PSU-Neumann: The Scene Outside

The tailgating was sparse at about 5:00, but here's one PSU tailgate I was able to find. They were located at the very back of Lot P.

The size award is a tie between this one, for Neumann, and another on the opposite side of the stadium for Malvern Prep.

I caught the Icers bus as it was unloading. The players don't carry their own bags - they were gone by this point.

A few thousand dollars worth of twig also awaited the support staff preparing to carry them in just outside the team buses.

Commit Cycle: January 3 (Women)

Jeanette Bateman

Forward
Colorado Select 19U
5'6", 125 pounds
Greeley, CO
Class of 2012
DOB 5/1/1994


Colorado is next in action for the JWHL weekend January 13-15.

---

Jill Holdcroft

Forward
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 19U
5'1", 121 pounds
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA
Class of 2012
DOB 1/29/1994

Darby Kern

Forward
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 19U
5'11", 145 pounds
Venetia, PA
Class of 2012
DOB 8/28/1994

Stephanie Walkom

Defender
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 19U
5'7", 130 pounds
Moon Township, PA
Class of 2012
DOB 6/21/1994


The Pens girls were also among the club teams not participating in any holiday tournaments.

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Emily Laurenzi

Forward
National Sports Academy (Prep)
5'5", 125 pounds
Townsend, DE
Class of 2012
DOB 1993


NSA ends its winter break on Saturday and Sunday against the New Jersey Rockets.

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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


Gilmour was among the many teams participating in the Connecticut Polar Bears Christmas Tournament December 27-30...shutout losses of 4-0 at the hands of the KW Rangers and 3-0 to Assabet Valley on Tuesday was followed by another on Wednesday, 2-0 to the Buffalo Bisons...the Lancers turned the tables on the Connecticut Northern Lights Thursday, winning 2-0, but it was not enough to advance to the quarterfinals.

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Hannah Hoenshell

Forward
Alliance Bulldogs 19U
5'3", 119 pounds
Plano, TX
Class of 2012
DOB 12/30/1993


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/27 vs. Chicago Yng. Amer.  W 3-2  1   2   3   - [box score]
12/28 vs. VT 802 Shamrocks    W 3-2  0   1   1   - [box score]
12/28 vs. Middlesex Islanders T 3-3  1   1   2   - [box score]
12/29 vs. NJ Colonials        W 2-1  0   1   1   - [box score]
12/29 vs. Boston Shamrocks    L 0-1  0   0   0   - [box score]

The Bulldogs had more success than Gilmour up in Connecticut...Hoenshell was a huge part of that, having a hand in seven of the team's 11 goals as Alliance won their division...however she, and the rest of the offense, were shut down in a quarterfinal loss to the Boston Shamrocks.

---

Paige Jahnke

Defender
Roseville (MN) High School
Height/weight unknown
Oakdale, MN
Class of 2012
DOB unknown


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/29 vs. Blake               T 1-1  0   0   0   0 [box score]
12/30 vs. Minnetonka          L 0-4  0   0   0   0 [box score]
12/31 vs. South St. Paul      L 2-3  0   0   0   0 [box score]

Roseville has had a rough go of things since last week, suffering its first two losses and a second tie in a holiday showcase hosted by South St. Paul.

---

Taylor McGee

Defender
Connecticut Polar Bears 19U / Taft School (Prep)
Height/weight unknown
Pearl River, NY
Class of 2012
DOB 2/8/1994


The host Polar Bears advanced to the quarterfinals of their tournament, along with Hoenshell's Bulldogs, but lost once there, 3-2 to the East Coast Wizards...Connecticut earned that spot via 3-0 wins over the Reston Raiders and Boston Shamrocks, and 5-1 wins over the Troy-Albany Ice Cats and Charles River.

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Jordin Pardoski

Defender
Detroit Honeybaked 19U
5'5", 145 pounds
Rochester Hills, MI
Class of 2012
DOB 1/4/1994

Birdie Shaw

Forward
Detroit Honeybaked 19U
5'2", 124 pounds
Troy, MI
Class of 2012
DOB 9/14/1992


Honeybaked's next scheduled games are January 14-16 for the Tier 1 Showcase.

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Sarah Wilkie

Defender
Mass. Spitfires 19U / Williston Northampton School (Prep)
Height/weight unknown
Ashby, MA
Class of 2012
DOB 2/26/1993


Wilkie's club team, the Spitfires, were also among those at the Polar Bears tournament...their scoreless draw with the Bay State Breakers opened the event, and it was followed by a 3-0 win over the Hamilton Hawks...a pair of 1-0 games - a loss to the Mid-Fairfield Connecticut Stars and a win against the Rice Knights - concluded the Spitfires' run.

Back at Williston, the Wildcats participated in the Phillips Exeter Academy New Year's Tournament January 1-3 (nobody ever accused girls hockey players of not staying busy)...as of this moment, the team is 4-0 at the event, including wins of 3-2 (in overtime) over Proctor Academy, 3-1 over Vermont Academy, 4-0 over the hosts and 3-0 over Northfield-Mt. Hermon Academy...the final, against Winchendon, is scheduled for today at 3:30.

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Shannon Yoxheimer

Forward
North American Hockey Academy - White
5'7", 147 pounds
Jackson, MI
Class of 2012
DOB 12/23/1993


NAHA's next game is Friday against College St. Laurent.

Commit Cycle: January 3 (Men)

Casey Bailey

Forward
Omaha Lancers (USHL)
6'3", 195 pounds
Anchorage, AK
Class of 2012
DOB 10/22/1991


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/31 at Tri-City             L 0-3  0   0   0   2 [box score]

Bailey's roughing penalty late didn't do much to damage an already-lost game.

Kenny Brooks

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
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 vs. Des Moines          L 2-5  0   0   0   2 [box score]
12/30 vs. Sioux City          W 4-3  0   0   0   4 [box score]
12/31 vs. Omaha               W 3-0  1   0   1   2 [box score]

The biggest story around Brooks this week actually concerned his father Kirk, who owns the Storm...while speculation had long been rampant that Kirk would unload the team once Kenny left for PSU, he asserts that he's in for the long haul...meanwhile, Kenny's goal off a net-front scramble contributed to a shutout of Omaha.

Related stories:
Storm signs coach to long-term deal (Kearney Hub)

David Glen

Center
Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
6'0", 175 pounds
Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Class of 2012
DOB 2/14/1991


The Saints' holiday break began after their game on December 21st, but doesn't end until a Wednesday night tilt with Bonnyville.

David Goodwin

Center
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
5'9", 187 pounds
St. Louis, MO
Class of 2012
DOB 2/27/1992


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 vs. Waterloo            L 2-4  1   1   2   2 [box score]
12/30 at Tri-City             L 3-4  0   1   1   4 [box score]
12/31 vs. Lincoln             W 5-0  1   0   1   0 [box score] 

PSU's newest commit made a splashy Commit Cycle debut, although he'd probably trade a couple of those points for another win.

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
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/29 at Salmon Arm           L 4-7  -   -   -   - [box score]
12/30 vs. Salmon Arm          W 6-4  -   -   -   - [box score]

Juha (upper body) remains on injured reserve.

Related stories:
Sporting wish list for 2012 (Vernon Morning Star)

Reed Linaker

Center
Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
5'9", 165 pounds
Edmonton, AB
Class of 2012
DOB 11/4/1991


As with Glen and the Saints, Linaker has also enjoyed a long holiday break, one lasting from December 21st until Friday when the Bandits play Lloydminster...Linaker has missed the team's last nine games since getting hurt during his Bandits debut following his trade from St. Albert.

Curtis Loik

Forward
Penticton Vees (BCHL)
6'1", 205 pounds
North Vancouver, BC
Class of 2012
DOB 4/23/1993


The Vees will attempt to continue their franchise-record 18-game winning streak when they're back in action Wednesday night against Vernon.

Eamon McAdam

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
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 at Sioux City          W 4-2 --  -  --- ---  [box score]
12/31 vs. Cedar Rapids       W 5-3 --  -  --- ---  [box score]

Affiliate list player Cal Petersen started his first USHL game against Sioux City, while Jay Williams went between the pipes the next night.


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
--------------------------------------------------------------
1/1   vs. Kemptville          W 7-1  -   -   -   - [box score]

Milley (sports hernia) last played on September 11 and has missed 36 games in all.

Bo Pellah

Defenseman
Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
5'11", 150 pounds
New Westminster, BC
Class of 2014
DOB 5/25/1995


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 vs. Cowichan Valley     L 1-6  0   0   0   4 [box score]
12/29 vs. Nanaimo             W 5-0  0   1   1   0 [box score]

Pellah's assist in the blowout of Nanaimo came on the power play.

Zach Saar

Right Wing
Chicago Steel (USHL)
6'5", 200 pounds
Plainwell, MI
Class of 2012 or 2013
DOB 6/22/1993


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 vs. Sioux Falls         L 0-2  -   -   -   - [box score]
12/30 vs. Fargo               L 2-5  -   -   -   - [box score]
12/31 at Green Bay            L 1-10 -   -   -   - [box score]

Saar was held out of the Steel's games this week while a trade to Des Moines was finalized...the Steel received Denver commit Ray Pigozzi in return...Saar will join fellow PSU commit Connor Varley on the Buccaneers.

Related stories:
Steel Trade For Ray Pigozzi (chicagosteelhockeyteam.com)


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
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 vs. Waterloo           L 2-4 39  3 .923 3.04 [box score]
12/30 at Tri-City            L 3-4 --  -  --- ---  [box score]
12/31 vs. Lincoln            W 5-0 30  0 1.00 0.00 [box score]

Austin Priebe gave Skoff a rare game off on Friday...it paid off in a big way the next night against Lincoln, in the form of his second shutout of the season and the 10th of his career.

Related stories:
Musketeers break New Year's Eve drought (Sioux City Journal)

David Thompson

Defenseman
Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
6'2", 187 pounds
Glen Mills, PA
Class of 2013
DOB 5/19/1992


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 vs. Prince George       L 2-4  0   0   0   0 [box score]
12/30 vs. Merritt             L 0-1  0   0   0   0 [box score]

The Chiefs dropped to 19-10-7, five points behind second-place Merritt.

Connor Varley

Defenseman
Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6'0", 190 pounds
Lansdale, PA
Class of 2012
DOB 6/3/1992


Date  Opponent                Score  G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 at Tri-City             W 5-2  0   1   1   0 [box score]
12/30 vs. Lincoln             L 6-7  0   0   0   0 [box score]
12/31 at Sioux Falls          L 1-3  0   0   0   0 [box score]

Varley and the Bucs salvaged a point against Lincoln despite being down 6-1 halfway through the game.

Thomas Welsh

Defenseman
Salisbury School (Prep)
6'0", 195 pounds
Toronto, ON
Class of 2013
DOB 2/1/1995


Salisbury's holiday break lasts until Saturday's match with Deerfield.

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
--------------------------------------------------------------
12/28 vs. Indiana             L 2-3  1   0   1   0 [box score]

Yanis scored his third goal of the season, which helped the Jacks rally from a 2-0 deficit, but a Sean Kuraly goal with 15 seconds left in overtime gave the Ice the win...said the Michigander afterwards: "The team came back from the break ready to get at it. We had some bad luck in the last 15 seconds."

Related stories:
Muskegon Lumberjacks fall late in overtime to Indiana Ice (mlive.com)

Three Stars: December 26-January 1

3. Bulldogs' trio commit to NCAA Div. 1 hockey teams
(Alberni Valley News)

Under normal circumstances, I don't link too many articles about recruits here (generally, you'll find them in the Tuesday Commit Cycle posts). But...slow week. And besides, this involved two recruits, as Connor Varley and Casey Bailey both did time with the BCHL's Alberni Valley Bulldogs before moving on to the USHL. Both players said some nice things about their time up north. First, Varley:

"My time in the Alberni Valley was pivotal in achieving my dream of playing Division 1 hockey. I learned a lot about the game and how to be successful on and off the ice."

Bailey:

"It matured me as a hockey player and as a man. I was granted the opportunity to play with and watch great players during my time in Alberni. My time spent in Port was a great period in my life and leaving was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am proud to say I was an Alberni Valley Bulldog and will be for the rest of my life."

2. The ABCs of 2011
(Onward State)

2011 was certainly interesting for Penn State, to say the least. Relive it here, if you dare (on the bright side, hockey makes a cameo, which apparently is enough to get you second star in the Christmas-New Year's dead zone).

1. Winter Classic Alumni Game: Photos From Flyers Vs. Rangers At Citizens Bank Park
(sbnation.com)

I've admittedly been a little obsessive about keeping tabs on the Citizens Bank Park ice. So here are the latest best pictures - during a game (the Flyers-Rangers alumni game Saturday), not during broad daylight, with people in the stands, taken from the regular people seats, as opposed to the press box. Did I mention that PSU is playing there Wednesday?

Best of the Rest

@MarkHorgas
(Twitter)

If you didn't know, Rick Rockwell played hockey at Penn State. If you have no idea who Rick Rockwell is, don't worry about it.

Our connection to the world
(observertoday.com)

The weekend the Penn State sex scandal broke, OBSERVER sports editor Craig Harvey was on campus covering a hockey game between Penn State and SUNY Fredonia. Harvey asked the hockey coach his reaction, but he declined to speak.

I'm struggling with what to think of this. I was in town to cover that game, which took place right at the beginning of the maelstrom. And yeah, it crossed my mind to ask Coach Gadowsky to comment on it. But I didn't because I thought it would be a low-rent move. To me, it's not good journalism, it's trolling a guy who has nothing to do with the story simply because he happens to work for the university.

P-R Varsity, JV Teams Lose to North Allegheny
(patch.com)

Did you know George Saad played outside less than a week ago? Now you do.

MSU hockey: Anastos has all the right moves
(Lansing State Journal)

One of the major storylines involving a Big Ten school this season is the apparent renaissance of Michigan State.

I won't lie, I was part of the majority calling Anastos a brutal hire and wondering why MSU apparently wanted to flush their program with a guy whose head coaching experience amounted to three seasons at Michigan-Dearborn 20 years ago. And I was wrong.

2012 WJC: USA vs. Canada Reviewed; Time to Panic? Hardly
(The United States of Hockey)

Scott Sandelin, PSU's likely second choice for a head coach and an assistant on the U.S. World Junior Championship team, didn't have a real good time at the tournament. If you haven't heard, Team USA went 1-0-0-3 in group play, including upset losses to Finland and the Czech Republic, and failed to qualify for the medal round.

Chris Peters, by far the best source for USA Hockey analysis on the internet, took a very rational look at what went wrong and what it all means.

Championship Credibility

Neumann Friday recap // Neumann Saturday recap

Hamline Friday recap // Oswego Saturday recap

Friday box score // Saturday box score

When Neumann arrives at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, it will do so as champions.

Okay, so the Pathfinder Bank/Oswego Hockey Classic isn’t the NCAA tournament. Or even the ECAC West tournament. It’s more or less your garden-variety holiday showcase, similar to numerous others around college hockey in late December. However, shutting out a team on their home ice in front of 2,240 of their fans, as NU did to win the title, is always a noteworthy achievement. It becomes much more so when that team is Oswego State, the second-ranked team in the country - and one that hadn’t been blanked in 10 years, since a 5-0 result at the hands of now-Division I RIT.

The final started innocently enough, as a largely defensive affair. Then, shortly after NU’s Steve Gervais opened the scoring 8:20 into the second period with a one-timer from the slot, courtesy of Jordan Zalba’s feed from behind the net, a parade to the Oswego’s penalty box began in earnest. In all, the Lakers committed 12 infractions for 62 minutes of punishment (to just four and eight for Neumann). The eight resulting Knight power plays, five of which were in the third period, both helped NU add to its advantage and hampered OSU’s attempt at a comeback.

In that third period, senior Cory Park doubled the Neumann lead on a rebound goal on one of those power plays. Team goals leader Zalba cashed in Michael Rey’s feed on another one of those power plays - specifically, a 5-on-3 - to close the scoring.

Ross MacKinnon, the Frozen Four hero from 2009, recorded the clean sheet on 32 saves. He was named to the all-tournament team headed by MVP Park.

The Knights, now 9-3-0, defeated Hamline 5-3 in the Classic’s opener Friday afternoon behind two goals from Andrew Love (one into an empty net) and three-point efforts from Dave Gervais and Marlon Gardner.

A resilient Hamline squad wouldn’t allow the game to be decided until its closing minutes, despite the Knights’ best efforts to distance themselves early. After Love and Zalba staked the Knights to a two-goal first-period lead, Hamline’s Jordan Van Gilder and Sam Leslie countered in the second period to tie things up through 40 minutes. Dave Gervais thought he might have the winner midway through the third, but the Pipers' Zach Johnson came up with a rebuttal. It was Park who was finally able to score unanswered to seal the win with three minutes remaining.