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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?

Wicked Slappaahs said:
It isn't just NHL camps, if I'm not mistaken, players can attend Major Jr. camps also without getting sideways with the NCAA.

I can't honestly see how you can be mad at Jooris. Yes, the timing stinks. By all accounts had a great camp and it sounds like the Flames told him the depth chart is wide open. There are no guarantees in this world - he could've returned for his senior year and blown his knee out in week 3.

You can disagree with his decision, but don't begrudge the kid for chasing the dream. Just my two pennies.
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If anyone cares, I wish Josh well and hope his decision proves to be the right one for him. I agree that anything could happen and injury is always a possible issue. But just as that is not known, also unknown is if he might have had a spectacular senior year which could have materialized in a better deal and possibly more choices for him. In any event, water over the dam and under the bridge.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

How could he have gotten a better deal?? That deal is pretty standard for entry level guys. Nice bonus, close to 200K and at least 80 per year plus potential nhl money
You have to ask a kid, would you take 400K out of your account, play at Union or any school another year to maybe make 100-200 more(maybe)

I doubt you would take 400 out of your account and hope you had a spectacular deal.

deal or no deal... Bang the button, deal
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

My updated lineup prediction (after reading more in-depth on the recruits lol)

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

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

G: Stevens, Sakellaropolous, Pieri

I believe Hatch has the most potential to be converted to center, based on speed and skating ability. There are some question marks with the offense lines, but it will be interesting to see how the coaching staff reconfigures the offensive lines. (Who knows, maybe Cruice or DiPauli have break-out years.) This team is very deep with defense, we should easily be a top defensive team again this year. Boyle will be on a very short leash as there are 3 other freshman D who will be hungry for playing time.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Wholin1 said:
If anyone cares, I wish Josh well and hope his decision proves to be the right one for him. I agree that anything could happen and injury is always a possible issue. But just as that is not known, also unknown is if he might have had a spectacular senior year which could have materialized in a better deal and possibly more choices for him. In any event, water over the dam and under the bridge.
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Of course we care ;).. Hokydad is spot on in that a 2/2 FA deal doesn't get much better. He is 23 and in 2 years will be 25, which is getting older by NHL standards. My bet is the money was not the main factor, it was the opportunity to play no lower than the AHL and get a hard look to make the bigs. A lot of FAs signed after college get less than 2-year deals and never even make it to the AHL. I wish him the best of luck and thank him for his contributions to U's success the last 3 seasons.. though it does still suck :rolleyes:.

UnionFan4Life said:
My updated lineup prediction (after reading more in-depth on the recruits lol)

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

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

G: Stevens, Sakellaropolous, Pieri

I believe Hatch has the most potential to be converted to center, based on speed and skating ability. There are some question marks with the offense lines, but it will be interesting to see how the coaching staff reconfigures the offensive lines. (Who knows, maybe Cruice or DiPauli have break-out years.) This team is very deep with defense, we should easily be a top defensive team again this year. Boyle will be on a very short leash as there are 3 other freshman D who will be hungry for playing time.
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If Sullivan plays anywhere near like he did the last 2 months of last season, he will be top 6. Agree that Hatch could end up at center and will be interesting to see if Ciampini makes top 2 lines. IMO the 3rd line is the big question mark, if Vecchione is on the top 2 lines then are looking at some combo of Ciampini, Lichtenwald, Gonye, Roy, etc. I'm a big fan of Ikky and Coatta, and there are plenty of interchangable parts to have either a big physical or smaller fast 4th line. Overall the offense does not look as deep or explosive as it might have been with Jooris and the 2nd PP unit could be a little thin. There are also huge question marks on defense, where only Bodie and Ghost have played at least 2 full seasons, and in goal where Stevens will likely have to make some big saves behind a green D corps.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

In spite of losing Jooris to the pros , the loss to graduation and free agency for Grosenick, I am optimistic about next season. The departure of Jooris will focus the team starting now resulting in them rallying behind Stephens from day one, he will lead the way so to speak. Every player will have a greater sense of urgency and the learning curve for the inexperienced will be more of a team focus and accomplishment. No doubt there will be bumps and bruises but there will be surprises too, we will have home ice and like last year getting a bye will go down to the wire, but we will be in Lake Placid at the end.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Powell River Kings broadcaster Alex Rawnsley chats with incoming D Noah Henry -

http://bit.ly/16pWhPV

Reading between the lines, it sounds as if Henry coming a yr ahead of schedule may have had something to do w/ Jooris signing w/ Calgary.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Perhaps they were skittish that Ghost may be leaving in spite of all that was said about staying, it's tough to know what pressure is being applied behind the scenes contract wise. Hopefully Ghost will stay all 4 years and graduate on time.
 
rdf8585 said:
Union defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere named the 6th best prospect in the Philadelphia Flyers organization: http://bit.ly/18ZiKnf

Former Union star Jeremy Welsh named the 7th best prospect in the Carolina Hurricanes organization: http://bit.ly/1959BwU
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I think the analysis for Ghost was fair. There are times where he tries to do too much, gets carried away with his skills and over handles the puck. All in all a minor complaint. FWIW I don't see him leaving Union this season, so far as next season, I have no idea. As a drafted player though, he has only one suitor unlike Welsh, Grosenick and Kinkaid who to an extent could play the field.

So far as Welsh, I didn't see him play more than a few minutes of his first pro season, but statistically it seemed fairly mundane. This is a huge season for him as it is the second of his two year deal.
 
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Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

It's definitely a huge season for Welsh. Turning 26 next spring, he isn't a that much of a "young" prospect anymore.

As for him getting faster, I guess my main concern is how much faster someone can realistically get at that age? I'm no coach, but maybe someone here would know better.
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Defenseman Connor Light, the newly announced recruit, said Union was the "obvious" choice for him.

He reveals why and also what other schools Union beat out for his services:

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

rdf8585 said:
Defenseman Connor Light, the newly announced recruit, said Union was the "obvious" choice for him.

He reveals why and also what other schools Union beat out for his services:

http://bit.ly/USzLMD
Click to expand...

As usual, I enjoyed your write-up Ryan! I'm looking forward to seeing more profiles like this one for future commitments.

I like everything I have seen about Connor so far. He looks to have all of the physical tools needed to be an elite defender in the ECAC, and I have no doubt he can reach that level of play with a little refining in his game during his year in the USHL. He can really move for a big kid, and his skating and agility is off the charts for someone his size. It's also comforting to see that the coaching staff is winning recruiting battles against the other upper echelon ECAC schools, especially over our rivals over in Troy. :p
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Dutchfan said:
As usual, I enjoyed your write-up Ryan! I'm looking forward to seeing more profiles like this one for future commitments.

I like everything I have seen about Connor so far. He looks to have all of the physical tools needed to be an elite defender in the ECAC, and I have no doubt he can reach that level of play with a little refining in his game during his year in the USHL. He can really move for a big kid, and his skating and agility is off the charts for someone his size. It's also comforting to see that the coaching staff is winning recruiting battles against the other upper echelon ECAC schools, especially over our rivals over in Troy. :p
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Definitely is great to hear a recruit say that the ECAC is a top ("if not the best") league and that U winning back-to-back league titles was a factor in the decision. Agree he looks very talented and will be interesting to see how he does in the USHL next season. Nice to see a BIG defenseman with skills, and from the Boston area no less. Overall, I would say that the last 4-5 recruits we've heard of all have big upside.. U's success may just be helping.

..and not to steal rdf's thunder, but he has the scoop on the volunteer assistant coach to replace Joel Beal. Looks like a another good addition.
http://unionhockeynews.blogspot.com/2013/08/ronan-named-mens-volunteer-assistant.html
 
Re: Union Hockey Official off Season Thread: Can U Three Peat?

Dutchfan said:
As usual, I enjoyed your write-up Ryan! I'm looking forward to seeing more profiles like this one for future commitments.

I like everything I have seen about Connor so far. He looks to have all of the physical tools needed to be an elite defender in the ECAC, and I have no doubt he can reach that level of play with a little refining in his game during his year in the USHL. He can really move for a big kid, and his skating and agility is off the charts for someone his size. It's also comforting to see that the coaching staff is winning recruiting battles against the other upper echelon ECAC schools, especially over our rivals over in Troy. :p
Click to expand...
This kid looks like a potential blue chipper. Great work by Jason Tapp and Joe Dumais. I can tell you that no one works harder than these two young men in bringing great student athletes to the Union program.
 
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