Sunday Sundries

Taking stock of North Dakota’s talent and musings on Grand Forks:
Talking about the Hobey Baker Award in early November is about as absurd as Christmas music playing at the mall already. That being said, the four North Dakota players in the top 10 of CSTV.com’s Hobey Watch were as advertised. I would put T.J. Oshie at the top of the group. As nasty (and legal) as that hit was on defenseman Nate Prosser, it showed Oshie’s well-roundedness. At 6 feet, 192 pounds, Oshie had chalked up a goal and an assist before unleashing his fury on Prosser–and that was all in the first eight minutes of Friday’s game. He’s fast, he’s physical and, as CC goaltender Richard Bachman and I discussed on the plane at 5 a.m. this morning (before passing out), he’s scary good. The Tigers should be thanking their lucky stars they don’t have to face North Dakota in the regular season again. The two teams would be a sweet matchup in the Final Five, but there’s a lot of season left to go. I don’t want to get ahead of myself and end up on a flight back to Grand Forks in March. I can only handle one Grand Forks trip per year.

Recruiting Roundup:

• Forward Rylan Schwartz, who leads Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League rookies in point-scoring and is seventh in overall standings, was named SJHL Rookie of the Month for October. Schwartz will join the Tigers in 2008 or 2009.
• In his first United States Hockey League season, forward Dakota Eveland has contributed to the Omaha Lancers’ 8-2 start with a goal and an assist in seven games. Eveland is tabbed for the 2010 incoming class.

Tiger Tracks:

• Looks like Peter Sejna made his debut with Zurich of the Swiss-A league.
• Mark Stuart‘s overtime play helps the Boston Bruins top the Buffalo Sabres.
• Matt Zaba continues to follow my well-beaten path between Connecticut and North Carolina. After a brief stint in Hartford, Conn., with the American Hockey League’s Wolf Pack, Zaba returned Friday to the Charlotte (N.C.) Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League.

Recruiting Round-up

Nick Dineen, who will join Colorado College next season, leads the United States Hockey League defending champion Sioux Falls Stampede as a third-year player and co-captain.

The Tigers’ latest pickup, Tim Hall, played a key role in his Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets’ sweep of the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL). Game 1: Hall’s shootout goal clinched the win. Game 2: Hall picks up an assist.

Dakota Eveland, who will join CC in 2009 or 2010, had an assist in the Omaha Lancers’ win over the Tri-City Storm this weekend.

On a low-scoring Okotoks Oilers (Alberta Junior Hockey League) squad, David Civitarese is one of the youngest but also the third-leading scorer among forwards.

Andrew Hamburg still has not resurfaced after being released from Waterloo (USHL). EDIT: Looks like the Texas Tornado (NAHL), where Hamburg was traded to, will start up this weekend.

***
Tiger Tracks:

Though the same stature as former Chicago Wolves teammate and AHL record-setter Darren Haydar, Brett Sterling got the nod. An interesting piece on how timing can make all the difference when trying to stick on a NHL roster.

Aaron Slattengren‘s strong second half last season has his Augusta (Ga.) Lynx (ECHL) coach predicting big things. (subscription required)

Bad Karma? A knee injury to Brett Krahn cleared the way for Curtis McElhinney to make the Calgary Flames’ roster. Now, because of a knee injury of his own, McElhinney will be out of commission for at least a week, this article says.

CC Recruits Face-off In USHL Fall Classic

Want to get a look at some future Tigers? The USHL Fall Classic begins today in Sioux City, Iowa, and will be broadcast online via B2 networks, the same service that will be available on cctigers.com this season. Here’s the link to watch. All times listed are Central.

Games involving recruits are:

Thursday, Sept. 27
10:00 a.m. Omaha Lancers (Dakota Eveland–2009 or 2010) vs. Green Bay
1:00 p.m. Lincoln Stars vs. Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (Tim Hall–2008)
3:00 p.m. Sioux Falls Stampede (Nick Dineen–2008) vs. Waterloo Black Hawks (Andrew Hamburg–2008)

Friday, Sept. 28
10:00 a.m. Waterloo Black Hawks (Hamburg) vs. Des Moines Buccaneers
1:00 p.m. Chicago Steel vs. Omaha Lancers (Eveland)
4:00 p.m. Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (Hall) vs. Sioux Falls Stampede (Dineen)

Saturday, Sept. 29
12:00 p.m. Omaha Lancers (Eveland) vs. Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (Hall)
4:00 p.m. Sioux Falls Stampede (Dineen) vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
7:00 p.m. Sioux City Musketeers vs. Waterloo Black Hawks (Hamburg)

***
With the demise of the Wayne State (Mich.) hockey program announced yesterday, Grand Forks Herald hockey reporter Brad Elliott Schlossman poses an important question: Will Bemidji State join the WCHA in 2008?

***
Tiger Tracks:
Colin Stuart was reassigned to Chicago (AHL), but Brett Sterling made on the Atlanta Thrashers’ roster.

Noah Clarke is still in the hunt for a spot on the New Jersey Devils’ roster.

Curtis McElhinney will start the season as the Calgary Flames’ backup.

***
For those who are curious, the Tigers have a practice scheduled for tonight at 9:15 at Honnen Ice Arena (NW corner of Cascade and Cache La Poudre Streets). I’ll get the rest of the schedule tonight.