Time for a new thread. I'm bullish on the guys we have in the pipeline. These are the players who could come in 2026-27.
1. Pelletier—good year in the USHL this season, will look to dominate next season. Hopefully will play on the first line/PP. Could have come this year but another year of juniors first is even better assuming he eventually matriculates.
2. Sandruck—physical checking forward who is Pelletier's teammate on Lincoln. I'll be watching to see if he has more of an offensive role next season.
3. Tuminaro—big defenseman who was injured all of last season. He was on NHL central scouting lists but never got a chance to prove himself. While he probably won't be drafted because of it, he has a chance to break out next season and get drafted as an overager.
4. Dec—extremely high scoring forward for St. Andrews, should play in the OHL next year. Smaller guy who seems very skilled.
5. Major—Charlie's brother, who is hopefully on a similar development path. Like Charlie, Henry didn't put up many points as a forward in his first year with the Chicago Steel, but if all goes according to plan he will break out next season like Charlie did.
6. Marmulak—forward who was named rookie of the year this season on his QMJHL team.
7. Wehmann—Fisher's and Ryan's teammate on the Penticton Vees this season. He had solid numbers as a middle six forward and will likely have a bigger role next season against better competition: the Vees are moving from the BCHL to WHL.
Then we have a bunch of recruits who haven't played much/any junior hockey yet but look promising. I think all of them will be in the CHL or USHL next season (well, except for DiPlacido, who has another year at St. Andrews but who has already played games in the OHL on the side). These guys seem more likely to come in fall of 2027 or later.
Good breakdown, thank you.
Quote from: TrotskyGood breakdown, thank you.
Ditto
I wonder if any were committed pre-coaching switch
Quote from: underskillI wonder if any were committed pre-coaching switch
If you check Chris Heisenberg's spreadsheet, it lists when players committed. Casey was announced as the new head coach in June 2024.
Harvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, '06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year's draft.
Quote from: BearLoverHarvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, '06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year's draft.
Unless of course the Trump administration is able to follow through with not allowing foreign students to attend Harvard.
Quote from: Jim HylaQuote from: BearLoverHarvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, '06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year's draft.
Unless of course the Trump administration is able to follow through with not allowing foreign students to attend Harvard.
That could eventually impact all colleges-doubt he will stop at Harvard
Quote from: fastforwardQuote from: Jim HylaQuote from: BearLoverHarvard picked up their first commitment from the CHL, Alex Huang of the QMJHL, '06 defenseman ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting for this year's draft.
Unless of course the Trump administration is able to follow through with not allowing foreign students to attend Harvard.
That could eventually impact all colleges-doubt he will stop at Harvard
i'm crying and throwing up
Henri Ament to the WHL
https://chl.ca/whl-silvertips/article/henri-ament-signs-whl-scholarship-and-development-agreement-with-silvertips/
Now we should have a recruit in each CHL league next year, with Marmulak in the Q and Dec in the OHL. On Dec, I am very excited to see what he can do this season. He had good production with St. Andrews and was a point a game in a small OHL sample size.
Edit: Whoops didn't realize Penticton had jumped to the WHL so I guess we already had Louis Wehmann in the league.
Alexis Cournoyer goes to Montreal in the fifth round, 145 overall.
Quote from: chimpfoodAlexis Cournoyer goes to Montreal in the fifth round, 145 overall.
AHHHHHH
Quote from: chimpfoodAlexis Cournoyer goes to Montreal in the fifth round, 145 overall.
I believe he's our 1st drafted goalie since Leneveu
DiGiulian didn't get drafted though, right?
Quote from: stereaxDiGiulian didn't get drafted though, right?
Correct. In all likelihood, he is deeply disappointed not to have had his name called during the draft. Nevertheless, he will have more control over his post-college employment opportunities as an undrafted free agent.
Incentive to play his absolute best.
They all always have that anyway. Nobody in D1 is dogging it based on their draft status. They need to prove to coach they deserve premium minutes, to their draft team they are developing, and they'd never have reached this level without the neurotic thirst to achieve it takes decades of therapy to unkink.
Oh... great... (https://x.com/PuckPedia/status/1943343460096053580?t=ju99G3BwVfa0TNEB4DLPuA&s=19)
The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players' rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).
These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines
Quote from: stereaxOh... great... (https://x.com/PuckPedia/status/1943343460096053580?t=ju99G3BwVfa0TNEB4DLPuA&s=19)
The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players' rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).
These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines
There was talk that there may be an exception if a player is in college, in which case their rights would expire X days after graduating. Did that end up not making it into the CBA?
This change seems to hurt most the teams with a lot of good but not great draft picks (guys who might want to stay 3 or 4 years). It also means college teams should rush drafted players to college whether they're ready or not.
Quote from: BearLoverQuote from: stereaxOh... great... (https://x.com/PuckPedia/status/1943343460096053580?t=ju99G3BwVfa0TNEB4DLPuA&s=19)
The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players' rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).
These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines
There was talk that there may be an exception if a player is in college, in which case their rights would expire X days after graduating. Did that end up not making it into the CBA?
This change seems to hurt most the teams with a lot of good but not great draft picks (guys who might want to stay 3 or 4 years). It also means college teams should rush drafted players to college whether they're ready or not.
If they're "not ready" for college, what is the benefit of rushing them to come in? I'd rather have a guy who's "ready" even if it's for only 2 or 3 years.
Quote from: scoop85Quote from: BearLoverQuote from: stereaxOh... great... (https://x.com/PuckPedia/status/1943343460096053580?t=ju99G3BwVfa0TNEB4DLPuA&s=19)
The new CBA changes the time teams have drafted players' rights before signing them (4 years for drafted at 18, 3 years drafted at 19, etc).
These changes are expected to be effective starting with the 2027 draft class. Players drafted prior to 2027 will be subject to the existing rules/timelines
There was talk that there may be an exception if a player is in college, in which case their rights would expire X days after graduating. Did that end up not making it into the CBA?
This change seems to hurt most the teams with a lot of good but not great draft picks (guys who might want to stay 3 or 4 years). It also means college teams should rush drafted players to college whether they're ready or not.
If they're "not ready" for college, what is the benefit of rushing them to come in? I'd rather have a guy who's "ready" even if it's for only 2 or 3 years.
Fair enough—I think though that it's rarely black and white, and if a player is anywhere close to being able to make the lineup (probably true of most draft picks) they'll be brought in immediately event if a year of juniors would be better for their growth.
Ok so as per this (https://x.com/PuckReportNHL/status/1943804643244421281?t=7M5zWyieuU212JpCdMX6nQ&s=19) what I understood is true:
Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft
• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.
• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.
• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey
Quote from: stereaxOk so as per this (https://x.com/PuckReportNHL/status/1943804643244421281?t=7M5zWyieuU212JpCdMX6nQ&s=19) what I understood is true:
Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft
• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.
• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.
• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey
So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don't think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.
Quote from: BearLoverQuote from: stereaxOk so as per this (https://x.com/PuckReportNHL/status/1943804643244421281?t=7M5zWyieuU212JpCdMX6nQ&s=19) what I understood is true:
Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft
• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.
• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.
• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey
So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don't think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.
changes nothing - except I think it used to be Aug. 1 now says "30 days" - and I also don't know what it means to inform anyone they're leaving college hockey if they're a senior.
Quote from: adamwQuote from: BearLoverQuote from: stereaxOk so as per this (https://x.com/PuckReportNHL/status/1943804643244421281?t=7M5zWyieuU212JpCdMX6nQ&s=19) what I understood is true:
Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft
• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.
• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.
• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey
So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don't think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.
changes nothing - except I think it used to be Aug. 1 now says "30 days" - and I also don't know what it means to inform anyone they're leaving college hockey if they're a senior.
Perhaps that is written if a player leaves before graduating.
Quote from: martyQuote from: adamwQuote from: BearLoverQuote from: stereaxOk so as per this (https://x.com/PuckReportNHL/status/1943804643244421281?t=7M5zWyieuU212JpCdMX6nQ&s=19) what I understood is true:
Draft rights: starting in 2027 draft
• age 18, rights expire on the fourth June 1 afterward.
• 19 or older, rights expire on the third June 1 afterward.
• if NCAA, rights expire following the 30th day after Central Registry is informed the player is leaving college hockey
So the exception I was referring to above made it into the CBA after all. I.e. I don't think the new rule changes much of anything for college hockey.
changes nothing - except I think it used to be Aug. 1 now says "30 days" - and I also don't know what it means to inform anyone they're leaving college hockey if they're a senior.
Perhaps that is written if a player leaves before graduating.
or if they graduate but have eligibility remaining
Fwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:
Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0
Quote from: ithacatFwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:
Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0
Quinnipiac's and Clarkson's numbers are low because their strategy, at least for next season, was to load up on CHL overagers who could immediately come to college the following season. So these teams are recruiting heavily from the CHL, but less so younger players who are still a few years away from matriculating. Clarkson had a bunch of decommitments from the coaching change so I can give them a pass, but Q's strategy seems to have been to kick most of their longtime recruits to the curb (either tell them they no longer have a roster spot, or send them back to juniors for another year) in favor of bringing in 7 CHL overagers. These kids were likely lined up to come to Q this summer until the CHL players became eligible, and a few months later those kids were told to kick rocks. Quinnipiac is surely not the only team doing this, but they're probably the only team in the ECAC doing this.
Quote from: BearLoverQuote from: ithacatFwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:
Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0
Quinnipiac's and Clarkson's numbers are low because their strategy, at least for next season, was to load up on CHL overagers who could immediately come to college the following season. So these teams are recruiting heavily from the CHL, but less so younger players who are still a few years away from matriculating. Clarkson had a bunch of decommitments from the coaching change so I can give them a pass, but Q's strategy seems to have been to kick most of their longtime recruits to the curb (either tell them they no longer have a roster spot, or send them back to juniors for another year) in favor of bringing in 7 CHL overagers. These kids were likely lined up to come to Q this summer until the CHL players became eligible, and a few months later those kids were told to kick rocks. Quinnipiac is surely not the only team doing this, but they're probably the only team in the ECAC doing this.
RPI's Jack Ziliotto left Trail (BCHL) for Sudbury (OHL) and played 28 regular season games (5 goals, 9 assists) and 4 more in the playoffs there. I wrote Chris about this, and he stated that he was not going to make the change. I will write to him again since there are a lot of changes (e.g., Klassek and Lemieux will be in Troy).
I also expect Chemrouk to play for Victoria (QMJHL) and Dwyer for Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) where they were after Stanstead's season ended. Neither got much ice time in the Q.
Quote from: ithacatFwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:
Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0
But I was told Cornell was going to have problems recruiting from the CHL...
Genuine question tho, can you break it down by league? It feels like most of our recruits stem from the Q, would be interested to know if other ECAC teams are pulling from the O and W or if we're all mostly dealing with the closest league.
Quote from: stereaxQuote from: ithacatFwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:
Cornell - 7
Harvard - 6
Colgate - 3
Clarkson, QU - 2
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0
But I was told Cornell was going to have problems recruiting from the CHL...
I wasn't one of the people who said that. But for what it's worth, most of these kids were recruited prior to going to the CHL. They then went to the CHL where before they would have gone to the BCHL or USHL.
Quote from: stereaxQuote from: ithacatFwiw, Heisenberg's list for 2026 & beyond, with updated teams, shows the following number of recruits planning to play in the CHL this season:
(Q/O/W)
Cornell - 7 (3-2-2)
Harvard - 6 (2-3-1)
Colgate - 3 (0-2-1)
Clarkson, QU - 2 (1-1-0) (0-1-1)
Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale - 1 (Q), (W), (W)
Brown, RPI, SLU, Union - 0
But I was told Cornell was going to have problems recruiting from the CHL...
Genuine question tho, can you break it down by league? It feels like most of our recruits stem from the Q, would be interested to know if other ECAC teams are pulling from the O and W or if we're all mostly dealing with the closest league.
Updated. I don't know if there's any discussion around changing the territorial rights for the CHL.
Quote from: BearLoverQ's strategy seems to have been to kick most of their longtime recruits to the curb (either tell them they no longer have a roster spot, or send them back to juniors for another year) in favor of bringing in 7 CHL overagers. These kids were likely lined up to come to Q this summer until the CHL players became eligible, and a few months later those kids were told to kick rocks. Quinnipiac is surely not the only team doing this, but they're probably the only team in the ECAC doing this.
Hopefully it damages Pecknold's reputation for future recruiting.
New forward recruit, Declan Wotton, a 6'1 200 lb 16 year old from Maine. Drafted by Fargo of the USHL and Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL
https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0sDt5gdc8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Quote from: scoop85New forward recruit, Declan Wotton, a 6'1 200 lb 16 year old from Maine. Drafted by Fargo of the USHL and Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL
https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0sDt5gdc8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Looks good judging by Neutral Zone reviews although only 3.75 *'s.
A little disconcerting to me that Cornell is working on the supposedly 2027-entering class while RPI still needs two for this fall after two recent decommits. (One there is a rumor about.)
Quote from: ursusminorA little disconcerting to me that Cornell is working on the supposedly 2027-entering class while RPI still needs two for this fall after two recent decommits. (One there is a rumor about.)
He's 16. He might be 2030-entering.
Quote from: TrotskyQuote from: ursusminorA little disconcerting to me that Cornell is working on the supposedly 2027-entering class while RPI still needs two for this fall after two recent decommits. (One there is a rumor about.)
He's 16. He might be 2030-entering.
That's why I wrote "supposedly". :-)
The Cornell Big Red have received a commitment from Charlie Puglisi!
The '08 born Forward from NY had 19 points in 28 GP during the 2024-25 season for The Winchendon School.
https://x.com/CollegePuckNXT/status/1960831274937147637
Good to see a local lad (Latham) stay home.
Favorite sons fleeing to the CHL or rivals is always irritating, even though yeah get outta dodge the second you can, I feel ya.
Quote from: TrotskyGood to see a local lad (Latham) stay home.
Favorite sons fleeing to the CHL or rivals is always irritating, even though yeah get outta dodge the second you can, I feel ya.
I don't know about the "staying home" part. If he were really doing that, he'd be a Union or RPI commit as Latham is a suburb of Albany
Commits born during the Obama presidency (http://www.tbrw.info/?/seasons/2026/2026_Future_Players.html) aren't freaking me out at all.
Quote from: TrotskyCommits born during the Obama presidency (http://www.tbrw.info/?/seasons/2026/2026_Future_Players.html) aren't freaking me out at all.
People stopped being born after like, 2007. 2009??? That kid's still in diapers ::cry::
Quote from: stereaxPeople stopped being born after like, 2007
Which is odd, given all 20-year olds think
they invented sex. ::banana::
Glad to see so many New York guys staying in NY and committing to Cornell!
It make us have a "homegrown" feel, at least in my opinion
A short free evaluation on Neutral Zone of Puglisi. https://neutralzone.com/2025/09/02/ncaa-commitments-aug-25-31/ He has been evaluated several other times .
Charlie Puglisi (F, R, 5'9, 152, The Winchendon School, 04/16/2008, Cornell)
Puglisi played 28 games with The Winchendon School, recording six goals and 19 points. In 2028, he will go to play at Cornell.
Puglisi was evaluated by NZ scouts at the NYSAHA Spring Selection Camp.
"Puglisi has shown some physical growth in his frame. He was displaying his stride and speed to create scoring chances. He was also showing his puck skills off the rush as he was driving wide around defenders or slipping through holes to the net for opportunities. While Puglisi was not lighting up the scoresheet, he was involved offensively consistently."
Chicago played their first game of the season today, major tallied an assist and Tuminaro was +1. Exciting that hockey is starting back up.
The Heisenberg list has a couple names I don't remember seeing before. One is Nolan Long who is playing for Saint Andrews this year. Presumably he is Aidan Long's brother because they have the same birthplace. There is also Declan Wotton who is a 16 year old (may birthday) in the Q who scored in his first game.
Quote from: chimpfoodThe Heisenberg list has a couple names I don't remember seeing before. One is Nolan Long who is playing for Saint Andrews this year. Presumably he is Aidan Long's brother because they have the same birthplace. There is also Declan Wotton who is a 16 year old (may birthday) in the Q who scored in his first game.
Nice. Wotton's on the Drakkar, which are a better team in the Q. I'll have to keep an eye out for him.
It's the very beginning of the junior hockey season, and things should clear up as we move forward, but right now the state of our recruiting seems highly uncertain.
Three main points of uncertainty:
1. I don't have a good baseline for how much our players should be scoring in the three CHL leagues. Is a point per game not as impressive as it is in the lower scoring USHL? How should we adjust expectations based on age (eg. if our recruit is 16/17/18/19)?
2. The relative strengths of the leagues has been jumbled. Has the USHL gotten worse with more players going to the CHL? Right now, I'm viewing it as largely the same. And then there are the lower junior leagues, in which we have fewer players than in past years, but I have to imagine those leagues have gotten weaker.
3. Everyone else is recruiting better, but how much better? Now that the pool of eligible players is much larger, the average quality of recruit has improved. That means ours will need to improve to keep up. How much it needs to improve, though, is a mystery. A point per game player in the USHL was almost a surefire strong recruit before—how about now? What about a point per game player in the BCHL, or a D who averages .5 PPG? A goalie with a .920 sv%?
I have started to miss Big Red Puckhead, which compiled all the stats in the same place. When everyone was in the USHL and BCHL it was simple enough to keep up, but now the recruiting is more diffuse and harder to keep tabs on.
Quote from: BearLover on October 02, 2025, 10:44:09 AM1. I don't have a good baseline for how much our players should be scoring in the three CHL leagues. Is a point per game not as impressive as it is in the lower scoring USHL? How should we adjust expectations based on age (eg. if our recruit is 16/17/18/19)?
I have always felt things change enough year to year that the only way to judge is by relative position during that year in that league. Look at league leaders to get a feel. Look at the mean GPG for the league. Also try to get a feel for the dispersion -- some leagues tend to "clump" while others (e.g., the CHL) are wildly spread out.
For age, do the same but within the age pool.
And even then the coachs' eye tests are often at odds with on-ice production. You can pick your nose but you can't pick your line mates.
There is an 18-year old Max Psenicka from Prague on the Portland Winterhawks (WHL).
At the moment the recruit who looks most promising to me is Cole Emerton. He turned 17 in March and has 4 assists in 4 games in the OHL as a defenseman. Other than Emerton, nobody is jumping off the page yet.
Michael Dec looks very exciting to me, 15 points through his first 15 OHL games, looks like he's on the first power play as well.
Quote from: chimpfood on October 06, 2025, 10:00:32 PMMichael Dec looks very exciting to me, 15 points through his first 15 OHL games, looks like he's on the first power play as well.
Dec has had a good couple of good games since I posted the above message. I think it may have inspired him.
A free article on Neutral Zone about changes which have affected college hockey's entering classes. There is a paragraph titled "Cornell". This is not the appropriate thread for it, but I didn't want to resurrect last year's recruit thread.
https://neutralzone.com/2025/10/06/a-new-era-of-ncaa-hockey/
Quote from: ursusminor on October 07, 2025, 04:36:23 AMA free article on Neutral Zone about changes which have affected college hockey's entering classes. There is a paragraph titled "Cornell". This is not the appropriate thread for it, but I didn't want to resurrect last year's recruit thread.
https://neutralzone.com/2025/10/06/a-new-era-of-ncaa-hockey/
Similarly - this fits well enough here as well. Cornell mentioned, by new RPI Coach Eric Lang.
Eric Lang Mentions Cornell (https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/10/06_QA-With--RPI-Coach-Eric.php)
Quote from: ursusminor on October 07, 2025, 04:36:23 AMA free article on Neutral Zone about changes which have affected college hockey's entering classes. There is a paragraph titled "Cornell". This is not the appropriate thread for it, but I didn't want to resurrect last year's recruit thread.
https://neutralzone.com/2025/10/06/a-new-era-of-ncaa-hockey/
Interesting article. The authors pose this question at the end: "Are the CHL players staying for the full-season or are some leaving at Christmas break?" which is something I've been curious about too. Sure it seems like a good idea to go get NIL money and play hockey at a well known brand school- but you might actually have to go to school. Some players might not like playing 50 less games a season in front of empty arenas. It
could be one or two seasons before we see a slowdown of CHL players- or maybe they like it better and it only increases.
Quote from: ursusminor on October 07, 2025, 04:36:23 AMA free article on Neutral Zone about changes which have affected college hockey's entering classes. There is a paragraph titled "Cornell". This is not the appropriate thread for it, but I didn't want to resurrect last year's recruit thread.
https://neutralzone.com/2025/10/06/a-new-era-of-ncaa-hockey/
I'm not so sure about the Cornell section of this article. It speaks of Cornell going off the beaten path for recruits and references two aspects of our recruiting:
(1) that we have a lot of incoming players from the BCHL rather than the CHL. But most of our BCHL recruits committed before CHL players became eligible.
(2) that we recruit from the OJHL and CCHL. But that hasn't really been true in the past five years?
Quote from: BearLover on October 07, 2025, 03:39:06 PMQuote from: ursusminor on October 07, 2025, 04:36:23 AMA free article on Neutral Zone about changes which have affected college hockey's entering classes. There is a paragraph titled "Cornell". This is not the appropriate thread for it, but I didn't want to resurrect last year's recruit thread.
https://neutralzone.com/2025/10/06/a-new-era-of-ncaa-hockey/
I'm not so sure about the Cornell section of this article. It speaks of Cornell going off the beaten path for recruits and references two aspects of our recruiting:
(1) that we have a lot of incoming players from the BCHL rather than the CHL. But most of our BCHL recruits committed before CHL players became eligible.
(2) that we recruit from the OJHL and CCHL. But that hasn't really been true in the past five years?
Yeah, we haven't done much in the OJHL and CCHL the past few years -- I think that summary is off the mark.
Alex Pelletier absolutely going off in the USHL. 7 goals and 2 assists in 7 games.
Quote from: chimpfood on October 11, 2025, 09:40:39 PMAlex Pelletier absolutely going off in the USHL. 7 goals and 2 assists in 7 games.
Pelletier is an interesting recruiting case. The following is based off what I can find on the Internet. Someone with more knowledge of his situation/junior hockey generally may want to fill in some details.
He's from Connecticut, committed to Cornell while at Avon Old Farms prep school. Back in 2021 he was a first round pick in the QMJHL American draft. (I'm not sure how competitive this draft is, as it's just of American players, but first round sounds good. Also, did the team who drafted him have reason to believe he'd leave prep school and go play Canada major juniors?) He ended up finishing prep school, and committed to Cornell in the fall of his senior year. After graduating he was a second round (19th overall) pick in the USHL draft. By the time he started in the USHL, he had already turned 19. He had a good first year. Now, in his second season, at 20 years old, he leads the USHL in goals.
His case is an illustration of why recruiting is hard to predict from stats and rankings alone: when he committed, he was an 18-year-old senior in prep school and it was impossible to tell if he was a good recruit. Now, he's having a great season in the USHL, so we have a lot more to go on. Still, how much of his USHL success is due to him being 20?
Overall, he looks like a strong recruit. But as always, there's a lot of uncertainty in recruiting.
Quote from: BearLover on October 13, 2025, 10:43:47 AMStill, how much of his USHL success is due to him being 20?
Overall, he looks like a strong recruit. But as always, there's a lot of uncertainty in recruiting.
Unless his age decreases, his current performance suggests his potential going forward.
Looking at Pelletier's box scores with Lincoln every night cracks me up. The guy has scored 5 goals and gotten 3 assists over the last 3 games and he did so while taking a ridiculous 24 shots, 10 of them coming tonight. The kid can clearly score but he's not gonna be allowed or able to take that many shots in college so I don't know how much it's gonna carry over. Pretty much the polar opposite of him is recruit Michael Dec, a forward for Owen Sound in the OHL who has 1 goals and 11 assists in his 12 games. Get these two on a line together and it might just work.
NHL Central Scouting Players To Watch list dropped today. The are two Cornell recruits listed in the "W" category, indicating a candidate for a 6th/7th round pick: Tuminaro and Puglisi. Harvard is recruiting well again, with five on the list, including a B, three Cs, and one W. Quinnipiac has two Ws. Dartmouth surprises with one C and one W. Brown, Yale, and Colgate each have a W as well. Don't see any for Clarkson, StL, RPI, Union, or Princeton.
Usual blue blood programs at the top of the list except Minnesota only has two Cs.
Overall I'd like to see us step up our recruiting a bit. The bar is higher now with so more talent pouring into college hockey.
https://www.nhl.com/news/gavin-mckenna-tops-central-scouting-preliminary-players-to-watch-list
If I understand eligibility rules correctly, 16 of our 17 current recruits (all except Declan Wotton) are eligible to be drafted in the spring. So it's disappointing to only have two listed in the rankings, both as potential late round picks.
You could view our recruits in three batches:
1. Pre-Casey [Sandruck, Tuminaro, Pelletier, Dec, Major]
2. Casey hired, Schafer and Leivermann still on staff [Marmulak through Dontigny]
3. Current coaching makeup, with Schafer and Leivermann gone and two new assistants [Wotton, Puglisi, Long]
I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader to assess the promise of the different batches and/or ascertain any sort of causation.
One thing I will say is that a lot of recruits are under 6', which hurts their draft stock even if they end up as strong college players.
Assuming Heisenberg meant Cornell and not "Corbell," we have picked up a new recruit from Saint Andrews, Charlie Sullivan.
Heisenberg's 2026 list can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/2/d/1bCxOl1bl2oSsBb-nE28c5BaS4QMqcRCyJDIxqkaOOjk/htmlview#gid=1310221579
A public post on Neutral Zone about recent commitments. https://neutralzone.com/2025/10/27/ncaa-commitments-oct-20-oct-26/
Re: Sullivan
QuoteCharlie Sullivan (D, L, 6'1, 183, St. Andrew's College, 03/21/2009, Cornell)
A draft pick of the Guelph Storm, Sullivan is currently playing at St. Andrew's College. In 2028, the defenseman will head to Cornell.
Sullivan put in a great performance at the OHL Cup, where his Don Mills Flyers placed second.
"Throughout the OHL Cup, Charlie showcased his strong compete level, skating, and shot. Looking at his compete level, Charlie backchecked consistently. He rarely trailed the play and was consistently one of the first players back to limit zone entries for his team. Charlie won numerous puck battles. Due to his strong physical game, Charlie delivered many hits to opponents away from the puck, enabling him to gain puck possession and initiate breakouts. Charlie frequently positioned himself in shooting lanes, demonstrating a willingness to put his body on the line. He blocked many shots, limiting scoring chances against his team. Regarding his skating, he was agile. Charlie demonstrated the ability to utilize both his inside and outside edges effectively."
Quote from: ursusminor on October 29, 2025, 01:24:08 AMA public post on Neutral Zone about recent commitments. https://neutralzone.com/2025/10/27/ncaa-commitments-oct-20-oct-26/
Re: Sullivan
QuoteCharlie Sullivan (D, L, 6'1, 183, St. Andrew's College, 03/21/2009, Cornell)
A draft pick of the Guelph Storm, Sullivan is currently playing at St. Andrew's College. In 2028, the defenseman will head to Cornell.
Sullivan put in a great performance at the OHL Cup, where his Don Mills Flyers placed second.
"Throughout the OHL Cup, Charlie showcased his strong compete level, skating, and shot. Looking at his compete level, Charlie backchecked consistently. He rarely trailed the play and was consistently one of the first players back to limit zone entries for his team. Charlie won numerous puck battles. Due to his strong physical game, Charlie delivered many hits to opponents away from the puck, enabling him to gain puck possession and initiate breakouts. Charlie frequently positioned himself in shooting lanes, demonstrating a willingness to put his body on the line. He blocked many shots, limiting scoring chances against his team. Regarding his skating, he was agile. Charlie demonstrated the ability to utilize both his inside and outside edges effectively."
Sounds like a prototypical Cornell defenseman.
Dec traded to Erie.
Quote from: chimpfood on November 01, 2025, 03:24:48 PMDec traded to Erie.
Erie has been offensively challenged, and Owen Sound wanted a more physical foward. Dec has a lot of skill and will almost certainly be a key PP guy when he arrives in Ithaca.
Looking at the Chris Heisenberg website it looks as if one of our top recruits may have decommitted. Alex Pelletier's name has been crossed out under the list of Cornell commits as has Michael Sandruck's. In looking at the Lincoln Stars roster they don't have Pelletier listed as going to Cornell any longer. Sandruck is not a surprise, that may have been Cornell's doing seeing as he hasn't progressed as was hoped. If true about Pelletier that is a big loss. I haven't been able to find out where he may be committing or if he is just reopening the recruiting process with his huge start to the USHL season.
Quote from: Redpucks1! on November 02, 2025, 05:38:36 PMLooking at the Chris Heisenberg website it looks as if one of our top recruits may have decommitted. Alex Pelletier's name has been crossed out under the list of Cornell commits as has Michael Sandruck's. In looking at the Lincoln Stars roster they don't have Pelletier listed as going to Cornell any longer. Sandruck is not a surprise, that may have been Cornell's doing seeing as he hasn't progressed as was hoped. If true about Pelletier that is a big loss. I haven't been able to find out where he may be committing or if he is just reopening the recruiting process with his huge start to the USHL season.
Yeah looks like he took down his commitment post and elite prospects also has him as decommitted. I can't think of why unless someone offered to bring him in over winter break, because he's going to have to wait until next year anyway.
I did expect him to come in over guys like Caton Ryan and Connor Arsenault. With Ryan being a first liner right now I can understand bringing him over Pelletier, but bringing in Arsenault a year early and losing a top recruit in return is not great.
To be honest I wasn't totally sold on him anyway thanks to a combination of size, age, and huge shot volume that he won't get in college but it's too bad we couldn't at least see what we had with him. Opens the door for Jones to work some magic and maybe get us a good CHLer to fill his spot though.
Quote from: chimpfood on November 02, 2025, 05:45:11 PMQuote from: Redpucks1! on November 02, 2025, 05:38:36 PMLooking at the Chris Heisenberg website it looks as if one of our top recruits may have decommitted. Alex Pelletier's name has been crossed out under the list of Cornell commits as has Michael Sandruck's. In looking at the Lincoln Stars roster they don't have Pelletier listed as going to Cornell any longer. Sandruck is not a surprise, that may have been Cornell's doing seeing as he hasn't progressed as was hoped. If true about Pelletier that is a big loss. I haven't been able to find out where he may be committing or if he is just reopening the recruiting process with his huge start to the USHL season.
Yeah looks like he took down his commitment post and elite prospects also has him as decommitted. I can't think of why unless someone offered to bring him in over winter break, because he's going to have to wait until next year anyway.
I did expect him to come in over guys like Caton Ryan and Connor Arsenault. With Ryan being a first liner right now I can understand bringing him over Pelletier, but bringing in Arsenault a year early and losing a top recruit in return is not great.
To be honest I wasn't totally sold on him anyway thanks to a combination of size, age, and huge shot volume that he won't get in college but it's too bad we couldn't at least see what we had with him. Opens the door for Jones to work some magic and maybe get us a good CHLer to fill his spot though.
I totally agree with all of this. Him being 20 made me question how high his ceiling actually is. But he was still clearly one of our better recruits. With respect to bringing in someone else last year, maybe I'm missing something but I guess some of these choices that look crazy on paper do end up being crazy. Arsenault is a year younger and didn't put up numbers in junior, they couldn't let him develop in the minors an extra year and bring in Pelletier, who had a solid USHL year last season? Again, I may be missing something, but seems like a huge mistake by the coaching staff.
Well that really sullied a good weekend. WTF
Quote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 09:55:25 PMWell that really sullied a good weekend. WTF
Only if you let it. I'm confident we'll continue to recruit very well despite it all.
Quote from: scoop85 on November 02, 2025, 10:10:01 PMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 09:55:25 PMWell that really sullied a good weekend. WTF
Only if you let it. I'm confident we'll continue to recruit very well despite it all.
The recruiting is looking pretty sketchy at the moment. The Pelletier thing is especially annoying because it seems like an unforced error.
Quote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 10:58:40 PMQuote from: scoop85 on November 02, 2025, 10:10:01 PMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 09:55:25 PMWell that really sullied a good weekend. WTF
Only if you let it. I'm confident we'll continue to recruit very well despite it all.
The recruiting is looking pretty sketchy at the moment. The Pelletier thing is especially annoying because it seems like an unforced error.
What's especially annoying is your tendency to assume things without having any evidence whatsoever as to why they happened, and then blame it on the coaching staff 90 percent of the time.
You and several others are assuming that the coaches actively decided to bring someone else in, and that Pelletier had to wait as a result. While that's possible, it's just as possible that Pelletier had some reason to want to wait another year, or that both sides thought it made sense.
Or maybe Pelletier was already starting to waver a bit in his own mind, and as they kept in touch over the summer and doing whatever they do to decide who is actually coming in when, the coaching staff could sense that and deferred for another year to make sure the kid was back to rock solid.
Interestingly, whenever a guy leaves early, whether it's Robertson after 2 years or others after 3, you always blame the player and are like good riddance, traitor.
When there's some change with a recruit, you always blame the coaches.
When there is a down year on the lower play, you blame the coaches.
Actually, you almost never blame the players, it's always the coaches. It's never possible that there really was a rash of injuries in a couple recent years, and then other guys playing hurt on top of that. Or not believing that half the team has a GI big on a given day. It's always the coach's fault to you.
#doomandgloomlover
I couched my post with qualifiers like "it appears" and "I could be missing something but..." Nobody has all the information, obviously. But those of us who follow recruiting were surprised when he wasn't brought in for this season, given his age and good year in USHL. Meanwhile, younger players, including some who didn't produce as much in juniors, were brought in. Flash forward 5 or 6 months. The entirety of that time Pelletier has stayed committed to Cornell. Only when he starts blowing up and leading the USHL in goals does he decommit. So, there are many explanations and certainly several contributing factors, but weighing all of them it seems likely the coaching staff misevaluated how good he would be and missed a chance to bring him to Ithaca.
Your post is nonsensical anyway because this is probably the first time I've ever blamed the coaching staff for something like this happening.
Quote from: abmarks on November 03, 2025, 06:35:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 10:58:40 PMQuote from: scoop85 on November 02, 2025, 10:10:01 PMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 09:55:25 PMWell that really sullied a good weekend. WTF
Only if you let it. I'm confident we'll continue to recruit very well despite it all.
The recruiting is looking pretty sketchy at the moment. The Pelletier thing is especially annoying because it seems like an unforced error.
When there's some change with a recruit, you always blame the coaches.
Completely making things up eh?
Pelletier just committed to BC.
Not following this as closely as you all, but could this be a matter of he was recruited by Schaf and Schaf retired so he no longer wanted to come.
Quote from: arugula on November 03, 2025, 06:49:40 PMNot following this as closely as you all, but could this be a matter of he was recruited by Schaf and Schaf retired so he no longer wanted to come.
Well Schafer announced his retirement 1.5 years ago and Pelletier listed himself as committed to Cornell until recently...
Perhaps some NIL money plus the "traditional" full ride athletic scholarship to a traditional blue blood program was enough of an enticement.
Quote from: scoop85 on November 03, 2025, 09:40:10 PMPerhaps some NIL money plus the "traditional" full ride athletic scholarship to a traditional blue blood program was enough of an enticement.
Will he commit to Penn State or some other program flush with cash?
Quote from: marty on November 03, 2025, 10:52:30 PMQuote from: scoop85 on November 03, 2025, 09:40:10 PMPerhaps some NIL money plus the "traditional" full ride athletic scholarship to a traditional blue blood program was enough of an enticement.
Will he commit to Penn State or some other program flush with cash?
scroll up... this was referring to BC
Quote from: ugarte on November 03, 2025, 11:29:32 PMQuote from: marty on November 03, 2025, 10:52:30 PMQuote from: scoop85 on November 03, 2025, 09:40:10 PMPerhaps some NIL money plus the "traditional" full ride athletic scholarship to a traditional blue blood program was enough of an enticement.
Will he commit to Penn State or some other program flush with cash?
scroll up... this was referring to BC
How could I possibly have skimmed over the BL BC comment?
Quote from: scoop85 on November 03, 2025, 09:40:10 PMPerhaps some NIL money plus the "traditional" full ride athletic scholarship to a traditional blue blood program was enough of an enticement.
Yep. That's probably it. To which I say: ah, shucks. That's just how the cookie is going to crumble for some. Cornell is great, but scholarship + blue blood (more NHL scouting attention, which imo is a reason Robertson transferred to Michigan) + NIL (+ let's face it, Ithaca isn't Boston) is going to turn heads.
People are missing the point. It isn't about why a player would choose BC over Cornell. Kids have been choosing BC over Cornell for the past 40 years. This is about a 20-year-old kid having been committed to Cornell for over two years, Cornell having the chance to bring him to campus six months ago after a good year in the USHL, and then the kid decommitting. Meanwhile, Cornell brought in some younger kids who did not have success in the USHL or lesser leagues. That's the interesting question here, not why a kid might choose BC over Cornell.
(By the way, I also disagree with some of the reasons stated for why he or Robertson bolted, but that's beside the point.)
Nobody knows why he didn't come as part of this year's class so your speculation is just that.
We've benefitted from recruiting flips (Walsh was committed to Brown initially)
Quote from: scoop85 on November 04, 2025, 01:05:49 PMNobody knows why he didn't come as part of this year's class so your speculation is just that.
We've benefitted from recruiting flips (Walsh was committed to Brown initially)
True. What I haven't seen the team benefit from is endless speculation. Yet it seems more endless than ever.
Quote from: marty on November 04, 2025, 01:08:18 PMWhat I haven't seen the team benefit from is endless speculation. Yet it seems more endless than ever.
Happily it is irrelevant. No member of the team or staff knows or cares what any fan thinks or says, as is proper.
I prefer the bulls at the tauromachy not consult me for tactics. The fuck do I know?
Quote from: abmarks on November 03, 2025, 06:35:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 10:58:40 PMQuote from: scoop85 on November 02, 2025, 10:10:01 PMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 09:55:25 PMWell that really sullied a good weekend. WTF
Only if you let it. I'm confident we'll continue to recruit very well despite it all.
The recruiting is looking pretty sketchy at the moment. The Pelletier thing is especially annoying because it seems like an unforced error.
What's especially annoying is your tendency to assume things without having any evidence whatsoever as to why they happened, and then blame it on the coaching staff 90 percent of the time.
Either he is 12 and trolling for attention or he was raised by Stephen A. and those imbeciles and doesn't know any better.
Either way, just ignore him. If you have ever suffered through a game thread on social media you realize 75% of any fan base are howler monkeys. There is no point engaging.
Quote from: Trotsky on November 04, 2025, 03:47:45 PMQuote from: abmarks on November 03, 2025, 06:35:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 10:58:40 PMQuote from: scoop85 on November 02, 2025, 10:10:01 PMQuote from: BearLover on November 02, 2025, 09:55:25 PMWell that really sullied a good weekend. WTF
Only if you let it. I'm confident we'll continue to recruit very well despite it all.
The recruiting is looking pretty sketchy at the moment. The Pelletier thing is especially annoying because it seems like an unforced error.
What's especially annoying is your tendency to assume things without having any evidence whatsoever as to why they happened, and then blame it on the coaching staff 90 percent of the time.
Either he is 12 and trolling for attention or he was raised by Stephen A. and those imbeciles and doesn't know any better.
Either way, just ignore him. If you have ever suffered through a game thread on social media you realize 75% of any fan base are howler monkeys. There is no point engaging.
Yawn. In this case it seems likely that the coaching staff actually messed up. You can try to spin it however you like or dismiss it as speculation (of course it's speculation! I don't work for the hockey team and I'm posting on a fan forum!), but the fact remains he could have been brought in for this season and wasn't, and had he been brought in he'd be playing for Cornell right now instead of committing to BC. Sorry if it offends the people on here to posit these things. chimpfood said the same thing and then a bunch of people who don't closely follow recruiting reassembled the Coaching Staff Defense Squad.
Quote from: BearLover on November 04, 2025, 04:10:03 PMYawn. In this case it seems likely that the coaching staff actually messed up. You can try to spin it however you like or dismiss it as speculation (of course it's speculation! I don't work for the hockey team and I'm posting on a fan forum!), but the fact remains he could have been brought in for this season and wasn't, and had he been brought in he'd be playing for Cornell right now instead of committing to BC. Sorry if it offends the people on here to posit these things. chimpfood said the same thing and then a bunch of people who don't closely follow recruiting reassembled the Coaching Staff Defense Squad.
In this case i'm with BL. "We don't know his reasons" is something for church. the rest of us base our opinions on what we can see since i'm not being paid to represent anyone here. it's entirely possible that he declined to be brought in a year early to bet on himself or other reasons but who knows. if cornell brought anyone in early, but didn't bring in pelletiier, the most reasonable speculation is that it was Cornell's call.
ON THE OTHER HAND, there's a limit to the handwringing and back and forth that you probably need to engage in once you've staked your posiition because at a certain point you're just playing ping pong and messing with everyone's new message notifications.
Quote from: ugarte on November 04, 2025, 04:27:26 PMIn this case i'm with BL. "We don't know his reasons" is something for church. the rest of us base our opinions on what we can see
OK, but what do we see? Only a single fact. We know nothing behind it. So if the coaching staff is at fault for losing guys then it is equally to their credit when we steal guys. Thus, they are doing fine.
Now, I see no universe in which it is reasonable to assume the coaching staff is responsible for any of these changes of player heart, but even if we posit that then our staff is still doing fine.
Quote from: Trotsky on November 04, 2025, 04:32:36 PMQuote from: ugarte on November 04, 2025, 04:27:26 PMIn this case i'm with BL. "We don't know his reasons" is something for church. the rest of us base our opinions on what we can see
OK, but what do we see? Only a single fact. We know nothing behind it. So if the coaching staff is at fault for losing guys then it is equally to their credit when we steal guys. Thus, they are doing fine.
Now, I see no universe in which it is reasonable to assume the coaching staff is responsible for any of these changes of player heart, but even if we posit that then our staff is still doing fine.
"Coaching staff makes one mistake" does not equate to "coaching staff sucks."
There is ALWAYS the risk of a change of player heart when you don't bring guys to campus. Ergo, you bring guys to campus when they're ready to contribute to your team, else you might lose them to a change of heart, change in family economics, whatever. We had an opportunity to bring this guy to campus, and we didn't. One can reasonably blame the coaching staff for misevaluating Pelletier's readiness and not bringing him to campus. That's very different from blaming the coaching staff for the player experiencing a change of heart.
We now have more recruits playing for St. Andrews College than the entire USHL.
Quote from: Trotsky on November 04, 2025, 04:32:36 PMQuote from: ugarte on November 04, 2025, 04:27:26 PMIn this case i'm with BL. "We don't know his reasons" is something for church. the rest of us base our opinions on what we can see
OK, but what do we see? Only a single fact. We know nothing behind it. So if the coaching staff is at fault for losing guys then it is equally to their credit when we steal guys. Thus, they are doing fine.
i have no meta opinion on their net recruiting. the kid from northeastern looked good though.
Quote from: BearLover on November 04, 2025, 04:49:11 PMQuote from: Trotsky on November 04, 2025, 04:32:36 PMQuote from: ugarte on November 04, 2025, 04:27:26 PMIn this case i'm with BL. "We don't know his reasons" is something for church. the rest of us base our opinions on what we can see
OK, but what do we see? Only a single fact. We know nothing behind it. So if the coaching staff is at fault for losing guys then it is equally to their credit when we steal guys. Thus, they are doing fine.
Now, I see no universe in which it is reasonable to assume the coaching staff is responsible for any of these changes of player heart, but even if we posit that then our staff is still doing fine.
"Coaching staff makes one mistake" does not equate to "coaching staff sucks."
There is ALWAYS the risk of a change of player heart when you don't bring guys to campus. Ergo, you bring guys to campus when they're ready to contribute to your team, else you might lose them to a change of heart, change in family economics, whatever. We had an opportunity to bring this guy to campus, and we didn't. One can reasonably blame the coaching staff for misevaluating Pelletier's readiness and not bringing him to campus. That's very different from blaming the coaching staff for the player experiencing a change of heart.
I haven't followed his recruiting closely, but you keep saying that we didn't bring him in. Do you know that for a fact? Could there have been some academic issues? Do we know that he wanted to come this year? As was said by someone, did he think it might have been good to wait a year and see what other prospects might open up? Might he have thought waiting might open more monetary opportunities?
I have multiple questions that I don't have answers to, so I don't make declarative statements. Maybe these have been answered and I missed them, but maybe we don't know who made the decision not to come, CU or the player.
Quote from: Jim Hyla on November 06, 2025, 10:14:33 AMQuote from: BearLover on November 04, 2025, 04:49:11 PMQuote from: Trotsky on November 04, 2025, 04:32:36 PMQuote from: ugarte on November 04, 2025, 04:27:26 PMIn this case i'm with BL. "We don't know his reasons" is something for church. the rest of us base our opinions on what we can see
OK, but what do we see? Only a single fact. We know nothing behind it. So if the coaching staff is at fault for losing guys then it is equally to their credit when we steal guys. Thus, they are doing fine.
Now, I see no universe in which it is reasonable to assume the coaching staff is responsible for any of these changes of player heart, but even if we posit that then our staff is still doing fine.
"Coaching staff makes one mistake" does not equate to "coaching staff sucks."
There is ALWAYS the risk of a change of player heart when you don't bring guys to campus. Ergo, you bring guys to campus when they're ready to contribute to your team, else you might lose them to a change of heart, change in family economics, whatever. We had an opportunity to bring this guy to campus, and we didn't. One can reasonably blame the coaching staff for misevaluating Pelletier's readiness and not bringing him to campus. That's very different from blaming the coaching staff for the player experiencing a change of heart.
I haven't followed his recruiting closely, but you keep saying that we didn't bring him in. Do you know that for a fact? Could there have been some academic issues? Do we know that he wanted to come this year? As was said by someone, did he think it might have been good to wait a year and see what other prospects might open up? Might he have thought waiting might open more monetary opportunities?
I have multiple questions that I don't have answers to, so I don't make declarative statements. Maybe these have been answered and I missed them, but maybe we don't know who made the decision not to come, CU or the player.
Seems like he's taking his talents to the best available hockey school. CHN (https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/11/04_BC-Lands-USHL-Leading-Scorer.php)
Honestly who knows why, but a scholarship or some NIL to offset costs could be a big part of it. We'll never know.
From the chn article. Quoting his coach.
"He's always been a patient person, whether that was spending an extra year at Avon (Old Farms Academy) or an extra year of junior hockey with us now. So he understands the development process and he continues to round out his overall game."
That doesn't reveal whether he decided he needed another year or if we asked him to. Wish I was the interviewer and had the chance to ask for elaboration.
Quote from: Jim Hyla on November 06, 2025, 10:14:33 AMQuote from: BearLover on November 04, 2025, 04:49:11 PMQuote from: Trotsky on November 04, 2025, 04:32:36 PMQuote from: ugarte on November 04, 2025, 04:27:26 PMIn this case i'm with BL. "We don't know his reasons" is something for church. the rest of us base our opinions on what we can see
OK, but what do we see? Only a single fact. We know nothing behind it. So if the coaching staff is at fault for losing guys then it is equally to their credit when we steal guys. Thus, they are doing fine.
Now, I see no universe in which it is reasonable to assume the coaching staff is responsible for any of these changes of player heart, but even if we posit that then our staff is still doing fine.
"Coaching staff makes one mistake" does not equate to "coaching staff sucks."
There is ALWAYS the risk of a change of player heart when you don't bring guys to campus. Ergo, you bring guys to campus when they're ready to contribute to your team, else you might lose them to a change of heart, change in family economics, whatever. We had an opportunity to bring this guy to campus, and we didn't. One can reasonably blame the coaching staff for misevaluating Pelletier's readiness and not bringing him to campus. That's very different from blaming the coaching staff for the player experiencing a change of heart.
I haven't followed his recruiting closely, but you keep saying that we didn't bring him in. Do you know that for a fact? Could there have been some academic issues? Do we know that he wanted to come this year? As was said by someone, did he think it might have been good to wait a year and see what other prospects might open up? Might he have thought waiting might open more monetary opportunities?
I have multiple questions that I don't have answers to, so I don't make declarative statements. Maybe these have been answered and I missed them, but maybe we don't know who made the decision not to come, CU or the player.
No, I don't have those answers. I'm speculating. I already said as much. But the speculation is pretty reasonable in this case, IMO.
1. Most (not all, but I believe a substantial majority of) players want to get to college ASAP. Particularly when you're already 20.
2. Given he graduated high school two years ago, it is extremely unlikely there are academic issues because he is not involved in academics at all currently.
3. I find it very unlikely a 19-y/o who had 37 points in 60 USHL games thought he would blow up the next season and get a big financial reward. (I doubt he even is getting a real financial reward aside from a scholarship.)
So, as is usually the case on a hockey forum when a poster is not himself associated with the team, I am speculating. You can ignore it or push back on it or agree with it, but I don't agree with launching into a diatribe on speculating in the first place.
Quote from: BearLover on November 06, 2025, 08:34:24 PMI am speculating. You can ignore it <snip>
This is The Way.
Pelletier won USHL player of the week for like the fifth week in a row. I don't know how we managed to screw this up.
*coaching staff defense squad assembles*
Quote from: BearLover on November 14, 2025, 02:07:24 PMPelletier won USHL player of the week for like the fifth week in a row. I don't know how we managed to screw this up.
*coaching staff defense squad assembles*
neither does anyone else, or if they screwed up at all! nobody is defending anyone but we've also moved on. he isn't coming.
Quote from: ugarte on November 14, 2025, 02:39:34 PMQuote from: BearLover on November 14, 2025, 02:07:24 PMPelletier won USHL player of the week for like the fifth week in a row. I don't know how we managed to screw this up.
*coaching staff defense squad assembles*
neither does anyone else, or if they screwed up at all! nobody is defending anyone but we've also moved on. he isn't coming.
Never give up. He's already decommitted once before.
Southern schools have hookers on the cheer squad for the school visit. Just sayin'.
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/crime/entire-college-cheer-squad-suspended-after-prostitution-accusation/93-428172071
< thinks about the consequences of admission scores >
Just give em cash.
Quote from: Trotsky on November 14, 2025, 03:21:31 PMSouthern schools have hookers on the cheer squad for the school visit. Just sayin'.
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/crime/entire-college-cheer-squad-suspended-after-prostitution-accusation/93-428172071
< thinks about the consequences of admission scores >
Just give em cash.
I'll admit that I was a clueless nerd in high school. I'd scored quite well on the standardized tests, as did we all who made it to Cornell, and I received lots of mailings from colleges. The one that really baffled me was a big picture postcard from some southern school showing a row of coeds in bathing suits sitting on a diving board at a swimming pool. The words on the other side were as skimpy as the bathing suits, and included no mention of the academic program. Since the education was why I planned to go to college, I just didn't grasp the point of the postcard.
Quote from: David Harding on November 14, 2025, 10:10:14 PMQuote from: Trotsky on November 14, 2025, 03:21:31 PMSouthern schools have hookers on the cheer squad for the school visit. Just sayin'.
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/crime/entire-college-cheer-squad-suspended-after-prostitution-accusation/93-428172071
< thinks about the consequences of admission scores >
Just give em cash.
I'll admit that I was a clueless nerd in high school. I'd scored quite well on the standardized tests, as did we all who made it to Cornell, and I received lots of mailings from colleges. The one that really baffled me was a big picture postcard from some southern school showing a row of coeds in bathing suits sitting on a diving board at a swimming pool. The words on the other side were as skimpy as the bathing suits, and included no mention of the academic program. Since the education was why I planned to go to college, I just didn't grasp the point of the postcard.
As a HS junior I got a "return this for your diploma" brochure from Pepperdine. Now if you have seen Pepperdine you know their campus is jaw-droppingly beautiful. They are the Pebble Beach of universities.
(https://cdn1.matadornetwork.com/blogs/1/2020/08/College-campuses-Pepperdine-University.jpeg)
And because of the demo (southern California, Fundies without a brain in their pretty little heads) the campus is not all that is amazing.
In a 32-page brochure with pictures of their undergrads in various poses and activities on every page, there was not a single book. God I wish I had kept that. When people say schools today merely market T&A to their students I always think back to 1979. I assume it was the same in 1959 too. And 1939.
You gotta set the tone.