Players to Watch in Texas, 2008 Version

[westlax]

From the smaller school coming from the PNCLL Western Oregon has a couple standouts that can finally showcase their talents nationally

#10 Calvin Davis: May be the most overlooked player in his conference. Lead the league in points 78 and points per game with 6.5. Davis is 3rd in the nation in points, 5th in goals, and 4th in assists. The biggest factor for him is his ability to ride. He is so quick he is often able to strip goalies and defenders of the ball.

#6 Kyle McWhirter: Possibly the best offensive midfielder coming to nationals. He was 2nd in the PNCLL in points with 63 and had the most points out of any midfielder. Nationally he is the only midfielder in the top 20 in points, t-7th, being 32nd in goals and t-4th in assists.

#2 Ian Bohince: Came up very big in the PNCLL Championship game winning nearly every face-off and scoring twice to get Final Four MVP. He still can find the back of the net t-17th in the nation in goals, but more importantly might be the most important midfielder coming into the tourney for any team. Bohince controls the pace of the game with his face-offs.

#4 Steven Blair: After what statistically was a down year for him he found himself at the top of the league with a 66.7% save percentage and 6.25 goals a game. He is able to create good transition and make big plays down the field.

[HokieLax07]

Andrew Jaffke, MATT STILTON, Thomas Schauder, NAD OH YEAH TIM THE AMAZIN tYRELLL!

Also look out for Patrick O'Keefe #3, David Gouldey #49, and Michael Hanssen #2.

[onpoint]

Does anyone know of any impact players who are not going to the tourney?

Will Justin Combs be there?

/2006

[Highheat]

Does anyone know of any impact players who are not going to the tourney?

Will Justin Combs be there?

/2006

I think his ghost will inherit the body of one of the Lindenwood players who will immediately start ripping 100mph BTB shots from the top of the box.... The goalie won't even attempt to save the ball, but will just faint from Combs' spectral aura...

[Laxfan87]

If you're at the tourney you've gotta check the team from Canada anyway, eh. They all play with one hand, their coaches love the slick hair look, and a ton of their shorties are the same size... it's awesome!

Why switch hands when you can pull off a back-hand just as easily if not quicker?

[scooter]

I am interested in checking out these two attackmen from Grand Valley, Chris Idema and Cameron Holding. They're putting up a ton of points this year. Should be interesting to see how they do against some of the nations best.

They are very good. Quiet, unassuming, but extremely productive. GVSU has arguably the best attack in D2, so I will be extremely interested seeing their scores and post game summaries

[Gvlax]

I am interested in checking out these two attackmen from Grand Valley, Chris Idema and Cameron Holding. They're putting up a ton of points this year. Should be interesting to see how they do against some of the nations best.

They are very good. Quiet, unassuming, but extremely productive. GVSU has arguably the best attack in D2, so I will be extremely interested seeing their scores and post game summaries

We love to keep it quiet, especially since people only focus on our two attack...bet Dayton wishes it didn't.

[nhoskins]

I don't agree that Manning is the best LSM ever in this league, but he is really really good. I think what might be impressing Dan more though is his unselfish style... making a move to LSM because that's what your team needs when you were a 1st teamer at attack and midfield already is a classy move... but I'm just speculating.

Agreed. I may be biased, but I'm pretty sure I was the best LSM ever. What impresses me most about Manning is his ability to play anywhere when needed: he quarterbacks the EMO, takes the line at LSM for face-offs, and can snipe with his short pole or long pole.

If you're at the tourney you've gotta check the team from Canada anyway, eh. They all play with one hand, their coaches love the slick hair look, and a ton of their shorties are the same size... it's awesome!

Their coaches wear cute matching outfits too!

[DG]

Andrew Jaffke, MATT STILTON, Thomas Schauder, NAD OH YEAH TIM THE AMAZIN tYRELLL!

Also look out for Patrick O'Keefe #3, David Gouldey #49, and Michael Hanssen #2.

Which one of those guys is the Delaware transfer? I heard he is outstanding.

[Highheat]

I'm not sure how you have the LSM conversation without considering a few other guys that are still in the league or are just recently out of the league...

Just to toot the UCSB horn a little more - alumni LSM Damon Conklin-Moraine (sp?) was at least a two-time LSM and dominant at his position for a couple of years... and then there is last years first team LSM Chris Schaible who has had to make the move to D at times this year, but has still been the most dominant defensive player in the WCLL earning Defensive POY awards this year...

I haven't seen Manning play and am in no way down-grading him, but to put him in the conversation of one of the best all-time, you have to take a more thorough look around to see who else is/has been playing (as has been done with the Plonkey comparison).

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

While the Manning discussion continues. . .the guy is an absolute stud. How he compares with LSMs of the past, I have no idea. . .but I can gamble he will be one of the best you'll all see in Texas.

In the championship game against Oregon, in the 2nd half they switched him to close-D and he pretty much shut down Oregon's leading scorer. I think I can safely say he is one of the best All-Around players I've seen at this level. . .and he fills the biggest need for his team with a long-stick. . .but he could turn heads playing any position, which in-and-of-itself makes him pretty special.

[cjwilhelmi]

I think I can safely say he is one of the best All-Around players I've seen at this level. . .and he fills the biggest need for his team with a long-stick. . .but he could turn heads playing any position, which in-and-of-itself makes him pretty special.

Dr. Stockton hits it on the head with this statement. He is a very special player. I have seen him in three games and numerous film sessions. I think that LU #35 Baethke is something special (I'm biased I admit) and BYU's #12 Murphy Smith are probably the best I have seen this year.

[Laxfan87]

While the Manning discussion continues. . .the guy is an absolute stud. How he compares with LSMs of the past, I have no idea. . .but I can gamble he will be one of the best you'll all see in Texas.

In the championship game against Oregon, in the 2nd half they switched him to close-D and he pretty much shut down Oregon's leading scorer. I think I can safely say he is one of the best All-Around players I've seen at this level. . .and he fills the biggest need for his team with a long-stick. . .but he could turn heads playing any position, which in-and-of-itself makes him pretty special.

I hear he's actually the coach as well.

Apparently he makes the decisions while on the field, then sends his orders to the pseudo-coach on the sideline with some well choreographed stick movements.

When he strips a guy, that actually means he wants to grab a short stick on the next EMO.

[HokieLax07]

Andrew Jaffke, MATT STILTON, Thomas Schauder, NAD OH YEAH TIM THE AMAZIN tYRELLL!

Also look out for Patrick O'Keefe #3, David Gouldey #49, and Michael Hanssen #2.

Which one of those guys is the Delaware transfer? I heard he is outstanding.

That would be Pat O'Keefe and yes he definitely has some skills

[Tyler Baumann]

From the smaller school coming from the PNCLL Western Oregon has a couple standouts that can finally showcase their talents nationally

#10 Calvin Davis: May be the most overlooked player in his conference. Lead the league in points 78 and points per game with 6.5. Davis is 3rd in the nation in points, 5th in goals, and 4th in assists. The biggest factor for him is his ability to ride. He is so quick he is often able to strip goalies and defenders of the ball.

#6 Kyle McWhirter: Possibly the best offensive midfielder coming to nationals. He was 2nd in the PNCLL in points with 63 and had the most points out of any midfielder. Nationally he is the only midfielder in the top 20 in points, t-7th, being 32nd in goals and t-4th in assists.

#2 Ian Bohince: Came up very big in the PNCLL Championship game winning nearly every face-off and scoring twice to get Final Four MVP. He still can find the back of the net t-17th in the nation in goals, but more importantly might be the most important midfielder coming into the tourney for any team. Bohince controls the pace of the game with his face-offs.

#4 Steven Blair: After what statistically was a down year for him he found himself at the top of the league with a 66.7% save percentage and 6.25 goals a game. He is able to create good transition and make big plays down the field.

Calvin is up there, but McWhirter is no way the best Offensive middie going to Dallas. Glad his stats are great, but that really doesn't mean anything when you are beating teams 24-3. That means you are playing great team ball and being able to catch and finish doesn't make you the best player in the country. Sorry, but he isn't even the best Offensive Middie in the PNCLL. (PNCLL D2 IMO is having a down year due to Montana leaving and other teams falling victim to graduation) We (PNCLL members) all know you guys at WOU love to pat yourselves on the back to help try and give your team a little boost, and I wish you guys all the luck at nationals. I just think that when you play schools like Westminster, Grand Valley and all the other D2 schools in Dallas, you'll see that there is a lot of talent outside the PNCLL. Blair can play and if he is hot I think he can prove he is one of the best in the nation however, goalies can flip flop in the post season so I am not predicting either way. Just calling it how it is, good luck in Dallas and make it two in a row for the PNCLL.