Class of 2012 on TPS Part 3

Continuing the recap of The Pipeline Show's year-long coverage of the 2012 NHL Draft, below are the pertinent interviews that took place on the show during the months of December 2011 and January 2012.

If you missed the first two parts of this series, you can check them both out here at your leisure: (Part 1) and (Part 2). 

December on TPS is World Junior month. There are four marquee events on our yearly schedule that we refer to as our 4 Majors and the World Junior Championship is the first of them.

Photo: WHL

Czech goalie Patrik Bartosak spoke to us about his desire to play for his country, why he thinks the Czechs have struggled so badly in the last decade, the reasons for him coming to the CHL and his season to that point with the Red Deer Rebels. 

Michigan Wolverines freshman Phil Di Giuseppe was our guest on December 7th. Did the early season surprise have the WJC on his agenda at the start of the year? He would briefly talk to Dean Millard once again a few days later after camp began.

Jim Johansson is the Executive Director for USA Hockey's U20 program. He spoke with us about the 29-man camp roster that would eventually descend on Camrose, AB before the WJC. That list included one Jacob Trouba.


Saskatoon Blades netminder Andrey Makarov boldly told us well before Russia's camp that not only was he invited to take part but that he'd already been named to the WJC roster. This interview sparked some controversy among Russian listeners and posters on various message boards. 

Photo: Tim Smith

Swiss import Alessio Bertaggia had a strong year for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL. When we chatted on December 10th, he spoke at length about coming to North America, his controversial appearance last year at Portland Winterhawks camp, his play with the Wheaties and of course, his anticipation of playing in the WJC for Switzerland. 


He didn't end up on the final roster but defenceman Cody Ceci impressed during both the summer and December camps for Canada. He was on our guest list on December 13th.

Russian insider Dmitry Chesnokov gave us his run down on the Russian WJC team including his take on guys like Mikhail Grigorenko, Nail Yakupov and Andrey Makarov. 


The ISS Draft Countdown for December 17th featured Ross MacLean speaking on several 2012 eligible players who were vying for attention at the WJC. The list included Ryan Murray, Tanner Pearson, Ville Pokka, Jacob Trouba and Alessio Bertaggia. 


Aaron Vickers from Future Considerations joined us from Calgary on New Year's Eve where Pool A was based during the WJC. He gave us his thoughts on the Swedes and the Russians. 


January began, as you would expect, with a recap of the WJC. The ISS Draft Countdown on January 7th was just that - Ross MacLean going over who he felt impressed and who did not during the 10-day tournament. Obviously, the Swedes figure prominently so expect to hear all about Sebastian Collberg and Filip Forsberg. 

Photo: Andy Devlin

We'd spoken to him once before, way back in early May of 2011, but when we spoke with Henrik Samuelsson this year, it was about his decision to leave the Swedish Elite League to come play for the Edmonton Oil Kings. We got to him before he had played his first WHL game on January 10th. 

WHL area scout Rick Jackson joined us on January 14th to discuss NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings. Some terrific insight into players from the WHL here. 

He was the last player cut from Canada's Ivan Hlinka team in August so Troy Bourke had been playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. The Prince George Cougar and Edmonton native talked to us about that and more when he guested on January 17th.   

Photo: USHL

The USHL took over the ISS Draft Countdown on January 21st as a lead in to that league's top prospect game. Ross MacLean discussed Matt DeBlouw, Mike Matheson, Kevin Roy, Justin Schmatlz and more. 


Live from the USHL Top Prospect Game in Muskegon Michigan, North Dakota recruit Justin Schmaltz spoke with TPS in this postgame interview.  


Guy flew down to take in the USHL Top Prospect Game but joined Dean from the event during the third period and filed this report.


Our CHL Insider Sam Cosentino, who joins us every Tuesday during the season, previewed the CHL Top Prospects Game. 

Photo: USHL

Two of the standout players from the USHL Top Prospects Game were Fargo's Austin Farley and Lincoln's Kevin Roy. Another USHL player that caught Guy's eye in Muskegon was big Canadian blueliner Mike McKee of the Lincoln Stars. Guy also spoke with a number of other USHL players invited to the event including: A.J. Michaelson, Brian Cooper, Lincoln head coach Chad Johnson, Jon Gillies, Mark Yanis, Matt Caito, Matt DeBlouw, Robbie Baillargeon, Stephon Williams and Vince Hinostroza. Many of these interviews were not played on TPS and have never been heard before. 

To hear some analysis on the game and of Farley and Roy in particular, listen here. 

A power forward who we can honestly say that we were pumping the tires of before anyone else was Edmonton Oil King Mitch Moroz. He joined us on January 31st before more people started to clue in that Edmonton had a player that was really flying under the radar.