Moffie to Play in the USHL

The Waterloo Black Hawks have added a number (14) and a profile to Lee Moffie's page on their website, so it appears the future Wolverine made the team and will be playing in the USHL this year. I have to believe that's good for his development. He'll be playing significantly more games and he'll be playing against better competition than he would if he went back to Avon Old Farms.

Moffie actually leads the team in goals (2), points (3), +/- (+2), and shots on goal (12) through three games of the pre-season.

Jacob Fallon Commits to Michigan

Whoo a commit! It's been awhile!

The NTDP's Jacob Fallon, a forward for the class entering in 2010, committed to Michigan.

He's small (5'10" 170) but is highly regarded, it seems. It's a premium article so I can't read it, but The Scouting News wrote that he has the potential to be Pat Kane II (!!!!!!!!). Lofty, lofty praise right there.

The Gopher Hockey Blog had quite a bit of info about him from back in April. Interesting to note that his mom went to Minnesota and the Gophers wanted him. Also, he was the second leading scorer at the NTDP tryout camp behind.....fellow 2010 recruit Luke Moffatt (and I swear to God, if I type Lee Moffie's name one more time when I mean Luke Moffatt....one of them needs to change their name to Ocho Cinco or something).

Could he potentially help out with Colin Jacobs? They both played for the Texas Attack. With Fallon and Chris Brown, we've got a couple of Texans up here! Attack Coach Eric Silverman said the following in an article about Jacobs:

“There’s probably about four or five kids that are right on that same plane, believe it or not, within about a two-year birth span,” Silverman pointed out. “Jacob Fallon, who’s a year older than Colin, is an unbelievable player, rated high by, you name it, US National program, NHL scouts, NHL agents, Division One college programs, major junior clubs - he’s one who’s rated as highly as anybody.

Chris from WCH saw him play recently and posted, in part, the following at the Yost Post:

He's a pretty good skater. Not a flashy stickhandler. He loves to go wide and then drive very hard to the net when he gets the puck. He's a very good passer. One of his assists was a beautiful backdoor pass for a tap-in goal. Doesn't have a great shot, but could be effective with it if he shot more instead of always looking to pass. That should come with the NTDP's training and the aforementioned confidence. Plus, pretty much everyone seems to say that he's a pretty good kid.

Bob Miller had a few tidbits from NTDP Coach John Hynes. "Very high level of potential" and "top shelf as a human being".

Last year he was a member of the U16 NAHL Showcase All Tournament Team, when the Attack were downed by Little Caesar's in the championship game.

All in all, sounds like a huge get for what is shaping up to be a stellar class! Now we just need to add a goalie...

2009 recruit Lee Moffie potted a goal for Waterloo in their exhibition win Thursday night. I believe the cuts are Sunday, so we should find out if he'll stick in the USHL or head back to Avon for another season.

Lastly, here's a Luke Moffatt feature from USA Hockey.

Expectations: We Has Them

You know hockey season is getting close when the first poll is released. The initial installment of the USA Today poll was released today and the Wolverines came in ranked #2 behind defending champion Boston College.

5 CCHA teams were ranked in the 15-team poll (OMG BUT THERE WERE SIX FROM THE WCHA!!!!!). Michigan #2, Notre Dame #3, Miami #8, MSU #12, and Northern Michigan #14. Having NMU ranked makes me believe these voters are actually paying attention, though I think the Redhawks are ranked a little high given the departures up front, on the blueline, and in net, along with the fact that the CCHA is apparently out to get them.

Michigan received 4 of the 34 first-place votes. North Dakota and CC (as well as BC, obviously) also received first-place votes.

Almost Time to Come Out of Hibernation

The Wolverines are back out on the ice (with the coaches present), so I guess that means it's time to come out of my summer slumber. Clearly I'm not doing the player-a-day previews like I did last year because, let's face it, that sucked. But I will start posting season preview stuff in the very near future. And they'll probably end up being much longer than I anticipate, just like my NHL preview is every year.

MGoBlue has a practice report. They're working with some really jacked up lines (Glendening-Caporusso-Lebler) at the moment to try to get the freshmen used to working with some of the upperclassmen. I know the equipment has been talked about at the Yost Post quite a bit, and it looks like the guys did switch skates if this is any indication:

Powers added, "The passing is a little off, the shooting is a little off, but it's also new equipment, new gloves and new skates. We're still getting used to some new stuff.

So out with the Bauers, in with the CCMs?

Powers also mentioned that Brian Lebler and Steve Kampfer had excellent offseasons in terms of their conditioning work and whatnot. Kampfer was almost surprisingly good last year. If he can take another step forward, that would be huge for this team, especially arguably our best defensman moving up front.

The NAHL Showcase concluded with the Under 18s and Under 17s both going 2-2. Kevin Lynch had a goal and two assists, with a +3 rating, 12 shots on goal and 10 PIMs during the tournament. Chris Brown had 3 goals, was +1, and had 16 shots and 14 PIMs. Luke Moffatt had a 1-1--2 line with 13 shots on goal, 2 PIMs, and a +1 rating for the U-17s.

Lee Moffie also had a goal in preseason action for the Waterloo Blackhawks as he tries to make their squad for the upcoming season.

Also of interest: Since there is no Blue/White game this year, fans can do their skate with the team following the Waterloo exhibition game. And the Red Berenson Show will be moving from banfields Creekside (thanks Roger) to The Arena. It will debut October 7.

Eric Werner is back in the States. He signed a contract with the Manchester Monarchs after spending a year in Europe.

Porter and Kolarik: Still playing together. Still impressing people while playing together.

WCH has his take on the U18s who played at the NAHL Showcase. Michigan relevance:

Chris Brown: I continue to be impressed with how he's playing. He's big, skates well, and throws his body around. Plus, he's starting to get time with the top lines and his point totals look to be going up. Draft Stock: I already had him fairly higher, but he might move up even higher.

Kevin Lynch: Not the prettiest player to watch, but very effective. Can stickhandle around any defender one-on-one, though I'm not quite sure how. Draft Stock: Should stay about the same.

U-17 stuff to come...

Articles of Interest

Don't look now, folks, but we're a mere 2 1/2 weeks away from Michigan's exhibition games and 3 1/2 weeks away from dropping the puck for real!

That paper I don't really link to anymore had a really good article about 2010 commit Luke Moffatt. MHNet has the link if you'd like to read it. (Thanks to Kenny for giving me the heads up about that article.) The whole Moffatt family packed up and moved to Ann Arbor when Luke started playing for Compuware so it sounds like he's solid as a rock about going the college hockey route. Nice to hear.

Freshman numbers are out! Greg Pateryn will be wearing #2. Brandon Burlon gets Matt Hunwick's #6. Luke Glendening will wear 23. David Wohlberg is #25. Robbie Czarnik will be #27. Here's something that I think is news: Glendening is on scholarship. And Greg Pateryn has officially taken the "Freshman who looks closer to 35 years old than 18" title from Greg Oden.

The USA Under 18 team kicked off their season with a 5-4 ot win over the USHL's Indiana Ice over at The Cube. Kevin Lynch scored and Chris Brown had a pair of assists. Brett Bennett, formerly of the NTDP and Boston University, was in net for the Ice.

Max Pacioretty is expecting to play in Hamilton this year. Le sigh.

Lee Moffie may be moving to the USHL for this season. He's one of 27 players listed on the Waterloo Blackhawks roster at the moment, and they'll be carrying 24 into the season. Apparently the coach wants to get a look at the guys on the bubble in the preseason before making a final decision on the roster. There are 9 defensemen listed on the roster, but I believe only two of them are returning from last year.

Summers Gets an A

In what should be a shocker to absolutely no one, Chris Summers will be wearing an A for Michigan next season. The coaches didn't name a third captain at this time.

I resisted the urge to make a "Take a picture, someone on our team got an A" joke, since, ya know, no one was on the CCHA All-Academic Team last year. I'm sure The Ann Arbor News will have that one for ya.

Also, Mike Van Ryn was traded from Florida to Toronto for Bryan McCabe. And his wife is a former Miami Dolphins' cheerleader. Well done, Mike. Would it be allowed for us to put pictures of our ex-players and their hot girlfriends/wives into the media guide? It seems like our alums do pretty well for themselves...