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Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Union Assistant Sports Information Director Jeff Weinstein, whose responsibilities include men's hockey, has taken a job in the University of Michigan athletics department.

It's well-deserved, and whoever replaces him at Union will have big shoes to fill.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

rdf8585 said:
Union Assistant Sports Information Director Jeff Weinstein, whose responsibilities include men's hockey, has taken a job in the University of Michigan athletics department.

It's well-deserved, and whoever replaces him at Union will have big shoes to fill.
Click to expand...

I'll echo that. It's sad to see Jeff move on, but talk about getting called up to the big leagues. :eek::)
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Union made official today what was known for days - Pontarelli is coming this year.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

I was able to get some first-hand accounts of Michael Pontarelli and recruit Connor Light:

http://bit.ly/147M9qU

First time doing this kind of piece, so feedback welcomed.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Kents Hill boys varsity hockey head coach Larry Cockrell breaks down former player, Union recruit Mark Dufour.... strengths, weaknesses, D1 projection.

http://bit.ly/14yjjPM
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Great post on Dufour. Keep these going! I find it great to learn about the recruits from their former coaches!
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

GameOn said:
Great post on Dufour. Keep these going! I find it great to learn about the recruits from their former coaches!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the nice words; it all depends on how much cooperation I get.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

What's everyone's latest line projections now that pontarelli's in the mix?
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

GameOn said:
What's everyone's latest line projections now that pontarelli's in the mix?
Click to expand...

1: Carr---Pontarelli---Wilkins
2: Hatch---Novak---Sullivan
3: Ciampini---Gonye---Vecchione
4: Lichtenwald---Roy---Ikkala

D1: Bodie--Gingras
D2: Gostisbehere--Vasaturo
D3: Boyle--Taylor

G: Stevens, Sakellaropolous, Pieri

I'm rating Pontarelli very high based off of the reports I've read. I think he will play well with Carr and Wilkins on the top line. I also really liked the Hatch/Novak/Sullivan line last year, they should be a very solid, veteran line. The third line consists of two highly touted freshman with Ciampini. The fourth line consists of all big bodies that can do some damage. I really like this team and I'm leaving out some notable players such as Bennett, Coatta, and Cruice. On the defensive side, there a several freshman (Martin, Henry, and Krug) who could replace Boyle (who is on a short-leash in my book.)
 
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UnionFan4Life said:
1: Carr---Pontarelli---Wilkins
2: Hatch---Novak---Sullivan
3: Ciampini---Gonye---Vecchione
4: Lichtenwald---Roy---Ikkala

D1: Bodie--Gingras
D2: Gostisbehere--Vasaturo
D3: Boyle--Taylor

G: Stevens, Sakellaropolous, Pieri

I'm rating Pontarelli very high based off of the reports I've read. I think he will play well with Carr and Wilkins on the top line. I also really liked the Hatch/Novak/Sullivan line last year, they should be a very solid, veteran line. The third line consists of two highly touted freshman with Ciampini. The fourth line consists of all big bodies that can do some damage. I really like this team and I'm leaving out some notable players such as Bennett, Coatta, and Cruice. On the defensive side, there a several freshman (Martin, Henry, and Krug) who could replace Boyle (who is on a short-leash in my book.)
Click to expand...

Nice try

Vech will prob be at center
Pont not ready to play with Carr, couldn't keep up with him
Cruice will play
Taylor will be next ghost but a habit more reserved
 
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Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

I would agree that vech is more first line ready than pontsy. He's been a consistant scorer at the USHL level and should fit in nicely with Carr and wilky. Keep in mind that RB learned the lesson of continuity last year too and is probably less likely to shuffle lines from night to night. Overall pre season projections this last week look a lot more promising than they did when Jorris decided to leave.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Best part of this is the depth. Quality kids sitting who will be pushing the others.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Hokydad said:
Nice try

Vech will prob be at center
Pont not ready to play with Carr, couldn't keep up with him
Cruice will play
Taylor will be next ghost but a habit more reserved
Click to expand...
Has Vecchione played center? Right now Novak is the only one with center experience in the top 6. Agree that Vecch is probably more ready for the top 2 lines and would be surprised if they moved Pont to center as a frosh - he'll have plenty to adjust to as it is. My thoughts were that Novak would move to 1st line with Carr and beyond that will probably see the chess pieces moved around in the first couple months of the season to get the best combos on the top 3 lines.

Have to say I'm getting very excited for the season to start. Adding Mr. P really boosts the recruiting class, as I love the idea of him and Vecchione playing together for (hopefully) the next 4 years. And as Hokydad mentions, this class brings real depth up front and on the backend. Also agree with those that said that expectations for Pontarelli need to be kept in check, at least in the short term. I know he would say that he was training hard to go back to Cornwall, but NCAA is a whole different ballgame and the grind of playing & practicing against larger players that are at his skill level & going to a rigorous college will be a tough adjustment.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Doesn't appear that the WaP piece considers Pontsy. Most likely written before his commitment. I'm 100% ok with the perception that this will be a down year or that it's not the same team that made the NCAAs. RB will have them ready. There's a ton of heart and a whole lot of talent that's hungry for those roster spots.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

GameOn said:
Doesn't appear that the WaP piece considers Pontsy. Most likely written before his commitment. I'm 100% ok with the perception that this will be a down year or that it's not the same team that made the NCAAs. RB will have them ready. There's a ton of heart and a whole lot of talent that's hungry for those roster spots.
Click to expand...
Tom answered the Pontarelli question on the RPI thread.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

I think a fair expectation for Pontarelli's point total will be somewhere between what Laliberte put up in his first year ( albeit injury riddled) and what the Spinks put up at Colgate last year. You can't realisitically expect much more than 15-25 points out of most freshmen, even those as accomplished as Pontarelli. Anything over 25 points is golden.

I think the guy who will make the biggest jump this year is Wilkins. He really turned it on in the second half of the year once he got adjusted to the faster pace of the college game.

I also expect big things out of Hatch and Novak, and if Sullivan can figure out how to get off to a hot start he could easily reach 20-25 points.
 
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