Blues roster news

I didn't attend the goalie camps but finally the team released their tenders and announced that Wyler and Maher will be back on the bench next season.

We have 17 kids eligible to return, which is close to crazy in number. I never recall returning that many kids.

On the tender list is Nick Curry (Colorado Rampage; played a couple games for Bismark this year), Trent Fry (River Falls Wis.), John Bobb (Texas Tornado), Mike Schaver (Blaine Minn), Zach Kamrass (familiar name and Queen City Junior A), and Steve Papciak (Chicago Young Americans)

Four forwards along with Bismark's Tye Lewis who we apparently got for two tenders -- I'd assume one was that Brian Prost kid from Ohio. I was sort of excited about him and if Rickord does leave, he would have helped. I do love how the Bobcats-Machine swap makes NAHL front page but not Tye Lewis.

Kamrass is a dman and Papciak is a goalie. Nice to see us nab a Chicago kid. I was worried about Wyler's ability to recruit in state.

Anyone know of these kids?

Of course in the draft we added four USHL properties in the six kids taken. Should be interesting if we can lure any of them here. I thought Taranto was going to be a big part of Fargo so I'm not counting on that.

Both Rickord and Rowe will be in Cedar Rapids camp this weekend and why wouldn't they? They have nothing to lose. Wyler says its 50-50 that they'll be back. I think that's being optomistic, though the Riders return almost a full complement of forwards up front and concentrated on defense in the draft. I don't think it's a great idea for Rickord if he can't get on one of those top lines but....its his decision and I'm rooting for him.

We had 32 goalies in the camp and apparently six to eight of those will be invited to the main camp.

Of course Ales Sila ages out. We're not sure if Garrett Tinkham will be back. I'd assume if Rickord isn't, he won't be. I wouldn't be shocked to see him as an open in Cedar Rapids. Doubt he makes it. At this point its just a question mark.

Cook is mulling an offer from St Cloud but as good as he was down the stretch last year, lord knows he's not ready. He'd be a huge boost if he comes back but if the scholarship is good, can't tell the kid to turn down an offer. Who knows what will happen in a year.

*AHEM*

It's spelled BismarCk

Zach Kamrass' brother Josh played Forward for the Roadrunners. He is an excellent defenseman, and a great kid. Having an older brother that played at this level will help him understand what's expected of him.

Blues Roster news

Sounds like the Jr Blues are making some moves. Heard through the grapevine that they traded 2 tenders contracts for Lewis. Brian Prost is still a tendered player for the Blues, must be a typo in the paper.

So Smack's it looks like you will be able to see him after all.

The USHL draft picks could turn out to be great gets for the Blues, They are older players and might be victims of roster restraints in that league, looks like they did thier homework.

Sam Hain wrote:

*AHEM* It's spelled BismarCk

I think you've pointed this out to me before. Meh... everyone knows who I'm talking about.

As for Zach, hence the familiar name part I figured Topeka would have jumped on him especially with a couple dmen leaving, but I'm excited. I figure we'll at least have the majority of the defense, if not everyone minus Rowe back. Hopefully one of the new pick ups can replace him and then give us enough room to move Traschel. I like Colin, but meh -- I think we can upgrade over him. Plus Bandits need to replace a lot on that blueline and well, whole team.

Meh it's just speculation of my part. And with little basis except we have a couple good dmen coming in.

Hmm as for Prost, that's good. I've liked about all I've heard of the kid and he's already 18, captain and a point producer so I hope he makes it.

I hope they did their homework because I was under the impression that Taranto was going to be one of the returning leaders for the Junior Jackets prior to the Fargo move. OF course Blias and the Force might have other ideas but seems like a kid you'd at least want to keep around.

Not really sure Filzen, Janosz and Galbreath's situations though but Galbreath's only an affliate player I believe this past season.

I'm a bit worried about our net if Cook leaves. But the Jr Blues have always managed to have pretty decent goaltending year in and out. Yeah, I know, they could have had some kids better than Roy and Cook the past couple years but Roy and Cook were pretty good too.

Yeah I don't think St Cloud would be great for Cook's hockey career.

Mike Lee's supposed to be commited there in 2009.

Dan Dunn will be a sophomore and he's supposed to be pretty good.

Former FM Jet BJ O'Brien's a junior, and Jase Weslosky also a junor.

I don't know....it's still a D-1 scholarship but with Lee looming in 2009 I'm not sure.

Nice! A real hockey thread. Good moves by the Blues

Smackles wrote:

Yeah I don't think St Cloud would be great for Cook's hockey career. Mike Lee's supposed to be commited there in 2009. Dan Dunn will be a sophomore and he's supposed to be pretty good. Former FM Jet BJ O'Brien's a junior, and Jase Weslosky also a junor. I don't know....it's still a D-1 scholarship but with Lee looming in 2009 I'm not sure.

Lee, Dunn and Welslosky are NHL draft picks with two of them being Canadian (Lee from MN). How likely are they to leave early?

Smackles wrote:

As for Zach, hence the familiar name part I figured Topeka would have jumped on him especially with a couple dmen leaving.

Zach wanted to set his own path and not just keep following in his brothers footsteps. I have to admit I was impressed by that. Two completely different players with different styles.

mctopeka wrote:

Smackles wrote: As for Zach, hence the familiar name part I figured Topeka would have jumped on him especially with a couple dmen leaving. Zach wanted to set his own path and not just keep following in his brothers footsteps. I have to admit I was impressed by that. Two completely different players with different styles.

Totally understood. But it sure would have been nice to have a Kamrass on the roster next season.

FlamingFiveHole wrote:

Smackles wrote: Yeah I don't think St Cloud would be great for Cook's hockey career. Mike Lee's supposed to be commited there in 2009. Dan Dunn will be a sophomore and he's supposed to be pretty good. Former FM Jet BJ O'Brien's a junior, and Jase Weslosky also a junor. I don't know....it's still a D-1 scholarship but with Lee looming in 2009 I'm not sure. Lee, Dunn and Welslosky are NHL draft picks with two of them being Canadian (Lee from MN). How likely are they to leave early?

Of course that's possibly why St Cloud wants him but from Cook's prespective, that's a lot of guys to hope go through. And I'm not worried about Dunn, O'Brien or Jase. I'm worried about 'uber' Mike Lee coming in behind him.

I really see Dunn staying two more years. What would be the point in jumping? I think the Caps hold on to Heut for another year and Varlamov is the team's future starter. Between Varlamov and Dunn is still Michal Neuvirth (who will man Hershey's pipes most likely) and Dan Machesney. Justin Mrazek also is hanging around now that his college career's done.

I'd assume we'd see Dunn stay one more year and then see how South Carolina looks.

Weslosky, granted, is the Islanders top goalie prospect but I'm not too sure they're really worried about that at the moment. And I actually like Ridderwall better down the road. I think he's mostly going to stick around all the way through, graduate, and then Mike Lee takes over.

Also Lee's 2008 draft eligible. Let's not jump the gun yet on calling him an NHL draft pick. Granted -- it does look pretty likely. Happens when you only lose like two games...

It'll be interesting to see how the situation plays out but I see SCSU a better fit for Lee than Cook.

Hmm didn't know BJ O'Brien transfered to D3 St. Norberts so that's one less guy in the mix.

Rickford and Rowe both made Cedar Rapids roster after this weekends tryout camps, coach only posted 25 names so I would say they will both be here come September

Did Mike Johnson make the final roster? He had a great year for St. Louis, on any other team he would have been the #1 guy. Great kid and fun to watch.

Yes Johnson did make the final roster

What about the Boston College goalie? Or the Team Illinois kid?

Either way the Riders lose both of their goalies and still some how will wind up having pretty decent goaltending. That's definitenly amazing.

How'd Rickord look and where do you place him amongst their lines? I know Rickord doesn't want to go back to the USHL if it's just as a fourth liner but then again he's grown by leaps and bounds since last year and in all areas of the game.

Selfish reasons I don't want him to make it but still got to be rooting for him.

And any names of the walk-ins and open try out guys?

http://ushlhockey.blogspot.com/

Ryan usually has the tryout rosters, allstar game and final camp rosters pretty quick after they are held.

I only have Sioux Falls right now, though ninja should be getting me Cedar Rapids before long and I have Tri-City coming in the mail.

Grosenick (Team Illinois goalie) also made the team. Andrew Margolin (BC Goalie) did not make the cut. There were a few free agents who made the team, but I don't know first names.

Good for Grosenick...

Hopefully Margolin can catch on somewhere. Do you know if he's transfering some where for next season?

Thanks to both Ninja and Ryan.

Got Tri-City's tryout roster....

Guys with NAHL ties:
Nick Curry-Bismarck
Nick Maricic-NTDP
Kyle Jendra-Traverse City?
Kyle Politz-Alaska