Tournament office pool
-
- March
- 17
Just wanted to let you know that you can win $10,000 from Lohud.com if you fill out a perfect NCAA tournament bracket. Here is the link. And here are some clues: Georgetown, UNC, UCLA and Texas. We’re still working on a Frozen Four contest.
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on Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 3:35 pm by Harold Gutmann.
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Harold, based on your hockey predictions during the season, the $10 grand should be easy pickin's. Just go the opposite of whatever you picked in your bracket and we should be golden
NJ HS championships this Saturday at Prudential Center. 3 championship games in one day, Private, Public B, Public A.
Taylor,
Why would anyone reading this blog care?
If you don't care about it don't go. Alaska is a far cry from the Prudential Center which is like a 40 minute drive from Westchester. Also its a CHAMPIONSHIP. There's a championship atmosphere. I don't live in NJ either you complete idiot. Last weekend I went to the CT State Championship game at Yale. Why? Do I know anyone at Fairfield Prep or Notre Dame of Fairfield? No. I didn't even know who had made it to the final game until I got to the rink. But I know I like HS hockey. That's why I went. It was great. Great atmosphere. Great game. That is why someone reading this blog may care about the NJ Championships. If you like HS hockey there's a good chance that you'd enjoy those games. If you aren't interested ignore the post and skip to the next one. Harold gave updates of NY State Championship games long after all Sec 1 teams were eliminated and those games were played a lot farther away than the Prudential Center. Now that I've demolished the premise of you idiotic post let me move on to your manners. Sometimes people will say or write things that don't interest you. Those things very well may interest other people. Unless they are getting in the way of a conversation you are having it is simply rude to go out of your way to insult the person for saying it. As you may have noticed there hasn't been much posted here for a while so you really can't claim that my 1 post mentioning the NJ Championships was interfering with any conversation you were having. Simply your are just a jerk.
Ur both tools
Is it a forgone conclusion that we know who the MVP's of Westchester and Rockland conties are?
I have read the blogs and it seems like everyone has picked Natoli from Suffern and Conner from Mamaroneck.
But I'm not sure if all the blogging is coming from the parents from those schools.
To be honest with you, I agree with the Natoli choice but I'm not sold on the Conner choice.Here's my main reason:
1. the flipping of the bird and how he reacted to the opposing fans. To me, that action alone would disqualify him from receiving the MVP of Westchester. This award should be given to a player that respects his team,as well as the the opposing team.Pure sportsmanship and that's missing!
I know the Mamaroneck fans are probably going to go "CRAZY" now, but just remember that this is just my opinion on this blog.
To be fair, that's not really a NEW topic, it's one that's been beaten to death a million times here on the blog.
As for the NJ state championships, that is absolutely relevant. This blog isn't just Westchester, it is all of Section 1, which includes Rockland County. Rockland County, in case you were unaware, borders NJ and the NJ state championship games at the Prudential Center would actually be a shorter drive than say the D2 Section 1 game at the Hutch for a resident of Suffern or one of the other Rockland schools. On top of that, most of NJ HS hockey is in northern NJ, so a lot of the guys playing in these games are local, have played with or against the Rockland County guys in travel hockey, and lastly, there are a half-dozen NJ HS hockey teams that play out of SOR along with Suffern, North Rockland, PR, etc. so the Rockland County guys all see these HS teams play & practice all through the season.
LoHud Hockey, It's very clear that NO ONE cares. Other than You, NO ONE CARES!
Harold,
Is the senior game still on for 6 pm today at the Ice Hutch?
I care. This is a great event if you ever attended. 3 championships games back-to-back-to-back.
I went a couple of years ago when freshman James Van Remsdyke overtime goal won the New Jersey private school championship. Very high level hockey. This kid was a top NHL draft pick last year, I think top 5.
Yes many Rockland County kids attend Don Bosco and St. Joes Montvale, depriving the Rockland County public schools and section 1 and of their hockey talents. These kids are good and not publicized in the Section 1 area like the Westchester kids who attend Iona, Stepinac, or Fordham (in the Bronx, so why the JN coverage, I'm not so sure of…)
News 12 is doing a story on the viper state champion team and it should be airing tonight. And James van Remsdyke (or however its spelled) was drafted second overall to the Flyers and is currently playing for UNH. There is a video on youtube of him scoring a nasty goal against Shattenkirk
OK, "Get Real," then why don't you try making an actual comment, one that is somewhat intelligent, explaining your point. Your comments (Under the various names you have used to post) are the equivalent of saying "I know you are, but what am I?" That tells me that either you are an immature child, or an adult who has the mentality of an immature child.
If you don't feel the NJ State HS hockey championships are worthy of being mentioned on this blog, then that is fair, but make a point as to why, don't just say that everyone who mentions it is a deuchebag. The NJ state HS hockey championships are just as relevant to speak of on this blog as the Vipers, Mariners, Saints, Westchester Express, and the CHSHL. In fact, the NJ private school league is Rockland's equivalent of the CHSHL with a good amount of the NJ private schools (St Joes, Don Bosco, Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic, etc.) being right over the border. So I beg of you, let one intelligent thing come through your fingers onto your keyboard and post it on this blog. Otherwise, no one will give any credence to what you say on here.
Shatty is doing fine. When you put in Kevin Shattenkirk on youtube, it is the only video posted. Personally, i think it was more the goalies fault then his own.
Why does Mount St. Michael (Bronx) receive high school football coverage from the JN and not any coverage for their hockey team (CHSHL division "C").
Please don't say its because they are probably not that good.
I'm trying to tap some new topics here.
So how many NJ "fans" came to see Suffern lose to Mamaroneck? And we are supposed to care about the NJ states? NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
not i.
Well except for the fact the New Jersey Hockey is overall higher quality and better organized (most schools have JV teams), your right, their really is no reason for you to care.
Come-to-think of it, NJ probably has better football, baseball and basketball, althought we'll give Mt. Vernon its props.
Actually, quite a few were there, considering Northern Highlands had a playoff game immediately before the Suffern/Mamaroneck game that drew a pretty packed house. Plus the St. Joes team & coaches usually watch most of the Suffern games since there home ice slots are back-to-back during the season.
be grateful for ny football cause we gave you ray rice
If Ray Rice had lived in Rockland County he probably would have gone to Don Bosco…just like Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers by way of Nyack.
I went to the NJ state championships a few years back. It was fun because it was in a huge building where you can spread out. In other words a professional arena.
I don't blame anyone for not wanting to go to SOR dump, and sit elbow to elbow with people or be forced to stand the whole game.
Ray rice grew up in an apartment on main st. in New Rochelle with his mother and 3 siblings. I dont think prep school was in the cards for him.
I'll clarify..if he had lived in RC, he could have gone to Bosco. With his talent, and the poweful fundraising ability of the Bosco football program, the opportunity would be there. See all the Spring Valley, East Ramapo and Nyack kids that have helped St. Joes and Bosco to football greatness.
But back to my main point and why the NJ State championships are relevent. The North Jersey sports programs are generally more organized than the section 1 programs. That extends to hockey. Most schools, including public have full-blown JV programs. Thats just a testament to the level of participation..quantity and quality. Merged high school programs are few and far between in Nrth Jersey.
This effects Rockland County hockey. A lot of real good players from RC have gone to Bosco, St. Joes and Bergen Catholic for hockey. Unlike when Westchester kids who choose Iona or Stepinac, the RC kids who go NJ private receive no publicity in the section 1 coverage area. So be it, you'll have to buy the Bergen Record to read about them.
A couple of posts have been made about the good Suffern freshman, and they are good, but truth be told the best RC freshman are probably already in a NJ private school.
This is probably why the NJ State Hockey Championshps (and football too) have some relevance west of the hudson side of the river.
Nice post, "The Garden State." I just wanted to make one point regarding what you said about merged programs in NJ. I figure since most people on here are NY residents, not everyone would know this.
One of the main reasons mergers don't happen is because school districts are run differently in NJ. In NY, you basically have your typical school district structure of X amount of grade schools, one or two middle schools, and one or two high schools. In some cases like East Ramapo, there is another tier, where they have K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12. But basically it is always a K-12 school district. In Northern NJ, most of the school districts are regionalized. What this means is that more often than not, a school district is either K-5, K-6, or K-8. After that, the school districts feed into regionalized High Schools which are not a part of the actual school districts feeding into them. Not that this is being done to set up sports teams for dominance or anything like that, but the point is, most high schools in northern NJ are already a product of 3 or 4 school districts.
Someone answer me this.
In little league they have playoffs, in babe ruth league they have playoffs. In midget football (pop warner) they have playoffs, In catholic league basketball elementary school they have playoffs.
Why in NY state public schools do they not have playoffs for JV teams? Do they think the kids can't handle it? Basically the modified, freshman and JV sports are nothing but one long list of scrimmage games. I know it is supposed to develop players, however, wouldnt it be more meaningful and exciting to have some type of tournament at the end?
It is thought that playoffs, can be involved, and require more time and take away from varsity playoffs. Also it is viewed as a priviledge to be involved in playoffs and it gives JV and Modified something to look forward to. In addition, it will put JV and modified in a more competitive state and JV and modified are supposed to be used for player development. Wins and losses are important for varsity only
D3 finals have a former section 1 allstar from new roc hs competing in todays game. CJ Tozzo plays for Plattsburgh State who is playing against St Norbert for the D3 championship.
i know that game started at 4:00, if anyone knows what happened, please post it
St. Norbert won 2-0. They didn't give up a goal all weekend. I didn't see this game, but Tozzo doesn't usually get big ice time. Its a talented team and making it was an achievment, no shame in forth line here.
found out myself, his plattsburg team lost to st. norbert 2-0, but 2nd out of over 70 is not to bad. Another new ro resident Keith Shattenkirk (Kevin's older brother) won the ECAC championship when his Princeton team beat Harvard yesterday
OK, yes JV and frosh should be for player development, however, a little healthy competition, conmraderie and excitement would not hurt anyone. Basically, Modified and JV are just one long list of scrimmage games that mean nothing. So should little league. But then you see little leaguers playing on national tv against Japan every year. Don't you think the JV kids could handle an end of season tournament? I think the catholic schools have playoffs on the lower levels. Public schools treat the kids like little veals.
saw the D3 final. Tozzo played plenty including power play time. Plattsburgh faced a hot goalie.
Older Shattenkirk will be playing in NCAA D1 tourny starting friday.
Section 1 finds itself with significant collegiate representation.
Tozzo is a great example to how our kids can benefit from having an extra year of junior or prep school. He will be 23 in May. Too many of our players don't make it as freshman because they are too weak and young.
For those of you who may not know or remember Tozzos high school career here in section 1 let me say this. For all of his time he was the top or in the top 3 of the section. One of the greatest to come out of this area. Having said that he is playing as a senior at a top level Divy 3 team. That is why I am amazed when people on this blog suggest that there are section 1 players that can play divy 1. Take the best player we have in the section, I dont know if he compares to CJ, but lets get real. Even if you totally are clear and away the best player in our section there is little chance of that player going divy 1. Section1fan….Shattenkirk does not represent section 1, he never played in section 1.
A great example…of how difficult it is?
Tozzo was a great section 1 player. Their is nothing wrong with pursuing your goal of NCAA hockey, D1 or D3. The cost is usually you are a 20 year old freshman. Not totally unique in todays world. Other youth delay college for workforce or military experience. But if you are going to embark on the Junior or Prep achool route, it could be a large payout.
It's just something for families to consider. It's probably also why only a few section 1 individuals are represented in NCAA hockey.
I remember tozzo playing, and I coached against him, I would say he is very comparable to #9 on white plains. I great one on one player, #9 is a little bit bigger, I would say CJ was a bit more polished and went to the net a little harder at the same age. #9 is still a little too east west for my liking, and throws in one toe drag too many. But, both great players, I see #9 following a similiar path to Tozzo.
I was talking to my cousins boyfriend (19 years old) a few months ago who goes to a D3 school and we started talking about hockey at his school (can't remember where he goes) but when I asked him about the team his first response was "the hockey players are like old"!!! I thought that was funny.. If your kid is not a great player in HS and is a little immature a year or two at prep or community college while playing JR's would be a great idea. For some kids that year or so will do a lot to improve their game. Many kids are not ready physically or mentally at 17 or 18 but do a lot of growing between 17 and 20. I think a lot of people give up on the dream of playing in college because of that… "they weren't dominate players in Hs so there is no way they can play in college.." that is not always true. I don't think there is any rush to go off to college for some kids,, the schools will still be there in a year or 2 and they might be better off waiting. Then they have another 50-60 years to work, (yes people will probably work til their 80 by then) I think taking a year or 2 is a great idea for many.. I also feel strongly that what they learn from this experience and playing on a team will do much more for them in the long run then sitting in a classroom. Now don't jump all over me about the value of an education (i do have a graduate level education) i understand that!!
Tozzo did play for a pretty good D1 team his freshman year for Niagra,but he left for what i heard was a disagreement with his coach or something. By the way, if you see a picture of his Plattsburge team, he is in the front row and is the smallest kid on the team. It looks like the guy sitting next to him could pick him up and throw him.
Wait a second. Someone said a huge payout. So you spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for prep school so you can go to a D3 School with NO SCHOLARSHIP, you play a couple of years and then what? Then you get a job. Where is the payout?
I am sure the Niagara Coach did not let Tozzo hang out on the opposing teams blue line for 5 years like he did for his Coach at New Ro High School who is his dad. Maybe that was the problem when he went to a D1 school and did not get on the ice his sophomore year. He was certainly a good sniper, but that stuff does not fly in D1.
postman,
I understnad what you're saying but!!!!!!!!!!!! But if you look at a player like CJ and you compare them to the players that are playing today, I DON"T see any player today with CJ's talent. Look at CJ he started at D1 and then to D3 and from what I'm reading, isn't even on the first or second line. I understand reaching for the stars and trying to achieve your hockey goal, but I question those that decide to play Juniors around this area. If you're playing Junior B's, it's a waste of your time. Unless you make the Hitmen or a Junior A team from the Midwest or up in the Boston area, you're really wating your time.
Take todays best high school players: Conner, King, Salt,Novick, Eck, McCabe, Datino, Rui. It's my understanding that the only one that is going to try the Junior route is Rui. All the other TOP skaters have decided to go to college and maybe play Club Hockey. The skaters mentioned above, do not even come close the CJ Tozzo's hockey abilities and he just made a D3 team.
Now Rui, if he's lucky will play for the Applecore A team and maybe make their third line and I mean maybe. Now 3-4 years ago, that would be great, but the Applecore isn't the organization it was years ago. Good luck to all !
ACHA,
#9 on White Plains doesn't even come close to CJ Tozzo. I guess you're no longer coaching if you can make a statement like that. CJ is faster, has better hands, is tougher, and can score (SHould I keep going?).. # 9 isn't even the top player in HS this year. He's OK but nothing special!It's going a be a tough road for # 9. Wish him luck..
I remember tozzo playing, and I coached against him, I would say he is very comparable to #9 on white plains. I great one on one player, #9 is a little bit bigger, I would say CJ was a bit more polished and went to the net a little harder at the same age. #9 is still a little too east west for my liking, and throws in one toe drag too many. But, both great players, I see #9 following a similiar path to Tozzo.
I don't think so.. there are a ton of schools that a kid could play at after playing jr. B around here. Are you going to play for plattsburgh? probably not, but then again plattsburgh is the (one of) best teams in the country, not your run of the mill D3 school. I have heard people say that they could beat many D1 schools..(who knows) I really think people overestimate the ability of many D3 teams. The choice made by the kids was possibly due to the fact that playing hockey in college wasn't as important as going to the school they wanted right away.. nothing wrong with that..but it a choice, and hopefully (probably) the correct one for them. My point was, that another choice might be, what i wrote above..
Oh and to address your comment about how its a waste of time playing Jr. b around here, check this website and see how many kids have gone on to play in college after playing in this league..might have to go to indiviual team websites but i know i have read of many kids that have played college hockeyl.. Remember you don't have to be recruited by michigan to play in college.. http://www.metleague.org/mjhl.php
found it..
http://www.metleague.org/mjhl_sub.htm?content=mjhl_alumni
In his 5 years, CJ had 155 goals, 218 assists, and 373 points. He had the most assists and 2nd most points in New york public HS history.
ACHA please read Blog below. Really no comparison. Actually for #9, he had 134 combined for his Junior and Senior year. Also, when Tozzo played the competition was ALOT tougher!
In his 5 years, CJ had 155 goals, 218 assists, and 373 points. He had the most assists and 2nd most points in New york public HS history.
"Tozzo and Section 1 players"
It is true that Shattenkirk did not play section 1 HS hockey. As far as I'm concerned, who cares. He grew up in section 1 and I consider him a section 1 product. Maybe not a HS product but someone trained locally. He got to D1 using the training that was available in and around section 1.
"Postman"
Not to many kids have gone on to college hockey directly from the Met. The league is good developmentally if you can move on to a more competitive league. Also, very few local hockey players (high school players or not) are going to play D1 or D3. Even dominating in HS will not get you there. It might be an indication that you can have an impact at the next level. It is at the next level (prep, jrA) that a player will prove or disprove his collegiate metal.
I think most of the kids know themselves whether or not they can play collegiately. Those that aren't sure will test the waters by engaging the more advanced levels.
Actually, if you look at the top players in High School the last two years in scoring, the top 4 scorers are pretty close! And are not even close to CJ's numbers.
Junior Senior Total
Rui 59 75 134
Salt 69 66 135
Connor 51 73 124
King 70 66 136
Postman
Your link is for a list of players that went on to D1, D3 and club for the years 2003-2006. Many of them had stints in other Jr leagues after the Met and before college. Back in 2003, the league and the JR landscape was not what it is today. Even with that, if you peruse the list, there are not many D1 or D3 placements considering the # of kids that played over that 3yr time frame.
Of greater interest is the Met link for current year college committments. 3 kids were placed (how many teams of 20+ players are there). 2 are going D3. The "lone" D1 commitment was for a 1993 birth year. That kid was 14/15 playing in the Met. He was still eligible to play Bantam. He is committed for 2011, He'll be playing in several other Jr leagues before he gets to college.
Not a knock on the league. It provides an enviornment for development as a player tries to move up in levels.
Please, I dont think there is a player playing in either the catholic or public leagues here that was as dominant among his peers as Tozzo was. Therefore, with competition only getting better in the college ranks, and quality junior players going club as well, you would have to be 5 notches up from the current competition in order to be thinking D -1
Please dont compare the white plains kid to CJ, thats totally laughable.
Kids wanting to play in college should look at club programs first, unless they are far and away the absolute best players in their respective leagues
I see I got some people bent out of shape saying #9 is as good as Tozzo. If I had to pick one, it would be Tozzo, but #9 isn't far off, and the talent is similiar, with the right coaching #9 can be just as good.
Comparing stats is not the way to go. Everyone at the time Tozzo was playing was scoring a bunch, didn't Bryan Gitler of Scarsdale score something like 90 goals the same year? Joe Hlushko was playing at the same time for North. He is the best player I have seen in our area since former Islander Sean Haggerty scored something like 70 goals as an 8th grader playing for Rye in the late 80's. "Huch" was the leading scorer for Castelton as a DEFENSEMEN, a D. III team that Chris Wynn from Suffern who was also a great, not good but great player in our league, could only manage to dress in 2 games for this year.
I also agree with Postman that Plattsburg is not your ordinary D. 3 school. Yes they can beat some D. I schools. There is a big difference in teams like Plattsburg and other schools that our best players can easily play for in Division 3. Connor, and the rest of the bunch mentioned right now could play for temas like Framingham State, Stonehill, Buff State, another step up in D. 3 and they can play for are teams like Weslyean where former New Rochelle player Ed Klein is, Skidmore with former Monroe Woodbury and Choate player Brett Bandzian, or Tufts. Anyone's lineup who could stack up with plattsburgh would be tough to get a spot on. What you have to remember is that just because temas play against Plattsburg, doesn't mean they are as good, just like C. North isn't as good as Suffern, but they play each other. When Plattsburg plays against teams like Buff State, and Potsdam, those teams go into a defensive shell, and just try to keep up.
The big difference between Conner and Tozzo is that Conner does not care to play at a higher level. He stopped playing juniors years ago. Tozzo was very driven to play in College, he loved hockey. Most of these kids think they love hockey, but are not nearly as driven as kids like Forster and Tozzo.
As for people saying that the players and teams were better years ago… answer me this. How do you account for teams like Suffern going upstate and kicking the best teams butts, Mamaonreck, Pelham and Rye also were very successful with the upstates best the last few years. Mamaonreck lost in OT to Massena who won the state championships. New Rochelle (when tozzo played for them) got smoked every time they played upstate… I mean EVERY TIME. Mamaroneck used to get beat up upstate. The last 3 years teams like Suffern, Rye and Pelham all did great in the state tournament…. much better than the teams of the past. So if you are going to say that these teams of today are weaker, you would have to say, that the upstate teams are drastically weaker than they used to be. And we know that is not the case. Our best league 1 teams are just as good as ANY upstate public school teams, and that was proven for the last 3 years.
ACHA,
Stop Drinking that Kool-aid….....Not even close!
Question? Which Mamaroneck team was stronger? This years team or the Mamaroneck team that had Gedman, Capalbo etc?
Which Suffern team was stronger, This years team vs last years team or the 2 years ago when Suffern had the Daniels twins. Every year, talent level is dropping even upstate!
Maybe the reason the scoring is going down is the goalies today are so much better then they used to be. You could send about 5 section 1 goalies (with there equipment) back to the late 70s or early 80s, and they could play in the NHL. Even over the last 10 years its still improving.
lets not get crazy "times have changed;!!! and yes i know many of the kids on the list from the met league site did play other jr leagues, but i am saying it is possible, and not as out of reach as many here think,,,and you know what if the kid doesn't make it to D3, there is nothing wrong with playing club..
This years Mamaroneck team is way stronger than the capalbo team.
In capalbos last year, they won the section due to Suffern having its worst team in 30 years, and Clarkstown North (who smoked Mamaroneck at HMX in the regular season) choked to Scarsdale in the playoffs. Mamaroneck then lost to a Potsdam team that came out of the outbracket ranks and were physically exhausted coming from Potsdam.
This year Mamaroneck had a better record overall, and beat a #1 team ranked state team in Suffern who had a 45 game winning streak (or somewhere around 45). They then got hosed in a state playoff game to Massena, losing in Overtime (thanks to shoddy officiating) who then went on to win the whole thing.
Potsdam went nowhere after beating mamk, while Massena won the state. There is no doubt in my mind this years Mamk team was stronger. The goaltending and Defenseman on cpalbos team was weak, it was capalbos first line that stayed on teh ice the whole game that carryed that team.
Agreed that there is nothing wrong with playing club. I think club hockey is a great accomplishment. I also beleive it can be instrumental in having a great college experience. Not saying D3 is impossible just pointing out how difficult getting to that level is.
The most recent D3 players from section 1 that I can think of are:
Chris Wynne Suffern
Justin Letizia Yorktown
John Carter Fox Lane
Tom Capalbo Mamaroneck
Hutchko Clark North
Herman Clark North
I'm sure I missed one or two but even with that the percentage is slim at best (how many graduating classes did it take just to get to these 6). I also think that at least 4 of the 6 mentioned above had to do an extra year, either juniors or prep. The reality is that college hockey D1 or D3 is tough to attain.
that doesnt mean that it isnt because they talent level upstate dropped off because all the good players leave for prep or jrs
To NY,
you are correct, todays teams are stronger, the reason is that with so many more rinks, and kids playing hockey, the mid-level HS player has grately improved. 10 years ago, the top level players were same as they are today, but the second liners had to hold on to the boards. Now, while there still may be a drop off, most 2nd liners on teams can at least hold their own. This is why you can't compare stats from years ago. As much garbage as the WP kids got his year for scoring on league 3 and 4 teams (which we have learned from this years playoffs are just as good as the higher league teams), the top players from years ago would score more against weaker 2nd lines, and they had to. I am sure that back in the day Scarsdale played against New Ro, and I bet the score was probably 10-10 and Tozzo, and Gitler probably each scored 9 goals, thats just the way it was then.
If you go back even further to when there were less teams in the league, you pretty much played everybody so point totals were even more inflated. Before Rockland moved from Section 9 to Section 1, there were only 5 teams in Section 9 (Suffern, CN, CS, NR, & Nyack. Orange County had no hockey back then), so everyone played everyone no matter how big of a gap there was between the top and the bottom of the league. When Rockland moved to section 1 and the Rockland & Westchester schools were now the same league, there were at most 12 teams in the section, so again, everyone played pretty much everyone. I believe (although my memory of it is a little fuzzy) it was 2 leagues and you played home-and-home against your league and 1 game against the other. In those days (we're talking around the time when Schelling was on the ice instead of behind the bench), Suffern would routinely destroy pretty much everyone, so there were guys with amazing point totals, but part of that is because no one except Rye would come within 7 goals of them.
You are correct Lohud, back in those days, there were guys like Tommy Holmes, Kevin McCarren, Tommy Lofburg, Brent Swarbeck, Brian and Kevin Boggan, Jay Beswick, Erik Holvig(the oldest one), Eric Silverman, Danny White, these guys would score 5-10 goals every game. Suffern would eventually stop scoring at 10, which we have learned from this year, not every team does, so those guys could have probably scored more.
Doesn't sound like much fun beating up on teams by a 10 spot. I would rather watch my team lose a close, hard fought 2-1 game.
Comparing one era to another really doesn't work. I don't think you can even compare one year to the next. The hockey landscape changes every season. Who graduates, who opts for prep, who committs to Jrs, etc. The best players for any given year are the best players that year period. No way to say they're better or worse then the best from the years past or those to follow.
The only objective benchmark is to what level that player progressed to. In recent history(for section 1) the title belongs to Jon Foster. Players like Shattenkirk (14th pick 2007 nhl draft) may eclipse that in the near future but for now the title belongs to Jon.
From what I hear Foster has hung up his skates after a brief try at pro hockey (Penguins organization). Just a guy now in his late 20's with no work experience (except hockey) looking for a job.
Yeah, is there a point to that? Plenty of 20+ year olds are looking for jobs. Many have already switched career paths. He has plenty of time to "work" for the rest of his life. He tried at what many of us would see as being a "Dream" job (if job is what you want to call it). While he embarked on his quest, I'm sure he had one hell of a great time.
Jonathan Foster Forward
Born Mar 3 1982—Suffern, NY
Height 5.10—Weight 185—Shoots R
Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000-01 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL 54 26 25 51 48—————
2001-02 U. of Denver NCAA 37 7 19 26 8
2002-03 U. of Denver NCAA 35 4 11 15 14
2003-04 U. of Denver NCAA 42 12 6 18 30
2004-05 U. of Denver NCAA 41 21 8 29 50
2005-06 Corpus Christi Rayz CHL 27 4 3 7 28—————
2005-06 Lubbock Cotton Kings CHL 35 13 11 24 14—————
2006-07 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 62 12 15 27 44—————
2007-08 Wheeling Nailers* ECHL 20 0 2 2 16
Use these stats! | View as text
It really burns you tools that the "WP kid" is soo good that you still need to bring him up. He will be the one to go on and play "high level college hockey" Tozzo couldn't hack it in juniors. Father was the coach of his HS team and he also had some creative stats. WP kid is already on JUNIOR A and will be next year and not on "the third or fourth line" So keep shoveling losers, wait and see. He is the best individual all around palyer in the section.
Pretty impressive resume for John Foster. I am sure it was a fun ride for the 26 year old. He has learned a lot about team work and commitment that will translate well in the next stage of his young life.
On another note, I was up at Middlebury this past weekend and noticed on a plaque at their incredible Olympic ice arena that the captain of one of their mid eighties teams donated the money for the facility. The guy obviously went on to a successful non hockey career and thought so highly of his DIII hockey experience to cough up the big bucks. You can't overestimate the joy that intercollegiate athletics at any level brings to some people. Let those who want to chase that dream.
No argument that he was probably the best player in league 2, that's about it. Didn't see him do much in his games vs league 1. Can't say he's the best in the section when he doesn't play the best competition. Have a nice day.
Most outrageous comment I have seen all year on this blog. That kid is a very good one-way offensive only hockey player. Put politely he could not carry Tozzos bag. Nice hgih school player, and I would love to see him go somewhere but I dont see it. He wasnt even the best player in our section. Top 10 yes, top player? nah.
Wow, alot of smack being thrown around.
Tozzo is one of the best section 1 hockey players ever. His Plattsburgh team played in the finals of the D3 championship. Tozzo was CAPTAIN of his team!!!!
How does the WP player compare to him, none of us knows and it remains to be seen. They haven't played against the same competition (obviously) so there is no basis for comparison. The WP player was brought up to the Jr A team of a great organization and finished the season with them. That alone may mean there is something there. Aren't one or two of the BEST players on that team going to the very same D3 school that Tozzo is at? The WP player has a long way to go to accomplish what Tozzo has in hockey. No need to get carried away and start talking about "high level hockey" until he gets there. Definitely embarking on one of the paths that will get you there just keep working hard.
Acha must be #9's parent. Because they only thing that they might have in common is their skate size.
What is the Jr A Hockey team that you are refering to? I did know there was a Jr A team out of Westchester.
Time to get the lunches ready for the morning Hockey Mom. Forget about hockey.
HockeyMama, talking about NY Applecore Junior A team
Here is a link where you can look at every DI and DIII roster – http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0708/rosters/all
Here is a link to all DI recruits. Note some of the academic years in the right hand column. – http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pq-RP3oulY40QD4LEtZ3kFg&gid=1
Here is a link to the current DIII college hockey recruits – http://www.collegehockeyrecruits.com/
If people are talking about who will make college hockey(and beyond) from the area, the one lock is Clare from Fordham Prep. He played Juniors as a 92 and was recently invited to tryout and train with the national team.
No ACHA is not #9's parent and Hockey Mama is not either…
BTW….TigerVet2 you always seem to have a lot of sh** to say about #9 and who you think I am. Why don't you come out from behind your anonymous blogging and let us know who you are! Be a man.
For the record….went and checked #9's stats played against League 1 teams. Whoever said he didn't do much better check them himself cause you are full of s h i t.
I checked the 2 RTH games, Suffern, Mam'k, and the two teams that moved down from League 1 to League 2, Yorktwn & Scars. Obviously you don't know what you are talking.
I'm not chiming in one way or the other regarding everybody's favorite WP player with the last name so difficult to spell that we only go by his first, but MY 2 CENTS, unless you accidentally hit the submit button before you finished typing, that was a rather useless post.
For starters, if you are going to match up someone's stats against league 1 teams, you need to look at them against league 1 teams, not teams (Scarsdale & Yorktown) who USED to be in league 1. There is a reason they are no longer there. If you are going to do that, NewRo used to be in League 1, too. Why don't you throw them into the mix?
Secondly, if you are going to make the statement that you checked his stats against those teams and the person who wrote that the player did nothing against league 1 was wrong, why don't you enlighten us with your findings to give your statement some merit? Maybe tell us how he did against those teams. Your argument was about as powerful as sticking your tongue out at someone.
ain't worth dink. Like I said league 1- so give it a rest with Scarsdale and Yorktown. So in the 4 games against RTH (2) Suffern (1) and Mamo (1) he had 9 points. 2.5 per-ain't Gretskyesk, and more importantly 2 were LOSSES. How about the team in league 4 that used to be in league 1-LOL
soooo yorktown and scarsdale shouldnt count, rth shouldnt either cause they were league 2 last year… soooo against suffern, he had 1 point in a 6-1 loss….
Dumb debate.
Any kid who is playing on the Junior A Applecore has already progressed further than 99% of the section 1 hockey players.
Leading a team to a League 2 title, not accomplished by that team in how long?, is also a terrific way to conclude a hs career.
Sign ne up for that now, I'd take it.
Best of luck to all seniors in your next hockey phase, keep playing at any level and enjoy the game The truth is for most athletes in all sports, high school is the penultimate.
Lohud Hockey…
i think the last name is easier to pronounce than the first name! LOL
Good luck #9, you are a fine hockey player.
Shattenkirk did not play ANY section 1 hockey. The closest he got was play with the New Ro Lighting when he was a mite or something. For his high school years he went to a development camp to play on the U.S. National 18 and Under team. If not he would have been a senior last year.
hockey dude,
Shattenkirk went two years to Brunswick! Then to the U.S. National 18 and Under team.
And if he stayed in section one he might be playing D3 this year, but he would not be playing at BU. Undersized public and local prep school players dont get drafted 14th overall when they are 18.
he and his older brother at princeton had the same oppertunity as many players from the section 1 area had. When he does something impressive i dont mind reading it hear
You guys crap me up how everything is taken so personel on here, anyway, not #9's parent, unless I had him when I was 12 years old and didn't know it. I was just trying to give anyone that didn't see Tozzo someone to compare him too. May be the Applecore comparision through me off since they both played for the team. Tozzo actually may have been closer both in size and play to this years leading scorer #18 on WP. Fast and straight ahead, Tozzo was one of the best at going to the net, I can remember him splitting D and going straight up the middle, or he would beat a guy quickly to the outside and right back in the middle and to the net again. He had the rare goal scorers attitude, he didn't care if he went around you or through you, he was going to get to the net and score. Still our best players while I'm not saying are just as good, I'm saying are comparable
Sorry "Get Real"
Also to what "NY" said about "Wait a second. Someone said a huge payout. So you spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for prep school so you can go to a D3 School with NO SCHOLARSHIP, you play a couple of years and then what? Then you get a job. Where is the payout?"
Perhaps people spend money to play hockey because it is fun. If it were about gaining money than section 1 hockey wouldn't exist.
Number 9 and 18 are very good players, both playing with eachother for years. I can see 9 playing somewhere after a year of junior a's and as for 18, i think someone mentioned, he was playing golf, and was going to try and play club hockey. Good luck to both players..
New Topic: Other one is getting borringggggggggggggg!
What team had the best & strongest 1st line this year? Suffern?, White Plains? Mamaroneck? Iona Prep? Pelham? RT/H? ETB ?
And who will have the stongest 1st line next year?
I think that CN will have the strongest 1st line, Of Willows, Shuman, Kapnick!
Are you talking who will have it in the upcoming year, or in the season that just passed. If you are looking for opinions on the top line of the season that just passed, how are you changing the topic off the Connor/Jackson, Sigona/Rui, Salt/Hiller, etc. debates that have been going on non-stop?
How many total points were scored by those 3 CN players last year? 1. Willows will get his fair share next season, although not likely approach the lofty numbers he attained as a sophomore on that super line with the older Shuman and the older Willows playing almost as a 4th forward from the blue line. Still, with Willows skating around and shooting, the CN line will be in the mix as one of the top 10 lines next season. Pelham will have a really good top line next year. New Ro, WP and Pac will also have pretty good first lines. Mamo will do it with depth as opposed to a super top line. Rye usually splits up their top forwads to have 2 or even 3 balanced lines. One reason why their top scorers have less points than those from other comparable teams. Maybe ETB puts together a pretty good one that shows up at most of the games. Jay and Brewster both have 2 forwards who work well together. I guess I am saying I don't see one really dominant line for next season. As far as last season, pretty hard to argue against Suffern's top line, with RTH close behind and then WP. Mamo did it with depth and one super goal scorer as opposed to one super line. My guess is that Conner would have scored those goals with any of several line combinations.
the suffern line this past season was the best- most points for a line in league one
next season, if willows is back, whoever the other 2 are, the three of them will be the top line, if not, i like the hiller/hill/+1 combo
Ok jackass….2.5 average isn't good….what did you score on an average? lol lol
Not saying it isn't good-he's just not the best player in section 1 as many have claimed. Hard to judge against the competition level he played. Would say he is in the top 10 in the section. You have a couple of pretty good fowards who are recognized as D1 all NY state 2nd team, playing against much tougher competition. Would have been interesting had WP played a league 1 schedule all year. Bottom line is when he played against the teams those two fowards play on-he lost-J.A.
No you are the JK because the league he is in, nor the team he is on does not keep him from being the best in the section. BTW – Only League 1 teams got all state. Who cares what others claim….there just like you, a JK because they can't get themselves to admit how good he is but again, as someone else mentioned…time will tell on where he goes in his career. Good Luck #9….we all know you can do it but some just can't admit it!
EVERYBODY IS SO INSECURE!!!!!!! AND IF YOU DON'T CARE "WHAT THE OTHERS CLAIM" WHAT IS THE NEED TO WRITE ANYTHING.. AND WHAT WAS THE NEED FOR THE INSULTS. IT IS CRAZY TO ME THAT IF SOMEONE DISAGREES WITH THE ABILITY OF SOMEONE PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO GET NUTS.. I DON'T REMEMBER ANYONE SAYING THAT HE S^CKS, IS TERRIBLE ETC.. LIGHTEN UP!!
postman….stop yelling. Why are you answering anyway? Your 2 Cents is the one claiming what everyone else said in his statements. I was asking him "who cares". Read it again. lol lol
I am answering everyone who gets so defensive if someone doesn't agree that the kid being discussed is the best. If someone writes # whatever is a good player but not as good as # whoever.. there always seems to be many people who get all nuts. I did understand your comment, but many seem to be so insecure on this blog..I don't know maybe i am having a bad day..
Man your strugling. Maybe he needs a new PR guy. LOL
maybe there's a reason only league 1 players were recognized by the state…
Who the hell is #9 and #18? I saw those two against Suffern and Mamk and they either did not show up, or were fiercely ill because they did not do anything in the big games. The Alex hagan kid from ETB was much more impressive than those 2.
What is this with Willows? What happened? He could not cut it in prep school? Even with him, the rest of the team is so slow and poor skaters, the team will still be weak.
I think #9 is Elliot Spitzer. Isnt he client #9?
im a suffern fan, but willows is sick,,,103pts as a sophomore…hell score over 100 again….makes conner look silly
CN with Willows, Shuman(?), McIndoe, Byrnes would now have 4 high level skaters. Willows and McIndoe are arguably the best at their respective positions. This past seasons sophmore class provides some depth. Definitely not a section favorite, but it would be fun watching Willows skate in section 1 again.
Are you kidding…game against Suffern….defense did not show up, 1 for 9. Mam'k game 3 for 9 and 2 for 18. 9 won every face off against you know who and outskated him every turn. You know who only scored when 9 was in the box (what a coincidence). Mam'k parents were even in awe of 9. What game were you watching? The player you mentioned…what dis he do in the game…not impressive.
no one was in awe of him
because honestly, no one on white plains was the top 3 in the section (Conner, King, Salt)
No one is in awe of anyone, even the finger flinger.
correction- the only thing people are in awe of is how the JN can sack the ducks of 21 (suspended for obscene gestures to visiting D2 team that they tied) and 87 (suspended for fighting)
9 was good, but not awe-worthy
The only #9 to be in awe of is #9 Matt Willows when he returns to CN next year
Sorry but my opinion, you are wrong. When Rui played against Conner in the semi's, Conner just couldn't match up against him. He didn't even win a face off and looked like nothing, just like last night! Rui is the best all around player in the section because he is fast, good hands, and the BEST playmaker.(something some players don't have a clue about because they are only interested in their own glory) Hands down brother!
You are always spinninng that guy. Didn't he lose both those games you just mentioned?
No,the team lost. Now you want to go on one man makes the team…jeez but it is a nice compliment! lol lol
You talk about how he did this against this guy or that guy. He's the best this, he's the best that, but it takes the team to lose. Funny stuff
Stop twisting words because it was prior post of other people that were answered when names were mentioned stating who was better than who. Don't jump in the middle. CAN YOU READ. And yes…it takes a team effort, winning or losing.
NO MATTER WHAT,
OK MAMA #9, #9 IS A "GOOD PLAYER".........bUT NO CONNER,KING OR SALT. AGAINST SUFFERN AND IONA PREP HE WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.
YOU'LL SEE, OTHERS MENTIONED WILL GET TOP HONORS AT SEASON END, #9 WILL GET A PAT ON THE BACK!
then why is encarnarco playing junior A hockey in the EJHL and king plays AA midget hockey, connor plays nothing other than high shcool hockey, and salt .. does he play on the Saints junior B team that got spanked all year? thank you come again.
Others mentioned did get recognized for top area honors by the ones who are unbiased, but #9 did get a Beatle song… Number 9, number 9…. Nummmber 9
Kids like King and Salt chose not to play full year juniors, and instead use their academic abilities to get into schools like Michigan and Vanderbilt. Salt played one game for the Saints Jr B. Thank you come again Ahole
....bc it wasnt hudson valley like the names his mom keeps naming were on
Why is it I am still being accused of blogging. That is not me above. I think I would know how to spell my name! I do not have to prove anything for him. He can do it all on his own. The fact that it is now April and you guys still carry on about him proves the point you can't admit out loud or to yourselves anyway! So grow up and move on already.