UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

[HockeyRef]

Souza does seem to have an eye for things other Division I recruiters have missed. Or he mispaced his invite to the summer USA hockey festivals for the top rated players. Or maybe a solid for Sean Collins, who Souza probably hopes is developing some connections due to his work for the new scouting site.

lang="en" dir="ltr">Salisbury's @Ryan_Verrier commits to @UNHHockey real smooth skating D-man with a high offensive upside! Good get for the wildcats

— Sean Collins (@sean_collins9) September 9, 2016

Let's just say his plan for "making UNH great again" is similar to that of his idol -- not apparent to everyone.

Verrier has some good reports out there...it will be cool to watch how he develops in the next couple of years (not sure when he will arrive at the U) As for the 'pro souza' people out there, since when did any of them say he was going to recruit the next Jack Eichel??? Not saying this kid is the next TvR but I can't help but think of what a few said about his chances...just sayin'.

[Dan]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Verrier has some good reports out there...it will be cool to watch how he develops in the next couple of years (not sure when he will arrive at the U) As for the 'pro souza' people out there, since when did any of them say he was going to recruit the next Jack Eichel??? Not saying this kid is the next TvR but I can't help but think of what a few said about his chances...just sayin'.

Uh, As for Jack Eichel, who accused anyone of claiming Verrier would be the second coming? My post above references posts quoted above by Watcher and a very specific post by another poster who specifically claimed that once Souza started landing the guys he was known to be targeting we'd rate them significantly ahead of ASU's Jordan Sandhu. A sentiment that simply looks silly at this point...

Hoping Verrier is TvR is a nice thought, but its wishful thinking. TvR was, at one point, thought of as a DIII prospect, but by the time he committed to UNH he was, (per USHR) - "raw, (and) his upside is pretty apparent. He has size, he can skate, and he has offensive tools." They also note he was the second-highest scoring defenseman in the EJHL and recruited HARD by UNH, Providence, Vermont and Northeastern. In other words, well ahead of where Verrier currently finds himself...

http://www.ushr.com/news/20100114/34...%27s-Footsteps

Verrier is referred to below as a fringe DI player. He has not played at a level higher than MA high school hockey. In no way has he begun to establish himself as TvR did. Without getting into what can be inferred from this commitment, the lack of UNH recruiting activity leading up to his commitment, there was no reason for UNH to move on this type of player at this point in his development. UNH waited and watched TvR. They could have done the same here.

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/high...r-devon-tongue

We can hope he is TvR, but there is a reason TvR's story is so spectacular - because its extremely rare. Verrier is much more likely to be John Furgele...

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Uh, As for Jack Eichel, who accused anyone of claiming Verrier would be the second coming? My post above references posts quoted above by Watcher and a very specific post by another poster who specifically claimed that once Souza started landing the guys he was known to be targeting we'd rate them significantly ahead of ASU's Jordan Sandhu. A sentiment that simply looks silly at this point...

Hoping Verrier is TvR is a nice thought, but its wishful thinking. TvR was, at one point, thought of as a DIII prospect, but by the time he committed to UNH he was, (per USHR) - "raw, (and) his upside is pretty apparent. He has size, he can skate, and he has offensive tools." They also note he was the second-highest scoring defenseman in the EJHL and recruited HARD by UNH, Providence, Vermont and Northeastern. In other words, well ahead of where Verrier currently finds himself...

http://www.ushr.com/news/20100114/34...%27s-Footsteps

Verrier is referred to below as a fringe DI player. He has not played at a level higher than MA high school hockey. In no way has he begun to establish himself as TvR did. Without getting into what can be inferred from this commitment, the lack of UNH recruiting activity leading up to his commitment, there was no reason for UNH to move on this type of player at this point in his development. UNH waited and watched TvR. They could have done the same here.

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/high...r-devon-tongue

We can hope he is TvR, but there is a reason TvR's story is so spectacular - because its extremely rare. Verrier is much more likely to be John Furgele...

More than likely he'll develop into a Matt Campanale or a Brett Kostalansky. Serviceable 3rd pairing/depth guy, ready on arrival for a long career in the Coast or the lower tier Euro leagues. We've seen this movie before.

Some of us have more patience than others, but even the most patient among us are starting to grow weary of waiting for that next huge influx of talent to surface. Like the "Four Horsemen" Souza lured to Storrs to play for Luce Canaan ...

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

In the year and a half, Souza has gotten one top 2 line kid. B+ recruit (Crookshank)

Let me put it this way, he has a solid incomplete, a year and half in. If he gets Kawaguchi or Bowers up front, and Jake Harrison on the back end, he will have a really nicely rounded out class. But at present, the hardest part of a recruiting class is missing.

So rather than slag high school kids who may well develop, I would just say every team needs them. Sometimes they hit even when their profile says no. TVR, Saviano, etc.

But competitive teams use those kids to fill out the roster after a foundation of good recruits. Sort of like a rotation, you need an ace, a couple of pretty well known guys, and then several 4th/5th starters for injury, etc. In hockey, a couple of top two line guys or first line defensemen.

Until there is evidence of that, the angst is justifiable.

Like the "Four Horsemen" Souza lured to Storrs to play for Luce Canaan ...

We never did quite finish that discussion. Let's count Thompson, a first rounder, as his. The other "top players" were Masonius, who came to U.Conn from UNH after Souza left, and Letunov, who also fell into U.Conn's lap after Souza left. Leaving aside the seniors who Souza did not recruit (Pauly and Kirkland), and you're really left with defenseman Miles Gendron, an NHL pick who had a nice freshman year.

Is Mr. Smith referring to recruits who have not set foot on campus. Adam Karashuk, who is a good prospect in the USHL (better than his teammate Corson Green), but hardly a blue chippah. Is he counting Evan Wisocky, who is a pretty decent prospect, but had 5 points his rookie USHL season, sort of like Eric Esposito? Again, hardly a blue chippah. So, in actuality, he recruited one top player, and the other two came after he left. He has a couple decent prospects, but none that would warrant the conclusion "Mike Souza is a great recruiter as he essentially beat UNH out for 4 of the best players on the UConn team. I know some will give all the credit to Cavanaugh but they were not his recruits. They started beating us out for the top players that BC/BU/now Prov did not pursue wholeheartedly and Northeastern has beaten us out for some top players."

If you want to go back to his two years at Brown, there's nothing that screams "great recruiter."

Last thought. Bazin and Lowell have shown that the "late bloomer" lightly recruited player model can work. It is a very hard needle to thread, and lots of team have shown it doesnt work.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

More than likely he'll develop into a Matt Campanale or a Brett Kostalansky. Serviceable 3rd pairing/depth guy, ready on arrival for a long career in the Coast or the lower tier Euro leagues. We've seen this movie before.

Some of us have more patience than others, but even the most patient among us are starting to grow weary of waiting for that next huge influx of talent to surface. Like the "Four Horsemen" Souza lured to Storrs to play for Luce Canaan ...

Totally get where you are coming from...we ALL want the best of the best to play at UNH. My point really was not to ever say this new recruit is 'the next coming of TvR'. It has been said that in his (TvR that is) early development who knew he'd become the player he has? That's just a reference point for this newbie. I appreciate the info on this player; I pretty much read the same stuff. Like I said...who knows how he will develop in the next couple of seasons. I look forward to info from C-H-C on how he's doing through the blog. Where is he playing this season, anyway? (Verrier that is..)

'Watcher, I appreciated your objective point of view on where we are currently, and how this new recruit could/would potentially fit in. Here's hoping the pipeline continues to get filled with well rounded players (who might even hang out for 4 years, right Chuck? ) On a non hockey note...Brace yourself 'Pats fans! Hereee we goooo..

[boblav1]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Where is he playing this season, anyway? (Verrier that is..)

@JeffCoxSports
'98 Ryan Verrier committed to UNH yesterday. Former Austin Prep D heading to Salisbury for senior season.

[casualobserver]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

All, longtime UNH fan; UNH grad/fan, 30+ season ticket holder and frequent reader but never posted. Anyone's thoughts on Carter Turnbull of Powell River? Seemingly, smallish forward (if you believe the data) but has produced results (you can't teach goal scoring from my perspective), even as an 17 yr old. Up to now uncommitted. D-1 material or not able to gain college acceptance?

[Dan]

All, longtime UNH fan; UNH grad/fan, 30+ season ticket holder and frequent reader but never posted. Anyone's thoughts on Carter Turnbull of Powell River? Seemingly, smallish forward (if you believe the data) but has produced results (you can't teach goal scoring from my perspective), even as an 17 yr old. Up to now uncommitted. D-1 material or not able to gain college acceptance?

Yes, please. I mentioned Turnbull last winter and I'm surprised he is still uncommitted. Tyler Ward is another small, shifty scorer still uncommitted in the BCHL. And of course Richardson is still out there...

There are still a lot of good young players out in BC, I wish UNH would target that area aggressively and immediately!!

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Yes, please. I mentioned Turnbull last winter and I'm surprised he is still uncommitted. Tyler Ward is another small, shifty scorer still uncommitted in the BCHL. And of course Richardson is still out there...

There are still a lot of good young players out in BC, I wish UNH would target that area aggressively and immediately!!

The current HC had many of his best years when they were recruiting heavily out in those parts.

How soon they forget ( ... admittedly it's a long trip out to BC, so lots of tee times would be missed).

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

"Ryan Verrier, Mass High School Star, Commits to UNH"

[HockeyRef]

"Ryan Verrier, Mass High School Star, Commits to UNH"

Thanks for this detailed article about our newest recruit...I look forward to following his progress through your blog.

[NCAA watcher]

miller finds a home. I am guessing he was holding out

https://***********/tyler_king/status/780491699759964160

Also Angus Crookshank was injured in first game and has missed past two weeks. Hope it was not serious.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

And the news just keeps getting better ...

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

"UNH Commits Update: October-6-2016"
Player Spotlight on Eric MacAdams

[BC Watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2016 and Beyond

Both Souza and Stewart have been out in BC early in the season scouting BCHL games plus the recent Showcase.