Brent Burns was the lone Minnesota Wild player to be selected for the All-Star game in Raleigh, North Carolina. The draft for the game will take place on the 28th at 8pm, the skills competition on the 29th at 7pm, and the game will take place on the 30th at 4 pm.
Burns led the Wild in points for most of the season before Martin Havlat and Mikko Koivu found their grove, they lead the team with 38 and 36 points respectively. Burns is still in third on the team in points with 12 goals and 14 assists, second in goals behind only Cal Clutterbuck.
In other news related to the blog, former Rochester American and current Florida Panthers player Evgeny Dadonov will represent Florida in the Super Skills competition. Dadonov has 10 points in just 14games this season for the Panthers while adding 16 points in 24 games for the Amerks.
Michal Repik and Clay Wilson will be representing the Americans for the Western Conference All-Star team in the AHL All-Star game on January 31st at 7pm. The AHL skill competition will be held on Sunday January 30th at 3pm. Repik led all Amerks scorers in the first half of the season with 35 points, good for 12th in the AHL while Wilson has been a presence at the point, piling up 27 points. Athletic Trainer Kent Weisbeck will also be representing the Amerks.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A look ahead to the 2011 Iowa Hawkeyes - The Offense
Departing for Graduation:
Ricky Stanzi - A three year starter at quarterback that led the Hawkeyes to three bowl wins in the last three years will be the biggest loss for the Hawkeyes. The assumed starter next year will be Junior James Vandenberg though recruits and other underclassmen will get an opportunity to compete.
Colin Sandeman - Not a key reciever but one of many wideouts to leave the team this year. His 21 receptions should not however be a problem to replace.
Maki O'Meara - One of the most injury prone players on the Hawkeyes roster but his veteran leadership will be missed in the huddle and locker room.
Paul Chaney, Jr. - His name always seemed to come up when the Hawks were on tv but he was unable to match the production of his freshman year. His stats will not be hard to make up but another veteran player whose presence will be harder to replace.
Brett Morse - A full back who didn't get many touches but played solid when called upon, usually as a blocker.
Julian Vandervelde - One of two starting offensive lineman who will need to be replaced, a veteran player who had the most experience.
Josh Koeppel - The other lineman that will need to be replaced, not a name that you would hear every game but neutral is better then hearing missed blocks.
Allen Reisner - The replacement to Tony Moeaki filled in nicely in his senior year. He doubled his previous high for yards in a season and tripled his previous high for receptions.
Don Nordmann - Four career receptions
Nick Kuchel - No stats available
Kyle Haganman - No stats available
Ben Evans - No stats available
Joe Audlehelm - No stats available
Departing for Other Reasons:
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos - suspended from the team after his house was busted as a drug house. since it was his senior year the only difference was the bowl game but his record setting performances will be missed.
Adam Robinson - Arrested for possession of marijuana while the rest of the team was preparing for the bowl game and subsequently removed from the team. He was part of the record setting freshman tandem last season and will be missed this season.
Jewell Hampton - The other half of the former freshman tandem, he recorded 500 yards and 7 touchdowns while splitting time that year. This year he was injured in week two and decided to transfer prior to the Bowl game. He will also be missed as the Hawks will rely on young backs once again this season.
Returners:
From the bowl game lineup against Missouri many of the players will be returning for next season.
QB:
Backup - James Vandenberg
RB:
Marcus Coker - A freshman back who had a very impressive debut in the Insight Bowl. Hopefully he can continue that effort as the season goes on.
WR:
Marvin McNutt - One of the most exciting players to watch on the offensive side of the ball. A former quarterback has thrived since moving to wide receiver and became one of Stanzi's favorite targets. He will be one of the main receivers for whoever takes over in the backfield next year.
Keenan Davis - Only a sophomore with eleven receptions on the year but will be one of the most experienced receivers in what seems to be a core that never stays around to develop.
TE:
Backup - Brad Herman - A junior with the same build as the guy he is replacing. He had 9 receptions for 154 yards this year and will be called upon a lot in 2011.
OL:
Riley Reiff
Markus Zusevics
James Ferentz
Backups:
Brett Van Sloten
Adam Gettis
Nolan MacMillan
Conor Boffeli
The Conclusion:
The Hawks offense should be in good shape by the time spring rolls around. Even though they are losing some major components of the offense, the core of their line will still be there. The line will key the season with inexperience being the theme early in the year. The major question will be how well the new quarterback fills in for the loss of Ricky Stanzi. The running game should be solid as it always is under coach Ferentz as long as it is not the only dimension that the Hawkeyes have.
Thank you to this years seniors and good luck to all of you in your careers no matter which way they take you. Thank you for all you have done for Iowa Football...GO HAWKS!
Ricky Stanzi - A three year starter at quarterback that led the Hawkeyes to three bowl wins in the last three years will be the biggest loss for the Hawkeyes. The assumed starter next year will be Junior James Vandenberg though recruits and other underclassmen will get an opportunity to compete.
Colin Sandeman - Not a key reciever but one of many wideouts to leave the team this year. His 21 receptions should not however be a problem to replace.
Maki O'Meara - One of the most injury prone players on the Hawkeyes roster but his veteran leadership will be missed in the huddle and locker room.
Paul Chaney, Jr. - His name always seemed to come up when the Hawks were on tv but he was unable to match the production of his freshman year. His stats will not be hard to make up but another veteran player whose presence will be harder to replace.
Brett Morse - A full back who didn't get many touches but played solid when called upon, usually as a blocker.
Julian Vandervelde - One of two starting offensive lineman who will need to be replaced, a veteran player who had the most experience.
Josh Koeppel - The other lineman that will need to be replaced, not a name that you would hear every game but neutral is better then hearing missed blocks.
Allen Reisner - The replacement to Tony Moeaki filled in nicely in his senior year. He doubled his previous high for yards in a season and tripled his previous high for receptions.
Don Nordmann - Four career receptions
Nick Kuchel - No stats available
Kyle Haganman - No stats available
Ben Evans - No stats available
Joe Audlehelm - No stats available
Departing for Other Reasons:
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos - suspended from the team after his house was busted as a drug house. since it was his senior year the only difference was the bowl game but his record setting performances will be missed.
Adam Robinson - Arrested for possession of marijuana while the rest of the team was preparing for the bowl game and subsequently removed from the team. He was part of the record setting freshman tandem last season and will be missed this season.
Jewell Hampton - The other half of the former freshman tandem, he recorded 500 yards and 7 touchdowns while splitting time that year. This year he was injured in week two and decided to transfer prior to the Bowl game. He will also be missed as the Hawks will rely on young backs once again this season.
Returners:
From the bowl game lineup against Missouri many of the players will be returning for next season.
QB:
Backup - James Vandenberg
RB:
Marcus Coker - A freshman back who had a very impressive debut in the Insight Bowl. Hopefully he can continue that effort as the season goes on.
WR:
Marvin McNutt - One of the most exciting players to watch on the offensive side of the ball. A former quarterback has thrived since moving to wide receiver and became one of Stanzi's favorite targets. He will be one of the main receivers for whoever takes over in the backfield next year.
Keenan Davis - Only a sophomore with eleven receptions on the year but will be one of the most experienced receivers in what seems to be a core that never stays around to develop.
TE:
Backup - Brad Herman - A junior with the same build as the guy he is replacing. He had 9 receptions for 154 yards this year and will be called upon a lot in 2011.
OL:
Riley Reiff
Markus Zusevics
James Ferentz
Backups:
Brett Van Sloten
Adam Gettis
Nolan MacMillan
Conor Boffeli
The Conclusion:
The Hawks offense should be in good shape by the time spring rolls around. Even though they are losing some major components of the offense, the core of their line will still be there. The line will key the season with inexperience being the theme early in the year. The major question will be how well the new quarterback fills in for the loss of Ricky Stanzi. The running game should be solid as it always is under coach Ferentz as long as it is not the only dimension that the Hawkeyes have.
Thank you to this years seniors and good luck to all of you in your careers no matter which way they take you. Thank you for all you have done for Iowa Football...GO HAWKS!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
More of the Same
For the third month in a row, the Wild failed to break out of the ordinary. The gained points in nine of their fifteen games this month but only picked up six wins. The did however win all four of their division games, though three of them were against Calgary who is currently above only Edmonton in the Western Conference.
The Wild got a good feel for where they fit in to the rest of the conference as well. They played four games against the top five teams in the west. In these games they only picked up one win, against San Jose, and lost in over time to the Stars. The other two games, against Anaheim and Detroit, did not go nearly as well. The Wild seemed to be overpowered as they gave up ten goals in the two games while only scoring three.
As has been the case in the last two months the Wild still sit right where they were at the beginning. Simply based on the standings the Wild are still in good shape continuing toward the playoffs. The only thing that has changed is their shot at winning the division, Vancouver has not lost in regulation in their last thirteen games boosting them to the top of the Western Conference. The Avalanche now trail the Canucks by ten points and the Wild trail them by fourteen points. The bottom of the conference has remained the game however, the Wild are in thirteenth place but still only four points out of sixth place and six points away from fourth. Nothing is out of the question still in terms of the playoff picture for the Wild.
Goal tending was the biggest inconsistency for the Wild this month, Backstrom had a three game winning streak where he allowed only one goal in each game. However he was in net for the losses to Anaheim and Detroit. Theodore was called upon more often then usual however his stats didn't match up. He played in six games and picked up only one win, an overtime win against Los Angeles. For the month his goals against average was just under three and his save percentage was around .900, levels that just aren't going to get it done for the wild as they try to make a push.
January brings about an opportunity for the wild once again, they play only four division games again this month, one against each team in the division. On top of those games they play three games early against some of the top teams in the East. This month will be make or break for the Wild, I think if they can pull into a playoff spot now they will be able to hold on and ride out the rest of the season. If they do not start a move now, working into the playoffs in the last two and a half months would be much more difficult. I'm hoping for the earlier of the two but only time will tell. Until then LETS GO WILD!
The Wild got a good feel for where they fit in to the rest of the conference as well. They played four games against the top five teams in the west. In these games they only picked up one win, against San Jose, and lost in over time to the Stars. The other two games, against Anaheim and Detroit, did not go nearly as well. The Wild seemed to be overpowered as they gave up ten goals in the two games while only scoring three.
As has been the case in the last two months the Wild still sit right where they were at the beginning. Simply based on the standings the Wild are still in good shape continuing toward the playoffs. The only thing that has changed is their shot at winning the division, Vancouver has not lost in regulation in their last thirteen games boosting them to the top of the Western Conference. The Avalanche now trail the Canucks by ten points and the Wild trail them by fourteen points. The bottom of the conference has remained the game however, the Wild are in thirteenth place but still only four points out of sixth place and six points away from fourth. Nothing is out of the question still in terms of the playoff picture for the Wild.
Goal tending was the biggest inconsistency for the Wild this month, Backstrom had a three game winning streak where he allowed only one goal in each game. However he was in net for the losses to Anaheim and Detroit. Theodore was called upon more often then usual however his stats didn't match up. He played in six games and picked up only one win, an overtime win against Los Angeles. For the month his goals against average was just under three and his save percentage was around .900, levels that just aren't going to get it done for the wild as they try to make a push.
January brings about an opportunity for the wild once again, they play only four division games again this month, one against each team in the division. On top of those games they play three games early against some of the top teams in the East. This month will be make or break for the Wild, I think if they can pull into a playoff spot now they will be able to hold on and ride out the rest of the season. If they do not start a move now, working into the playoffs in the last two and a half months would be much more difficult. I'm hoping for the earlier of the two but only time will tell. Until then LETS GO WILD!
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