Recruits 2016 and Beyond

[Jim Hyla]

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

Thanks, god I love eLynah.

[Trotsky]

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.

Great job, thank you very much for putting this together.

Here is a summary of all the commits.

BRPH has listed 5F, 3D, and 2G coming in the fall to replace 4F, 2D and 2G graduating.  I'm not sure we have room for a net +2 in depth (which will feel like a +3 with Bliss returning) so perhaps this indicates that some incomers will be delayed or a player on the present squad may not return.

[scoop85]

Last night's BCHL playoff update:

Powell River beat Victoria 2-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. Future Cornellians Cam Donaldson and Kyle Betts scored the PR goals in the 3rd period, with current and future teammate Tristan Mullin assisting on Betts' goal.  Matthew Galajda (the BCHL player of the week for the week ending March 19th) stopped 33 of 35 shots for Victoria.

Merritt's Michael Regush scored a goal in a 5-1 win over Penticon.  Defenseman Joe Leahy of Penticon was scoreless. Penticon leads the series 2-1.

[scoop85]

Victoria evened the series with Powell River 2-2 with a 5-4 OT victory. Matt Galajda stopped 29 of 33 shots for the win, while Powell River's Kyle Betts had 2 goals and Cam Donaldson had 1. Tristan Mullin and Matt Cairns were scoreless.

Penticon defeated Merritt 2-1 in OT to take a 3-1 series lead.  Neither Penticon's Joe Leahy nor Merritt's Michael Regush had any points.

[scoop85]

Last night's BCHL playoff update:

Powell River beat Victoria 3-0 to take a 3 games to 2 lead in the series. Kyle Betts scored a goal just 11 seconds into the game of an assist from Tristan Mullin.  Cam Donaldson assisted on PR's second goal. Defenseman Matt Cairns did not get on the score sheet.  Matt Galajda stopped 23 of 26 shots in the loss.

Merritt beat Penticon 5-4 to stay alive in the series; Penticon now leads 3 games to 2.  Michael Regush was scoreless for Merritt, while defenseman Joe Leahy had an assist for Penticon.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Out of curiosity, Scoop85, do you live in BC?

[scoop85]

Out of curiosity, Scoop85, do you live in BC?

Far from it--I'm in the Hudson Valley.

I'm just getting the results from the BCHL website

[ursusminor]

https://twitter.com/WHockeyCommits/status/845304446418632706

[Weder]

https://twitter.com/WHockeyCommits/status/845304446418632706

Any relation to Angela?

[Tom Lento]

https://twitter.com/WHockeyCommits/status/845304446418632706

Any relation to Angela?

Same question. Also, is she anywhere near as good? If so, that's an amazing pickup for Coach Derraugh. Angela Ruggiero was absolutely dominant when she was with Harvard. I remember watching one Cornell/Harvard game at Lynah where Cornell was better when Ruggiero was on the bench but couldn't do much of anything when she was on the ice. It seemed like she played 40+ minutes that game. Cornell lost.

[imafrshmn]

https://twitter.com/WHockeyCommits/status/845304446418632706

Any relation to Angela?

Same question. Also, is she anywhere near as good? If so, that's an amazing pickup for Coach Derraugh. Angela Ruggiero was absolutely dominant when she was with Harvard. I remember watching one Cornell/Harvard game at Lynah where Cornell was better when Ruggiero was on the bench but couldn't do much of anything when she was on the ice. It seemed like she played 40+ minutes that game. Cornell lost.

I did some digging. Pretty sure there's no relation.

[David Harding]

So a new recruit with a unique backstory:



Song, a defenseman, is a 2015 6th round pick of the Islanders.  Oddly he hasn't recorded a point or an assist this season in over 35 games with the Madison Capitols of the USHL, so I don't think we're looking at the next Yanni Kaldis.

As of this evening Song has two assists (on 3/3 and 3/17).  His +/- is -8.  His team is in 7th place of 9 teams in the Eastern Conference of the USHL.
If he'd announced a few months earlier, I could have checked him out.  We have a USHL team 15 minutes from home.

[scoop85]

BCHL playoff update:  

Merritt has battled back from to even its series with Penticon at 3-3 with a 2-1 OT win on Friday. Michael Regush had an assist on the game-winning goal, while Penticon D Joe Leahy was scoreless.

Victoria likewise evened its series with Powell River at 3 games apiece with a 4-2 win yesterday.  Matt Galajda stopped 38 of 40 Powell River shots in the win, while Cam Donaldson had a goal and Matt Cairns added an assist for Powell River.

Game 7's for both series will be tomorrow night. For those really looking to fill their hockey fix, you can buy a monthly pass for the BCHL games at BCHL.FASTHOCKEY.COM. A one-month pass is a hefty $29.99.  It does not appear you can pay for single games, but I could be wrong.

[scoop85]

Last night, Matt Galadja stopped 36 of 37 shots as Victoria defeated Powell River 2-1 in double OT to win their series 4 games to 3. Cam Donaldson had an assist on the lone Powell River goal, while Tristan Mullin, Kyle Betts and Matt Cairns were scoreless.  Victoria moves on to play Chilliwack in the next round.

In the other series of interest, Penticon defeated Merritt 6-2 in game 7 of that series. Defenseman Joe Leahy did not score for Penticon, while Michael Regush was scoreless for Merritt in his final game there.  Penticon will play Vernon in the next series.

The Cornell-bound players have acquitted themselves well in the playoffs, with Galadja really standing out. I've got to believe he'll give Stewart a battle for the starting spot in net next season.

[Trotsky]

Last night, Matt Galadja stopped 36 of 37 shots as Victoria defeated Powell River 2-1 in double OT to win their series 4 games to 3. Cam Donaldson had an assist on the lone Powell River goal, while Tristan Mullin, Kyle Betts and Matt Cairns were scoreless.  Victoria moves on to play Chilliwack in the next round.

In the other series of interest, Penticon defeated Merritt 6-2 in game 7 of that series. Defenseman Joe Leahy did not score for Penticon, while Michael Regush was scoreless for Merritt in his final game there.  Penticon will play Vernon in the next series.

The Cornell-bound players have acquitted themselves well in the playoffs, with Galadja really standing out. I've got to believe he'll give Stewart a battle for the starting spot in net next season.

Thank you again for doing these.  It is exciting to read up on our future!