Recruiting News
12/09/05 ... While other schools had received commitments from blue chip prospects for the class of 2007, Minnesota had remained largely quiet, until last week when they received verbal commitments from Cade Fairchild and Mike Hoeffel, two of the top players in their class. Hoeffel, who is playing for Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood, Minnesota, is a big forward with a heavy shot that can also skate very well. Fairchild is a member of the NTDP's U17 team in Ann Arbor and is considered one of the best playmaking defenseman for his age.
12/09/05 ... Penticton Vees forward Robert Skinner continued Northern Michigan's British Columbia pipeline by committing to the Wildcats for the 2007-2008 season. Skinner is more of a playmaker, with only 5 goals, but 23 assists through his first 31 games this season. His Penticton teammate T.J. Miller signed a Letter of Intent to play for Northern Michigan next season.
12/09/05 ... Two players from Notre Dame Prep, Saskatchewan's top junior program, have verbally committed to play college hockey. Big defenseman Scott Vanderlinden will join Brown next season, while his smaller, more explosive teammate, forward Wahs Stacey, will play for Minnesota-Duluth in two years.
12/09/05 ... The Bulldogs also received a commitment for next year from White Bear Lake High School(Minnesota) forward David Grun. Grun finished 3rd in scoring in this fall Minnesota High School Elite League.
12/09/05 ... Team Illinois's Midget Major program is off to a great start this season, including becoming the first non-Minnesotan team to win the Minnesota National Invitational Tournament earlier in the fall, as well as wining other midget tournaments. These great performances helped defenseman Ryan Lowery become the second player from Team Illinois to commit to a college, after teammate Tom Wingels committed to Miami earlier this fall. Lowery will play for coach Scott Owens at Colorado College starting in the 2008-2009 season.
12/09/05 ... Massachusetts got a commitment from USHL forward Brett Watson. Of Amherst's 5 recruits for next season, 4 are playing in the USHL, including small forward James Marcou, who may be one of the most exciting freshmen in Hockey East next season.
11/29/05 ... Eric Gryba, a 6-4, 205-pound defenseman from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who is currently playing for Green Bay of the USHL, has committed to play for Boston University next season. Gryba was considered one of the top defenseman playing in the USHL this season. Aside from being able to use his tremendous size effectively, Gryba is also a skilled offensive defenseman that led all defensemen in his midget league last season. Gryba was drafted by the Portland WinterHawks of the WHL, and while the Hawks made a serious push for Gryba, he has seemed committed to playing college hockey. Gryba chose Boston Univesity over North Dakota and Michigan.
11/29/05 ... John Scrymgeour, a forward from St. Michael's of the OPJHL committed to play for Lake Superior State next season. Scrymgeour has scored 31 points in 25 games this season and has earned a reputation for being a hard worker and good leader.
11/29/05 ... It's been a very good week for Ft. McMurray(AJHL) defenseman Brandon Sadlowski. Last Wednesday, Sadlowski accepted a scholarship offer to play for Merrimack, and then this Monday, he was named to the West Team for the first annual CJAHL Prospects game which will feature the top junior players in all of Canada.
11/22/05 ... New Hampshire became the second Hockey East program to get dual commitments from National Team Development Program Under 17 team this year, when they received verbal commitments from forward James Van Riemsdyk and defenseman David Kolomatis. Van Riemsdyk is one of the best forwards on the NTDP U17. He’s excellent with the puck and a very good skater. Kolomatis isn’t that big, but he is an excellent offensive defenseman. Earlier this season, Boston University got commitments from NTDP defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen.
11/22/05 ... Jeremie Dupont, a goalie from Aurora of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League has committed to Nebraska-Omaha. Dupont is a late '88 birthday, which would technically make him a 2007 recruit, but he is accelerating his schooling to start with the Mavericks next season.
11/22/05 ... Steve West has committed to Ohio State for the 2008-2009. West, who plays for Detroit Honeybaked, was ranked as the best defenseman in the country at last summer's Select 15 Festival.
11/22/05 ... Nick Bailen, the youngest player currently playing in the USHL has chosen to play at Bowling Green. Bailen, who originally hails from Fredonia, New York will most likely join BGSU at the start of the 2008-2009 season.
11/22/05 ... John Vadnais, a defenseman originally from Minnesota, and now playing in the USHL, signed a letter of intent to play for Bemidji State. Vadnais is well-traveled as a hockey player. He played for a Minnesota high school state champion, before joining Shattuck-St. Mary’s midget AA team. After that, he played for the NTDP, and then he went to the USHL, where he’s played two seasons.
11/20/05 ... Scott Gudmanson, a goalie playing for Drayton Valley of the AJHL, has verbally committed to Wisconsin for the 2007 season. Gudmanson reportedly accepted full scholarship to play for the Badgers. Gudmanson was named the AJHL's rookie of the year last season with the Thunder. He has maintained that success this year with a 2.64 goals against average and a 90% save percentage.