Are there any more departures- going once, going twice ....

It will be interesting to see if there are going to be anymore departures in the WCHA this season. The Minnesota Gophers weren’t the only one to suffer losses this week; Harvard University got some bad news as they lost Louis Leblanc who was drafted in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2009 entry draft.

While it’s sad to see top players leave college hockey, I would rather see these top kids play 1-3 season in the NCAA, then to never seen them play in college at all. Guy Flaming from the Coming Down the Pipe says Leblanc is going to the QMJHL.


Summer of 2010 Early signings and departures in the WCHA

Wisconsin Badgers ---(4)

Cody Goloubef, Jr, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Brendan Smith, Jr, D, Detroit Red Wings
Derek Stepan, So, F, New York Rangers
Ryan McDonagh, Jr, D, New York Rangers

Denver Pioneers ---(3)

Joe Colborne, So, F, Boston Bruins
Patrick Wiercioch, So, D, Ottawa Senators
Marc Cheverie, Jr, G, Florida Panthers

Minnesota Golden Gophers ---(3)

Jordan Schroeder, So, F, Vancouver Canucks
Josh Birkholz, Fr, F, Everett, WHL
Nick Leddy, Fr, D, Chicago Blackhawks

Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves ---(2)

Lee Baldwin, Fr, D, New York Rangers
Bryce Christianson, Jr, G, Stockton (ECHL)

Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs ---(2)

Rob Bordson, Jr, F, Anaheim Ducks
Brady Hjelle, So, G, Cedar Rapids, USHL

MSU-Mankato Mavericks ---(2)

Kevin Murdock, Fr, G, Lincoln, USHL
Tyler Pitlick, Fr, F, Medicine Hat, WHL

UND Fighting Sioux ---(2)
Corey Fienhage, So, D, Kamloops, WHL
David Toews, So, F, WHL

The Wheels on the Bus... (RW77)

Are Falling Off...Falling Off.. Falling Off.. The Wheels on the Bus are Falling Off All Through Dinkytown.

Ok, maybe not Dinkytown but definitely inside the Mariucci Arena's Home Men's Hockey Locker Room.

FIRST ISSUE:

The biggest news is Sophomore Josh Birkholz, a former skater with the Fargo Force (USHL), screwed the pooch and was looking at, rumor has it, up to 7 weeks of suspension during the upcoming hockey season... So he bolted for the WHL. Again, rumor has it that the Everett Silvertips signed him. From there, the speculation gets even more out there. There was rumor of drug use by Birkholz as being the culprit. If that's the case (and I, the author, do not claim that it is true), then Birkholz made one of the stupidest mistakes of his LIFE thus far.

People harass UND for their players stupidity when it comes to underage drinking or drunken shenanigans when it occurs, but, though stupidity is stupidity, at least UND didn't have to deal with illegal substances... well... substances that are illegal regardless of how old you are anyways. At least in recent memory.

Where should UND fans stand on this issue? Though I enjoy pointing out the hypocrisy of the whole situation, I do not take pleasure in the misfortune of the Gophers team. I don't feel sorry for Birkholz. It's his bed. He's sleeping in it (and probably going to sleep comfortably if the violation of team rules wasn't the rumored drug use).

Lucia is getting run through the grinder on this issue (and the next) about this but I can't honestly see how this is his fault. Lucia cannot correct stupidity of this magnitude. No one can except for the stupid person him/herself should they desire to correct the issue.

But if you want to blame anyone, blame that incompetent buffoon John Hill. Why? Just because. He's losing Lucia's job for him.

SECOND ISSUE:

It now appears that Gopher Defenseman Nick Leddy will indeed sign with the Blackhawks.

Whatta ya know, Hillsy, you didn't blow it with him.... but Nick decided to bolt before Hill could compromise what progress Leddy's made.

I don't know what will happen with Leddy. Will he stick in the NHL? I am not too optimistic on this. If he does, he either played incredibly or the Hawks are in trouble more than they already are. Will he be sent to a MJ team? I don't know. I'm not sure I understand why an NHL team would waste a year's salary on sending a kid to a major junior team. If you're paying the guy, he should be either in the ECHL or AHL, imo, if he's not going to be in the NHL.

Oh, and Lucia is getting raked over the coals for this. He can't win. And he won't. This upcoming season, I don't see their defense getting any better than it was last year. I think their offense will be ok. I wonder if Lucia will do the right thing and start taking over certain duties that Hill oversees and, if Maturi gets ants in his pants to make some changes, I wonder if Lucia can put aside his friendship with Hill to do what is necessary: Cut the cord.

So who is going to be brought in to replace these two? Rumor has it that it will be Max Gardiner to replace Birkholz, and it looks pretty certain to be true to me. However, Seth Ambroz makes MUCH more sense.

We'll watch on...

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UND gets the MJHL MVP: Taylor Dickin

He scored major points for the Selkirk team of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and was named MVP. He's 21 years old... and he won't be eligible to play until January.

What does this mean for Holst? Why in the world can't Taylor Dickin, who I assume graduated High School at 18, be ready for college 3 years post graduation?

Brad Schlossman suggests that Dickin is the recruited walk on he heard about earlier this summer. With Holst not clearing the NCAA Clearinghouse yet, I wonder what Holst's status is?

The good news is that this is more interesting than NHL Free Agency this year.

Bryce Christianson leaves UAA.

Looks like we can update the early departures list, former UAA goalie Bryce Christianson has decided to forgo his college eligibility and sign a professional contract with the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL. Looks like the rumors we heard about Bryce leaving UAA.

Bryce Christianson, who played at University of Alaska-Anchorage, will serve as the emergency backup goalie behind Andrew Perugini. Springfield hasn't announced if it will send goalie Bryan Pitton back to Stockton. [Recordnet.com]

Alaska-Anchorage (2)
Lee Baldwin, Fr, D, New York Rangers
Bryce Christianson, Jr G, Stockton Thunder

Denver (2)
Joe Colborne, So, F, Boston Bruins
Patrick Wiercioch, So, D, Ottawa Senators

Minnesota (1)
Jordan Schroeder, So, F, Vancouver Canucks

Minnesota-Duluth (1)
Rob Bordson, Jr, F, Anaheim Ducks