Incoming Recruits

[pfibiger]

From this review of the CJHL Top Prospects Game:
https://www.thedraftanalyst.com/2020-nhl-draft/recap-2020-cjhl-top-prospects-game/

LW Kyler Kovich
Nanaimo, BCHL | 6'0, 180 | 1/31/02 | NCAA: Undecided

Kovich easily was one of the more impressive forwards throughout the game. He was physical with an in-your-face style, but he also looked very smooth with the puck in transition while showing off soft hands. Kovich spent most of the match on Team West's top line with Danny Weight and Carter Savoie, but Kovich was far from a passenger. He's a very good skater who made well-timed reads that helped him get an extra step or two on puck-gazing opponents. Although he played alongside several dependable puck handlers, Kovich confidently carried the puck through the zone and made smart plays near the line. His vision, timing of pass delivery, and pass accuracy were impressive as well.

[BMac]

Don't leave us hanging! Who was it? Chabot?

[andyw2100]

Don't leave us hanging! Who was it? Chabot?

Troy Davenport.

[scoop85]

From this review of the CJHL Top Prospects Game:
https://www.thedraftanalyst.com/2020-nhl-draft/recap-2020-cjhl-top-prospects-game/

LW Kyler Kovich
Nanaimo, BCHL | 6'0, 180 | 1/31/02 | NCAA: Undecided

Kovich easily was one of the more impressive forwards throughout the game. He was physical with an in-your-face style, but he also looked very smooth with the puck in transition while showing off soft hands. Kovich spent most of the match on Team West's top line with Danny Weight and Carter Savoie, but Kovich was far from a passenger. He's a very good skater who made well-timed reads that helped him get an extra step or two on puck-gazing opponents. Although he played alongside several dependable puck handlers, Kovich confidently carried the puck through the zone and made smart plays near the line. His vision, timing of pass delivery, and pass accuracy were impressive as well.

Based on the public info Kovich seems like the kind of recruit that will fit right in with our style of play and be an early contributor.

[BearLover]

The last 4-5 recruits have looked pretty solid. Likely a product of our success the last four seasons.

[scoop85]

The last 4-5 recruits have looked pretty solid. Likely a product of our success the last four seasons.

The staff has done a terrific job the past few yers identifying talented players who fit well with the high tempo system the coaches have installed, and who can get through admissions. While there's no guarantees of course, it's nice to be able to enjoy current success while keeping an eye to a future that continues to look bright.

[Trotsky]

The last 4-5 recruits have looked pretty solid. Likely a product of our success the last four seasons.

It's hard to tell.  I guess maybe if they went in the juniors draft we could measure it by their draft position, but we really do not know until they go in the NHL draft or they get here and we can actually see them.

I've never really known how to quantify commitments.  There are systems similar to the 5 star football ratings but in hockey those seem to be in their infancy.

[BMac]

Huh! Sure!

[Swampy]

The last 4-5 recruits have looked pretty solid. Likely a product of our success the last four seasons.

It's hard to tell.  I guess maybe if they went in the juniors draft we could measure it by their draft position, but we really do not know until they go in the NHL draft or they get here and we can actually see them.

I've never really known how to quantify commitments.  There are systems similar to the 5 star football ratings but in hockey those seem to be in their infancy.

In any case, three observations:
[list=1]

• In the college game higher draft picks may be a liability because of the importance of upperclass players. Higher draft picks may be less used to being role players, which is what most underclass players are. And they are more likely to go pro earlier, depriving the team of senior and junior skills and leadership. Exhibit A: The two Boston Commonwealth Avenue teams in the first half of this season.
• Unlike basketball, where 1-2 superior talents often carry entire teams, hockey, with its frequent line changes, requires more balanced depth and the ability to play a certain style of play (aka "the system" ) so that as a season progresses (with injuries, illnesses, game situations, and such) players can be interchangeable. Therefore, players drafted in the fourth round or later may be more valuable to a team than higher picks. Exhibit B: Harvard during the Ryan Donato years.
• As an Ivy League school, Cornell has to recruit student athletes who really are students. This implies players who have athletic potential and are likely to mature into superior talents may be better recruits than the first-rounders who can't get in, or can't stay in, or can't handle the workload -- both academic and athletic. Exhibit C: Matt Stienburg is an example of such a high-potential player.

[nshapiro]

The last 4-5 recruits have looked pretty solid. Likely a product of our success the last four seasons.

It's hard to tell.  I guess maybe if they went in the juniors draft we could measure it by their draft position, but we really do not know until they go in the NHL draft or they get here and we can actually see them.

I've never really known how to quantify commitments.  There are systems similar to the 5 star football ratings but in hockey those seem to be in their infancy.

In any case, three observations:
[list=1]

• In the college game higher draft picks may be a liability because of the importance of upperclass players. Higher draft picks may be less used to being role players, which is what most underclass players are. And they are more likely to go pro earlier, depriving the team of senior and junior skills and leadership. Exhibit A: The two Boston Commonwealth Avenue teams in the first half of this season.
• Unlike basketball, where 1-2 superior talents often carry entire teams, hockey, with its frequent line changes, requires more balanced depth and the ability to play a certain style of play (aka "the system" ) so that as a season progresses (with injuries, illnesses, game situations, and such) players can be interchangeable. Therefore, players drafted in the fourth round or later may be more valuable to a team than higher picks. Exhibit B: Harvard during the Ryan Donato years.
  
• As an Ivy League school, Cornell has to recruit student athletes who really are students. This implies players who have athletic potential and are likely to mature into superior talents may be better recruits than the first-rounders who can't get in, or can't stay in, or can't handle the workload -- both academic and athletic. Exhibit C: Matt Stienburg is an example of such a high-potential player.

I was operating under the assumption that Donato was a great recruiter and a crappy coach

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

The last 4-5 recruits have looked pretty solid. Likely a product of our success the last four seasons.

It's hard to tell.  I guess maybe if they went in the juniors draft we could measure it by their draft position, but we really do not know until they go in the NHL draft or they get here and we can actually see them.

I've never really known how to quantify commitments.  There are systems similar to the 5 star football ratings but in hockey those seem to be in their infancy.

In any case, three observations:
[list=1]

• In the college game higher draft picks may be a liability because of the importance of upperclass players. Higher draft picks may be less used to being role players, which is what most underclass players are. And they are more likely to go pro earlier, depriving the team of senior and junior skills and leadership. Exhibit A: The two Boston Commonwealth Avenue teams in the first half of this season.
• Unlike basketball, where 1-2 superior talents often carry entire teams, hockey, with its frequent line changes, requires more balanced depth and the ability to play a certain style of play (aka "the system" ) so that as a season progresses (with injuries, illnesses, game situations, and such) players can be interchangeable. Therefore, players drafted in the fourth round or later may be more valuable to a team than higher picks. Exhibit B: Harvard during the Ryan Donato years.
  
• As an Ivy League school, Cornell has to recruit student athletes who really are students. This implies players who have athletic potential and are likely to mature into superior talents may be better recruits than the first-rounders who can't get in, or can't stay in, or can't handle the workload -- both academic and athletic. Exhibit C: Matt Stienburg is an example of such a high-potential player.

I was operating under the assumption that Donato was a great recruiter and a crappy coach

I'm not sure your statement and Swampy's items 1 & 2 are mutually exclusive.  After all, it's a coach's decision who to recruit.

[marty]

I was operating under the assumption that Donato was a great recruiter and a crappy coach

I am coming around to the idea that Donato 2020 is the new and improved coach that he wasn't when he began. (I think he earned his undergrad A's.)

Or not?

[Swampy]

Quint Kessenich has 4 Ivies in the top ten this week. We're #7, behind Yale (#1) & Princeton (#5), and ahead of Penn (#9).

Whew! A league that has 4/7 in the top ten ain't chopped liver. Quint noticed how much better we are this year on faceoffs. But our work is cut out for us in our league.

MEA CULPA: SOMEHOW I POSTED THIS IN THE WRONG FORUM! ::doh::

[French Rage]

Quint Kessenich has 4 Ivies in the top ten this week. We're #7, behind Yale (#1) & Princeton (#5), and ahead of Penn (#9).

Whew! A league that has 4/7 in the top ten ain't chopped liver. Quint noticed how much better we are this year on faceoffs. But our work is cut out for us in our league.

Our hockey prospectives will be so encouraged by this success elsewhere in our athletic department that we'll get all the top recruits.

[scoop85]

Sullivan Mack named Prep Player of the Year by Neutral Zone

Nice to see that not only can he score, but he plays a 200 foot game. Should fit right in!