Traverse City Roster & Schedule Released

Each year, the Wild participate in the Traverse City prospect tournament along with a handful of other NHL teams. It's much like the Grapefruit League of hockey. Send the kids, let then stretch their legs against their fellow prospects, and possibly bring home some hardware and build some winning ways.

If you remember, last year the Wild prospects won the tourney for the first time, and three prospects were inked. Josh Caron, Colton Jobke, and Jared Spurgeon. While Jobke and Caron were sent back to their junior squads, Spurgeon went on to fast success with the Aeros and then the Wild.

Are there any further diamonds in the rough? Will there be another Jared Spurgeon among the tryouts signed for the tournament? Will this tournament EVER be broadcast for hockey fans to watch?

Make the jump for the roster, the schedule, and some discussion.

Full Roster, via Glen Andresen at Wild.com:

Minnesota Wild 2011 PROSPECTS TOURNAMENT ROSTER
#	Position / Player	Birthday	2010-2011 Team	Hometown
73	F - Joel Broda	Nov. 24, 1989	Houston (AHL)/Bakersfield (ECHL)	Prince Albert, SK
54	F - Brett Bulmer	Apr. 26, 1992	Kelowna (WHL)	Prince George, BC
38	F - Nathan Burns	Jul. 15, 1993	Vancouver (whl)	Edmonton, AB
52	F - Justin Fontaine	Nov. 26, 1987	UMD (wcha)	Bonnyville,AB
72	F - Kristopher Foucalt	Dec. 12, 1990	Calgary (WHL)	Calgary, AB
53	F - Tyler Graovac	Apr. 27, 1993	Ottawa (OHL)	Brampton,ON
81	F - Mike Kramer	Aug. 28, 1987	Princeton (ECAC)	St. Paul,MN
75	F - Alex Belzile	Aug. 31, 1991	Rimouski (QMJHL)	St-Eloi,QC
57	F - Tyler Maxwell	Apr. 13, 1991	Everett (WHL)	Manhattan Beach,CA
34	F - David McIntyre	Feb. 4, 1987	Albany (AHL)	Pefferlaw, ON
83	F- Taylor Peters	Jan. 24, 1992	Portland (WHL)	Delta,BC
61	F - Zack Phillips	Oct. 28, 1992	Saint John (QMJHL)	Fredericton, NB
80	F - Carter Sandlak	May 18, 1993	Belleville (OHL)	London, ON
82	F - Dylan Willick	Oct. 19, 1992	Kamloops (WHL)	Prince George, BC
56	D - Dylan Busenius	Jan. 30, 1993	Medicine Hat (WHL)	Sherwood Park, AB
68	D - Josh Caron	Feb. 10, 1991	Kamloops (WHL)	Campbell River,BC
26	D - Tyler Cuma	Jan. 19, 1990	Houston (AHL)	Toronto, ON
59	D - Kris Fredheim	Feb. 23, 1987	Houston (AHL)	Campbell River,BC
65	D - Chay Genoway	Dec. 20, 1986	North Dakota (WCHA)	Morden,MB
74	D - COLTON JOBKE	Apr. 20, 1992	Kelowna (WHL)	Delta, BC
62	D - Sam Lofquist	Mar. 15, 1990	Guelph (OHL)	Somerset,WI
67	D - Kyle Medvec	Jun. 16, 1988	Vermont (HE)	Burnsville,MN
31	G - Matthew Hackett	Mar. 7, 1990	Houston (AHL)	London,ON
35	G - Darcy Kuemper	May 5, 1990	Red Deer (WHL)	Saskatoon,SK

 

Tryout players are in bold type.

Schedule:

Saturday, September 10

Time	Home	Visitor
2:30 PM	Minnesota Wild	Buffalo Sabres
3:00 PM	Dallas Stars	Carolina Hurricanes
6:00 PM	NY Rangers	St. Louis Blues
7:00 PM	Detroit Red Wings	Columbus Blue Jackets

Sunday, September 11

Time	Home	Visitor
1:30 PM	Columbus	Buffalo
2:00 PM	St. Louis	Carolina
5:00 PM	NY Rangers	Dallas
5:30 PM	Minnesota	Detroit

Tuesday, September 13

Time	Home	Visitor
2:00 PM	Dallas	St. Louis
2:30 PM	NY Rangers	Carolina
5:30 PM	Minnesota	Columbus
6:00 PM	Detroit	Buffalo

Wednesday, September 14

Time	Home	Visitor
2:00 PM	4th Gretzky	4th Howe
2:30 PM	3rd Gretzky	3rd Howe
5:30 PM	2nd Gretzky	2nd Howe
6:00 PM	1st Gretzky	1st Howe

 

 

So What?

The Traverse City tournament is something 99% of hockey fans could not care less about. It ranks up there with development camp in the importance to the average hockey fan. Caring about Traverse City is generally left for the hard core fans, those who care deeply about the prospects and understand what they mean to the future of the franchise. For that reason, we truly wish there was a way to get this tourney broadcast in the markets playing in the tournament.

Alas, the money must not make sense, for it has yet to grace my TV screen.

Looking at the roster, you will hopefully notice that most of the top tier prospects are not involved. Mikael Granlund, Jonas Brodin and others have already begun their seasons in Europe, and players like Charlie Coyle and Jason Zucker are prepping for their college programs. Thus, the influx of the tryouts.

The names of guys like Sam Lofquist, Kris Fredheim, Dylan Busenius, Dylan Willick, Carter Sandlack, Taylor Peters, Tyler Maxwell, Alex Belzile, Mike Kramer, and Nathan Burns may not mean anything to you right now, how many of you knew who Jared Spurgeon was at this point last year?

According to our contract page, the Wild have 45 contracts on the books. That leaves them five contracts to work with, should they find a player worthy of a deal. No GM wants to pin themselves in by hitting the cap, so don't expect a windfall, but if one of these players shines, maybe they get a chance. You may also see some of them sign deals to play in Houston.

While the tournament will take place mostly out of sight and out of mind, keep an eye out for signings, and hope for further success from the kids. The more success they have at the lower levels, the more success they will want to have at the top levels.

Stay tuned here for details as we get closer, and for updates as the tourney progresses.