According to Chris Heisenberg's well-known recruiting spreadsheet, Penn State's 2013 men's class now numbers seven, thanks to the commitment of Dylan Richard on Friday.
Dylan Richard
Forward
Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
6'0", 185 pounds
Sherwood Park, AB
DOB 2/5/1993
The lead here, in case the identity of Richard's present team (or this post's title, I guess) didn't flip your light switch, is that he and David Glen are former teammates - linemates, in fact.
To be precise, Glen and Richard were together for two full seasons, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. The Saints' regular season record over those two years was 94-14-8, while postseason accomplishments include the 2011 AJHL championship. Last season, Glen and Richard were the second and third leading scorers on the team, and both were key contributors to the 2011 title season as well, despite Richard's being one of the youngest players on the team at the time.
With the way Glen has performed this season - he's Penn State's leading scorer of course (his 1.07 points per NCAA game are tied for 35th best in the country) and works just as hard on the other end of the ice - it's pretty hard not to be excited about bringing in his running mate.
Jump to 5:28 of this video to see Richard - pronounced like the Rocket's surname - scoring a goal with a reasonable degree of filth back in October.
That goal, and the 16 others that accompany it so far, seem to indicate a player who has taken an additional step offensively this season. He had a hat trick on Saturday in a 6-1 win over Canmore, in his second game after committing (happy to meet you too). While that outburst snapped a three-game pointless streak, he's been remarkably consistent, as he's only been blanked ten times in total all season. He had a goal and three assists on September 16th in a 9-4 win over the Calgary Mustangs. The Saints have followed suit with 24-9-5 record so far to once again sit on top of the AJHL's North Division. Richard's 33 points lead the team and rank 14th in the league, while his 17 goals are ninth best in the AJHL.
In November Richard was selected to Team Canada West for the World Junior A Challenge, helping the squad to a silver medal with four points, three of them coming in a 7-0 blitzing of the Czech Republic to open the tournament. He'll join Luke Juha (2010 silver, 2011 gold), Curtis Loik (2011 gold) and Eamon McAdam (2012 gold) as a WJAC medalist on the Nittany Lions next year, and will also join Glen, Loik, Reed Linaker and (starting in 2014) Bo Pellah as a western Canada native playing at PSU.
How important was McAdam to the championship? He started and won all four of Team USA's tournament games. His goals against average (2.18) and save percentage (.927) were tops among all tournament goaltenders who played in at least two games. So yeah, he was pretty important.
Statistically, the final wasn't his best game, but it was still a highlight to me. Team USA carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to goals from J.T. Stenglein (who was recruited by PSU but recently committed to Michigan State) and Notre Dame-bound Vince Hinostroza. Canada West responded to take a 3-2 lead 9:31 into the second. At the risk of sounding like I'm homering the Perkasie, PA native, there wasn't much he could have done about the Canadian rally. The first goal was a centering attempt that deflected in off a skate in front, the second came off a turnover and an effective 3-on-1 down low and the third was a well-placed deflection. From there, though, McAdam shut the door, including during a full two minutes of 3-on-5 play early in the third period of what was then a one-goal game.
On the other end, goals by Boston College commit Austin Cangelosi, future Michigan Wolverine Alex Kile, Stenglein's second and a spectacular finish from tournament MVP Hinostroza completed the rally.
Winning the group, which gave the Americans a bye to the semifinals, combined with a pre-determined schedule that saw Team USA as the odd squad out on the last day of group games, led to a rarity: consecutive off days right in the middle of a seven-day tournament. Rest, not rust, turned out to be the order of that situation, as the U.S. again dispatched the Swiss (who would go on to take the bronze) by a much more decisive 7-4 count in Friday's semifinals. McAdam only played the first two periods, saving 23 of 24 and giving way to Michael Bitzer with a 6-1 lead through 40 minutes.
Of note: former Penn State commit Thomas Welsh, a defenseman, skated for fourth-place Canada East in the tournament. Welsh had no points and 26 penalty minutes in five games. Despite 15 goals against in bookend losses to the U.S. and Switzerland, Canada East only allowed four in the middle three games.
Pellah, West Take CJHL Prospects Game
Bo Pellah (front row, third in from the right) helped West to a CJHL Prospects Game "win" Sunday.
In addition to McAdam and the WJAC proper, 2014 defense commit Bo Pellah participated in the 2012 CJHL Prospects Game, a showcase event for NHL draft prospects held in conjunction with the WJAC. The "game" - actually a two-game total goals series between players from the five eastern and five western CJHL leagues - was won by Pellah's West team 8-6.
West took the first half on Saturday 5-0, but came actually blew that huge cushion in game two on Sunday just prior to the WJAC gold medal game when East stormed out to 6-1 third-period advantage. Pellah was the primary assist on West's only goal to that point, a shorthanded effort from Ryan Berlin early in the second period that temporarily halted momentum after East had scored four consecutive to open the game. Goals from Merrimack commit Austin Plevy and Berlin in the last three minutes of the game - window dressing in most cases, but vital here - cut East's final margin of victory to 6-3, not enough to flip the series result.
Goaltender Eamon McAdam, who is scheduled to join the Nittany Lions next season, has been selected to represent Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge, which will take place from November 5th-11th in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The WJAC is an annual tournament featuring most of the best Junior A players from five different countries (there are six teams in the tournament, as Canada is split into eastern and western sides) - this year, Switzerland, Russia and the Czech Republic will join the U.S., Canada East and Canada West in the tournament.
The American team, composed entirely of USHL players with the exception of EJHL forward Ryan Fitzgerald, will be pretty familiar to McAdam, as five of his Waterloo Black Hawks teammates also got the nod. They include defenseman Ian McCoshen and forwards Taylor Cammarata (committed to Minnesota for next season), Vince Hinostroza (Notre Dame), Justin Kloos (Minnesota) and Zach Stepan (Ohio State). Michael Bitzer of the Fargo Force, a Bemidji State commit, is the other goaltender on the team, and it will be interesting to see how head coach Brett Larson and his staff divides up playing time between the two.
“A player can learn from an event like this, skating with top players from
other teams and being coached by someone with a different voice. This is also a heavily scouted event and an opportunity for our guys to impress some influential people.”
Team USA will play an exhibition game vs. Canada West on November 3rd before beginning the tournament in Pool B with Canada East and Switzerland. Following a round robin, each team will move on to the championship round, with the two pool winners receiving a bye to the semifinals and the remaining teams playing each other for the other two semifinal spots.
Here's how the U.S.' schedule stacks up:
Monday, November 5th: vs. Canada East, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 6th: vs. Switzerland, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 8th: Quarterfinals, 3:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Friday, November 9th: Semifinals, 3:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 10th: Fifth Place/Bronze Medal, 1:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 11th: Gold Medal, 6:00 p.m.
All games will be streamed on FastHockey.com.
Despite being new to NCAA Division I, Penn State already has a decent amount of history with the WJAC. Last year, PSU freshmen Curtis Loik and Luke Juha were integral parts of Team Canada West's gold medal win. In 2010, Reed Linaker scored two goals in five games for Canada West but finished a disappointing fourth, while Juha won silver with Canada East.
Team USA won bronze last year after winning three consecutive goal medals from 2008 through 2010.
Forward
Omaha Lancers (USHL)
6'3", 195 pounds
Anchorage, AK
Class of 2012
DOB 10/22/1991
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 vs. Des Moines L 3-5 3 0 3 0 [box score] 11/12 at Lincoln L 1-2 0 1 1 2 [box score] 11/13 at Sioux City W 5-3 3 0 3 0 [box score]
Simply put, Bailey probably had the best statistical week by any PSU commit since I started doing this feature...not only did Bailey score a hat trick on Friday, it was a natural hat trick...the three goals came in a 7:45 span late in the second period and propelled Omaha to a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes...Bailey scored on every shot he took against the Buccaneers, which isn't a surprise to anyone who has seen him shoot...he followed it up with a second hat trick two days later, this time in a winning effort...Bailey's goals included the tying and go-ahead markers in the third period...after the second hat trick, he said: "It's my linemates. I'm getting a lot of good passes, a lot of good chances. I'm playing with an unreal line right now with (Tanner) Lane and (Jimmy) Murray. They're giving me a lot of good chances. Things are really going in for me"...thanks to this outburst, Bailey is now leading the Lancers in goal scoring and is second in points.
Forward Tri-City Storm (USHL) 6'2", 195 pounds Las Vegas, NV
Class of 2012 DOB 12/11/1991
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 at Sioux City L 3-6 0 2 2 0 [box score] 11/12 at Sioux Falls L 3-5 0 0 0 4 [box score] 11/13 vs. Lincoln L 5-6 1 0 1 2 [box score]
Brooks is earning a repuation (at least with me) as a guy who plays well, even when his team loses...that trait was once again on display versus Sioux City with a pair of assists and a +1 rating...the assists extended his point-scoring streak to its final count of four games...later in the weekend, penalty trouble was the order...he was in the box on a slashing call as Sioux Falls scored the game-winner Saturday and on Sunday, a late high sticking call contributed to Lincoln scoring the tying and winning goals in the closing 46 seconds of the game.
Center
Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
6'0", 175 pounds
Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Class of 2012
DOB 2/14/1991
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8 at St. Albert W 6-3 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/11 at Brooks L 1-4 0 0 0 2 [box score] 11/12 at Okotoks W 3-2 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/13 at Calgary W 4-1 1 0 1 2 [box score]
It was a quiet week for Glen, until his power play goal capped the Saints scoring against Calgary...however the Saints kept their position as the best team in the AJHL at 20-2-4, despite a hiccup against the Brooks Bandits, the second-best team.
Luke Juha
Defenseman
Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
5'11", 180 pounds
Mississauga, ON
Class of 2012
DOB 3/9/1993
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8 vs. Westside W 2-1 - - - - [box score] 11/12 at Trail W 2-1 - - - - [box score]
Juha missed his team's games this week to win World Junior A Challenge gold while wearing the maple leaf...back in Vernon, the Vipers got along well enough without him, winning a pair of games to stay on Penticton's heels in the Interior Conference.
Center
St. Albert Steel (AJHL)
5'9", 165 pounds
Edmonton, AB
Class of 2012
DOB 11/4/1991
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8 vs. Spruce Grove L 3-6 - - - - [box score] 11/10 vs. Drayton Valley W 6-2 1 1 2 0 [box score] 11/12 at Bonnyville L 1-2 0 0 0 0 [box score]
Linaker (viral infection) returned to the lineup in a big way after missing ten games, assisting on the Steel's first goal of the game against Drayton Valley, then scoring himself on the power play for a 2-1 St. Albert lead early in the second.
Curtis Loik
Forward
Penticton Vees (BCHL)
6'1", 205 pounds
North Vancouver, BC
Class of 2012
DOB 4/23/1993
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 at Trail W 7-2 - - - - [box score] 11/12 at Westside W 7-4 - - - - [box score]
Loik joined Juha on the gold-medal winning Canada West team this past week...the Vees maintained a four-point lead in the Interior Conference thanks to a pair of seven-goal outbursts.
Goaltender
Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
6'2", 180 pounds
Perkasie, PA
Class of 2013
DOB 9/24/1994
Date Opponent Score SA GA Sv% GAA
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 vs. Chicago W 4-2 -- - ---- ---- [box score]
Jay Williams got the start for McAdam in Waterloo's only game of the week.
Jonathan Milley
Right Wing
Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL)
6'4", 220 pounds
Ottawa, ON
Class of 2012
DOB 5/8/1991
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 vs. Nepean W 5-4 - - - - [box score] 11/13 vs. Hawkesbury L 4-5 - - - - [box score]
Milley, still out (groin detached from public bone - credit to Lions 247's Andrew Dzurita for the knowledge), watched his squad climb to second place with a three-point weekend (the loss was in overtime)...the Lumber Kings are probably my favorite team to follow of the of those with PSU recruits, a status that was reinforced by the following video from Gongshow Hockey...Milley and his line appear at about 1:10.
Matt Skoff
Goalie
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
6'0", 186 pounds
McKees Rocks, PA
Class of 2012
DOB 7/23/1991
Date Opponent Score SA GA Sv% GAA
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8 vs. Lincoln L 2-6 2 0 1.00 0.00 [box score] 11/11 vs. Tri-City W 6-3 -- - ---- ---- [box score] 11/12 vs. Cedar Rapids W 4-1 -- - ---- ---- [box score] 11/13 vs. Omaha L 4-6 -- - ---- ---- [box score]
Skoff departed the loss to Lincoln after just 1:12 with an undisclosed injury later found to be a "sore knee" by injury information ace Dzurita...it doesn't sound too serious, but nevertheless Skoff was held out of the week's remaining games.
Connor Varley
Defenseman
Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6'0", 190 pounds
Lansdale, PA
Class of 2013
DOB 6/3/1992
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 at Omaha W 5-3 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/12 at Fargo W 4-1 1 0 1 4 [box score]
In Des Moines' come-from-behind win over Omaha Varley played an important role...not only did he earn a +1 from the goal that tied the game at 3 in the 3rd period, he was part of two successful power plays...he scored his second goal of the season against Fargo, and it was an important one, the game-winner early in the second period.
Thomas Welsh
Defenseman
Salisbury School (Prep)
6'0", 195 pounds
Toronto, ON
Class of 2013
DOB 2/1/1995
Salisbury School's season commences November 30th with the Founders League Jamboree.
Mark Yanis
Defenseman
Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
6'2", 195 pounds
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Class of 2012
DOB 5/26/1994
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 at Youngstown W 2-1 0 0 0 12 [box score] 11/12 at Indiana W 5-4 0 0 0 0 [box score]
In the Lumberjacks' win over the Phantoms Friday night, Yanis added a new penalty to his repertoire - an abuse of officials misconduct following his first-period high-sticking call...Yanis' 50 penalty minutes lead the USHL.
Forward
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 19U
5'1", 121 pounds
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA
Class of 2012
DOB 1/29/1994
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 vs. Mississauga Chiefs W 3-2 1 0 1 0 [box score] 11/11 vs. Kitchener W Rangers L 2-6 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/12 vs. Stoney Creek Sabres W 4-3 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/12 vs. Dawson W 2-1 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/13 vs. Stoney Creek Sabres L 2-3 0 0 0 0 [box score]
Darby Kern
Forward
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 19U
5'11", 145 pounds
Venetia, PA
Class of 2012
DOB 8/28/1994
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/11 vs. Mississauga Chiefs W 3-2 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/11 vs. Kitchener W Rangers L 2-6 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/12 vs. Stoney Creek Sabres W 4-3 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/12 vs. Dawson W 2-1 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/13 vs. Stoney Creek Sabres L 2-3 0 0 0 0 [box score]
Although it was a quiet weekend statistically for Kern and Holdcroft (who only played in two of the five games), the Pens Elite Girls as a team went through a thrilling weekend at the USA-Canada Cup in Detroit...the last three games of the were decided in overtime...Holdcroft joined in on the excitement - her goal against Mississauga was the winner, coming with 11 seconds left.
Emily Laurenzi
Forward
National Sports Academy (Prep)
5'5", 125 pounds
Townsend, DE
Class of 2012
DOB 1993
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/13 vs. Stanstead College W 3-2 - - - - [box score] 11/14 vs. Stanstead College L 2-3 - - - - [box score]
Laurenzi had a goal and two penalty minutes during a split pair of matchups with the Stanstead College, a boarding school in Quebec.
Related stories: From NSA to PSU (nsamountaineers.blogspot.com)
Celine Whitlinger
Goalie
Gilmour Academy (Prep)
5'10"
Garden Grove, CA
Class of 2012
DOB 5/20/1994
Micayla Catanzariti
Forward
Gilmour Academy (Prep)
5'6"
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Class of 2012
DOB 5/22/1994
Katie Zinn
Forward
Gilmour Academy (Prep)
5'7"
Coquitlam, BC
Class of 2012
DOB 1993
...and they're absolutely PUMPED about it. Catanzariti (left) has the same shirt as me though, which is cool. Just to identify the other two: Whitlinger is in the middle, Zinn is on the right waiting to get the go-ahead.
Brian Horgan, [GA] Upper School director, asked at Wednesday's signing if the girls planned their actions together, to which they responded "no." All three transferred to Gilmour Academy this school year.
"It's kind of neat that you'll all be ending up there," Horgan said.
Penn State will start its Division I women's hockey program next year, so the three girls will be part of the school's first team.
Catanzariti, from Santa Margarita, CA, plays right wing. She earned USA National Championship medals in 2009 and 2010 and participated in USA Hockey Select Player Development Camps in 2010 and 2011.
Zinn, a forward, is from Coquitlam, British Columbia. Playing in Canada last season, she led her team in goals and was third in assists.
Whitlinger, from Huntington Beach, CA, was chosen as best goaltender at the USA Hockey Pacific Division development camp.
Meanwhile, on the ice, the Lancers bumped their record to 10-7-3 with a win (1-0) and a tie (2-2) on Saturday and Sunday against Culver Academy.
Curtis Loik hoisted the WJAC trophy after a physical 4-2 win over Canada East in the final. Photo: Andy Devlin/Hockey Canada Images
Next year, defenseman Luke Juha and forward Curtis Loik will be Nittany Lions. But this year, they're gold medalists. That latter distinction was clinched by Canada West's 4-2 win over Canada East in the final of the World Junior A Challenge, which concluded Sunday evening in Langley, BC.
In the gold medal match, uncommitted player Alex Kerfoot had a goal and an assist, including a spectacular tally where he undressed both a defenseman and a goalie en route to a 2-0 Canada West lead midway through the game. Forty seconds into the third period, during the only power play of the game, Ohio State-bound blueliner Sam Jardine found future Yale Bulldog Carson Cooper down low for what proved an insurmountable 3-1 West lead.
It was hardly a waltz to the point of that game-winning goal. Throughout the preliminaries, Canada West looked to be on its last legs in the tournament. They were shut out (by Sweden) and blown out (by Team USA), resulting in a last-place Group A finish.
Juha was an integral part of Canada West's quarterfinal win over the Czech Republic. Photo: Andy Devlin/Hockey Canada Images
But at Canada West's lowest point, it was the two Penn State commits who turned the team's momentum around and helped them become the first team to win WJAC gold after a winless preliminary round. In the first of three consecutive do-or-die contests, Loik scored the initial two goals in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic, one of which was assisted by Juha. Then, after the Czechs trimmed the West lead to 2-1, Juha connected on the power play to expand the lead back to two - Canada West's first conversion with the man advantage in 20 tournament attempts.
After a semifinal rematch against Group A-winning Sweden was settled with a Kerfoot overtime goal, and Canada East upset defending gold medalist USA in the other semifinal, an all-maple leaf championship tilt was the result.
In the games I was able to watch, I came away extremely impressed with both Penn Staters. Juha, who came up short in the 2010 WJAC final with Team Canada East, was called a "real smart defenseman, a good thinker" by TSN analyst Craig Button. He's a fantastic first-pass d-man, who held up well against a physical forecheck and made sound plays despite not being the biggest guy out there. On the power play he made good decisions, shooting when it was there, moving the puck when it was not. Loik is a certifiable physical presence down low who works hard in the corners. He's also dangerous on the forecheck - twice in the final he created turnovers that led to West scoring chances.
Here's a game-by-game breakdown for both players, Commit Cycle style.
Luke Juha
Defenseman
Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
5'11", 180 pounds
Mississauga, ON
Class of 2012
DOB 3/9/1993
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8 vs. Sweden L 0-2 0 0 0 2 [box score] 11/9 vs. USA L 1-6 0 0 0 2 [box score] 11/10 vs. Czech Republic W 4-1 1 1 2 0 [box score] 11/11 vs. Sweden W 2-1 0 0 0 2 [box score] 11/13 vs. Canada East W 4-2 0 0 0 0 [box score]
Curtis Loik
Forward
Penticton Vees (BCHL)
6'1", 205 pounds
North Vancouver, BC
Class of 2012
DOB 4/23/1993
Date Opponent Score G A Pts PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------- 11/8 vs. Sweden L 0-2 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/9 vs. USA L 1-6 0 0 0 0 [box score] 11/10 vs. Czech Republic W 4-1 2 0 2 0 [box score] 11/11 vs. Sweden W 2-1 0 0 0 2 [box score] 11/13 vs. Canada East W 4-2 0 0 0 0 [box score]
In case you missed this possibly-under-the-radar detail...
The Penn State game is the part of a home-and-home deal which will bring the Nittany Lions to Steele Hall next season as a first-year NCAA Division I program. And while it's the [not the] sexier of the two games this weekend, the Morrisville State trip is much more meaningful.
I haven't been able to confirm a date for the FSU game as of yet, but when I find anything out, I'll let you know via a quick post. Bonus points to Fredonia State for the use of "sexier" in a rote pregame write-up.
Katie Montgomery checks in with a great look at Taylor Holstrom, the middleman of the Icers' top line. Holstrom's always been an interesting case to me as a guy who had a lot of success at Mercyhurst, yet still transferred for the great unknown of what will transpire at PSU. Surely, he agonized over the possible outcomes, weighed the situation from every angle...
"It's Penn State, who wouldn't want to come here? I heard they were starting the [Division I] program and I had the opportunity, so I took it."
Congrats IcersGuy, who I can now say I know in real life (kinda), you're first star.
If you're not in the mood to read my update-every-30-seconds live blog from when I was at the Fredonia State game or the live blog from when I watched the Pitt game late Sunday night and realized that Tosh.0 is less funny without sound, go here. Actually go here anyway, because he has thoughts on the NCAA-worthiness of a couple of Icers, something that will become more of a topic as the season goes on, especially if the vast majority of games continue to be not all that competitive.
The first D2 ranking of the season came out last week, and the Ice Lions were positioned well - third in the Southeast Region to be specific, behind only perennial powers Florida Gulf Coast and Maryland-Baltimore County.
The Ice Lions' next game is Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at Drexel, with a live feed available on UStream. If Penn State loses, it certainly won't be from a lack of commitment.
If Penn State had anything resembling a goaltending issue, I suppose we could lament Mark Schacker, a PSU-to-Arizona State transfer, as one that got away. But instead, he's just a good goalie who might be trying to win an important game against the Icers in March.
Penn State plays Delaware in just under two weeks (November 18 and 19) in what could prove to be the biggest regular-season games in the entire ACHA this year. So how have the Blue Hens, particularly sophomore forward Collin Going and senior defenseman Josh Weiner, been preparing?
Why do they make the Forever Lazy in Delaware blue, but not PSU blue?
Sorry Chris, I'm all about the (western version of the) maple leaf in this one, thanks to the two involved PSU commits, Mr. Loik and Mr. Juha. Ooooooo Can-a-da, someone else's home and na-tive land....in all seriousness though, it will take a lot to top Team USA in this tournament.
Here are a few quick blurbs on the rest of the WJAC field. The event begins today for most teams, although Canada West's first game is not until Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. against Sweden.
I considered a post about the hockey applications of the new NCAA reforms, which most notably include a stipend of up to $2000 per athlete on a full scholarship. Then I read WCHB's post, threw up my hands, and said "I can't write it better."
Obviously, this is very significant news for college hockey, as the network soon to be known as NBC Sports has unveiled their initial package of games to be broadcast this season. There will surely be more on the way in subsequent years, especially if Notre Dame and Hockey East are involved.
I held this link until last simply because I'll have more thoughts on it later this week. A quick teaser: I'm concerned that the Big Ten, and by extension Penn State, has already fallen behind in the arms race.
Luke Juha will don the Canadian sweater at the World Junior A Challenge for the second time.
Penn State 2012 commits Luke Juha and Curtis Loik have been named to the Team Canada West roster for the upcoming World Junior A Challenge. The event runs from November 7th-13th in Langley, BC and showcases the best Jr. A players from across Canada (which is split into east and west teams), the United States, Russia, the Czech Republic and Sweden.
Canada West will play in Group A with the U.S. and Sweden. Following a round-robin preliminary round, the group winner will advance to the semifinal round, while the second and third place teams will play in a quarterfinal for the right to advance to the semifinals. The semifinal winners will meet for the gold medal on the final day of the event.
Both Loik and Juha solidified their spots on the team with strong performances in the team's two selection camp scrimmages Monday and Tuesday. Juha had an assist in each game, while Loik scored twice in Tuesday's tilt, just a couple hours before final cuts were made.
This isn't Juha's first go at the WJAC. In 2010, as a member of Team Canada East, he had an assist in five games and ended up with a silver medal after losing the final to Team USA. Canada West finished fourth last year, but won gold at the first two WJACs in 2006 and 2007, and took silver in 2008 and 2009.
Other NCAA-committed players on the Canada West squad include Troy Stecher (Nebraska-Omaha), Sam Jardine (Ohio State), Rhett Holland (Michigan State), Colton Parayko (Alaska), Carson Cooper (Yale), Aaron Hadley (Western Michigan), Brandon Morley (Merrimack), Peter Quenneville and Travis St. Denis (Quinnipiac), Michael Stenerson (Alaska-Anchorage), Evan Richardson (Boston College) and Jujhar Khaira (Michigan Tech). Jardine was also a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks at this year's NHL Entry Draft.
In addition to Juha, fellow 2012 recruit Reed Linaker also took part in the 2010 WJAC, for Canada West. He scored twice and added an assist for the fourth-place team.
Team Canada West Schedule
Thursday, November 3: Canada East (exhibition), 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 5: Russia (exhibition), 10:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 8: Sweden, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 9: USA, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 10: Quarterfinals, 7:00 p.m./10:30 p.m.
Friday, November 11: Semifinals, 7:00 p.m./10:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 12: 5th place game/bronze medal game, 3:00 p.m./10:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 13: Gold medal game, 8:00 p.m.
Dylan Richard
