Tuesday, August 5, 2008

USA Evaluation Camp Coverage

I rant and I get my wish. USA Hockey has started their coverage at the Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, New York. Carly Peters will be doing a blog from the camp.

Even though USA Hockey has started their coverage, NHL.com has some very good insight so far. It's not a blog, I don't think, but Shawn Roarke has been giving some update so far. Here are the results of the scrimmages from this weekend.

But, judging from some of the scrimmage boxscores that have been posted on the site, a few players are already starting to make a name for themselves.
University of Michigan’s Matt Rust, who played for last year’s WJC team, had a pair of goals in Sunday’s scrimmage. He is property of Florida. Kelowna’s Colin Long had a goal and two assists Sunday. Michigan State’s Corey Tropp (Buffalo), Erie’s Nick Palmieri (New Jersey) and Ryan Bourque (2009 draft eligible) all had a goal and an assist. James vanRiemsdyk (Philadelphia) and Justin Schroeder (2009), both of who were on last year’s team, had two assists.

Saturday’s scrimmage was played with shorthanded teams because several players ran into mammoth flight delays because of powerful thunderstorms that blanketed the northeast.

Schroeder scored two goals and Kyle Palmieri (2009 eligible), not related to Nick, had a goal and an assist.

In goal, Jeremy Smith (Nashville), played in both games and stopped 39 of 49 shots. Thomas McCollum (Detroit) played Sunday, stopping 8 of 12 attempts. Brandon Maxwell, a member of USNTDP’s U-17 team last year, pitched a shutout in Saturday’s action, making 16 saves. He is eligible for 2009 Entry Draft.

On the regular NHL website, they have a feature on Mike Lee. I highly doubt that he will make the team this time around. Smith and McCollum have both played at the highest level. Lee hasn't played in juniors yet but high school hockey is very competitive in Minnesota. He should be one of the net minders for the 2010 event. He should gain valuable experience at this camp.

What I find interesting from this article is that USA Hockey wants a goalie camp just like Hockey Canada has. It's a good idea to have a goalie camp but I find it funny that they are thinking of starting one after Hockey Canada has started one. Maybe one of my Canadian readers can fill me in if Hockey Canada has just started the Goalie camp or if it has been something that has been going on for a while.

At the beginning of the summer I ordered the NHL Network to watch the Memorial Cup, now in the middle of the summer all they show is playoff games from this year and classic games. Classic games don't interest me as it might for some people. Why doesn't the NHL Network pick up the exhibition games this week. It would be refreshing to see some live action. Also it would give the average fan a look into the future. I know a local Ottawa TV station picked up the final intersquad game at Canada's camp. I am not looking for a HD broadcast or Mike Emrick or Gary Thorne to be the play by play announcer. Just seeing the games would make me satisfied.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There has been a dearth of info coming out of Lake Placid. What's the deal, is it a top secret operation? (Yeah, Operation How to Lose Another World Juniors)

Seriously, there's nothing about how the kids are playing, who's been cut, how the teams did in all of the scrimmage games, etc.

After five days, one would expect a little more info being made public.