It's Official-Gwidt to UNO

Chris Heisenberg has confirmed that Brent Gwidt from Lakeland High School in Minocqua, who currently plays for the Indiana Ice of the USHL, has committed to the University of Nebraska Omaha. Hockey In Wisconsin had reported this on Friday

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*A reader left a message that Wisconsinite forward Brent Gwidt of the Indiana Ice has accepted a scholarship to the University of Nebraska Omaha. I have not yet been able to find any kind of verification of that via Internet, but congratulations to Brent if true.

*Somebody with Blake Geoffrion's hockey pedigree ought to know enough not to wake a sleeping giant. Why poke Canada with a stick when the United States record against them in the World Junior Championship is 5-26-3? Geoffrion decided it was a good idea to "talk some smack" via e-mail to UW teammate Kyle Turris, who is playing with Team Canada, prior to the semi-final game today. The result of the game? Canada again claimed victory over the U.S. by a score of 4-1 with Turris having an assist.

*Colorado College claimed their third victory over the Badgers this season by a score of 2-0 tonight.

*The Badger Women downed Minnesota State 4-1 behind two goals from Emily Kranz, and one each from Kyla Sanders and Erika Lawler.

Falling Number of Wisconsinites in the USHL for Next Season?

I got comments from one or two anonymous posters worrying about the number of Wisconsinites in the USHL since they felt 7 Wisconsin players drafted was not enough. When I mentioned the situation looks a little different if you consider that there were 5 Wisconsinites taken in the USHL Futures Draft in October, 2006 and that two high school players joined USHL teams at the end of their high school season this year, I was still told Wisconsin's performance in terms of getting kids into the USHL for next season was lacking. So, let's take a closer look.

Here's the list of Wisconsin kids that played the entire season (or close to it) in the USHL:

Green Bay
Defenseman Derrick La Point-Committed to North Dakota for 2007
Defenseman Ryan Little-Committed to Wisconsin for 2008
Forward Mike Sislo-Committed to New Hampshire for 2007
Goaltender Nick Graves

Indiana
Forward Brent Gwidt

Lincoln
Defenseman Ross Henry
Forward Patrick Johnson-Committed to UW for 2007

Omaha
Forward Matt Thurber-Committed to Wisconsin for 2008
Defenseman Garrett Suter (out for season w/shoulder injury)

Ohio
Forward Justin Cseter

Sioux Falls
Defenseman Sam Zabkowicz-Committed to St. Cloud State for 2007
Forward David Solway-Committed to Bowling Green for 2007
Forward Jacob Drewiske
Forward Patrick Tiesling-Committed to Bolwing Green for 2007

Tri-City
Defenseman Kyle Ensign-Committed to Nebraska Omaha for 2008
Defenseman Luke Lucyk
Forward Sean Wiles

Waterloo
Defenseman Blake Kessel-Committed to New Hampshire for 2008
Forward Brett Olson
Forward Josh Turnbull-Committed to Wisconsin for 2007
Forward Craig Smith-Committed to Wisconsin for 2008 or 2009
Forward Keegan Meuer

Seven of these players are moving on to Division 1 schools. Luke Lucyk appears to be the only player who runs out of eligibility due to age. That brings the total number of Wisconsin players leaving the USHL to at least eight.

Travis Erstad and Justin Johnson will become full-time members of their USHL squads next season, while there were seven Wisconsinites drafted in the regular draft as well as Brock Montpetit, Taylor Kuypers, Eric Springer and Seth Soley who were all selected in the USHL Futures draft in October of 2006 (Pat Johnson was also selected, but will be a Badger next season). On top of that, you've got to account for players that make teams via tryouts that were not drafted. Just two examples, both from this past season, are Blake Kessel and Cole Holmes who both made teams after neither were drafted.

I think that based on the numbers and examples I've provided, Wisconsin has a pretty good shot at replacing the 8 guys expected to be exiting the USHL this offseason.

Boys High School Hockey Losses via Graduation-Top 15 Teams That Didn't Advance to State

The highest ranking team following the regular season that did not make the State Tournament was Northland Pines. Oddly enough, they were the only team that managed to beat the eventual State Champions, Milwaukee University School. Pines loses a heck of a forward in All-State selection Nic Weight, as well as starting goaltender and Honorable Mention All-State selection Parker Wilkins, and forward Mike Otto who contributed 20-23 for 43 points. Six Seniors total graduated leaving the slack to be picked up by the likes of Peter Nesper who will be a Junior defender for the Eagles, and was an Honorable Mention All-State selection last season.

Eau Claire Memorial finished the regular season ranked number four, but found themselves bounced from the Sectional Final by cross-town rival Eau Claire North. The Old Abes graduate 9 players including All-State Honorable Mention forward Andrew McCabe and starting goaltender Kent Shanley. The good news is with the return of All-State forward Seth Soley as well as forward Jefferson Dahl, there is still lots of firepower returning at forward.

Finishing the regular season ranked sixth was the New Richmond Tigers, who eventually fell to Superior in the Sectional Final. They graduate a whopping 12 players this season, including 4 All-State selections. The best of the graduates include All-State defenseman Kyle Ensign who was a USHL draft pick of Tri-City and has already committed to play Division 1 hockey for the University of Nebraska-Omaha beginning in 2008. Defenseman Brandon Larson and goaltender Matt Knutson were also All-State selections, and forward Nic Sicsik was Honorable Mention All-State.

Madison Edgewood finished the regular season ranked 8th and will graduate only four Seniors. The best of those four were forward Dan Longo and goaltender Tim Mergen who were both All-State Honorable Mention selections. Returning is a large nucleus of players including an incredible 8 Freshman that saw action last season led by Jordan George who recorded a line of 15-30-45 pts.

Ninth in the regular season was Homestead. The Highlanders graduate just 3 Seniors, with the loss of All-State forward Ryan Siehr the toughest to swallow, along with forward Scott Schieble. Key returning players for Homestead next season include Honorable Mention All-State selections Tedd Falk at forward and Chris Rausch at defense, and both goaltenders from last season-John Schroeder and Alex Hemke.

The Thunderbirds of Lakeland ended up tenth in the regular season rankings, but will have to overcome the graduation of nine Seniors. The best of the Senior losses is Brent Gwidt who piled up 41-23-64, was an All-State selection, and was taken early in the USHL draft by Indiana as well as defenseman Cody Litvinoff who was also an All-State selection. Seth Johnson and Josh Abraham are key returning forwards for the T-Birds.

Arrowhead ranked as Honorable Mention at the end of the regular season. They'll look to improve on that finish in 2006-2007 after graduating 6 Seniors. Starting goaltender Alex Koeppen will be a Senior, as will Honorable-Mention All-State forward Alex Niestrom.

Honorable Mention was also the finish for Janesville in the regular season rankings. The Bluebirds graduate eight players including starting goaltender Max Giese who was Honorable Mention All-State as well as forward Michael Jacobson who finished the season with 15-19-34. As if that is not enough to overcome, it is rumored Honorable Mention All-State forward Daniel Olszewski is headed to play for the Madison Capitols. At that point, returning Senior Brad Layton would be the best forward left on the roster, and he recorded a stat line of 19-15-34 last season and wouldn't get nearly as much help next season.

The final team to finish ranked in the regular season and not advance to the State Tournament is the Marquette Hilltoppers, who finished with the rank of Honorable Mention. Nine Seniors depart their roster, headlined by Honorable Mention All-State forward Matt McLaughlin.