> I could go on with many other "points" regarding players from Minnesota > playing in Junior A, Olympic competition, National Team programs, as well > as the National Hockey League (mostly former Gophers), but I hope I at > least shed some "new" light on why the U of M recruits only players from > Minnesota. I have no desire to discuss the "Minnesota issue" because I think it's a complete non-issue -- nevertheless, I feel to throw out some data (I'm home sick, what else is there to do?). Are you saying Minnesota produces the most players? If so --- Canada is still the No. 1 place for former college players in the NHL. In other words, the largest portion of former college players in the NHL are from Canada. It's 108 of 248 (43%) There's exactly 33 players from Minnesota and 33 from Massachusetts. The rest are spread around the country (a lot of other New England states, plus Michigan - which I didn't total) Or are you saying most NHL players from college that are from Minnesota played for the Gophers? If so -- note that there are 33 Minnesotans that played in the NHL or are prominent prospects last year (SOURCE: Hockey News Register) 16 played for the Gophers, and 17 did not. GOPHERS ------- Brian Bonin Paul Broten Neal Broten Tom Chorske Joe Dziedzic Ken Gernander Darby Hendrickson Craig Johnson Trent Klatt Corey Millen Jeff Nielson Lance Pitlick Travis Richards Robb Stauber Dan Trebil Doug Zmolek NON-GOPHERS ----------- Kelly Fairchild - Wisconsin Rusty Fitzgerald - UMD John Gruden - Ferris Brett Hauer - UMD Brett Hedican - St. Cloud Sean Hill - Wisconsin Jim Johnson - UMD Chris Marinucci - UMD Kris Miller - UMD Joel Otto - Bemidji St. Mike Peluso - Anchorage Derek Plante - UMD Shjon Podein - UMD Damian Rhodes - Michigan Tech John Rohloff - UMD Dave Christian - North Dakota Chris Dahlquist - Lake Superior St. What's all this mean ---- who knows? But it's out there. Adam Wodon - AC Productions Host: "Around the Rinks" - The only National College Hockey talk show Listen 24 hours/day, 7 days/week at: http://www.audionet.com/sports/shows/rinks/ HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.