Future Sioux in Fargo, Tickets, Thompson & Schmaltz Commit, Etc.-UPDATED

Even though defense recruit Charlie Pelnik has opted to attend Shattuck-St. Mary's this season rather than play for the Fargo Force, several future Sioux are slated to be in Fargo this year as a part of the USHL regular season. Here's a list of the opportunities to catch various Sioux commits take on Zane Gothberg and the Force:

Date		Opponent	Sioux Commit	Sioux Schedule
Thu, Oct 20	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	@ Wisc. 21st & 22nd
Fri, Nov 11	vs	Cedar Rapids	Jack Rowe	No Game - Off Week
Fri, Dec 09	vs	Team USA - 18	S. Matteau, M. Koules	vs. Neb-Omaha
Fri, Jan 06	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	No Game
Sat, Jan 07	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	Clarkson @ Winnipeg
Thur, Jan 26	vs	Sioux City	Jordan Schmaltz	vs Wisc. 27th & 28th

Jack Rowe's roster spot with the RoughRiders has yet to be confirmed, but there has been no indication that he won't play for Cedar Rapids this season. Keaton Thompson will be playing for the USNTDP U-17 team, so there's a shot he could be in Fargo Dec. 9-it all depends on what the international schedule looks like for Team USA.

Plan on taking a road trip this season? The Wisconsin, Duluth, and St. Cloud series are etched into my calendar (with an additional trip or two possible as well), so here's some info concerning on-sale dates and ticket outlets:

Series	Game Date	Tix On-Sale	Tickets/Details
Home Games	-	Sept. 10	Tickets
Wisconsin	Oct 21/22	Sept. 22	Tickets
Minnesota	Nov 4/5	TBD	Details
Bemidji St	Nov 19/20	Sept. 17	Tickets
Alaska-Anchorage	Dec 2/3	Sept. 26	Tickets
Clarkson @ Winnipeg	Jan 7	TBD	Tickets
St Cloud St	Jan 20/21	Sept. ??	Tickets
Minnesota-Duluth	Feb 10/11	Sept. 26	Tickets
Denver	Feb 24/25	Sept. 10	Tickets
Final Five (St Paul)	Mar 15/16/17		Tickets

The Sioux have received commitments from two promising young players. Former Devils Lake (HS-ND) defenseman Keaton Thompson has committed to the Sioux for the 2013 or 2014 season, while forward Nick Schmaltz, the younger brother of 2012 commit Jordan Schmaltz, has committed for the 2014 season. Thompson was one of the top defensemen in North Dakota high school hockey last season as a freshman, and he played 13 games for the Fargo Force after the high school season. He has accepted a roster spot with the USNTDP Under-17 team for the 2011-12 season. Schmaltz is a slick, playmaking forward who recently fared quite well at the Team USA Select 15 Development Camp. He will be playing for the Chicago Mission Midget Minors in 2011-2012.

Derrick LaPoint has yet to sign a professional contract, but he may be leaning towards becoming a free agent August 15.

Former Sioux Ryan Johnson spent a good portion of last season getting healthy before signing with the Chicago Blackhawks for the stretch run. The shot blocking specialist discusses his future as he waits patiently for the next step in his career.

The Team USA 2012 World Junior Championship summer evaluation camp is underway in Lake Placid, NY and former Sioux head coach and current 2012 Team USA head coach Dean Blais will be giving all invitees a clean slate. Current Sioux Derek Forbort and incoming freshman Rocco Grimaldi are taking part in the camp.