Sparkee
Blackbear
Read it again. I was complementing your program. Meaning Lowell is fortunate he wasn’t signed and I would have liked to see him play for Maine.
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UML Recruiting: Finally in the 20s!
- Thread starter UMLFan
- Start date
Lowell2001
Lowell Hockey Diehard
Does anyone have Lowell's updated 25-26 recruitment ranking after the Wakely and Gulley additions?
I'll note once again that these rankings include players that aren't coming to Lowell, but NZ currently has us moved up to 9th in the country. NZ still shows Classon (3.5), Dolzhenko (3.5) and Guest (3.75) as commits and I know the latter two aren't committed to Lowell anymore. It also shows a couple of guys (Kroll and Romeo) as incoming this year and I just don't see that happening.
Middle Street
Well-known member
Article from Barry
www.lowellsun.com
Interesting fact that Elliot was leading the NAHL in scoring when he moved up to USHL.
UMass Lowell hockey program adds goaltender, forward from Illinois
Two players from Illinois – one a goaltender, the other a forward – recently committed to the UMass Lowell hockey program. Nikola Goich and Elliot Gulley will put on River Hawks uniform…
www.lowellsun.com
Interesting fact that Elliot was leading the NAHL in scoring when he moved up to USHL.
That wasn’t too encouraging
Lowell2001
Lowell Hockey Diehard
TSN broadcast was highlighting Austin Elliott's great season with the Knights tonight and said he got an invite to Leafs rookie camp and is "perhaps" hoping to start his pro career next season. No mention of his commitment whatsoever. Hoping they're just talking out of their a** or trying to purposely not mention the new NCAA route for CHL players.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Only place I saw it mentioned was in this article… https://thehockeywriters.com/london-knights-austin-elliott-the-goalie-nobody-saw-coming/
Maybe his stock changed a lot and is soaring due to his performance in the OHL and Memorial Cup playoffs.
cinnamoroll
baby sharks enthusiast
Missing the most likely option here... the recurring joke with Canadian national media is "but how does this effect the Leafs?"
In all seriousness, I'm not shocked this was how it went. After the past few days the CHL media world is very much panicked. Rumors about it are one thing, but the reality of losing top 2025 draft prospects like Malcolm Spence, Jack Ivankovic, Cole Reschny, Jackson Smith, and many more to come made it settle in. The Keaton Verhoeff commitment was the real kicker too, because he's a top 2026 draft eligible. Victoria Royals were already losing Nate Misskey, who they probably hoped to have as an overage player, and now they lost their best forward and best defenseman years before they expected.
No matter your thoughts on the whole situation, I hope all can sympathize with the hurt a fan of a team might feel if the two centerpieces of their future success were suddenly leaving for bigger and better things. I'd imagine the closest NCAA comp is the 2 most impressive recruits for your team entering the portal after their freshman and sophomore years and both landing at Minnesota. You probably wouldn't be able to think about that team or league without getting angry or upset for maybe a month. It's been 2 days for a lot of junior hockey fans.
I think in any other situation they might mention it, and they mentioned EVG's commitment to Maine at one of the round robin games (projected to enroll 2027). I think right now it is just a little too close to home and plenty of CHL fans are trying to go through their emotions. It did kind of suck that these high-profile commitments came before the end of the Memorial Cup, because it became a big talking point for the media availabilities with each league commissioner. Ended up overshadowing the tournament itself.
Either way, let's just appreciate the absolute bonkers season Austin Elliott had, the championship celebration, and the excitement of an intriguing incoming class.
Lowell2001
Lowell Hockey Diehard
Probably a good assumption. I'm going to keep holding out hope that he chooses to go NCAA and develop some more.
Sparkee
Blackbear
What makes it really bonkers is he was waived by a team in WHL and cleared their league waivers. So it was sort of sweet justice he ends up keeping a WHL team from winning the Memorial Cup! Hard not to cheer for him, kind of a rags to riches scenario. One thing going in Lowell’s favor is the Leafs have a few good prospects at goaltender and isn’t likely their top position of need for their farm system from what I can tell. It would probably be more worrisome if he was headed to Florida or Detroit development camps.Missing the most likely option here... the recurring joke with Canadian national media is "but how does this effect the Leafs?"
In all seriousness, I'm not shocked this was how it went. After the past few days the CHL media world is very much panicked. Rumors about it are one thing, but the reality of losing top 2025 draft prospects like Malcolm Spence, Jack Ivankovic, Cole Reschny, Jackson Smith, and many more to come made it settle in. The Keaton Verhoeff commitment was the real kicker too, because he's a top 2026 draft eligible. Victoria Royals were already losing Nate Misskey, who they probably hoped to have as an overage player, and now they lost their best forward and best defenseman years before they expected.
No matter your thoughts on the whole situation, I hope all can sympathize with the hurt a fan of a team might feel if the two centerpieces of their future success were suddenly leaving for bigger and better things. I'd imagine the closest NCAA comp is the 2 most impressive recruits for your team entering the portal after their freshman and sophomore years and both landing at Minnesota. You probably wouldn't be able to think about that team or league without getting angry or upset for maybe a month. It's been 2 days for a lot of junior hockey fans.
I think in any other situation they might mention it, and they mentioned EVG's commitment to Maine at one of the round robin games (projected to enroll 2027). I think right now it is just a little too close to home and plenty of CHL fans are trying to go through their emotions. It did kind of suck that these high-profile commitments came before the end of the Memorial Cup, because it became a big talking point for the media availabilities with each league commissioner. Ended up overshadowing the tournament itself.
Either way, let's just appreciate the absolute bonkers season Austin Elliott had, the championship celebration, and the excitement of an intriguing incoming class.
Lowell2001
Lowell Hockey Diehard
Lol the national media Leafs bias jokes never get oldMissing the most likely option here... the recurring joke with Canadian national media is "but how does this effect the Leafs?"
In all seriousness, I'm not shocked this was how it went. After the past few days the CHL media world is very much panicked. Rumors about it are one thing, but the reality of losing top 2025 draft prospects like Malcolm Spence, Jack Ivankovic, Cole Reschny, Jackson Smith, and many more to come made it settle in. The Keaton Verhoeff commitment was the real kicker too, because he's a top 2026 draft eligible. Victoria Royals were already losing Nate Misskey, who they probably hoped to have as an overage player, and now they lost their best forward and best defenseman years before they expected.
No matter your thoughts on the whole situation, I hope all can sympathize with the hurt a fan of a team might feel if the two centerpieces of their future success were suddenly leaving for bigger and better things. I'd imagine the closest NCAA comp is the 2 most impressive recruits for your team entering the portal after their freshman and sophomore years and both landing at Minnesota. You probably wouldn't be able to think about that team or league without getting angry or upset for maybe a month. It's been 2 days for a lot of junior hockey fans.
I think in any other situation they might mention it, and they mentioned EVG's commitment to Maine at one of the round robin games (projected to enroll 2027). I think right now it is just a little too close to home and plenty of CHL fans are trying to go through their emotions. It did kind of suck that these high-profile commitments came before the end of the Memorial Cup, because it became a big talking point for the media availabilities with each league commissioner. Ended up overshadowing the tournament itself.
Either way, let's just appreciate the absolute bonkers season Austin Elliott had, the championship celebration, and the excitement of an intriguing incoming class.
I do sympathize with CHL fans because now it seems like every team that's in the B1G Ten, BU, BC, Denver, or North Dakota can pretty much poach players from every other NCAA program at-will. That's how the CHL fans must feel about most teams in the NCAA, even ones that aren't those top-tier programs I mentioned.
I've seen you on this forum before and know you've seen Misskey play a lot. He's one of the guys I'm most excited about and seems to have the size, speed, and skill to be an immediate difference maker at both ends of the ice, but I'm curious how you see him lining up as a freshman? Top pair D? Top 4? Special Teams contributions? I only saw him in Victoria's last game of the playoffs where he took that penalty and then they lost on the ensuing Powerplay, lol
. Personally I hope the Lowell coaching staff gives him big minutes in all situations immediately. Some of the freshmen D will have to step up and fill a huge amount of minutes that we lost from grads and seniors.
cinnamoroll
baby sharks enthusiast
Glad you catch my drift on both points. Honestly, they were lucky the big Leafs prospect in the tournament was actually one of the best players, otherwise the focus on him would've been way too obvious.Lol the national media Leafs bias jokes never get old
I do sympathize with CHL fans because now it seems like every team that's in the B1G Ten, BU, BC, Denver, or North Dakota can pretty much poach players from every other NCAA program at-will. That's how the CHL fans must feel about most teams in the NCAA, even ones that aren't those top-tier programs I mentioned.
I've seen you on this forum before and know you've seen Misskey play a lot. He's one of the guys I'm most excited about and seems to have the size, speed, and skill to be an immediate difference maker at both ends of the ice, but I'm curious how you see him lining up as a freshman? Top pair D? Top 4? Special Teams contributions? I only saw him in Victoria's last game of the playoffs where he took that penalty and then they lost on the ensuing Powerplay, lol
Yeah, that was a devastating end to Nate's junior career. Victoria really went further than anyone expected this postseason, largely on the back of their goalie Johnny Hicks, who joined WHL midway through the year. Then he got sick i think? and Spokane is just terrifying. The toughest part about that final moment is Misskey was one of their best pkers, so him taking the penalty was extra awful for Victoria. I remember a few especially hairy moments that series where they had to kill a significant amount of 5-on-3 time, and he was basically on the ice for all of it. Had some really impressive effort and key blocks there.
He'll be in the mix at least for middle pairing, pk, and maybe pp2 QB. He would sometimes be on pp2 with Keaton Verhoeff, who I mentioned above- a stud defenseman, but super young. Seemed like they would split responsibility at times. If he ends up third pairing, that wouldn't be super concerning as a freshman, though probably disappointing for him and the Sharks. His speed and size should be a bonus, and at the junior level he was solidly an all-situations defender. Can move a puck, can be physical, can play shut-down. Could use some rounding out of his identity as a player.
He's no stranger to putting in the work– his game improved significantly his D+1 year, after which he got drafted. Sharks director of player development Todd Marchant does an annual podcast interview I call "State of the Baby Sharks" going over each prospect's season and future plans, and here's his part on Misskey last week. He seems like the ideal sort of prospect for this sort of path- kind of like Dalyn Wakely, who wasn't drafted until d+2. Both want some more development before turning pro but junior eligibility was running out.
Looks like another goalie for this year, a 24-year old freshman named Samuel Richard, who played 3 years in the QMJHL, then 3 years at the University of New Brunswick.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/295599/samuel-richard
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/295599/samuel-richard
Robert Balin
Active member
He'll come in as a Senior. Three year stats at NB University.... 56 wins 6 losses and a gaa way under two.
Thank you. I wasn't sure how the credits would transfer and how much eligibility he'd have. Appreciate your clarifying this for me.
A little late, but here's the final recruit stats.
| Playoffs | |||||||||||||
| Recruit | DOB | Pos. | Team | NZ | GP | G | A | T | GP | G | A | T | |
| Dalyn Wakely | 03/05/04 | F | Barrie (OHL) | 4.25 | 55 | 23 | 35 | 58 | 16 | 7 | 17 | 24 | |
| Nikola Goich | 03/24/04 | G | Shreveport (NAHL) | 3.50 | 39 | 2.24 | 0.924 | 3 | 1.81 | 0.936 | |||
| Josh Mori | 03/27/04 | D | Edmonton (WHL) | 3.75 | 68 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| James Johnson | 04/16/04 | D | Nanaimo (BCHL) | 3.50 | 51 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Austin Elliott | 05/14/04 | G | London (OHL) | 3.75 | 36 | 2.12 | 0.922 | 17 | 2.46 | 0.906 | |||
| Cole Lonsdale | 05/30/04 | F | Nanaimo (BCHL) | 3.75 | 54 | 27 | 40 | 67 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| August Classon | 08/03/04 | D | Lone Star (NAHL) | 3.50 | 45 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| Luke Shipley | 08/08/04 | D | Brandon (WHL) | 4.00 | 60 | 20 | 37 | 57 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Nate Misskey | 01/12/05 | D | Victoria (WHL) | 3.75 | 63 | 10 | 37 | 47 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 6 | |
| Tnias Mathurin | 01/15/05 | D | Windsor (OHL) | 3.50 | 49 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jack Solomon | 02/17/05 | G | Austin (NAHL) | 3.50 | 37 | 1.91 | 0.928 | 8 | 2.07 | 0.929 | |||
| Nick Romeo | 05/02/05 | F | Cedar Rapids (USHL) | 3.75 | 57 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lucas Busch | 09/29/05 | F | Wisconsin (NAHL) | 3.25 | 23 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aidan Dyer | 12/28/05 | F | Chicago (USHL) | 3.75 | 62 | 10 | 16 | 26 | |||||
| Elliot Gulley | 12/29/05 | F | Wisconsin (NAHL) / Green Bay (USHL) | 3.75 | 64 | 17 | 42 | 59 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Diego Buttazzoni | 01/13/06 | F | Portland (WHL) | 3.75 | 63 | 38 | 39 | 77 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 27 | |
| Charlie Kresl | 01/27/06 | F | Vernon (BCHL) | 3.75 | 45 | 12 | 15 | 27 | |||||
| Easton Jacobs | 01/29/06 | F | Omaha (USHL) | 3.75 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |||||
| Carson Olsen | 03/03/06 | D | Spruce Grove (BCHL) | 3.50 | 48 | 2 | 8 | 10 | |||||
| Ryan Kroll | 04/04/06 | D | Des Moines (USHL) | 3.50 | 59 | 0 | 4 | 4 | |||||
| Wyatt Herres | 01/27/07 | D | Wisconsin (NAHL) | 3.50 | 49 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| Kyle Jones | 02/27/07 | G | Oklahoma (NAHL) / Tri-City (USHL) | 4.00 | 32 | 3.55 | 0.889 | 1 | 6.03 | 0.846 | |||
| Stephen Grumley | 04/29/07 | D | Sherwood Park (BCHL) | 3.75 | 47 | 1 | 21 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tristen Buckley | 12/19/07 | F | Sherwood Park (BCHL) | - | 53 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Owen McCarthy | 02/20/08 | D | Trail (BCHL) | 4.00 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Anthony Pedalino | 04/29/08 | D | Long Island Gulls U16 | 3.50 | 50 | 4 | 24 | 28 |
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