Author Archives: Redskin Warriors
>RedHawk Alums Hold Steady In Kings’ Organization
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12. Jeff Zatkoff, G
Zatkoff entered the 2008-09 season as the third in a triumvirate of goaltenders who would battle for supremacy in Los Angeles. One year later, with Quick established early as the starter in Los Angeles and Bernier a small step behind, Zatkoff has slightly fallen out of the picture. When taking Ersberg into consideration, the two roster positions in Los Angeles and the starting position in Manchester appear to be settled for another year, leaving Zatkoff as either a backup in Manchester or the starter for yet anotherECHL campaign. He might have the talent to be a serviceable goaltender in the NHL, but with so many other options available to the Kings, there is a lot for Zatkoff to overcome to get his chance in Los Angeles.
13. Alec Martinez, D
The next tier of defensive prospects is headed by Martinez – a mobile and positionally sound defenseman. While no single aspect to his game stands out above the rest, his solid all-around game allows him to be quietly effective in both ends of the ice. Martinez concluded his first season of professional hockey after leaving Miami University early. Scoring 23 points for Manchester, Martinez was a consistent contributor to the team even if not reflected immediately on the score sheet. Like Davis Drewiske, there is a good likelihood that Martinez will carve out a career for himself in the NHL in someone’s third pairing, but he has more offensive skills and so a slightly higher position in these rankings.
>CCHA Denies Alabama-Huntsville
>Per USCHO:
The CCHA has denied Alabama-Huntsville’s application for admission, putting the program’s future in even more jeopardy.
The Chargers are members of the CHA, which is set to disband after the 2009-10 season. The three other members have found other conferences, and UAH targeted the CCHA.
But the CCHA Council, a body made up of athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives, voted by acclamation to deny UAH’s application for membership.
“The league completed its due diligence of the application for membership submitted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville with careful consideration and discussion of various issues,” CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said in a news release. “At this time we have chosen to maintain our membership at its current level.
“The CCHA will remain focused on maintaining and strengthening our existing members to ensure the conference’s continued success and long-term viability.”
The CCHA is set to drop to 11 teams in 2010, when Nebraska-Omaha is moving to the WCHA along with CHA member Bemidji State.
>Reminder: Camper Joins The Pipeline Show Tonight
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Carter Camper “Penciled In” on The Pipeline Show
Time: 9:45pm ET (Subject to change)
Where to Listen: Team 1260 in the Edmonton area, or at this link.
Submit a Question to: pipeup@thepipelineshow.com
>Predators Re-Sign Jones
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The Nashville Predators announced today that they have re-signed former RedHawks captain Ryan Jones. The deal is a two-year, one-way contract that will pay Jones roughly $975,000 per season.
>RedHawks’ Survive First Round of Cuts
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Connor Knapp and Chris Wideman have survived the first round of cuts at the USA Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, New York. The RedHawk sophomores are just two of the remaining 29 players selected by USA and UNO head coach Dean Blais to remain in camp. The original roster of 42 players was trimmed on Sunday evening.
“We kept five defensive pairs and five forward lines, and all of them will have a chance to show what they can do against Russia,” Blais said. “Even after this camp ends, we will continue to evaluate all of these players…”
Team USA will take on Russia four times this week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) at the Olympic Center, in Lake Placid. Invitees are hoping to earn a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009, in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.
To view the current US roster, click here.
(Photo Credits: Rachel Lewis)
>Camper to Appear On Pipeline Show
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Anyone ready for hockey season yet? Okay, everyone is. August is such a slow month. However, there is a little something coming your way next Tuesday night (8/11), as junior center Carter Camper will be a guest on The Pipeline Show, with Dean Millard and Guy Flaming.
Camper is currently “penciled in” for 9:45pm ET on the show, which airs on Team 1260 out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. For those of us in the states, you can listen live to the show online, by visiting The Pipeline Show’s website at this link.
Have a question for the show? Feel free to submit a topic, or question to the hosts at the following e-mail address:
pipeup@thepipelineshow.com
They also run a great website that profiles not only the show, but prospects “coming down the pipe.” You can visit that by clicking here.
Photo Credit: Rachel Lewis
>Ganzak Moves up
>The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed defenseman Mitch Ganzak to an American Hockey League contract, it was announced on Tuesday.
>Kings Vision with Zatkoff & Martinez
>Jeff Zatkoff:
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?catid=731&id=44893
Alec Martinez:
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?catid=731&id=44895
>Avalanche Sign Mercier
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Per the Colorado Avalanche website:
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that it has signed forward prospect Justin Mercier. Mercier, 22, spent the last four seasons at Miami University, where he helped lead the RedHawks to the 2009 NCAA championship game by totaling 29 points (14g/15a) in 40 games as a senior.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound forward finished his collegiate career with 104 points (52g/52a) in 157 contests, becoming the first player in school history to record 100 career points and be a part of 100 victories. A native of Erie, Pa., Mercier was the Avalanche’s eighth selection (sixth round, 168th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft.
This is a great signing for both the Avalanche and Mercier. Colorado had until August 15th to sign him and by all accounts, Justin got a very fair deal with the Avs. Reports said that Mercier and his agent felt that he was more valuable than the offer that Colorado had originally presented, but the negotiations remained cordial on both sides and a deal was done. While the details of the signing weren’t released, it will most likely be a standard three year entry-level conract that will see him play most of this year and possibly the next in Lake Erie. He adds to a strong group of winger prospects in the Avalanche system and with the youth movement in Colorado, we could possibly see Mercier, who joined Miami’s 100 point club this season, playing for the big club sooner, rather than later.
>Wingels Named Captain
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“…I’m just so proud…to be a RedHawk.”
– Tommy Wingels, 4/11/2009
You could say it was a passing of the torch. In the post game press conference after Miami’s 4-3 overtime loss against Boston University, sat three people- RedHawks Head Coach Enrico Blasi, Captain Brian Kaufman, and Tommy Wingels. There could have been no better set up, no better stage to showcase what was the past, present, and future of the Miami captaincy, as the junior winger has been selected to lead the RedHawks’ as team captain in 2009-2010 and most likely, in 2010-2011 as well.
Wingels, a 6th round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2008, has quickly risen to become one of the shining stars of a very young Miami hockey program and carries himself with the true “Brotherhood” mentality. Having finished the 08-09 campaign with 11 goals and 17 assists, the Wilmette, Illinois native realizes that the RedHawks’ may have been down on that chilly April night in D.C., but they weren’t out.
“It (a National Championship) is going to be our ultimate goal next year,” he said. “We feel like we have some unfinished business.”
Alternate captains for the 09-10 season have yet to be determined.
(Photo Credit: Rachel Lewis)
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