– Had a nice conversation with freshman defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, the gifted NHL-bound Canadian, about his looming decision to stay at DU or sign with the Ottawa Senators. Wiercioch previously said he intends to stay, but he probably hasn’t heard Ottawa’s best pitch yet. One thing that could help keep him around is the chance to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. If he stays at DU, he almost certainly will have the opportunity to play in the WJC, but if he signs and is a regular for Ottawa, he almost certainly wont. Patrick noted that there were eight NHL rookies last December _ TB’s Stamkos and LA’s Doughty, to name two _ that could have played for Team Canada, but none were released from their NHL teams. In my humble opinion, Wiercioch is better than Ottawa’s Brian Lee, who would have been a senior at North Dakota last season, so signing with the Sens could quickly end Wiercioch’s dream of playing in the WJC. Of course, DU would love to let him go in December, and possibly be a WJC teammate with Pioneers classmate Joe Colborne. The publicity of having two Team Canada guys in the WJC would be enormous.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Nah he isn't bitter.
Mike Chambers the Denver Post beat writer for the Denver Pioneers hockey never misses a chance to take a shot/hack at UND, here is his latest subtle shot across bow at UND. While it's true that Wiercioch is a talented and up and coming hockey player that will never see four seasons at DU, Brian Lee did play in 53 games with the Senators last season in the NHL so it's not like he is some talentless hack.
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I don't think he's saying anything outrageous. I think Wiercoch is better as well.
ReplyDeleteHouse no one said Wiercoch isn't a good player, because he won't be at DU long, the fact remains that Chambers never misses a chance to slamb UND. I am just pointing it out.
ReplyDeleteThe fact also remains that Lee has played 60 games in the NHL counting last years NHL playoffs.
Brian Lee should have stayed at UND for at least one more season. He was so skinny and lanky that I thought he could have filled out quite a bit. 60 games is respectable and he's now doubt a solid player that has a bright future, but I would say that Wiercoch is a better college player than Lee was. Lee did win Mr. Hockey in the great state of Minnesota though, that's got to be worth something. Denver is going to be solid next season, even without Bozak coming back...
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