Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Re: RPI Recruit Thread 2014-15 Part II
http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/prep-schools-battle-to-be-the-next-big-hockey-factory/
Edit: Interesting what USCHO found offensive in that quote and replaced by *****.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/prep-schools-battle-to-be-the-next-big-hockey-factory/
This year’s main draw for St. Andrew’s is defenseman Austin Cho, a 2015 draft prospect committed to R.P.I. While he’s not slated to go as high as Foegele, scouts are still watching.
“He’s got good hockey sense and composure, doesn’t panic,” said Dan Marr, head of NHL Central Scouting. “He’s always on top of the play in the right position so that he’s not getting in trouble. And he’s got some *****liness.”
The key for Marr and like-minded talent hawks is seeing Cho and others in this tournament (Stanstead’s David Jankowski, Mark’s little brother, is the other big name) in the right situations. Though St. Andrew’s has played Shattuck’s and other name prep teams such as Culver Military Academy (2015 prospect Karch Bachman) and the Dexter School (Boston Bruins pick Ryan Donato), there is a lot more variance in the competition than there would be in say, the Ontario League or United States League. So how do they evaluate players such as Cho and Jankowski?
“You learn how to take the parts of the player’s game that you can apply for comparison purposes and take the elements of the level of competition and remove that from the equation,” Marr said. “It’s not an exact science but over time scouts have their own ways of evaluating that.”
Marr chose to watch Cho and the Saints play Ridley College at this tourney, for example, because he knows the Tigers play a physical, competitive style.
For Cho, the decision to come to St. Andrew’s was about getting an education while playing hockey, something he will continue to do at R.P.I. Though he’s already pretty solid at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, the blueliner wants to get stronger and St. Andrew’s employs a full-time trainer and plenty of gym time. Plus, there’s the unique aspect of boarding at the institution.
“It’s really cool,” Cho said. “You get really close to the guys you’re playing with and it’s a whole community. It’s good for bonding.”
A puck-moving blueliner who is also solid in his own zone, Cho is a Drew Doughty fan and he can certainly jump into the play in a way that the L.A. Kings star would appreciate. But he’s also a heady player.
{snip}
While Foegele went straight from the draft to UNH, Cho will most likely play another season elsewhere before he heads to R.P.I. Cedar Rapids owns his USHL rights, or he could stay at St. Andrew’s. Either way, he’s excited to play for the NCAA’s Engineers in the future.
“It was kinda like here,” he said. “The coaching staff impressed me, the facilities were nice and everything just fit. I watched a game and loved their style of game.”
Edit: Interesting what USCHO found offensive in that quote and replaced by *****.
Last edited: