The early WCHA signings so far, with comments:
* Jordan Schroeder, Gophers sophomore center, signed with Vancouver: He came to Minnesota one year early, stayed two years. He had a productive first year -- when he should have been in high school and had Ryan Stoa and Jay Barriball on his wings. He struggled this past season.
Coach Lucia kept saying Schroeder averaged about a point a game in second half of season. Well, that's wasn't good enough for this team. He got a lot of ice time, played on power play, had best wings. He needed to do more.
Playing with Manitoba Moose.
* (Two) Joe Colborne, Denver sophmore wing, signed with Boston Bruins, and Patrick Wiercioch, Denver sophomore defenseman, signed with Ottawa Senators. These were two of DU's best players. Helped team win MacNaughton Cup before the Pioneers bombed out in the Final Five and NCAA tournament. Coach George Gwozdecky reportedly tried to talk them out of signing.
When Lucia brings up players he lost early, other teams are losing some, too.
* Rob Bordson, UMD junior wing, signed with Anaheim. He had breakthrough year after not scoring a single point as a sophomore.
* Lee Baldwin, Alaska-Anchorage freshman defenseman, signed with New York Rangers. Even the ninth-place Seawolves are not immunte to losing good players early.
