Opponent Recruiting

[Melvin]

Gotta laugh at some of the commentary on St. Clair's change of heart. You think those remarks (from those same people) would be made had Lucia and the Gophers been the team he suddenly committed to?

Surely you're not suggesting there is some monkey business behind the scenes are you?

If a Sioux player decommitted from UND to go to the U. the Sioux fans would likely not be as kind as they are in defending coach Hakstol.

Really! If I get this right; you're and a few others are suggesting that Hakstol had a hand in St. Clair's decomitting from C.C. and going to the Sioux?

[Zwak]

Gotta laugh at some of the commentary on St. Clair's change of heart. You think those remarks (from those same people) would be made had Lucia and the Gophers been the team he suddenly committed to?

Surely you're not suggesting there is some monkey business behind the scenes are you?

If a Sioux player decommitted from UND to go to the U. the Sioux fans would likely not be as kind as they are in defending coach Hakstol.

Really! If I get this right; you're and a few others are suggesting that Hakstol had a hand in St. Clair's decomitting from C.C. and going to the Sioux?

Not at all. If this kid would have committed to the U instead of UND, the Sioux fans would have been accusing Lucia of tampering with his verbal committment. But since he is committing to UND he is just a kid who changed his mind. Not saying Hakstol had a hand at all. But the Sioux fans would likely say Lucia did if it were the U involved.

[Hammy]

Gotta laugh at some of the commentary on St. Clair's change of heart. You think those remarks (from those same people) would be made had Lucia and the Gophers been the team he suddenly committed to?

Surely you're not suggesting there is some monkey business behind the scenes are you?

I am suggesting that a little bit of consistency may be needed when similar situations pop up elsewhere.

[DrunkHockeyGuy]

Gotta laugh at some of the commentary on St. Clair's change of heart. You think those remarks (from those same people) would be made had Lucia and the Gophers been the team he suddenly committed to?

Surely you're not suggesting there is some monkey business behind the scenes are you?

If a Sioux player decommitted from UND to go to the U. the Sioux fans would likely not be as kind as they are in defending coach Hakstol.

How is that any different than this board Hammy? When someone gets a recruit the gophers are looking at you guys are never down on it, the reply is always "well he wasn't on the top of the gophers list", "or we didn't really need him." I know you guys aren't necessarily mad, but you would all be defending Lucia. Case and point, Mike Dorr. You didn't call Lucia's action monkey business. In fact you ripped us as if we shouldn't be mad about it.

[Cardinal]

In fact you ripped us as if we shouldn't be mad about it.

As a great UMD hockey mind, I'll ask you this:

1) Do you have knowledge that the U / Lucia had a hand in him decommitting?

2) At this point, aren't you happy he did change his mind?

[Hammy]

I was simply talking about the specific commentary when certain types like to allude to something underhanded going on when a rival does something but then barely raise an eyebrow when the same thing happens at their school.

I guarantee you no UND fan would be excusing a kid decommitting from their school to “play closer to home” if it was a Twin Cities kid they had that changed his tune and decided to play for Minnesota. I am not saying it is unexpected… I just find it entertaining since it points out the hypocritical nature of such fans.

As far as Dorr… it is a rather poor example. Dorr took visits to MULTIPLE schools after he decommitted from UMD and he took a decent amount of time to decide. He didn’t decommit, make only one visit to the Gophers a week later, and then decide to go there. I may be inclined to agree with you if that had happened.

I ripped some people on Dorr because the level of ill will being vented was ridiculous (I recall comments about hoping injury on him, etc). “Hate em” when he shows up in your building but get a grip on reality… he didn’t run over somebody’s daughter with his car or anything horrible.

[DrunkHockeyGuy]

he didn’t run over somebody’s daughter with his car or anything horrible.

He still has time.

[DrunkHockeyGuy]

Anyone have any information on Justin Crandall? UMD just got a commitment from him. I know he was 2nd in the elite league in scoring and the younger brother of our 3rd string goalie but that is about it. Anyone know if he is an good player a lot of people should have been looking at or more of a 2nd tier player?

[Gopherguy33]

Anyone have any information on Justin Crandall? UMD just got a commitment from him. I know he was 2nd in the elite league in scoring and the younger brother of our 3rd string goalie but that is about it. Anyone know if he is an good player a lot of people should have been looking at or more of a 2nd tier player?

We didn't want him....

[DrunkHockeyGuy]

Anyone have any information on Justin Crandall? UMD just got a commitment from him. I know he was 2nd in the elite league in scoring and the younger brother of our 3rd string goalie but that is about it. Anyone know if he is an good player a lot of people should have been looking at or more of a 2nd tier player?

We didn't want him....

Of course not, we all know if a player commits somewhere else it wasn't because he chose somewhere else, it was because the mighty gophers didn't want him.....but that still doesn't answer the question. I don't think a lot of midwest teams were recruiting him. I know New Hampshire and a couple of East coast teams, but not much here from what I heard. Thanks for the great update though Gopherguy33. I appreciate all the info you and everyone else can provide.

[Gopherguy33]

Anyone have any information on Justin Crandall? UMD just got a commitment from him. I know he was 2nd in the elite league in scoring and the younger brother of our 3rd string goalie but that is about it. Anyone know if he is an good player a lot of people should have been looking at or more of a 2nd tier player?

We didn't want him....

Of course not, we all know if a player commits somewhere else it wasn't because he chose somewhere else, it was because the mighty gophers didn't want him.....but that still doesn't answer the question. I don't think a lot of midwest teams were recruiting him. I know New Hampshire and a couple of East coast teams, but not much here from what I heard. Thanks for the great update though Gopherguy33. I appreciate all the info you and everyone else can provide.

That's it? I was expecting more outrage. To obvious?

[DrunkHockeyGuy]

Anyone have any information on Justin Crandall? UMD just got a commitment from him. I know he was 2nd in the elite league in scoring and the younger brother of our 3rd string goalie but that is about it. Anyone know if he is an good player a lot of people should have been looking at or more of a 2nd tier player?

We didn't want him....

Of course not, we all know if a player commits somewhere else it wasn't because he chose somewhere else, it was because the mighty gophers didn't want him.....but that still doesn't answer the question. I don't think a lot of midwest teams were recruiting him. I know New Hampshire and a couple of East coast teams, but not much here from what I heard. Thanks for the great update though Gopherguy33. I appreciate all the info you and everyone else can provide.

That's it? I was expecting more outrage. To obvious?

Can't argue with the truth.

[Border Gopher]

Hook, line, and sinker.

[DrunkHockeyGuy]

Hook, line, and sinker.

Wow, you sure have a skewed view of what taking the bait is. But if it makes you feel better like you finally "got me" then by all means, run with it.

[The Exiled One]

Brandon Burrell (formerly of North Metro and currently with the Wenatchee Wild of the NAHL) has committed to SCSU. I understand that the Gophers were eyeing him to some extent, but to what degree I have no idea.

EDIT: According to Allenspach's column, the Gophers wanted Brandon to walk-on. Bemidji called him with an offer, he asked Motzko to match it, Motzko obliged.