motox wrote on Feb 7^th, 2010, 7:35pm:


He's a forward not a d-man. He's a scrappy kid, bit of an agitator, decent hand and ok speed from what I've seen of him down here. He had 6 points in the 2 games played here in Waterloo, so he was always around the play, worked will with his linemates. I'd think he'd fit in well here.

Below is an article that appeared in Let's Play Hockey Magazine featuring Green Bay Gamblers forward Ryan Furne.  For more of Let's Play Hockey on the web, click here.    

Webster's Dictionary defines a rink rat as "a youth who spends a great deal of time at a hockey rink."  Rink rats come in all shapes and sizes.  They skate indoors and outdoors, in the winter and in the summer.  And despite the definition, a person need not be in their days of youth to qualify as a bona fide rink rat.  Take Green Bay's Ryan Furne as Exhibit A, a player who developed his passion for the sport on outdoor rinks in Oakdale.

"I was about three and my dad built a rink in our backyard.  We had that until I was about ten," Furne said.  "After that, just up the road from our house they built a rink that was a roller rink in the summer and a hockey rink in the winter.  I spent a lot of time there.  I guess you could say that I was a rink rat."

Furne used those rinks to propel him into a high school hockey career that dreams are made of.  He starred his freshman and sophomore years at Tartan High School, before transferring to Hill Murray for his junior and senior years.

"My junior year is when I started to know that I could play at a higher level," Furne said.  "When I got to Hill Murray we had some great players on those teams and I realized I wasn't out of place."

He also enjoyed his greatest hockey experience while playing with the Pioneers.

"My freshman year at Tartan we made it to the state tournament.  Then we went again the two years I was at Hill Murray, and we won it my senior year," Furne said.  "We won our first game and we had to play Roseau in the semifinals.  We took a lead on them and ended up beating them and they were favored to win the tournament.  After we won that game we knew we were going to beat Edina in the championship.

"You can't describe what it's like to win a high school hockey championship in the state of Minnesota.  It's a great feeling, just indescribable."

Following his high school season, the USHL came calling, and he was drafted by the Gamblers in USHL Entry Draft in May.

"It has been great so far.  Green Bay is a great place to play.  I think we have a great set up here, with the billet families and the Resch Center, which is a great building to play in," Furne said.  "We get the best of everything in Green Bay."

Furne is off to a good start in his junior career, scoring nine goals and 16 points through his first 21 games.  He is fourth on the team in points and is tied for second in goals.

"All everyone has told this kid is that he can't play at the next level because of his skating.  Well, he is on pace to score 30 goals as a rookie in the best league in America and that you can't teach," said Gamblers' Head Coach Jon Cooper.

Still, there is something missing in his Green Bay experience – an outdoor rink.

"I'm looking for an outdoor rink in Green Bay, so I haven't skated outside here yet," Furne said.  "But I will skate outside when I get home for break."

Spoken like a true rink rat indeed.


I would have to bet that tech is offering more scholarship money, other wise it does not seem like a very tough choice.  Sounds as if his skating might be a bit suspect, but knows how to score.

Are we sure we want to be recruiting the same kids as tech???

By the way The Vicar tells me the kid from DL has big time wheels. I would love a kid who is 6'2 and speedy!!

If he doesn't get interested in anybody else then he's pretty much sure he wants to be a Husky, just would he rather have (cardinal) red or gold associated with  his school colors.

motox wrote on Feb 7^th, 2010, 7:35pm:


I am pretty sure he is a walk on, so playing time would play a lot into it. I would think Jensen and Gravel are going ot get a ton of playing time next season and I am sure Barta will get some as well.

So much for taking the next couple of months. Oh well.

Rabid_Husky wrote on Feb 9^th, 2010, 12:15am:


If I was him I would have done the same. I bet Motzko wasn't giving him any money and the playing time might not have been there either. This kid is probably never going to play pro hockey, so he might as well get a education at a reduced price.

motox wrote on Feb 9^th, 2010, 10:36am:


Wouldn't that be sweet!

The_Exiled_One wrote on Feb 9^th, 2010, 11:19am:


And Rioux one game...

The_Exiled_One wrote on Feb 9^th, 2010, 11:19am:


Whyy are they walking away? Is Youso doing bad in the USHL?

scsutommyboy wrote on Feb 9^th, 2010, 12:12pm:

He couldn't cut it in the USHL... he's doing okay in the NAHL.  It seems like he's been in juniors forever, but technically he could play another season.  Maybe they will defer him, but I'm guessing they'll cut him loose, especially if Lucia "retires" after the season.

Cory Thorson is on Youso's team (Owatonna), is about the same size/age, and is producing a bit better than Jake.  Come to think of it, he's probably a good candidate to take that walk-on roster spot or partial scholarship offer that SCSU was going to give to Furne.  Thorson also has the same hair color as Mike Lee!!

It was previously mentioned that Potulny and Lucia are actively scouting Tanner Lane, but one GPL poster suggests he has or will be visiting SCSU.  I would imagine Mr. Raboin will have something to say to young Mr. Lane.

Keep in mind, however, that what Benik did in selects is more impressive than what Tanner as done.  Also, what Hanowski did in the Elite League is WAY more impressive than what Tanner has done.  None of that means, of course, that Tanner hasn't improved since this past fall... but at this point, the junior forward I'd rather have from that Great Plains team is Shane Omdahl.

The_Exiled_One wrote on Feb 9^th, 2010, 3:54pm:



Saw him play last year...obviously improved his game, but he's got a long way to go to yet before he's a kid thats getting a lot of interest...hes scored 20 pts against bagley and walker....he's not on tanner lane's level...i have yet to see lane play and will in section playoffs but i've heard the kid had great potential last year

The_Exiled_One wrote on Feb 9^th, 2010, 3:54pm:


Two years ago didn't you say we should pick a kid from Park Rapids(Lerhke?) who was lighting it up, but motzko chose Eddy over him. Now that kid is still in the USHL and Eddy is lighting it up for us?