Sonny Milano speaks to the fans

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch has Sonny Milano's statement that he made through his agent. 

August 16, 2014

“Since being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the NHL Draft in Philadelphia on June 27, I have been asked many times about whether I would continue with my plans to attend Boston College, or play junior hockey instead. In an effort to avoid controversy and further questions on the subject, I responded that I was looking forward to attending BC in the Fall. While I have had every intention of playing for Coach (Jerry) York and joining the best college hockey program in the country, since the end of my hockey season at the USNDTP I have been questioning whether going to school was the best situation for me.

"Perhaps I should have acknowledged my growing indecision when asked about my plans, but it was difficult to explain to those who were asking when I did not even know myself what I wanted to do. After a great deal of thought and discussion with my family, I have spoken with Coach York and informed him that I will be playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers this season. "I think that BC is the best choice for those players who wish to go to school and play hockey. Every player’s path to achieving his goal of playing in the NHL is different, and the best route for some is not necessarily the best route for others. For me, the opportunity to play in the OHL is the right decision.

"If I have disappointed anyone, particularly the great people I have met at BC, it was certainly not my intention to do so, and for that I am sorry. I hope that BC and those involved with its hockey program understand my decision.”

Puck-rakers: Sonny Milano issues statement regarding decision to opt out of Boston College, pick OHL Plymouth #CBJ http://t.co/I8aSNtLWJ2
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 18, 2014

Related articles

• Sonny Milano Watch is on
• NCAA Hockey: 62 Players Selected in the 2014 NHL Draft
• NCAA Hockey: Fastest Growing Development Path

Updated: Sonny Milano to sign with Columbus Blue Jackets

Sonny Milano has informed @BCHockeyNews that he will sign a professional contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.
— BC Hockey (@BCHockeyNews) August 16, 2014

This seems to be a re-occurring theme for some of the USNDT players. Like I told someone the other day, until they come on Campus they're a threat to not make it to campus, especially if they were drafted high. It's a big loss for Boston College Eagles, but they're still a very loaded hockey team. My money says that Milano will end up with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL.

Jerry York: “Sonny has informed me he will sign a contract with Columbus. They will dictate his path as he embarks upon his pro career.”
— BC Hockey (@BCHockeyNews) August 16, 2014

CBJ 1st round pick Sonny Milano will not attend Boston College, has chosen to play with @PWhalers of the OHL this season.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) August 17, 2014

According to @Aportzline, Milano will sign his ELC in the next few days.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) August 17, 2014

Sonny Milano Watch is on

This would be a big loss for the Boston College Eagles "if" this happens. The #MilanoWatch is officially on. But those that think the Eagles cupboard is bare is highly mistaken. The Eagles will still probably be one of the top teams in Hockey East this year.

Milano has told those around him that he'd make a decision -- BC or OHL -- after the US national junior camp is finished.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 4, 2014

LRT: Looks like the only thing that's official is that #MilanoWatch is on. Just another summer in CHL-NCAA recruiting war.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) August 4, 2014

Also, look for CBJ 1st rounder Sonny Milano to announce he'll forego playing at Boston College in favour of the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) August 3, 2014

Related articles

• The First Round Impressions RW77 Style
• NHL Draft War Room: Sonny Milano

UND recruit Christian Evers drafted by the London Knights

With the 99th overall pick, the London Knights are pleased to select Christian Evers in the 5th Round of the 2013 #OHLDraft!
— The London Knights (@GoLondonKnights) April 6, 2013

Being a high profile program, the University of North Dakota Hockey team has had some of their highly sought recruits decommit and go a different route.

It’s been highly documented as of late.

In August, right before the 2011-12 season, J.T. Miller decommitted from UND, and signed a signed with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. Miller’s decommit put UND in a precarious situation. Without Miller, UND immediately became a different type of team.

In 61 games with the Plymouth Whalers, Miller scored (25g-37a—62). After his season with the Whalers was over, Miller played in eight games during the Calder Cup playoffs for the Connecticut Whale of the AHL.

This season, Miller was called up to the New York Rangers and scored two goals, leading the Rangers to a 4-1 victory.

Last January, USDT U18 recruit Stefan Matteau, who had originally committed to play at the University of North Dakota, decommitted from UND, and decided to play for the Blainville-Boisbraind Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Matteau had a strong start to the season with the Armada (18g-10a—28pts) in 35 games and was invited to the New Jersey Devils camp once the NHL lockout was settled.

Matteau ended up playing in the Devils first five games of the season before being a healthy scratch for the next four games in a row.

The New Jersey Devils could have sent Matteau back to Blainville-Boisbraind, but instead he remained with the New Jersey Devils and last night he was skating on a line with former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk to start the game.

Matteau has played 17 games with the New Jersey Devils this season, scoring (1g-2a—3pts). On the March 17, 2013, Matteau was returned to his junior team Blainville-Boisbraind Armada and has scored (1g-4a—5pts) in 6 QMJHL playoff games.

In April of 2012, Miles Koules announced that he had decommitted from the University of North Dakota and was going to be a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. In his first season with Medicine Hat, Koules recorded (19g-21a—40pts) in 69 games for the Tigers.

This past November, Brendan Lemieux, son of former NHL pest Claude Lemieux, left the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, decomitted from the University of North Dakota, and decided to play with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. In 42 games with the Colts, Lemieux scored an unimpressive (6g-8a—14pts).

We’re not done yet!

UND has two other recruits that have been drafted by the OHL clubs. Nick Schmaltz brother of current defenseman Jordan Schmaltz was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires last spring. Nick has not ruled out going to the Spitfires.

Also, today, UND recruit Christian Evers was drafted in the 5th round by the London Knights in the OHL Draft. Lets just say, UND fans are a little worried, based on past experience, if Evers will ever make it to UND. Evers is an impressive kid who is 6’4” and 200 pounds who will turn 16 on May 25, 2013. So you have to think, that the London Knights, will be hard after Christian Evers, to sign with them.

Evers had an impressive year with the Omaha AAA Hockey Club 16U team, scoring (17g-42—59pts) in 67 games. Evers tweeted this on his twitter account today.  So, only time will tell.

Can't wait to be apart of UND in a few years. That's what I mean when I said "Can't wait for things to play out." #SorryForTheConfusion
— Christian Evers (@CEvers97) April 6, 2013

Cross-posted at the Hockey Writers Combine.

Related articles

• UND recruit Christian Evers drafted by the London Knights (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Recruit Evers Drafted by Knights (insidehockey.com)

UND: what could have been

New Jersey Devils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now that the NHL is back in full swing, a few young players are starting to make their NHL debut with their clubs. Some of the names are kind of familiar. There are two that might stick out for North Dakota Hockey fans.

During the last two seasons, the University of North Dakota Hockey team had two highly coveted recruits (J.T. Miller and Stefan Matteau) decommit from the team and decide to go a different route.

Obviously, UND fans were a little miffed at these two young men for changing their mind and going a different route.

While I was disappointed at first, that neither of these two kids honored their commitment, I am not longer upset about it. Here’s why. Neither of these kids would’ve been here that long anyways, and in the long run it ended up working out for the best anyways.

In August, right before the 2011-12 season, J.T. Miller decommitted from UND, and signed a signed with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. Miller’s decommit put UND in a precarious situation. Without Miller, UND immediately became a different type of team.

Because Miller changed his mind at the last minute, UND wasn’t able to just go get another player of Miller’s skill set. Players like that aren’t just a dime a dozen.

In response to the last minute defection, UND picked up a walk-on recruit named Connor Gaarder from the Coulee region Chill of the NAHL.

In 61 games with the Plymouth Whalers, Miller scored (25g-37a—62) and after his season with the Whalers was over, Miller played in eight games during the Calder Cup playoffs for the Connecticut Whale of the AHL.

This past week, Miller was called up to the New York Rangers and scored during last night’s game against the New York Islanders. Miller scored the first two goals of his NHL career leading the Rangers to a 4-1 victory.

In retrospect, Miller would have been at UND for a single season, while losing him last summer was as setback and he would have been a great addition to UND’s depleted lineup. UND found a way to win without him.

Last January, USDT U18 recruit Stefan Matteau, who had originally committed to play at the University of North Dakota, decommitted from UND, and decided to play for the Blainville-Boisbraind Armada of theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League.

This was the second high profile player in as many years to decomitt from UND and go to the Canadian Hockey League.

Of course the UND fan base was upset. But UND nation was not alone; these defections have also happened to the University of Michigan and Miami University as well.

Matteau had a strong start to the season with the Armada (18g-10a—28pts) in 35 games and was invited to the New Jersey Devils camp once the NHL lockout was settled and has started the season.

Matteau ended up playing in the Devils first five games of the season before being a healthy scratch for the next four games in a row.

The New Jersey Devils could have sent Matteau back to Blainville-Boisbraind, but instead he remained with the New Jersey Devils and last night he was skating on a line with former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk to start the game.

Looking back, I think it’s safe to say that Matteau is another player that wouldn’t have been here very long, in the end his decommitment to UND might not be such a bad thing.

During a recent UND hockey media day, I had a conversation with someone about the makeup of the current North Dakota hockey roster and how it could have looked if these two players had actually made it to North Dakota. It’s something to think about.

Cross Posted at the Hockey Writers Combine... 

Winter Classic to be cancelled soon...

RT @csnne: #BruinsTalk Reports are saying the Winter Classic could be canceled very soon. ow.ly/eRrBN #lockouttalk
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) October 29, 2012

If you have been following your twitter feed or glancing at your favorite NHL and college hockey sites, you will see that the NHL is close to cancelling the Winter Classic, actually it sounded like the Hurricane Sandy might have actually postponed the cancelling of the Winter Classic.

@drewc_78 @csnne Yes. They also reported last week that it would be today. So there's that
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) October 29, 2012

Since rejecting the union's trio of proposals, the league has made two rounds of game cancellations. The latest, announced on Friday, wiped out the regular-season schedule for November. A source familiar with the league's plan told ESPNNewYork.com that the league is expected to cancel the Winter Classic on Thursday, the source said.[Katie Strang, ESPN.COM]

So if the NHL cancels the Winter Classic, that would mean all the other events that were supposed to take place during that time frame will also be cancelled or moved to other venues as well.

The bigger loss to the city of Detroit is the Winter Festival, a two-week event set to start in late December at Comerica Park and featuring a slew of hockey games ranging from high school to juniors to college to a Wings' alumni doubleheader.

While it may seem like that could still be held regardless of the state of the NHL, it is the NHL that would be building and funding an ice rink at Comerica, a trade-off the Wings agreed to in exchange for having the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor rather than Detroit.

So here is the schedule of everything that is supposed to take place during the Winter Classic. There is a full slate of game from the NCAA, OHL, AHL and the NHL scheduled. That is set to be cancelled on Thursday if no agreement is reached.


DEC. 15-26: Celebration of Hockey featuring amateur games, corporate outings and open skates. Information on booking ice time can be obtained by visiting DetroitRedWings.com/icetime.

DEC. 27-31: Outdoor Festival featuring interactive games, autograph signings, face painting and ice sculpture exhibits as well as musical performances and entertainment.

DEC. 27-28: Great Lakes Invitational featuring the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Western Michigan Broncos and Michigan Tech Huskies all competing for the 2012 MacInnes Cup.

DEC. 29: Ontario Hockey League doubleheader featuring the Windsor Spitfires taking on the Saginaw Spirit, and the Plymouth Whalers battling the J. Ross Robertson Cup champion London Knights.

DEC. 30: American Hockey League Game featuring the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies, AHL affiliates of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs, respectively.

DEC. 31: Red Wings-Maple Leafs Alumni Showdown featuring legendary players from two of the National Hockey League’s most storied franchises going head-to-head.

Related articles

• Report: Winter Classic will be canceled Thursday (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• NHL will reportedly cancel Winter Classic (boston.sbnation.com)
• NHL's Winter Classic could be cancelled Thursday: report (cbc.ca)
• Source: NHL to cancel Winter Classic Thursday (espn.go.com)

2012 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp Final Roster

The WJC Evaluation Camp Final Roster is out and UND hockey recruit Jordan Schmaltz is not on the roster for the USA.

GOALIES (4)

John Gibson, Kitchener Rangers (OHL) ANA (’11, 2nd rd., 39th overall)
Jon Gillies,. Indiana Ice (USHL) CGY (’12, 3rd rd., 75th overall)
Garret Sparks, Guelph Storm (OHL) TOR (’11, 7th rd., 190th overall)
Anthony Stolarz, Corpus Christi (NAHL) PHI (’12, 2nd rd., 45th overall)
the USA Hockey

DEFENSEMEN (11)

Shayne Gostisbehere, Union College (ECACH) PHI (’12, 3rd rd., 78th overall)
Matt Grzelcyk, U.S. National Under-18 Team BOS (’12, 3rd rd., 85th overall)
Garrett Haar, Western Michigan Univ. (CCHA) WSH (’11, 7th rd., 207th overall)
Seth Jones,. National Under-18 Team 2013 Draft Eligible
Jake McCabe, Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA) BUF (’12, 2nd rd., 44th overall)
Connor Murphy, Sarnia Sting (OHL) PHX (’11, 1st rd., 20th overall)
Mike Reilly, Penticton Vees (BCHL) CBJ (’11, 4th rd., 98th overall)
Patrick Sieloff, U.S. National Under-18 Team CGY (’12, 2nd rd., 42nd overall)
Brady Skjei, U.S. National Under-18 Team NYR (’12, 1st rd., 28th overall)
Jacob Trouba, U.S. National Under-18 Team WPG (’12, 1st rd., 9th overall)
Andrew Welinski, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) ANA (’11, 3rd rd., 83rd overall)


FORWARDS (19)

Cole Bardreau, Cornell Univ. (ECACH) Free Agent
Tyler Biggs, Miami Univ. (CCHA) TOR (’11, 1st rd., 22nd overall)
Colin Blackwell, Harvard Univ. (ECACH) SJS (’11, 7th rd., 194th overall)
Reid Boucher, Sarnia Sting (OHL) NJD (’11, 4th rd., 99th overall)
Travis Boyd, Univ. of Minnesota (WCHA) WSH (’11, 7th rd., 177th overall)
Thomas Di Pauli, 5-U.S. National Under-18 Team WSH (’12, 4th rd., 100th overall)
Steve Fogarty, Penticton Vees (BCHL) NYR (’11. 3rd rd., 72nd overall)
Alex Galchenyuk, Sarnia Sting (OHL) MTL (’12, 1st rd., 3rd overall)
John Gaudreau, Boston College (HEA) CGY (’11, 4th rd., 104th overall)
Ryan Hartman, U.S. National Under-18 Team 2013 Draft Eligible
Nicolas Kerdiles, U.S. National Under-18 Team ANA (’12, 2nd rd., 36th overall)
Sean Kuraly, Indiana Ice (USHL) SJS (’11, 5th rd., 133rd overall)
Mario Lucia, Penticton Vees (BCHL) MIN (’11, 2nd rd., 60th overall)
Stefan Matteau, U.S. National Under-18 Team NJD (’12, 1st rd., 29th overall)
J.T. Miller, Plymouth Whalers (OHL) NYR (’11, 1st rd., 15th overall)
Stefan Noesen, Plymouth Whalers (OHL) OTT (’11, 1st rd., 21st overall)
Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech Univ. (WCHA) NJD (’11, 5th rd., 129th overall)
Vince Trocheck, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) FLA (’11, 3rd rd., 64th overall)
Jim Vesey, South Shore Kings (EJHL) NSH (’12, 3rd rd., 66th overall)

Is another college prospect being poached by an OHL team?

I wonder if college hockey teams will reconsider taking blue chip athletes from the USNDT it appears that another players from the Under 18 team is considering de-committing from his college commitment and going to the OHL. It appears that this college recruits might have some financial incentive to join said OHL team.

Matt Slovin, Michigan Daily --- An Ontario Hockey League source told The Michigan Daily on Thursday that Jacob Trouba may not be as set on coming to Ann Arbor in the fall as he has stated publicly. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, placed the chances that Trouba, the ninth pick by Winnipeg in this year's NHL Entry Draft, honors his commitment to Michigan at “50/50.”

Trouba's OHL rights belong to the Kitchener Rangers who drafted him in the third round of the OHL's 2010 draft.

Regardless of where Trouba ends up, Kitchener or Michigan, the source says the defenseman will spend two years before progressing to the NHL, where he will be an “elite player.”

Monday night, a different OHL source informed the Daily that Kitchener has presented the Trouba family with a “huge offer” that remains on the table. The source added that he “believes it will happen.”

In place of an education package, the source said Trouba could be compensated to about $200,000.

Prior to last week's NHL Draft, the original source said the odds were stacked heavily in Kitchener's favor. But Trouba's promise that he will be playing for Michigan this season makes it a coin flip.

Based on this Daily Michigan article there is no way that the Michigan Wolverines can match the Kitchener Rangers generous offer – if they did Michigan would end up on NCAA sanctions.

According to The Wolverine, this is would be the 22nd player that the Michigan Wolverines have lost since 2000. This past week the Wolverines lost defenseman Connor Carrick to the Plymouth Whalers. According to Carrick, “it wasn’t about the money.” Yeah, I am sure all of us believe him after reading that the Kitchener Rangers have offered Jacob Trouba $200,000.00 one has to wonder what kind of money he was offered as well.

Since the Matt Slovin article came out Kitchener Rangers president Craig Campbell posted on his twitter page that the Trouba article is, "Utterly false."

Just for the record – OHL teams paying money under the table to incoming recruits is also not legal.

Changes coming to NCAA Hockey Recruiting?

Image via WikipediaRWD favorite beat writer Brad Elliott Schlossman has a very good article about the letter of intent and the college hockey recruits being poached by the CHL teams until after they have played their freshman year.

I honestly don’t know how they are going to get the CHL to honor those agreements? I don’t think the NCAA is going to get the CHL to agree to that. Why should they? I can’ t see the London Knight’s caring about a blue chip recruit signing a letter of intent to play for a division I college hockey team. It didn't seem to stop the Plymouth Whalers, because J.T. Miller had signed an LOI to play for UND. How did that end up working out for us? Obviously, they didn't care one bit. The thing I would want to know is how much money changed hands on that deal.

Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald --- College Hockey Inc., is working to enact legislation — either with the oversight of the NHL or through the transfer agreement between USA Hockey and Hockey Canada — to bar Canadian major junior teams from stealing a player who has signed a letter of intent until after the player’s freshman year.

And while this is happening, there is a behind-the-scenes movement by some coaches to try to ditch the longstanding gentleman’s agreement between coaches that they won’t recruit players that have made verbal commitments.

If either happens, letters of intent will become big deals to the college hockey world.

The Canadian Hockey League, which routinely tries to poach college players and recruits, is driving these developments to an extent.

I am going to get some flak for this because there are a lot of fans college hockey fans that are against CHL players playing in NCAA Division I hockey once they have played in the CHL.

I am all for it. Why not let them play in the NCAA? I think the NCAA should reevaluate this stance, I think that this policy is out dated and wrong.

I would have no problem with allowing a player that has played hockey in the CHL play in the NCAA if they haven't reached their 19th birthday. The CIS teams don't seem to have a problem with these players playing for their teams and NCAA teams play them in the exhibition games at the beginning of the season.

Maybe that kid was recruited to go to the CHL when he is 16 and he has a change of heart and decides that he would like to play in the college ranks and get his college education. Why not allow him to play for an NCAA Division I team? 

Personally, I would have no problem with an NCAA college team going up to Canada or to a CHL team in the USA and recruiting one of their players to play in Division I hockey. The CHL is actively recruiting our players right now as we speak.They don't seem to care what our players have signed.

Related articles

• Hakstol says college teams at disadvantage in recruiting wars with CHL (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Monday Links... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND loses another recruit to the CHL - QMJHL (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA Hockey is on the Score... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Stefan Matteau on the Pipeline Show (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

CHL vs the NCAA, is there money changing hands

Image via WikipediaAfter reading this article a few times in the past week then going back and re-reading the quotes from Paul Kelly earlier this summer, “As much as the CHL denies it, there are still instances where money is being paid to the family to lure kids away and de-commit from colleges." Those comments Paul Kelly that some have deemed controversial by many have been followed up with these comments.

Craig Custance; Sporting News --- “The amount of money under the table in those leagues is rampant,” said RPI coach Seth Appert, who just ended his term as president of the American Hockey College Association. “That’s against NCAA rules, no matter how we slice it.”

Said Berenson: “I know some kids have been paid, there’s no question about that. I can’t tell you what the OHL allows or what they don’t allow. I know some kids that have been paid.”

In a conversation with Sporting News, one player weighing the decision confirmed he’d been offered a significant financial package to play in Canada, saying it’s not an easy thing to turn down.

“Everybody has their price,” he said.

It’s not a new accusation. Kelly has been publicly vocal in his belief that elite players are getting six-figure payments to lure them away from the NCAA. And, Kelly contends, it’s for more than just education.

Kelly shared a conversation he had with a player who broke a college commitment last summer to play in Quebec. Kelly asked him why he did it.

“He said because ‘they wrote me a check for $100,000 and I’m going to go out and buy a new car,’ ” Kelly said. “This kid never had any education anywhere in his radar.”

With all that happened this summer, I have to wonder if I am the only one from the Fighting Sioux fan base that thought this? Why J.T. Miller all of a sudden de-commit from the Fighting Sioux to sign with the Plymouth Whalers? Did the Plymouth Whalers offer J.T. Miller something to change his mind and go play for the Whalers instead of the Sioux? Miller really hasn't talked about his de-commitment from the Fighting Sioux.I think it's a legitimate question that needs to be explored more.

Related articles

• More on the CHL vs NCAA... (mvn.com)
• CHL versus NCAA re: NHL; The NCAA (hockeyhourly.wordpress.com)
• Must-click link: Explaining the NCAA-CHL battle for players (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• CHL versus NCAA re: NHL; The CHL (hockeyhourly.wordpress.com)

Keaton Thompson to UND in 2013 or 2014...

Image via WikipediaBrad Schlossman is reporting that former Devils Lake and Fargo Force defenseman Keaton Thompson has given  UND a verbal commitment to play for the Fighting Sioux in either the 2013 or 2014 season. I had the pleasure of watching Keaton Thompson play during the EDC playoffs last February and I was impressed with Thompson's poise and puck carrying ability.

Brad Schlossman. UND Hockey Blog ---- UND has received a verbal commitment from Devils Lake defenseman Keaton Thompson, who will play for the U.S. Under 17 team.

Thompson is an offensive defenseman who is starting to accelerate his education, so he could come in 2013 if he’s ready. He just finished his freshman year of high school.

When I see this early verbal commitment by Keaton Thompson to the Fighting Sioux, the first question that pops into my mind after some of the recent de-comittments from former USDT players like J.T. Miller is do we have to worry that Keaton Thompson might change his mind and be scooped up by a CHL team such as the Plymouth Whalers,Kitchener Rangers and or the Sarnia Sting. Since Thompson is a North Dakota kid I hope not.

Former Sioux defenseman Chay Genoway; Working It Out

Image via WikipediaIt sounds like Chay Genoway made quite the impression this past week at the Minnesota Wild development camp. It would be awesome to see a player like Chay Genoway make it to the NHL.

Minnesota Wild --- At 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, Chay Genoway doesn’t look like your prototypical NHL defensemen.
But looks are often deceiving.

At the Minnesota Wild Development Camp, the recent free agent signee out of the University of North Dakota is doing what he can to show that height is just a number, and strength knows no limits.

Genoway’s off-ice strength testing has been as impressive as his coast-to-coast goal in Saturday’s scrimmage. Word has it that after piling up the most consecutive pushups among the prospects, he immediately started his pull ups and tallied the highest number of those.

“He is quite strong physically,” said Kirk Olson, the Wild’s recently hired strength and conditioning coach, whose first order of business was working out the prospects this week. “He has a low center of gravity and is hard to knock off his feet.”

If anyone knows size isn’t always relative to strength, it’s Genoway. The former UND captain is showing that he arrived at camp ready to make a run at a professional career.

“I’ve been doing the normal summer time stuff, like lifting weights and conditioning,” Genoway said. “But I also tried to get on the ice more than usual this summer so it wouldn’t be too strenuous on things like the groin or hip-flexors, like the ice can be when you jump right to it.”

In his first camp, at 23 years old, Genoway was one of the elder statesmen. His development as a player is advanced compared to his younger counterparts, and he knows the importance of making a good first impression.

The last paragraph caught my attention because of what has transpired this past week at the University of North Dakota; as most college hockey fans know the Fighting Sioux had a commitment from J.T. Miller, who was drafted in the first round of the NHL draft by the New York Rangers, to play at UND... Then for some unknown reason J.T. Miller decides with less than a month and a half before the school year is about to start that he would rather play for the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. If one of Miller's concerns is player development, playing at UND wouldn't hinder his development.

Maybe this is a stretch, but I think one could make the inference that Chay's development at UND helped him  made an impression on the Minnesota Wild management, the Wild coaching staff and the fans of the Minnesota Wild that attended the Wild Development Camp.

Related articles

• Wild sign Lundin, a Minnesota native (freenhlpicks.wordpress.com)
• You: Niklas Backstrom: 5 Reasons the Minnesota Wild Should Consider Trading Him (bleacherreport.com)
• 2011 NHL Free Agency: Dealmaking Set to Make Huge Impact for Minnesota Wild (bleacherreport.com)

JT Miller Bolts for OHL

Image via WikipediaUND Incoming Recruit, or former incoming recruit, apparently will not play for UND in the fall and instead bolt for the OHL Plymouth Whalers. The report was confirmed by Guy Flaming of the Pipeline Show. Here's his article:

The Pipeline Show has now confirmed with the player himself that New York Rangers prospect J. T. Miller is indeed detouring away from his NCAA commitment to North Dakota and will instead play for the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL.

Miller will be a guest on TPS this Saturday to discuss in more detail.

The Ohio product was chosen 15th overall by the New York Rangers last month at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota. His first appearance on The Pipeline Show was back in April and he confirmed to us back then that he would officially decide after the draft where he would play next year.

This is obviously a blow to the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota who have lost 6 of their top 7 scorers from last year to graduation or to pro hockey (Jason Gregoire).

I can say that this isn't much of a surprise. I had a feeling he'd end up in Plymouth. What was disappointing was that it comes before his freshman year rather than after it. I felt that he'd bolt before his sophomore season, but would play one season in Grand Forks first.

I'm wondering if this isn't another Trevor Lewis type deal. IIRC, Trevor Lewis committed to the University of Michigan and then signed a pro contract with the LA Kings who assigned him to the Owen Sound Attack (OHL). It gets Miller past his rookie contract quicker, sure, but it will pressure him to develop faster as well. Though this isn't impossible and Miller could very well be up to it (Lewis just completed his first full season with LA this year and did ok), it does put a bit higher pressure on Miller.

Oh well, I guess. Tough blow for UND. Wish Miller the best. I wonder if this news makes the Cichy transfer more painful? Probably not with the fans. I got the feeling that many commentors didn't much care for Cichy.

Related articles

• Rangers snag American-born center at No. 15 (nypost.com)

Fighting Sioux forward and New York Rangers Draft Pick JT Miller.

s/t to Western College Hockey. Also, for the speculators and talking heads like Pierre McQuire that immediately said after J.T. Miller might be going to the Plymouth Whalers instead of the Fighting Sioux doesn't sound like it's going to happen.

Brad Schlossman; Grand Forks Herald ---- Miller, who conducted interviews with the New York media with Stafford watching from a distance, is a 6-foot-1, 198-pound power forward who finishes hits and goes to the net hard. He said he plans on bringing that game to UND this fall.

“I’d like to be a top guy that can be relied on to produce,” Miller said. “I’ll be a guy who works hard, just like the Sioux do. I’m excited to play there. It will be a great experience for me.”

I've had it with Pierre McQuire...

I can understand why a lot of American Division I College hockey fans don't like TSN hockey analyst/blow hard buffoon Pierre McQuire...  I am sure that many of them would love to reach through their television sets and strangle him or pop him in his bald fore head.

Almost as if on key; as future Fighting Sioux forward J.T. Miller was announced as the 15th over all draft pick of the New York Rangers; McQuire immediately mentions that Miller could go to the OHL and play for the Plymouth Whalers. How can a former Division I and III hockey coach come off as so anti-college hockey? My advice to TSN hockey analyst Pierre McQuire; would you please STFU, the University of North Dakota has historically produced many great NHL players and J.T. Miller would be no better off if he went and played against younger players in the OHL.

Related articles

• Rangers snag American-born center at No. 15 (nypost.com)
• Rangers Take American Forward J.T. Miller With 15th Pick (newyork.cbslocal.com)