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USAH tweeted that there are players from 13 states on the preliminary roster. I had 13 different states on my roster prediction: Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Hampshire.
All those states seem like really safe bets to have a representative on the roster, unless USAH isn't going by place of birth to calculate that (for example, Tyler Biggs was born in New York even though he grew up in Ohio). I already missed on my Boucher pick but I'd assume he'll be replaced by Kerdiles or Matteau of my choices. Of my bubble players (Kerdiles, Matteau, Erne, Vail, Boyd, Blackwell, Kuraly), only Erne is from a state not represented already.
__________________ "I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough." - Mark Twain.
Looks good overall but I would still argue against Samuelsson's inclusion. If they don't like Boucher's skating than I can't see them liking Hank's either, especially after he was sent packing at the summer camp. I just don't see what he's done to change their minds. The only saving grace would be if they have changed their minds and now want a really beefy 4th line and thus want him centering Matteau and Biggs. I probably wouldn't call Barber (new to evaluation process) and Lucia (still so soon after injury) locks either but I like the odds of both being on the team.
Looks good overall but I would still argue against Samuelsson's inclusion. If they don't like Boucher's skating than I can't see them liking Hank's either, especially after he was sent packing at the summer camp. The only saving grace would be if they have changed their minds and now want a really beefy 4th line and thus want him centering Matteau and Biggs. I probably wouldn't call Barber (new to evaluation process) and Lucia (still so soon after injury) locks either but I like the odds of both being on the team.
There were five forwards that could go either way in Vesey, Samuelsson, Kerdiles, Boyd, and Hartman. The rest of the spots I thought were pretty safe upfront (Boucher's too).
Stolarz news expected though. Boucher a bit surprising but his omission isn't unjustifiable.
I agree on Pietila.
I was kind of shocked on the omission, I thought he had a chance, but I just had a gut feeling he wouldn't make it.
Pietila seems like he can be one of those NCAA guys they always seem to pick over more viable CHL candidates, and he's having a pretty good year as well.
Not even as a 13th forward? It seems like a snub for ditching the USHL/College for the CHL. Boucher scored a lot of big goals for USA Hockey.
They didn't hold that against all the others that did the same like Jones, Biggs, Miller, Gibson, Murphy, etc. Boucher isn't there because he doesn't fit their identity not because he backed out on the NCAA. USAH does have biases but this isn't a case of it.
I wish Stolarz was going but I'm not shocked that he didn't get selected. It seems like he's having a little trouble adjusting as a freshman in the NCAA.
Apparently the preliminary roster will be announced at 10:00 AM EST on www.USAHockey.com.
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"Trust me I'm an expert, I watched 13 rangers games on NHL center Ice this year through streaming." -Starburst
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December games leading up to the camp will be huge for Sparks. A very mediocre October followed by an awesome November.
Check out Sparks stats for the month of November. a 1.94 GAA and a .940 sv%
2 Shutouts
3 Games allowing just one goal
4 games allowing two goals
2 three goal games (Although one of those was 3 goals on only 8 shots)
1 five goal game (never got pulled, played the whole 60mins)
There aren't to many goalies playing like Sparks is at the current time.
Thats a nice breakdown. I've noticed his stats have sky rocketed over the last month or so. I'm pretty sure theres only been 1 game that he hasnt started.
