New Recruit for 2008

cbuckser · May 15, 2007, 01:57:08 PM

The Des Moines Buccaneers selected Locke Jillson in the second round of today's USHL Draft.

ursusminor · May 16, 2007, 02:22:13 AM

I don't know if it has been mentioned here before, but USHR stated that Will Weber, who was chosen #1 in the USHL draft, is a son of the late Dick Weber who played for Cornell in the 1970's. Dick Weber died in a plane crash.

pfibiger · May 16, 2007, 07:59:21 AM

[quote ursusminor]I don't know if it has been mentioned here before, but USHR stated that Will Weber, who was chosen #1 in the USHL draft, is a son of the late Dick Weber who played for Cornell in the 1970's. Dick Weber died in a plane crash.[/quote]

Big Red Puckhead had a little bit about him a couple weeks ago. It's a real bummer for Cornell, his dream had always been to play for CU, but the financial aid office obviously couldn't compete with the full ride he got from Miami. He had full-ride offers from every CCHA program. A 6'4" offensive defenseman? He would have looked great in a CU uniform. He would have been the third "son-of" recruit this year.

ursusminor · May 16, 2007, 08:19:21 AM

[quote pfibiger] Big Red Puckhead had a little bit about him a couple weeks ago. It's a real bummer for Cornell, his dream had always been to play for CU, but the financial aid office obviously couldn't compete with the full ride he got from Miami. He had full-ride offers from every CCHA program. A 6'4" offensive defenseman? He would have looked great in a CU uniform. He would have been the third "son-of" recruit this year.[/quote] Oops! ::blush:: I posted the same statement as a comment on BRPh. It hasn't shown up yet.

ursusminor · July 08, 2007, 11:29:54 AM

USHR is reporting that Sean Whitney of Cushing Academy has committed to Cornell for 2008. He is a brother of BU's and Pittsburgh's Ryan Whitney.

Josh '99 · July 08, 2007, 05:42:18 PM

[quote ursusminor]USHR is reporting that Sean Whitney of Cushing Academy has committed to Cornell for 2008. He is a brother of BU's and Pittsburgh's Ryan Whitney.[/quote]Always weird to see a guy from a New England prep school commit to Cornell. Even more so a guy who has a major tie to a Boston school. Does USHR have anything more about him? A position, even?

ithacat · July 08, 2007, 08:51:07 PM

There's a little more info here...Interesting that he's from the same place as the Devins.

http://bigredpuckhead.blogspot.com/

ursusminor · July 08, 2007, 10:13:52 PM

[quote Josh '99] Does USHR have anything more about him? A position, even?[/quote] Besides for what is in BRP, the only other thing that USHR mentions is "Whitney, who will be a senior this year, is going into his second year at Cushing, where he arrived unpolished, but has grown into his big frame and steadily improved his game."

Drew · July 09, 2007, 08:51:28 AM

[quote Josh '99][quote ursusminor]USHR is reporting that Sean Whitney of Cushing Academy has committed to Cornell for 2008. He is a brother of BU's and Pittsburgh's Ryan Whitney.[/quote]Always weird to see a guy from a New England prep school commit to Cornell. Even more so a guy who has a major tie to a Boston school. Does USHR have anything more about him? A position, even?[/quote]
He plays Defense and shoots left.
Cheers!
Drew

Edit: The article went on to say, "Whitney, who will be a senior this year, is going into his second year at Cushing, where he arrived unpolished, but has grown into his big frame and steadily improved his game.

A 2/16/89 birthdate from Scituate, Mass., Whitney had a 4-17-21 line in 29 games last season."

RichH · July 09, 2007, 10:01:24 AM

[quote Josh '99]Always weird to see a guy from a New England prep school commit to Cornell. Even more so a guy who has a major tie to a Boston school. Does USHR have anything more about him? A position, even?[/quote]

This site: http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=586059

[Q]Sean Whitney D, (Cushing)
Has good size, listed as 6 foot 4 and 210 pounds .. displayed a physical presence in the defensive zone and has good defensive coverage .. lacks speed with and without the puck .. when the puck is in the offensive zone, Whitney does possess a certain poise and makes smart plays with the puck, but is not considered an offensive defenseman.[/Q]

Sounds like a prototypical CU defenseman.

Josh '99 · July 09, 2007, 02:49:22 PM

That's impressive size for a guy that age - as opposed to the guys who we see get recruited and say "Schafer and company will help him put some muscle onto his frame."

According to BU's past rosters on USCHO, Ryan Whitney was 6'4", 210 lbs as a freshman, but then dropped some weight and listed as 202 lbs as a sophomore and junior. The Penguins now list him at 219.

DILLIGAF · July 09, 2007, 03:09:20 PM

[quote RichH]

Sounds like a prototypical CU defenseman.[/quote]

Not really, it sounds like he might actually be able to make a pass to break the puck out of our own end. Wouldn't that be something, a d-man that can and more importantly, will actually pass the puck.

RichH · July 09, 2007, 04:38:46 PM

[quote DILLIGAF][quote RichH]

Sounds like a prototypical CU defenseman.[/quote]

Not really, it sounds like he might actually be able to make a pass to break the puck out of our own end. [/quote]

It does? Where? I don't see anything in that very brief report about passing skills. What I got out of it (in order) is that he 1) can hit. 2) plays positionally well in his own zone. 3) is slow. 4) doesn't panic with the puck in the offensive zone. 5) won't score much.

Given his size, it sounds like a Brian McMeekin type player. I'll take someone like that on my team every season.

QuoteWouldn't that be something, a d-man that can and more importantly, will actually pass the puck.

Wow, bitter much? Most of your posts serve only to stroke your building grudges. I'm guessing you haven't seen many seasons in the Schafer era (maybe you have, I don't know).

A hallmark of the blueliner crews over the last 10 years has been a duopoly of styles: you have the Trees Who Hit (Sacchetti, Murray, O'Byrne) and then the Crafty Guys Who Take Care Of The Puck (Burgoyne, Bell, Cook, Downs). Both styles play off each other very well, and both parts are needed to get the machine moving. One problem that the D had last year besides big injuries was that there was nobody to fill that Jeremy Downs type role who plays smart and disciplined while reaping the benefits of the big hit thrown by his linemate. Nash had stretches of excellent puckhandling skills last season, but also some inconsistant moments as well. Other than that, there was too much "Column A" and not enough "Column B." So in a more diplomatic way, I agree with DILLIGAF.

Given that, looking at our incoming freshmen, I'm very bullish on Jordan Berk stepping into that role of "Crafty Guy Who Takes Care Of The Puck." I'm sure his skills will be quite raw, as it took those other guys a couple years to really grow and excel to the level of the Burgoyne class of defensemen. Who knows, maybe Mike Devin will also have that type of style as well.

Trotsky · July 09, 2007, 07:13:23 PM

[quote RichH]I'm sure his skills will be quite raw, as it took those other guys a couple years to really grow and excel to the level of the Burgoyne class of defensemen.[/quote]

To be fair, that's a pretty high bar to get over.

I agree with your two types, although I'd argue, even if Age is listening, that Murray combined both strengths, which is why he was one of only two Cornell All-American (twice!) defensemen in the last thirty years.

The two types start off looking awful in different ways. The tree looks like an ungainly traffic cone who can only stop a rush if he happens to fall a fortuitous direction. The crafty guy winds up on the wrong end of hits and looks like a paper cup near a leaf blower. And, by definition, the "freshman mistakes" a defenseman makes lead to more immediate and horrifying results.

Jacob '06 · July 09, 2007, 07:22:23 PM

[quote Trotsky]

The two types start off looking awful in different ways. The tree looks like an ungainly traffic cone who can only stop a rush if he happens to fall a fortuitous direction. The crafty guy winds up on the wrong end of hits and looks like a paper cup near a leaf blower. And, by definition, the "freshman mistakes" a defenseman makes lead to more immediate and horrifying results.[/quote]

However, the development can have glorious results. Ryan O'Byrne is a classic example as I think most of us cringed anytime he touched the puck when he first started, but by the end of his career at Cornell I wanted him out there every shift.