June 22, 2009
Minnesota's Schroeder Set to Go in Top 10 of Draft
by Russ Cohen/Special to CHN
Jordan Schroeder will soon be a household name once he gets called to the podium in Montreal at the June NHL Entry Draft. In his first NCAA season with Minnesota, he had 45 points in 35 games. To put that into perspective, he was one-point behind Ryan Stoa (drafted by Colorado in 2005) for the team lead. It's hard enough to get ice time in a program like that, but to be this prolific in his first college season proves that he is something special.
The early knock on this forward was he was an assist man and he couldn't finish. In the 2009 World Junior Championships he showed that he could play in the slot, even though he is 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, and he showed a very quick release, which got him quite a few tallies besides setting up some nice goals. He has soft hands and tremendous hockey sense. With a little seasoning he can be a terrific two-way player.
"In Jordan you have one of the best all around players in the world today in his birth year," said Team USA Asst. Executive Dir./Hockey Operations Jim Johannson.
Schroeder was on a line with Flyers first-rounder James van Riemsdyk, and Colin Wilson (Nashville) who just won the Frozen Four with the Boston University Terriers. Going into this year's tournament, van Riemsdyk was excited about reuniting this potent line.
"Last year we had a great amount of success," van Riemsdyk said about his linemates.
Schroeder came up through the U.S. National Program and there is a laundry list of great players with that same training on their resume.
"Being in Ann Arbor in the National Team Development Program it taught me a lot about hockey and a lot about life too," Schroeder said honestly. "It's brought me to both ends of the ice, defensively and offensively. I've learned a lot through it. Playing International hockey you get a feel for that too so I'm pretty comfortable with it."
Like most kids from Prior Lake, Minn, he has a lot of pride when he puts on the Team USA sweater.
"It's definitely an honor to put on that sweater every night. I've had some bad experiences with it on and I've had some success," he said. "Ever since I heard about the program and ever since I watched the Olympics growing up it was kind of a dream to put on that USA jersey and represent your country."
Schroeder is virtually a lock to be a top-ten pick in Montreal this week. Nothing is guaranteed, just ask Angelo Esposito. There is a chance this kid could be picked higher if a GM out there feels like he is a "must have" player for their organization.
This soon-to-be NHLer will be watching the Olympics intently this coming winter and some day he hopes to make that roster as well.
"It would be an amazing honor and definitely a dream come true," Schroeder said with real excitement in his voice.
Keep an eye out for this exciting player because he should turn pro in the next 2-3 years.
Russ Cohen is publisher of Sportsology and Hockeyology.
