For all the talk surrounding the importance of drafting junior hockey players, outside of Drew Doughty, every other defenseman currently on the Kings roster is a former college hockey player – Jack Johnson (Michigan), Peter Harrold and Rob Scuderi (Boston College), Davis Drewiske (Wisconsin), Willie Mitchell (Clarkson University), Alec Martinez (Miami-Ohio) and Matt Greene (North Dakota).
And don’t think for a minute those guys forget their college pride once they make the NHL. A few weeks ago Drewiske shared this story with me when talking about last year’s BC vs. Wisconsin NCAA Championship Final, “I had a little bet with Scuderi and Harrold on the Championship game. I said if UW won, they each had to spend a day wearing my letter jacket from Wisconsin – which is just hideous, an ugly thing. If BC won, they had their senior sweaters, you know maroon and gold. Obviously, BC won the Championship game 5-0. So, I had to spend a day – I think we were in Vancouver – with the BC colors on, which didn’t feel right at all.”
Now, for some more recent news…
As noted in yesterday’s report, this weekend marked the first time that two Kings’ recent draft picks would be facing off in a college game. Derek Forbort (first round pick 2010) and the North Dakota Fighting Sioux were hosting the St. Cloud State Huskies and Kevin Gravel (fifth round 2010).
Game one on Friday went to UND by a final score of 3-1.
For the rematch on Saturday night, UND wore their black jerseys at home for what is believed to be the first time since December 6, 2002. That game was the first home contest following the death of longtime Sioux supporter, Ralph Engelstad (for whom their arena is named after). Coincidentally, that game was also vs. SCSU. Greene and Zach Parise helped UND win that game 4-3.
Last night was another win for the home team. Six different UND players scored goals in the 6-2 victory and they were up 5-0 after two periods.
Also for the second straight night, neither Forbort or Gravel factored into the scoring…nor took a penalty.
Regardless, at 6-foot-5 (Forbort) and 6-foot-4 (Gravel), the two young blueliners are a pair worth keeping an eye on.
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