Tuesday, March 28, 2006

From Andover to the Ivies

Joe Haggerty of the Woburn Daily Times Chronicle and USCHO.com writes that Phillips Andover '07 forward Joe Smith has committed to Harvard.

"I had a really good season personally, and I'm pretty excited about heading off to Harvard after next year," said Smith, who was the leading scorer for a senior-laden Andover squad this past season. "They were my top choice given how academically strong the school is; it's one of the Ivies and I've been in the stands for every Beanpot for as long as I can remember. I'm looking forward to playing in it in a couple of years.

"(Harvard coach) Ted Donato is a great coach, and he's somebody that I'm really looking forward to playing for," added Smith.



He was part of a strong Andover team that also featured defenseman Tom Dignard who is off to Yale, and forward J.P. Martignetti, who also has a Division 1 potential.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

USA

USA Hockey National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp Roster

BLUE TEAM

FORWARDS

NAME POS. S-C HT. WT. DOB HOMETOWN CURRENT TEAM
18 Michael Cichy LW L 6-0 170 07-08-90 New Hartford, CT Jr. Bruins Midget (Mass.)
10 Justin Florek LW L 6-4 190 05-18-90 Marquette, MI Marquette Midget Major
21 Tucker Hunter LW L 6-1 175 03-18-90 London, Ontario London Reps
15 Sean Logue LW L 6-0 170 11-16-90 Walpole, MA Xaverian H.S. (Mass.)
11 Jordy Murray C L 5-9 150 01-08-90 Faribault, MN Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep (Minn.)
19 Max Cook C R 6-0 150 06-03-90 Frankfort, IL Chicago Mission Midget Major
22 Kelen Corkum C R 6-0 175 07-17-90 Newbury Port, MA Portland Jr. B Pirates
16 Colin Reddin C L 6-0 170 06-23-90 Corona Del Mar, CA LA Jr. Kings Midget Major
12 Robbie Czarnik RW R 6-0 165 01-25-90 Washington, MI Honeybaked Midget Major
17 Keegan Flaherty RW R 6-0 165 03-25-90 Duluth, MN Duluth East H.S. (Minn.)
20 Kevin McCarey RW R 6-0 175 03-24-90 Baldwinsville, NY Syracuse Stars (EJHL)
24 Anthony Schooley RW R 5-11 170 08-01-89 Romulus, MI Honeybaked Midget Major
23 Jordan Schroeder RW R 5-8 155 09-29-90 Prior Lake, MN St. Thomas H.S. (Minn.)
DEFENSE
5 Zach Bogosian D R 6-0 170 07-15-90 Massena, NY Cushing Academy (Mass.)
3 Joe Gleason D R 5-9 165 03-30-90 Edina, MN Edina H.S. (Minn.)
9 Ryan Grimshaw D R 6-0 165 01-28-90 Rochester, NY Salisbury School (CT)
2 Ryan Hegarty D L 6-1 180 05-16-90 Arlington, MA Belmont Hill H.S. (Mass.)
4 Kevin O'Neil D L 6-2 200 01-26-90 Dix Hills, NY New York Apple Core (EJHL)
6 Nick Pryor D L 5-10 165 09-06-90 Woodbury, MN Hill Murray H.S. (Minn.)
8 Ian Ruel D R 6-1 170 01-31-90 Ann Arbor, MI Victory Honda Midget Major
7 Grant Scott D R 6-2 200 01-07-90 Scwickley, PA Shady Side Academy (PA)
GOALIES
Jack Hanna G L 6-0 170 04-30-90 Lino Lakes, MN Cenntennial H.S. (Minn.)
33 Nick Maricic G L 6-2 185 1-20-1990 Alta Loma, CA California Wave U-16
35 Jordan Tibbett G L 6-0 170 01-06-90 Indianapolis, IN Honeybaked Midget Minor

RED TEAM

FORWARDS
NAME POS. S-C HT. WT. DOB HOMETOWN CURRENT TEAM
10 A.J. Jenks LW L 6-3 185 06-27-90 Wolverine Lake, MI Honeybaked Midget Major
24 Greg Burke LW L 6-1 175 05-16-90 Lee, NH NH Jr. Monarchs Midget
18 Ben Hanowski LW L 6-1 170 10-18-90 Little Falls, MN Little Falls H.S. (Minn.)
15 Stephen Rogers LW L 5-11 165 07-23-90 Watertown, MA St. Sebastian's H.S. (Mass.)
21 Cory Thorson LW L 6-0 170 07-04-90 Crystal, MN Armstrong H.S. (Minn.)
22 Patrick Gaul C L 5-9 170 02-27-90 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh Hornets Midget Major
16 Brock Montpetit C R 5-11 185 04-03-90 Somerset, WI Somerset H.S. (Wisc.)
19 David Wohlberg C L 6-0 170 07-18-90 South Lyon, MI Honeybaked Midget Minor
11 Jacob Youso C L 6-1 170 06-08-90 International Falls, MN International Falls H.S. (Minn.)
17 Vern Cooper RW L 5-8 160 12-30-90 Sudbury, Ontario Sudbury Midget Major
20 Colin Moore RW R 5-11 170 05-21-90 Medfield, MA Belmont Hill H.S. (Mass.)
23 Isak Quakenbush RW R 6-4 210 04-17-90 Fairbanks, AK Arctic Lions Midget
12 Vinny Saponari RW R 5-11 165 02-15-90 Powder Springs, GA Culver Prep. (Indiana)
DEFENSE
3 Danny Heath D R 5-11 165 03-20-90 Glendale, AZ VOSHA Phoenix Mustangs
9 Ross Henry D R 5-10 180 07-02-90 Franklin, WI Team Illinois Midget Major
8 Sean Lorenz D R 6-1 180 03-10-90 Littleton, CO Colorado T-Birds Midget Major
2 Joe Marciano D R 6-2 165 01-19-90 Faribault, MN Shattuck-St. Mary's U-16 (MN)
5 Andrew Panzarella D R 6-0 170 02-13-90 Columbia, MD Washington Jr. B Capitals
4 David Warsofsky D L 5-8 155 05-30-90 North Marshfield, MA Cushing Academy (Mass.)
7 Steven West D R 6-0 175 02-23-90 Milford, MI Honeybaked Midget Major
6 Micah Williams D R 6-1 175 03-09-90 Valrico, FL Lawrence Academy (Mass.)
GOALIES
30 Garrett Beckwith G L 6-1 170 01-04-90 Parsippany, NJ New Jersey Devils Midget Minor
31 Michael Clemente G L 6-2 185 01-09-90 Great Falls, VA Washington Jr. B Capitals
32 Joe Phillippi G L 5-8 160 06-06-90 Shoreview, MN Hill Murray H.S. (Minn.)

US National Invites Update

Per today's Newburyport News, add Plum Island, MA (and Portland Jr.Pirate) winger Kelen Corkum to the list of players invited to try out for the 2006 US National Under 17 team.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

USHL Goalies

As we near the end of the USHL season, it has proven to be an odd year for USHL goalies, from start to end. Whereas past years have been marked with a fair amount of stability in the ranks, this year started with uncertainty, and for many teams, the task of finding the right goalies has been ongoing.

Coming out, Des Moines had a potent one-two combination in former Cornell goalie Troy Davenport and youngster Brian Foster, committed to UNH. Those two have performed as expected (save for a recent dip), and in the process, Davenport elected to return to Cornell next year to resume his college career.

An equal, but more unexpected, tandem also developed in Sioux Falls, where touted Minnesotan Alex Kangas came in to challenge incumbent John Murray. Behind a stingy defense, both put up spectacular numbers. Kangas's season earned him look from North Dakota before today selecting his homestate University of Minnesota. Murray got looks from several programs, including Northeastern, but to date has not made a college choice.

Cedar Rapids' Alex Stalock, already committed to Minnesota-Duluth, solidified his position atop the USHL goalie chart, carrying the load for the Roughriders, ahead of NHL draft pick Pat McGann, who likely will have to await the 2006-07 season to really showcase his skills.

Two teams were thrown into the lurch right at the end of the summer. Chicago had hoped to have Billy Sauer in net as the main man, but when the NY Rangers signed Michigan's Alvaro Montoya in August, Sauer was called upon by U.Michigan, leaving Shaun Williams as Chicago's lead goalie. Williams parlayed his opportunity into a scholarship at Union, even though his season came to an end with an injury in February.

Similarly thrown into chaos on the eve of the season was Tri-Cities, where the expected loan of U.Maine's Matt Lundin fell apart when Jimmy Howard signed with Detroit. Fortunately, it was able to secure Aaron Rock from the OHL, and while not college eligible, he's been strong.

The USHL also has featured a group of talented goalies who flashed potential, but did not find their niche with their original team. This includes Omaha's Eddie Neville, who has performed well during stints with Cedar Rapids (04) and Omaha (05), but then got traded mid-year to Green Bay, where he now mans the nets. Earlier today he committed to Bowling Green next year. He was traded to Green Bay for another college-bound goalie, Dan Rosen, who is headed to Brown. At Omaha he is backing up Mike Spillane, who established himself as Omaha's goalie and who will be at Vermont next year. Undoubtedly each aspires to become the next Dan Tormey, who had inconsistency in his games until his strong stretch run last year, which he parlayed into a starting assignment for Minnesota State.

Finally, there are some interesting stories of teams that thought they had solutions, only to find that the understudies won the jobs. Lincoln went into the season with Steve Jakiel, committed to Michigan, but little-known Bryan Hogan wrestled the position from him. Similarly, Sioux City selected former US National Teamer Billy Blase, but after he struggled early in the season, the Musketeers went with Jerry Kuhn, who has brought stability to the position. (Blase went on to Salmon Arm of the BCHL, where he secured an offer from Yale).

Piecing Together The US National Development Tryout Invites

As a rite of spring, the US National Development Team hands out 40 invites to the top 16 year olds to participate in tryouts for next year's US National Under 17 team. The full list has not been released, but so far the following '90-born players appear to have been invited.

[4]
G-Michael Clemente, Washington
G-Joe Phillipi, Hill-Murray
G-Jack Hanna, Centennial
G-Jordan Tibbett, Detroit

[9]
D-Joe Gleason, Edina
D-Jack Hanna, Centennial
D-Drew Olson, Brainerd
D-Nick Pryor, Hill-Murray
D-Steve West, Detroit
D-Ian Ruel, Detroit
D-Sean Lorenz, Colorado
D-Joe Marciano, Shattuck
D-Kevin O'Neill, Capital District

[16]
F-Robbie Czarnik, Michigan
F-A.J. Jenks, Michigan
F-Sean Logue, Xaverian
F-Mike Cichy, Jr.Bruins
F-Greg Burke - NH Monarchs
F-Kevin McCarey, Syracuse
F-Ben Hanowski, Little Falls
F-Brock Montpetit, Wisconsin
F-Jordan Schroeder, St.Thomas
F-Cody Thorson, Armstrong
F-Vinnie Saponari, Culver
F-David Wohlberg, Michigan
F-Justin Florek, Marquette
F-Max Cook, Chicago
F-Keenan Flaherty, Duluth East
F-Jordy Murray, Shattuck
F-Colin Moore, Belmont Hill

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Goloubef decision today

According to Andy Baggot in today's Wisconsin State Journal, Cody Goloubef will be deciding today between offers from Wisconsin and BU (or the OHL's Sarnia Sting)

Recruiting update UW coaches will know Friday if their 2007-08 recruiting class will have another dynamic addition.

The father of Cody Goloubef, an elite 16-year-old defenseman with Milton of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, said Wednesday that a decision would be made that day.

Peter Goloubef said his son is deciding between UW, Boston University and Sarnia, the Canadian major junior club that owns Cody Goloubef's Ontario Hockey League draft rights.

"We had a meeting with Sarina (officials) on (Tuesday)," Peter Goloubef said. "They came back with some things that we're looking at."

Cody Goloubef is a 6-foot, 175-pounder who has 9 goals, 29 assists and 38 points in 42 games for Milton. He grew up with and played major midget hockey alongside Sam Gagner and Brendan Smith, two highly regarded recruits who have verbally committed to the Badgers for the 2007-08 season.

"It certainly is a factor," Peter Goloubef said of his son's friends heading for UW, "but Cody has to do what's right for him. He understands the magnitude of this decision."

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

The West, 07 style

As a counterpart to my January look at some of the Eastern teams and where they are positioned for 2007, here is a look at some the Western teams. I've put potential flight risks in italics, and have put my best guesses as to what potential recruits the school might be targeting.

MINNESOTA
Forwards (15):
Sr.Mike Howe
Sr.Kris Chucko
Sr.Tom Pohl
Sr.Ben Gordon
Sr.Evan Kaufmann
Jr.Ryan Stoa
Jr.Blake Wheeler
Jr.Justin Bostrom
So.Michael Carmen
So.Randy Flynn
So.Kyle Okposo
So.James O’Brien
So.Tony Lucia
Fr.Mike Hoeffel
Fr.Jay Barribal

Potential recruits:
Nick Larson; Brett Bruneteau

Defense (8):
Sr.Derek Peltier
Sr.Alex Goligoski
Sr.Nate Hagemo
Jr.R.J. Anderson
So.Erik Johnson
So.David Fischer
Fr.Cade Fairchild
Fr.Kevin Wehrs

Potential recruit:
Derrick Lapoint

NORTH DAKOTA
Forwards (12):
Sr.Ratislav Spirko
Sr.Rylan Kaip
Jr.T.J. Oshie
Jr.Ryan Duncan
Jr.Andrew Kozek
Jr.Matt Watkins
Jr.Ryan Martens
Jr.Brad Miller
So.Mike Forney
So.Darcy Zajac
So.Chris Vandevelde
Fr.Evan Trupp

Potential recruits:
Mario Lamoureux; Aaron Marvin; Brad Malone

Defense (7):
Sr.Kyle Radke
Jr.Brian Lee
Jr.Joe Finley
Jr.Zach Jones
Jr.Taylor Chorney
So.Jake Marto
So.Colby Genoway

Potential Recruit:
Derrick Lapoint

WISCONSIN
Forwards (13):
Sr.Joe Pavelski
Sr.Matt Ford
Jr.Ben Street
Jr.Jack Skille
Jr.Tom Gorowsky
So.Blake Geoffrion
So.Mike Davies
So.Zach Bearson
So.Aaron Bendrickson
So.Ben Grotting
So.John Mitchell
Fr.Sam Gagner
Fr.Kyle Turris

Potential Recruits:
Brett Bruneteau; Colton Grant; Ryan Schnell; Nick Larson; Brennan Vargas; Patrick White

Defense (8):
Sr.Kyle Klubertanz
Sr.Joe Piskula
Sr.Davis Drewicki
Sr.Josh Engel
So.Jamie McBain
So.Nigel Williams
So.Garret Suter
Fr.Brendan Smith

Potential Recruit:
Cody Goloubef

DENVER
Forwards (12):
Sr.Paul Stastny
Sr.Tom May
Sr.Geoff Paukovich
Sr.Ryan Dingle
Jr.Brock Trotter
Jr.Patrick Mullen
So.Rhett Rakhshani
So.Matt Glasser
So.Brian Gifford
Fr.Jesse Martin
Fr.Kyle Ostrow
Fr.Tyler Rueggseger

Potential Recruits:
Tom Serratore; Brett Bruneteau; Patrick White; Andy Inderieden; Brad Malone

Defense (8):
Sr.Andrew Thomas
Sr.Zach Blom
Jr.Chris Butler
Jr.T.J. Fast
Jr.Julien Marcuzzi
Jr.J.P. Testwuide
So.Cody Brookwell
Fr.Keith Seabrook


COLORADO COLLEGE
Forwards (11):
Sr.Scott McCulloch
Sr.Jim Kilpatrick
Sr.Derek Patrosso
Sr.James Brannigan
Jr.Chad Rau
Jr.Andreas Vlassopoulos
So.Billy Sweatt
So.Mike Testwuide
So.Daniel Quilico
So.Matt Overmann
Fr.Tyler Johnson

Potential Recruits:
Tom Serratore; Brett Bruneteau; Adam Estoclet

Defense (6):
Sr.Jack Hillen
Jr.Cody Lampl
Jr.Jake Gannon
So.Nate Prosser
So.Kris Fredheim
So.Brian Connelly