NorthEndEagle {l Wrote}:cat hair pee fire
The camp will culminate with a pre-tournament game against the BU Terriers on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. ET.
b0mberMan {l Wrote}:Ready to spend some time without half of our defensemen and our goalie?
Also, Tuch and recruits Wood and Bracco made the prelim roster:
http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/page/ ... 595-roster
eepstein0 {l Wrote}:b0mberMan {l Wrote}:Ready to spend some time without half of our defensemen and our goalie?
Also, Tuch and recruits Wood and Bracco made the prelim roster:
http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/page/ ... 595-roster
As if we need the help...
When does this occur?
NorthEndEagle {l Wrote}:cat hair pee fire
CENTRE: Eichel, who is Connor McDavid's No. 1 challenger to be first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, and Matthews, the Arizona-born product who is touted at No. 1 for 2016, will be Team USA's one-two punch up the middle.
RIGHT WING: There are two wild cards on the right side – 1997-born, 2015-draft eligible Jeremy Bracco, who is knocking down U.S. U-18 scoring records of Pat Kane and Phil Kessel, and 19-year-old Noble and Greenough Prep School's Miles Wood, the New Jersey Devil fourth-round pick (2013) who is the son of former NHLer Randy Wood – challenging five bona fide NHL prospects, four of whom are 19.
Minnesota first-rounder Alex Tuch of Boston College and University of Minnesota returnee Hudson Fasching, the Los Angeles King draftee whose NHL rights now belong to Buffalo, appear to be locks.
DEFENCE: Many question marks on the Team USA blueline; much potential or upside.
But the most important question mark is the health of returnee blueliner Steve Santini of Boston College. The 1995-born New Jersey Devil prospect is still rehabbing from wrist surgery on Oct. 28 and hasn't played since then. There's some question as to whether he'll be ready to go by the Dec. 26 opener.
If he's healthy enough to play, Santini could be Team USA's captain and the steadying influence on what will almost certainly be a highly-skilled, mobile but young defence.
Will Butcher, a University of Denver player drafted by the Colorado Avalanche, and Ian McCoshen, a Florida Panther prospect who plays for Boston College, are returnees on the left side blueline from last year's WJC team.
But they're going to get pushed, and pushed hard, by the 2015 draft eligibles Hanifin and Werenski. Both are outstanding skaters with high-end offensive ability. Michael Downing, a University of Michigan player and Florida Panther prospect, is a steady defensive defenceman who'll also contend for a spot on the left side.
On the right side, if Santini can't go, it creates an enormous hole.
GOAL: Returnee Thatcher Demko of Boston College, a Vancouver Canuck prospect, is expected to be no worse than one of Team USA's two goalies and could be the starter.
He'll be challenged by a pair of OHL netminders – Carolina prospect Alex Nedeljkovic of the Plymouth Whalers and New York Ranger prospect Brandon Halverson of the Soo Greyhounds.
NorthEndEagle {l Wrote}:cat hair pee fire
Boston College sophomore Steven Santini probably didn’t know what to think about his chances for being part of the United States National Junior Team for the 2015 IIHF Junior World Championship when he injured his right wrist in late October.
Santini, a second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2013, hasn’t played since Oct. 25, when a fluke run-in with a player from University of Massachusetts in the corner led to the injury. Santini had surgery a couple days later.
“Yeah, I mean when I first got hurt I was obviously devastated because this tournament means a lot to me,” he said Tuesday after the first day of the USA Hockey selection camp on the campus of Boston University at Walter Brown Arena. “I thought walking off the ice last year against Russia, I felt like I had unfinished business in this tournament. So everything I’ve done since the day I got hurt was to get back and be healthy for this tournament. I’ve come a long way. I’m obviously not cleared to practice yet but I feel great physically, I’ve been working five or six times a week and hopefully everything will work out.”
Santini wore a yellow “no-contact” sweater during the two practice sessions Tuesday. He took part in some drills, but when the battles started he was relegated to skating alone in the opposite end zone. Santini expects to be cleared for contact in the next day or two, but he’s unsure when he’ll be able to play in games.
It was important to United States general manager Jim Johansson that Santini get to participate in the camp, which runs through Friday. The U.S. could obviously use a 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman with experience both on and off the ice.
"We are going to give him as much time as we can,” Johannson said. “He's been skating and is in great shape but he just hasn't played a hockey game, so ... we talk about body of work and character and all those things. Lot more will be addressed with Steve on Dec. 23 and beyond. He'll skate around here and it'll be what he can and can't do.
“He is without a doubt a guy we want on the team. He's a character kid and he brings everything the World Juniors is all about and we're going to give him as much time as we can to know. To me it'll come down to more to Steven saying, ‘I can go’ or ‘I can't.’ We've made it clear with the medical team they have to tell us the status. They've been handling him and a lot more will be known after Dec. 22. If the kid can go, I want him going."
Santini is one of three defensemen returning from the U.S. team that failed to medal last year. He’s not above being a source of moral support until he can fully assert himself in the practices.
“Obviously I want to be supportive and be positive,” the 19-year-old said. “It’s been tough to be patient through this whole process. But ... we have a lot of great, young players and I think we’re going to have a good team. So I’m just trying to be a good guy and support the team the best I can right now.”
It’s in Santini’s nature to be a mentor, whether he’s injured or playing.
“I was fortunate enough to play in the tournament last year and guys like Brady Skjei, Matt Grzelcyk, they were really good to me when I was a younger guy,” he said. “So now I’m just trying to do my best to return the favor. [Zach] Werenski, [Noah] Hanifin, all the younger guys, they’re coming in. So everyone’s just trying to keep up and stay on the same page. So if I can just be a good leader and a good role model to the younger guys, then that’ll be good enough for me at the end of the day.”
Defenseman Ian McCoshen is another returnee from the 2014 U.S. team and he’s Santini’s teammate at BC. He knows how valuable Santini could be once the tournament starts.
“He’s a fantastic team guy,” McCoshen. “He’s all about the team and when he gets in the zone, watch out. He’s going to be a big part of this team and we’re really excited for him to come back.”
Spokane Chiefs @chiefshockey · 4h 4 hours ago
Spokane has traded the rights for G Thatcher Demko to @WHLHitmen in exchange for conditional 2015/16 draft selection(s).
@MikeMcMahonCHN · 2h 2 hours ago
Source close to Demko: "He's not leaving BC." ... ICYMI, Calgary traded for his WHL rights earlier today.
Joe Meloni @JoeMeloni · 1h 1 hour ago
Source close to Thatcher Demko says Demko is "not leaving BC." Spokane contacted him Saturday. Calgary today. "Fully committed" to BC.
Mike McMahon @MikeMcMahonCHN · 16m 16 minutes ago
Hitmen GM Mike Moore tells Sportsnet960 "we have no indication (Demko) is coming"
this has no basis beyond wild speculation but this would certainly send the fanboys into
There is speculation that Jack Eichel could possibly be joining the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Sportsnet tweeted the news today.
Lot's of talk/speculation about Jack Eichel leaving BU for Saint John of the Q after the WJC on the 'Junior' podcast today. Will be up soon.
— Junior (@SNetJunior) December 17, 2014
The 18-year-old, Chelmsford, Mass., native is a top prospect eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and could be leaving Boston University after the World Juniors and finally play in the QMJHL. He currently has eight goals and 27 points in 16 games with Boston University.
Eichel has been drafted into the QMJHL twice. The first time was in 2012 when the Halifax Mooseheads drafted him 15th overall. The second time was in 2013 when Saint John drafted him in the 10th round.
He will be representing Team U.S.A. at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto beginning Dec. 26, 2014.
Eichel wouldn’t be the first player to leave Boston University and play for the Sea Dogs as Charlie Coyle did the same mid-way through the 2011-12 season.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:Finally a picture of current & future Eagles
@photog24
2015 National Junior Team Camp - BC's Ayers, McCoshen, Tuch, Demko, Wood, Santini, Bracco, Hanifin @BCHockeyNews
Guess that means bracco's coming next year...
NorthEndEagle {l Wrote}:cat hair pee fire
claver2010 {l Wrote}:Demko, Santini & McCoshen all scratched for tonight. All are locks to make the team assuming health, think both will get letters as well.
NorthEndEagle {l Wrote}:cat hair pee fire
eepstein0 {l Wrote}:1. Miles Wood isn't a Rhodes Scholar candidate apparently. A 20-21 year old freshman at this pace.
2. Having Milano and Wood on this team would make a world of difference. They are top-end D1 talent
NorthEndEagle {l Wrote}:cat hair pee fire
b0mberMan {l Wrote}:Haven't caught a game yet, but how is Tuch looking? I've been impressed with his progression as the 1st half of the season went on. He's gaining confidence and is starting to not be afraid to shoot it. The Michigan game, in particular, I was pretty excited with how quickly he can get a good, hard, shot off in tight spaces. In hoping the team turns it up in the 2nd half, I'm watching Tuch to be a difference maker up front.
eepstein0 {l Wrote}:b0mberMan {l Wrote}:Haven't caught a game yet, but how is Tuch looking? I've been impressed with his progression as the 1st half of the season went on. He's gaining confidence and is starting to not be afraid to shoot it. The Michigan game, in particular, I was pretty excited with how quickly he can get a good, hard, shot off in tight spaces. In hoping the team turns it up in the 2nd half, I'm watching Tuch to be a difference maker up front.
Tuch has been fine in the games I have watched, but he's clearly a step below Wood and Milano
NorthEndEagle {l Wrote}:cat hair pee fire
b0mberMan {l Wrote}:Haven't caught a game yet, but how is Tuch looking? I've been impressed with his progression as the 1st half of the season went on. He's gaining confidence and is starting to not be afraid to shoot it. The Michigan game, in particular, I was pretty excited with how quickly he can get a good, hard, shot off in tight spaces. In hoping the team turns it up in the 2nd half, I'm watching Tuch to be a difference maker up front.
b0mberMan {l Wrote}:eepstein0 {l Wrote}:b0mberMan {l Wrote}:Haven't caught a game yet, but how is Tuch looking? I've been impressed with his progression as the 1st half of the season went on. He's gaining confidence and is starting to not be afraid to shoot it. The Michigan game, in particular, I was pretty excited with how quickly he can get a good, hard, shot off in tight spaces. In hoping the team turns it up in the 2nd half, I'm watching Tuch to be a difference maker up front.
Tuch has been fine in the games I have watched, but he's clearly a step below Wood and Milano
Milano I'm not surprised to here but Wood? Wow.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:usa down 1-0 in elimination game vs russian 8 min into first
living in the penalty box
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