Tag Archives: Ohio State

Vitamins…

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Today is the first day college coaches are able to call players born in 1996 and to no surprise, Mason Morelli has received quite a bit of interest.

Fargo Force assistant and director of player personnel Jesse Davis said this afternoon numerous college coaches asked for Morelli’s phone number so they could gauge his interest.

“It’s all across the board,” Davis said about the geographic range of schools interested in Morelli. “We had a lot of schools at our camp and from all different areas and we also had close to 50 college coaches at our tryouts. There have been WCHA schools, guys from out East and everyone else trying to get a hand in there to see where he is leaning. Is he Ivy League? Will he come out east? Will he play in the Big Ten? That’s why today is big for the college level and now they’ve seen his talent level and they want to see if they can get him in school.”

Davis declined to name specific schools when he was asked if the University of North Dakota did enquirer about Morelli. He said “it wasn’t a hidden secret” there is interest in Morelli.

Morelli will feature in the team’s plans next year having made what was certainly one of the biggest jumps of any player prior to the USHL Futures Draft a few months ago.

The Minot, N.D. native was on the Force’s radar and the team appeared to be set to take him without what could have been much opposition. It is until Morelli messed up those plans by scoring a hat trick in the opening game at the futures combine.

It resulted in his stock increasing and on draft day, the Force traded up to No. 3 to get him.

At 16 years old, he played both high school and junior hockey last season further showing he could be able to handle the demands that come with junior hockey.

Morelli has previously said he would like to play at UND given his grandfather, Reg, scored the game-winning goal in the team’s 1959 title season over Michigan State in the national championship game. His father also played at UND.

Davis said Morelli is one of the many 1996-born Force players colleges have called about today.

One thing Davis has reminded his players is that for now, it is interest and there should be no rush to make a decision.

“We tell them it is not a sprint right now,” he said. “That it is more of a marathon and you have to finish high school and take your time with it.”

Davis cited current forward Dave Gust (Ohio State) as an example.

Gust exploded onto the scene last season following a mid-year call up and his 30-point season resulted in the Force having a No. 1 line which helped them reach the second round of the playoffs.

Gust was a commodity throughout the season but took his time and committed to Ohio State just a few weeks ago.

“We’ve told our kids to do their homework,” he said. “And if they could get some visits in, that’s even better. It is their choice, not anyone else’s.”

A.I.M. Fire…

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Force forward Pavel Zykov only had two points in 20 games this season but there’s a reason why the team’s coaching staff is so high on him.

As it would appear, so is Metallurg in the KHL. Zykov was drafted by Metallurg a few days ago in the KHL Amateur Draft. He was a second round selection by the program famous for producing Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin.

Though the 6-1, 175-pound Zykov is still listed as being part of the CSKA Moscow at the time he was drafted, it appears he was actually the highest and potentially only USHL-based player to be taken in the draft.

For those not familar with the KHL, it is the premier professional league in Russia. It is a league which has become a fertile and at times, challenging ground for NHL teams to take what is considered to be the top talent in the nation.

There are 26 teams spread across seven nations which compete in the league which has gone through quite a few transformations before making the KHL name and brand concrete back in 2008.

It isn’t a complete surprise for KHL teams to draft USHL-based players as Dubuque’s Zemgus Girgensons (Vermont) was drafted last season.

As for Zykov, getting drafted certainly adds to his profile of being what Force director of player personnel Jesse Davis called, “a high-end talent” when the team first acquired him. Davis watched Zykov at a showcase during the season and spoke with his adviser.

It led to both sides entering discussions and Zykov making his way to Fargo where he was the second Russian-born player on the team. Though Zykov’s grasp of English improved, he was typically one of the more quiet players yet well-received players on the team.

Zykov used most to the season to adjust to the league and living in the United States for the first time. He appeared to have a better understanding as he scored his only two points in the Force’s last three games in the regular season.

Davis said via text message the Force will work towards getting Zykov to return next season to team which could feature 15 incumbents and a legitimate shot to capture the Western Conference.

If Zykov does return to the team, it gives the Force another potential “high-end” player on a team which is expected to have quite a few in fellow returners Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth), Gabe Guertler (Minnesota) and Dave Gust (Ohio State).

Yet if Zkyov were to opt for the KHL, he’d be the second player to leave who was expected to return for next season. Forward Jonny Brodzinski’s status had been on the fence until it was determined he was going to be at St. Cloud State next season.

Furthermore, if Zykov were to play in the KHL it would mean he’d become a professional player forgoing his college eligiblity. Davis said when the team first acquired Zykov, that college was an option.

Down By The Ohio…

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Fargo Force director of player personnel Jesse Davis said today forward Dave Gust has committed to Ohio State.

Gust, 18, was a mid-season call up for the Force and turned out to be one of the reasons why they finished fourth in the Western Conference. Gust in 43 games, scored 30 points ranking fifth on the team in scoring.

He combined with forwards Gabe Guertler (Minnesota) and Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth) to become a potent line for the Force during the regular season combining for 20 percent or 90 of the team’s 455 points.

But it was in the playoffs where the group really made its mark accounting for 40 percent of the Force’s points.

The line, known as “The High School Musical”, led the Force in points during the entire postseason. They combined for 12 points with Gust getting three of them off two goals and an assist.

Gust had said during the team’s first-round playoff series he’d be committing to a school before the end of the summer. He apparently didn’t waste any time by choosing Ohio State.

Committing to Ohio State gives the school a class that has depth but has also enjoyed success in midget, prep and junior hockey. Ohio State now has 13 commits and seven, including Gust, are forwards, according to Chris Heisenberg.

Those forwards include Zach Stepan, who scored scored 65 points playing at Shattuck-St. Mary’s (MN-HS) among others. Stepan told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale on Wednesday he would play next season with the Waterloo Black Hawks. Stepan is the cousin of New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan.

Ohio State’s recruiting class also consists of Green Bay forwards Matthew Weis and Nick Schilkey plus NTDP goaltender Collin Olson. The Force said in a release, Gust would go to Ohio State in 2014.

What Ohio State will be getting in Gust is a 5-9, 170-pound forward who used a combination of speed, scoring and playmaking prowess to establish himself during a game.

It was those qualities which prompted the Force’s coaching staff to call up Gust on a permanent basis. Gust, who started the season on the team’s affiliates list, had been playing midget hockey back in his native Chicago.

Teaming up with Guertler and Iafallo gave the line more speed and three players who were able to work well with each other, on or away from the puck. Some of Gust’s performances drew comparison to Force forward Austin Farley (Minnesota-Duluth), who before a foot injury was on pace to shatter several franchise scoring records.

Having all three return for next season gives the Force, what will likely be the team’s No. 1 line. With all three having college commitments and a year of experience, there’s a strong possibility the line could buoy the Force which have up to 16 players returning for next season.

Of the 16 players returning, Gust becomes the fourth with a college commitment joining his linemates and defenseman Justin Wade (Notre Dame).

Stress…

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Anyone watching to catch Zemgus Girgensons (Vermont) during these playoffs might want to look back at some old highlights.

That’s the closest thing you’ll see of Girgensons in any postseason run. The Dubuque Fighting Saints announced Thursday morning Girgensons would be out for the rest of the Clark Cup Playoffs with a fractured jaw he suffered in a Game 2 playoff win over Team USA on Tuesday.

Girgensons, 18, by many accounts is arguably the best player in the United States Hockey League and is projected to be taken in the first round of this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

The Fighting Saints said Girgensons suffered the injury on his very first shift of the game and continued playing with the injury until it became too much.

Girgensons opened the best-of-three series in dominant form scoring three points (2 goals, 1 assists) in a 6-3 win. His lone assist contributed to Dubuque sweeping the series with a 7-3 win in Game 2.

Playing without Girgensons, though not warranted, shouldn’t be too much of an adjustment for the Fighting Saints.

Girgensons suffered through an injury earlier this year leaving him out of the line-up. He also represented his native Latvia in the U-20 World Junior Championships giving the Fighting Saints another stretch where they had to play without their captain.

Dubuque still posses defenseman Michael Matheson (Boston College), another player projected to go into the first round along with fellow blueliners Matthew Caito (Miami (Ohio)) and Michael Downing (Michigan). The team also still has assist Shane Sooth (Northern Michigan) along with the team’s leading goalscorer in Tyler Lundey (Ohio State).

Girgensons, when healthy, showed why he’s one of the more sought-after players in the upcoming draft. He scored 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists) in 49 games this year along with providing his perfunctory two-way role helping the Fighting Saints, which statistically rank as one of the best defense in the entire USHL.

He was part of last season’s title run playing on a line with now-Winnipeg Jets draft pick and Northeastern forward Vinny Saponari and Calgary Flames draft pick/Boston College hero John Gaudreau.

Dubuque, which finished third in the Eastern Conference in the regular season, will opens the second round at Indiana, which had a first-round bye. The best-of-five series begins Friday.

My Team…

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“Nothing good comes easy.”

Those four words have pretty much told the story of Sioux City Musketeers goaltender Matt Skoff over the last year. Skoff used last summer to train and prepare for what was slated to be a promising career at Ohio State.

It didn’t work out leading Skoff to return to Sioux City for a third season where he and defenseman Jordan Schmaltz (North Dakota) would lead the team back to the USHL Playoffs.

Until Schmaltz was traded to the Green Bay Gamblers resulting in an influx of new pieces trying to find cohesion in a tight Western Conference.

Sioux City used the trade to acquire defensemen Dan Molenaar and Andy Ryan (Notre Dame) along with forward David Goodwin (Penn State) overcoming a tough conference and loss of a superstar. Skoff, now a Penn State commit, was the rock throughout it all and hopes to achieve success in that role looking to lead the Musketeers to a first-round upset over the Force in a best-of-three series starting at 7:05 p.m.

“I think right now we have a quiet confidence,” Skoff said. “When we don’t play our game, it’s not going to be very good and when we do play our game, we feel we can beat anyone.”

Skoff’s convictions do have truth.

Sioux City is 5-3 against the Force this season. Skoff, who played in all eight games, has two shutouts against the Force. The Force aren’t the only team Skoff has frustrated this year as his seven shutouts were the second-most in the league behind the Force’s Zane Gothberg (North Dakota).

Skoff might not have the playoff success like a few of his contemporaries but he has proven to be one of the USHL’s steadier goaltenders in the last three seasons having won 69 times. This was Skoff’s strongest year winning a career-high 25 games while establishing career highs in save percentage (.912) and saves (1283).

The plan is to pick up two more wins and in a perfect world, another shutout or two over the Force which could realistically compete for the Western Conference crown this postseason.

It won’t be easy but Skoff and Co. already know that.

“I would say it matters a little bit,” Skoff said of Sioux City winning the season series over Fargo. “Playoff hockey is a lot different. I know its the same game but if you take out the odds, it (the regular season record) does matter. It is not about math. Odds are playing with heart, passion and will. If you out-heart, out-passion and out-will a team, you can be good and quite frankly, upset a team that should beat you.”

Skoff was blunt when he described his team’s game as being one where it has to rely on defense to generate offense. He’s right as Sioux City’s offense ranked 11th in the 16-team league.

The philosophy could pose some challenges given the Force’s are led by one of the more skilled top lines in the league in Austin Farley (Minnesota-Duluth), Bryn Chyzyk (North Dakota) and Colton Hargrove (Western Michigan), who have combined for 146 points this year.

There’s also the Force’s No. 2 line in Gabe Guertler (Minnesota), Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth) and Dave Gust, which might be the strongest line of any first-year players in the USHL.

Stopping high-end talent is something Skoff has had to do frequently this season.

But it is something he expected to be doing in college. He was set for Columbus, Ohio to attend Ohio State but things didn’t work out. Skoff, however, did commit to his homestate Nittany Lions and it sounds like his new plan couldn’t go any better.

“I don’t want to say I am depended upon more but I will say my workload is more,” said Skoff, who was third in games played among goaltenders in the league this season. “I am a leader people look to to make plays and again, I have worked out all summer. I think whether I was supposed to go to college, I was ready for whatever. Things didn’t work out  and I see it as I am here for a reason.”

The Lonely Toilet…

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Maybe we now know the reason why Regg Simon was “happy” to get fired from the Des Moines Buccaneers on Tuesday.

After all, someone did put a toilet in the man’s parking spot the day before he was fired.

Simon, who recently started a Twitter account, tweeted on Monday a photo of a toilet in his parking space under the title of “How Fitting!”

Yep. That’s a toilet. That’s a parking lot. That’s a toilet with a Green Bay Packers sticker in a parking lot.

The Packers sticker is more than likely aimed at the possibility Simon is a Minnesota Vikings fan. He is from Elk River, Minn. which is about 30 or so miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Having a toilet in his parking space is the latest detail in what has certainly been a crazy tale.

Simon told the Des Moines Register on Tuesday in regards to his dismissal, “This is one of the happiest days of my life, and I am glad it happened now rather than later.”

We’ve seen some crazy stuff this season in the USHL.

As of 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, the craziest news appeared to be when Sioux City Musketeers assistant John Grahame signed a contract with the New York Islanders to come out of retirement.

Coaches in the USHL just don’t come out of retirement to go play in the NHL. Then again, they don’t come to work on Monday morning to find toilets in their parking spots either.

Simon, 36, spent nine years with the organization. That’s basically one-fourth of his life. He spent two years as a player and the following seven years either as a head coach or as an assistant. His first stint as head coach saw him win a USHL title back in 2006, when he was coaching players such as Islanders winger Kyle Okposo.

Lately, however, a championship seems like a long time ago. Des Moines is on the verge of missing the playoffs for a fifth-straight season. The team has also lost seven games in a row heading into the weekend.

Firing a “happy” Simon, a toilet in his parking space and possibly missing the playoffs are just the latest problems in Des Moines.

The Bucs also had two players recently charged for allegedly assaulting a Fargo Force player and his 79-year-old grandfather in the stands. Force defenseman Neal Goff admitted to police that, during a March 10th game, he used a racial epithet against Des Moines’ forward Trent Thomas-Samuels, who is black.

Goff, a day later, sat in the stands with his family and, after the game, was immediately assaulted. Police issued arrest warrants last week for Bucs players Tanner Karty and Kevin Irwin (Ohio State) in connection with the assault. Both players were charged with assault.

The team’s struggles have prompted fans to take to various message boards, with most of them speaking out against Simon.

Though no recent comments have been made, there was some talk from Bucs fans about the team firing Simon.

One comment following the team’s 2-1 loss to Sioux Falls on March 18 said, “It’s time some major moves are made in the organization. From coaching all the way to ownership. Buc’s (sic) fans deserve much better and quite frankly are fed up and pissed.”

At least now, those fans have a toilet to vent their frustrations with.

SPECIAL REPORT: Iowa police charge two Des Moines players for allegedly assaulting Force’s Goff

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Des Moines Buccaneers players Kevin Irwin and Tanner Karty are being charged by police in Urbandale, Iowa, according to a release that was issued by authorities on Thursday afternoon.

Irwin, 18, is being charged with two counts of assault causing injury, a serious misdemeanor. Karty, 17, has been referred to the Polk County Juvenile Court with two counts of assault with intent, an aggravated misdemeanor, according to police.

Police said in the release Irwin, an Ohio State commit, will turn himself in when the team returns from its current two-game road trip in Fargo where it faces the Force on Friday.

Irwin and Karty are charged in connection with the alleged assault of Force defenseman Neal Goff and his 79-year-old grandfather, Gerald Pipes, which happened March 10.

Goff, 18, was sitting with his family in the stands when police said he was allegedly assaulted by players from the Des Moines Buccaneers when the game ended.

The assault, police said last week, stems from when Goff called Des Moines’ Trent Thomas-Samuels, who is black, a racial epithet during a game on March 9. Goff admitted to authorities he called Thomas-Samuels a “monkey.”

Goff, days later, was one of three players indefinetely suspended by the USHL for being involved in a criminal investigation. He was also suspended along with Irwin and Karty.

 

Read more about this story in Friday’s edition of The Forum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They Come Back…

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Over the last three days we’ve learned about the altercation that happened between Fargo Force defenseman Neal Goff and three members of the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Goff, 18, played in last Friday’s game at Des Moines and in the game used a racial epithet towards Des Moines’ Trent Samuels-Thomas, who is black. Police and USHL officials confirmed Goff called Samuels-Thomas “a monkey.”

Goff was scratched for last Saturday’s game. He was sitting with his family and then, according to police, he along with his 79-year-old grandfather were assaulted by three members of the Des Moines Buccaneers in lieu of what he said to Samuels-Thomas.

The USHL said Friday Goff and Des Moines players, Kevin Irwin (Ohio State) and Tanner Karty, were all indefinitely suspended because they are all part of a legal investigation.

With the last few days generating many opinions, we sat down with junior hockey expert, Chris M. Peters, who is editor at the United States of Hockey. Here’s what Peters had to say during a Q and A session on Saturday afternoon:

 

Q: What is your reaction towards the incident?

A: I guess my initial reaction was a little bit of shock because I had really never heard of anything like that as far as what happened on the ice with the racial slur and then the aftermath with the alleged assault in the stands. You hear about that in high school hockey or something like that where there is high tension because of rival schools but with junior hockey there is a certainly level of professionalism. I was a little bit surprised to hear how this all spiraled downward to what happened on the ice and in the stands. You are talking about a 79-year-old man being involved. You worry about this being a more significant incident than it ended up. Shock and disappointment were my first two reactions but now I am waiting for how it all pans out in the end. You hope it gets resolves quickly but it does sound like it will take a while.

Q: How did you think the league handled the incident in regards to the indefinite suspension?

A: I don’t think there is any playbook for something like this. In terms of public relations, this is something you would call crisis management. The first step to suspend players indefinitely was a good move. That was a smart first step. The league also talked about letting it play out through the authorities and the proper legal channels which I thought was the right move. It stretches beyond hockey. They (as in the parties involved in the altercation) need to focus on something other than hockey due to actions they took. From not only a public relations standpoint but what you have to do what is best for these players and that was the right move.

Q: Do you feel this incident will affect the image of the USHL, the Fargo Force, the Des Moines Buccaneers or the players involved?

A: It doesn’t affect anyone more than the rest of the individual players. The names are out there and now though we know Neal Goff used a racial epithet during a game is pretty severe but we have to realize these guys are still 18 and 19 years old. You cannot excuse what they did but they are young and developing adults. They have a lot of personal development left ahead of them. I hope this is something we don’t tend to see in the future. In terms of the league, I don’t think it will make them look bad but it has an impact on both teams. When a player does something you have to look at the organization and why these things happened. At the same time, you cannot put it all on the organizations because these kids made poor decisions the whole way around. There is no precedent for this. Long term, it affects players more than the league and I think the league has taken the appropriate measures so far. Suspending players does protect league’s image as far as taking appropriate actions.

Q: What’s next for Neal Goff?

A: What is next for him is serving out the suspension how ever long it is and whenever all the legal issues are all resolved. I hope this isn’t something that ruins his career or his young life. This is a serious issue and I don’t think there is any way to defend what he said on the ice. It is one of those heat of the moment mistakes you make and hope it doesn’t haunt him for the rest of his life. I’ve seen people say he shouldn’t play next year or get college opportunities. I read in your article that Phil Housley, his high school coach, said it was uncharacteristic. I hope this is one of those isolated incidents that someone was choosing the wrong words to smack talk an opponent. I am guessing he regrets all of this and I hope he feels guilty about it. Hopefully he can learn going forward. I hope it doesn’t define him.

Q: Given other racially-based incidents in the NHL earlier this year coupled with this latest one, how does hockey’s image look when it comes to diversity?

A: I think its very tough. Hockey has had a long and uncomfortable history with race. Herb Carnegie, a member of the Quebec Aces who died recently, he was denied the opportunity to play in the NHL. Willie O’Ree came along later and broke the color barrier. We are now starting to see more black players in the game. These are all isolated incidents. I’d say more people involved with hockey are open-minded. You are starting to see that with the ‘You Can Play’ project. The NHL’s Diversity Taskforce has made huge gains in diversifying hockey. I think the NHL and what they do trickles down to lower levels. I think we are seeing more open-minded and progressive thinking. I think with something like this, it does set you back but these are actions of individuals but not the actions of the hockey community as a whole. These actions have not been widely accepted. I hope this isn’t another set back but hopefully we’re going to see less and less of it in the future because the vast majority of people in hockey will not stand for something like this.

 

Indefinite Leave To Remain…

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Fargo Force defenseman Neal Goff and Des Moines Buccaneers forwards Kevin Irwin (Ohio State) and Tanner Karty have been indefinitely suspended by the USHL, league spokesman Brian Werger said this afternoon.

Werger said the three have been suspended by the league because they are all involved with a police investigation from an off-ice incident.

Goff, in last Friday’s game against Des Moines, admitted to police he called Buccaneers’ player Trent Thomas-Samuels a racial epithet last Friday.

Goff was scratched by the Force for Saturday’s game. He watched the game in the stands with his family and sitting in front of him were three Buccaneers players, police said on Friday.

When the game ended, the three players then assaulted Goff and his 79-year-old grandfather. Urbandale police officer Jeff Casey said he was unsure if Goff’s grandfather was trying to break up the fight or was a victim.

“The reason it is indefinite right now is because we are awaiting the outcome of the police investigation,” Werger said. “It would be unfair to determine any sort of games for punishment until the outcome of the investigation.”

Goff, 18, is a native of Stillwater, Minn., is in his first season with the Force. The 6-4 defenseman has scored four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 28 games with the Force. Goff, a former Minnesota state track champion, played three seasons at Stillwater (MN-HS) for former NHL star Phil Housley.

Irwin, 18, is from Hinkley, Ohio and is in his second season with the Buccaneers while Karty is a first-year player with the team who is from Oklahoma City, Okla. Irwin committed to Ohio State in 2010 and is set to enroll next season.

Werger said the suspensions do not affect if all three players are able to practice and travel with their teams.

 

Mr. Telephone Man…

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Surely when you were going through the list of players who could make an impact during this time of year Dennis Kravchenko (Vermont) had to be on the list.

Or was it Matthew Weis (Ohio State) or Kirill Lebedev instead?

USHL teams have had its constants in the lineup but a few of them have made a few mid-year call-ups which have paid dividends. Here’s a look at some of the players you might want to get familiar with as the season goes along.

-Rasmus Bengtsson, defenseman, Muskegon: What better way to make a mid-season adjustment than to call up an NHL Draft Pick? It’s what the Lumberjacks did when they brought over the Swede. Bengtsson was taken in the second round last season by the Florida Panthers and is one of the better up and coming talents coming along in Sweden over the next few years. Bengtsson, who is 6-2 and a 190 pounds, has scored seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 14 games this season.

-Milos Bubela (RPI), forward, Dubuque: Bubela made the Slovakian National Team and played in the World Junior Championships in January. Bubela had a solid tournament five points in six games. He was then acquired by Dubuque and has continued to make an impact. He’s scored nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 12 games. Seven of his points have come in the last six games. At 6-2, 186 pounds he’s another sizable scoring threat to add to an offense which is already difficult to deal with.

-Griffin Foulk, defenseman, Tri-City: Foulk has been a player who has kept getting playing time with the Storm and keeps making the most of it. He’s played in 12 games this season picking up two points in the time he’s been with the team. Foulk is one of the few 16 year-olds playing in the league this year. His rights are owned by Everett (WHL) after being traded by Edmonton so he’s already attracted a few eyes. At 6-1, 180 he has the size with the promise of getting bigger. Foulk is making strides this year but next year could be the year where he really does his damage.

-Dylan Gaureau (Maine), forward, Cedar Rapids: If any team needed a jolt midway through the year it was Cedar Rapids. Goals were at a premium playing in the high-octane Eastern Conference where four of the league’s highest scoring teams go at it on a nightly basis. Gaureau is one of three RoughRiders to come in and make an impact. The 6-1, 185-pound Richmond Hill, Ont. native has scored five points in 14 games for Cedar Rapids. He’s just one of two players on this list to keep tabs on as Cedar Rapids looks to stay in the playoff hunt.

-Dave Gust, forward, Fargo: Gust has the most games played of anyone on this list but what he did for the Force this year certainly cannot be downplayed. He was on the team’s affiliate list and was brought up to see what he could do. All Gust did was form the team’s second best line and put up 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists) in 27 games this season. There are many reasons the Force won nine in a row earlier in the year and are currently in the running for a first-round bye or first-round home series. Gust is one of those reasons.

-Dennis Kravchenko (Vermont), forward, Cedar Rapids: Kravchenko certainly made people take notice when he broke into the league by scoring four points in his first six games before exploding for a five-point performance in a overtime loss against Waterloo. He has cooled down a little by not scoring a point in his last five games. But in all, he has scored 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) in 18 games since he arrived to the team. Kravenchenko and Gareau have been of the two reasons why Cedar Rapids has been getting better at this point of the year.

-Kirill Lebedev, forward, Indiana: Sorry if this sounds familiar but Indiana found a Russian forward who can put up points. Lebedev came to the Ice via Stalnie Lisi Magnitogorskin the MHL and was part of the Metallurg Magnitogorsk system which produced Penguins star Evgeni Malkin. Lebedev, 20, has scored eight points (7 goals, 1 assist) in eight games with the Ice. The 6-1, 185 pound Lebedev just had the performance of the weekend scoring a hat trick in a 6-3 win over Omaha.

-Vladisav Lysenko, defenseman, Waterloo: The Ukrainian-born Lysenko came to Waterloo after playing for Mytischi Altanti in the MHL earlier this season. He also represented Russia at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge earlier in the year. The 6-foot, 180-pound 16-year-old has played in six games with Waterloo picking up two points with both points coming over the weekend. He is a plus-3 this season as Waterloo looks to continue its ascension in the Western Conference standings.

-Alex Roos (Colorado College), forward, Chicago: Roos, who is actually from the Chicagoland Area, was playing with Team Illinois in the HPHL before getting the call up to the Steel. Roos has found a way to fit in scoring five points (4 goals, 1 assists) in nine games. His first game on Jan. 28 against Green Bay was a coming out party to be remembered picking up one goal and one assist. After going scoreless in five games he picked up a goal this past weekend against Cedar Rapids.

-Dominic Sacco, forward, Omaha: Perhaps what was lost in Lebedev’s hat trick performance was Sacco. The 16-year-old picked up two goals in the loss adding to what he’s done this season for the Lancers. Sacco has scored eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in 14 games this season.

-Bradley Shumway (RIT), defenseman, Chicago: He started the season playing with playing with Wichita Falls in the NAHL was was doing quite well. Shumway scored 20 points (3 goals, 17 assists) in 38 games before being called up by Chicago. He has picked up two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in the 11 games he’s played with the Steel, who have won three in a row. Both Roos and Shumway have been part of what has been playing like one of the best teams in the USHL. Chicago has won seven of its last 11 games and these wins have come against Youngstown (3), Indiana, Green Bay, Cedar Rapids and Muskegon. Also, for what its worth, three of Chicago’s losses have come by two goals or less against Indiana and Green Bay.

-Matthew Weis (Ohio State), forward, Green Bay: Weis made a bit of news yesterday when it was announced he was committed to Ohio State. Green Bay has certainly had its positives this season with its players but Weis is a guy to keep an eye on for a few reasons. He has scored 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 17 games this season for a Gamblers squad that appears to be well-prepared for a Clark Cup run. Weis spent two seasons in the AYHL with the New Jersey Hitmen scoring 88 points (34 goals, 54 assists) in 61 games before playing with Corpus Christi in the NAHl this year. He put up 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) in 25 games before being acquired by Green Bay. Just think, Weis will be in Green Bay next season with Brendan Lemieux and Nick Schmaltz (North Dakota) creating an even brighter future for this team.