Recruit Roundup

Here's a bit of committed recruit news & notes, including a rundown of how some of UND's recruits have been performing thus far this season:

• North Dakota lost a recruit last weekend when 1996-born forward Brendan Lemieux opted to leave the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) for Canadian major juniors. Lemieux will sign with the OHL's Barrie Colts, thereby giving up his NCAA eligibility. He had struggled early on this season in Green Bay, who used one of their tender signings to bring Lemieux into the fold. In 11 USHL games, he registered one goal and one assist.
• Adam Tambellini has been fantastic the past two weekends for the BCHL's Vernon Vipers. Over his last four games Tambellini has put up 10 points (5G, 5A) in leading Vernon to a 3-0-1 record. In two games last weekend he recorded three goals and three assists en route to being named the BCHL Player of the Week. For the season Tambellini leads the Vipers in goals (11), assists (11), and points (22), and he is among the BCHL leaders in both goals (T-7th) and points (T-8th). The 2013 NHL Draft-eligible forward appeared on The Pipeline Show last Saturday, and during his interview he recalled his recruiting trip to North Dakota. It's definitely worth a listen.
• As detailed in this post several UND recruits are involved in a variety of national and international tournaments. Off to fast starts at the World Junior A Challenge are Wade Murphy (Canada West) and Luke Johnson (Team USA), whose teams both finished group play 2-0 and thus earned byes to the semifinal round. Johnson has registered three assists (tied for the tournament lead) in two games and he was named the 2nd Star on day one of the tournament. Murphy, meanwhile, was named the 3rd Star on day two and through two games has produced two goals and three assists. His five points are tied for the tournament lead. Both Canada West and Team USA will enjoy a day off before semifinal play starts Friday.
• Johnson's Lincoln Stars teammate Paul LaDue has picked up right where he left off last season. He is tied for the league lead among defensemen with 11 points (1G, 10A), and his ten assists are tops among league blueliners. He is a +9 this season (T-6th among all players) and is an eye-popping +45 in 67 career USHL games.
• Jack Rowe is T-4th among Cedar Rapids RoughRiders with seven points (3G, 4A) in 10 games...Tucker Poolman is T-4th among Omaha Lancers with six points (3G, 3A) in 13 games. His point total also has him T-7th among all league defensemen...Nick Schmaltz leads Green Bay with eight assists and is fourth on the team with nine points...Ryan Mantha leads Sioux City with a +5 rating...Chris Wilkie is third on the NTDP U-17 team with nine points (4G, 5A) in 12 games...Heading into the 4 Nations Tournament, Keaton Thompson was second on the NTDP U-18 team with six assists...

UND Recruits in USHL Summer Camps

A number of USHL tryout camps have already taken place this summer, and a few North Dakota recruits have been involved:

• Lincoln Star veterans Luke Johnson and Paul LaDue both particpated in the Stars' Minneapolis tryout camp a couple of weekends ago. The Black and Blue blog covered the event about as thoroughly as possible, posting an array of previews, individual game recaps, and camp reviews. Check it out for some detailed information. The Western College Hockey Blog also posted this camp review.
• Luke Voltin had a solid Des Moines Buccaneers tryout camp last weekend, highlighted by a two goal and one assist performance in the Saturday All-Star game.
• Brendan Lemieux took part in this week's Green Bay Gambler tryout camp, recording a goal and an assist in Wednesday's All-Star game. The Green Bay Press-Gazette ran a feature on Lemieux, who will play a significant role for the Gamblers this coming season. Lemieux's fellow NoDak recruit Nick Schmaltz was not at camp.
• While UND recruit Charlie Pelnik (injury) did not take part in the Fargo Force tryout camp held three weeks ago, potential North Dakota recruit Mason Morelli did. Morelli's UND lineage is strong as both his father and grandfather are former Sioux, and the Western College Hockey Blog analyzed the Minot youngster's situation in its Force tryout camp review.
• The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders held their tryout camp a couple of weeks ago, but UND recruit Jack Rowe did not participate due to injury. Rowe has had a tough run of luck healthwise as he was injured at both the start and end of last season, so a healthy 2012-13 will be instrumental in preparing him for his arrival at North Dakota.

Wednesday Morning Coffee

• Hockey's Future recently published its list of the top 50 NHL prospects, and while they didn't make the initial list, Brock Nelson and Danny Kristo were two of the three NCAA products who received honorable mention recognition.
• The Hockey News' 2012 NHL Draft Preview is out, and recruit Jordan Schmaltz is ranked as the #34 prospect. As THN takes a look ahead to future drafts, recruiting target Seth Jones and committed recruit Nick Schmaltz are ranked as the top prospects for 2013 and 2014, respectively. 
• The New Jersey Devils evened their Eastern Conference semifinal series with Philadelphia at one game apiece by way of a 4-1 victory last night. Travis Zajac and Zach Parise each figured in on the scoring, with Zajac contributing a goal and Parise picking up an assist. The two former Sioux are the top two point producers for New Jersey during this year's playoffs as Zajac leads the way with eight points (5G, 3A) while Parise is right behind him with seven points (3G, 4A). The series resumes Thursday night when the action moves to New Jersey. Zajac's goal was a nifty backhanded wraparound that he was able to lift up and over the pad of Flyer goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. Check out the goal here:

• The AHL's second round kicked off last night, and the St John's IceCaps took a 1-0 series lead by defeating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3-1. Jason Gregoire and Jake Marto have yet to make an appearance for the IceCaps during the playoffs. Abbotsford defeated Toronto 3-1 last night and the lone Marlie goal was scored by Matt Frattin, who now has four points (2G, 2A) in four playoff games. Here's the video of Frattin's goal:

• The Oklahoma City Barons fire up their second round series against the San Antonio Rampage Thursday night, and Taylor Chorney will be back in OKC's lineup. He was forced to sit out the first round series with a knee injury.
• The USHL's Western Conference finals begin tonight. The Lincoln Stars, featuring recruits Paul LaDue and Luke Johnson, open their best of five series at home against Waterloo. Green Bay and recruit Jordan Schmaltz open the Eastern Conference finals at home against Indiana tomorrow night.
• The USHL held its annual Futures Draft last night, and the grandson of a former Sioux All-American was selected number three overall. Brad Schlossman did a nice breakdown of all the draft's local ties. The draft was for players with 1996 birth years, and with Brendan Lemieux (tendered by Green Bay-USHL), Nick Schmaltz (rights retained by Green Bay-USHL), and Chris Wilkie (USNTDP Under-17) already spoken for, no committed Sioux recruits were selected.

Friday Morning Post

Here are a few quick links for your Friday morning:

• Ben Blood has a couple of games under his belt with the AHL's Binghamton Senators, and he recently had some glowing remarks concerning why he chose to utilize all four years of his collegiate eligibility at North Dakota (click on the excerpt for the full article):

"There's a number of reasons," Blood said as to why he stayed in school. "One, to get an education. Two, because North Dakota is such a special place. There's nothing like playing in Ralph Engelstad Arena. We have a coaching staff that's second to none there, and they certainly know what they're doing when it comes to developing hockey players and moving them on to the next level."

• Jonathan Toews returned to Chicago's lineup last night for game one of their opening round playoff series against Phoenix. After missing over a quarter of the season due to a concussion, the Blackhawk captain quickly registered a goal and later added an assist in a 3-2 overtime loss to Dave Tippett's Coyotes.
• A united New Jersey team opens its postseason tonight, and centerman Travis Zajac's return to full health makes the Devils a stronger playoff team. Zach Parise has delivered in his first year as team captain, but he knows legacies are defined by postseason success. And should the Devils make a deep postseason run, will that help ensure Parise's future in New Jersey?
• Matt Frattin has rejoined the Toronto Marlies for their AHL playoff run, but according to Mike Brophy, the Maple Leaf rookie graded out nicely during his first full professional season.  
• Recruit Drake Caggiula and the Stouffville Spirit are one win away from winning the Buckland Trophy as Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff champions. They lead their series against Whitby 3-2, with game 6 scheduled to take place tonight. Caggiula leads the OJHL in playoff scoring with 34 points (16G, 18A) in 22 games, including a three goal, one assist performance in Wednesday's 7-1 victory. Whitby's Devin Shore is currently second in playoff scoring, and he and Caggiula are lifelong friends turned current foes.
• Sioux recruit Chris Wilkie has accepted an invitation to join the USA Hockey NTDP Under-17 team next season. Wilkie spent this past season with the Omaha AAA U-16 Lancers, where he led the NAPHL in scoring during both the regular season and postseason. He was also recently named to the All-NAPHL 1st Team and All-Academic Team. 
• Recruits Nick Schmaltz and Brendan Lemieux were both selected in the 4th round of the Ontario Hockey League's Priority Selection last Saturday. Both players have committed to playing with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers next season, but Schmaltz is at least keeping Windsor in his thoughts, and the Spitfires would surely love to lure Nick and older brother Jordan away from their USHL/NCAA commitments. Gambler head coach Derek Lalonde, however, feels that first round talents such as Schmaltz and Lemieux being selected in the fourth round is an indication they will both be in Green Bay this fall.
• Recruits Jordan Schmaltz (#34), Drake Caggiula (#185), and Miles Koules (#201) all found their way into the NHL Central Scouting's 2012 NHL Draft Final Rankings.
• A number of Sioux recruits will be in Fargo Saturday night when the Lincoln Stars head to Scheels Arena to take on the Fargo Force on the final day of the USHL regular season. Bryn Chyzyk and Zane Gothberg (Fargo) & Paul LaDue and Luke Johnson (Lincoln) have all committed to attending North Dakota.
• Gothberg is making a very strong case to be named the USHL's Goaltender of the Year. He currently leads the league in shutouts (seven), Goals Against Average (2.20), and Save Percentage (.922). 
• And for what it's worth, Boston College's Chris Kreider recently signed a professional contract with the New York Rangers. It's been 25 years since anyone has won the NCAA championship and played in the NHL playoffs during the same season. The last to do it? North Dakota's Tony Hrkac. You can read about that in this article.

Recruit Profile: Brendan Lemieux

Photo-Twitter.com

Current Team:  Green Bay Gamblers (United States Hockey League)
Anticipated Arrival at UND:  2014
Position:  Forward
Birthday:  March 15th, 1996
Hometown:  Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height:  5'11"
Weight:  179
Shoots:  Left


Profiles & Press Clippings:

• Elite Prospect Profile Page (GTHL does not track individual player statistics)
• Green Bay Press-Gazette: Lemieux Aims to Step Out of Dad's Shadow (June 2012)
• Green Bay Gamblers: Gamblers Sign Brendan Lemieux to Tender (Feb 2012)
• GF Herald Commitment Article (Feb 2012 via HF Boards)
• Toronto Star: From NHL Stars to a Minor Hockey Bench (Jan 2011)
• Breakout Magazine: Family Ties - Pages 10 & 11 (Dec 2010)
• His father, Claude, played in 1215 games over 21 NHL seasons and won four Stanley Cup Championships, including in 1995 when he was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as Playoff MVP. His uncle Jocelyn also played in 597 games over 12 NHL seasons.
• NHL Entry Draft eligible in 2014

2012-13

• He will be playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the Unites States Hockey League.

2011-12

• He played for the Toronto Red Wings AAA U-16 team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, which does not track individual statistics.
• In January of 2012 he was named to the GTHL's Top Prospects Game, featuring 40 of the GTHL's highest rated players, but was unable to play in the game.
• In the fall of 2011 he attended a College Hockey Inc. showcase, where one coach said Lemieux "may have been the best player there." (The Hockey News Prospect Watch, Sept 2011)

2010-11

• 2010-11: Played for the Toronto Red Wing AAA Major Bantams of the GTHL.

Thursday Evening Post

A fun weekend of hockey in The Zenith City followed by being a bit under the weather during the week has led me to fall behind on disseminating Sioux hockey news. Also, due to the fact that the half-marathon and marathon training season is once again upon me, I'm going to start posting the links without as much personal commentary, as that will help utilize my time more efficiently. Continue to expect the Series Notes & Links, Recruit Profiles, etc., but I don't plan on doing the Series Recaps any longer. There are usually at least 3-4 good game stories written after every game (GF Herald, UNDsports.com, USCHO, opponent's beat writers, etc.), so there is more than enough fodder out there for you Saturday and Sunday morning readers. I also hope to start doing more original writing, so please bear with me as the blog continues to evolve. Without further stalling, here's what's been going on in the world of Sioux hockey:

• Sioux winger Brendan O'Donnell impressed enough during his injury shortened season to be ranked among Tampa Bay's top prospects.
• As Tradition of Excellence blogged about last October, next season's Nebraska-Omaha vs. North Dakota outdoor game was made official this week. Here is the Omaha World-Leader's take on the weekend. Tickets go on sale October 1st.
• Head coach Dave Hakstol says the legislation mandating the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo creates "insurmountable challenges" for North Dakota athletics.
• Travis Zajac's checkup showed that his Achilles tendon is healing as it should, and he should be able to resume skating by the end of the week.
• Zach Parise is feeling great and is focused on the present. New Jersey's captain also says he does not want to talk contract during the season, but keeping Parise is a matter of dollars and sense for the Devils.
• Former Sioux player and current Lincoln Star coach Chad Johnson is loyal to his players.
• Hunter Bishop was recently named a co-recipient of the Hamilton Bulldogs' Community Player of the Month Award.
• Leaf's TV asks Matt Frattin 20 Questions:

• Frattin also did an interview with Leafs Nation.
• Jason Blake's presence in the Anaheim Duck lineup seems to have a significant impact on the team's success.
• David Toews (Toledo-ECHL) and Brian Lee (Ottawa-NHL) both recently returned to their respective lineups after sitting out with injury.
• Tony Hrkac's NCAA single season scoring record could be unbreakable.
• Evan Trupp was named the ECHL's Player of the Week. The following goal certainly helped his case:

 

• Aaron Schneekloth recorded his 300th point as a member of the Colorado Eagles (ECHL).
• Rastislav Spirko and Team Slovakia recently won the BellSwiss Bank Championship. In the four-team knockout format Spirko notched a goal in two games.
• Keaton Thompson and the Team USA Under-17 team recently swept all three of its games at the Vlad Dzurilla Tournament in Slovakia. Thompson recorded one assist during the tournament.
• Miles Koules and the Under-18 team finished in third place at the Five Nations Tournament in Finland. The Americans won two and lost two as Koules produced one assist in four games.
• North Dakota landed another recruit for its Class of 2014. Brendan Lemieux of the Toronto AAA Red Wings has given a verbal commitment to the Fighting Sioux. He is the son of former NHLer Claude Lemieux.
• Recruit Zane Gothberg is keeping a level head.
• Recruit Drake Caggiula was named to the OJHL's All-Prospect 1st Team.