New Recruit for '08

[Cop at Lynah]

Vincent Mihalek is listed as a '08 recruit for CU.

http://www.roughridershockey.com/News/tabid/61/newsid436/593/mid/436/Default.aspx

[Doug '08]

Was 5-11 180 last year, looks like he will come in as either a 17 or 18 year old.  

Here are some of his prep stats:

http://eteamz.active.com/MPHL/handouts/
http://kilby.sac.on.ca/Athletics/macpherson/team.htm

[sah67]

Another new recruit, Keir Ross from Omaha of the USHL, per BRP:

http://bigredpuckhead.blogspot.com/

[pfibiger]

Keir played with Locke Jillson for the Dallas AAA midget program.

It's pretty surprising that we have six commitments for 2008 and beyond, and all six are American born players. I'm sure the class of 2008 will have some
Canadians in it (there are definitely some who are considering Cornell), but considering the recent historical makeup of the hockey team, it's anomalous.

[ithacat]

I wonder if it's for 2008 or 2009? Cedar Rapids' press release doesn't indicate which year Mihalek's heading to Cornell. The BRP and the USHL Blog speculate it's 2009. Chris Heisenberg lists Mihalek as a 2009 recruit as well...of course, each might be making the same assumption.

http://bigredpuckhead.blogspot.com/2007/07/roughrider-commits-to-cornell.html

http://ushlhockey.blogspot.com/2007/07/mihalek-commits.html

[Doug '08]

[quote ithacat]I wonder if it's for 2008 or 2009? Cedar Rapids' press release doesn't indicate which year Mihalek's heading to Cornell. The BRP and the USHL Blog speculate it's 2009. Chris Heisenberg lists Mihalek as a 2009 recruit as well...of course, each might be making the same assumption.

http://bigredpuckhead.blogspot.com/2007/07/roughrider-commits-to-cornell.html

http://ushlhockey.blogspot.com/2007/07/mihalek-commits.html[/quote]

I'd be pretty surprised if it wasn't for 2009

[pfibiger]

We've got another recruit, currently listed for '08. Braden Birch, a defenseman who played last year for Stoney Creek of the GHJHL. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the OHL draft by St. Mikes, but decided to go the NCAA route. He's playing for the Nanaimo Clippers this year (big surprise).

http://bigredpuckhead.blogspot.com/

It seems like we'll be pretty jammed up on defense next year, bringing in Keir Ross, Sean Whitney, and now Birch. I imagine one of them (Whitney?) will defer to '09.

[Trotsky]

[quote pfibiger]It seems like we'll be pretty jammed up on defense next year, bringing in Keir Ross, Sean Whitney, and now Birch. I imagine one of them (Whitney?) will defer to '09.[/quote]

Depth = Good

The 10 possible D for 2008-09:

SENIORS: Seminoff, Davenport
JUNIORS: Nash, Krueger
SOPHOMORES: Berk, Devin, Johnston
FRESHMEN: Ross, Whitney, Birch

(By comparison, this year's squad has 8 D, which is maybe one light.)

I think I would rather, as a rule, see Cornell bring in the extra D-man and use him in practice and as added pressure on the top players.  We've seen what can happen when injuries and the annual mono plague hit, and it gives the player an added season to acclimate to Schafer Hockey.

That looks like a very good D, especially if Birch is as a good as the BRP review implies.

[cbuckser]

The BCHL page also lists Chris Moulson as having committed to Cornell.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/rosters_profile.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&teamID=125512&playerID=328782

[Trotsky]

[quote cbuckser]The BCHL page also lists Chris Moulson as having committed to Cornell.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/rosters_profile.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&teamID=125512&playerID=328782[/quote]

BRP lists him as an '08 prospect.

[ithacat]

Nice day for Cornell...Birch and Moulson.

[bothman]

Guys,

Not to rain on the parade, but these recruits are all role players?  As you well know, you need them, but Cornell has yet to sign a high-end recruit for 2008 (Perhaps Garmen).

Riley Nash was a great recruit for an otherwise very mediocre group of 2007 talent relative to Cornell standards of the last several years.

I'm sure a Sam Paolini type will emerge as a diamond in the rough, but let's face it, there's a reason why BC, Michigan, Minnestoa, etc are in the hunt year in and year out.....Talent matters.

There is still a lot of time left to round out the 2008 class, but a lot of the high-end guys are committed.  A good Cornell is good for the league so I hope Schafer has couple of wild deuces in his back pocket....

[Ben Rocky '04]

[quote cbuckser]The BCHL page also lists Chris Moulson as having committed to Cornell.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/rosters_profile.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&teamID=125512&playerID=328782[/quote]

Forgive me for not knowing this but... same hometown, same last name.... is he a relation?

[pfibiger]

[quote Ben Rocky '04][quote cbuckser]The BCHL page also lists Chris Moulson as having committed to Cornell.

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/rosters_profile.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&teamID=125512&playerID=328782[/quote]

Forgive me for not knowing this but... same hometown, same last name.... is he a relation?[/quote]

Matt's younger brother.

[pfibiger]

[quote bothman]Guys,

Not to rain on the parade, but these recruits are all role players?  As you well know, you need them, but Cornell has yet to sign a high-end recruit for 2008 (Perhaps Garmen).

Riley Nash was a great recruit for an otherwise very mediocre group of 2007 talent relative to Cornell standards of the last several years.

I'm sure a Sam Paolini type will emerge as a diamond in the rough, but let's face it, there's a reason why BC, Michigan, Minnestoa, etc are in the hunt year in and year out.....Talent matters.

There is still a lot of time left to round out the 2008 class, but a lot of the high-end guys are committed.  A good Cornell is good for the league so I hope Schafer has couple of wild deuces in his back pocket....[/quote]

Bothman,

You keep trying to trot out that story about the class of 07. I will continue to remind you that Mike Devin was a top defenseman on the league winning Clippers, Patrick Kennedy was on pace to lead his league in scoring before getting Mono, Tyler Roeszler ended up leading that league in scoring. I'd take those guys, plus Riley Nash and Jordan Berk, in a 5 on 5 against any five of Harvard's '07 recruits

As for '08, I absolutely realize that Harvard has, on paper, a fantastic recruiting class including a couple of guys (Kroshus, Grimshaw) that Cornell was interested in. Let's wait and see how this year plays out, both in the USHL and BCHL before calling this a recruiting class full of role players.  Birch has played his way onto Nanaimo's top pairing. Keir Ross has a year in the USHL under his belt. Garman came into Nanaimo and stole the starting job away from a highly touted Denver recruit.