Goin' to Camp

A couple of Husky Hockey players recently made headlines at their Prospect Development Camps:

Current St. Cloud State forward Nick Oslund and incoming freshmen defenseman Nick Jensen participated in the Red Wing's Development Camp. In this article with the Detroit Free Press, Nick Oslund commented that he still could not stop thinking about how the Huskies season ended last year. Oslund said, "My primary focus is at St. Cloud. Last spring, losing that game to go to the Frozen Four, it stings everyone on our team." He went on to say, "We have a good group of guys coming back, so we know the potential is there." I am glad to hear that although our boys are hard at work at Development Camp they are still gearing up for the year at St. Cloud. I couldn't agree more with Oslund's assessment that "the potential is there". St. Cloud State should have another fantastic season and could very well be a top team in the WCHA and in NCAA Div. I hockey as a whole.

Goalie Mike Lee came into St. Cloud State last year with high expectations. Despite a somewhat mediocre start, Lee did end up leading SCSU to their first NCAA tournament win. During the regular season, Mike Lee ended up splitting time in the net with Dan Dunn to form one of the best goaltending tandems in college hockey. Personally, I believe he will continue to improve at St. Cloud State and could end up as one of the best goalies ever to play for the Huskies. During the summer, Lee spent time at the Phoenix Coyotes Development Camp. During the development camp Mike Lee talked about winning the gold medal at the World Junior Championships and about his first year at St. Cloud State. About his freshment year, Mike said, "I’m glad to get that one year under my belt and I’m looking forward to a new year." Me too Mike...me too.

O Captain! My Captian!

A couple of former Sioux Falls Stampede captains have recently made some news:

Thomas Vanek (alumni '99-'02) was recently featured on Puck Daddy for his theme song of the Thomas Vanek biography.



Andrew Carroll ('03-'05) recently signed a contract with the ECHL Greenville Road Warriors.

Last, but not least (and definitely the most exciting part of this post) Nate Prosser ('03-'06) signed a 1 year contract with the Minnesota Wild! According to Wild GM Chuck Fletcher, Prosser, "fared well" and "played at a level I don't think any of us thought he could play at that quickly." Other sources are reporting that Nate has " a legitimate chance to make the team." Needless to say, I would be SUPER PUMPED if the MN Wild had BOTH a former SCSU Husky and a Sioux Falls Stampede player on their roster next year.

SCSU Alumni News

• Obviously the biggest news for SCSU hockey Alumni is the signing of Matt Cullen to the MN Wild. See my previous post for more on that.
• Ryan Lasch (Husky all time leader in points, goals, assists, SOG,GWG... okay, so one of the best Huskies ever) signed with a team in the Swedish Elite Leauge. Hopefully he will do well there an make it back here it the NHL.
• Former SCSU captain Casey Borer has resigned with the Carolina Hurricanes for a 1 year deal. This is after Casey Borer and fellow SCSU alum Joe Jensen were hurt in a hockey bus crash in 2009.
• Tim Conboy, former SCSU tough guy, has signed a 1 year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
• Former SCSU standout Andrew Gordon signed a 1 year contract with the Washington Capitols. This is after he helped the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup victories. He ranked 2nd in goals for his team and tied for 2nd in goals in the league.
• Craig Gaudet, who served the role of healthy scratch more than anyone in SCSU Div. 1 history, has signed a pro-contract with the ECHL Alaska Aces.
• Tim Boron, SCSU goalie '03-'06, has signed with his former CHL team the Colorado Eagles. I was fortunate enough to see Tim Boron play as a Mississippi River King last season. He was looking good.
• General News- SCSU alum Mike Doyle was recently at the SCSU hockey alumni golf tournament. You can read his comments here and see his pictures here. Mike Doyle, former Husky hockey player AND Sioux Falls Stampede player, continues his work with the Huskies as a commentator for Husky Productions and blogs about Husky hockey here.
  

Matt Cullen...the newest member to the Wild!

Probably the most exciting news for SCSU Husky Hockey fans this off-season was the addition of Matt Cullen (SCSU Alum '95-'97) to the Minnesota Wild. Matt Cullen will provide the Wild with a solid, quality #2 center which they have been sorely lacking in for some time now. Cullen has been close to a 50 point guy for several seasons, he can win faceoffs, can play powerplay and penalty-kill, and HE HAS WON A STANLY CUP! Matt Cullen is a perfect fit for the MN Wild and best of all he is an SCSU alum. According to the Wild's GM Chuck Fletcher, "He was our first priority today, and we're very fortunate and thrilled to have signed Matt". Cullen will be a great asset to the Wild and will be much better for the Wild than their previous SCSU alum Mark Parrish (SCSU Alum '95-'97). (However, a big part of Mark Parrish leaving the Wild was his relationship with previous coach Jacques Lemaire.)

Below are a couple of YouTube videos to get you pumped up for Cullen's return to Minnesota!

First Post

Well, this is my first post for the Husky Hockey Time Blog. The reason this blog was created is because I am an avid SCSU Husky Hockey fan and I wanted a venue to share my passion. I was a student at St. Cloud State University from 2002-2006. I then moved to Memphis, TN for my wife to attend graduate school. I have recently completed my Master's degree and therefore was looking for a new hobby... this blog will become my new hobby. This blog will contain mostly items related to St. Cloud State hockey and the WCHA; however, I will also be writing about the Minnesota Wild (NHL) and the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL). I hope you enjoy.