University of Minnesota Athletics
MHK: Phil Kessel Named College Hockey News Preseason All-American
10/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
College Hockey News on Phil Kessel:
"Dave Starman (lead color analyst for College Sports Television's Game of the Week package) says: All we know is, he made a move in the World Juniors that probably no one in the NCAA could make.
We say: Has all the fanfare that Paul Kariya had upon entrance into the NCAA, maybe more. The scrutiny is higher than it was 12 years ago. He won't duplicate Kariya's point totals, but can he duplicate Kariya's freshman Hobey feat and roll as next year's projected No. 1 NHL draft pick?"
College Hockey News on Ryan Potulny:
"His 20-goal season was thrilling to watch, but he has to be a leader now for this hugely- talented, but extremely-young team."
2005-06 CHN Preseason All-America Team
First Team
F - T.J. Hensick (Jr., Michigan)
F - Gabe Gauthier (Sr., Denver)
F - Marty Sertich (Sr., Colorado College)
F - Brett Sterling (Sr., Colorado College)
D - Nate Guenin (Sr., Ohio State)
D - Matt Carle (Jr., Denver)
G - David McKee (Jr., Cornell)
Second Team
F - Drew Stafford (Jr., North Dakota)
F - Phil Kessel (Fr., Minnesota)
F - Matt Moulson (Sr., Cornell)
D - Peter Harrold (Sr., Boston College)
D - Andy Greene (Sr., Miami)
G - Peter Mannino (So., Denver)
Players to Watch
F - Paul Stastny (So., Denver)
F - Robbie Earl (Jr., Wisconsin)
F - Ryan Potulny (Jr., Minnesota)
F - Patrick Mullen (Fr., Denver)
F - Derek Damon (Sr., Maine)
F - Brian Boyle (Jr., Boston College)
F - Jacob Micflikier (Jr., New Hampshire)
F - Pete MacArthur (So., Boston University)
F - Scott Parse (Jr., Nebraska-Omaha)
D - Sasha Pokulok (So., Cornell)
D - Matt Hunwick (Jr., Michigan)
D - Jaime Sifers (Sr., Vermont)
D - Reid Cashman (Jr., Quinnipiac)
G - Cory Schneider (So., Boston College)
G - Billy Sauer (Fr., Michigan)
In addition, Minnesota’s 2005-06 recruiting class of R.J. Anderson, Justin Bostrom, Jeff Frazee, Phil Kessel, Ryan Stoa, and Blake Wheeler was ranked as the best recruiting class in the nation, according to Inside College Hockey. Kessel is listed as the nation’s top incoming forward, while Wheeler and Stoa are ranked No. 8 and 13, respectively. Frazee is tabbed as the nation’s top freshman goaltender. The freshman class includes one Mr. Hockey finalist (Anderson), one U.S. National Junior Team member (Kessel) and four NHL draftees (Anderson, Frazee, Stoa, Wheeler).
Inside College Hockey on Minnesota's freshman class:
"Okay, so you're already tired of hearing about Phil Kessel and the kid has yet to play a game for the Gophers. Get used to it — he's as close to a sure thing as there is. He almost makes one forget Don Lucia welcomes a first-round NHL draft pick (Blake Wheeler), a high second-round NHL draft pick (Ryan Stoa) and the top goaltender at this year's Under-18 World Championships (Jeff Frazee) into the fold. Impact players: Jeff Frazee, Phil Kessel, Ryan Stoa, Blake Wheeler"
2005-06 Inside College Hockey Top 15 Freshman Classes
1. Minnesota
2. North Dakota
3. Michigan
4. Minnesota Duluth
5. Boston College
6. Denver
7. Michigan State
8. Wisconsin
9. Colorado College
10. Ferris State
11. New Hampshire
12. Miami (Ohio)
13. Vermont
14. Yale
15. Bowling Green
