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Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2021-2022
- Thread starter Timothy A
- Start date
Some concluding comments on my sentiments about USA Hockey and its approach to its quadrennial poaching of players from college teams for its Olympics women’s roster.
There were 7 first time members of the women’s team this year. Four of those were to be on current rosters – UW’s Harvey, Zumwinkle and Murphy of MN, and Compher of BU. The other 3 had graduated – Dunne in ’20, Scamurra in ’17, and Harmon in ’18. Bell of Duluth, Buchbinder, Eden, and Curl were cut (possibly others?), and Harvey rarely played. Of those selected or cut, only Zumwinkle and Compher would have exhausted their eligibility if they had remained with their teams.
As I look at all of this, I have to ask if it really was necessary to poach anyone from their team rosters in order to add what turned out to be only 2 players that saw meaningful playing time? Can’t USA Hockey establish an ongoing vetting program to identify enough quality players who have completed their college careers to fill its roster? After all, it has 4 years between Olympics that include ongoing international tournaments to support such an effort. The preponderance of team members who have extended their playing careers by 5-10 years and more suggests there may be a sufficient continuing pool of former college players interested in extending their playing careers. Someone simply may have to take the time to identify them.
A special note. Cayla Barnes of BC also was on the previous Olympics team and received a red shirt for her first season at BC due to being “drafted” for that team after playing in 5 games. So, she may have a year of eligibility left - kind of like a covid year. Why not consider giving every who goes to the tryouts a “covid” year that would allow them to play in the second half of the season after being cut and retain the full year of eligibility?
There were 7 first time members of the women’s team this year. Four of those were to be on current rosters – UW’s Harvey, Zumwinkle and Murphy of MN, and Compher of BU. The other 3 had graduated – Dunne in ’20, Scamurra in ’17, and Harmon in ’18. Bell of Duluth, Buchbinder, Eden, and Curl were cut (possibly others?), and Harvey rarely played. Of those selected or cut, only Zumwinkle and Compher would have exhausted their eligibility if they had remained with their teams.
As I look at all of this, I have to ask if it really was necessary to poach anyone from their team rosters in order to add what turned out to be only 2 players that saw meaningful playing time? Can’t USA Hockey establish an ongoing vetting program to identify enough quality players who have completed their college careers to fill its roster? After all, it has 4 years between Olympics that include ongoing international tournaments to support such an effort. The preponderance of team members who have extended their playing careers by 5-10 years and more suggests there may be a sufficient continuing pool of former college players interested in extending their playing careers. Someone simply may have to take the time to identify them.
A special note. Cayla Barnes of BC also was on the previous Olympics team and received a red shirt for her first season at BC due to being “drafted” for that team after playing in 5 games. So, she may have a year of eligibility left - kind of like a covid year. Why not consider giving every who goes to the tryouts a “covid” year that would allow them to play in the second half of the season after being cut and retain the full year of eligibility?
HockeyGuy362
Member
Bell didn't get cut, she played on the Canadian Gold Medal Team?
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
So Morgan and Blair are on the staff at Goalrobber hockey schools. Interesting and a big LOL. ARM must have known this to throw her name out there like that.
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ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Sieve1 brought her up, just not by name.
robertearle
Well-known member
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Taking it back to Sieve 1's point, is Morgan a higher caliber than Blair? I don't know. Is she Soup better or ARD better? Probably not. MJ does like to have 4 goalies on the roster and he as a bigger roster next year, so I would not be shocked if he brought someone in. May the best goalie win, but I hope it's Kronish if it does happen. And that being said, is someone going to transfer without a strong assurance that they are getting the starting gig? We also have to remember there are plenty of goalies out there who he did recruit that he did not get, so there are relationships out there. I could have swore I heard on the broadcast that he did recruit Frankel.
robertearle
Well-known member
Todd Milewski's story in the paper this morning makes it sound like a 'done deal' that Natalie Buchbinder will be back next year. I figured she would be, but it's nice to get some measure of confirmation.
slapshot willy
New member
Is Mueller the only player that returned to NCAA hockey once the Olympics were done, and how does that affect her eligibility for the future ? Or is she a senior who is now finished NCAA because she came back to play approximately 1.5 months of college hockey?
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
A lot of players were like Mueller, and played NCAA in the fall, left during the Olympics, and returned in time for the postseason. Even new D-I program St. Thomas had a couple. All of those players used up a year of eligibility this season. Mueller should have a year left, because of the Covid year.
slapshot willy
New member
Thanks ARM, I was just curious. I didn’t realize she was with Northeastern before Olympics, unlike some Canadian and USA NCAA ladies who are with their national team for pretty much the entire NCAA season with centralization, camp, the actual Olympic Games etc. Cheers
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
If the US and Canada stopped the silly centralization thing, this problem would go away. Is it really fair that all the countries don't operate their programs the same?
slapshot willy
New member
I agree 100 %
I chatted with Natalie B at the fan event in Mpls and it was clear that she (and Britta) would be back. Gosh, I remember when she and Grace B were paired as freshmen at the NCAA's! Britta, Abby R, and Natalie were all at the fan event.
I believe Curl has 2 years of eligibility left (Covid +1). So, I had been assuming she would be returning for two years and Buchbinder 1 (for Covid year). Both may have a year left before completing their undergrad degrees as well or may (like Watts) want to work towards a master’s degree. I also have been assuming that Eden prefers to return here (with 4 years left) rather than considering the portal. Anyone hear anything about her intentions?
As for another option to the quadrennial raid on college rosters for the Olympics, why not limit any drafts to ONE player from a team. The US typically selects 7-8 players with remaining eligibility to compete to fill the roster of 23, not all of which make the roster (as the 3 from UW this time illustrate). The remainder of the roster is filled by returning players. USA Olympics essentially has four years in which to exercise due diligence and identify potential candidates form colleges to fill any known or expected vacancies. There are more than enough college teams to accommodate any likely number that might be needed for the vacancies with a limit of one player from teams. Basically, this would make its selection process similar to how college coaches have to handle their recruiting.
Furthermore, why not allow any players who are cut from the Olympics team return to finish the season and retain their year of eligibility (similar to Cayla Barnes of BC). After all, they did their patriotic duty by agreeing to try out for the team. Why punish them by denying them the opportunity to finish the season playing the remainder of their college team’s schedule? It is the game they love! Losing half of a season sounds like enough of a sacrifice.
As for another option to the quadrennial raid on college rosters for the Olympics, why not limit any drafts to ONE player from a team. The US typically selects 7-8 players with remaining eligibility to compete to fill the roster of 23, not all of which make the roster (as the 3 from UW this time illustrate). The remainder of the roster is filled by returning players. USA Olympics essentially has four years in which to exercise due diligence and identify potential candidates form colleges to fill any known or expected vacancies. There are more than enough college teams to accommodate any likely number that might be needed for the vacancies with a limit of one player from teams. Basically, this would make its selection process similar to how college coaches have to handle their recruiting.
Furthermore, why not allow any players who are cut from the Olympics team return to finish the season and retain their year of eligibility (similar to Cayla Barnes of BC). After all, they did their patriotic duty by agreeing to try out for the team. Why punish them by denying them the opportunity to finish the season playing the remainder of their college team’s schedule? It is the game they love! Losing half of a season sounds like enough of a sacrifice.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Because the NCAA is a bureaucratic heartless machine with no interest in common sense solutions that take the best interest of the students to heart.
I assume Eden is coming back, in my head anyway, we don't need confirmation of any undergrad players coming back, it is assumed they are. The only confirmations needed are for the 5th year for the covid players, like Buchbinder.
robertearle
Well-known member
Todd Milewski tweets today that the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship is going to be held in Madison, official announcement coming Monday.
Games played at LaBahn and Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton (2600 seating capacity, where the Madison Capitals USHL team plays, and where I've never been).
Games played at LaBahn and Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton (2600 seating capacity, where the Madison Capitals USHL team plays, and where I've never been).
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
I've been there, as it was a location that UW used in the early years for dates when the Kohl Center had a conflict. At least then, it was an arena where there seemed to be a lot of metal (handrails) in the sightlines. Finally found some corner opposite the stands at ice level where I could see most of the ice.