UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Luke Reid withdrew his commitment to North Dakota in mid-November. Originally projected to enroll at ND in Fall 2020, they did not offer him a National Letter of Intent so he renewed his search: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sp...key-recruits-wont-be-inking-Letters-of-Intent

Reid is the 3rd defenseman, in recent years, to commit to UNH after "decommitting" from a top college program and renewing a search for a new program. Max Gildon withdrew his commitment to Wisconsin and Will MacKinnon decommitted from Denver.

MacKinnon walks on hallowed ground this morning.... Ha! We'll take those players every day of the week....

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Can we please lock up John Evans now. Another 4 point weekend as a 17 year old. https://bchl.ca/stats/player/5588/40/john-evans

Would be interesting if his moving on from UND is in anyway tied to them beating UNH for Scott Morrow...

Probably not from UNH's perspective, as UNH likely has two spots open for this year, so could have sought them both. After UND deferred Reid in November, I bet UNH and others had interest and ability.

Now, North Dakota's glut of commitments, cutting loose Reid probably allowed them to go after Morrow for 2021. Reading between the lines from his article he says he had offers for 2020, which likely included UNH (his dad played there and he would have been the first legacy).

And in this we see the far more fluid commitment process. Dakota and Wisconsin overrecruit and select, in the process leaving lots stranded. UNH is on the other end of the spectrum, cutting fewer guys (O'Neill, Bahn, Corson Green). We can see from the line charts that they have many forward spots filled, so they may be limited in what they can offer Evans at this point (apart from whether he wants us).

 

[Dan]

Now, North Dakota's glut of commitments, cutting loose Reid probably allowed them to go after Morrow for 2021. Reading between the lines from his article he says he had offers for 2020, which likely included UNH (his dad played there and he would have been the first legacy).

Right. This is more what I meant - does UND pulling an NLI to pursue UNH target Morrow result in freeing up a highly regarded defenseman that UNH then snaps up. It’s an interesting circle of recruiting. I’d prefer the offensive upside of Morrow, but Reid is very well rounded and certainly a first pair type guy...

We can see from the line charts that they have many forward spots filled, so they may be limited in what they can offer Evans at this point (apart from whether he wants us).

And this is the question I came here to ask...

UNH has a minimum of 17 forwards in the pipeline for each of the next three years. They still need another defenseman and a goalie - both by 2021, at least, if not sooner. Despite the need for more scoring, how much money do you think they would even have available for the position right now? Evans - or equivalent - will not be a discounted commit...

Are they going quantity over quality a la the end of the Borek era? Can they chase more Fs without creating decommitments?

I wonder if they’re concrete or vague in offering money. Are they promising kids X percent? Or are they suggesting a commitment and they’ll talk money later? Are they saying, ‘we have X and we’ll try to get more later’...?

I have concerns that with future commits were in for more of the same as opposed to seeing a real path to a top-HE team. What do you envision??

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Maybe C-H-C is right and Nick Ardanaz will be brought in as a true freshman. Like Benton Maass, he appears to be a good student who may want to continue schooling right away. West Kelowna was a mess earlu this year, and a lot of his assists are on the PP, so his readiness in all situations is a question. But his offense is unmistakeable. Let's not Laleggia him.

since Thanksgiving 15 games 1 goal 18 assists.

Sa @ wk 2019-11-23 0 1 1
pr @ wk 2019-11-29 0 0 0
nan @ wk 2019-11-30 0 2 2
wk @ pen 2019-12-06 0 0 0
pen @ wk 2019-12-07 0 2 2
wk @ tra 2019-12-13 0 2 2
wen @ wk 2019-12-14 0 2 2
chw @ wk 2019-12-17 0 1 1
mer @ wk 2019-12-20 0 1 1
wk @ mer 2019-12-21 0 2 2
coq @ wk 2020-01-03 0 0 0
wk @ chw 2020-01-04 0 0 0
wk @ mer 2020-01-10 1 1 2
mer @ wk 2020-01-11 0 1 1
av @ wk 2020-01-12 0 3 3

West Kelowna Warriors defenceman Nick Ardanaz has been named the BCHL High School Player of the Month for December.

This award is for players 18-years-old or younger who are attending high school full time and is based on in-class and on-ice performance.

Ardanaz, who is from Langley, B.C., tied for the most assists among all BCHL players last month with 10 and finished as December’s second-leading scoring defenceman. He had four multi-point efforts in seven games and registered at least a point in six straight to close out the month.

On top of his solid play on the ice, the 17-year-old also exceled in the classroom. So far through his first semester at Mount Boucherie Secondary in West Kelowna, he has a 91 per cent average, while taking courses like Chemistry 12 and English 12. For his second semester, the University of New Hampshire commit is taking another set of challenging classes, including Pre-Calculus 12 and Law Studies 12.

On the season, Ardanaz is tied for sixth in scoring among rookie defencemen with 19 points in 39 games and is third in assists with 18.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Like the word gauntlet, I like the Canadian spelling of defencemen.

 

[deltabravo62]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

In response to the question of scholarships and quantity vs quality, I remember it being reported around these parts (unofficially of course) that in the wake of Borek leaving UNH we had to sweeten the pot to keep some of the recruits that he committed from leaving. Would most of those players having graduated this past year or being seniors this year be leaving more room to divy up our 50% or less offers and carrying 2-3 extra players? I am liking the fact that we leave some space for some of these last minute decommits to pick up a player or two late in the game but that it is not the primary recruiting strategy.

I'm curious to see how the recruiting game continues on in the Souza era but the fact that we are committing some better players and they are being given a chance over lesser qualified but higher seniority players is a great start.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

I'm curious to see how the recruiting game continues on in the Souza era but the fact that we are committing some better players and they are being given a chance over lesser qualified but higher seniority players is a great start.

Totally agreed. If you're good enough, you're old enough.

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNHCommits?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNHCommits</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLCentralScout?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHLCentralScout</a> North American Midterm Ranking: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CarsenRichels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CarsenRichels</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cRichels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cRichels</a> #75 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LukeReid?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LukeReid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Reid_luke4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reid_luke4</a> #110 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DavidSacco?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DavidSacco</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dsacco20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dsacco20</a> #175 <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHMHOCKEY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNHMHOCKEY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BHSBengalHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BHSBengalHockey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoSteel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChicagoSteel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LAHOCKEYISL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAHOCKEYISL</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fe5XpOTx1G">https://t.co/Fe5XpOTx1G</a></p>— Mike Lowry (@UNHHockeyBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHHockeyBlog/status/1216852880096997376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[After the Whistle]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNHCommits?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNHCommits</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLCentralScout?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHLCentralScout</a> North American Midterm Ranking: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CarsenRichels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CarsenRichels</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cRichels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cRichels</a> #75 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LukeReid?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LukeReid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Reid_luke4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reid_luke4</a> #110 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DavidSacco?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DavidSacco</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dsacco20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dsacco20</a> #175 <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHMHOCKEY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNHMHOCKEY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BHSBengalHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BHSBengalHockey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoSteel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChicagoSteel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LAHOCKEYISL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAHOCKEYISL</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fe5XpOTx1G">https://t.co/Fe5XpOTx1G</a></p>— Mike Lowry (@UNHHockeyBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHHockeyBlog/status/1216852880096997376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mike it would certainly be great to have 3 go in this years draft. Hope David's 178 isn't too high to get him in. While not the definitive answer having draft picks always makes you feel like recruiting is on a solid track. Thanks for the update.
Go Cat!

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

"UNH Commit Damien Carfagna: A Fleet-Footed, Smart Defenseman"
Includes interview, video highlights, scouting reports and stats.

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

"UNH Commits Update 1-24-20: Spotlight on NHL Draft Prospects"
Includes NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings for Carsen Richels, Luke Reid & David Sacco, plus video highlights.

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Remember, games are won three season ahead by recruiting. So if Souza can't land Evans, and didn't spend this off week camped in Kelowna with a plane ticket for him, then the season is a loss.
https://bchl.ca/stats/player/5588/40/john-evans

2020-21
Jr.Crookshank---Jr.Pierson---------Sr.Kelleher
Fr.Richels--------Jr.Engaras -------Sr.Grasso
Sr.Sato-----------So.Stevenson----Sr.MacAdams
Fr.Margel---------Fr.Cafarelli-------Sr.Esposito
Jr.Cipollone------So.Herrmann-----Sr.Sacco
Fr.Sweeney------So.Hankinson

Sr.Maass---------So.Eriksson
Jr.MacKinnon----Fr.Reid
Fr.Ardanaz-------Jr.Verrier
So.McElhaney----Jr.Hickey

2021-22
Sr.Crookshank--Sr.Pierson------Sr.Engaras
So.Richels-------Jr.Stevenson-----So.Cafarelli
Sr.Esposito------So.Margel--------Fr.D.Sacco
Fr.Devlin---------Fr.Bakos-------Fr.Cronin
Sr.Cipollone----Jr.Herrmann-------Fr.Curran
Fr.J.Ring-------So.Sweeney-------Jr.Hankinson

Jr.Eriksson--------So.Ardanaz
Sr.MacKinnon-----So.Reid
Sr.Verrier----------Fr.Gagne
Jr.McElhaney------Fr.________
Sr.Hickey

2022-23
Jr.Richels------Sr.Stevenson---Jr.Cafarelli
-------Fr.Turner--------So.D.Sacco
Jr.Margel--------So.Bakos--------So.Curran
So.Devlin--------Sr.Herrmann----So.Cronin
So.J.Ring-------Fr.Leclerc--------Sr.Hankinson
---Fr.Winters-------Jr.Sweeney

Jr.Ardanaz-----Sr.Eriksson
So.______------Jr.Reid
So.Gagne-----Fr.Carfagna
Fr._______----Sr.McElhaney

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Always appreciate the recruiting outlook grid, 'Watcher … but why do you usually not include goalies?

At least one of our three will be leaving soon (possibly two), and all three will be gone in two years ...

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Always appreciate the recruiting outlook grid, 'Watcher … but why do you usually not include goalies?

At least one of our three will be leaving soon (possibly two), and all three will be gone in two years ...

Joe Lazzaro was a good goalie at Berwick Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy. He came to UNH as the third goalie without an athletic scholarship. Although Robinson and Taylor are both NHL draft picks, I do not think either will turn pro before they graduate. I expect UNH will bring in a third goalie next season with credentials similar to Lazzaro's and will get a verbal commitment from a goalie with NHL potential. This goalie would come in as a freshman when Taylor is a senior.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Joe Lazzaro was a good goalie at Berwick Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy. He came to UNH as the third goalie without an athletic scholarship. Although Robinson and Taylor are both NHL draft picks, I do not think either will turn pro before they graduate. I expect UNH will bring in a third goalie next season with credentials similar to Lazzaro's and will get a verbal commitment from a goalie with NHL potential. This goalie would come in as a freshman when Taylor is a senior.

Thanks Mike - appreciate the insight. Not so worried about who's going to be the 3rd goalie, but with the deep recruiting being done for the other positions, it strikes me that UNH seems to be approaching goalie as almost an afterthought? Commesso was a big thing with program projections, years ahead of his anticipated matriculation, and decommitted two-and-a-half years ago, later committing to BU (starting next Fall, I believe). Ty Taylor looks to have been recruited a few months later, 2 years ago ...

https://www.themackreport.com/college-hockey/drew-commesso-de-commits-from-unh/

https://unhhockeyblog.blogspot.com/2018/02/ty-taylor-top-goalie-in-bchl-commits-to.html

I don't think there's been any discussion since then about who's next in UNH's plans in goal - especially with Robinson only one year (max) left, and Taylor already at the halfway point in his career. We went from having goalie sewn up through circa 2024, to now looking at an empty cupboard for starter-caliber goalies by 2022. In the meantime, 'Watcher has projected forwards and defensemen - three lines and pairings worth - through at least 2023.

I don't pretend to know if it's a "goalie thing" or a "UNH thing", but it does seem a curious disconnect ...

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Joe Lazzaro was a good goalie at Berwick Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy. He came to UNH as the third goalie without an athletic scholarship. Although Robinson and Taylor are both NHL draft picks, I do not think either will turn pro before they graduate. I expect UNH will bring in a third goalie next season with credentials similar to Lazzaro's and will get a verbal commitment from a goalie with NHL potential. This goalie would come in as a freshman when Taylor is a senior.

Considering that UNH goalies are 53rd (out of 60 teams) in save percentage I would say that is a safe bet.

Looking a bit deeper at UNH goaltending stats and comparing to those from say 2 or 3 seasons ago its a wonder Chuck isn't taking a victory lap

 

[e.cat]

Considering that UNH goalies are 53rd (out of 60 teams) in save percentage I would say that is a safe bet.

Looking a bit deeper at UNH goaltending stats and comparing to those from say 2 or 3 seasons ago its a wonder Chuck isn't taking a victory lap

Admitedly some of that is on the guys in front of you, but 53rd??!! That's gawdawful!!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Admitedly some of that is on the guys in front of you, but 53rd??!! That's gawdawful!!

I think it's safe to say "the guys in front of you" this year are the best crew UNH has had since Tirone's abbreviated frosh season. Still rooting for Robinson/Taylor to come good this season (and next), there will be no "victory lap" until the dust has settled, and I'd be happy to "eat crow" if it meant UNH came up with a great finish this season, and a great season next year.

But as things stand today, yeah, Tirone isn't looking half-bad by comparison FWIW.

I'm only on this thread to figure out what comes next after Robinson/Taylor in two plus years … and I guess I'm concerned that two-and-a-half years after the Commesso de-commit, his slot for the UNH goalie recruiting matrix still really hasn't been filled. Seems a most curious omission ...

 

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Goalies are the one area where its best to wait. Aside from NHL first rounders Knight, Oetinger, etc., there's lots of 18-19 year olds out there.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Goalies are the one area where its best to wait. Aside from NHL first rounders Knight, Oetinger, etc., there's lots of 18-19 year olds out there.

Thanks. Serious questions, as I don't pretend to know the answers, Watcher …

Is what you state above a "UNH thing" or is it a more generally-held approach across the D-1 universe?

Did the Commesso experience change UNH's thinking and approach in this area (i.e. goalies)?

How does Souza conduct business in comparison to the Borek/Umile years (goalies or otherwise)?

From the position of someone who observes but admittedly doesn't delve into the recruiting world like you or C-H-C … it seems to me that Souza is more patient and picky than the Borek approach, which often seemed to be quantity over quality. But with the "patience" it would seem to me that you're more dependent upon decommits, finding diamonds in the rough, and coaching up those guys you do manage to bring onto campus. And blue chip finds continue to be few and far between.

Dan has always done a nice job of explaining the importance of having a "critical mass" of talent on hand, not just the odd Gildon, Kelleher or Crookshank around. And at this point, I'm not sure I see Souza getting any closer to the "critical mass" needed to get UNH to the next competitive level. I want to be optimistic, and I want Souza and his guys to succeed. But if I'm being honest, I'm not sure we're seeing that emerge … so far anyway. And with the decommits of the Commessos and Stutzles of the world - not to mention the Farabees and Foegeles etc. et als - it would seem Souza really needs to up his game soon, or we're going to be caught in terminal mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Tell me I'm wrong, please ...