Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit
Time for the long awaited update on Union's recruits (Sorry, I can't do a daily Ralph Baer report
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’11 Recruits:
- Drew Brown C Kent (NE Prep), 5-11 185#, 7-7-12-19: Had huge numbers in Michigan HS and off to a big start at Kent this season, currently one of the top scorers in NE Preps. Kent is very good and is currently USHR’s #1 ranked team, having recently beaten last year’s champ Avon who was undefeated. Drew is reportedly the whole package of skating, playmaking & finishing.
- Trevor Mingoia C Berkshire (NE Prep), 5-11 170#, 9-7-6-13: I saw Trevor play a few weeks ago at Albany Academy and was pretty impressed. Thought he stood out in this game as one of the better players, a plus skater with a good stick and very hard working. Nice playmaking skills or, as Leaman likes to say, a "smart player". Chris Warner of USHR (the resident NE Preps guru), saw Mingoia in a preseason tournament and predicted Trevor will be one of the top forwards in NE Preps this season.
- Tyson Fulton RW Waterloo (USHL), 6-1 185#, 25-5-8-13-18: Put up big numbers in Minnesota HS last year and was on the NHL’s watch list, but has struggled to hit the score sheet in the USHL. Waterloo is not a very good team and lacks offensive depth, so could be some of the reason. Currently 5th on the team in scoring, Tyson is reportedly a hard working, gritty player that is not afraid to make plays in the "dirty" areas of the rink.
- Max Novak C Jersey (ECHL),6-0 176#, 26-17-15-32-10: The ECHL looks like a very weird league this season. There are 3-4 teams that are very good and are killing everyone else. Jersey is undefeated and has only had a couple games that were competitive. Max started slowly but has put up 19 points in his last 11 games and is in the top 20 in league scoring, though is only 7th on his team in scoring. While I'm not sure he is exactly progressing as well as he could, he is reportedly a very fast skater and has a good stick.
- Daniel Ciampini LW St. Michaels (OJHL), 6-0 183#, 38-22-38-60-52: Currently tied for 8th in league scoring, had 42 goals in 46 games last season for St. Mikes (a team record), so has goal scoring abilities. Reportedly a hard working physical player.
- Mark Bennett RW Oakville (OJHL), 6-0 192#, 36-5-18-23-12: Had 57 points in 45 games for Oakville last season, so a bit of a drop-off this season though Oakville is not as good this year. Reportedly a good two-way player with some size.
- Charlie Vasaturo D Salmon Arm (BCHL), 6-3 200#, 36-2-13-15-53: Big & physical, reportedly one of the top defensemen in the BCHL. Numbers are solid but likely don't tell the whole story of what he does on the ice game-in and game-out.
’12 Recruits:
- Shayne Gostisbehere, D, South Kent (NE Prep), 5-11 170#, 10-2-8-10: A very mobile offensive defenseman, one of the leading D scorers in Preps. Would expect him to spend a year in juniors next season before coming to U.
- Colin Stevens, Jr. Bruins (ECHL), 6-2 162#, 18-2.54-92.9%, 4 shutouts: Leads league in shutouts and top 5 in GAA and save%. Having a very good season as one of the younger goalies in the league. If he doesn't come next fall, would not be surprised to see him mover to the USHL.
Next year's class is a very important one, as the graduating seniors IMO really put U on the map and gave the team talent, depth and most importantly speed. Prez, Simpson, Boileau, Buote, Matheson, etc. will be hard to replace. If Luke Cain does not come back for his red-shirt season, then will need 6 forwards, 1 d-man and a goalie. It looks like the coaches have done a great job on this class. Brown, Mingoia and Novak have speed & skill. Fulton, Ciampini & Bennett will bring grit & energy, and Vasaturo adds size on the blueline (always nice when the Big Red come to town). Will need to bring in another goalie for next season and not clear if Stevens would be accelerated.
As for the '12 class, will need at least 2 d-men and 2 forwards. The big replacements will be for Zajac & White. Gostisbehere should be another terrific puck moving d-man and Vasaturo should be ready to fill White's role on the blueline, so look for at least one more d-man and a couple forwards to come.