CrashingTheGoalie

Rumours that Jordan Schroeder will be leaving Minnesota for Everett are greatly exaggerated – in fact, they’re not true, according to Vancouver’s Number One 2009 Draft Pick.

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“Minnesota forward Jordan Schroeder says all the speculation about his departure from the Golden Gophers is false.

In a rare response to Internet rumors that he was planning to leave Minnesota, Schroeder committed his future to the team.

‘I am fully committed to this team and university,’ Schroeder said in a statement released by the school…. ‘I have no intention of leaving college early to play pro hockey.’

Schroeder was a first-round draft pick by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks last season, following a stellar freshman campaign for the Gophers. He posted 13 goals and 45 points in claiming the WCHA’s top rookie honors.

Speculation on his future lingered through the summer, and even after he returned for his sophomore year.

‘It is unfortunate that these rumors continue to come out and I have no idea where they begin,’ Schroeder said. ‘I think it’s important for me to publicly state that I am going nowhere. I am dedicated to this team and plan to help us reach our goals for the remainder of this season and future years.’

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“If I was a conspiracy buff,” wrote Roman Augustoviz of the Star Tribune,  ”I might suspect that somone was trying to sabotage the U’s recruiting efforts with this gossip.”

The Schroeder rumour – it would appear – is following in the wake of a defection plus another rumour. Sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist told coach Don Lucia that he was leaving the team to play with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.

And then there was the Aaron Ness rumor – that he would be transferring to North Dakota, where his father went to school.

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photo courtesy of nahl.com