Gardiner Leaves Minnesota
by WCHBlog on May 19, 2011 2:35 PM PDT
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PrintThe University of Minnesota announced today that sophomore-to-be forward Max Gardiner has left school to play junior hockey next year. Gardiner's most likely destinations would be the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, after Dubuque took him in the USHL Draft this past Monday, or playing for the Tri-City Americans in the WHL.
Gardiner struggled in his only season of college hockey after coming to Minnesota straight from Minnesota high school hockey and was woefully under-prepared for the rigors of college hockey. He was a late addition to the team after forward Josh Birkholz left the team over the summer while facing a suspension.
Gardiner's struggles highlight just how hard it can be for an 18-year-old coming directly from high school hockey. Some people in the hockey world aren't necessarily thrilled that a year of two of junior hockey is almost becoming mandatory for players that want to play Division I college hockey, but it seems as if that is becoming a necessity.
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I don’t see post-high school junior hockey as a mandatory step for college hockey. I see it as a necessary step for non-elite players at that age or elite but undersized players. Most of the kids coming out of USA NTDP (the elite players) are ready to play and be impact players at the college (or OHL) level. My exceptions to the rule may carve a big hole in the rule, but not everyone can be elite.
Why?
Sounds like college hockey needs to change and not the kids. College hockey should go with younger kids across the board. Colleges would certainly get more attention from the NHL scouts if they had more draft eligible kids playing. The end result is…
1. USHL plays the older kids
2. College hockey plays the older kids
WHere do the younger, elite players go? NTDP or CHL Where they can play!
ushl
the USHL is strong and getting even stronger based on the franchise model it utilizes; it is ostensibly the main development league for DI hockey; the same goes for D1 hockey. look at the rosters. the simple fact is that some kids are ready to play as true freshmen and others are not. even as strong as MN high school hockey is, it is rare to be able to go right from HS hockey to D1; few have done it. those that can play their senior year in the ushl are usually better prepared to make the jump to D1. for those that don’t, they have a decision to make; the ones that want it bad enough defer college hockey (D1) for a year or two in order to be ready to play (physically). others decide it is not worth the wait (and risk) to try and earn a D1 scholarship, so they play at other colleges on a club or D2 or 3 basis. does this mean that D1 should change ? why ? for whose benefit.? take a look at last years final four; both michigan and notre dame have tons of kids that are/were true freshmen/sophomores and making an impact. the statement that the ushl and colleges “play the older kids” is not based on reality; the kids that play are the ones that produce. coaches coach to win, not to reward seniority; look at the rosters/stats of the final four teams and you will see the facts.
If you look at the rosters of Michigan and Notre Dame...
take a look at last years final four; both michigan and notre dame have tons of kids that are/were true freshmen/sophomores and making an impact.
And how many of those “true” freshmen/sophomores came to those schools from the USNTDP?
Those are the elite American-born junior aged players.
Max Gardiner was a Mr. Hockey finalist, and couldn’t get a break for a .500 team? If he goes to Dubuque and lights it up, Minnesota’s coaching staff and program in general are going to have some egg on their faces.
"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."
-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851
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by Tomorrows Blues on Jun 3, 2011 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions
