Apparently Scott Sandelin wasn’t paying that close of attention as his Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs were getting swept by the Wisconsin Badgers this past weekend. If he had been paying attention, he most likely would have noticed that the best player on the ice for either team, outside of Badger goaltender Bernd Brückler, was Wisconsin’s Robbie Earl.

Sandelin, who will be coaching Team USA when it defends its title at the World Junior Championship later this month, missed out on one of the most deserving players in the country when he didn’t select Earl to join that team.

So as Sandelin was trying to make his final decisions last weekend for the announcement that was made Tuesday, he must have had his eyes closed as Earl netted a pair of goals over the weekend and set up another one. It’s hard to believe that Sandelin missed Earl’s puck work Saturday night because it was what led to the winning goal.

Of course, what Earl had already accomplished this year on offense shouldn’t have hurt his case either. The sophomore is the heart and soul of the offense for the No. 2 team in college hockey. He leads the Badgers with 21 points and nine goals, while his 12 assists are second best on the team. His 21 points also ranks him eighth in the entire nation.

The fact is, every time Earl touches the puck something exciting could happen. He might use his speed to blow by a defender in the neutral zone on his way to an odd man rush. He might pull out one of his incredible stick handling moves to undress a would-be defender as he finds a way to dance through the opponent’s defense. Sometimes he even does both.

Earl, quite frankly, is the most exciting offensive player to don the Cardinal and White since Dany Heatley was a Badger. While there are other players in the Wisconsin lineup who can score goals, few can create the kind of opportunities that Earl does almost every shift that he’s on the ice.

Unfortunately Scott Sandelin must not have received any video of the Badgers or he would have seen that for himself.

Even if the Bulldogs’ coach wasn’t impressed with what “Hollywood” Earl can do with the puck, he had to be impressed with what Earl did without the puck. Both nights, as time was winding down, it was Earl who made the big play, whether it was diving headlong across the ice to block a shot attempt Friday, or creating a turnover and then skating off nearly 10 seconds of time while numerous Duluth players hounded him Saturday. It was little things like that, more so than the offensive output, which was probably more expected, that many thought would be the ultimate factor in the decision to name Earl as one of the players to make the final cut to make Team USA.

After Badger head man Mike Eaves, who coached Team USA, didn’t select Earl to represent the Red, White and Blue a season ago, it seemed like it was forgone conclusion that the sophomore winger would get the nod this time around.

Last year, when Eaves left Earl home, it was because the Los Angeles native was enigmatic and aloof. For every incredible offensive play he made, Earl would back it up with an equally appalling effort on the defensive end of the ice. With all of his skill and speed, Earl would try and do too much in the offensive end and often times turned the puck over without creating any kind of scoring opportunity.

Basically, Earl played like a freshman that hadn’t quite grasped the idea that he couldn’t get by on skill alone any longer.

With plenty of talented forwards to choose from, it wasn’t surprising that Eaves would pick someone who might not have been as skilled as Earl, but was closer to being the complete package both on offense and defense.

Earl took the snub last year to heart and worked very hard to improve himself. He certainly put the past behind him and has proven, time and time again, that this year is different. Not only has he become a more consistent player on offense, but “Hollywood” has taken the time to do the blue collar work in the defensive zone as well.

Now, instead of just using his speed and strength to make spectacular plays on offense, Earl uses his natural abilities to help the Badgers on defense as well. He has become a physical presence, who can now match-up with the opponents’ top players. He has more or less been transformed himself into one of the best all-around players, not just an offensive whiz.

That kind of commitment to improvement alone should have been enough to get him onto Team USA this season.

It seems that Sandelin was so distracted by everything that he had on his plate that he failed to notice the quality out on the ice in front of him. That is the only explanation as to why Earl was left off of this year’s version of Team USA.