Was USA forward Rocco Grimaldi sent a message?

Rocco Grimaldi (UND/FLA) in Team USA doghouse big time. Hasn't played a shift today. Sounds as if it's performance/attitude related.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 31, 2012

You kind of have to wonder if USA Forward Rocco Grimaldi was being sent a message by USA coach Phil Housley? To be honest with you, I haven't been impressed with very many of the players on team USA this year. It's obvious that Jacob Trouba is a men among boys and Seth Jones has looked pretty good to me, the rest of the team has been kind of underwhelming. There's no "I" in team so we will see what happens going forward. I don't think this version of team USA is all that strong anyways.

@tsnbobmckenzie 100% correct. They aren't happy with his "selfish" play. Either not seeing his teammates or not passing, either way,no bueno
— Julie Robenhymer (@JulieRobenhymer) December 31, 2012

@umdpenaltybox @tsnbobmckenzie Was kind of playing like it vs. Canada. Think he'll get some ice in QF though. Message sent.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 31, 2012

USA 8 Germany 2 (Video)

Great to see USA win today... Honestly, Germany is a really bad hockey team and I don't know what we can glean from the USA beating them 8-0 or Canada routing them 9-3? I am sure the Germans will again be in relegation round.

Both the USA and the Canadians were the far better teams and the Germans just don't have the talent that those teams have.

Players that stuck out for me for the Americans were defensemen Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba, they were men among boys, both will be big time players in the NHL probably next season.

The most impressive line for team USA, was the line of Sean Kuraly (Dublin, Ohio/Miami Univ.), Alex Galchenyuk (Milwaukee, Wis./Sarnia Sting) and Reilly Barber (Livonia, Mich./Miami Univ.) this line racked up an impressive three goals and five assists for eight points.

WHL throws the book at Portland

Western Hockey League (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today the Western Hockey League dropped the boom on The Portland Winterhawks and they will suffer some harsh sanctions.

The Winterhawks were fined $200,000.00 and will also lose the first five rounds of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft but the league was done there, the Winterhawks will also lose their first round draft choices in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Today's announcement, also vindicates Dean Millard who first broke this story back in November and then took some heat for his story from fans of the Portland Winterhawks.

To all the folks who slammed Dean and I after he broke the Portland story 3 weeks ago, what say you now? HUGE penalties from the WHL today
— Guy Flaming (@TPS_Guy) November 28, 2012

Here is a list of the offenses that the Winterhawks committed, and there weren't any violations related to the league’s educational packages.

Portland Winterhawks --- What follows is a summary of the league’s findings, and a statement from Johnston:

The Winterhawks were found to have committed the following violations:

• A player contract signed in 2009, involving flights for the player’s family and a summer training program
• Over the last five years, seven families were provided flights 2-4 times per season based on financial need and their distance from Portland
• Twice in the last five years the team paid for two players to each have a one-week summer training regimen
• The Winterhawks provided a cell phone for its team captain for a period of three seasons

The WHL’s audit found no violations involving monetary payments made to players, their families or agents, or any violations related to the league’s educational packages.

When the story first emerged, some had thought that the Winterhawks defenseman Seth Jones was part of the violations and it turned out that he wasn't. Apparently, Jones' family adviser/agent is not pleased with these allegations.

Seth Jones' agent Pat Brisson angry at any implication his client is involved: "This has nothing to do with Seth. Absolutely nothing."
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 28, 2012

Here's Andrew Eide's; editor for the Hockey Writers - Combine and his take on the matter.

Related articles

• What do WHL Sanctions Mean for Portland Winterhawks (thehockeywriters.com)
• WHL hammers Portland Winterhawks for league violations (theglobeandmail.com)

Roco Grimaldi and Jordan Schmaltz make the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp Roster

Here is the Roster for the 2012 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp Participants. As expected, Fighting Sioux freshman Rocco Grimaldi and Jordan Schmaltz are on the roster.

GOALIES (4)

John Gibson, Pittsburgh, Pa. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Jon Gillies, Concord, N.H. Indiana Ice (USHL)
Garret Sparks, Elmhurst, Ill. Guelph Storm (OHL)
Anthony Stolarz, Edison, N.J. Corpus Christi (NAHL)

DEFENSEMEN (17)

Connor Carrick, Orland Park, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Brian Cooper, Anchorage, Alaska Fargo Force (USHL)
Shayne Gostisbehere, Margate, Fla. Union College (ECACH)
Matt Grzelcyk, Charlestown, Mass. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Garrett Haar, Huntington Beach, Calif. Western Michigan Univ. (CCHA)
Seth Jones, Plano, Texas U.S. National Under-18 Team
Jake McCabe, Eau Claire, Wis. Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Connor Murphy, Boston, Mass. Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Mike Paliotta, Westport, Conn. Univ. of Vermont (HEA)
Mike Reilly, Chanhassen, Minn. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Robbie Russo, Westmount, Ill. Univ. of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Joakim Ryan, Rumson, N.J. Cornell Univ. (ECACH)
Jordan Schmaltz, Verona, Wis. Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Patrick Sieloff, Ann Arbor, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Brady Skjei, Lakeville, Minn. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Jacob Trouba, Rochester, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Andrew Welinski, Duluth, Minn. Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

FORWARDS (25)

Cole Bardreau, Fairport, N.Y. Cornell Univ. (ECACH)
Tyler Biggs, Binghamton, N.Y. Miami Univ. (CCHA)
Colin Blackwell, North Andover, Mass. Harvard Univ. (ECACH)
Reid Boucher, Grand Ledge, Mich. Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Travis Boyd, Hopkins, Minn. Uiv. of Minnesota (WCHA)
Alex Broadhurst, Orland Park, Ill. Geen Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Thomas DiPauli, Woodbridge, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Steve Fogarty, Chambersburg, Pa. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Alex Galchenyuk, Milwaukee, Wis. Srnia Sting (OHL)
John Gaudreau, Carneys Point, N.J. Bston College (HEA)
Rocco Grimaldi, Rossmoor, Calif. Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA)
Brian Hart, Cumberland, Maine Phillips-Exeter (HS)
Ryan Hartman, West Dundee, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Nicolas Kerdiles, Irvine, Calif. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Sean Kuraly, Dublin, Ohio Indiana Ice (USHL)
Mario Lucia, Plymouth, Minn. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Stefan Matteau Chicago, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
J.T. Miller, East Palestine, Ohio Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Logan Nelson, Coon Rapids, Minn. Victoria Royals
Stefan Noesen, Plano, Texas Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Blake Pietila, Brighton, Mich. Michigan Tech Univ. (WCHA)
Adam Reid, Chino Hills, Calif. Northeastern Univ. (HEA)
Henrik Samuelsson, Scottsdale, Ariz. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Vince Trocheck, Pittsburgh, Pa. Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Jim Vesey, North Reading, Mass. South Shore Kings (EJHL)

Miles Koules "won't" be going to UND

Brad Elloitt Schlossman reported on his media blog and as well in the Grand Forks Herald that Miles Koules has backed out of his commitment and now will not be going to UND. Koules will instead play for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. This is the third recruit from the NTDP team to de-committ and go to the CHL.

There seems to be something going on at the NTDP wonder if the UND coaches will continue to recruit kids from the USNDT after being spurned by another one this weekend, counting J.T. Miller, Stephan Matteau and now Miles Koules. 

Just a hunch I wouldn't count on Seth Jones going to UND. This was on his Twitter Page yesterday.

Related articles

• More UND bolters to CHL? (RW77)
• Seth Jones to the Winterhawks?
• Hakstol says college teams at disadvantage in recruiting wars with CHL
• UND Hockey coach Dave Hakstol weighs in on the nickname ...
• Big Sky Conference not Bluffing.

Seth Jones to the Winterhawks?

In perusing the Internet today it would appear that Seth Jones might be going to the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. I don't really think it's that a big shocker to anyone and his chances of playing at UND are probably between slim and none. It had been announced that the highly sought after Jones was going to pick between the WHL and going the NCAA route at UND. Jones actually made a recruiting visit this past season. Here is the press release from the Portland Winterhawks.