Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

[walrus]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Article on McNeely

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/pages/rinkandrun

Playing hockey closer to home, led Matt McNeely of Burnsville, Minn., to reconsider his college choice.

McNeely, 16, a goalie in his first year with the USA Under-17 program in Ann Arbor, Mich., made an oral commitment to the University of Maine last February, but recently reopened his recruiting and chose Minnesota Duluth this week. He’s expected to be at UMD in 2011-12.

Instead of family members facing a 1,700-mile trip for games in Orono, Maine, they’ll have a 170-mile drive up I-35.

“I hadn’t been away for an extended time until I came to Ann Arbor this year, and that’s opened my eyes,” McNeely said Tuesday. “I liked the idea of going to school in Minnesota, playing in the WCHA and being with a good program like UMD.

“They won the WCHA playoff title last year and they’re in first place this year, so I immediately thought of UMD. It seemed like a perfect fit for me.”

McNeely, 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, was a backup goalie for two years as a freshman and sophomore at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn., playing in 11 games total. The USA Under-17 team, facing older players in the U.S. Hockey League, is 10-19-3. McNeely is 8-12-2 in all games with a 4.03 goals-against average and .886 save percentage. In international play, against U-17 teams, McNeely is 6-0 with marks of 2.51 and .911, including a 3-0 record as the United States won the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge earlier this month in Timmins, Ontario. He shares goalie duties with John Gibson.

“Matt is a good fundamental goalie with good athletic ability, a combination that should allow him to develop into an elite goalie,” USA Hockey national goalie coach Joe Exter said Tuesday from Ann Arbor. “Every night in the USHL is a challenge physically and mentally for our U17 players, but Matt has showed great resiliency.”

McNeely and his parents visited UMD’s campus in December and got a tour of the DECC expansion rink. He said he also talked with former Bulldog goalie Alex Stalock. Another former St. Thomas Academy goalie, Aaron Crandall, is a UMD freshman goalie.

A goalie position in UMD’s 2011-12 recruiting class opened in November when Mac Carruth of Shorewood, Minn., chose to forgo his college eligibility and play for Portland (Ore.) in the Western Hockey League.

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

I guess that's what happens when you can't get a commitment from your top in-state recruits (Billet)........it comes back to bite you in more ways than 1. Sounds like he was impressed with UMD's new facility as well.......Maine can't compete with that. Figures that he de-commits right after a great performance at World Juniors.

 

[mainescores]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Article on McNeely

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/pages/rinkandrun

Same old,same old....closer to home and less travel....but in the WCHA there's as much traveling as Hockey East...? More or less a Family choice....can't blame them there....

 

[mainescores]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

I guess that's what happens when you can't get a commitment from your top in-state recruits (Billet)........it comes back to bite you in more ways than 1. Sounds like he was impressed with UMD's new facility as well.......Maine can't compete with that. Figures that he de-commits right after a great performance at World Juniors.

I wonder what the percentage is on de-committments to every College Hockey Teams & Leagues....can't be just Maine that is losing out.

 

[Hockeypuck]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

I wonder what the percentage is on de-committments to every College Hockey Teams & Leagues....can't be just Maine that is losing out.

Certainly not as high as it has been for Maine the last 2 years. I did a rough count and it is somewhere around 10 de-commits in the last 2 years .

 

[GoBlackBears]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

I guess that's what happens when you can't get a commitment from your top in-state recruits (Billet)........it comes back to bite you in more ways than 1. Sounds like he was impressed with UMD's new facility as well.......Maine can't compete with that. Figures that he de-commits right after a great performance at World Juniors.

We'll never see a new arena here. The university can't even come up with the money to renovate the pit.

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

We'll never see a new arena here. The university can't even come up with the money to renovate the pit.

Maine doesn't need a new arena. They need to go back to 4,000 seats and use the extra space for more amenities. Alfond expansion in early 90s = worst arena renovation EVER!

 

[Sportsmaniac]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Maine has gotten a commitment from Brian Harris ('93) of the Boston Advantage for 2011. He's an offensive minded defensemen with 16 goals and 37 assists

 

[gscott13]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Maine has gotten a commitment from Brian Harris ('93) of the Boston Advantage for 2011. He's an offensive minded defensemen with 16 goals and 37 assists

here's the full stat line...

47 games, 16 goals, 37 assists, 53 points, *downside alert* 120 Penalty Minutes

the penalty minutes are more than double all but one other player on the team (who has 78 PIMs)

5'9" 189lbs. hopefully he gets a little taller as it would appear that he's a bit stocky...

team's record right now stands at 22-17-8


From the team's homepage

Make It 2! Blackbears Bring Harris In

The Boston Advantage is excited to announce that Brian Harris has accepted a full scholarship offer to attend the University of Maine in 2011.

The offensive minded defenseman has a terrific skill set, sees the ice extremely well, makes plays that only someone with a high hockey intellect can make and is tenacious when defending. He is reminiscent of Bret Tyler.

In 47 games so far he has 16 goals & 37 assists. Brian worked hard to develop and we are extremely happy to see him get what he deserves.

"I am ecstatic! I wasn't expecting what they offered. I enjoyed meeting the coaching staff, players and support staff when I visited this week. It was everything Tim told me it was. Its a dream come true."

Tim Lovell "couldn't be happier for Brian and his family. I am excited for the Maine program. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Maine and I am know its a great spot for Brian. He has worked hard and it has payed off. They will use him for what he is and I see him having a good solid career. He is a great kid!"

Brian is a junior in high school who will play juniors next year before going to the Orono campus.

"He has been a loyal hardworking kid that has put everything together to be a dominant player in the Tier I Elite Hockey League as well as a top player among his peers." Commented head coach Joe Lovell. "He is a coachable kid who is fun to be around. I have seen him mature into a highly skilled offensive defensemen who is tough to play against."

"I really want to thank Tim, Joe and Joe. They have supported me, coached me and pushed me. I grew up as a member of the Advantage and wouldn't have it any other way. They worked extremely hard to put me in this position. They are rare in the fact that they work so hard for all of their players and how much they genuinely care about us. Thanks so much!"

Harris joins fellow teammate Cam Brown as a Maine recruit. Overall this is the fourth college choice for the Advantage so far. Harris and Brown join Babson bound Callahan and O'Neill.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Congrats..

I don't know how you grow up a member of Advantage, they have only been around a few years.

Maine has got to stop offering supposed 4/4 scholorships to Advantage players. I get teh Lovell connection but do not see it as a recipe for any type of success.

 

[gscott13]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

I don't know how you grow up a member of Advantage, they have only been around a few years.

maybe speaking metaphorically? grew up as in development, rather than started in the program at a young age and played his way through each age level?

who knows...

 

[Drew S.]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Congrats..

I don't know how you grow up a member of Advantage, they have only been around a few years.

Maine has got to stop offering supposed 4/4 scholorships to Advantage players. I get teh Lovell connection but do not see it as a recipe for any type of success.

What is the recipe for success nowadays? There certainly are plenty of top programs looking for it. I think these kids might be worth taking a punt on.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

True but if they are giving out two supposed 4/4 deals to players off that team, I dont see it as a recipe for success.

Have watched the team and dont see it.

He is also a 92, not a 93

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Another minor issue I have with these teams.

Maine has 2 recruits off this squad, Bown and Harris. From most accounts, 2 solid players and recruits with upside. Both considered small for Hockey East, 1 is 5'3", 135 lbs, the other is about 5'8"

On Pointstreak, where unbiased game officials hand in the sheets and do them at the rink for the league, we have the following.

Player Stats
# NAME (position) GP G A PTS PIM PPG SHG GWG PPGA
10 Mike Cox (C) 37 14 23 37 16 2 0 1 1.00
7 Nick Indelicato (W) 37 11 22 33 20 5 1 3 0.89
12 Cam Brown (C) 37 12 19 31 28 2 0 2 0.84
2 Brian Harris (D) 37 8 22 30 92 3 0 2 0.81


Off their website, we have as follows

#
Player Name Pos GP Goals Assists points

Cam Brown F 47 18 38 56
Brian Harris D 47 16 37 53

So in other words in 10 extra games, the F scores 25 points and the Dman scores 23 points. Which is well over 2.5 points per game or more then twice their league average.

I would have to question if a 5'3" forward who has 12 goals in 37 league games is a 4/4 Hockey east player.

The entire Heisneberg Maine recruiting list shows the following
Cam Brown-RC 7/27/09 2011 Boston Advantage Midget 5'6 145 3-25-93
.
Carlos Amestoy-LC 4/15/08 Jr.Canadiens (CCHL) 5'7 175 3-24-92 43-10-15-25-32
.
Darcy Ashley-RW 4/10/2008 2011 Summerside (MarJHL) 5'7 160 2-19-93
.
Stuart Higgins-LC 1/15/2008 Youngstown (USHL) 5'8 165 5-8-92
.
Mark Anthoine-LW 1/17/2007 Chicago (USHL) 5'11 180 9-6-90 60-10-18-28-46



Outside Anthoine, we have 4 players, with the tallest being 5'8" and the other 3 being listed as 5'7", when I know that is not true, more then one closer to 5'3" to 5'5"

If you look at the Heisneberg updated list, you will see over 100 kids committed to Hockey east, 7 are 5'7" and under, 4 of them coming to Maine, 1 at BU and 1 at BC and 1 to U Mas(ex advantage player Deangelo, shocking).

Maine has 5 F's on board for the future, avg height is 5'7"(tops) and about 160LBS.

Does anyone else find that of concern? UVM alone has 4 over 6'2" F's on board, UNH and Northeastern both have 4 over 6" signed up

With 1D signed up(5'8' according to advantage) at maine, and these 4 F's I would assume the future is a little up in the air

 

[sandiegoblkbr]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

My concern is the following quote from Harris......"I wasn't expecting what they offered.".......

So does that mean that Harris considers himself a partial scholarship player??? Makes you wonder if he is a top line recruit that would even be recruited by the likes of BC/BU/UNH........

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

I did not see the typical, "was also considering UNH, Clarkson and Northeastern.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

So does that mean that Harris considers himself a partial scholarship player???

Sounds like it.

I have to agree with Hokydad on the general recruiting talk for Maine. The decommits are brutal. Commitments from Boston Advantage are not likely to bring Maine back to the forefront of college hockey. Of course you never know but it is unlikely. You always want to see kids coming from high level leagues with great competition to prepare for D1. And I wouldn't judge the kids because of their size. But the Cam Brown commitment made a lot of folks unhappy and this one seems almost more of the same.

I still say they should be going after the older Canadian kids (like I say for Northeastern as well, for example). The question is, can they do that without Standbrook anymore? That guy could find some serious talent.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Who can predict whether a player will develop at the college level? It's really a crapshoot once you get beyond a basic skill set that most of these kids currently have. He sounds like a young man with good character and probably a good student. Those are key ingredients for player development and qualities that some of the recent Maine recruits have lacked.

 

[Pucknut]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

My concern is the following quote from Harris......"I wasn't expecting what they offered.".......

So does that mean that Harris considers himself a partial scholarship player??? Makes you wonder if he is a top line recruit that would even be recruited by the likes of BC/BU/UNH........

Brian Flynn wasn't recruited by any Boston schools either.

 

[Hokydad]

Re: Maine Recruit Updates: The Search for Spock

Who can predict whether a player will develop at the college level? It's really a crapshoot once you get beyond a basic skill set that most of these kids currently have. He sounds like a young man with good character and probably a good student. Those are key ingredients for player development and qualities that some of the recent Maine recruits have lacked.

You are doing an awful lot of, "it sounds like"

I am sure the other recuits one paragraph write ups and quotes were great "sounds like" recruits as well.

They need big, fast, strong, skilled players. Not five 5'5"-5'7" players.

Unless they are BC types and they are not, this can not bode well for Maine hockey