What's new
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

He is the only USA coach in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Ughhh...Bob Johnson 1992?

And I wasn't saying everything he said was wrong, obviously. But his NTDP bashing is laughable in retrospect given the success by the U.S. in international competitions and turning players into NHL'ers since the implementation of the program.
 
Last edited:
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

As I said, I do understand some of the positives of having the NTDP around... but I am curious if you would expound on your thoughts on why you think Herb was wrong.

USA Hockey has had an exponential growth of results internationally since the implementation of the program. The results before and after the program were started are staggering positive in terms of success fueled by the program.
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

And I posted that in my comments - that the US has done better in international tourneys with the NTDP. I realize I am posting from a USHL-fan point of view. There are some very talented kids on those teams. I would rather see them on the Gamblers, Lancers, Buccaneers, etc. It just doesn't fit quite for USAH to say on one hand that the USHL is the top level of juniors, but then on the other hand to cherry pick 40 kids off of those teams...
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

If people are curious, here is Sweden’s development program.


 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

And I posted that in my comments - that the US has done better in international tourneys with the NTDP. I realize I am posting from a USHL-fan point of view. There are some very talented kids on those teams. I would rather see them on the Gamblers, Lancers, Buccaneers, etc. It just doesn't fit quite for USAH to say on one hand that the USHL is the top level of juniors, but then on the other hand to cherry pick 40 kids off of those teams...

The majority of those kids would be playing for the London Knights, the Kitchener Rangers and the Windsor Spitfires, not the Green Bay Gamblers, Omaha Lancers and Des Moines Buccaneers if there was no NTDP.

Regardless, the NTDP is the best thing that's happened to USA Hockey. Will a USHL team lose a kid once in a while to the program? Yes, but that one kid a team loses every five years isn't enough to kick the NTDP out of the league. I'm not saying USHL fans need to be happy about losing players, but it is what it is, and it's not going to change.
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

The majority of those kids would be playing for the London Knights, the Kitchener Rangers and the Windsor Spitfires, not the Green Bay Gamblers, Omaha Lancers and Des Moines Buccaneers if there was no NTDP.

Regardless, the NTDP is the best thing that's happened to USA Hockey. Will a USHL team lose a kid once in a while to the program? Yes, but that one kid a team loses every five years isn't enough to kick the NTDP out of the league. I'm not saying USHL fans need to be happy about losing players, but it is what it is, and it's not going to change.

100% dis agree with your statements Chuck, though I'm not sure if it would be appropriate to high jack the Wisco recruiting thread to prove my point with lengthy posts
 
100% dis agree with your statements Chuck, though I'm not sure if it would be appropriate to high jack the Wisco recruiting thread to prove my point with lengthy posts

Chuck is implicity saying that a college degre is irrelevant to these players. Given the # of players who go on to academically oriented institutions, I think the data would suggest against the majority of these players going to the OHL.
 
Last edited:
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

Wisconsin got a verbal commitment from D Tony Stillwell of NDA. Good pick up for Bucky
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

Wisconsin got a verbal commitment from D Tony Stillwell of NDA. Good pick up for Bucky

Interesting pickup. I remember when he visited campus earlier in the year, think I posted it here at one point.

I like his skills a lot, very gifted with the puck on his stick. Very small defenseman though -- listed at 5'7, 145 as a sophomore last winter. He'll obviously grow a bit, but hard to say where he'll end up by the time he gets to Madison. Unlike Keegan Ford who is also shorter, Stillwell isn't as thick (Ford has a very, very solid lower half).

Sioux City futures selection. I'd imagine his commitment is for 2016 (two years of high school + one year of USHL, or one high school + 2 years USHL).

Hopefully I'll have some quotes up from Tony and his coach Cory McCracken tomorrow.

EDIT: Here are a few more notes on Stillwell


I keep up with coaches around the state and other scouts and agents to get updates on prospects from time to time. I talked to Stillwell's coach on 1/8/12 and this is what he had to say about Tony:

"This kid will be scary good in the next few years. Has all the tools to be special. Great skater, very good hockey sense and solid puck moving offensive defenseman. Gaining very valuable minutes as a 9th grader..Very impressed with Tony. Every scout I have talked with that has seen us play brings up Tony. That tells me a lot."

My quick note when I saw him at Central Districts, May 2012:

"He moves well and is an incredible passer but will those skills make up for his lack of size? We'll see."

USHR ranked him No. 11 at USA Select 15's for defensemen (July 2012):

"If the Team Wisconsin product were four or five inches taller he would be nestled into the top group of this list. Smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman who is elusive in traffic and defends well given his size. Reminds us of Notre Dame recruit Bobby Nardella at the same age." (Note: Wisconsin offered Nardella before he committed to Notre Dame)


USHR saw him a few months later at the Bauer invite and had this to say:

"A fun player to watch. Is a very small defenseman, our guess would be 5’7”, 140 lbs. but as sharp as a knife. Moves the puck up ice very effectively and defends well. Doesn’t seem to get himself into too many physical battles for the puck, mainly because he wins most of them with his stick. Will mature in time and his hockey IQ should remain intact. Will end up being a D-I player."
 
Last edited:
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

2016, came down to CC and Wisconsin. UMD, New Hampshire, Ohio State all in the mix.
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

His height is of no concern to me after reading the reviews. Welcome aboard Tony.

There is a possibility he grows 6 inches or something as he was only a freshman this past season, correct? This could be a steal for the Badgers, solid pickup regardless of future size.
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

There is a possibility he grows 6 inches or something as he was only a freshman this past season, correct? This could be a steal for the Badgers, solid pickup regardless of future size.
He was a sophomore this past season. Just 2 more inches and 30 pounds in the next 3 years and he comes in the same that Brian Rafalski did. Sounds like the same type of player.
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

Tarek Baker (Verona) tweeted tonight that he's going back to play AAA in Omaha again next season. Had tendered with Janesville (USHL), and was a 2nd round pick in the USHL Future's Draft (Des Moines). I'd argue that he's the top available prospect from the state of Wisconsin right now.
 
Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXVI: Make him an offer he can't refuse

He was a sophomore this past season. Just 2 more inches and 30 pounds in the next 3 years and he comes in the same that Brian Rafalski did. Sounds like the same type of player.

A good parallel.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top