Next steps for the next generation
Ryan Bourque has “graduated” from the National Team Development Program and will be playing for the Quebec Remparts (de-committed from the University of New Hampshire)
Ryan Bourque is the brother of Chris Bourque currently in the Washington Capitals organization after a year at Boston University and the son of former NHL-er Ray Bourque.
David Musil joins the Vancouver Giants after playing in the Czech Republic. A good bit of controversy over how Musil wound up with the Giants (major junior teams draft players and European players are handled differently than North American players). Gregg Drinnan covered it here and here.
Musil’s father is former NHL-er Frantisek (Frank) Musil
and his uncle is former NHL-er Bobby Holik (those who know me as a former Devils STH are now amazed that I typed out his name properly rather than using the name I used at games, but there is a limit to my restraint):
The hockey lineage doesn’t stop there – Holik’s father and uncle, Jaroslav and Jiri, were stars in Czechoslovakia. Behind the rubber chicken, you can see the book “Dynastie Holiku” by Jaroslav Kirchner which I picked up at CEZ Arena in Pardubice during the 2008 World Juniors (not sure if they have a bookstore in town, but if I understood correctly, they have a few tables of books and videos at all hockey games held there). I also picked up a copy of Slovenske Hviezdy v NHL.
Philip Samuelsson is making the move from the USHL (Chicago Steel) to the Boston College Eagles. Samuelsson played for Team Sweden during the Four Nations Cup last November, but as that was not an IIHF tournament, it did not bind him to Sweden. In April, he played for Team USA in the IIHF Under 18 Championship. (Note – a quick google shows there were some changes in the rules. Not sure if they’d allow him to change again in the future or not.
Philip Samuelsson’s father Ulf Samuelsson is a former NHL-player and now is a coach with the Phoenix Coyotes.
