March 22, 2005
NCAA Tournament
INCH Wish List Draft | Round 2

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We often say that playoff hockey is the best time of the year. That said, even the greatest things in life have flaws. In the case of the NCAA Tournament, even with 16 teams participating, scores of fantastic players have played their last college games of the year – and perhaps their career. Second, no team is perfect – everybody has areas where they could improve.

Here at Inside College Hockey, we set out to solve both those problems. The result? Our own one-of-a-kind NCAA Tournament Wish List Draft. We took the tourney teams and split into 16 scouting staffs to select players from teams that didn’t make the field. The Wish List Draft will feature two rounds of picks, with the first pick of each round belonging to the 16th seed.

Now, we know, these players won’t be taking the ice this weekend. But it's fun to see how each team could improve – and fun to picture some of our favorite players back on the ice for at least one more weekend.

Round One took place on Monday

NCAA Team	Who They Picked
Bemidji State	Brent Walton, F, Western Michigan
The Reasoning: The Beavers have a balanced offense – 10 players with 20-plus points, but none more than 35. That's why they'll take Walton, a talented scorer who averaged a point a game in his college career. First Round Pick: Matt Carle, D, Denver
Holy Cross	Reid Cashman, D, Quinnipiac
The Reasoning: The Crusaders know Cashman well from his time dominating Atlantic Hockey last season, becoming an All-American and Hobey Baker Award finalist. The Bobcats moved to the ECACHL this season, but Cashman's play didn't drop off. He'd fit right in here. First Round Pick: Ryan Dingle, F, Denver
Nebraska-Omaha	Kyle Wilson, F, Colgate
The Reasoning: This debate came down to a trio of Raiders: Wilson, forward Tyler Burton and goalie Mark Dekanich. The Mavericks apparently scout Hamilton, N.Y., well. UNO opts for Wilson and some second-line offense, deciding to cast their lot with freshman walk-on goalie Jerad Kaufman and taking Wilson's size (6-foot-0) over Burton (5-foot-8) to contend with the physical play BU and Miami would bring. First Round Pick: Nathan Oystrick, D, Northern Michigan
New Hampshire	Sean Collins, D, Ohio State
The Reasoning: The Wildcats tab a solid two-way defenseman with a familiar name in OSU's Collins. He scored seven goals this season, so he's a threat on the power play, and at 6-foot-1, 212 pounds, he's the kind of physical blueliner required in order to advance in the tournament. First Round Pick: Gabe Gauthier, F, Denver
Maine	Wes O'Neill, D, Notre Dame
The Reasoning: The Black Bears are thrilled to see UNH take Collins, because O'Neill was their guy. He's had two straight seasons of solid offenisve numbers (including 6-16--22 this year). And at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, he's got the size and reach that makes pro scouts drool. First Round Pick: Paul Stastny, F, Denver
Boston College	Jeff Corey, F, Vermont
The Reasoning: Informed of BC's needs – size at forward, grit, and help for the Eagles' woeful power play – first-rounder Jaime Sifers makes a pitch for Corey. He may not get the attention of Catamount teammates Torrey Mitchell or Brady Leisenring, but at 6-foot-0 with a team-leading 16 goals (eight on the PP), he fits the bill here. First Round Pick: Jaime Sifers, D, Vermont
Michigan	Nate Guenin, D, Ohio State
The Reasoning: A Buckeye wearing maize and blue?!?! Believe it. Jack Johnson, Matt Hunwick and Mark Mitera are a solid trio that gets better with the addition of Guenin, who is certainly capable on offese but would earn his keep as a physical, stay-at-home type on this unit. First Round Pick: Bobby Goepfert, G, St. Cloud State
Colorado College	Travis Morin, F, Minnesota State Mankato
The Reasoning: Morin knows how to work with a skilled forward – he shared the Mavericks' team lead in scoring with David Backes – which gives us dreams of a second line featuring him and Chad Rau. That should spread the offense enough to get Sertich and Sterling back together. First Round Pick: Mike Madill, D, St. Lawrence
Cornell	Tyler Burton, F, Colgate
The Reasoning: Mike Schafer and his staff have recently changed their recruiting philosophy and are no longer looking at size first. Creativity and speed are what they're after, and Colgate's smallish centerman Tyler Burton is a great addition. Burton scores most of his goals within 10 feet of the net (think Brian Gionta) and is good on draws. He adds depth down the middle for the Big Red. First Round Pick: Mike Ouellette, F, Dartmouth
North Dakota	Brady Leisenring, F, Vermont
The Reasoning: The Sioux have a plentiful of young forwards, but some experience, in the form of this sixth-year Catamount, couldn't hurt. He's also a potential first-line right wing; Drew Stafford is supposed to be ready to go this weekend, but if he can't, Leisenring wouldn't be an enormous dropoff. First Round Pick: Marvin Degon, D, Massachusetts
Miami	Jonathan Matsumoto, F, Bowling Green
The Reasoning: Foster and Matsumoto were the CCHA's best 1-2 combination this side of Parse and Thomas, so Foster gives his Falcon running mate a ride south to Oxford. The duo come with instant chemistry, a little extra value in the Wish List Draft. First Round Pick: Alex Foster, F, Bowling Green
Harvard	Tom Fritsche, F, Ohio State
The Reasoning: Fritsche is a world-class player whose team battled through a dreadful season. The Crimson – who just may see a bit of a young Ted Donato in Fritsche's play – bet that jumping into a winning environment will invigorate him. First Round Pick: Grant Lewis, D, Dartmouth
Michigan State	Ben Cottreau, F, Mercyhurst
The Reasoning: Cottreau is a sparkplug who posted 51 points for Mercyhurst this season. He doesn't just score against Atlantic Hockey teams – he had a goal and was very impressive in last year's Laker loss to BC in Worcester, giving him one more NCAA Tournament goal than the entire MSU roster combined. First Round Pick: Casey Borer, D, St. Cloud State
Boston University	Dave Borrelli, F, Mercyhurst
The Reasoning: It's a run on Lakers as the Terriers turn to the best goal scorer remaining. He's effective on the power play (14 PPGs) and penalty kill (5 SHGs), which for BU rank 34th and 35th in the nation, respectively. First Round Pick: T.J. Trevelyan, F, St. Lawrence
Minnesota	Adam Welch, D, Ferris State
The Reasoning: You've probably never heard of Adam Welch, but the 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman went from a freshman walk-on to the Bulldogs' captain as a sophomore. A native of Hastings, Minn. – his cousin is former Gopher Dan Welch – he'd give the Gophers a big, physical, stay-at-home type to complement the Goligoskis and Harringtons. First Round Pick: Jason Smith, G, Sacred Heart
Wisconsin	Chris Conner, F, Michigan Tech
The Reasoning: A player this good deserves to play on a bigger stage. He closed his Huskies career with 69 goals and 60 assists in 151 games and 15 shorthanded goals, the third-best total in college hockey history. First Round Pick: David Backes, F, Minnesota State Mankato