Welsh, Murphy and Johnson make their respective teams for 2012 Junior "A" challenge

@goon48 thanks. Hope to bring home the gold
— Thomas Welsh (@thomas_welsh) November 1, 2012

2012 WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE is from 5-11 November in Warmouth, N.S. and there are a few players of interest taking place in this tourney.

Former PSU recruit Thomas Welch has made the Canada East squad for the 2012 World Junior "A" Challenge. Welsh is a recruit that I have profiled on three separate occasions for INSIDE HOCKEY. Congrats to Welsh for making the Eastern Team.

Off to Canada #eh
— Luke Johnson (@LJohns7) October 31, 2012

Former Grand Forks Central High star, future UND and current Lincoln Stars forward Luke Johnson has made the United States team for the 2012 WORLD JUNIOR "A" CHALLENGE.

Honoured to be picked for team canada west#excited #theboys
— Wade Murphy (@wmurphy93) November 1, 2012

Future UND recruit forward Wade Murphy Penticton (BCHL)has made Canada West squad for the 2012 WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE. Congrats to all the players that have been selected to represent their countries teams for the Junior "A" Challenge.

WEST: Wade Murphy (@wmurphy93) scored twice to lead the way offensively as Blue earned a 5-1 victory over White. bitly.com/W9fVgm
— Hockey Canada (@HC_WJAC) November 1, 2012

Related articles

• Former PSU Recruit Thomas Welsh makes Team Canada East Selection Camp (thehockeywriters.com)
• Defenseman Thomas Welsh Decommits from Penn State (insidehockey.com)

Thompson and Johnson make Prospects game roster.

UND Recruits Luke Johnson and Keation Thompson have made the roster fo the 2012 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects game. The game will take place on September 29^th at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. 

GOALTENDERS (4)

Hunter Miska, U.S. National Under-17 Team
Eamon McAdam, (USHL) Penn State University
Cal Petersen, Iowa Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Jared Rutledge, National Under-18 Team University of Michigan

DEFENSEMEN (12)

Gage Ausmus, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of Denver
Will Butcher, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of Denver
Cody Corbettm, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Mike Downing, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) University of Michigan
Trevor Hamilton, U.S. National Under-17 Team Miami University
Seth Jones, U.S. National Under-18 Team
Clint Lewis, U.S. National Under-17 Team
Ian McCoshen, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Dakota Mermis, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) University of Denver
Steve Santini, U.S. National Under-17 Team Boston College
Scott Savage, U.S. National Under-17 Team Boston College
Keaton Thompson, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of North Dakota

FORWARDS (24)

Evan Allen, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of Michigan
Justin Bailey, Indiana Ice (USHL)
Taylor Cammarata, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) University of Minnesota
Cole Cassels, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
J.T. Compher, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of Michigan
Dawson Cook, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of Notre Dame
Adam Erne, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Austin Farley, Fargo Force (USHL) University of Minnesota Duluth
Hudson Fasching, U.S. National Under-17 Team
Ryan Fitzgerald, Catholic High School Boston College
Ryan Hartman, U.S. National Under-18 Team Miami University
Luke Johnson, Lincoln Stars (USHL) University of North Dakota
Tyler Kelleher, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of New Hampshire
Matt Lane, U.S. National Under-18 Team Boston University
Jimmy Lodge, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Anthony Louis, U.S. National Under-17 Team Miami University
Sean Malone, Nichols School (N.Y.)
Mike McCarron, U.S. National Under-17 Team Michigan State University
Jacob Montgomery, Shattuck-St. Maryʼs (Minn.) University of Nebraska Omaha
Tyler Motte, U.S. National Under-17 Team University of Michigan
Ross Olsson, Williston Northampton School (Mass.) Northeastern University
Quentin Shore, U.S. National Under-18 Team University of Denver
Devin Tringale, Lawrence Academy (Mass.) Harvard University
Frank Vatrano, U.S. National Under-18 Team Boston Co

Barnstorming and a Hat Trick

It has been a tumultuous season for the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, even more so on the road. Plagued with injuries, the team found themselves with a 19-18-8 overall record, 6-14-3 on the road, headed into their game last night in Lincoln. After ending the regular season on top last year, it is difficult to stomach being buried in 5th in the league. Yet something lit these guys on fire last night as they took on the 27-14-4 Lincoln Stars at the Ice Box, led by 19 year old forward Davey Middleton, in what can only be called an exhibition of well-executed play.

Gerald Mayhew led the attack with a goal in the 1st period that was answered in the second by Stars forward Markus McCrea. It was Davey Middleton who came out swinging in the third, kicking it off with an early goal. When Stars forward and Grand Forks native Luke Johnson responded in kind, Davey lit it up two more times to complete his hat trick, rounding out his night with an assist to Ryan McGrath on an empty net goal.

Middleton started his season with the Tri-City Storm having an almost silent single goal and single assist record in his 10 games played. Since coming to the RoughRiders, Davey has played 23 games scoring 7 goals and 7 assists. He has been a quiet, but effective force for the RoughRiders to date. He does not have an announced college commitment.

And Now for Something Completely Different (RW77)

Ok, it's not often that I go off on a tangent... ok, that's a lie, but still...

Today I went to my first ever USHL game. It was between Omaha and Lincoln. It was a fun time and it featured all kinds of hockey. Good hockey, Bad hockey, stupid hockey, questionable hockey, and two fat guys carrying flags running (ok, waddling) around the arena (ok, 4 or 5 sections worth before they got tired and gave up) after a goal.

I went because it would be a fun time, but I also got to see two future UND players in Luke Johnson (Lincoln's #27) and Paul Ladue (Lincoln's #6). But let's go with what I saw before I run down those two.

The First Period was a period of great goaltending by Lincoln and Omaha, great forechecking by Omaha, and pretty solid defense on both sides. Lincoln's Goaltender was better than Omaha's in the first period based upon the fact that Lincoln had to stop 2 clean breakaways and a 2 on 1 in the last 10 minutes of the first period. Omaha was tested but not to the extent that Lincoln was.

The second period featured ALL but one of the goals, all but 1 of the goals in the second period came on the powerplay, and some of the worst hockey I've ever seen in my life (and I've watched some pretty bad hockey). I love the fact that fighting is allowed and I love the fact that the USHL uses the half shield (something I'm growing more and more in favor of for DI hockey). The officiating was pretty heavily in favor of Omaha, but that being said: 1. Lincoln played like crap discipline-wise from the second period on to the end of the game and 2. It still was better than WCHA officiating.

However, Lincoln ends up drawing a cross check or roughing or charging penalty against Omaha... or so it seemed.. .because what happens? An all out brawl capped by a goaltender fight at center ice. Most of the fights were just hugging and tug o war matches. The goaltender fight was actually very VERY good. Lincoln's goaltender "won" the fight and, unlike the skaters, there was actually no animosity between goaltenders after the fight (they fist bumped after it was broken up). However, after a nearly 15 minute delay while the penalties were assessed, Lincoln not only ended up NOT getting a short 5 second 4 on 4 and then a 1:55 PP out of it, OMAHA ended up getting the powerplay (a 5 second 5 on 3)! To make matters more interesting: In the scrum, both goaltenders were given 5 minute majors and a game misconduct. Omaha had 3 players get 5 min. majors and game misconducts and 2 plain 5 minute fighting majors. Lincoln ended up getting ALL FOUR SKATERS getting 5 minute majors and game misconducts. The Omaha roughing penalty was assessed ON LINCOLN and Lincoln ended up getting called for instigating. Luckily, Lincoln killed it off.

Nevertheless, Lincoln was still in the game down 2 to 1. The period ended after Lincoln tried to push too hard and gave up a 3 on 1 goal.

Well, that awful period aside, Lincoln could still claw its way back from 3-1 to make it interesting right? Well, almost. You see, the Lincoln backup was pretty shakey but the Omaha backup was actually pretty solid. Add into the fact that things got RIDICULOUSLY STUPID for Lincoln in the 3rd period.

You see, midway or so through the 3rd period, Lincoln's #16 and Omaha's #15 were assessed 2 minutes for delay of game. Offsetting penalties no doubt right? Nope. #16 ends up pushing and shoving the ref! WHAT A MORON! Then, to make matters worse, as he was ejected from the game, he started egging on and taunting the fans! Who is this guy? I hope Chad Johnson sits him down immediately post game and reams him a new arsehole. In fact, I'd make the whole team skate.

As a random note: Omaha wants to shut down the Omaha Civic Auditorium due to the fact that it would take about $29 million to make it not a suckhole. After tonight: I agree. That place is a dump.

Now to the UND recruits:

Paul Ladue - He played pretty solid...until he participated in that line brawl and got kicked out of the game. He didn't instigate or anything and I don't think he was one of the lippy Lincoln Stars, but he didn't do Lincoln any favors by getting kicked out. He played a lot of minutes up until then including on the 5 on 3s.

Luke Johnson - I hope he's 16 because he played like a 16 year old. He was pretty invisible for most of the game. He did have one pretty good chance late in the 3rd period but missed.

All in all, Omaha wasn't saints on the ice. They were yappy and could have gotten called a lot more than they actually did, but it didn't matter because Lincoln played far more undisciplined. So I got it all.