Vandy 75/25 staying at UND.

Someone had this posted over on Sioux Sports; man I hope Chris VandeVelde comes back for his senior season at UND. This would be some welcome news if it turns out to be true this is some really good news for the Fighting Sioux. This season VandeVelde scored some big goals at crucial times in important games.

VandeVelde ‘75 percent’ on staying with Sioux
VandeVelde said Friday that there is about a 75-percent chance he will stay with the Sioux instead of signing with the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers drafted the forward in the fourth round of the 2005 NHL draft.

The decision will be made in the next two weeks, VandeVelde said.

“I still have holes in my game that I think I can get better,” he said. “… I think (staying) would help me out.”

Colin Wilson to stay at Boston...

The Rink Rat sent me a heads up on this story. It is the latest Hot List, its the Hockey New's version of hot or not. It had been rumored that Colin Wilson's stay at Boston University would be a short one after the Nashville Predators picked Wilson so high in the draft.

A lot of these pontifications and rumors had to do with Wilson being drafted so high in this summers draft, heck even the experts at INCH predicted that Wilson would be on his way to the Predators during their mid summer podcast. This is a win for College Hockey this is also good new for Boston University. Although I am sure the B.C. Eagles won't be as thrilled as BU. Boston Univesity Terriers coach Jack Parker has to be tickled pinked because now he doesn't have to fill a big hole in his line up... Not at forward anyways...

Colin Wilson, C – Boston University Terriers (Hockey East): He may look NHL-ready right now, but Wilson has reportedly let Nashville know he’ll be hanging out in Boston for at least one more season. That’s good news for the Terriers and bad news for the rest of New England. Drafted seventh overall by Nashville in 2008.

Has the bleeding stopped

I was looking at this list of Brad's and wondering if there is anyone else in the WCHA? So we have 10 underclassmen leaving so far this summer that doesn't seem as bad as years past. The summer of 2006 was a brutal year for players leaving early. Maybe just maybe the new CBA will now keep underclassmen in college longer? Well; probably not but it doesn't hurt to be optimistic.
Early departures in the WCHA

Minnesota (2)
G Jeff Frazee, junior
F Blake Wheeler, junior

Wisconsin (1)
F Kyle Turris, freshman

MSU-Mankato (1)
F Jon Kalinski, junior

Michigan Tech (1)
G Michael-Lee Teslak, junior

Minnesota-Duluth (1)
D Jason Garrison, junior

North Dakota (2)
F T.J. Oshie
D Taylor Chorney*

St. Cloud State (1)
F Andreas Nodl, sophomore

Denver (1)
D Chris Butler, junior

The list of players leaving from summer 2006

UND (5)
Travis Zajac, sophomore
Matt Smaby, junior
Drew Stafford, junior
Rastislav Spirko, sophomore
Jordan Parise, junior

Minnesota (4)
Kris Chucko, sophomore
Danny Irmen, junior
Ryan Potulny, junior
Phil Kessel, Freshman

Mankato (3)
David Backes, junior
Kyle Peto, junior
Ryan Carter, sophomore

Wisconsin (2)
Robbie Earl, junior
Joe Pavelski, sophomore

Denver (2)
Matt Carle, junior
Paul Stastny, sophomore

So is Lee Moving on?

Still no official news on the Brian Lee front other than this:Article that was Posted on Sioux Sports

* In addition, Muckler said team officials are "attempting to sign" defenseman Brian Lee, the ninth overall pick in 2005, and right wing Jim McKenzie, a fifth-round pick in 2004.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Lee just wrapped up his sophomore season with the University of North Dakota, and Muckler said there's a "possibility" he could come out early. McKenzie had 12 goals and 18 assists as a junior with Michigan State last season.

Maybe this is why we haven't heard too much on Brian Lee lately. Like I have said in many instances I would like to see him come back to the Fighting Sioux and make a run at a national championship, I believe that UND will be that good this season with what they have retained in the off season, however, thats is up to Brian Lee to decide and if he leaves, so be it. I believe that most Sioux fans (including Sioux_7) would welcome Brian back with open arms but if he wants to go pro hey good luck to you Brian and get the money while you can. Life is about decisions and I can't fault a kid for wanting to take the money, heck if someone told me hey you could make 200,000.00 if you sign on the dotted line I would do it in a nano second.

Also, with Derrick Lapoint coming in this fall and the emergence of Chay Genoway frankly the Sioux won't miss a beat without Brian.

Alright lets make a decision: Waiting on Brian Lee

You would probably know if you read siouxsports.com that much maligned Sioux sophomore defenseman Brian Lee is supposed to let Sioux fans know if he is going to sign a professional contract or not soon, however, there is still has been no official decision announced as of yet. OK, many of us would like to know what your decision is going to be. So whats it going to be? Inquiring minds want to know.

Should I stay or should I go now?

There have been quite a few people discussion the Brian Lee situation and if he is going to sign a professional contract or not. Frankly, there is nothing else to talk about, on the flip side of that equation, last season Fighting Sioux fans were discussion how many players that home town team was going to lose. This season we are talking about how players aren't leaving and where are we going to put everyone. I have heard through the rumor mill that the Senators have told Lee that he needs to stay in school.

The Sioux will be fine

The Fighting Sioux will be fine this season regardless if they lose Brian Lee or not, especially with Derrick Lapoint coming in fall. While most of us will welcome Brian Lee back with open arms. In his two season with the Fighting Sioux Brian Lee drafted in the first round (9th overall) by the Senators in 2005 Per Wikipedia has show both glimpses of greatness but also a propensity to be a little bit of a soft defensive player and at times has proven to be a defensive liability. Oh course based on Lee's age these problems could be attributed to this age.