News in the Big Ten: Summer of 2019
Some big commitments, transfers and other general news out of the B1G
Starting off this month in Big Ten news…
Wisconsin swept the University of British Columbia
The freshmen showed well, as did everyone else: Cole Caufield’s four goals paced the Badgers over a two game tune-up in Vancouver which served as an unofficial end to the off-season. The lull will resume for another 20+ days before the season begins to get underway in earnest.
Thomas Bordeleau commits to Michigan
Wolverines pick up a big recruit to close out the summer in NTDP U18 forward Thomas Bordeleau, a highly-skilled skater who will be making his case as an NHL prospect this winter. Bordeleau had 26-38-64 in 38 games for Collège Esther-Blondin Phenix AAA prior to joining the NTDP last season. He had 39 points (two game-winning goals) in 56 games with the program’s Under-17s last year.
In addition to Bordeleau, there are a number of Big Ten recruits on this year’s Under-18 team — but only one other Wolverine: defenseman Jacob Truscott.
More commitments and player movement
Note (9/11/19): The earlier edition of this post mentioned that Dylan St. Cyr may be back in the USHL. He is confirmed to still be at Notre Dame.
Youngstown Phantoms forward Ben Schoen committed to Penn State. One of the youngest players in the league, Schoen tendered to the Phantoms and posted 28 points in 55 games, good for fifth in total points for under-17 forwards in the league. The 2020 draft-eligible should be primed for a big year with the Phantoms.
Sioux City Musketeers defenseman Dom Vidoli, who skated in six games for the Terriers last season, committed to Ohio State. The puck-moving defender had 15 points in 18 games for the Muskies last year. He’s a Cleveland Barons, TPH Thunder product who spent a few years at Culver Military as well.
The Gophers locked down a commitment from Blake (MN-HS) junior forward Tristan Broz, who had ‘close to a dozen’ Division 1 suitors after scoring 29 goals in 25 games for the Bears varsity.
Minnesota sophomore defenseman Clayton Phillips (3rd-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2017) has enrolled at Penn State. He is reportedly looking to get a transfer exception from the NCAA, in which case he could play immediately. Otherwise he will sit a year.
Michigan State added a goaltender in Brooks Bandits’ Pierce Charleson, who originally hails from Ontario. His first season with the Bandits was brilliant by most statistical metrics, posting 42 wins and 2 losses alongside a 2.16/.913 through the regular season for the stand-out Jr. A program from Alberta.
Wisconsin added a goaltender recruit in former NoDak recruit Cameron Rowe, who will likely be plying his trade in the USHL with Des Moines after spending two years with the National Program.
Former Wisconsin recruit Sam Stevens flipped to Boston University, where he will be playing this fall. Wisconsin may be a victim of their own success with regard to the quality and, more importantly, quantity of forwards they’ve brought in this year. Stevens is a piece who could have played a role (as he did winning a Clark Cup for Sioux Falls this spring) — perhaps not this year, but in time for the Badgers. Instead the Terriers have secured a consistent, very solid player, as late in the recruiting game as it gets.
Former Penn State forward recruit Matt Barnaby (son of) signed with ECHL-Brampton. The 21-year-old from Buffalo had 29 points in 53 USHL games this season.
Jack Randl, a Chicago Mission product who played 22 games for the Wolverines last season, is back in the USHL with Omaha, his former club.
OSU forward recruit Arlo Merritt will skate for BCHL-Chilliwack with a top Boston College recruit in Peter Reynolds.
Michigan coach Brian Wiseman was hired by the Edmonton Oilers. His replacement is Providence’s Kris Mayotte, who wasted no time on the recruiting trail. The Wolverines picked up a commit from the aforementioned Thomas Bordeleau, who compensates for the OHL ‘defections’ of former recruits Austen Swankler and Andrei Bakanov.
I previewed some of the early games to watch when the Big Ten schedule came out (always subject to change), you can check that out here.
Illinois is in ‘the red zone’ for adding a Division I hockey program — Let us know when they cross the line…
Iowa, Nebraska are possibilities for Big Ten hockey — Inforum’s Jess Myers
Relatively recent Michigan recruit Erik Portillo, a Swede who will be playing for USHL-Dubuque this season, was profiled by EPRinkside after being selected 67th overall by the Sabres this summer.
Incoming Minnesota freshman Ryan Johnson was profiled by NHL.com after going in the last pick of the first round to the Sabres.
STrib: Motzko’s Gophers sign 11 new players.
Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena will be getting a sizable renovation.
Michigan State OKs $18.8M Munn Ice Arena expansion.
BTN2GO streaming is shifting to within the Fox Sports app, while the current BTN2Go app will be rebranded as BTN+ - Awfulannouncing.com
WI State Journal’s Todd Milewski: Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey freshmen handle flood of questions about future plans
USCHO’s Mark Divver suggests Michigan is in on Mount-St. Charles U16 forward Zachary Bolduc, a 2021 draft-eligible — Bolduc was the 9th overall pick in the Q draft (Rimouski) this spring. As I wrote in this month’s Prospect Currents: Mount-St. Charles’ U18 midget roster (Rhode Island Saint Ms), has five D1 recruits in their first season: UNO, QPac, UMass, UVM and PC all represented. No surprise that Mount is already relevant for D1 recruiters — they’re here to stay.
Gleb Veremyev (U16 NJ Rockets), a stand-out at this summer’s Liberty Bell Games, has decommitted from Western Michigan. He will be a target for bigger (B1Gger) programs should he continue to develop on his current trajectory. Veremyev skated for the USA Under-17s at this summer’s Five Nations, and lit up New Jersey high school hockey for Monroe Township HS.
Also from Todd: Too early? Not for Tony Granato, who calls for NCAA to allow hockey coaches to hold summer practices
Granato also made his case in the Montréal Gazette that Madison is the right place for Caufield (and other top prospects) to hone their skills post-draft.
Michigan Daily’s Jorge Cazares: Confidence high as ever for Pastujov heading into senior season
Ohio State will play in the 2020 ‘Fortress Invitational’ hosted by the Vegas Golden Knights on January 3-4. Also participating: Providence, Cornell, Army.
Former Wisconsin skipper Mike Eaves has left St. Olaf (D3) for the top job with the American league’s Cleveland Monsters.
