PSU Women Apply For CHA Membership

In a conference derby that contained only slightly more suspense than the men's team's march to the Big Ten, the women's team has applied for admission into College Hockey America. Here's the pertinent segment of the CHA release:

Robert DeGregorio, Commissioner for College Hockey America (CHA), announced today that Penn State has officially submitted an application to the CHA for admission for the 2012-13 season.

“The directors have accepted the application of Penn State for admission into the CHA,” states commissioner DeGregorio. “We will begin the process for admission, which will include a campus visit as soon as possible.”

“This is s a great time for the CHA,” comments DeGregorio. “With Penn State’s addition of women’s ice hockey, it was a natural fit for them to apply to the CHA.

“We are looking forward to working with the CHA staff and member schools during the application process,” states Joe Battista, Associate Director of Athletics. “We believe the CHA is the right fit for our new varsity program and hoping to begin league play in 2012-13.

Head Coach Josh Brandwene adds, “We are very honored and excited about the manner in which we are moving forward and look forward to the next step in the process.”

The CHA has certainly not been a conference free of turbulence. It was formed in 1999 as a men's league, later adding women's hockey in 2002. However, it eventually paid a price for its small number of teams with a large geographic distance between them. Citing finances, Findlay and Wayne State dropped their men's programs in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Other schools, sensing the direction of the wind, wisely found homes elsewhere (well, except Alabama-Huntsville) and the men's side of the CHA dissolved after the 2009-2010 season.

What's left is a women's-only division, although it too was put in peril by the same pair of overreaching schools. Founding members Findlay (in 2004) and Wayne State (in May) also dropped their women's programs, leaving the conference with only Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris and Syracuse as its membership. Penn State (it's hard to believe that the application is anything other than a lock) would make five teams, although that's still one shy of the six-team minimum for an NCAA tournament autobid.

The good news is that new Division I program Lindenwood may be interested in joining up. And if not the Lady Lions, there's been some speculation that Ohio State could jump from the WCHA to the CHA, with Lindenwood taking the Buckeyes' WCHA slot. Either outcome would be great for Penn State, which already has a pair of in-state schools and traditional PSU rival Syracuse in the mix - adding the OSU border war or a new/old rivalry between former ACHA programs to the docket (along with an NCAA autobid, of course) would be icing on the cake.

As a CHA member, Penn State will attempt to put a dent in the stranglehold Mercyhurst has had on the conference, which includes every single regular season and conference tournament title since its 2002 formation (the Head Coach Candidate post on Lakers coach Mike Sisti offers more detail on their program, which advanced to the 2009 NCAA title game before falling to Wisconsin). Syracuse and Robert Morris offer Division I's two newest programs - or at least they did until Lindenwood and PSU joined the party. Niagara is the only CHA school other than Mercyhurst to ever make the NCAA tournament, finishing third in 2002, although the Purple Eagles did so prior to joining the conference.

Glen Buries, Glen's Boss (and Coffee's For Closers)

Spruce Grove Saints center David Glen has become Guy Gadowsky's latest 2012 commit, according to an AJHL press release. Because the release isn't particularly lengthy, here's the entire thing.

20 year old forward David Glen will be joining the new Penn State Division 1 Hockey program in the 2012-2013 season. Over the last 2 seasons with the Saints Glen has scored 38 times while adding 40 assists in 96 games played. Glen will be returning to the Saints for his 20 year old season, where he will try to lead his team back to the Enerflex Cup Finals and beyond before heading to the NCAA.

"I am very excited and honoured to be joining the prestigious Penn State University as the institution is experiencing some exciting times." says Glen. "However, I am anxious to rejoin my current teammates and work towards another championship before heading to school. I'd like to thank my parents Donna and John for their continuous support and of course the Saints organization, my teammates and coaches for getting me to the next step."

"David can and will play in all situations for us." explains Head Coach and General Manager Jason McKee. "He is a very well rounded forward that plays a solid 2-way game. This season David will be relied upon heavily for leadership and be an example for what it means to be a Saint."

David Glen

Forward
Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
6'0", 175 pounds
Fort Saskatchewan, AB
DOB 2/14/1991

Eliteprospects.com player page

Season   Team                   Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------
2008-09  Fort Sask. Rangers     Mdgt   29   19   24   43   48
2008-09  Spruce Grove Saints    AJHL    4    0    0    0    0
2009-10  Spruce Grove Saints    AJHL   36   12   13   25   23
2010-11  Spruce Grove Saints    AJHL   56   26   27   53   72

On the surface, there haven't been too many patterns to PSU's recruiting so far. Pre-Guy Gadowsky commits Pete Sweetland and Josh Daley stand out as the only two Pennsylvanians. Of course, they're outnumbered by Steve Edgeworth, P.J. Musico and Kenny Brooks from the southwest (I don't mean the Pittsburgh area when I say "southwest"). And new Penn State hockey players have also come from hockey hotbeds Grimes, IA, Brookings, SD and Virginia Beach, VA - while none have come from Minnesota or Massachusetts. Here's what it all looks like visually.

One thing to keep in mind is that this map shows everyone - 2011s, 2012s, transfers, pre-Gadowsky and post-Gadowsky. What if we limit things to those believed to be Gadowsky recruits (and what if we cheat and spread out the markers in one cluster)?

Now it becomes a little more clear. Especially when you throw in something Gadowsky said at his introductory press conference.

As you know, there's some great student athletes in Canada, great student hockey players in Canada. I think they're just going to love Penn State. Obviously the spirit, but other things.
 
I think sometimes, where I'm from, in the prairies (Edmonton, Alberta), some of us, we get a little intimidated by big city sidewalks and lights, and I know Kelsey loved it when she came here in comparison to that. I think the Canadian hockey players are going to love it here. They're just going to eat it up.

And they're great students. We've had a lot of success in Princeton with some of our best students coming from Canada. So it's something I absolutely want to explore.

With all of that in mind, it probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Glen joins Jessi Hilton and Reed Linaker to become PSU's third 2012 commit from the Edmonton area. For good measure, Ontario natives Jonathan Milley and Luke Juha were included in the fun. Even SoCal surfer dude Musico played junior in Flin Flon, a small town on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, adding yet more Canadian flair to the makeup of Penn State's first NCAA teams.

Of course, there is one other pattern: Gadowsky recruits winners. Some win pretty big, as in Milley with the RBC Cup, Justin Kirchhevel with the NAHL's Robertson Cup, or Juha with a silver medal from the World Jr. A Challenge. Glen, for his part, brings a pair of AJHL Enerflex Cup titles to the table. The wisdom of this recruiting method should become apparent when Penn State has a winning culture in the room before playing a single NCAA game - an asset for any program, but especially a new one.

Glen's Saints, as mentioned, have mowed down the AJHL to the tune of the last two playoff titles, thanks in part to Glen's 14 points over those playoff runs. He assisted on Josh Koper's OT winner in Spruce Grove's first game of the 2010 playoffs and scored in the title clinching game this past year, just to cite a couple examples of his big-game chops. And while the Saints fell in the Doyle Cup (between the BCHL and AJHL champions, one step before the RBC Cup national championships) in seven games to the Vernon Vipers both times, Glen still played an important role with a game-winning goal in game 6 last season to force a deciding tilt.

Glen (right) does this a lot.

It's not as if the Saints just turn it on for the playoffs either - 102-10-8 over the last two regular seasons pretty much means that they're flattening the league all over the place. It would be understandable if Glen didn't stand out statistically on a team like that, but he did: third in points, and his seven game-winning tallies led the way. In fact, toss in Linaker and Hilton, and three of the AJHL's top 20 goal scorers last season are PSU-bound. In a league that features five other players committed to Big Ten schools, I'd qualify that as nice to know.

Special thanks to John Tecce - a guy who helped make student participation at PSU sporting events cool - for the original tip on Glen's commitment. Be sure to follow him on Twitter, and check out his work for Onward State.

Bryces Now On Both Sides of University Avenue

Buried in a St. Cloud Times article about one of St. Cloud State's new recruits is news of yet another addition to Penn State hockey. 

Forward Bryce Johnson began last season as a forward for the Huskies before leaving the team after fall semester to join Omaha of the USHL. Johnson, who turns 21 in August, plans on playing for the club team at Penn State this fall. Penn State will move to the Division I ranks in 2012-13.

Johnson joins former Alaska-Anchorage Seawolf Justin Kirchhevel to become the second known former WCHA player joining Penn State this year.

Bryce Johnson

Forward
Omaha Lancers (USHL)
5'9", 165 pounds
Grimes, IA
DOB 8/31/1990

USHL player page

Season   Team                   Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------
2008-09  Dallas Stars (MM) U18  Mdgt   46   15   18   33   48
2009-10  Topeka Roadrunners     NAHL   58   19   35   54   52
2010-11  St. Cloud State Univ.  WCHA    3    0    0    0    2
2010-11  Omaha Lancers          USHL   37    8   16   24   18

Johnson spent two seasons with the Dallas Stars midget major U18 program, with both seasons ending at the USA Hockey national championships. A fifth-place finish in 2008 was followed with an OT heartbreaker against legendary Detroit Little Caesars in 2009's championship game, an outcome that undoubtedly pleased Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch. For his part, Johnson was fantastic during the tournament, putting up seven points in his team's six games. 

Despite his success, he went undrafted by the junior leagues, but showed up to Topeka Roadrunners tryout camp and impressed coach/GM Scott Langer.

"Bryce was undrafted and untendered but certainly on our radar. He came ready to work. He was very determined, and he clearly proved he belonged."

Langer certainly didn't regret including Johnson on his final roster.

The 5'9", 160 lb. center found himself on both the power play and penalty kill units. He provided offense for both units, with 5 goals and 14 assists on the NAHL's number one power play, and also popped in 2 goals with 4 assists on the penalty kill, leading the team in short-handed points. Overall, Johnson tallied 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points, third highest on the team. His 35 assists ranked second on the team.

However, much like at nationals the previous year, the Iowa native saved his best for the biggest games. His 13 points, eight assists, +10 and four power play points were all best on the Roadrunners during their run to the Robertson Cup second round in 2010. Topeka was eliminated by St. Louis - the three-time defending champs - but Johnson scored the game-winner in both of his team's victories in the series and had seven points in the five games. In short, not really his fault.

Johnson committed to St. Cloud State for last season, and it's here that his career hits something of a speed bump, as he got in just three of the Huskies' 20 fall semester games, none of the last ten. His only recorded statistic was a second-period slashing penalty in a 1-1 tie with Miami on October 16th (for what it's worth, he took a RedHawk off with him). He left the program for the USHL's Omaha Lancers right around New Year's - about the same time the Huskies lost three other players under more alcohol-induced circumstances (the timing is purely coincidental, as Johnson departed just prior to that incident).

With the Lancers, Johnson added a pretty large spark to a team locked in the tightly-packed Western Conference standings, finishing sixth on the team in scoring despite only playing in 37 of 60 regular-season games. Omaha went 12-3-2 down the stretch (with Johnson contributing 12 points during that run, including three during a pivotal come-from-behind win over Tommy Olczyk's Sioux City squad) to clinch second place - although they were rudely escorted out of the playoffs via a second-round sweep at the hands of the Sioux Falls Stampede.

We'll close, as I like to do when possible, with video evidence of Johnson's Omaha exploits. First, with a goal remarkably similar to one I saw Joe Thornton score live when I decided he was one of my favorite players, regardless of team (1:22 in).



He deals in apples as well, here feeding Princeton commit Jonathan Liau (right at the beginning).

Three Stars: June 27-July 3

3. Ten returnees highlight Muskegon Lumberjacks' 2011-2012 roster
(MLive.com)

PSU commit Mark Yanis is officially back with his USHL club for this coming season. Here's the Yanis mention:

On defense, three players return from a year ago - Carter Foguth, Travis Walsh and Mark Yanis.

"Our back line has great depth," [head coach Kevin] Patrick said. "And we have a good mix of styles from stay-at-home defensemen to guys who can move the puck."

2. Vernon-Burlington Trade
(VipersDiehardFan Blog)

Meanwhile, Luke Juha is officially a Vernon Viper. And my interview with him apparently hits pretty far up on the Google results. Double awesome.

Vipers add elite prospects
(Vernon Morning Star)

The BCHL squad is reloading in an effort to recapture the RBC Cup. That effort includes not only Juha but also Adam Tambellini, of those Tambellinis (Steve's son, Michigan alum Jeff's brother).

1. Ready To Roar In Pennsylvania
(The Hockey News)

Maybe I'm giving it too much credit in 2011, but I still consider The Hockey News to be the publication of record when it comes to Canada's national sport (no, not lacrosse, the other one). So when they give Penn State a full page, naturally I'm going to abuse my subscriber login to take a snapshot of said page from the digital edition of the magazine and upload it to Google Docs for all of you to see.

The article's not going to contain anything new to those of you who have been following PSU closely all along, although it does have quotes from Guy Gadowsky and Brandon Russo for your perusal. Agent Murray Kuntz stops by to give two of his clients (Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin) credit for every player coming out of Pennsylvania, and Brandon Saad mentions that even if PSU had an NCAA program last year, he would've played in the OHL. I take that one with a grain of salt though - it's PR 101 to always choose the real option that you actually took over a hypothetical in those types of situations.

Best of the Rest

Talking Hockey - Round Two
(View From The Booth)

I've always liked Paul Kelly, and with this interview, we can officially add him to that list of fortunate people who have no off button.

PSU Icers 2010-2011
(YouTube)



Indeed, all we do is win. Except in that game with the pink jerseys.

Brandwene names Stroemel, Kearns to coaching staff
(Daily Collegian)

The Collegian comes off of hiatus with a strong effort that includes original quotes from both women's assistants.

Listing by College
(Chris Heisenberg's 2012 List)

Remember a few weeks ago, when I told you about Doug Leaverton, a defenseman seeking a transfer out of Colorado College and who had Penn State and Ohio State in his sights? Well, apparently, after an excruciating deliberation, Leaverton has elected to go to...Bentley. Wait, what?

Now, I don't want to come off like a snob here, but there's only one reason to choose Bentley over PSU and OSU: PSU and OSU didn't want you. That's just the harsh reality, and I see a silver lining in it. As nice as having a veteran d-man with WCHA experience may have sounded superficially, the fact that we're not willing to take one just for the sake of having one tells me a) recruiting is going well, b) we're not interested in patchwork solutions and c) we're building a team with a specific concept in mind. Or d) I'm reading waaaay too much into things. Your choice.

American draftees hail from non-traditional places
(NHL.com)

The link says it all:

Of the first 21 U.S. born players selected in this year's draft, only one was born in the traditional power states of Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts. That would be Connor Murphy, Phoenix's first round pick at No. 20. Murphy was born in Boston.

Pennsylvania had the largest representation with four players being selected from the Keystone State. The Pennsylvania bunch is led by J.T. Miller, a Pittsburgh native, who was selected at No. 15 by the New York Rangers.

Three players hail from New York while there are two players drafted each from Illinois, California, Connecticut, Missouri and Texas. In addition, there is one player from Alaska, Arizona and Ohio among the first 21 U.S. born players selected.

Then again, we don't actually recruit PA, so...

Stuart Percy's living the dream.

Dream come true for Percys
(Toronto Sun)

Of course, plenty of draftees hailed from traditional places and weren't American too. One, Stuart Percy, is a former teammate of Juha's and also a first-round selection of his hometown Maple Leafs.

Tsunami Watch: WCHA
(Without a Peer)

Another typically-excellent WaP breakdown of the ways in which PSU ruined college hockey effected long-overdue change in the college hockey conference structure.

UND weighs hockey league options
(Grand Forks Herald)

Meanwhile, at some point after that WaP post was written, the preferred college hockey program of Nazi sympathizers is starting to make like they're going to follow that tsunami with some heavy explosives.

UND is having formal discussions about pulling out of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and joining several other schools in creating a new power hockey league, multiple sources have told the Herald.

The move would blow up two of college hockey’s major conferences and vastly change the landscape of the sport for the 2013-14 season.

The new league is not a done deal, but sources say that the talks have progressed beyond preliminary stages.

“Several institutions have been looking at the college hockey landscape and different possibilities that might be out there,” said UND athletic director Brian Faison, who declined to name other institutions. “At the end of the day, we have to do what’s in the best interest of UND hockey and that’s what we’re going to do. It’s an emotional decision. It’s a business decision.”

As much as I just want to unload on this idea, I do think it's kind of cute that NoDak's trying to imitate us.

The Compton Family Ice Arena is coming to South Bend this fall.

Exclusive Tour June 29, 2011: Compton Family Ice Arena
(Facebook)

I've been watching the construction of Notre Dame's new facility pretty closely, part because I'm an arena geek, part because I know Pegula Ice Arena will take a cue or two from it and part because I know PIA is next in the queue. If you haven't been paying attention, here's a photo gallery where you can get caught up.

2012 Class Adds Two More

Kenny Brooks doing power forwardly things.

Penn State's 2012 class is now six strong, thanks to the recent additions of Kenny Brooks from the USHL's Tri-City Storm and Jessi Hilton from the AJHL's Sherwood Park Crusaders.

Kenny Brooks

Forward
Tri-City Storm (USHL)
6'0", 179 pounds
Las Vegas, NV
DOB 12/11/1991

USHL player page

Season   Team                   Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------
2009-10  Tri-City Storm         USHL   49    7   11   18   59
2010-11  Tri-City Storm         USHL   57    9   17   26   34

Kenny Brooks appears set to re-join the Storm for this season, as he was recently included on the team's 25-man protected list. Of course, if his two seasons of self-described role as "a power forward and good defensively [who needs] to finish hits, but [who] also scores goals and makes plays" weren't enough to keep him around, he did have an ace in the hole: his dad owns the team. So there's that.

Make no mistake though, Brooks probably didn't need an assist from nepotism. Witness his first USHL goal, on a penalty shot. He rented Pavel Datsyuk's hands for the occasion.



No, indeed, we can't handle the truth.

Brooks described that goal as his most memorable in an interview earlier this year, although he shunned the Datsyuk comparison in favor of calling also-filthy Peter Forsberg his hockey idol.

While it might not be obvious from his point total, Brooks scored more points than all but one of his teammates in a Storm uniform last season. It may be worth noting that the Storm had a pair of Ohio State commits this year as well, and they were pretty comparable statistically - Darik Angeli was 11-16-27 between Tri-City and Chicago, while Matt Johnson was 9-14-23 in 56 games. In 2009-2010, Tri-City's roster included Jaden Schwartz and his 83 points, so I'm still trying to figure out how they were only 29-25-6.

Let's pull some quotes from the Kearney Hub article. First Brooks:

“I think it’s a great opportunity to get into the lineup as a freshman playing college hockey. I like how they have started the program and believe that I’ll be a part of something special.”

Now Storm coach/GM Drew Schonek:

“We are really happy for Kenny and know that he’ll do great for this new program. Kenny has worked hard for the Storm over the past two seasons, and we look forward to this year having him once again.”

One of Brooks' five multi-point efforts last season came on March 25th, although his assists on both Storm goals weren't enough to overcome Tommy Olczyk's tally and three others from his Sioux City teammates. Now that the two are unofficially on the same side, it's hard not to imagine them taking the next step as shutdown linemates.

Jessi Hilton

Forward
Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)
6'2", 185 pounds
Sherwood Park, AB
DOB 9/17/1991

Eliteprospects.com player page

Season   Team                   Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM
-------------------------------------------------------------
2007-08  Sherwood Park Kings    Mdgt   33   10   18   28   24
2008-09  Calgary Hitmen         WHL     2    0    0    0    2
2008-09  Sherwood Pk Crusaders  AJHL   35    2    6    8   26
2009-10  Calgary Hitmen         WHL    10    0    2    2    9
2009-10  Sherwood Pk Crusaders  AJHL   15    8   10   18    4
2010-11  Sherwood Pk Crusaders  AJHL   60   28   22   50   90

First off, before you ask, no, I don't have the first clue how someone who has played 12 games in the WHL is eligible to play in the NCAA, as that league and the other Canadian major junior leagues are considered "professional." There are narrow exceptions that allow 48-hour tryouts, longer if the player pays his own way, but nothing I've seen allows participation in regular-season games. If you're aware of something, you might want to tell everyone (after you explain it to me), since the one-way street to major junior is a pretty substantial issue for college hockey.

And make no mistake, it's the same guy: here's his page on the WHL site, and here's his 2009-2010 game log. Same birthday, same hometown, same i at the end of his first name.

As tough as it is for me to do though, I'm just going to have to trust that everyone involved knows the secret loopholes better than Al Murdoch and move on with it.

Hilton is somewhat unique in that his press release includes a quote from Guy Gadowsky, who continues to hit central Canada hard on the recruiting trail. So let's get that in.

"We are really happy to add a player of Jessi's calibre to our Penn State program and we look forward to seeing him lead the Sherwood Park Crusaders this upcoming season both on & off the ice."

If you thought that was lacking in color, wait until you read Hilton, the rare junior player who gets to live at home.

"I am very excited for this opportunity at Penn State and looking forward to this upcoming season in Sherwood Park where I can continue to work on my game to help me play at the next level."

Okay, we can work on that. But you're going to have to wait in line behind Brooks for an interview, sorry.

I imagine that Sherwood Park is looking forward to having Hilton back as well, since he led the team in scoring last year - as well as just about every type of goal there is: power play goals, shorthanded goals, game-winning goals, and naturally, overall goals. His 28 snipes were good for 10th in the league, helping the Crusaders to a 28-26-6 record and a playoff berth. That output was highlighted by a four-point game on December 4th against the Drayton Valley Thunder, as well as by a 6-3 win over Reed Linaker's St. Albert Steel two weeks later where the pair of PSU recruits each scored two points and took home player-of-the-game honors for their respective teams.

In 2009-2010, he was better than a point per game in Sherwood Park despite being hampered by a knee injury and taking a turn with the WHL's Hitmen.