Connor Carrick will not be playing on the Michigan hockey team in the fall. Friday he signed with the Plymouth Whalers losing his college eligibility.

From the Detroit Free Press:

“It doesn’t make me all warm and fuzzy to retract on my word,” Carrick said today by telephone. “I am a guy who puts a lot of value in what I say. Situations change, and a lot has changed in two years.”

Before this decision, Michigan had 8 defeseman to choose from for this season. Four of them were a lock which means four guys would be fighting for 2 spots.

Plymouth has told him he will be a top 4 defenseman this year, guaranteeing him a lot of ice time. There was no guarantee of that at Michigan this season or next season for that matter–Lee Moffie will be the only senior dman on the team this year.

Making this decision, regardless of how difficult it was, felt like the right decision for him. Congratulations to Connor and all the best! I’m looking forward to him showing up all the statistics that say he doesn’t have a shot. With someone like Connor, anything is possible, especially through hard work and determination. This kid has lots of it!

Free Agency Notes

From what I could tell, only one Wolverine changed homes on Sunday.

David Moss signed with the Phoenix Coyotes Sunday to a two year deal. Moss has played the last six years with the Calgary Flames.

It’s that lovely time of year. A bunch of 18 year olds, some getting ready to go to college while others are electing to play juniors, are preparing for the rest of their hockey lives.

What team is going to draft me?  Where will I end up? Will I even play for the team that does draft me?

There are so many questions and so many variables that go into this weekend. One things for sure, these kids have earned every right to enjoy this weekend and all the draft has to offer them!

Who does Michigan have representing them in this year’s draft?

Phil Di Giuseppe just finished his freshman year in the maize and blue uniform. Going into the world junior tournament last December, he was third in overall points on the team with 14 (6 goals and 8 assists). He was selected to try out for Team Canada, but didn’t make the cut. He finished the season with 11 goals and 15 assists and was awarded CCHA All-Rookie Team Honorable Mention. He’s ranked 22^nd in the NHL Scouting Report.

The USA NTDP will give the Wolverines a few guys this fall.

Connor Carrick (defense), ranked 124^th in the NHL Scouting Report, has a good shot from the blue line. He’s not the biggest guy on the ice, but he’s a hard worker, the grinder type who won’t back down from anything. He’s also doesn’t back away from physical play, liking more to be involved in it than waiting in the wings. Many a time, I sat in the stands at the cube and Carrick was involved in some sort of scuffle. He’s smart on and off the ice and you can usually find him in the weight room.

Jacob Trouba (defense), ranked 9^th in the NHL Scouting Report, is being projected as a first round draft pick. Trouba has played for team USA in the last two World Junior Championships, winning two gold medals.

From Allan Muir:

Regarded as one of the best athletes in the draft, he’s a defenseman in the mold of Dion Phaneuf — nasty in his own end with the ability to make things happen in the offensive zone as well. He’s quick on his feet and makes the most of his size to intimidate opposing forwards. If there’s a chance to make the big hit, he’s happy to oblige. He’s aggressive with the puck and has a big bomb from the point. There are some questions about his ability to read the game defensively, but if a team thinks they can address this, Trouba could mature into a top-two defender.

Trouba has been in Pittsburgh since Wednesday participating in activities for the top prospects like taking batting practice at PNC Park and media day. Follow is twitter for updates.

I’ll be biting my nails over the next 24 hours while the draft is on…

A huge good luck to our Wolverines and just because, a huge good luck to Collin Olson (Ohio State)—favorite goalie ever!!, Brady Skjei (Minnesota), and Frank Vatrano (Boston College).

#1team1dream

If you follow any of the u-18 Team USA hockey players on twitter, they have been adding that hashtag to their posts over the last 2 weeks during the IIHF U-18 World Championship.

Team USA went into the tournament playing for their fourth straight Gold medal.

On a Sunday morning in the United States, Sunday afternoon in the Czech Replic, Team USA accomplished that goal beating Sweden 7-0.

Commence the celebration!

I paid the $7.99 to watch the game on FastHockey.com. I’d like to think that this was one of the best choices I’ve ever made in how to spend my money!

Seeing Team USA dominate Sweden and capitalize off of so many Sweden miscues was wonderful. This team has been together for 2 hockey seasons now and has worked so hard for the opportunity to win gold for the fourth time in a row. They didn’t want to be the team to ruin the dynasty!

screen cap of the Celebration

The first and only goal in the first period was scored by Notre Dame recruit, Thomas DiPauli. Ohio State recruit and my personal favorite goalie, Collin Olson, stopped 11 shots in that frame.

Goals in the second period were scored by Danny O’Regan. Danny is from Massachusetts and came to Ann Arbor a few times this spring to play with Team USA.

The third goal of the game was scored by Michigan recruit J.T. Compher. He had a 2 on 1 breakaway, kep the puck, and sniped it top shelf. The water bottle sitting on top of the net actually flew up into the air from the speed of the shot!

The fourth goal was scored by Wisconsin recruit Nic Kerdiles.

Olson faced 10 shots in the second period.

The third period saw another three goals scored. The first by Miami University recruit Ryan Hartman. The second by Michigan recruit Connor Carrick. He striped one from the blue line. I’m not even sure the goalie saw it coming, but he let it rip and before you knew it, it was in the net! The final goal was scored by Kerdiles with 16 seconds remaining in the game.

Collin Olson received the Best Goaltender of the Tournament Award and was named Player of the Game.

Team USA was able to overcome the unthinkable when two days before they were set to fly to the Czech Republic, the International Ice Hockey Federation ruled USA forward Stefan Matteau was ruled ineligible. Stefan was born in the United States, but had lived in Canada for several years. Since he hadn’t played hockey in the United States for a full two years before this tournament, the IIHF said he was not eligible. Imagine the heartbreak Stefan and his teammates faced knowing he couldn’t play. He has been on the team with them since the beginning, dreaming and working hard together for this tournament.

Team USA really showed the IIHF! You can’t hold them down!

It’s hard to believe these two years have come to an end. I’m really going to miss having these guys in Ann Arbor. The current U-17 team and all other kids looking to be a part of the NTDP have some big shoes to fill. Dedication, hard work, and leadership are all qualities the u-18s have.

Sunday at 10 am, you should turn on TSN and watch the U-18 IIHF World Championship. If you don’t have TSN, you can watch the game on FastHockey.com. Fast Hockey does require you to register and pay to watch the game ($7.99).

Why?

• We are Americans and our Team is going for their 4^th gold medal in a row!
• We have an amazing team that consists of college bound players—except for a few, one is going to the Q and at least 3 are only juniors!
• This is the future of hockey in America as we know it!
• Seth Jones, a junior forward, is predicted as being the number 1 pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and he currently sits in a tie for 14^th overall in the tournament with 3 goals and 4 assists. He’s also received 2 Best Player of the Game awards this tournament.

And if American pride and watching good, quality hockey won’t persuade you, four Michigan recruits are involved in tomorrow’s gold medal game vs. Sweden.

This is not a typo, 4 Michigan recruits!

Connor Carrick (D), Jacob Trouba (D), and Jared Rutledge (G) will all be on campus in August. J.T. Compher is a junor forward who will be in Ann Arbor next August.

Compher is tied for 9^th overall on +/- ratio with +6. Tied with teammate Brady Skjei who will be a Minnesota Golden Gopher come fall.

Ohio State recruit—don’t hold it against him—Collin Olson is listed as the number one goalie in the tournament with a save percentage of 95.51% through 4 games.

Jared Rutledge has played one game and he shut out Denmark, who USA beat 4-0.

So watch the game tomorrow!

USA! USA! USA!

For my 100th post, I am super excited to announce that Connor Carrick has signed his National Letter of Intent for the University of Michigan!

Fresh off helping the U-18 USA NTDP win gold in Switzerland last week at the Four Nations Cup, the defenseman signed and mailed his letter on Wednesday. The early signing period began last week while he was in Europe.

From NHL.com:

U.S. defenseman Connor Carrick led all defenders in the tournament with 3 points.

Through 17 games this year, Connor has scored two goals and assisted on three more.

Congratulations, Connor!

Michigan played their second and final exhibition game on Monday night when the hosted the team from literally 2 miles down the road–the under 18 USA NDTP–beating them 3-1. 

The first period was owned by the under 18 squad who got on the board first six minutes into the game on a goal from Nicolas Kerdiles. Assists came from Michigan recruit Jacob Trouba and Minnesota-Duluth recruit Kyle Osterberg.

Michigan was able to tie it up eight minutes later when Lindsay Sparks scored. Michigan outshot Team USA 12-7 in the first period, but Team USA had control of the game. USA was winning battles, was first to the puck, and was passing circles around the maize and blue. There was a lot of chasing going on with moments of clarity…

Then again, Michigan had seven of their freshman in the lineup, so you knew going into the game that it was going to be a bumpy ride, with only the game against Ontario Institute of Technology two nights before.

The second period saw 12 shots on goal for Michigan, but 14 shots on goal for Team USA. The tempo was taken up a notch, and Michigan seemed to start figuring things out. They began fighting back against the Team USA attack and creating some chances of their own.

USA defeseman and Michigan recruit Connor Carrick had to skate back to save what would have been a Michigan breakaway and distracted the forward enough that he only hit the post. Gasps were uttered around Yost Ice Arena, although their seemed to be hardly anyone in attendance–maybe 600 people?

Also in the second period, Michigan was able to score on a power play and take the lead for the eventual win when Luke Moffat found the back of the net.

The third period was when Michigan actually started looking like a team. All of a sudden they weren’t chasing Team USA around the ice, but skating with them and then eventually causing Team USA to have to chase the puck.  They started throwing their weight around.

Michigan increased their lead one minute into the third period which seemed to set the tone. Freshman Phil DiGiuseppe scored his second goal in as many games. He looks like a kid who is going to be fun to watch this year and is really finding his feet on the ice with his new teammates.

Random Notes:

Lindsay Sparks was EVERYWHERE last night….all over the ice and scored a goal.

The only time  I really saw Chris Brown was when he almost got into a fight with Connor Carrick in the third period. He was on the scoresheet with an assist, but the big guy really wasn’t knocking any of the high schoolers around like you would have figured he would. In fact, the high schoolers seemed to be knocking Michigan around a whole lot more than they were knocked around!

I am a HUGE Chris Brown fan, so I was shocked that I didn’t hear more of the high schoolers hitting the boards or landing on the ice.

****UPDATE******I guess Chris Brown knew I was writing about him because he just scored a goal to put U-M up 5-0 over Niagra in their first official game of the season!! WOHOOO Chris!!!

AND Lindsay Sparks has a hattrick!! Wowsers this is a different team than the one I saw play on Monday night!*******

A.J. Treais was 12/16 in the faceoff circle and had 2 assists.

This team has a LOT to work on, but I think with time they will work a lot of their kinks out. It also doesn’t help that their All CCHA Rookie team defenseman Jon Merrill is sitting out for another 10 games with a suspension for violating team rules. The good news is the newbies are getting some very needed playing time. There are a lot of holes that need to be filled…only a matter of finding the right group of guys on the ice.