The Freshmen

Sioux hockey is back! Big expectations are being placed on this team as the media and coaches have voted them to finish top of their class this year in the WCHA. UND should use the experience of past seasons of slow starts and exhausting finishes to avoid the same pitfalls. The schedule for the next 6 weeks is brutal to say the least and another slow start could put them in the same predicament of racing to the finish and leaving the gas tank empty come tourney time.

By the way...This is the last year to win a title with the newer Sioux logo which has yet to happen since moving into Ralph Englestad Arena in 2001. Players like Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Jonathan Toews, Drew Stafford, T.J. Oshie, Matt Greene, and other great college players couldn't win a title.....Can the 2010 team do it?

Here's the New Guys:

#4 Derek Forbort
Defense 6-5 200lbs shoots: Left
Hometown: Duluth, MN USA
previous team: US National Development Team
Draft: 1st Round 15th overall Los Angeles Kings.
Other Notable #4's in Sioux history: Bill Whitsitt,Ian Kidd, Lee Goren, David Hale, and Taylor Chorney.
Bottom Line: Forbort is the most highly recruited Sioux player this season and he should see significant ice time on specialty teams as the season rolls along. Pencil him in as a WCHA all rookie pick. Even though Forbort has a big frame, his game will be more James Patrick than Matt Greene.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2vt5kNvQLo


#11 Derek Rodwell
Forward 6-2 200lbs shoots: Right
Hometown: Taber, Alberta
previous team: Okotoks-AJHL
Draft: 2009 5th Round-144th overall-New Jersey Devils
Other Notable #11's in Sioux history: Mark Taylor, Gord Sherven, Dixon Ward, Peter Armbrust, and Zach Parise
Bottom Line: Rodwell is described as a power forward which should mesh with the North Dakota style of play. Rodwell will battle each week to find a spot in the lineup but it might be next year before he sees significant minutes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr5Akz9NvLo

#18 Dillon Simpson
Defense 6-2 205lbs shoots: Left
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
previous team: Spruce Grove-AJHL
Draft: 2011 Draft Year
Other Notable #18's in Sioux history: Reg Morelli, Dean Dachyshyn, Garry Valk, and Drew Stafford
Bottom Line: Simpson is arguably the '93 birth year's top college prospect. He accelerated his high school studies to join the Sioux at age 17 like former players Jonathan Toews, Drew Stafford, and Joe Finley...to name a few. He comes from hockey bloodlines as his father, Craig, played at Michigan State, 10 years in the NHL, and is currently an analyst on Hockey Night In Canada. Simpson won't be asked to carry much of a load this season with a talent-rich blueline bolstered by 3 seniors including Chay Genoway. He will have to work hard to crack the lineup every night but his talent should give him a chance. It wouldn't be the worst thing to have him develop at a slower pace and earn his minutes not because his last name is Simpson. IMO, This season looks to be an ideal scenario for this young defensemen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCMD1tQIxWc

#29 Brock Nelson
Forward 6-3 185lbs shoots: Left
Hometown: Warroad, MN
previous team: Warroad High School
Draft: 2010 1st Round-30th overall-New York Islanders
Other Notable #29's in Sioux history: Eddie Belfour, Jay Caulfield, Colby Genoway, and Chris VandeVelde.
Bottom Line: Straight out of Compton..er.. i mean high school. Nelson also comes from hockey lineage with uncle Dave Christian, a former Fighting Sioux and 1980 USA Olympic team member. His grandfather and great uncle also won an Olympic gold medal with team USA. Nelson is tall, lanky, and has good hands. He also will not be asked to carry the mail but fit into a role as a 3rd-4th center on this team. Will Nelson make a big splash like a former Warroad high schooler who now resides in St. Louis?? Time will tell but a diminished role should help his development and hopefully he will contribute more and more as the season rolls on.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpt1JHViugM

Go Sioux!