July
13, 2006
Kessel,
Toews Staying Put?
By
Mike Eidelbes
Despite
a rash of defections by underclassmen to the professional
ranks over the course of this offseason, it appears that
two of country's top forwards – Minnesota's Phil Kessel
and North Dakota's Jonathan Toews – will be back for
their sophomore seasons.
Fighting
Sioux sophomore defenseman Taylor Chorney told INCH's Jess
Myers Thursday that he had spoken with Toews, whom the Chicago
Blackhawks selected with the third overall pick in last
month's National Hockey League draft, the previous night.
Chorney said Toews told him that he'll suit up for North
Dakota this season unless the Blackhawks "back him
into a corner."
|
Both
the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul
Pioneer Press reported Thursday that Phil Kessel
would return for another season with Minnesota. |
Toews,
who scored 22 goals and 39 points in his rookie campaign
at North Dakota, spent part of this week in suburban Chicago
at the Blackhawks' annual prospects camp. The Winnipeg,
Manitoba, product scored three goals in three intrasquad
matches.
Meanwhile,
published reports out of the Twin Cities Thursday indicated
Kessel will return to the Gophers this fall.
Both
Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and
Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press wrote
that Kessel told the Gopher coaching staff that he was coming
back for his sophomore season. Most observers were convinced
Kessel, the fifth overall pick in this year's draft by the
Boston Bruins, would sign a professional contract this summer.
INCH
named Kessel its 2006 national rookie of the year after
the Madison, Wis., native led NCAA rookies in scoring last
season with 51 points in 39 games. Another highly touted
prospect, defenseman Erik Johnson, who was taken by St.
Louis with first overall selection in this year's draft,
announced last week that he would play for Minnesota this
season instead of signing with the Blues.