Hudson Crusaders

The Hudson Crusaders leading scorer from the 2009-2010 season, Travis Payne (Gaylord, MI), has signed with Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League's Soo Eagles.

In 50 games Payne scored 32 goals and 30 assists for 62 points as a rookie.  Travis' 62 points were good for 8th in the league in scoring and his 32 goals were 6th most.

"Travis will be a great addition to the Eagles" said Head Coach Ted Urschel.  "He comes to the rink every day with a desire to get better.  He is a great leader not only vocally but through example.  He never took a drill off in practice or a shift off in a game.  He's a team guy and that will get him very far in his career.  You can see how much the Eagles wanted Travis by who they gave up to get him.  We wish him luck next year and I'm sure we will see him on a college roster in the near future."

The Soo Eagles acquired Travis through a trade with their rivals the Soo Thunderbirds.  Travis was signed by the Thunderbirds after their first open camp.  The Eagles traded veterans F Kevin Michelcavage, F Justin Scott and D Joe Spitzer for Payne and future considerations.  The trade will reunite Travis with his younger brother Robbie who was a stand out player for the Ojibwa Eagles AAA team.

Hudson Crusader forward Brock Raffaele (Cadillac, MI) has signed with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.  Brock was the Crusaders 2nd leading scorer this past season with 15 goals and 34 assists for 49 points as a rookie.  Brock's 34 assists were also a new Crusader record.

"Brock was one of our go to guys this season." said Head Coach Ted Urschel.  "He has fantastic vision to go along with great hands.  Brock's ability to find the open man made all of the players around him better.  The fact he set a new record for assists just shows how he belongs at the tier II level.  Brock has a good career ahead of him and any college coach that gets him on their team will be very lucky."

The Soo Eagles finished 3rd in the Western division of the NOJHL and lost to the Soo Thunderbirds in the Division championship of the play offs.  The Eagles are coached by Bruno Bragagnolo who was most recently with the Chicago Young Americans AAA program.

Spring is the time for young hockey players to decide their next move in their playing careers. The choices depend on the players’ talents, abilities and needs. Usually a high school graduate will play up to three years of junior hockey before he is ready to be accepted to play on a college team. Options include trying out for a Tier II spot on the North American Hockey League (NAHL) or if he cannot get a position there, trying out for a Tier III spot in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MNJHL).

            Although a player wants to get to the highest level, he wants to develop his experiences and excel in either Tier before he is accepted on a college level. The main difference between the two Tiers is not only the experience and skill of the player but the cost to play. Tier II teams do not charge to play but acquire their revenue through attendance at games and try-outs. Tier III teams charge a fee anywhere from $3500 to $10,000 to play. MNJHL teams are at the lower end of the scale.

            The Hudson Crusaders are part of the Tier III teams in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. This league focuses on developing a player for the Tier II league and beyond to a college team, the NCAA Division I or III, or the ACHA Division I. So far 20 former Crusaders have moved on to the NAHL, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, and to college level teams at Bethel, Finlandia, Concordia, St. Mary’s University Plattsburgh State, UW Superior, UW Stevens Point, and UM Crookston. Justin Neis, a former Crusader, even went on to the professional ranks and played for the Evansville Iceman this past season.

The Hudson Crusaders have also built a sturdy reputation as a tight-knit group with a close association to the billet families and the small town community of Hudson, WI. The team understands that parents are looking for a team that builds their players on a foundation of teamwork and respect both on and off the ice.

The Crusader logo and code of conduct express the goals of a Crusader player:

Player agrees to embrace the Crusader Hockey Logo at all times and exemplify the chivalric code obligations of loyalty, honesty, bravery, honor, self sacrifice, piety, charity and respect for the church.

The Crusader player also agrees to the Athletic code of conduct:

Player agrees to embrace the personal athletic standard that includes the absence of cigarette smoking, tobacco chewing, alcohol use, mood altering drugs, steroids and performance enhancing drugs.

These two principles kept by the Crusaders makes them stand out as a team that provides more than just an opportunity to move into a higher level.

Tryouts for the Hudson Crusaders are on July 16-17 and August 6-7.

A quick interview with Brad Lukasz gives readers a glimpse of what it was like to be a Crusader and what he learned during his time.

Brad played three years of junior hockey, his last with the Crusaders (2008-09) where he scored 37 goals and 64 points in 48 games.

Brad grew up in East Grand Forks and started his hockey career in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Before he started playing as a Crusader he’d been playing hockey for 14 years. His reasons for trying out for the Crusaders were not only because of the location but he also liked the coaching staff and the training facilities. He hoped to continue his college career in the area as well.

Some of the highlights of Brad’s career as a Crusader included being named team MVP and finishing 8^th in league scoring. He stated that the best things about being a Crusader were the practices, the games, and being with the team. He remembered viewing the Code of Conduct as a new principle in a Junior Hockey Team but soon embraced it and tried his best to show good leadership and to follow the code.

Brad learned a lot as a Crusader and throughout his hockey career. When trying out for the NAHL or the MNJHL he offered solid advice: “Do something to get noticed in every shift you take, but don’t be selfish and play it like a real game.”

When getting mentally prepared for a game he likes to think about basic skill fundamentals, his job in all 3 zones and any situations he might get into that night. He remembers that “it’s not a hard shot that I need, it’s the quick shot”. He believes that the best way to balance the need for speed and agility on the ice without compromising puck handling is to practice them separately as well as together. When training during the off season Brad picks 3 to 5 skills primarily to focus on while working to improve his all-around skills.

Currently Brad is a center for the Concordia Cobbers and finished his freshman year majoring in Natural Science. He plans to play Division III hockey for the next three years. In the upcoming season he wants to work on his speed on the ice. When he’s not having fun in late night scrimmaging with the guys he enjoys hunting, fishing and camping. Good luck next season, Brad!

article by Amanda Marie Liesinger

Two more Hudson Crusaders are headed off to Division III College Hockey.  Forward Dan Shilts and Defenseman Cody Ruplinger have committed to the University of Concordia-Wisconsin for the 2010-2011 season.  

Shilts (New Richmond, WI), was traded to the Crusaders at the beginning of the 09-10 season from the Twin Cities Northern Lights.  In fifty games, Dan totaled 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points, good for 3rd on the Crusaders in scoring.  "From the second Dan walked into our locker room he was a player and a person everyone on the team could look up to." said Head Coach Ted Urschel.  "Dan was one of our captains and was one of the most dependable players we had on our team.  There were games we would put him on defense to try and slow down other teams top players and then there were times he was our best scoring forward.  He is the kind of kid who worked for everything he got and he really deserves the opportunity to play college hockey."

Ruplinger (Fon Du Lac, WI), played 2 years on the Crusaders and worked his way from the bottom to the top.  "Rup was one of the last guys we took last year" says Urschel.  "He started out as one of our last defenseman and through the end of this year, was our best defensive d-men.  I'm really happy for Cody because only two years ago he was playing mens league and he really showed that if you work hard enough and put in the effort, people can accomplish their goals."  Ruplinger finished the season with 2 goals and 3 assists in 48 games.  

Shilts and Ruplinger are the 14th and 15th Crusaders to move on to a Division III college hockey team in Hudson's three years as an MNJHL franchise.

The Hudson Crusaders are proud to announce that they have affiliated with the Soo Indians AAA hockey team of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  The Soo Indians play in the Northern Lakes Hockey League.  The Crusaders had 3 former Indians on their roster this past season in leading scorer Travis Payne, Defenseman Ethan Warchol and Goaltender Zack Talentino.  

Just like the Crusaders, the Indians main focus is on the development and advancement of their players which is shown in their long list of alumni.  Some former Soo Indians are Ray Kaunisto (LA Kings), Scott Parse (LA Kings) and Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres).  

"I'm very excited about the affiliation with the Soo Indians" said Head Coach Ted Urschel.  "The players we were able to recruit from their team last year were some of the better players we have had in our organization.  Working together with a staff that has the same goals as us will allow both of our programs to provide more players an opportunity to develop their game and advance to higher levels of hockey."

Regular season linemantes Brock Raffaele and Travis Payne both continued their scoring ways this past weekend during the Best of the Rest portion of the Tier III Junior A National Tournament in Marlborough, MA.

Payne and Raffaele, tied with Ian Jensen (Spooner Mustangs) for 2nd on the team in scoring with 3 points.  Payne tallied 3 goals, including a shorthanded goal during the teams game against the EJHL.  Raffaele preceded to score 1 goal and chip in 2 assists during the 4 game tournament.

"I felt the pace of the games were a little faster than during the regular season.  Every time you were out there, it was like you were playing against a first line." said Raffaele  "I liked the competitiveness that each team brought and I think it was a great experience.  I would definitely do it again."

Both players talked with numerous Division III and NAHL scouts during the trip but are still undecided on what they will be doing next year.

Former Hudson Crusaders goaltender Sam Foley has committed to play at Plattsburgh State (SUNYAC) in the fall of 2010.

Sam was the starting goaltender for the Crusaders during the 2007-2008 season.  This season he was able to earn the starting job on the Blind River Beavers of the NOJHL where he went 14-4-1 with a .908 save percentage and a 3.47 goals against average.

"It's good to see almuni that have moved up to tier II getting opportunities to play college hockey." said Head Coach Ted Urschel who was an assistant when Foley played on the Crusaders.  "Sam went through alot, trying to find a home this season but his hard work and perseverance paid off with him winning a starting job.  Plattsburgh's getting a great goalie and an even better guy."

Foley is now the 12th Crusader to commit to a D-III college hockey program in the team's 3 year existence. 

Hudson Serves as launching pad for advancement
By Nick Clark/MnJHL Director of Media Relations

Ten alums now on college rosters

The list is a growing one, and it’s also one in which General Manager Harry Urschel and the rest of the Hudson Crusaders can take pride in.

In just its third year of existence, the Minnesota Junior Hockey League franchise, has already placed an astounding 10 players on Division III college hockey rosters, not to mention the equal number of names who have advanced within the junior hockey ranks.

That was the plan all along in Hudson, where development precedes everything else, but it is a bit shocking that it’s happened so quickly.

“It is, but we’ve done a good job,” said Urschel. “We work hard for our players. We make contacts and have people come see them. We do everything we can to make sure they are getting noticed.”

The trick has been mixing together the idea of development with the need to put a competitive team on the ice.

But in hindsight, the motto has been that the two work hand-in-hand.

“It is difficult, plus if you look at our team, we are very young, so we have a rough start,” Urschel said. “But what we like to see is our team improving more than anybody else, and I think we are starting to see this now. The guys are working hard.”

This year’s group has won 11 times heading into this coming weekend’s action, which left them in sixth place with 27 points, but just seven points out of fifth.

The Crusaders biggest boost has come from the balance within the top end of the lineup. Travis Payne (Gaylord, Mich.) has 38 points, and Brock Raffaele (Cadillac, Mich.) has 34, but three others have point totals in the 20’s, and nine players have recorded at least 10 points so far this year.

The goaltending duo of Corey Mogren (Stillwater, Minn.) and Zack Talentino (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) has been solid the entire season, and most importantly, Hudson has stuck to its developmental focus along the way.

Defenseman Ethan Warchol (Marine City, Mich.) left after dressing in 28 games after earning a spot with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Hockey League, and Jeff Westerhaus (Hastings, Minn.) received a tryout with the North American Hockey League’s Owatonna Express.

“We usually lose a couple guys mid-season by moving them up, and that’s all right, that’s what it’s about for us,” Urschel said. “A lot of people look at programs and think it’s all about your won/loss record, and if that’s what they are interested in, we probably don’t want them anyhow. What we are interested in is seeing them advance in their hockey careers. That is the most important thing to us.”