Monday, September 30, 2013

Monday Morning Post

  • After establishing himself as more than just a long shot to make Philadelphia's opening night roster, Chris VandeVelde was the last forward cut made by the Flyers. He came into camp on an AHL deal and nearly parlayed it into an NHL contract. He will begin the season playing with Philly's AHL affiliate in Adirondack.
  • The New Jersey Devils have lost two of the world's best players over the past two seasons in Ilya Kovulchuk and Zach Parise. Their success this season will be greatly impacted by how strong Travis Zajac and the rest of their centermen play down the middle.
  • Despite being signed to a two-year, one-way contract in the offseason, Chris Porter was placed on waivers by the St. Louis Blues this weekend. Porter really established himself during the playoffs last season as part of the Blues' "CPR" line, but he ended up getting caught up in a numbers game during training camp. After clearing waivers, Porter will begin the season in the AHL.
  • TJ Oshie had a strong preseason camp for St. Louis while changing his spots in the locker room.
  • Brock Nelson proved he belongs in the NHL following a very good preseason. We'll find out today if he makes the Islanders' opening night roster.
  • Over the weekend Sioux alum JP Lamoureux was inducted into the Lincoln Stars (USHL) Hall of Fame.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Friday Morning Post

  • Senior defenseman Dillon Simpson was named team captain for the 2013-14 season, with junior forwards Michael Parks and Stephane Pattyn serving as assistant captains. Simpson was also tabbed as a player to watch in the NCHC this year in CBS Sports Network analyst/College Hockey New columnist Dave Starman's NCHC overview.
  • The Hockey Writers' Gabriella Fundaro does a great job covering women's hockey and in her WCHA preview she says that despite their losses to graduation, North Dakota still has plenty of talent to make a run at the top of the WCHA standings.
  • Corban Knight's bid to make Calgary's opening night roster ended yesterday when he was assigned to their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. Away from the rink Knight has been forced to deal with a natural disaster and CBC Sports took a look at his family's recovery from this past summer's devastating Alberta flooding.
  • NHL rookie Brock Nelson remains at New York Islanders' training camp, where he is fighting for a spot on the Isle.
  • Buffalo Sabres winger Drew Stafford is looking forward to the upcoming season with a refreshed optimism as he looks to put Buffalo's disappointing 2012-13 season behind him.
  • After signing the first one-way NHL contract of his career, Chris Porter finds himself in the middle of a logjam in terms of earning playing time in St. Louis. 
  • Mike Commodore will reportedly be joining Vladivostok (KHL) for the 2013-14 season, joining Brandon Bochenski and Rastislav Spirko as Sioux alums playing in Russia's "super league." Bochenski, by the way, is currently T-8th in points with 10 (4G, 6A) while Spirko is T-18th with 8 (5G, 3A).
  • Tony Hrkac will be inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday.
  • Nick Schmaltz and Ryan Mantha were part of the victorious Team Johnson at last night's All-American Prospects Game in Pittsburgh, defeating Team Mullen and Shane Gersich 5-2. Schmaltz picked up an assist and was very good throughout the game while Gersich may have been the best player on the ice for the first period plus. Overall he played a fine game and was very noticeable in all three zones while Mantha played a solid defensive game. The United States of Hockey offers a nice recap of the event.
  • UND recruits Austin Poganski and Chris Wilkie are hoping to form a dynamic duo for Tri-City (USHL) this season as the past, present, and future teammates look to help kickstart the Storm's offense. A highlight of the article is the North Dakota recruiting pitch Wilkie gave to Poganski while the two were playing in the Under-17 Four Nations Tournament. It worked.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Thursday Morning Post


Former Player Updates:
Recruit Updates:
  • UND received a big verbal commitment this week from Christian Cakebread of the Fargo Force, a 1997-born forward who comes out of the Arizona Bobcat AAA program.
  • Recruits Nick Schmaltz, Ryan Mantha, and Shane Gersich are all set to take part in tonight's All-American Prospects game in Pittsburgh (6:00 PM CDT start). Austin Poganski was originally scheduled to participate as well, but a minor injury will keep him out of the lineup. The United States of Hockey has a preview of the event, which can be viewed free of charge via FastHockey.
  • The NHL's Central Scouting Service released its Preliminary Watch List for the 2014 NHL Draft, and a handful of North Dakota recruits are on the NHL's radar. Nick Schmaltz is listed as an A Skater (potential first round pick), Ryan Mantha, Austin Poganski, and Chris Wilkie are listed as B Skaters (potential second to third round picks), and Rhett Gardner and Shane Gersich are C Skaters (potential fourth round and later picks).
  • Schmaltz came in at number 13 on Bob McKenzie's 2014 NHL Draft Preseason Report.
  • Charlie Pelnik is expected spend the next couple of seasons playing for the Langley Rivermen (BCHL).

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Recruit Profile: Christian Cakebread

Photo: USHL.com
Current Team:  Fargo Force (USHL)
Potential Arrival at UND:  2015
Position:  Forward
Birthday:  April 15th, 1997
Hometown:  Gilbert, AZ
Height:  5'11"
Weight:  170
Shoots:  Left


Profiles & Press Clippings:
2013-14:
  • Playing for the Fargo Force of the USHL.
2012-13:
  • Out of team need, he played out of his natural forward position for the Arizona Bobcats AAA U-16 team, registering 63 points (24G, 39A), 40 PIM, and a rating of +90 in 60 games as a defenseman.
  • Helped lead the Bobcats to the Arizona state Tier 1 championship and an appearance in USA Hockey's Rocky Mountain District tournament.
2011-12:
  • Helped the Arizona Bobcats AAA U-14 team to a runner-up finish at the Rockey Mountain District Tier 1 tournament, falling one game short of qualifying for USA Hockey's U-14 tier 1 national championships.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Men's Hockey Home & Away Ticket Info

Ticket information for all UND home and away men's hockey games can be found below:

Series Game Date Tix On-Sale Tickets/Details
UND Home Games - Now Tickets
Miami University Oct 18/19 Sept. 11 Tickets
Nebraska-Omaha Nov 9/10 Now Tickets
Boston University Nov 22/23 TBD Details
Western Michigan Dec 6/7 Sept. 10 Details
Great Northwest Showcase Jan 3/4 October Website
Bemidji State Jan 17 Sept. 20 Tickets
Denver Jan 24/25 Now Details
Minnesota-Duluth Feb 21/22 Sept. 23/24 Tickets
St. Cloud State Feb 28/Mar 1 Now Tickets
NCHC Tournament (MSP) Mar 21/22 Now Tickets
NCAA Regionals Mar 28/29/30 TBD Details
Frozen Four (Philadelphia) Apr 10/12 TBD Details

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Thursday Morning Post

  • A number of Sioux alums will be hitting the ice for the 2013-14 season this week as NHL rookie/prospect camps and tournaments kick into gear. Toronto's Rookie Tournament will feature four Sioux alums as the Maple Leafs (Andrew MacWilliam), Ottawa (Ben Blood), Chicago (Joe Gleason), and Penguins (Carter Rowney) will compete in a round robin tournament beginning today and running through the weekend. Danny Kristo will be part of the New York Ranger contingent competing at the Traverse City Tournament while Corban Knight and the Calgary Flames will be participating in the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, BC (Flames games will be streamed on their website). Derek Forbort will be attending the Los Angeles King rookie camp, which includes a pair of games against Anaheim, and Brock Nelson will participate in the New York Islanders rookie camp.
  • Leading into the rookie tournaments, The Calgary Herald detailed Knight's unusually busy summer, while Blueshirts United featured Kristo in this nice interview:
  • Hockey Prospectus recently ranked the Rangers' top prospects, and Kristo came in at number two while freshman forward Adam Tambellini was ranked fifteenth. Meanwhile, CBS New York says Kristo will be given every opportunity to crack the Ranger lineup
  • Forbort checks in at number six amongst the Mayor's Manor top LA King prospects.
  • Also from Mayor's Manor, Matt Frattin is fitting in nicely in Los Angeles following his offseason trade from Toronto.
  • Following a strong performance at a tryout camp, Sioux alum Tate Maris earned an invite to the St. Charles Chill (CHL) training camp.
  • David Toews has signed with the Reading Royals (ECHL) for the 2013-14 season.
  • Former Sioux defenseman and Grand Forks native Nick Fuher has joined the Winkler Flyers (MJHL) staff as an assistant coach.
  • The Hockey Guys have ranked the top recruiting classes for the next two seasons, and North Dakota's are ranked number two for 2013 and number one for 2014.
  • Nick Schmaltz is a key cog in UND's 2014 freshman class, and TSN's Craig Button has him slotted at number 25 in his initial rankings for the 2014 NHL Draft.
  • Sioux alum Phil Jackson recently did a Q&A with the LA Kings, and he mentions his time spent playing hockey as a youth with former Sioux All-American Terry Casey. Jackson and Casey were neighborhood friends in Great Falls, MT prior to Jackson's family moving to Williston, ND.