Wisconsin Boys Chicago Showcase Team

Here's a link to the Wisconsin Boys Chicago Showcase Team: http://www.wisconsinprephockey.net/docs/final_roster.htm

The list of the kids invited to tryout is found here: http://www.wisconsinprephockey.net/docs/Tryout%20Roster.pdf

There really aren't too many surprises on that list to me. It is interesting to note that Ben Jurken from University School of Milwaukee was beaten out by Derek Dahl of Appleton, Brian Dalbec from Superior and Tyler Ambroziak of Wisconsin Rapids. This pretty much is in line with the fact that the Badgerland All-Conference Teams had Randy Willis of Fond du Lac on the first team, Derek Dahl on the second team, and Jurken as honorable mention. Dalbec and Ambroziak were both very impressive at the state tournament. The reason I find the fact that Jurken was left off the team of interest is that it was difficult to judge how good he was in the few games I saw him play, as the team in front of him was so much better than everyone USM faced.

I found an article indicating that the three First Team All-Conference forwards from the Badgerland are actually practicing together on the same line for the Chicago Showcase. Those forwards are Cole Holmes and Ryan McEnerney from University School and Andy Kuechler from Fond du Lac.

One last tidbit I find interesting about this event on the Boys side of the field. Apparently Minnesota voluntarily leaves any players with a firm Division 1 commitment off of their team so their team is not superior to the other teams, and probably also because the showcase is about getting kids exposure who do not have their future hockey plans lined up yet.