new Nanaimo recruits (future Cornellians?)

looks like Bill Bestwick is putting together a pretty serious team for next year in Nanaimo. In addition to being 'loaned' Colin Greening for next year, he's gotten commitments from a bunch of top-shelf prospects, some of which seem likely to end up at Cornell for 2006. If anyone's interested, here are some bio excerpts. Clearly Bestwick lays it on a little thick (it seems like everyone he gets is the 'finest' player at his particular position at that birthdate), but if you look at Heisenberg's approximate rankings, these guys are all pretty serious (Cheverie is the #1 ranked goaltender in the BCHL, Ostrow is the #2 forward, Greening is #5, Danberg is #13, Smiley #18)

In addition to Greening, here are the big names playing at Nanaimo next year. Cheverie comes from the Notre Dame Hounds who have recently brought us Pokulok and Seminoff, Cody Danberg played for the Saskatoon Contacts and then the Nanaimo Clippers, the same path Byron Bitz took.

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Centre Regan Smiley, a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from Calgary, has committed to play for the Shipmen for the 2005-2006 B.C. Hockey League campaign. The 17-year-old suited up for the Calgary Buffaloes of the Alberta Midget Hockey League. "He's a prototypical Nanaimo Clipper," said Bestwick. "He's a power forward, a centreman. He plays the game hard, he competes. He's a stronger skater and had the ability to score. He finishes his checks. We're elated that he's committed to playing in Nanaimo next year."

Notre Dame Hounds All Star Goaltender and Saskatchewan Midget AAA League MVP Marc Cheverie will wear Clipper orange next season. Cheverie is highly regarded as one of the finest 1987 birthdated goalies in all of Canada as evidenced by his MVP award in the SMAAAHL. Cheverie continues the Hound tradition in Nanaimo following in the footsteps of former Hounds Nick Feiffer, Jason Marin, Quinn Henry and current Clippers Greg Tyshynski and Jared Seminoff. Cheverie measures in at 6'3" and 180lbs and hails from St. John's Newfoundland.

Calgary Midget Flames Defenseman Taylor Reid has committed to Nanaimo and will add an offensive presence to the Clipper blue line next season. Reid was selected to the Mac's Christmas Midget Tournament All Star Team and will report to Nanaimo in mid August. Reid attends the Calgary Sports Academy and will be a welcome additon. Reid measures in at 6' and 175 lbs. Head Scout Brent Graham compares Reid to former Clipper Tyson Teplitsky who is finishing his Senior year as Captain with the University of New Hampshire.

Calgary Midget Flames Forward Kyle Ostrow has also committed to the Clippers and will immediately become a fan favorite. Ostrow is "one of the finest 1987 birth dated forwards in Canada" according to Head Coach Bill Bestwick. "Kyle reminds me of a young Michel Leveille" says Coach Bestwick. "He is extremely gifted, shifty, elusive and dangerous."

Cody Danberg, Captain of the Telus Cup Champion Saskatoon Contacts has committed to play for the Nanaimo Clippers next season. "Cody brings a great attitude, one of the finest two way players I have ever seen play with the ability to score and create offense. Cody is a true Champion and a player that completes and solidifies our Forward positions for the upcoming season."

How many players have the Clippers to other DI teams? I know we have a good relationship with them but is anyone else recruiting there too?

[Q]KeithK Wrote:

How many players have the Clippers to other DI teams? I know we have a good relationship with them but is anyone else recruiting there too?[/q]

A number of them...Maine(Leveille?) and SCSU come to mind. My guess is (and please correct me if I'm wrong) Schafer more or less chooses who he wants and the players he isn't interested in (b/c of poor work ethic, skills, academics) go elsewhere.

they send kids to other schools..northern mich, st. cloud, unh, one to princeton this year..but like redhair said, i do think that bestwick steers his best kids (who fit the cornell mold) toward schafer..this year it's just seminoff (and mugford, who committed last year), but the two years before that it seems like Cornell got the best Cornell-eligible players (Sawada last year, Bitz & O'Byrne the year before that).

A question for Cornell fans. Is the Cornell-Nanaimo connection due to Bill Bestwick, or was it already established prior to Bestwick arriving? The reason that I am asking is that Bestwick is apparently going to be out at Nanaimo and will probably be replaced by current Vernon Vipers' coach Mike Vandekamp.

Thread from the BCHL message board: [www.network54.com]

Earlier thread when this was more of a rumor (not that Bestwick is out yet) [www.network54.com]

I think that it is/was a Bestwick connection. His daughter, Brooke, played hockey at Cornell and I think it was during/after that that the pipeline began in earnest.

About what year was that?

Brooke Bestwick's first year at Cornell was 99-00, and then the year after that, Greg Hornby was the first men's recruit from Nanaimo, at least since before 97. The next year was LeNeveu, the year after Shane Hynes, and then Bitz/O'Byrne, Sawada, and now Seminoff/Mugford.

David McKee was set for a year of development at Nanaimo when he was invited to forego that due to unforeseen circumstances.
[www.network54.com]

It's fun to relive the earliest thread on McKee that a search turns up: [elf.elynah.com]