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Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:48 am

donlever wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:45 am Verhoeff likely regarded by Hunter as still a pup in the woods.

Just turned 17 6 months ago....

He seems to be handling himself mightily in the NCAA against older players. Don’t get it, to be honestly. Is the American Reid, Smits and Carels that much older than he is? They are draft mates getting considerable minutes in the tourney.

Yeah..I don't disagree

I have been a Verhoeff supporter for weeks here.

You will recall scolding me for selecting him ahead of your buddy McKenna.

Just saying what Hunter may be thinking...

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:48 am

donlever wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:45 am Verhoeff likely regarded by Hunter as still a pup in the woods.

Just tuned 17 6 months ago....

He seems to be handling himself mightily in the NCAA against older players. Don’t get it, to be honestly. Is the American Reid, Smits and Carels that much older than he is? They are draft mates getting considerable minutes in the tourney.

There is the traditional anti NCAA bias in Hockey Canada, this is probably exacerbated now with the recent change in eligibility and attendant hurt feelings.

Verhoeff is actually 4 days older than Carels.

Wonderful.....

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:54 am Verhoeff is actually 4 days older than Carels.

And left his CHL team to play NCAA hockey at age 17

Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:53 am

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:48 am

donlever wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:45 am Verhoeff likely regarded by Hunter as still a pup in the woods.

Just tuned 17 6 months ago....

He seems to be handling himself mightily in the NCAA against older players. Don’t get it, to be honestly. Is the American Reid, Smits and Carels that much older than he is? They are draft mates getting considerable minutes in the tourney.

There is the traditional anti NCAA bias in Hockey Canada, this is probably exacerbated now with the recent change in eligibility and attendant hurt feelings.

There are quite a few NCAA players on the team, McKenna, Verhoeff, Reschny, Martone, Mackenzie, Hage…I’m not sure I buy that.

Also, I didn’t agree with Jackson Smith getting cut. He’s big and can skate and plays a real solid game. But maybe he lost out to the “CHL” players since Smith plays for Penn State

Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:57 am

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:54 am Verhoeff is actually 4 days older than Carels.

And left his CHL team to play NCAA hockey at age 17

But the puppy dog aspect I don’t agree with since the NCAA style of hockey vs the CHL is more mature and harder to play. But you could be right since Hunter is a throw back and part of that CHL protectionism since he owns the London Knights. Could be the deciding factor

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:57 am

Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:53 am

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:48 am

donlever wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:45 am Verhoeff likely regarded by Hunter as still a pup in the woods.

Just tuned 17 6 months ago....

He seems to be handling himself mightily in the NCAA against older players. Don’t get it, to be honestly. Is the American Reid, Smits and Carels that much older than he is? They are draft mates getting considerable minutes in the tourney.

There is the traditional anti NCAA bias in Hockey Canada, this is probably exacerbated now with the recent change in eligibility and attendant hurt feelings.

There are quite a few NCAA players on the team, McKenna, Verhoeff, Reschny, Martone, Mackenzie, Hage…I’m not sure I buy that.

Also, I didn’t agree with Jackson Smith getting cut. He’s big and can skate and plays a real solid game. But maybe he lost out to the “CHL” players since Smith plays for Penn State

I didn't just hatch this bias theory; it's been around forever, and it cuts both ways; the Yanks are biased in favor of their own system as well. It's not a blatant bias, but I think it's there on the margins.

But really, what do we know? Dale Hunter and his braintrust get the big bucks to make these calls, and they like Cameron Reid over Keaton Verhoeff.

I don’t know what they see in Reid cause he’s been terrible.

Brunicke has been fighting the puck as well. Not sure what his problem is either.

Another collegian I thought should have been there is Malcolm Spence. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=262226

I also liked Vaclav Nestrasil's game yesterday vs Canada. He's a big boy. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=273530

Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 12:08 pm Another collegian I thought should have been there is Malcolm Spence. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=262226

I also liked Vaclav Nestrasil's game yesterday vs Canada. He's a big boy. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=273530

Speaking of College players, what do you think of Reschny’s play so far? I haven’t been impressed. Him Desnoyers or O’Reilly are on the chopping block for Bear to come in… if I was the coach.

All negativity aside, I’ve been impressed with Michael Misa.

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 12:11 pm

Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 12:08 pm Another collegian I thought should have been there is Malcolm Spence. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=262226

I also liked Vaclav Nestrasil's game yesterday vs Canada. He's a big boy. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=273530

Speaking of College players, what do you think of Reschny’s play so far? I haven’t been impressed. Him Desnoyers or O’Reilly are on the chopping block for Bear to come in… if I was the coach.

I think Reschny has been decent, O'Reilly not terrible. But yes, Caleb Desnoyers stunk it out.

Out of the Q, I might prefer goal a game Justin Carbonneau. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdi ... pid=264854

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 12:13 pm All negativity aside

Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 8:47 am

Mëds wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 3:22 am First game of the round robin.....Canada looked scrambled and out of sync. Not at all unusual for Canada at this tournament.

Germany's goaltender was very good against the USA.....despite giving up 6. That game should have been 12-3.

Canada’s game at the WJC’s has been scrambled and out of sync for awhile, Mëds. This isn’t nothing new if you’ve been watching the last few WJC’s. I expect this to continue. The players tend to go individual, can’t make a pass to save their lives half the time.

Ummmm yeah.