2012-13 UMD Pre-season Player Picks

UMD Players to Watch. Pre-season picks for end of season awards from the staff.

MVP: Caleb Herbert may be the most unconventional pick on our list, but we expect a lot out of him this year.  It is usually offense that garners the most attention and may have the biggest impact and that is what brought us to Herbert.  This Bulldogs team may have some trouble consistently finding the net on offense, but a leader must emerge.

Honorable Mention: Wade Bergman who will anchor the defensemen corps.

DarkHorse (our breakout player of the year): Last year’s pick:

It may be unconventional and break the rules, if there are any, but we look to Cody Danberg. Returning for a second senior season, he should use his experience and wisdom to help lead the forwards. His 16 points in 99 games should be easily doubles this season.

This year we will go with the same pick now in his third senior season.

Rookie to Watch: Andy Welinski has garnered much praise for his play and the Bulldogs can really use the offense from the blueline.  While winning the USHL Defenseman of the Year award last season with Green Bay, Welinskii amassed 15 goals and 22 assists.

Honorable Mention: Austin Farley and his potential scoring numbers if he can carry his game from the USHL to the WCHA.

Key players to UMD’s success this year:

Aaron Crandall in net is key the team to having success.  If Matt McNeeley is the answer in stead of Crandall, it probably means some losses along the line before he is declared the #1.

Jake Hendrickson will have to step up as the one of two non-freshman centers on the team and the only one with significant playing time last season.  If he is not up to the task, it will likely have to come from a freshman (see below).

The trio of freshman centers, Tony Cameranesi, Charlie Sampair, and Austyn Young will be counted on to play well and score to make this team successful in the end. 

3 Summer Thoughts Now that Autumn is Here

It has been a hiatus. A good break from things this summer, but things have piled up on mymind and in my inbox in regards to the Bulldogs, WCHA, and NCHC. So here we go.

Target Center Chosen as NCHC Tournament Site.

As the late, great radio personality Steve Cannon called it, the Discount Center will be the site of the NCHC Tournament.

While it is nice to have the site in Minnesota, the venue cannot live up to that in Saint Paul where the WCHA has had their tournament for years. The last time the Target Center hosted a hockey event was in 1999.

The Target Center is set for another renovation comingsoon. A timeline for the project is currently unavailable.

Freshman Farley Turning Heads.

Austin Farley continues to make news even in his change of venue from the USHL to the NCAA ranks. He will be a player to watch on this year’s Bulldogs team and also on the national stage as he competes in the All-American Prospects game later this month in Buffalo, NY.

Changes to Come in NCHC; Familiar Faces Abound

Many things will change with the inception of the NCHC next season, but one familiar face will remain, referee Don Adam. Adam is the new NCHC Director of Officiating. Many fans will recognize the name as a staple of WCHA and other league officiating. And he maybe infamous in many circles of fans for his calls as he has worked many of the big series and tournament games for years now.

And although Adam may have history in many fans minds, many people who have speculated who the head of officials may be will be happy to hear the new person does not have the last name Shepard.

It is already September and practices will be starting soon. We will be going for our preseason picks and previews in the coming weeks. College hockey starts soon!