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University of Maine Off-season 2024: Insert Pun Here

tylerzx2002 said:
Mitton mostly played RW at Colgate so I wonder how well he'd handle a switch to the off-wing. There is a really nice spot next to Breen-Nadeau up for grabs.

Wonder if Makar will get the first crack at that spot given the need for some extra size on that line. If he can prove to be a disrupter on the forecheck that will make things much easier for 27 & 20 to operate.

Have to think the fourth line will be in flux all the time, but whoever can be trusted in the faceoff dot will likely carve out a nightly spot. Couldn't find any faceoff stat data to have any idea if any of Raferty/Komarov/Pichette are solid in the dot.
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Is Raftery coming in? I didn’t see him listed on the goblackbears roster.

I think that is why they added transfer Charlie Russell. He is a 4th line physical center type.

I think Raftery, Komarov, and Pichette all played RW last year.
 
Sparkee said:
Is Raftery coming in? I didn’t see him listed on the goblackbears roster.

I think that is why they added transfer Charlie Russell. He is a 4th line physical center type.

I think Raftery, Komarov, and Pichette all played RW last year.
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I think I meant to say Russell, but I've been so used to seeing Raferty that's the name my brain went with lol
 
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NorthMike said:
Yeah Simon French does some nice work for the program. Who hires him? The athletic dept or he is part of whatever company now has the media contract.
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I believe he is the director of creative for UMaine athletics now. He has a great eye for photo/video work, they are lucky to have him!
 
Hopefully last years buzz helps with recruitment. Maine lose a lot of players next year (Breen, Brazeale, Renwick, Scott, Mitton, Makar, and probably Nadeau. I also heard from a student that Holt and Freel both graduate next summer). Thats a lot of gaps to fill.
 
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One interesting '08 name to watch out for is Evan Ferraro, son of Chris. Saw him linked to Maine/BU/Michigan so wonder if that Chris/Peter connection helps Maine secure a commit from him.
 
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I would expect Maine to be recruiting ‘08 Sam Wooten, younger brother of ‘06 Zach Wooten(Maine commit), from Apple Valley, MN. Sam is a 3.75 rated recruit according to neutral zone. Sam is described as a small right shot RW that is quick and elusive with good vision.
 
Yes, because August 1st is the first day their age group can commit. So probably there will be a boatload of ‘08 commits amongst all teams this week.

Here is the neutral zone ratings for latest commits:

Yellowaga(4.25-LD) - Highly mobile, puck lugger, excellent QB of power play
Medved(3.75-LD) - great all around defensemen, good skater, puck handler
Dean(3.75-LW)- shooter, gets to open spaces to receive passes, heavy shot
Herron(3.5-RC) - small but thick, strong on the puck, hard shot, skilled scorer

I think Nuetral Zone has a low rating that might not be accurate for Herron. He made New England select camp all star team and was invited to nation select camp. So it doesn’t seem like his rating they have matches their own scouting reports and his accomplishments.
 
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Good to see 16 yr olds commit I guess? Haven't seen many of them show up in the past, maybe with Barr that will be different?
 
walrus said:
Good to see 16 yr olds commit I guess? Haven't seen many of them show up in the past, maybe with Barr that will be different?
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The last one that committed this early to play for Maine was Bradley Nadeau.

Incoming freshman Thomas Pichette committed when he was 16. So we shall see how he works out. He played in Penticton with the Nadeaus, Hopkins, and Arnott. Seems to have a good one timer from what little video I saw of him.

It is a sign Maine’s recruiting is getting better since these recent ‘08 players would have committed elsewhere. With Yellowaga we have to worry about WHL trying to take him. But it is a great thing for Maine. Probably with Maine it is about continuing to be a ncaa playoff caliber team and then it helps retain recruits.

To be noticed you want to be in the big games. This is when all NHL scouts focus.
 
Here is video on defensemen Yellowaga scoring goals:
https://youtu.be/8EIDG0FqXIU?si=i5uycbBwG4LeL4sK

In a couple clips you can see he joins the rush and is the catalyst for the odd man rush.

Interesting note is that Yellowaga plays for Brooks Bandits which is where Cale and Taylor Makar played. Nate Yellowaga’s father Kevin Yellowaga is the skills coach for the Brooks Bandits. He coached Cale and Taylor Makar when they played for Brooks Bandits. So this Barr and Makar family connection likely helped in recruiting Yellowaga.

Yellowaga’s father appears to be in favor of the ncaa route based on his interview here:
https://youtu.be/6sKtHMHLN-8?si=NuxXfpZgMZApiHAL
 
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Sparkee said:
Here is video on defensemen Yellowaga scoring goals:
https://youtu.be/8EIDG0FqXIU?si=i5uycbBwG4LeL4sK

In a couple clips you can see he joins the rush and is the catalyst for the odd man rush.

Interesting note is that Yellowaga plays for Brooks Bandits which is where Cale and Taylor Makar played. Nate Yellowaga’s father Kevin Yellowaga is the skills coach for the Brooks Bandits. He coached Cale and Taylor Makar when they played for Brooks Bandits. So this Barr and Makar family connection likely helped in recruiting Yellowaga.

Yellowaga’s father appears to be in favor of the ncaa route based on his interview here:
https://youtu.be/6sKtHMHLN-8?si=NuxXfpZgMZApiHAL
Click to expand...

Good find on Makar/Yellowaga connection. With the amount of players we graduate/lose this year, 25-26 is most likely a rebuilding year. They’ll likely still be competitive given Barr’s success with the portal but losing a lot of our higher end talent.

The recent recruits we’ve landed over the past days/week appear to be a step up in quality which is a great sign. Quite a few guys making the jump to USHL and BCHL this season.
 
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