LA prospect Michael Mersch on Wisconsin's big weekend

Mersch celebrates his first goal of the season

LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi had a plan five years ago and it was simple. Stock the team's farm system with goalies first, then defenseman and eventually get to the forwards.

And over the last few drafts he's picked up quite a few potential power forwards, including Michael Mersch - now a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin.

This weekend, he and his Badger teammates hosted the nation's fifth-ranked North Dakota Fighting Sioux - a team that includes the Kings first round draft pick from 2010, defenseman Derek Forbort.

The two prospects had spent some time together over the summer, both at Development Camp with the Kings (in July) and an evaluation camp for Team USA the following month.

However, the two weren't very friendly this weekend. "We actually didn't even get a chance to talk," said Mersch. "We were both focused on the games. They're a huge rival and we both just wanted to help our teams out."

Mersch certainly did his part. He scored a goal in Friday's opening contest - a game Wisconsin won 5-3.

"We had a power play carry over from the first period and I slid off back door, the puck came across the crease and I just whacked it home," was how Mersch described his contribution in the second period.

NCAA Coach Gary Shuchuk on LA Kings Draft Pick

The theme of the day must be 'full circle.'

Not only did Ryan Smyth return to Edmonton today, but we're joined by Gary Shuchuk.

In 1990 he led the the Wisconsin Badgers in goals and won the NCAA hockey championship. After playing for Barry Melrose in the AHL and with the Kings in Los Angeles, he's returned to his roots.

This season he was hired on as an Assistant Coach for the men's hockey team at his alma mater.

His connection to the Kings was strengthened yesterday too, when one of his players - Michael Mersch - was drafted by the team in the fourth round.

Afterwards, I spoke with him...

MM: What can you tell us about Mersch, he's a 6-foot-1 winger, right?

GS: He's a big kid and he's a very polite young man. Off ice he's the kind of guy who's very well mannered, but on the ice he's a different story. He plays the game hard. He's a big body. One of the things he's going to have to improve on, and he knows this, is his skating - which he has been. But, from the hash marks down below the dots, he's as best as I've seen. And he's going to better - controlling the puck, using his body, driving to the net, etc. He has an NHL shot right now, it's a quick release. Being a sophomore now in college, he has huge upside.

The kid just wants to learn, he's just a huge sponge. I've worked with him almost daily and he just wants to learn and get better and better. That's just the way this kid is. I think the Kings are very fortunate to get him. They're going to have, I really think, a diamond in the rough here. He came from the U.S. Development program, where he had one good year. He had like 20 goals and then the next year he had seven. So, some people kinda wrote him off. But, I think it was good for him. He really matured after that.

MM: When you say he needs to work on his skating, what has be been doing to improve in that area?

NCAA Frozen Four preview with Gary Shuchuk

The NCAA hockey championship will be decided over the next three days in Detroit, Michigan - with semi final action kicking off in just a few hours. One team vying for the crown is the Wisconsin Badgers, the former home of many NHL players - including Kings defenseman Davis Drewiske and Sharks sniper Dany Heatley.

And there's another former Badger on the loose out there...a guy who led the Badgers in goals and points in 1990...his team also won the NCAA hockey championship that season...none other than former Kings forward Gary Shuchuk.

We caught up with Gary to get some thoughts about his college days and to get a prediction on this year's tournament.  Here's part one of an exclusive MayorsManor interview with Shuchuk...