BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

What can College Hockey Inc really do? The NCAA is fighting a losing battle here, it cannot win with the way the rules are currently structured.

Exactly right. Unless the NCAA can exempt this unique sport from its rules (never going to happen), NCAA hockey is going to fight an uphill battle against the folks north of the border. No expansion, no Big Ten Network, no College Hockey Inc. is going to fix this problem without first fixing the underlying problem. They just don't have enough pull to make that happen.

 

[defkit]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

I feel it's a product of the way that recruiting has gotten involved at such a young age. The younger the kid, and the earlier he is "set in his plans" the less likely he is to want to stick with them. Jeremey Roenick at least made it to the BC campus for a week before deciding to defect. Is there any doubt that if Mike Modano were a 16 year old at this point, we would be committed to a college. I mean, there is little risk in doing so, even if you are still considering major junior. It actually helps, since you are less likely to get stuck with a poor CHL team with a high pick if they are not sure they will lose you.

The only good news here is that Erne was so far from coming to BU, that it's not a big deal. When Pat Kane took until a couple of months before school (or whatever the timeline was) to pick London over BU.....now that one hurt.

 

[steve66]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

It absolutly sucks that college hockey continues to lose talent like this. I am not sure anything can be done but it defintely hurts our sport. I do think the verbal commit for guys more than 2 years away is a joke.

 

[buoldtimer]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

Pretty much official that he's now gone.....http://www.thebostonhockeyblog.com/

What can College Hockey Inc really do? The NCAA is fighting a losing battle here, it cannot win with the way the rules are currently structured. I've long argued for making CHL players eligible, but that isn't a very popular position to take.

Here's a question for someone who is close to the BU recruiting process, or who has access to someone who is. Does BU recruit guys like Erne, DeAngelo and Esposito with the knowledge that there's scant probability they'll ever play at BU? This would be acceptable if they realize they'll learn soon enough that they'll lose the guy to MJ and can recruit someone else as a replacement who represents a better chance of attending college. However, I'd hate to learn that they're geneuinely surprised at these events.

 

[srsterrier]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

I feel it's a product of the way that recruiting has gotten involved at such a young age. The younger the kid, and the earlier he is "set in his plans" the less likely he is to want to stick with them. Jeremey Roenick at least made it to the BC campus for a week before deciding to defect. Is there any doubt that if Mike Modano were a 16 year old at this point, we would be committed to a college. I mean, there is little risk in doing so, even if you are still considering major junior. It actually helps, since you are less likely to get stuck with a poor CHL team with a high pick if they are not sure they will lose you.

The only good news here is that Erne was so far from coming to BU, that it's not a big deal. When Pat Kane took until a couple of months before school (or whatever the timeline was) to pick London over BU.....now that one hurt.

Seems like a Catch-22. The kind of kid from whom a college would want a commitment at age 15 is the kind of kid who is ready for Major Junior-level competition at 16 or 17 and probably will get bored of the USHL. I remember watching the USNTDP squad a few years ago. The youngest kid there, Peter Mueller, was one their best players. Minnesota had a commitment from him at a young age because he was so good. But because he was so good, he didn't want to wait around. So he went to Major Junior and now he's in the NHL. I am not sure how you stop kids from changing their minds, but what about a self-imposed NCAA rule that colleges can't get verbals from players until their Junior year of HS? Maybe even second semester of their Junior year. It won't stop kids from going to Major Junior but it would stop them from using colleges as negotiating ploys. If they can't verbal until later in the process, maybe they have given it some more thought. Would this work? All that said, is it just my imagination or does this seem to happen to BU more often than it does to other programs?

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

it is a result of a few things.

1) bu recruits from canada. so there is always that option with high profile CA juniors. throw werek on here too.
2) bu recruits top prospects who want to play in the nhl and have options. happens with local kids too like matt lashoff.

except for the mid 90s bu has always known that bc is a kinda default first choice for local kids. joke for years was snooks would start recruitng when the globe published their hs all-star team. it is now again.
bu will be fine.

 

[reBlur]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

Here's a question for someone who is close to the BU recruiting process, or who has access to someone who is. Does BU recruit guys like Erne, DeAngelo and Esposito with the knowledge that there's scant probability they'll ever play at BU?

We're going to try to talk to Parker before the season about this. My guess is that he will say "we recruit guys that we believe will show up on campus." There's really no point in going after guys who won't show up. It's a waste of time and effort. Maybe BU takes a chance on a big name or two (like Kane).
Usually if we ask Parker about a specific name of a recruit, he won't comment but I'll ask in September about this question in more general terms.

 

[Rogie21]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

On the Northeastern thread, Hokydad has indicated that Cam Darcy has decommitted from the Huskies and is headed to BU in 2012. Darcy is a power forward from South Boston who is entering his second year in the NTDP program. He previously played at Dexter for Dan Donato. He was one of 36 players invited to the NHL's RDO camp for 2012 prospects later this month. If Hokydad is right, this should be a very good pickup since BU likely will be losing size in Coyle and Chiasson after this season.

 

[J.D.]

Sorry, I can't share the source, but it is an extremely reliable one. In most cases, the "other colleges" listed are the finalists from whom the recruit made his decision. USHR occasionally mentions schools that were interested earlier in the recruiting process. For example, several years ago, BU had been interested in UMD's Mike Connolly, but decided not to pursue him.

Woops!

 

[SkinsFan09]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

On the Northeastern thread, Hokydad has indicated that Cam Darcy has decommitted from the Huskies and is headed to BU in 2012. Darcy is a power forward from South Boston who is entering his second year in the NTDP program. He previously played at Dexter for Dan Donato. He was one of 36 players invited to the NHL's RDO camp for 2012 prospects later this month. If Hokydad is right, this should be a very good pickup since BU likely will be losing size in Coyle and Chiasson after this season.

Not official but at this point, any rumor about an NU recruit leaving is likely true, especially since Darcy grew up a Terrier fan.

 

[Rogie21]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

Vernon Morning Star feature on 2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/sports/vipers/news/128036868.html

 

[Rogie21]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

The only good news here is that Erne was so far from coming to BU, that it's not a big deal. When Pat Kane took until a couple of months before school (or whatever the timeline was) to pick London over BU.....now that one hurt.

According to USHR, Erne's signing bonus with Quebec included "an education package that includes college tuition for his siblings." How does an NCAA school match that? In a report about Zegmus Girgensons' decision to turn down big money and stay with his UVM commitment, USHR indicated that Angelo Esposito--who did little in his first AHL season--reportedly received $700K when he signed on with Quebec several years ago.

2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon and 2012 recruit Robert Polesello will be teammates on the Indiana Ice this year.

Two names on BU's radar, according to USHR: forward Jack Eichel (Jr. Bruins/Empire) who was USHR's top forward at the Select 15s, and Kevin Duane, a 6-5 forward who will be a senior at Brunswick School.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

According to USHR, Erne's signing bonus with Quebec included "an education package that includes college tuition for his siblings." How does an NCAA school match that? In a report about Zegmus Girgensons' decision to turn down big money and stay with his UVM commitment, USHR indicated that Angelo Esposito--who did little in his first AHL season--reportedly received $700K when he signed on with Quebec several years ago.

2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon and 2012 recruit Robert Polesello will be teammates on the Indiana Ice this year.

Two names on BU's radar, according to USHR: forward Jack Eichel (Jr. Bruins/Empire) who was USHR's top forward at the Select 15s, and Kevin Duane, a 6-5 forward who will be a senior at Brunswick School.

Eichel has BC written all over him. He has visited and already has a full ride offer from them. It will be hard for BU to outrecruit BC considering Chris Masters' influence with the Jr Bruins program.

 

[boblav1]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

On the Northeastern thread, Hokydad has indicated that Cam Darcy has decommitted from the Huskies and is headed to BU in 2012. Darcy is a power forward from South Boston who is entering his second year in the NTDP program. He previously played at Dexter for Dan Donato. He was one of 36 players invited to the NHL's RDO camp for 2012 prospects later this month. If Hokydad is right, this should be a very good pickup since BU likely will be losing size in Coyle and Chiasson after this season.

According to USHR, Darcy will make his decision next month between BU and BC.

 

[Rogie21]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

Eichel has BC written all over him. He has visited and already has a full ride offer from them. It will be hard for BU to outrecruit BC considering Chris Masters' influence with the Jr Bruins program.

Well, he does his training with Mike Boyle in N. Andover. BU will offer a full ride and so will many others.

"I don't think there's really a ceiling," said Masters, his coach with the Junior Bruins. "If there's a Division 1 hockey program in this country that doesn't offer him, I think they should have their head examined."

http://www.lowellsun.com/sports/ci_18637941

Of course, if Quebec Remparts draft him, they'll likely offer a full education package and college for his siblings, as Quebec did with Erne.

 

[Boston22]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

According to USHR, Darcy will make his decision next month between BU and BC.

This will be interesting. Some one here said he grew up a BU fan. But I don't think BU has had too much luck lately going head-to-head with BC for local kids.

 

[bothman]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

Of course, if Quebec Remparts draft him, they'll likely offer a full education package and college for his siblings, as Quebec did with Erne.

Since when are all colleges and universities created equal? If Quebec gives him $, is to go to a school as respected as BU? Is $20K/yr in academic help to go to strip joints on St. Catherine's Street, the same as the ability to go to BU and get a degree (whether you do it in 4 yrs, or turn pro and do it over the summers or after your pro days are done)? I'm not saying all schools north of the border are a joke, but BU (and all respected US colleges) needs to be able to stress the educational aspect of the formula and the nuances between what a BU education can mean (particularly if a pro career doesn't materialize) vs the alternative.

All $ is not created equal and neither are all college degrees!

At the end of the day, if all kids/families care about is hockey, then MJ is probably the better avenue and to this end, it sounds like Erne decisively voted with his feet!

Or as Herb Brooks more eloquently put it "We're not looking for the best players, we're looking for the right players"

 

[J.D.]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

If Darcy grew up a BU fan then why was he going to NU? Was he a late bloomer or something and BU wasn't interested the first time around?

 

[PPGuru]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

That is pretty much spot on. Darcy tired of waiting for a BU offer and Cronin moved in. 18 months later, Darcy is a much improved prospect and back on the market. Both BC and BU were not ready to offer Darcy at that time. Now, they are his finalists.

 

[J.D.]

Re: BU Recruiting Update, Part 3

That is pretty much spot on. Darcy tired of waiting for a BU offer and Cronin moved in. 18 months later, Darcy is a much improved prospect and back on the market. Both BC and BU were not ready to offer Darcy at that time. Now, they are his finalists.

Well if he tired of waiting for BU, I'd say BC certainly has a shot here. Doesn't seem like a sure thing for BU despite him liking Jason Tapp growing up.