Kevin Porter

[Sparky]

Nice article in today's S news about Kevin Porter and the Wolverines. Looks like porter made the right decision choosing college over Saginaw as his team is in the hunt for a national championship, the college hockey equivalent to the memorial cup (though we all know it's a lot more grueling to get to the mem cup with best of 7 vs. single game elimination). Still in all, it's a great accomplishment for him and his teamates. Iit's hard to tell where the Spirit would be had Porter signed here. Maybe he'd have been able to get Kessel to play here and who knows where we would be. but on the other hand, who knows where he would be as a player, he may have done better than he did at UM or he may have done worse.

Just thought it would be interesting to discuss his current success (besides, I'm an avid UM fan).

[darrenpangfan]

Sparky, I agree things could have gotten really interesting for Spirit fans if Saginaw would have been able to sign talented players such as Kevin Porter or Phil Kessel. The 2005-06 and 2006-07 teams could have made some real strong runs in the postseason with one or both of those players. I think early on, Porter may have struggled because he would not have been surrounded by talented players in the earlier years of the Spirit. But I think, Porter would have developed just fine like Pyatt, Asselin, and McNeill progressed through the years of watching them play.

A couple of other college players of note that the Spirit have drafted are Dustin Gazley of Michigan State and defenseman Tristin Llewellyn of Michigan. The Spirit blueline would look extremely strong if somehow, Llewellyn were to leave the U-M and come play in Saginaw next season.

Personally, I'm surprised that more players haven't pulled a Nigel Williams and left college hockey to come play in the OHL if the right opportunity arrives.

[Sparky]

I didn't know Dustin Gazley was playing for MSU. I remember seeing him at a mini camp, he reminded me of Murovich, small but fiesty, speedy and smart.