2015 Draft Spotlight: Erik Foley

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Another forward of note from the USHL for the 2015 NHL Draft is Erik Foley of the Cedar Rapids Roughriders. The Massachusetts native is a long way from home right now but enjoying a fine season at the top of the USHL standings. 

Foley's year began in the Czech Republic representing his country at the scouting showcase that is the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament. His play there and in Cedar Rapids has earned him a top-60 ranking from NHL Central Scouting on their mid-term list. 

We were happy to have Foley on The Pipeline Show in early December where we got to know more of his personality and background. The well spoken Foley is headed to Providence College next season to join the Friars which is just one of the things we talked about. 

If you missed Foley's appearance on TPS, no worries, we have it for you after the jump. 

2015 Draft Spotlight: Brock Boeser

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He helped USA capture another gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge and currently leads the Waterloo Black Hawks in scoring with 23 goals and 42 points through 32 games. If you're looking for a power forward with an offensive touch, don't look past Brock Boeser. 

Boeser, (pronounced Bess-er), is a Minnesota native in his first full season in the USHL. After playing 8 games with Sioux City last year, Boeser resurfaced with Waterloo this season and, despite the team's last place standing, the soon-to-be 18-year-old has impressed.

We featured Boeser during our 2015 Draft Spotlight segment on December 13th, during the World Junior A Challenge. At that time we discussed the tournament, getting the chance to represent his country, his uncertain NCAA future, his WHL option and more. 

You can hear that interview after the jump.

2013 Draft Blog: Eamon McAdam Pt.5

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Our season of guest player blogs is nearing its end. Curtis Lazar wrapped his series of entries up last week and now it's time for Eamon McAdam to do the same.

We've had a lot of players blog with us over the years but for whatever reason, we haven't had a lot of goaltenders. Mike Lee (PHX) in 2009 is the only one that immediately comes to mind. Maybe that had something to with how great it was to have Eamon McAdam on board with us all year, having the goalie perspective is often unique. 

We've gotten to know Lazar quite well because he plays right in our own back yard. With Eamon, it's different but through his entries this year and in private correspondence it's easy to tell that he's a guy with a high level of character. It's been a pleasure to read his four previous submissions to the blog and I'm sure this last one will be just as interesting. 

On a side note, both Curtis and Eamon will join us on The Pipeline Show one last time before the draft, this coming Saturday June 22nd 10am-Noon MST (Noon-2pm EST). 

Now, here's Eamon McAdam...  

Fargo Raises the Video Bar

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We've seen several hockey teams produce very entertaining videos before but the one I stumbled across today takes it to another level. 

In a time when it seems like everyone is either doing a "Gangnam Style parody", a Christmas video or this new Harlem Shake thing, it's refreshing to see a team step out and do something completely original. 

Check out what the Fargo Force have put together to as part of their 2013-14 season ticket drive. It's very well done.

2013 Draft Blog: Eamon McAdam Pt.3

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The Pipeline Show's annual series of blogs written by draft eligible players continues again with another chapter from one of the key goalies available in 2013. 

The first chapter of Eamon McAdam's blog series this season arrived back on October 7th. Part 2 was posted at the tail end of November after striking gold at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge in Nova Scotia which you can read about HERE. 

Recapping the last two months and the USHL Top Prospects Game, The Pipeline Show is pleased to be able to present the third blog entry from Waterloo Black Hawks goaltender Eamon McAdam.

Open Letter: CHL & NCAA

During all the CHLPA hoopla last week there was one chapter in the series I wrote which touched on the possibility of CHL players retaining their NCAA eligibility. While that may in the end prove to be nothing more than a pipe dream, the conversation about whether it would be a good idea or not was definitely interesting. 

I received a letter from an owner of a USHL franchise which outlined his opinion on the subject and I found it intriguing. Here is the owner of a team from a league largely considered to be a gateway to the NCAA and, to some extent, in competition for players with the CHL. 

I asked the owner for his permission to post the letter and he agreed. After the jump, an open letter from Josh Mervis, owner of the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks on whether allowing CHL players into the NCAA hockey should be considered.

2013 Draft Blog: Eamon McAdam Pt.1

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We're pleased to have the second member of the NHL draft Class of 2013 contributing the first chapter of his ongoing blog series with us this year. Goaltender Eamon McAdam is top rated goaltender from the USHL according to NHL Central Scouting's preliminary Future Watch release. 

Eamon joins Curtis Lazar as the first two players we have recruited to give us a behind the scenes look at life for a NHL prospect in his draft season.

Without further ado, here is the debut blog entry from Eamon McAdam of the Waterloo Black Hawks.

As we told you, Roy frowns on Brown

If you score 54 goals in a top junior league, teams will take notice, and like we reported during the Mastercard Memorial Cup -  that's the case with USHL sniper Kevin Roy.

The 'Iron Lung' Gets an Update

Our Friends at Buzzing The Net recently penned a story about life on the road for a WHL play-by-play broadcaster. It's a great read, check it out. 

Reading that Yahoo! story reminded me of something I saw earlier this season from the USHL. The Youngstown Phantoms shot a quick video tour of their bus and I was really impressed by the set up the team has. 

I'm betting the more remote teams in the WHL wouldn't mind having a similar ride.

Here's the video.   

Leagues Enjoy Draft Success

211 players were selected at the 2012 NHL Draft and they come from all over North America and Europe. Some have been playing professionally in place like Sweden or the Czech Republic, others are headed to or already are collegians. Nearly half played in the Canadian Hockey League while a good number were found in American high schools or in the USHL. 

This is not a post meant to compare the numbers by league in order to pronounce one superior to others. What follows is simply a celebration of the diverse paths players can take on their way to achieving their dream of perhaps one day playing in the NHL. 

Tarasov's AHL Deal is Good for the USHL

The USHL announced yesterday that Indiana Ice forward Daniil Tarasov has signed an AHL contract with the Worcester Sharks (SJ) for next season. This is great news for him and it's also a banner moment for the United states Hockey League as well.

Why? Read On.

Border Skirmish Brewing Between AJHL and USHL

The player recruitment battle has been waged for a long time but usually we're talking about players choosing between the CHL and the NCAA. Over the past week or so on The Pipeline Show we've uncovered another facet to the conversation, one which could evolve into something even nastier.

Everyone knows that both the CHL and NCAA are viable options for prospects to choose from to achieve their goal of one day playing professional hockey. The differences between the two paths are many and players must make a major decision between them because trying the CHL eliminates the NCAA. 

But what we've seen develop over the last couple of weeks is completely different. Now we're seeing one NCAA feeder league adding players at the expense of another NCAA feeder league therefore creating an all new twist to the cross border fight for players. 

Kevin Roy named USHL POY: Where will he play next year?

A record setting year has brought hardware to Lincoln Stars forward Kevin Roy, as he was named the player of the year in the USHL today.  Full details can be found here.  As for where he will play next year, read on!!!

2012 Draft Blog: Mike Matheson Pt.4

Michael Matheson is a native of Quebec who just finished playing his rookie season in the USHL for the defending champion Dubuque Fighting Saints. His first blog entry here with us was made public back on October 3rd and gave readers a sense of where he's come from and what has led to the position he is in today. He continued his 2011-12 story with chapter 2 at the end of November. The blueliner added a third entry in mid-February.

Here now is the fourth chapter in the 2012 Guest Player Blog written by defenceman Mike Matheson.

Record setting night in USHL

What a night for Chicago Blackhawk prospect Alex Broadhurst.  The forward for the USHL Green Bay Gamblers set multiple league records Tuesday as his Gamblers beat Youngstown 6-3.

Roy Continues Assault on USHL

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Lincoln Stars 18-year-old rookie Kevin Roy has already established the USHL's tier I single season goal record but now he's within grasping distance of two other notable milestones. With 9 games remaining on the USHL schedule, Roy is closing in on 50 goals and 100 points, achievements not seen since before the league went tier I ten seasons ago.

Top Prospect Games Hurt by Absences?

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The CHL Top Prospect game will be played on Wednesday but the shadow of injuries to the Class of 2012 hangs over this year's showcase. Certainly the game will still be worth attending or watching from home but it's impossible to ignore the fact that the absence of several key players is a blow to this year's event.

When you consider the same was the case with last week's inaugural USHL Top Prospects game (and the US-NTDP tied up with exams), it really is an unfortunate year for the class of eligible players. Of the top 30 players ranked by ISS in January, only 11 will have taken part in either the CHL or USHL Top Prospects Game. 6 of those 30 are European based so ineligible anyway but still, less than half of the ISS first round?

Maybe the Central Scouting list will be more applicable because it separates the North Americans from Europeans. Don't get your hopes up.

McKee Finds Fit in USHL

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The USHL Top Prospects Game featured a number of the top draft eligible players in the league with the exception of those from the US-NTDP and a couple key players unfortunately sidelined by injury. The vast majority of the skaters who were on hand in Muskegon, Michigan this past Tuesday were of the smallish, skilled variety with a couple of exceptions.

One was an 18-year-old behemoth patrolling the blueline for Team West named Mike McKee. The nearly 6'5, 232 lb rearguard definitely stuck out from the group because of his size but also because of his passport; McKee is Canadian.

On The Road: TPS Hits the USHL

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The Pipeline Show is hitting the road once again. We've made the effort over the years to try an attend as many of the major events as possible that we feature on our show. Whether it was at the World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, the Memorial Cup in Brandon the RBC Cup in Prince George, the NHL Draft in Minnesota or various Hockey Canada camps, Deano has done his fair share.

Now that my kids are a bit older, it's a bit easier for me to get away. I've covered some Hockey Canada stuff, the World Junior A Challenge, the CHL Top Prospects Game and obviously the recent WJC tournament, conveniently located in our back yard, but I want to travel a bit further than I have been able to.

Last April I was able to check out the Frozen Four in Minnesota and that was an awesome experience. It was my first taste of college hockey but it will definitely not be my last.

This week, it's another first for me and for TPS; The USHL.

Matheson Addresses CHL Rumors

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First it was Boston University's Charlie Coyle leaving for Saint John. Then it was Cam Reid leaving St. Cloud for Portland. Recent collegiate defections to the CHL have some people on edge and ready to believe any small suggestion that might point to another seemingly NCAA-bound player choosing his other option and heading to major junior.

The Moncton Wildcats traded impact defenceman Brandon Gormley to the Memorial Cup host Shawinigan Cataractes last week, before the QMJHL deadline, and got a pretty good return. 6 draft picks, including a 1st in the 2013 CHL Import draft, and the rights to defenceman Michael Matheson.

Yes, the same Michael Matheson who is eligible for the 2012 NHL draft this June and has been one of the players blogging for The Pipeline Show this year from his current home with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.

So will the defenceman leave the Fighting Saints and report to Moncton? More after the jump...