is another play-making forward expected to finesse her way into the lineup. Laurie had six goals and nine points with the Chicago Mission 19U team last season.

Other freshmen forwards include Danielle Smith, who played for Victory Honda 19U team last season; and Morgan Poole, who is from Ottawa and played for the Nepean Jr. Wildcats.

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With the starting netminder Dana Timm’s graduation, the Bulldogs have a pair of untested candidates in junior Meghan Smerecki and sophomore Ashley Drop vying for the starting role. Smerecki played in three games last season while Drop took part in four.

Timm started in all but two of the team’s 28 games last season, amassing a 2.26 goals-against average with a .916 save percentage.

“Obviously goaltending is a pretty big position to fill,” Lomanto says. “We’re hoping our freshmen can come in and play right away. But that position is still up for grabs.”

Enter freshman Emily Michelin, who starred for both Little Caesars 16U and 19U teams last season.

With 19U Caesars, the Highland netminder was 10-2-2 with three shutouts. In doing so, Michelin registered a stingy 1.64 GAA with a laudable .901 save-percentage.

Michelin played in nine games with the 16U squad where she sported a 1.00 GAA and .930 save-percentage while going 5-2-2. Four of those wins were shutouts.

She won’t be the lone freshman in the defensive end.

Lomanto’s blue-line recruits include Rebecca Hampton, who the coach describes as “a big strong kid” from Edmonton, Alberta; and Amanda Gay, who played with Honeybaked 19U last season. Alex Vallee, who is from Belleville, Ontario, is another defensive recruit.

All hands on deck will be needed as the Bulldogs enter their second campaign in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Last season, Adrian (11-1-4) finished second behind Lake Forest.

Adrian fell to eventual-champion Wisconsin-River Falls, 4-1, in the NCHA semifinals last season.

UW-River Falls, Lake Forest and UW-Superior will be tough this season, Lomanto says. The NCHA title-holder gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.

The Bulldogs open the season Oct. 23 at Cortland State and return home for a pair of contests against Oswego State Oct. 29-30.

The Bulldogs open NCHA play on the road against Marian on Nov. 12-13.

By Larry O’Connor

ADRAY Community Hockey League Scholarship The Mike and Louise Adray Scholarship has been in effect for 29 years with over $237,800 in scholarship funds. This scholarship is offered to students entering college who have participated in Adray.

The Adray-ACHL Scholarship Award is a one-year scholarship open to any first year student enrolling in a Michigan college, community college or trade school. The applicant MUST have participated at least one season on an Adray Community Hockey League team. The applicant should show academic success in high school. Financial need will be considered in the selection process. Financial Aid Forms (FAF or FFS) should be on file at the college of your choice. The applicant is also required to have his local Association’s ACHL representative countersign the recommendation.

The application and more information is available on the Adray web site at: www.adrayhockey.org Simply click on the scholarship tab on the web page.

President:/Temp VP East Jeff Spedowski jspedows@charter.net 231-796-0728

ADRAY Officers Greater West:Vice President Kevin Wood kwoodadraywest@yahoo.com 616-560-6503

Metro Vice President Bobby Mitchell bmitchell8@yahoo.com 248-302-0913

Our 5th annual search for the best arena! Every month go to michiganhockeyonline.com and answer the question of the month for a chance to win

prizes!

We’ll announce the results in April 2011.

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Michigan Hockey

25

College Preview

New coach building veteran Finlandia squad

BY MATT MACKINDER

In Hancock, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Finlandia men’s team has a new head coach and renewed sense of optimism this year.

John McCabe, a former player and assistant coach at Alabama-Huntsville, was hired in May to get the Lions back to elite status. He said his first order of business is a return to basics.

“Our expectations are to step on the ice and compete hard every night, play with

from Donovan and Benik.”

A 12-player freshmen class, with six players from Michigan and one each from Sweden and Finland, is also exciting to McCabe.

“I am very pleased with the young men that we were able to attract to the program this year,”said McCabe.“I expect each of these incoming student-athletes to contribute.”

One freshman, defenseman Vinnie Pietrangelo, played last season with the Waterford-based Metro Jets of the Central States Hockey League after four solid years at Traverse City West High School, a school where fellow freshman Shane Totten also played.

“Vinnie was one of the guys (whose commitment) I honored because of his character and his upside,” McCabe said. “I have done some background checks on him from his prior coaches and I know I am bringing in a great kid from a quality family. He will be a solid defenseman for us.”

Finlandia opens the season on the road Oct. 29-30 at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisc.

FINLANDIA WOMEN’S SQUAD KEEPS GETTING BETTER

Finlandia junior captain Nemanja Jankovic is from Serbia.

discipline, play smart hockey and take care of what we can control one game at a time,” McCabe said.

Last year, Finlandia went just 5-17-3 and 4-14-2 in MCHA play. The Lions finished last season on a 2-1-1 run and perhaps the momentum can carry over into the new season.

McCabe thinks changes for the program can get some more wins on the board.

He’s already seen improvements in early season practices.

“The chemistry has been outstanding thus far in the pre-season,” said McCabe.

“I am very fortunate to have a team full of first-class young men this year. Our upperclassmen have been very helpful with getting our freshmen acclimated to the university and the town. Also, the faculty and staff at Finlandia University are all unbelievable people. I have never seen such a strong support system for students like the one we have in place here.”

On the ice, Finlandia has a good mix of returning players, including junior captain Nemenja Jankovic, a European import from Serbia, senior goalie Ryan Donovan (Pinckney) and sophomore forward Charlie Benik.

“We have a solid group of returning players led by Jankovic, who I expect will play at a very high level this season,” said McCabe. “I am also looking for big things

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Michigan Hockey

The Finlandia women, to state the obvious, have had a rough past couple years, but that was then and this is now, according to head coach Heather Reinke.

“I am starting my third season here and we have made improvements every season,” said Reinke. “This season is no exception. I have two seniors, so we are still building our program.”

Those seniors, defenseman Nicole Schumacher (Brighton) and forward Alisha Ellertson, should be impact skaters this season. Schumacher is also an assistant captain along with junior defenseman Katie Harris (Oxford) and captain Kelly Poelstra, just a sophomore.

Reinke said all three Finlandia captains “should get the team rolling this year.”

With eight freshmen making up almost half of the 18-player roster, Reinke said it may be a learning year, but there will be positives to come out of every situation, including the always-tough games NCHA games where Finlandia won just once last season.

“I have a big class of incoming players and I expect some to contribute right away. Players like Taryn Moffat, Siera Hache, Danielle Shingleton and My Lindskog all should make an immediate impact.”

The first look at the Lions, 5-21-1 a year ago, will happen Oct. 29-30 in Hancock when Finlandia hosts Concordia University.

Two more first-year players, forwards Robin Stockwell and Courtney Fallon, are Michigan natives. Stockwell is from Chelsea and Fallon comes from the Upper Peninsula town of Dollar Bay. “Stockwell is a hard worker with good stick skills,” said Reinke. “Fallon is a determined player that’s always looking to improve.”

Other in-state natives on the Finlandia roster this season include junior forwards Mariah Mumford (Mt. Pleasant), Alison Lee (Traverse City) and Jolene Kneebone (Houghton) and sophomore goalie Stephanie LaMore (Dexter).

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Grimaldi off to big start at NTDP U.S. National Under-18 Team point in a 5-4 shootout loss at home center Rocco Grimaldi was named to the Sioux Falls Stampede on Oct. 8. the United States Hockey League’s Shelby Township native Ryan CCM Offensive Player of the Week Misiak, who has committed to attend on October 11, 2010 after scoring Mercyhurst College next season, three goals and adding four assists scored the Lumberjacks lone goal in for seven points in Team USA’s two the home opener in front of 4,045 weekend victories. fans. A week later, Muskegon got goals Originally from from Canton’s Matt Berry, California, Grimaldi Travis Belohrad, Livonia’s moved to Auburn Hills Mike Moran and Alexx and previously played for Privitera before falling to the Little Caesars Midget the Stampede in a seven AAA squad. The 5-6, 163 round shootout. pound Grimaldi scored two Muskegon traveled to goals in the third period, Ann Arbor and lost, 10-3, to including the shorthanded Rocco Grimaldi the first place U.S. National game-winner, in a 4-2 win Under-18 Team on October against Dubuque at the Ann Arbor Ice 9. The Lumberjacks were down 4-2 Cube on October 8. after two periods but were outscored The 17-year old captain then 6-1 in the finals stanza. Isaac Kohls, busted out with a five-point game (1- Brendan Woods and Misiak scored for 4) in the Under-18 Team’s 10-3 victory the Lumberjacks in the loss. against Muskegon the following night The game featured 222 penalty at the Cube. The five points and plus- minutes. four rating established a USHL season “We had good pace and puck highs and the four assists equaled support, but we needed to stay out another League high. of the box,’’ said Muskegon coach Grimaldi, who is NHL Draft eligible Kevin Patrick.“That was our challenge in 2011 and has made a verbal tonight. I was really proud of the way commitment to attend North Dakota our guys stuck up for each other.’’ next year, is playing in his second USHL Muskegon goaltender Joel season after posting 20 points (11g, Vienneau, who’s committed to the 9a) in 32 games last season.

University of Minnesota, took the loss in all three games.

LUMBERJACKS PICK UP The Lumberjacks head back on the FIRST USHL POINT road to face the Musketeers in Sioux After losing 4-1 to Indiana in City, Iowa on Oct. 15 and finish the their first-ever home game at L.C. trip at Fargo, North Dakota against Walker Arena on Oct. 1, the Muskegon the Force the following night.

Lumberjacks notched their first USHL

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE 2010-11 NAHL Standings (as of Oct. 11) CENTRAL Coulee Region Bismarck Alexandria Owatonna Aberdeen Austin NORTH Janesville St. Louis Traverse City Springfield Motor City Michigan Chicago Port Huron SOUTH Wichita Falls Amarillo Topeka Texas Corpus Christi New Mexico WEST Fairbanks Alaska Kenai River Wenatchee Fresno Dawson Creek

GP 8 11 8 8 8 7 GP 13 10 7 14 8 9 13 8 GP 11 11 10 11 11 11 GP 12 14 13 9 10 13

W 6 6 4 4 2 1 W 7 7 6 6 5 4 3 0 W 7 7 7 6 6 4 W 8 8 6 6 5 3

L 1 4 3 4 6 6 L 4 2 1 8 3 4 8 8 L 2 3 2 2 4 5 L 2 6 6 3 4 9

OTL 1 1 1 0 0 0 OTL 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 OTL 2 1 1 3 1 2 OTL 2 0 1 0 1 1

PTS 13 13 9 8 4 2 PTS 16 15 12 12 10 9 8 0 PTS 16 15 15 15 13 10 PTS 18 16 13 12 11 7

PCT 0.813 0.591 0.563 0.500 0.250 0.143 PCT 0.615 0.750 0.857 0.429 0.625 0.500 0.308 0.000 PCT 0.727 0.682 0.750 0.682 0.591 0.455 PCT 0.750 0.571 0.500 0.667 0.550 0.269

GF 31 34 25 25 26 10 GF 40 36 28 39 27 29 46 16 GF 41 45 33 41 42 29 GF 59 40 39 33 34 23

GA 21 28 23 23 42 24 GA 32 24 12 45 27 27 58 50 GA 33 32 22 37 43 47 GA 38 35 42 28 42 36

PIM 129 227 115 133 98 164 PIM 260 133 123 222 228 135 274 342 PIM 288 379 248 283 511 368 PIM 304 392 259 253 309 399

TOP SCORERS TEAM POS GP G A Einersen, Rock TEX F 11 13 7 Nauman, Ethan SPR F 14 7 13 Osborn, JT FAI F 12 12 6 Hill, Michael TOP F 10 8 9 Albrecht, James CHI F 13 6 11 Walker, Beau COR F 11 5 12 Educate, Louis CHI F 12 7 9 Freibergs, Ralfs TEX D 11 2 14 Nagtzaam, Nardo ALX F 8 6 9 Vierling, Zach FAI F 12 3 12 Wydo, Cody MCM F 8 9 5 Beck, Doug KNR F 13 6 8 Barber, Jacob ALA F 14 8 5 Benedict, Mike COR F 11 7 6 Behling, Brooks CHI F 13 6 7 Thauwald, Charlie FAI D 12 6 7 Jacobson, Derek JNE F 13 4 9 Freeman, Cody AMA F 11 7 5 Sposit, Joe CHI F 13 6 6 Mosey, Charles BIS F 11 6 6 Smoot, Zack AMA F 11 5 7 Lubanski, Brett KNR F 13 3 9 Davis, Jordan TOP F 10 2 10

PTS 20 20 18 17 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 13 13 13 12 12 12 12 12 12

PIM 10 11 6 16 2 6 10 8 8 0 0 35 10 30 25 24 12 9 12 0 24 8 28

PPG 6 2 3 5 2 0 4 2 3 0 4 4 2 3 4 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 1

SHG 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOP GOALIES Williams, Charles Marble, Tyler Hamby, Jimmy Meyers, Jacob OBrien, Ian Moberg, Paul Faragher, Ryan Kruger, Jimmy Szczerba, Nikifor Tirronen, Rasmus Jacobson, David

GA 4 11 7 7 9 12 16 8 18 12 28

TEAM GP MIN SO OWA 3 180:00:00 0 TVC 7 419:54:00 2 STL 5 248:12:00 0 ALX 4 245:00:00 1 STL 5 281:23:00 1 COU 6 370:55:00 0 BIS 8 480:37:00 1 TEX 4 240:00:00 1 AMA 10 538:10:00 2 TOP 6 338:30:00 1 JNE 13 783:53:00 2

GAA 1.33 1.57 1.69 1.71 1.92 1.94 2.00 2.00 2.01 2.13 2.14

SV 98 196 85 87 91 211 192 88 275 146 294

SV% 0.961 0.947 0.924 0.926 0.910 0.946 0.923 0.917 0.939 0.924 0.913

Warriors rebound from rough start at Perani’s Arena

BY MATT MACKINDER

Trenz, in addition to his championship experience winning a national Tier III Junior Michigan’s three straight home losses at the hands of the Springfield Jr. Blues A title with the St. Louis Jr. Blues, also has been getting noticed by NHL scouts and might be a wake-up call to show the Warriors how competitive the North American Division I college hockey scouts.

Hockey League can be.

“It’s basically every hockey player’s goal to go to the pros,”Trenz said in the Journal.

“We’ve got a few things to work on,”Michigan goaltender Robert Tadazak told the “College is definitely the first step. I want Flint Journal. “The (penalty kill) and power to play D-I somewhere. Last year, until the play are big things we have to work on. It’s end of the year, I wasn’t going to play (this still early, but you want to do well because it season). I was going to go to school. Then just gets harder. This is our inaugural season we won nationals and I decided to play and you want people to come out and watch another year.” and say, ‘These guys are for real.’”

The Warriors host the St. Louis Bandits Warriors head coach Moe Mantha said for a three-game set at Flint’s Perani’s Arena, his team didn’t play as well as they had at Oct. 15-17. the NAHL Showcase to open the season.

“I know that this team can play,” he NAHL NOTEBOOK told the Journal. “I don’t want to overreact Two St. Louis Bandits have committed because I saw them play very well in Blaine to Division I schools in the Atlantic Hockey (Minn., at the season opening showcase for next season, as forward Ryan Stouffer last month where the Warriors went 2-2).” has decided on Niagara University and The Warriors went on the road earned defenseman Patrick Sheehan will head to their third and fourth wins with a 1-0 the University of Connecticut. shutout and 6-5 shootout win on the road “Ryan and Patrick were instrumental in Chicago. Tadazak was the hero on Oct. in the Bandits reaching the national 8 with a 37-save performance. Thomas tournament last year and we expect them McEachern’s goal early in the second period to get better every time they touch the ice stood as the game-winner. and to provide leadership,” said Bandits “We talked about it before the game, assistant coach Trevor Stewart. “Both are having a good road trip and going back well deserving of their opportunity to play home feeling good about ourselves,” college hockey.”

After three straight losses at home the Warriors bounced back with two wins on the road against Chicago on Oct. 8-9.

Mantha said to the Journal. “The week and In addition, Wenatchee Wild a half off (after the Springfield games), we defenseman Geoff Ferguson has committed went back to our team structure and got back to our team play. The guys were a lot to Dartmouth College for the 2011-12 season. better doing that. During the time off we had a chance to revisit everything and “It feels really good,” Ferguson said of his decision to commit to the Ivy League go over a lot of details.” school.“I really wanted to go there for the academics and the reputation the school has.”

Michigan’s captain this season is 20-year-old defenseman Austin Accettura and Corpus Christi’s captains this year are defenseman Ben Hughes (captain) and the alternates are forwards Ryan Trenz and Scott Henegar. forwards Sam Cheraso and Kevin Crowe and defenseman Kyle Hughes (alternate Henegar’s shootout goal gave the Warriors the win at Chicago on Oct. 9 to earn captains). The Corpus Christi franchise played in Alpena since 2005 as the IceDiggers a two-game sweep over the expansion Hitmen. before being sold and relocated this past summer.

SBK HOCKEY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 10) NORTH DIVISION Traverse City forward Michael Szmatula struck for two goals and an assist as the North Stars skated to a two-game sweep over Port Huron. On Oct. 8, the Commerce Township native rang up a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in a 7-1 victory.

The next night, the 18-year-old assisted on forward Michal Toman’s game-winning marker as the North Stars bested the Fighting Falcons, 5-3. He was also a plus-5 on the weekend.

SOUTH DIVISION Texas defenseman Ralfs Freibergs recorded six assists as the Tornado skated to a two-game sweep over Amarillo. On Oct. 8, the Riga, Latvia, native picked up an assist on Rock Einersen’s game-tying goal in a 3-2 victory. The next night, the 19-year-

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old came alive for five more assists, including one on Einersen’s game-winning goal, as the Tornado doubled up the Bulls, 8-4.

CENTRAL DIVISION Coulee Region forward Zac Frischmon put home two goals and two assists as the Chill split a two-game series against Aberdeen. On Oct. 8, the Blaine, Minn., native tallied a goal and assisted on forward David Ripple’s game-winning marker in a 4-2 victory. The next night, the 19-year-old came through with another goal and an assist as the Chill fell to the Wings, 6-4. He was also a plus-2 on the weekend.

WEST DIVISION Alaska forward Brandon Brossoit collected two goals and

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two assists as the Avalanche celebrated a three-game sweep over Dawson Creek. On Oct. 7, the Los Alamitos, Calif., native recorded the game-winning goal in a 2-1 triumph. The next night, the 18-year-old connected for another game-winning marker as the Avalanche again downed the Rage, 2-1. Brossoit wrapped up the series with two assists, including one on forward Jacob Barber’s game-winning goal, in a 4-1 victory.

GOALTENDER Bismarck Ryan Faragher backstopped the Bobcats to a twogame sweep over Austin, turning aside 51 of 52 shots. On Oct. 8, the Fort Francis, Ontario, native made all 25 saves as the Bobcats blanked the Bruins, 2-0. The next night, the 20-yearold Dartmouth recruit stopped 26 shots in a 3-1 victory.

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27

Junior Hockey

October 18, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 6

Spirit jumps to lead in the West

Schmitz looking for big year in Plymouth

TOP 10 Saginaw’s quick start has landed them a spot in the Canadian Hockey league top ten rankings for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The Spirit were ranked seventh in the Oct. 6 poll and moved up to third on Oct. 12.

A panel of NHL scouts selects the top ten from the total field of 60 teams that make up the CHL.

LOG JAM

Howell’s Beau Schmitz will play a big role with the Whalers this season.

BY MATT MACKINDER

Beau Schmitz has quietly flown under the radar as one of the Plymouth Whalers’ most steady defensemen over the past two years.

Now in his third season in the Ontario Hockey League, the 19-year-old Howell native is no longer looked at as being an underrated blueliner.

Schmitz agrees with that assumption.

“I think I’m a lot better player than I was when I was a rookie,” said Schmitz. “I think my game is more consistent and that each season, my game has improved.”

This season, Schmitz has been one of three different players to wear the ‘C’ as Plymouth’s team captain. Whalers’ coach and general manager Mike Vellucci has yet to name a permanent captain, but Schmitz said he wants to earn that distinction.

“Mike and I have talked and I think he wants me to be our captain,” Schmitz said.

“He wants to be sure I’m up for it and I feel I’m ready for the challenge. It’s a big responsibility and now that I’ve been in the league three years, I think I know the ups and downs of the league and how to be a leader. It’s Mike’s choice, but I think I’m definitely ready.”

Schmitz was originally Plymouth’s first round pick in the 2007 OHL draft off of the Belle Tire midget minor team that was coming off state and national championships that spring.

With a commitment to the United States National Team Development Program and a scholarship to Ferris State University set for 2009, Schmitz didn’t report to the Whalers in the fall of 2007, instead going to Ann Arbor for the NTDP. After that season, he chose the OHL as his next destination.

“The NTDP was a great time and great learning experience with going overseas and stuff like that,” noted Schmitz. “The OHL just seemed to better fit my style of play and being a Michigan kid and being able to play at home worked in my favor, too. I don’t look back on the decision and I have no regrets about the decision. It’s nice to be home.”

Although he wasn’t drafted in the past two NHL drafts, Schmitz is also hoping an NHL contract gets offered to him at some point, but knows it’s something only a select number of players get the chance to sign.

“Guys every year sign NHL deals that weren’t drafted,” noted Schmitz. “I know there are scouts in the stands watching in every rink we go to. I just have to keep

28

After an opening night loss in Kitchener, Saginaw has been perfect.

The Spirit reeled off seven straight wins, including road victories over Erie, Plymouth, Windsor and S.S. Marie and wins at home over Sudbury, Guelph and the Greyhounds, and began the third week of October in first place in the OHL’s West Division.

Saginaw’s most recent victory, a 2-1 shootout win over the Storm on Oct. 9 at the Dow Event Center came on the organization’s fourth annual Pink Out Breast Cancer Awareness night to benefit the St. Mary’s of Michigan Seton Cancer Institute. Spirit fans, along with St. Mary’s of Michigan and the Hockey Angels team helped raise over $12,000 for the cause.

Wearing special pink jerseys Anthony Camara scored Saginaw’s lone goal in regulation and Michael Sgarbossa and Vince Trocheck connected in the shootout win. Mavric Parks earned the game’s first star with 26 saves.

Trocheck leads the team in scoring (6-5-11), while rookie Brandon Saad is second (5-4-9). Parks has five wins and Tadeas Galansky has two victories in the net.

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working hard and I’ll see what happens.”

The Whalers have one of the youngest teams in the OHL, but with players like Schmitz, defensemen Jay Gilbert and Austin Levi (Farmington Hills) and even secondyear forward Garrett Meurs developing into impact players, Plymouth shouldn’t have too many growing pains.

The Whalers embarked on an early October three-game road trip to Peterborough, Ottawa and Kingston and came away with wins against the Petes and the Frontenacs.

“We’ve had a little bit of a slow start, and that will happen with a young team, but those wins definitely gave us some confidence,” said Schmitz. “I think we’re getting on track.”

Being on the road four days this early in the season also gave the players time to get to know each other off the ice.

“I was a rookie once and now being an older guy, it’s up to guys like me to take some of the younger guys under my wing,” said Schmitz. “We’ve been there and we know how to deal with certain situations, so it’s really something we need to do.

“We had an off day between the Ottawa and Kingston games and really had some good bonding time. We played some poker and hung out and had a good time. We haven’t played a lot of games yet, but I expect that if we continue to work hard, we’re going to finish near the top.”

OA SITUATION RESOLVED With forwards James Livingston and Robbie Czarnik back from American Hockey League camps and Clarkston native Josh Bemis signing with the Central Hockey League’s Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, the Whalers now have their three allotted 20-year-old players with forward Tyler Brown, who has also been captain for a stretch this season.

Czarnik, a Washington native, scored the overtime winner on Oct. 10 as Plymouth beat Kingston, 6-5. He also scored once in regulation and added two assists. He was released from his professional tryout by the Manchester Monarchs.

Livingston was released from an amateur tryout by the Oklahoma City Barons, Edmonton’s top affiliate. Livingston, drafted by St. Louis in 2008, was not signed by the Blues and is now a free agent. He also wore the ‘C’on the Eastern Ontario road trip.

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Currently the Spirit roster lists five overagers (1990 birthdate), and the OHL allows a team to dress only three during the first half and have three at the trade deadline. So what to do? Saginaw could trade forwards Mitch Fillman and Dearborn native Barry Sanderson, which would leave the team with the required three in Mavric Parks, Joe Underwood (Canton) and Matt Ashman.

SPIRIT NOTEBOOK Saginaw beat the Spitfires 5-2 in Windsor in Oct. 7 by breaking open a close game in the second period with three goals in a span of 2:17. Saad and Trocheck scored on the power play and Michael Kantor tallied even strength.

Jordan Szwarz with two goals and Parks, who stopped 38 of 40 shots, played key roles in the win… The Spirit pulled out a 3-2 come from behind win in the Soo the following night. The Greyhounds scored the first two goals only to see Saginaw mount a comeback with three unanswered goals. Camara scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 14:55 of the second period and Saad tied the game at the 23 second mark of the third. Trocheck scored Saginaw’s second shorthanded goal and the winner two minutes later. Galansky had 33 saves to win his second game in as many starts. “The Soo came out smoking,” said Watson to the Sault Star. “But we weathered the storm and slowed things down like we wanted to.”

PHOTO BY AARON BELL/OHL IMAGES

PHOTO BY WALT DMOCH/PLYMOUTH WHALERS

BY CARL CHIMENTI

Both of Anthony Camera’s two goals this season have helped Saginaw win.

CANTON

during the game and intermission.

All ghosts and goblins welcome!

NHL & Red Wing Insiders

July 12, 2010, Volume 20 : Issue 21

Success stems from youth-veteran mix

BY DAVE WADDELL

Little has changed during the past 15 years of Nick Lidstrom’s career in Detroit.

The Wings are among the contenders for the Stanley Cup, they’ve recorded 100 points in 10 straight regular seasons and pre-season prognosticators feel they’re due for a decline because they’re the oldest team in the league.

“I’ve heard that since the mid-90s that we’re an older team, but I like the experience we have,” said 40-year-old Lidstrom.

“We’re not looking at ourselves that way — being an old team. We’re an experienced team, but if you look at our core, (Pavel) Datsyuk, (Henrik) Zetterberg, (Johan) Franzen, (Valterri) Filppula, (Brad) Stuart, (Niklas) Kronwall, that group is in their prime right now.”

While the Wings will have eight players 35 or older, they also have 13 players who are 30 or younger. Of those 13, nine of them are 26 or younger.

Detroit’s average age is just over 30.

Lidstrom also dismisses the notion that the Wings are more prone to injury because of age.

He played in all 82 games last season as did Todd Bertuzzi, while Kris Draper played in 81 and Brian Rafalski made 78 appearances. Of the Wings’ supposed old guard, only Tomas Holmstrom missed any significant time playing 68 games, though he still managed to score 25 goals in that span.

“Not really,” said Lidstrom when asked if he’s seen anything that would indicate the age of the team should be a concern.

“We’ve had our share of injuries, but it hasn’t been to the older players. Mule (Johan Franzen) went down with a freak injury, Kronwall was hurt (when kneed by Georges Larocque).

“It doesn’t mean the older team is going to be hurt more.”

One of Detroit’s graybeards, 40-year-old Mike Modano, said the perception of the Wings among opposing players was never of them being an old team.

“We thought of them as a fast, great puck-moving team,” said Modano, who played two decades for the Dallas Stars before signing with Detroit this summer.

“We never talked about their age and how old their guys were. It seemed their older guys were some of their best players.

“It was a mute point with us as far as the discussion about their team. It was their speed and pace of the game and everyone’s ability to move and skate with the puck is what set them apart.”

Since arriving in Detroit this summer, Modano has been further surprised by what he’s found. The culture in Detroit has helped the Livonia-native understand why the Wings seem to able to keep ahead of Father Time.

“There’s experience and knowledge of the game,” Modano

30

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said. “The work ethic is second to none that I’ve ever seen.

“The way they take care of themselves on and off the ice, they really push themselves. They push one another. It’s pretty unique to see them keep it at such a high level.

“Overall, it’s how they think the game. You can have young energetic kids, but if they don’t have the hockey sense, you’ll be behind it as well.”

READ THE REST OF WADDELL COLUMN TheBowmanFactor The Bowman Factor: ReadmoreofDaveWaddell’sassessment Read more of Dave Waddell’s assessment of how former coach Scotty Bowman started the Red Wings success of blending veterans and young players at “Only on the Web” at michiganhockeyonline.com

BABCOCK RE-SIGNS Mike Babcock signed a four-year contract extension Oct. 11 with the Red Wings that maintains his status as the top-paid coach in the league.

Babcock, who is averaging around $2-million per season, is now locked up in Detroit through the end of the 2014-15 season. Babcock’s current deal runs out after this season and the new contract’s expiration date brings him in line with the end of Ken Holland and Jim Nill’s deals signed this summer.

The 47-year-old Babcock is starting his sixth season in Detroit having established himself as the top bench boss in the game He has guided the Wings to five straight seasons of 100 or more points (Detroit has done that an NHL record 10 straight years), won a Stanley Cup, two President’s Trophies while compiling a regular-season record of 259-101-52.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada-native is also the first coach to win 50-plus games in his first four seasons with a club.

Since breaking into the NHL with Anaheim in 2002, Babcock has coached in more NHL playoff games (102), won more playoff series and posted more post-season victories (63) than any other coach. His clubs have made three appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals in those seven years.

His impressive resume earned him the honor of being named the NHL’s Coach of the Decade by both Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News.

Babcock is also the only coach in hockey history to have won a Stanley Cup, an Olympic championship, a World men’s championship and a World Junior title.

Yzerman creates buzz in Tampa Bay PHOTO BY TOM TURRILL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

PHOTO BY TOM TURRILL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

The Red Wings again have a good mix of veterans, like Nick Lidstrom, and young players this year.

Kevin Allen covers pro and college hockey for USA Today

To Detroiters, the idea of Steve Yzerman being the boss of the Tampa Bay Lightning is like hearing that the Kennedy family was turning Republican or that Bill Gates was going to begin managing Apple.

Detroit GM Ken Holland has been in hockey for three decades and yet he wasn’t prepared for the emotional upheaval he felt when Yzerman said he was leaving the Detroit organization.

“When I went to bed that night my head was spinning,” HHolland recalled. “I was with Steve for 27 years and as far aas I’m concerned Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman are the DDetroit Red Wings.”

But Detroit’s loss has been the NHL’s gain because Yzerman’s ppresence instantly rid the franchise of the bad karma that was llingering after three years out of the playoffs coupled with an oownership squabble.

“He brings instant credibility to the franchise,” said NBC aanalyst Pierre McGuire. “He appeals to fans and players alike because he understands the importance of stability and being thorough.”

The Lightning’s ability to attract Yzerman, 43, to the previously-struggling Tampa franchise was the first clue that new owner Jeff Vinik had a distinct vision about how a team should be built. With Yzerman’s help, Vinik convinced Tod Leiweke to leave the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks to become Lightning president. Since then,Yzerman hired Guy Boucher, the league’s hottest coaching candidate, and Steve Griggs has left the NBA’s Orlando Magic to be Tampa’s chief operating officer.

“We knew we were in good hands the first time (Vinik) talked to us,” Lightning center Vinny Lecavalier said. “He was such a humble man.”

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2004, the Lightning lost their thunder. The Lightning have known three different ownership groups in four years, struggling attendance and haven’t made the playoffs since 2006-07.

But now Tampa seems like the place to be in the NHL. “So many bad articles have been written about us that it was like a dark cloud was following us,”Lightning veteran Martin St. Louis said. “Since Mr. Vinik came and then Stevie Y that cloud has been pushed aside. You’re proud to wear the jersey again.”

Yzerman has had an instant impact by convincing St. Louis to re-sign, dramatically altering the defense with the acquisition of Pavel Kubina, Brett Clark and Randy Jones, signing free agent goalie Dan Ellis and trading for Philadelphia’s Simon Gagne.

“Yzerman in Tampa is the perfect new young executive to usher in a new era for new ownership,” said Versus analyst Darren Eliot. “He brings both credibility and conviction. Does anyone not expect on-ice success to follow?”

Gagne, a two-time 40-plus goalscorer, used his no-trade clause to assure that the Philadelphia Flyers, a team with a

MichiganHockeyOnline.com

salary cap issue, dealt him to Tampa and nowhere else.

“I saw the changes from the outside and you could tell that a lot of good things were going to happen,” Gagne said.

Yzerman retired as a player in 2005, but it seems clear that his arrival has created as much buzz, and maybe more, than any player that the Lightning have ever had. Since leaving the ice, Yzerman served four years in Holland’s managerial cabinet and was executive director of Team Canada when it won the World Championship in 2007 and the Olympic gold medal in Vancouver last February.

“He asked me in April or May if I thought he was ready and I told him I thought he was ready a year or two earlier,” Holland said.

Starting in the mid-1990s, Yzerman had a clause in his contract that said he would have a management job with the Red Wings organization upon his retirement. When he retired, it was almost as if he accepted an apprenticeship with the Detroit management team as he learned about running a team.

“Ultimately we are in the information business, but you have to know how to get the information,”Holland said. “Many times we would be out for supper, and Steve would ask about people around the league. He would ask, what do you think of him? Not only does he have a managerial philosophy, he has information you need to put together a staff.”

The Red Wings didn’t want to lose Yzerman, but they didn’t want to stand in the way of his ambition.

“Unfortunately I need to work a while yet,”said Holland, 54.

As excited asYzerman was to be a GM, he had mixed emotions about leaving Detroit.

“I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in the Red Wings’ organization,” he said. “But I came to realization that I wanted to run a team and if I was going to run a team I was going to have to leave.”

Vinik decided early that Yzerman was his man, and the two spent hours discussing their philosophy before Yzerman came aboard.

“Actually I never dreamed I would be able to get Steve Yzerman or Leiweke because they are so exceptional,” Vinik said. “I pinch myself that I have gotten them to share my vision and work for me.”

McGuire said Yzerman has done a “fantastic” job.

“I believe they will make the playoffs if their goaltending holds up,” he said.

Yzerman didn’t inherit a bare cupboard. He added Gagne to a top six forward collection that includes 51-goal scorer Steven Stamkos, plus St. Louis, Lecavalier, Ryan Malone and Steve Downie.

“I have never had a chance to play with players like this in my life,” Ellis said. “You look at our top six forwards and I can’t imagine there are many better in the entire league.”

Yzerman’s hiring of Boucher would suggest he will be less old school and more progressive as a GM. Boucher has been coaching in the AHL where he earned a reputation as a coach who thinks outside the box in terms of systems and strategy.

Boucher has a Masters degree in sports psychology from the University of Montreal and has studied sports psychology, biosystems engineering, environmental biology and history at McGill.

“Everything they have done here has been like, ‘Wow’,” St. Louis said.

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