Recruits 2016 and Beyond

[Trotsky]

Fun thing about Song: with his inclusion we now have a 2015 draft pick,  which fills the only draft year in the prior 6 in which we drew a blank.

[adamw]

This Cody Rosen story is wild.  Here's an article about him and a few other publicity picks.  But the Isles taking Song in the 6th round makes no sense--I checked, and they had a 7th round pick that year.  Unless they thought it would be too obvious if they took him in the 7th round?

The Cody Rosen thing was one of the dumbest things Garth Snow ever did - and he's done a zillion of them.

Don't put anything past Garth Snow to do something completely ridiculous. Including taking a publicity pick in the 6th round - let alone taking one at all.

[Hooking]

Some new coaches, particularly coaches of teams new to D-1 hockey, sign swarms of top-shelf recruits. Gadowsky is a recent example. Cornell once had such a coach. Is this mainly because school administrations accommodate a wider academic range of applicants or is it mostly the new coach's magnetic personality?

[Trotsky]

Some new coaches, particularly coaches of teams new to D-1 hockey, sign swarms of top-shelf recruits. Gadowsky is a recent example. Cornell once had such a coach. Is this mainly because school administrations accommodate a wider academic range of applicants or is it mostly the new coach's magnetic personality?

In Olden Times they were just able to strong-arm admissions.  My impression of those great teams throughout D-1 in the 50s and 60s is they all had their share of SEC functional illiterates.

I haven't noticed it in recent years, though maybe early in a coach's tenure he has legacy prospects from the old staff plus he concentrates on his own search.  Maybe guys he has had on his radar with his prior team he now brings along to his new squad, the result being a larger pool to draw his first tier final choices from?

[Beeeej]

Some new coaches, particularly coaches of teams new to D-1 hockey, sign swarms of top-shelf recruits. Gadowsky is a recent example. Cornell once had such a coach. Is this mainly because school administrations accommodate a wider academic range of applicants or is it mostly the new coach's magnetic personality?

Gadowsky in particular is an example of why this tends to happen with new Div. I programs, because Penn State has an enormous commitment to athletics and was willing to throw a ton of money at a new hockey program, including facilities and scholarships. The combination was obviously quite powerful.

[marty]

Nobody show this to Mike:

https://twitter.com/courtneykelly8/status/828401276635471873

Neglect not the sound.  The final line appears to be "Betcha that's a proud moment for a parent."

Moving up in age with attack at Broome.

And another:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/07_st_clouds_borgen_suspended.php

[andyw2100]

And another:
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/07_st_clouds_borgen_suspended.php

Video here:

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/nchc/2017/3/6/14835580/video-st-cloud-state-defenseman-will-borgen-shoves-official-buffalo-sabres-prospect-north-dakota


Watching that video, I really don't see what Borgen did warranting a two-game suspension. He was basically knocking the official's hand off, and went a little further and pushed his shoulder a bit. Yes, of course I realize players can't do that to officials, but a two game suspension just seems overly harsh.

It also looks like he apologized instantaneously, almost as if the shoulder contact was accidental. (I could be mistaken about that.)

[ursusminor]

https://twitter.com/HockeyCommits/status/842004249143840768
https://twitter.com/LloydBobcats/status/841676900732981249

[Jim Hyla]

https://twitter.com/HockeyCommits/status/842004249143840768
https://twitter.com/LloydBobcats/status/841676900732981249

Here's the press release.

"McGrath has been the go-to guy for Clayton coached teams over the past few years, advancing to the Telus Cup in 2016 with the Midget AAA Bobcats before starting 43 games for the Jr. A Bobcats this season, finishing with a .905 save percentage. His solid performance between the pipes earned him a nomination for the league's Rookie of the Year award, as well as recognition as the team's MVP, Academic Athlete of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.

**IN THE PICTURE: On Saturday evening Austin met with Joe Nieuwendyk at the Leafs Alumni after party."

[Trotsky]

http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/following-the-incredible-path-of-mcgrath

[scoop85]

Alex Limoges tweeted that he has committed to Penn State.

[Trotsky]

Alex Limoges tweeted that he has committed to Penn State.

Yup, that shoe dropped a while ago.  IIRC he was considered a very good prospect.  C'est la vie.

[RatushnyFan]

Penn State, Penn State, Penn State........grabbing a lot of kids who would have been ECAC bound.

[RichH]

Penn State, Penn State, Penn State........grabbing a lot of kids who would have been ECAC bound.

Giant State School Jock Factories...Once they notice that there are other sports they can throw their huge stash of money and resources towards, that means our community of Clarksons, Lake Superiors, and Colorado Colleges will have fewer opportunities to compete.

Of course, I've been saying this for nearly twenty years, and we still have Union and Providence winning championships, so... I don't know anything.

[scoop85]

As we celebrate the present here's some promising news for the future:

Lots of great incoming talent from the always-strong BCHL. Goalie Matthew Galajda of Victoria has been stellar in two playoff series so far, going 5-2 with a 1.57 GAA and a .952 save percentage. In an intriguing matchup for Cornell fans, the Grizzlies are tied 1-1 in the 2nd round against Powell River and Galajda's future Cornell teammates Cairns, Donaldson, Betts and Mullin. In game 1 (a 3-2 Powell River OT win), Galajda stopped 56 of 59(!) shots in the loss; Cairns had an assist while the other future Cornellians went scoreless. In game 2 Galajda pitched a 4-0 shutout, stopping all 30 shots. Given Powell River's potent offense (thanks in large part to the Cornell recruits), Galajda is putting on quite a show. Game 3 is tonight in Powell River.

Galajda and Donaldson received league accolades for the regular season, with Galajda named runner-up for the league's player of the year (25-10-2 record with a 2.33 GAA and .926 save percentage), while Donaldson was named rookie of the year after finishing the regular season with 32 goals and 37 assists in 54 games. Mullin finished with a stellar 36 G, 34 A, while Betts line was 22 G 24 A.  Forward Michael Regush from Merritt of the BCHL went 14 G 22 A in only 47 games in the regular season, and has 6 points in 6 playoff games.

Donaldson, who is listed at 5'8" 163 lbs, may be coming to Ithaca next fall as per both his BCHL bio and according to Big Red Puckhead; Heisenberg still shows him as a 2018 recruit, but that timeline may have been accelerated, perhaps due to his success this year. Donaldson will be 19 in July, so age shouldn't be an issue.

In the USHL (where, unfortunately, we lost our two promising forward prospects) incoming defenseman Cody Haiskanen of Fargo has 4 G and 19 A for the season and was name USHL defenseman of the week for the week of February 20th. Defenseman Alex Green of Lincoln has a goal and 14 assists with a plus-8 rating. And since his recent commitment to Cornell defenseman Andong Song of Madison recorded his 1st 2 assists of the season!

In the OJHL forward Brendan Locke had 46 points in 38 regular season games for Coburg, and has 7 points (1 G, 6 A) in 5 playoff games. Defenseman Peter Muzyka (matriculating in 2019) of North York had 17 points in 54 regular season games, and has 1 assist through 5 playoff games.

In the AJHL (where Malott and Bauld played last season), new goalie recruit Austin McGrath of Lloydminster saw a ton of rubber and had a 3.53 GAA and .905 save percentage playing for a last place team. Heisenberg lists him as a 2018 recruit, while BRP's website indicates that he's coming next fall. Foward Liam Motley of Whitecourt, who's committed for 2018, had 39 points in 39 games.  The first part of the season he had 15 points in 18 games for Camrose.