022519 Recruiting Notebook: Hockey East
Terriers have more top-level offense coming in, but they aren't the only ones making moves
BU forward recruits Mastrosimone, Phillips garner MVP nods at USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
The Terrier faithful can look forward to more gifted skaters coming to campus as it was a BU sweep for MVP honors at the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this past January. The two recruits to share the nod were Ethan Phillips, a Nova Scotia native who didn’t miss a beat coming into the USHL this year, and Robert Mastrosimone, a Shattuck-St. Mary’s (by way of Long Island, NY) product who is already deep into his second USHL campaign.
Phillips has 10 goals and 30 points in 33 games this season with the Sioux Falls Stampede. Mastrosimone has 21 tallies to match 20 assists in 38 games for the Chicago Steel. He’s nearing his point totals last year in almost 20 less games.
Catching up on some other commitments in Hockey East…
00 F Tomas Mazura - Providence
Providence secured a commitment from a skater out of prep hockey with immense upside in Kimball Union (NH) center Tomas Mazura. The 6’3+ skater from the Czech Republic is a late-2000 born late-bloomer who has added height and competence in all three zones since arriving in Meriden, New Hampshire three seasons ago. Mazura is shaping up to be a name to keep an eye on in a big way. He spent a season with the junior varsity when he got to campus and last season saw the growing forward sustain a collar-bone injury that had him out for the year — but this year he’s wasted no time establishing himself with 32 points in 21 games to lead head coach Tim Whitehead’s 16-4 Wildcats offensively. As a tall center still coming into his frame, Mazura has a lot of the earmarks that make a prospect exciting, offensive vision and playmaking ability combined with speed in a frame that should only help him become that much more effective within a few years.
On Mazura’s emergence this season, Whitehead had this to say: “Tomas has really emerged this season as an impact player at Kimball Union and a legitimate D1 college prospect. As a late 2000, Tomas is also generating considerable interest from NHL scouts as a potential 2019 Draft pick. Tomas is a dynamic offensive player. He skates well, his skill and vision are exceptional, and at 6’3 he’s got a big frame and long reach. Tomas is working hard to gain strength and continue developing into a complete 200 foot player, so that he’s ready to play at Providence College for the 2020-21 season. Tomas is a strong student and a great athlete, and I’m confident he’ll shine at PC and beyond.”
Prior to arriving at Kimball Union, Mazura played for Pardubice U16 in the 2015-16 season.
01 F Morgan Winters - UNH
Mike Souza’s New Hampshire Wildcats picked up a forward from the prep ranks in fleet-footed Florida native Morgan Winters, who has broken out offensively this season. Like Mazura, I’ve only seen a bit of video on Morgan in prep hockey this year, but what I saw was a center with quickness who recovers pucks and makes plays.
Tabor Academy (MA) head coach Gerry Dineen seemed to share that sentiment, telling me that Winters “has a high-end skill set. Terrific feet and excellent puck skills. He plays the game with a lot of pace and is improving his ability to get into the dirty areas of the rink. Great kid who competes hard every day. He has a high ceiling.”
99 F Mike Hardman - BC
Jerry York’s Eagles added another nice piece for their forward group this season in former Winchendon (MA) player Mike Hardman. I’ve watched a decent amount of video on Hardman for West Kelowna (BCHL) this season, where I saw a tall skater with a good frame and nice upside. He can forecheck with competence, push the pace, possess the puck off the entry, with good hip control and maneuverability in his skating. He is more than likely going to be a solid piece of the puzzle who could slot into the middle six in time and produce. I wouldn’t expect him to be a key driver of the offense, though, which is why he is a nice get for the Eagles. They need players who can jump into the line-up and participate alongside some of their more elite talents, which they will only be adding more of next season. In West Kelowna, Hardman’s got an uncommitted 2001 in Max Bulawka centering him that I couldn’t help but keep noticing. He has a pretty intriguing upside. 23 points in his last 15 games when I took these stats around the time of his commitment.
02 F Michael Cameron - UMass
Head coach Greg Carvel’s Minutemen, in the midst of surging in Hockey East play, found time to swing down to Connecticut and secure a commitment from a talented prep skater in Salisbury junior forward Michael Cameron. He has 15 points and 8 goals in 18 games this season. The Minutemen had been relatively quiet recruiting-wise until now, which is somewhat of a surprise as one would think they’d seek to capitalize while the program is making noise. Cameron appears to be a step in that direction.
I asked Salisbury head coach Andrew Will about the year Cameron has had so far in prep hockey: “Michael has been fantastic for us. He is an extremely smart and hard-working player that brings tremendous speed, skill and compete, day in and day out. Already as a young player, [he] brings outstanding maturity and consistency to the rink every day.”
00 F Robert Cronin - UNH
Mike Souza’s Wildcats secured a commitment out of Gunnery prep in Washington, CT this week. On his play this year, Gunnery coach Craig Badger: “Robert is a smooth, skilled forward who is an elite playmaker. Not only is he one of the premier players in prep hockey, but he represents our program in the best way possible in the classroom and in the community."
Cronin played for Steve Novodor and Jon Bellonio’s Yale midget hockey program in the fall. Novodor told Over the Boards: “Cronin was a big part of our Yale U18 team…was electric right out of the gate getting us off to a great start…consistent throughout the fall.” Cronin spent most of last fall with Army recruits Michael Posma and Alex Laferriere on a line that had a lot of success. Laferriere, an Army recruit, was awarded All-NEPSAC forward honors alongside Cronin this year.
Some other commitments to note:
Ben Brar - Merrimack
Late 1998-born forward has 35 goals for Prince George (BCHL) this season, his fourth in the league.
Roc and Scout Truman - UMass Lowell
The Riverhawks secured commitments out of two brothers playing their first season of junior in the Alberta league. Coming out of Yale Hockey Academy’s Prep outfit last year, the Lethbridge natives are some of the youngest producers in the league. Scout for his part is among the youngest to play in the league, period — the 2021 draft-eligible has 30 points in 47 games.
Azzaro Tinling - Vermont
The late-1999 born Pointe-Claire, Quebec native has 23 points in 31 games for the Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL)
Gabriel Carriere - Vermont
The Catamounts secured a goalie for the future in draft-eligible stopper Gabriel Carriere, who has already played two seasons of junior hockey. This year in 40 showings he has a 3.20 goals against and a .914 sv% with the Kanata Lasers.
Jamie Armstrong - Boston University
One of many young recruits in a run for Northeastern years ago, the now-20-year-old Warwick, RI native and son of Blues asst. GM Bill Armstrong is back to scoring form this season with the NCDC’s Jr. Bruins.
In other news…
Ben Finkelstein joined Boston College at the mid-point
The former St. Lawrence and prep hockey star was a very welcome addition for a hurting BC outfit this winter. The Florida Panthers 7th rounder in 2016 has 7 points through 14 games so far this year.
Uncommitted Hotchkiss goalie Henry Wilder finished out a season where he was named All-NEPSAC and emerged as one of the brighter goaltending prospects in New England. In the process he’s gleaned Division 1 interest from the top conferences and a nod from NHL Central Scouting. Wilder tendered with the PAL Jr. Islanders (NCDC) but look for him to potentially follow the route of former Dexter star Ryan Donato, who played junior hockey locally with the South Shore Kings in the fall in addition to the winter prep hockey schedule. Should the Bearcats stopper return for a senior season Hockey East recruiters will likely be kicking the tires around Lakeville, CT regularly. Wilder posted a .927 sv% and 2.05 goals against average this year. The other All-NEPSAC West goalies were Deerfield senior Thomas Gale (Dartmouth) and Westminster junior Ian Shane.