Prospect Currents: Summer of 2019
Commitments, Updates + General News
Like the general news this month, there is a lot of prospect news to catch up on from the summer. Relevant links are under-lined.
Initial rosters are out for two of America’s premier junior circuits, 30-mans for the USHL and 23-mans for the NAHL.
Rosters are also out for Minnesota’s High School Elite League. Wisconsin recruit Luke Levandowski (Rosemount HS), who will be eligible for the 2021 NHL entry draft, paces the league with 9 points through his first three games. He had nearly two points-per-game for the Irish last season, was picked by Chicago in the 2nd round of this spring’s USHL Entry Draft.
The NTDP released their full schedule. The 17s split this weekend’s series against NAHL-Johnstown, 5-1 and 4-6. Big Ten recruits Chaz Lucius (Minnesota, 3 goals) and Dylan Duke (Michigan, 2 goals) led the way. Top BU forward recruit Jeremy Wilmer also shined with three points (1G-2A).
The AJHL had a great showing at the Junior Club World Championship in Russia this August, making it to the final against the eventual winners, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. The NAHL’s representatives finished fifth.
The AJHL’s group was obviously very talented — notably, a trio of Denver recruits with very talented brothers made a lot of noise. Draft-eligibles Michael Benning (defense) and Carter Savoie (forward) both have brothers named Matt, Benning with EDM-NHL and Savoie beginning his career with WHL-Winnipeg this year. Both play for AJHL-Sherwood Park. Additionally, late 2000-born forward Jordan Biro (brother of Penn State stand-out Brandon) had a great tournament. The Pioneers coaching staff must be thrilled with their prospects from Western Canada.
The BCHL’s regular season has already begun. Boston College recruit Danny Weight, coming out of two years with the NTDP, has 6 points (1-5-6) for the Penticton Vees through 2 games.
Back-to-back National Champs Minnesota-Duluth committed a late ‘03 defenseman in Rink Hockey Academy’s Hudson Thornton, who has been a point-per-game player for the last three years. He’s played one game for BCHL-Chilliwack so far this year.
UMass secured a big commitment out of premier 2002-born righty defenseman Noah Ellis, who had a strong showing at Select 17s as well as at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer. The right shot from the Iowa Wild (and Omaha AAA) is likely to end up with Des Moines of the USHL this season.
The Minutemen also got a commitment from Cleveland Barons 2002-born goaltender Colin Purcell, a 6’6 behemoth between the pipes from Shaker Heights, Ohio. He was a 9th round pick in the USHL draft last summer and a 6th round pick Johnstown of the NAHL this summer.
Former Miami blue line recruit Matt Kessel flipped to UMass-Amherst after winning a Clark Cup with Sioux Falls.
Denver picked up one of the better 2003-born forwards in the country in Griffin Jurecki, who posted 78 points in 73 games for Little Caesars 15s last year. I noted his pace and high-energy play in my notes from Nationals.
2020 draft-eligible Veeti Miettinen has committed to St. Cloud State. He has 3 points in 3 games for Kiekko-Espoo’s U20 team after 61 in 48 games last winter. This will be his third full season in the Finnish U20 circuit.
Late 2000-born defenseman Brehdan Engum committed to Lowell after 56 games in the USHL between Central Illinois and Waterloo (15 points in 46 games). The 6’3 skater had 2 points in 4 playoff showings. Prior to that, Engum captained Burnsville’s (MN-HS) varsity team for two years.
2003-born goaltender Zakari Brice committed to Arizona State out of the Little Caesars 15s. He’s been invited to USA Select Camps for 15s and 16s as well as starting in the OHL Cup for Caesars this spring.
UNO picked up a commitment out of Alberta-born (2001) forward Cam Mitchell, who had 10 points in 14 playoff games for AJHL-Spruce Grove last season. He’ll be in his third year of play in the Alberta league this winter.
‘98-born Brett Murray still hasn’t landed with a Division 1 home since dropping his commitment to Miami earlier this summer. He is listed on the Sabres Prospect Challenge roster, though. You can watch the games (Sept. 6-9) on Sabres.com if you are inside the Sabres’ local broadcast market.
Quinnipiac committed North Jersey Avalanche 16 forward Sam Lipkin, who was one of the top players in Pennsylvania last season for La Salle College HS (60 pts in 23 games) and the Jr. Flyers 16s. He should have a shot at Nationals this year with the Avalanche.
Mount-St. Charles U18 forward Michael Citara flipped from Colgate to Providence earlier this summer. He gave the Mounties a 3-2 win over Neponset Valley in the first game of the new program’s newly-minted season.
Providence picked up a commit from a right-shot defenseman out of the Dallas Stars program, new Lawrence Academy defenseman Cole Teleki.
Nova Scotian forward Cam McDonald commits to Boston College off a 126 point season (72 goals in 52 games) with Selects Hockey Academy’s 15s. He’ll look to crack the roster of reigning USHL champions Sioux Falls this fall.
Millbrook school defender Zach Bookman committed to Merrimack. He spent last year with the Rochester Coalition 16s and Fayetteville-Manlius’s (NY) varsity team. Here’s what I had on Bookman from the WNY Prep Showcase: “what he lacks in size he makes up for in offensive flash and defensive competence. Opportunistic with great poise in possession and strong skating. Playing with Rochester Coalition’s 18s this year.”
Another Western-NY talent committed to Hockey East in Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16s forward Connor Pelc — Providence. According to Elite Prospects he had 15 points in 20 games last season.
2001-born defenseman Dylan Moulton committed to Miami. He skated in 55 games with NAHL-Chippewa (28 points) last year.
2003-born forward Daniel Agostino committed to Clarkson out of Laval-Montréal of the Quebec Midget AAA circuit. He had 16 goals in 42 games last season.
Western Michigan secured a local 2002-born recruit in Braidan Simmons-Fischer, who played for EC Salzburg (Austria) U18 before returning to win an HPHL U16 championship with Compuware last year. The son of former Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer is listed on Green Bay’s 30-man roster.
Bowling Green picked up a 6’2 defenseman out of the BCHL in Powell River Kings 2001-born Ben Wozney.
RIT committed 2001-born defenseman Michael Palandra, who posted 25 points and 98 PIMs through 47 games for OJHL-Aurora — his rookie year coming out of the Toronto Nationals AAA program.
Army picked up former Cushing Academy right-shot defender in late ‘00 Brad Zona, who looks to be with NAHL-New Jersey this season. In his final season of prep play for the Penguins, Zona had 22 points in 31 games.
Kent stand-outs Mike Posma and Alex Laferriere announced collegiate landing spots very close to each other, the former will be a Boston College Eagle and the latter will join the Harvard Crimson. Both are listed on USHL 30-man rosters at the moment, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines respectively. Laferriere, who had 53 points in 27 games for the Lions varsity, had been previously committed to Army. Both are 2020 draft-eligibles who had a lot of success in the fall for the Jr. Bulldogs 18s.
Providence picked up a commitment from ‘01 Nick Poisson, a forward from Prince George (and Burnaby Winter Club) who had 30 points in his first, 58-game, campaign in BC.
Former Luverne (MN) star scorer Chaz Smedsrud (‘98) committed to Union. Smedsrud posted 24 points in 62 games after two productive years in the Saskatchewan circuit with Notre Dame. Smedsrud posted 315 points in 98 games for Luverne — the last three of those four years were alongside incoming Minnesota freshman forward Jaxon Nelson.
Maine secured a pair of ‘03-born recruits out of Quebec: Thomas Pichette and Isaac Lambert. The latter was a 5th round pick (Rimouski) in this year’s Quebec league draft, the former was an 8th round pick (Shawinigan). The Black Bears also committed current Mount-St. Charles skater Guillaume Richard, a top ten pick (Victo), in February.
Arizona State got a commit out of Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 16U forward Riley Stuart. His brother, Connor, played three games for the Sun Devils last year. They also locked up a commitment from his teammate, Josh Doan, son of long-time Coyotes star Shane. That team featured Minnesota recruit Matt Knies as well.
NCDC Jr. Bruins forward Johnny Mulera flips from Providence to UConn. Small forward from MD had 61 points for the Jr. Bruins big boy-team this year.
2003-born forward Oliver Flynn committed to Connecticut out of the CT Chiefs 16s, where he posted 47 points in 22 AYHL games. He’s going to be at Loomis Chaffee (CT-Prep) this year.
Will Dineen, a late-2000 born forward who skated for the Chicago Mission U18s last season, committed to Yale. He’s on USHL-Omaha’s 30-man roster at the moment, was a 7th round pick by the Lancers this summer.
Yale also got a goaltender from Wisconsin (by way of NAHL-Fairbanks) in Nathan Reid, who played AAA hockey before playing 32 games for the Ice Dogs, posting a 2.37 GAA and a .907 save percentage. He’ll look to make USHL-Sioux Falls this year.
Air Force got a commit out of the AJHL in former Rochester Jr. American right-shot defender Adam Kolcon, who had 24 points through 49 games for AJHL-Camrose and Olds last season.
Air Force also committed 2000-born Jack Conroy, who split time between NAHL-Kenai and Odessa, putting up 16 points in 31 games for the latter.
Air Force also got a right-shot defense recruit out of Culver Military’s prep team in Cole Stofflet, who posted 24 points in 43 games for the Eagles last year.
Boston University bolstered their line-up with the addition of grad transfers forward Alex Brink (Brown) and goaltender Sam Tucker (Yale), addressing needs at both positions.
Late-98 born forward Chris Grando left Boston College after a sophomore campaign where his points dropped down to just 7 in 37 games, down from 18 when he was also playing every game as a freshman. Per NCAA rules, Grando will sit a year before lacing them up for ASU in 2020.
Merrimack rising sophomore August Von Ungern-Sternberg has been suspended from the team following an arrest for domestic assault and battery. Von Ungern-Sternberg had 1 point through 15 games for the Warriors last year. Eagle Tribune:
Police wrote in a report that they also confiscated a fake gun and a pocket knife belonging to Von Ungern-Sternberg. Campus guidelines prohibit both items.
Von Ungern-Sternberg, a sophomore, is accused of screaming at a girl, threatening her, throwing her to the ground and hitting her Aug. 31, according to the police report.
Mount-St. Charles’ U18 midget roster (Rhode Island Saint Ms), has five D1 recruits in their first season: UNO, QPac, UMass, UVM and PC are all represented. No surprise that Mount is already relevant for D1 recruiters — they’re here to stay.
He’s far from a prospect, but legendary Shattuck-St. Mary’s skipper Tom Ward has rejoined the school from a three-year stint with the Buffalo Sabres:
"I have basically the same responsibilities as before, but I’m not going to coach." Ward told Faribault.com.
“A lot of things I learned were affirming the fact that what we’re doing here at Shattuck is good stuff. It’s winning stuff, it’s good people stuff. We’re trying first and foremost to have good kids who are also really good players.”
Speaking of big time programs, the new Seattle NHL ownership have been talking about bringing the NTDP and a USHL team to the west, somehow. I’m certainly for giving more opportunities to players from the west, who seem to be underserved when it comes to top-level junior hockey, but the system doesn’t seem broken as is, either.
The USHL approved the sale of Tri-City to a group led by Dave Vennetti. Stan Bowman is a minority investor.
UMD’s Scott Sandelin, after winning consecutive NCAA titles, was signed to a four-year contract extension through 2025.
Brian Wiebe was reporting that NoDak commit Brendan Budy gave up his NCAA eligibility (and corresponding NoDak commit) for WHL-Vancouver. However, Chris Heisenberg (of the recruiting list) tweeted that Budy is listed with Langley of the BCHL this fall, where he spent 2016 through 2018. That would keep his NCAA status and commitment to North Dakota from June intact. Time will tell! Watch this space.
Pittsburgh Penguins product Ty Voit signed with OHL-Sarnia. He was picked early in both USHL and OHL drafts this spring — 9th overall by USHL-Cedar Rapids and 89th overall by Sarnia.
The San Jose Sharks signed former Phoenix Firebirds and Jr. Coyotes defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov, a ‘98 who spent the last three seasons in Russia after stints in the NA and WHL, respectively. A talented youth hockey prospect years ago, Knyzhov has been playing for the SKA St. Petersburg organization.
Providence lost a talented scorer with good pace in 19-year-old forward recruit Matt Gould, who signed this month with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs after scoring 18 points through 97 career USHL games. Prior to the USHL, Gould had played in the USPHL’s 18U circuit for Bay State and the Jr. Bruins.
Sixth overall QMJHL draft pick (Val d’Or) Matt Nause, a defenseman from New Brunswick (Newbridge Academy) will play for Sioux Falls this season.
The QMJHL’s loss is USHL-Des Moines gain as 99-born forward Yaroslav Alexeyev, who expressed his discontent with hazing experiences in the league this summer, is packing it up and heading to the U-Haul. The 20-year-old from Tyumen, Russia had 73 points in 63 games with Baie-Comeau last season.
BC star forward recruit Peter Reynolds, a New Brunswick native coming off a strong year with Shattuck’s U16 team, will skate in the BCHL for Chilliwack.
Three-time prep champion, OSU forward recruit and Halifax native Arlo Merritt (Kimball Union) is headed to Chilliwack as well.
Former St. Lawrence recruit Tommy Bannister is also headed to the BCHL - Alberni Valley. The late-01-born forward lit it up for Northwood School over the last few seasons.
Of note, the Q commissioner announced they will be ‘studying and debating’ a possible regulation prohibiting US players departing for the QMJHL after they enroll to play for American college teams.
The Livingston Daily highlighted UML goaltender recruit Logan Neaton’s rise from JV backup to NHL draft pick. Of course, adding 11 inches of height doesn’t hurt.
The Regina Pats (WHL) are prepared to be patient with top prospect Ty Smilanic, who is heading into his second year as an NHL draft-eligible with the NTDP.
Speaking of patient, the Winnipeg Ice are going to have to be patient with new prospect Dylan Holloway, after trading for his rights earlier this summer. Holloway, who scored against UBC in their series in Vancouver is displaying all the signs of sticking around in Madison and wearing the Badgers red this winter. That was likely the last game he’ll play in Western Canada for a while.
UMD’s Noah Cates is a prospect the Flyers 'can't stop bragging about' - NBCSports
02-born defenseman Yan Kuznetsov (Sioux Falls-USHL) will be one of the youngest players in college hockey, playing his draft year for the University of Connecticut. He told UConn’s SBNation blog: “It’s a big challenge for me, so I need to put in the work every day, work hard to have a good season here. I want to help the team to win.”
Similarly, prep school stand-out defenseman Jayden Struble (St. Seb’s) is officially heading right in to play for Northeastern this fall. Struble was a 2nd-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens this summer after scoring 70 points over his last two seasons of prep hockey. The Huskies have a d-corps with some real prep (and local MA-HS) flavor, notably fellow Habs 3rd round pick Jordan Harris, a rising sophomore blue liner who stepped into Hockey East out of prep (Kimball Union) as well. Struble was initially expected to tune-up his game in the BCHL this season. Mark Divver wrote about how Struble used his NTDP ‘snub’ as motivation to excel in prep hockey.
Former Harvard recruit Ryan Del Monte signed with the Barrie Colts, who selected him in the 2nd round of the OHL draft this year.
Former Michigan recruit Andrei Bakanov signed with Guelph, who selected him in the CHL’s import draft. Fellow (now-ex) Michigan recruit Austen Swankler also signed in the league, with the Erie Otters. That one surprised me a little bit.
Former Denver recruit Ruben Rafkin signed with Windsor, who selected him in the CHL’s import draft.
Speaking of Finns, a number of young Finns made noise this summer. To name a pair, Brad Lambert signed pro at the age of 15, while late-02 born Aatu Räty was a glaring stand-out for Kärpät in the Junior Club World Championship last month, before getting hurt in the last game.
Another young super prospect already turning heads according to some of my sources in Western Canada: former “Denver commit” Matt Savoie. He’s wasting no time, scoring the first goal for Team Black in WHL-Winnipeg’s training camp and turning in a generally stellar performance this past Sunday. The CSSHL’s MVP last season, Savoie has already been identified by numerous savvy hockey minds as a potential first overall candidate for 2022 (!!). Matt’s brother, Carter, is a draft-eligible Denver recruit skating in the Alberta league for Sherwood Park. Carter had himself a 73-point campaign last year as a sixteen-year-old rookie.
Cedar Rapids 2019 2nd-round pick Kalle Ervasti, a 2003, has returned to Finland (Lukko) after a year with the South Florida Hockey Academy’s 16s.
USA Hockey’s Atlantic District sent two teams to play in an Austrian hockey tournament and both teams brought home trophies. Top scorers among the two teams include Brayton Frick (‘05, Jr. Flyers - 8 points), Patrick Walsh (‘05, NJD Youth - 11 points) and Ben Yurchuk (‘05, NJ Colonials - 10 points).
Late-03 born forward Michael Abgrall, out of the Burnaby Winter Club, will join Powell River of the BCHL this season after being selected 4th in the WHL draft in 2018 (EDM), 6th in the USHL draft in 2019 (Chicago).
Late-03 forward Ando Yusaku, from Pursuit of Excellence’s U16s, is listed on Youngstown’s 30-man Roster with the season approaching.
German star draft-eligible forward Tim Stützle, initially expected to be in the USHL this season, has signed with Adler Mannheim of the German pro league (DEL).
Uncommitted ‘03-born Ranvir Gill-Shane, a 6’3 right shot defender out of the Ottawa Jr. Senators, was the youngest player in Canada East’s Development camp by a wide margin this summer. Some young forwards on the roster include:
Ayrton Martino (St. Mike’s/OJHL), a Clarkson recruit
Simon Labelle (Rockland/CCHL), a Colgate recruit
Cole O’Hara (North York/OJHL), a UMass recruit
+ uncommitted ‘02 Finn Brown (St. Mike’s/OJHL).
Goaltender Devon Levi (Vermont), a draft-eligible, was also listed.
USHL stand-out Marcus Kallionkieli, a 5th-round look by Vegas this summer, signed in the WHL.
Former BU forward Clayton Keller signed an eight-year extension with the Arizona Coyotes:
The-rink.com highlighted Blackhawks 2nd rounder Alex Vlasic, who is heading to BU this fall and “not planning to rush his development.”
Polish forward Jakub Lewandowski, a 2020 draft-eligible, may be skating for reigning USHL champions Sioux Falls this winter — he was listed on their camp roster this fall / PolishPuck.com
Lastly, everyone’s favorite scouting event of the year, The Brick Invitational, was won by the Connecticut Junior Rangers.