The Husson Eagles Baseball Home Opener Is Among Us

The Husson Eagles Baseball teams home opener is on March 29th. The opponent will be against the University of Maine in Farmington. They will be playing a double header that day as well as On April 1, and 2. Those opponents are Bates College and Saint Joseph College. This is their third year in the NAC Conference. Although the Eagles offense lost their 2, 3, and 4 hitters they still should be good enough to step up to the challenge.

Tim Seames

North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis, UCLA get No. 1 Seeds In NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

North Carolina, Memphis, Kansas and UCLA earned the top seeds in the NCAA tournament Sunday. The North Carolina Tar Heels earned the right of being number one finishing with a (32-2) overall record, and play only two hours away for the first two rounds of the tournament in Raleigh. Just because their number one teams in each of their respected brackets, doesn't mean that they are they guaranteed to make the Final Four. March Madness officially begins Tuesday with an opening-round game between Coppin State and Mount St. Mary’s, then with first-round games Thursday and Friday. The real festivities, however, have already started, with the brackets out, and games about to begin. The Final Four is set for April 5-7 in San Antonio.

Tim Seames

Maine Gets Two New Commitments

Maine got late commitments from Kyle Solomon and Brian Flynn for next season. Solomon comes from the Junior Bruins organization of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Flynn also played in the EJHL with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs.

Kyle Solomon Forward

Age: 20

2007-2008 Season: 33 games 17 goals, 25 assists, 42 points, and 36 penalty minutes.

Photo courtesy of the Boston Junior Bruins.


Brian Flynn Forward

Age: 19

2007-2008 Season: 41 games 26 goals, 19 assists, 45 points, and 24 penalty minutes

Photo courtesy of Eastern Junior.com

That’s My Take

Nathan Fournier

(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)

Former Commissioner Loses Cancer Battle

Fred Jacoby, the man who led the Southwest Conference for 10 years before some of the teams left to form the Big 12 Conference, died Saturday in Dallas, Texas, after a six-month battle with bone cancer. Jacoby had the privilege to lead seven different conferences in three different divisions in his career as commissioner. During his career, Jacoby spent 22 years as the chair of the National Letter of Intent program. Jacoby had a big hand in forming the NCAA as we know it today, and his passing at the age of 80 is a blow to the organization.

It’s sad to hear that Fred Jacoby has died. I believe that without him we wouldn’t have as many organized college sports under the NCAA banner as we do today. They may be able to find someone to take over in place of Mr. Jacoby; however, the NCAA will never be able to match his legacy.

Mark Zadakis

Clemson Signs Purnell to Contract Extension

Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Philips has announced that the school has signed Oliver Purnell to a contract extension to remain as the men’s basketball coach. The contract runs through the 2013-14 season. Purnell, in his fifth season with the school, has led the Clemson men’s team to post-season action for the last four years. How good is Purnell as the coach of the Clemson Tigers? He has a record of 94-67 in his time as head coach, including a school record of 49 wins a season for the last two years. Since taking over the coaching job five years ago, the Clemson Tigers’ win record has steadily increased from 10 wins his first year to 25 wins last season. Purnell is the 31st coach to take three different teams to the NCAA Tournament in NCAA history.

I believe that signing Oliver Purnell to an extension was the right move to make. Why would you split up a good relationship if it was producing great results? Purnell has proven that he belongs with the NCAA’s elite men’s basketball coaches. He has taken a team that had been in a slump for the past few years and has helped to make the team and school into a perennial championship contender. I feel he deserved to be rewarded with the contract extension.

Mark Zadakis

NTDP Tryout Camp

USA Hockey will be holding the final tryout camp for the National Team Development Program Under-17 Team from March 22nd to the 25th in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here's the 46 players that will be participating.

Goaltenders
1. Jack Campbell - Honeybaked (U18)
2. Mac Carruth - Chicago Fury (U18) (Minnesota-Duluth 2010)
3. Andy Iles - Salisbury Prep
4. Willie Yanakeff - Honeybaked (U16)

Defensemen
1. Evan Accettura - Victory Honda (U18)
2. Bennett Carroccio - Phillips Academy
3. Kevin Clare - New Jersey Hitmen
4. Adam Clendening - Toronto Marlies
5. Michael Gunn - Compuware (U16) (Michigan State 2010)
6. Kevin Gravel - Marquette (U18)
7. Derek Forbort - Duluth East HS
8. Stephen Johns - Pittsburgh (U18)
9. Ben Marshall - Mahtomedia HS
10. Kevin McMorrow - Park Rapids HS
11. Jeffrey Pauluk - Bloomington Jefferson HS
12. Michael Reardon - Noble and Greenough Prep
13. Joe Rubbelke - St. Paul Johnson HS
14. Brandon Russo - Salisbury Prep
15. Frankie Simonelli - Team Illinois (U16)
16. Jarred Tinordi - Washington Jr. Nationals

Forwards
1. Bill Arnold - Noble and Greenough Prep
2. Chasen Balisy - Toronto Jr. Canadiens
3. Nick Bjugstad - Blaine HS
4. Connor Brickley - Belmont Hill Prep
5. Emerson Etem - Shattuck St. Mary’s
6. Jacob Fallon - Texas Attack (U16)
7. Max Gardiner - Minnetonka HS
8. Colton Hargrove - Texas Attack (U16)
9. Christian Isackson - St. Thomas Academy
10. Jared Knight - Compuware (U16) (Michigan 2010)
11. Phil Lane - Rochester Alliance (U16)
12. Alex Lippincott - Cleveland (U18) (Ohio State 2010)
13. Jeff McMinimy - Texas Texas Attack (U16)
14. Michael Mersch - Team Illinois (U16)
15. Luke Moffatt - Compuware (U16) (Michigan 2010)
16. Matt Nieto - Salisbury Prep
17. Bryan Rust - Honeybaked (U16) (Notre Dame 2010)
18. Brandon Saad - Pittsburgh (U18)
19. Nick Shore - Colorado Thunderbirds (U16)
20. Andrew Sinelli - Honeybaked (U16) (Michigan State 2010)
21. Shane Sooth - Salisbury Prep
22. Colten St. Clair - P.F. Changs (U18) (Colorado College 2010)
23. K.J. Tiefenwerth - St. Anthony's HS (Boston College 2011)
24. T.J. Tynan - Chicago Mission (U16) (Notre Dame 2010)
25. Austin Watson - Compuware (U16) (University of Maine 2010)
26. Jason Zucker - Compuware (U16)

The Western College Blog is reporting Jon Merrill (Michigan 2010) who has already accepted a spot on the team will not be attending the camp because of prior family commitments. The blog is also reporting Maine recruit Stuart Higgins has mono. He will be evaluated at this summer's Select 16 Festival.

My Picks

Goalies
Mac Carruth
Andy Iles

Defenseman
Jon Merrill
Adam Clendening
Michael Gunn
Ben Marshall
Stephen Johns
Derek Forbort
Brandon Russo
Jarred Tinordi

Forwards
Austin Watson
Stuart Higgins
Jared Knight
Bryan Rust
Luke Moffatt
Bill Arnold
Jacob Fallon
Colten St. Clair
K.J. Tiefenwerth
Andrew Sinelli
Alex Lippincott
T.J. Tynan
Matt Nieto

The Star Tribune did a nice five part series on current USA Under 17 player Nick Mattson. You can find thr five part series here. Free Registration is required to read the articles. The Star Tribune will ask you to register after you read the first page of any article.

Rumors have surfaced that Brian Dumoulin (High School Junior) who led Biddeford High School to the Class A State Title earlier this month will be joining the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs (EJHL) next season. Still early if it’s a final decision or not. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s drafted in the QMJHL and the USHL this summer. Kelen Corkum who will be joining the Maine Black Bears in 2009 will also join the Monarchs next season.

That's My Take

Nathan Fournier

(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)

BREAKING NEWS: Ben Bishop Has Signed With the St. Louis Blues

From the Blues Site.

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today that the team has signed goaltender Ben Bishop. Bishop will join the Peoria Rivermen for the remainder of the season.

The 6-7, 210-pound netminder just completed his junior season at The University of Maine, recording a 13-18-3 record along with a 2.43 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. He was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, while being named Hockey East Goalie of the Month for the month of October.

He led the Black Bears to the Frozen Four last season, compiling a 21-9-2 record along with a 2.14 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

Bishop registered a 55-34-7 career record at Maine ranking third all-time in games played (99), second in saves (2,399), fifth in wins (55) and fourth with a 2.29 goals against average.

He was originally St. Louis’ third round selection, 85th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Bishop spent three years at Chaminade High School in St. Louis before joining the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League following his junior year.

What does this mean for the Black Bears? Most likely Scott Darling will step in as a freshman next season. Darling a 19 year old and a 6th round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007. With the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League he has 25 wins and 8 losses this season. He has a 2.84 Goals Against Average and a .912 Save Percentage. He's second in the league in wins, fourth in the league in save percentage, and seventh in the league in goal against average.

There is a rumor that Simon-Danis Pepin will bolt and sign with the Chicago Blackhawks.

That's My Take

Nathan Fournier

Photo of Ben Bishop is from insidecollegehockey.com

Photo of Scott Darling is from the Indiana Ice

(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)