Carter to Compete in Rookie Tournament

While former teammate David Backes is in Traverse City, Michigan, competing in the Red Wings Prospect Tournament, Ryan Carter will be playing in the Pacific Division Shootout, featuring prospects from the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Phoenix Coyotes. The event takes place September 8-12.

Carter is listed on the Ducks roster along with former WCHA players, Matt Auffrey(Wisconsin), Colby Genoway(North Dakota), Brian Salcido(Colorado College), Brett Skinner(Denver), and Clay Wilson(Michigan Tech).

Carter Just Misses Cut

Hockeysfuture.com released their Top 20 Prospects for the Anaheim Ducks, and former Minnesota State Maverick Ryan Carter was listed as "just missing the cut".

Here is what they say about Carter, who was the third player listed in the "Missing the Cut" section:

Ryan Carter, C - 23
Grade: 6.0C, Projection: Checking line forward
A surprise addition to the pipeline, Ryan Carter signed with the Ducks as a free agent after two seasons with Minnesota State. Carter made a name for himself in the WCHA with his gritty play, his hard shot and his faceoff ability, all attributes that should serve him well with the Pirates. He will be asked to help replace the offense and the intangibles lost when Konopka chose to play in Russia for the 2006-07 season.

It should be noted that HockeysFuture rates Anaheim as having the best prospects of any NHL team. Carter should move up the rankings the next they are updated as well, because both #2 Ryan Getzlaf and #3 Corey Perry are within 15 NHL games played of no longer being classified as a "prospect". #4 Dustin Penner needs 46 more NHL games before he is moved into the "Graduated" category as well, meaning Carter could move into the Top 20 as early as midway through the NHL season.

NHL.com Features Backes

David Backes' picture is on the front page of NHL.com today, as senior writer Shawn Roarke wrtoe a very nice feature piece on Backes.

Backes Article

Here's an article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that talks about David Backes at the Blues Prospect Camp.

Also of note, hockeysfuture.com released their latest set of prospect rankings for the Blues, and Backes stayed at the number 11 spot, which caused Blues fans to go nuts, questioning the credibility of the list. The Blues fans had their own vote, and Backes was named the 4th best prospect in the Blues system behind Erik Johnson, T.J. Oshie, and Czech goalie Marek Schwarz.

Jutting Coaches at Select 15 Festival

Minnesota State coach Troy Jutting is back behind the bench this summer, coaching Team Black at USA Hockey's Select 15 Festival in St. Cloud this week. Jutting is the only NCAA head coach to be coaching at the camp, though a number of assistant coaches from around college hockey are also participating. Jutting's Black team is 1-1 after two days after winning their first game and then falling in the second.

The coaching opportunity should give Jutting an up-close look on the top young players in the country, as well as help develop relationships with future recruits. Some of the players Jutting will be coaching include Roseau defenseman Ryan Weston, Centennial forward Tyler Pitlick, and forward Ryan Bourque, the son of legendary NHL defenseman Ryan Bourque.

Top Goalie Credits MSU Coach

The Minnesota Sun newspaper ran an article recently featuring Apple Valley sophomore goalie Trent Caspar and his invitation to the USA Hockey Select 15 Festival. In the article, Caspar credits his success to, among others, Minnesota State assisant Des Christopher:

"For Caspar, who played on Apple Valley's Bantam A team last year, it's a step up in competition.

But in the spring and summer festivals, "I was playing at the top of my game, the best I've ever played," he said.

He credits that to the coaching of his father, Jeff - also the Apple Valley Bantam team's head coach - and Des Christopher, a Minnesota State, Mankato assistant coach who also runs a goaltending school."

"Des told me I can be any kind of goaltender I want. If I was slacking off, he would be the first to say, 'Get back to work.'"