5/30/02
Musical Chairs in Coaching Ranks
For the first time in years, a large number of coaching vacancies exist, and the domino effect will be the rule well into the summer. There will be winners and losers, too, as some schools are able to come up with guys as good as those they've lost -- and others won't.
Here, then, is a combination of hard facts, informed speculation, educated guesses and frequently-heard rumors designed to give a sense of where things are at right now.
-- At UNH, associate head coach Brian McCloskey has taken over the Wildcats women's program. The #1 candidate to replace him is Scott Borek, who, back in the 80s, was, along with Dick Umile, an assistant at Providence College. In the years since, Borek has been at Brown, Colby, and Lake Superior State, serving as head coach at the last two. After his contract wasn't renewed at Lake State, Borek, who's from Swampscott, Mass. and played at Exeter Academy and Dartmouth, spent this season serving as head coach of the New England College Pilgrims (Div. III).
After Borek, who's an extremely strong recruiter, the field is wide open. UNH grads like Cap Raeder, who interviewed for the BC job that eventually went to Ron Rolston, would likely get serious consideration.
-- At Bowling Green there are two positions to be filled, as Tim Alexander was recently let go, just as Dave Smith was the previous month. With at least one of the positions closed -- i.e. no more applications will be accepted -- a decision could be forthcoming. Long-time Notre Dame assistant and Des Moines (USHL) head coach Tom Carroll has long been considered the strongest, most-experienced candidate here. Clarkson assistant Ron Fogarty is also likely in the picture, as is Union assistant Kevin Patrick. Northern Michigan assistant Brian Renfrew is reported to be interested, too. George Roll, a prior top candidate for the position, and a teammate of Scott Paluch at Bowling Green, is now reported to be staying put as head coach at Oswego State.
-- The U.S. National Team Development Program still doesn't have a head coach for its Under-17 team. Former Michigan defenseman Alex Roberts, who coached in the program through the first four seasons, was offered the head coaching position for the Under-17 Team last Friday. Roberts, however, turned it down to stay with the Plymouth Whalers (OHL), where he's in his second season as an assistant.
-- Former Bowling Green assistant Dave Smith's name has been popping up all over. The former Bowling Green assistant could possibly wind up at Harvard (he was an assistant under Mark Mazzoleni at Miami). Smith is also a good candidate at Clarkson, which could wind up with no assistants if Ron Fogarty happens to touch down at BGSU. Clarkson's other assistant from last season, Brad Dexter, has stepped down to give playing pro another chance.
-- Paul Pearl, who has coached Holy Cross for the last seven seasons, is a hot property, as we've heard his name frequently mentioned in connection with the Northeastern assistant's job. Pearl has coached at Brown University -- and in Mass. Selects -- with current NU assistant Jamie Rice. We've also heard Pearl's name mentioned in connection with Harvard. What boosts Pearl's stock is the fact that not only has he been an assistant at an Ivy, but he's also had six years of running the whole program at Holy Cross (MAAC) -- and coaching the baseball team, too.
-- Chicago Freeze (NAHL) coach Guy Perron, formerly an assistant at Maine, is reported to be inquiring about college coaching openings.
-- Paul Jerrard is reported to be leaving Frank Anzalone's staff at Lake State for a position at the IMG Hockey Academy in Florida.
-- At Northern Michigan, the Walt Kyle wait goes on, though we've heard nothing to suggest he will be staying with the NY Rangers organization -- but we've heard nothing to indicate he won't be either. Kyle, the chief recruiter during Northern's rise to power in the late '80's and early '90s, has been with Glenn Sather since the Edmonton days. Meanwhile, spring is turning into summer, and the school, Div. II in all sports except hockey, has, according to close observers, not conducted an aggressive hunt, preferring to use the telephone. Such scrimping may be connected to the declining attendance at the Berry Events Center. At any rate, beyond Kyle, the leading candidate may be longtime Michigan State assistant Dave McAuliffe. Current NMU assistant Dave Shyiak is still hanging in there, too, despite the cloud hanging over NMU for its handling of the Ray Ladochi situation, in which a full scholarship with Northern turned into a one-year tuition and books deal, leaving a trail of anger among those involved.
Allow us to briefly digress into that situation. When Ladochi, a Detroit kid who came up through the HoneyBaked organization, was a rookie with the Danville Wings (NAHL) in '99-00, Shyiak expressed serious interest in the 5'11", 185 lb. defenseman. In return, Danville coach/GM Josh Mervis told Shyiak that Ladochi was not ready to make the jump to Div. I play. But NMU, worried that Ladochi might get snapped up by the likes of Michigan State if they waited another year, offered him a full scholarship and signed him to a National Letter of Intent. When Ladochi got to NMU's pre-season camp in the fall of '00, the Wildcat staff realized Mervis was right. Head coach Rick Comley, now at Michigan State, told Ladochi he could stay in school and battle for ice time, or leave school and go back to juniors for a year.
Ladochi left school immediately and went to play for the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), but wasn't a top defenseman there, either. Midway through the season, Ladochi moved on to Compuware (NAHL) and played for coach Todd Watson, then came back this past season for yet another year with the Ambassadors. Comley still had doubts that Ladochi would be able to play, but reportedly told both Ladochi and Watson that, at the very least, his scholarship would still be there when he returned.
It wasn't.
And because that full scholarship is no longer there, Danville GM Mervis, Compuware GM/head coach Watson, and Larry Knapp, the president of HoneyBaked, all have a grievance with Northern. That's not a good situation for NMU, as last season the Wildcats had ten players on their roster from Michigan, nine of whom played in the NAHL. Having two top NAHL teams and the top producer of youth talent in Michigan aligned over this situation isn't going to help Northern win many recruiting battles in their home state, at least in the near future.
Northern, meanwhile, has openly admitted making a recruiting error, and is unlikely to change their stance and give Ladochi the full scholarship they originally offered.
This then, is a cautionary tale for parents and their children. Ask questions -- a lot of them -- and be on your toes.
5/29/02
The Cannata Plan
Northeastern University assistant coach Paul Cannata, who retired this spring after 12 years of college coaching -- the last six on Bruce Crowder's staff -- has long questioned many aspects of the way hockey is taught at the youth level here in the U.S.
Now, he'll be tackling the issue head-on.
Cannata will be opening -- hopefully by October -- a pair of rinks in a building now under construction along Route 1 in Norwood, a suburb southwest of Boston. Both rinks will have small surfaces, with the larger measuring 50' x 90' and the adjoining rink slightly smaller. More will likely follow.
Hockey, Cannata points out, is the only major sport that doesn't shrink its playing area to accommodate children. When left to their own devices -- playing on the street or a frozen pond, for example -- children don't place the nets 200 feet away. They instinctively use a surface suitable to their size. There, in tight spaces, they are better able to develop their hand skills both by handling the puck more, and doing it in traffic, too. Also, in a small area, there's no space for drifting. Kids have to learn to make hard stops and starts, increasing quickness, lateral movement, and overall agility. On top of all that, the small surface also requires players to learn to react more quickly. .
Placing mites and squirts, and kids right on up the hockey ladder, on the traditional large sheet is, according to Cannata, "anti-development."
"We need to come at this problem from a different angle," he says, "so we'll be playing a lot of 2-on-2, 3-on-3, less drilling and killing. The focus will be on developing skills by just letting them play."
Cannata has observed many small-area games, and at many different levels. He's watched the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Dallas Stars utilize them. He's watched John Cunniff and Tim Taylor utilize them with various U.S. National teams. At the NTDP, small-area games are used extensively. .
"I'm not really claiming to be an inventor here," Cannata says, "I'm just trying to shift peoples' thinking a little bit."
While older players, right up to the pro level, can benefit from using the facility, the greatest long-term advantage will come to the 6-10 year olds who experience this environment at an early age.
"If we wait until they're 17," Cannata says, "it's too late. By then, we're treating the symptoms, not the root problem."
"For children, playing small games on small rinks has the benefit of putting the game back into their hands, allowing them to learn the game on their own terms," Cannata says. "It's a less intense, less intimidating situation than what many kids in youth hockey are currently experiencing. It lets kids be kids."
"We'll also use the smaller rink, which has an all-purpose rubberized floor, for soccer, lacrosse, and basketball, all of which teach skills -- agility, quickness, etc. -- that are transferable to hockey."
Right now, there are few programs in North America -- and none in the Boston area -- such as the one Cannata is building.
In addition to his college coaching, Cannata, who's 35, has long been highly involved in hockey development. This summer, he'll be working the Mass. Satellites, coaching the US Under-17 Select team in the Czech Republic, and also running his own camp in August at Milton Academy. Plus, of course, he'll be following the progress of his Norwood rinks.
5/28/02
Two More for NTDP
Chris Carlson, a goalie with the Chicago Chill Midgets, and Seth Seidman, a forward from Milton Academy, have been invited to join next year's U.S. Under-17 Team.
Carlson, who's 5'10" and 148 lbs., is a quick, athletic goalie with excellent reflexes. He's from Plainfield, Ill. and is a 3/9/86 birthdate.
Seidman, who is 6'1", 180 lbs., is a right shot power forward from Milton, Mass. He's a 7/5/86 birthdate.
This brings to 16 the number of players currently on board for this coming season's Under-17 Team. By position, it's two goaltenders, six D-men, and eight forwards.
5/28/02
Central 15, 16, and 17s
Below are the rosters for the Central District Select 15, 16, & 17 Teams. This summer, the 15 and 17 Festivals will be held in St. Cloud, Minn., while the 16 Festival moves to Rochester, NY.
We don't have the last team or hometown for players on the 15 and 16 teams below, but we'll try to get a complete list, and add it in.
***
Central Select 17 (85s)
Goaltenders: Wes Russell (Chicago Flames Midgets); Adam D'Alba (Chicago Steel Jr. A).
Defensemen: Kyle Klubertanz (Chicago Chill Midgets); Dan Venard (Green Bay Gamblers Jr. A); Andy Meyer (St. Louis Sting Midgets); Lee Sweat (Chicago Mission Midgets); Zach Miscovic (Chicago Chill Midgets); Jacob Heller (Erie Otters -- OHL). At large: Charles Fetzer (Chicago Young Americans Midgets).
Forwards: Paul Stastny (St. Louis Jr. B); Matt McIlvane (Team Illinois Midgets); Eric Slais (St. Louis Jr. B); Anthony Canzoneri (Tulsa Jr. A); Sean Muncy (St. Louis Blues Midgets); Mike Radja (Team Illinois Midgets); Justin Lewandowski (Chicago Mission Midgets); Topher Scott (Chicago Steel Jr. A); Dan Krenn (Team Wisconsin Midgets); Jeff Lovecchio (Chicago Chill Midgets); Anthony Cosmano (Chicago Chill Midgets); Matt Piegza (Chicago Young Americans Midgets). At large: Mitch Kearns (??); Dan Sturges (Team Wisconsin Midgets).
Head Coach: Steve Richmond. Assistant Coaches: A.J. Toews and Scott Sanderson.
***
Central Select 16 (86s)
Goaltenders: Chris Carlson (IL); Kyle Bates (WI).
Defensemen: Mike Kennedy (IL); Luke Lucyk (WI); Kevin Roeder (IL); Chase Ryan (IL); Alan Dorich (IL); Brendan Olinyk (WI).
Forwards: Thomas Fortney (MO); Jared Brown (KS); Eric Lampe (WI); Willie Beetham (WI); Patrick Galivan (IL); Jeff Christiansen (WI); Travis Turnbull (MO); Andrew Ohlinger (WI); Drew Heredia (IL); Gino Pisellini (IL); Matt Zuke (MO); Jared Bolt (IL). At large: Chad Costello (IA).
Head Coach: Jack Behan. Assistant Coaches: Chuck Linkenheld and Chris Tok.
***
Central Select 15 (87s)
Goaltenders: Robert Jarosz (IL); Tom O'Brien (IL).
Defensemen: Jeremy Dehner (WI); Jonathan Kearns (IL); Zack Jones (IL); Jason Fredricks (WI); Mike Ackley (WI); Sam Zabkowicz (WI).
Forwards: David Meckler (IL); Phil Kessel (WI); Zach Bearson (IL); Matt Ahrontas (IL); Tyler Weigel (WI); Graham Sisson (MO); Dan Ryan (IL); Jack Skille (WI); Nathan Lawrence (WI); Sam Bozoian (IL); Dan Kissel (IL); Riley Wiles (KS). At large: Shawn Gawrys (MO).
Head Coach: Dave Witting. Assistant Coaches: Bill Thoreson and Matt Walsh.
5/24/02
Koberinski Out at Waterloo; O'Handley In
Waterloo Black Hawks head coach/GM Scott Koberinski has been fired and replaced by P.K. O'Handley, currently an assistant coach of the Florida Everblades (ECHL).
Waterloo had a winning record in Koberinski's first season after taking over from Scott Pionk in the fall of '99, but has had two straight losing seasons since. That winning record in Koberinski's first season was just one of two winning seasons the Black Hawks have had in the last twenty plus years.
Waterloo is one of several USHL franchises owned by league president Butch Johnson.
O'Handley last coached in the USHL with the North Iowa Huskies (now Cedar Rapids Roughriders) for seven years, from 1991-92 through 1997-98.
5/23/02
U.S. Under-17 Team Coming Together
The new coach has yet to be named, but there is a core group of '86s who have committed to joining the U.S. Under-17 team this fall.
We've mentioned many here previously, but we'll just go over the whole list of 14 players here.
In goal, 5'10", 175 lb. Jordan Pearce (Service HS/Alaska All-Stars) has committed to the program.
On defense, 6'0", 175 lb. LD Matt Lashoff (Avon Old Farms), 5'11", 205 lb. LD Brendan Burns (Pittsburgh Hornets '86), 5'11, 175 lb. RD John Vadnais (Shattuck-St. Mary's), 5'9", 165 lb. RD Mike Brennan (NY Apple Core), 6'2", 180 lb. LD A.J. Thelen (Shattuck-St. Mary's), and 5'11", 175 lb. RD Nate Hagemo (Holy Angels HS) are the six who have committed.
6'1", 175 lb. LD Anthony Aiello (Thayer Academy) was invited, but has decided to stay back east.
Up front, 5'9", 165 lb. Bryan Lerg (HoneyBaked Midget), 5'10", 170 lb. Kevin Porter (Ann Arbor Ice Dogs), 6'0", 182 lb. Matt Auffrey (Syracuse Crunch Jr. A), 6'2", 195 lb. Jordan LaVallee (Walpole Jr. Stars), Todd McIlrath (HoneyBaked '86), 5'11", 160 lb. Kevin Swallow (Compuware Midget), and 5'11", 175 lb. Pat Davis (Belle Tire '86) have all committed to the program.
6'1", 175 lb. Taylor Raszka (Detroit Jr. Red Wings Midgets) was also invited, but was a first-round draft choice of the Plymouth Whalers (OHL) and decided to take that path.
To date, the Under-17 team has one goaltender, six defensemen, and seven forwards. There are spots still open -- four forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie -- some, though not all, of which may be filled in July at, or right after, the Select 16 Festival in Rochester, NY.
The older team -- that is, the Under-18 Team, has added 6'2", 190 lb. goaltender Chris Holt (Billings Bulls). Another goalie will be added as well because, as you may have read here, Gerald Coleman has signed with the London Knights (OHL) and Alvaro Montoya accelerated and will be going to Michigan in the fall.
The Under-18 team has invited 5'7", 159 lb. LD Phil Johnson (Duluth East), and 5'9", 165 lb. forward Joe Rooney (St. Sebastian's) to join the team this fall. However, neither has committed yet.
Earlier, 6'0", 190 lb. Syracuse Jr. Crunch (OPJHL) center Robbie Schremp, an '86 and the #1 overall pick in the recent OHL draft was invited to the Under-18 team, but will, as you've likely heard, be going to the Mississauga IceDogs.
5/22/02
A Correction -- and More Info -- on U.S. National Junior Camp
In yesterday's article on the U.S. National Junior Camp, we reported that new candidates for the final squad would be arriving Aug. 1, with the returnees from last year's squad coming in on Mon. Aug. 5.
Scratch that.
Instead -- and this is a change from recent years -- all players will be arriving on August 1, whereupon they will be split up into two squads, each with 12 forwards, eight D-men, and three goaltenders.
Those two squads will meet each other in scrimmages on Sat. Aug. 3 at 5 p.m., and on Sun. Aug. 4 at 3 p.m.
Afterward, those two squads will be pared down into a single team which will play a four-game series against Finland.
The US-Finland games will be on Tues. Aug. 6, Wed. Aug. 7., Fri. Aug. 9, and Sat. Aug. 10. The Tues.-Wed.-Fri. games are scheduled for 6 p.m., while Saturday's game is slated to begin at 1 pm. The days are firm, but the starting times are still tentative.
5/22/02
Michigan 14, 16, and 17s Announced
Here are the Michigan players selected for this summer's U.S. Select 14, 16, and 17 Camps. At-large players are identified as such; names of alternates were not supplied. Nor were coaches, but we'll try to nail down that one, too.
Players to represent Michigan at the Select 15 Festival will be selected at the USA Hockey Regional Bantam Camp, which takes place at Ferris State June 16-21.
***
Michigan Select 14 Team ('88)
Goaltenders: Kevin Kinnie (Shelby Twp.); Jameson Miiller (Petoskey).
***
Michigan Select 16 Team ('86)
Goaltenders: Steve Mnich (Northville); Jeff Lerg (Livonia).
Head Coach: Dave McAuliffe (Michigan State). Assistant Coaches: Brian Renfrew (Northern Michigan) and Mark Maroste (Michigan Tech). Team Leader: Dave Liimatta (Farmington, MI)
***
Michigan Select 17 Team ('85)
Head Coach: Joe Burcar (Findlandia University). Assistant Coaches: Joe Shawhan (Soo Indians Jr. A) and Randy Wilson (Lansing Pride Jr. A). Team Leader: Clem Waldman (Lake Orion, MI).
5/21/02
Dates for U.S. Junior Camp
The 2002 U.S. National Junior Camp is set to run from August 1-11 at Lake Placid, NY.
The setup will be similar to last year. Forty-six players (24 F, 16 D, 6 G) will report on Aug. 1 and be split up into two separate teams for intersquad scrimmages. The top players from that group will be held over, joining up with the '83 and younger veterans (who arrive Aug. 5). That will be the team that meets the Finns in a four-game series on week #2.
The veterans are forwards Dustin Brown ('84), Dwight Helminen, Chris Higgins, Ryan Hollweg, and Eric Nystrom; defenseman Ryan Whitney; and goalie Dwight LaBrosse.
It's likely that a new coach to be named soon, as St. Louis Blues goaltending coach Keith Allain has held the position for the past two years.
This edition looks promising. The '83s had the experience of playing on last winter's team, a legit medal contender upset by the Czech Republic in the quarters; and the '84s beat out Russia and the Czechs to take the gold medal at last month's World Under-19 championship.
5/21/02
Pacific Select Teams Named
Below are the rosters for the Pacific District Select 14, 15, 16, & 17 Teams. The dates for each festival follow. Games will start on the second day of each camp.
- 14 Festival: July 27-Aug. 1; Rochester, NY.
- 15 Festival: Aug. 2-Aug. 8; St. Cloud, Minn.
- 16 Festival: July 13-19; Rochester, NY
- 17 Festival: June 21-28; St. Cloud, Minn.
***
Pacific Select 14 Team ('88)
Goaltenders: Jonathan Lee (Monterey, CA); Steven Thompson (Anchorage, AK).
Defensemen: Arne Krough (Anchorage, AK); Brandon Clark (Spokane, WA); David Beach (Anchorage, AK); Kevin Crane (Irvine, CA); Spencer Galvin (Palmer, AK); William Pinel (Silverado, CA).
Forwards: Andrew Lepore (Mission Viejo, CA); Austin Sylvester (Reno, NV); Brian Volpei (Burbank, CA); Josh Rabbani (Calabasas, CA); Joshua Fountaine (Anchorage, AK); Kyle Bailey (Anchorage, AK); Medard Sison (Long Beach, CA); Michael Vilencia (Lake Elsinore, CA); Nicholas Davis (Anchorage, AK); Oliver Saint-Victor (Culver City, CA); Sam Cehula (Anchorage, AK); Seth Compton (West Richland, WA).
***
Pacific Select 15 Team - ('87)
Goaltenders: Read Constant (Lynwood, WA); William Blasé (Santa Monica, CA).
Defensemen: Alec Martinez (Danville, CA); Brent Cornelius (Fairbanks, AK); David Inman (San Diego, CA); Eric Felde (Anchorage, AK); Jonathan Fox (Fresno, CA); Ryno Linder (Bothell, WA).
Forwards: Andres Vlassopoulos (Los Angeles, CA); Bobby Ryan (El Segundo, CA); Caleb Harrison (Fairbanks, AK); Evan MacKintosh (San Jose, CA); Evan Trupp (Anchorage, AK); Hunter Bishop (Fairbanks, AK); Jason Stralka (Anchorage, AK); John Kemp (Arcadia, CA); Kevin Deeth (Gig Harbor, WA); Kyle MacKinnon (Walnut, CA); Neil Walsky (Anchorage, AK); Wade Williams (Wasilla, AK).
***
Pacific Select 16 Team ('86)
Goaltenders: Jordan Pierce (Anchorage, AK); Troy Redmann (Brea, CA).
Defensemen: Chris Frank (Lynwood, WA); Kyle Richardson (San Jose, CA); Matt Keifer (Temecula, CA); Mike Beck (Long Beach, CA); Nicholas Ulrich (Los Altos, CA); Raymond Macias (Long Beach, CA).
Forwards: Alexander Laseen (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA); Billy Smith (Sterling, AK); Blake Martin (Anchorage, AK); Brandon Dubinsky (Anchorage, AK); Dan Comrie (San Diego, CA); Daniel Siira (Anchorage, AK); Jason Schaffer (Anchorage, AK); Michael Grzanowski (Monte Sereno, CA); Moises Gutierrez (Anchorage, AK); Nathan Grochmal (Yorba Linda, CA); Ryan Kim (Cerritos, CA); Ryan Raven (Tacoma, WA).
Head Coach: Larry Cahn (Calif.). Assistant Coaches: Jack Kowal (Alaska) and John Yanakackis (Calif.)
***
Pacific Select 17 Team ('85)
Goaltenders: Wylie Rodgers (Fairbanks, AK); Zachary Cardella (Spokane, WA).
Defensemen: Brian Deeth (Gig Harbor, WA); Costa Lambernakis (Wasilla, AK); Dustin Molle (Anchorage, AK); Graham McManamin (Anchorage, AK); Ian Drummond (Del Mar, CA); Spencer Dillon (Santa Cruz, CA).
Forwards: Aaron Spotts (Spokane, WA); Andy Bader (Beaverton, OR); Brian Bales (Anchorage, AK); Brian Salcido (Hermosa Beach, CA); Eric Gallagher (Chugiak, AK); Gevork Kandaharian (Van Nuys, CA); Heath Ocampo (Los Altos Hills, CA); Jimo King (Blaine, WA); Josh Sorenson (Anchorage, AK); Niko Rodriguez (Tarzana, CA); Sam Tikka (Soldotna, AK); Tommy Maxwell (Spokane, WA); Trevor Hyatt (Anchorage, AK).
Head Coach: John Hill (Alaska). Assistant Coaches: Guy Gadowsky (Alaska) and Bob Freeland (Oregon).
4/20/02
New Coach for Div. II Prep Powerhouse
Tilton School, which won its third consecutive New England Div. II prep title in March, has hired Mike Esposito as its new varsity hockey coach.
Esposito is an alum of Northfield-Mt. Hermon, where he played for current Merrimack head coach Chris Serino. Following graduation, he went to Brown before transferring to Trinity where he enjoyed a solid career playing for John Dunham.
Esposito replaces Mike Walsh, who was recently hired to take over the program at nearby Proctor Academy. It's believed that Proctor, which will open a new arena in the fall, hopes to make the jump to the Div. I ranks in the near future.
4/17/02
Mass. Select Teams Named
Below are the rosters for the Massachusetts Select 15, 16, & 17 Teams. This summer, the 15 and 17 Festivals will be held in St. Cloud, Minn., while the 16 Festival moves to Rochester, NY.
***
Massachusetts Select 15 Team ('87s)
Goaltenders: Peter Cox (Lunenberg); Matthew Unger (Marshfield).
Defensemen: Sean Coughlin (Winthrop); Patrick Cullity (Tewksbury); Thomas Dignard (Reading); Christopher Huxley (Weymouth); Ryan Stelzer (Westfield); Hunter Thunell (Walpole); Colin Young (Dedham).
Forwards: Christopher Cahill (North Andover); Christopher Debaere (Wayland); Ryan Driscoll (Dorchester); Benn Ferriero (Essex); John Jamieson (Billerica); Kyle Kucharski (Saugus); Jason Lawrence (Saugus); Matthew Lombardi (Milton); Jonathan Maniff (Revere); Christopher Murphy (Arlington); Daniel Rossman (Boxford); Jason Schneider (Littleton); Steven Silva (Tyngsboro).
Head Coach: Nate Leaman. Assistant Coaches: Blaise MacDonald and Jack Sweeney.
***
Massachusetts Select 16 Team ('86s)
Goaltenders: Daniel Beauregard (Medfield); Cory Schneider (Marblehead).
Defensemen: Anthony Aiello (Braintree); Brett Bevis (Harvard); Daniel McGoff (Charlestown); Alex Sousa (Billerica); Andrew Stevenson (Newton); Rory Farrell (Westfield).
Forwards: Christopher Bourque (Topsfield); Matthew Nelson (Westwood); Jordan Smotherman (Westborough); Ryan Ginand (Milford); Patrick Kimball (Framingham); Nicholas Coskren (Walpole); Sam Dagostino (Medford); Ryan Maguire (Arlington); Seth Seidman (Milton); Alex Berry (Danvers); Alan Muse (Lynnfield); Gerald Pollastrone (Revere).
Head Coach: Bill Gilligan. Assistant Coaches: Mark Dennehy and Mike Cavanaugh.
***
Massachusetts Select 17 Team ('85s)
Goaltenders: Keith Longo (Hopedale, MA); Nevin Hamilton (Ashland, MA).
Defensemen: Jacob Schuster (Hopkinton); Philip McDavitt (Duxbury); Stephen McClellan (Milton); Alex DiPietro (Winthrop); Bret Tyler (Maynard); Joseph Cappellano (South Boston).
Forwards: Joe Rooney (Canton); Brian McGuirk (Danvers); James Russo (Weymouth); Matt Greene (Plymouth); William Ryan (Milton); Nicholas Monroe (Natick); Ted Brzek (Duxbury); Kevin Coughlin (South Boston); Robert Bellamy (Westfield); Aaron Moore (Medfield); Christopher Poli (Medfield); Patrick McLaughlin (Berlin).
Head Coach: Mike Bavis. Assistant Coaches: Jamie Rice and John Lilley.
Full USHL Draft List
Here's the full list of players selected in yesterday's USHL draft. The league, as many of you know, is unique for its paranoia about the full list getting out, so please remember you did not read it here. If anyone asks, you read it in Diario La Prensa, the most widely-read newspaper in Honduras, a mountainous Central American republic which, not coincidentally, is also the country of origin of a wildly mischievous computer geek -- think John Nash to the fifth power -- who lives a quiet anonymous life on a quiet side street off Rte. 29 midway between Fargo and Grand Forks, N.D. The latter city also happens to be where, at 300 North 5th St., the USHL's home office is located. Coincidence? Possibly.
- 1st Round
- 1. Waterloo -- Spencer Dillon, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's
- 2. Topeka -- Brett Tyler, D, Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL)
- 3. Tri-City -- Brandon Crawford-West, G, Texas (NAHL)
- 4. Chicago -- Brady Greco, D, Michigan Tech (NCAA)
- 5. Des Moines -- Jamie Hoffman, F, New Ulm (Minn.) HS
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- Austin Ullery, F, Cleveland Barons Midget AAA
- 7. Sioux Falls -- Derek Patrosso, F, Michigan Ice Dogs Midget AAA
- 8. Sioux City -- Sean Collins, D, Cleveland (NAHL)
- 9. Lincoln -- Dylan Reese, D, Pittsburgh (NAHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- Nate Higgins, F, Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
- 11. River City -- Travis Anderson, D, Coon Rapids (Minn.) HS
- 2nd Round
- 1. Waterloo -- Danny Reidel, F, Louisville Storm Midget AAA
- 2. Topeka -- Ryan Miller, F, Fergus Falls (Minn.) HS
- 3. Tri-City -- Pat Henk, D, Cleveland (NAHL)
- 4. Chicago -- Jeff Lantz, G, Bismarck (AWHL)
- 5. Des Moines -- Ben Geelan, F, Buffalo (Minn.) HS
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- Owen Langis, D, Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
- 7. Sioux Falls -- Joe Cigna, F, Lansing (NAHL)
- 8. Sioux City -- Ed Neville, G, Lansing (NAHL)
- 9. Lincoln -- Ryan Callahan, F, Buffalo Lightning (OPJHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- Pete Rouleau, F, Hancock (Mich.) HS
- 11. River City -- Josh Williams, D, Osseo (Minn.) HS
- 1. Waterloo -- Mike Radja, F, Team Illinois Midget AAA
- 2. River City (from Topeka) -- Jeff Lovecchio, F, Chicago Chill Midget AAA
- 3. Tri-City -- T.J. Dahl, F, Apple Valley (Minn.) HS
- 4. Chicago -- Blake Williams, F, Brooklyn Park (Minn.) HS
- 5. Des Moines -- Steve Wagner, D. Grand Rapids (Minn.) HS
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- Billie Burgie, D, Bowmanville Eagles (OPJHL)
- 7. Sioux Falls -- Jason Tejchma, F, Danville (NAHL)
- 8. Sioux City -- Billy Smith, F, Central Alaska Bantams
- 9. Lincoln -- Jade Galbraith, F, Drayton Valley (AJHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- Steven Later, D, Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL)
- 11. River City -- Kyle Hood, D, Penticton (BCHL)
- * Chicago (from Tulsa) -- Robbie Bina, D, Bismarck (AWHL)
- 4th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- Dan Tormey, G, Syracuse Jr. Crunch (OPJHL)
- 2. Sioux Falls (from Topeka) -- James Hankemeyer, D, St. Cloud Apollo (Minn.) HS
- 3. Tri-City -- Mark Agnew, F, Swan Valley (MJHL)
- 4. Des Moines (from Chicago) -- Jon Rudnick, F, Bismarck (AWHL)
- 5. Des Moines -- Jay Bletzer, D, Walpole Stars (EJHL)
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- James MacNamara, D, St. Cloud State (NCAA)
- 7. Cedar Rapids (from Sioux Falls) -- Matt Tyree, F, Great Falls (AWHL)
- 8. Sioux City -- Johann Kroll, D, Wayzata (Minn.) HS
- 9. Chicago (from Lincoln) -- Justin Joy, F, Cornwall Colts (COJHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- Corey Couturier, F, Marquette Electricians Midget AAA
- 11. River City -- Chris Carlson, G, Chicago Chill Midget AAA
- * Cedar Rapids (from Rochester) -- Hank Carisio, F, Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)
- 5th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- Christian Beaudry, D, Syracuse Jr. Crunch (OPJHL)
- 2. Topeka -- Kevin Labatte, F, Elmira Sugar Kings (Mid-Western Ontario Jr. B)
- 3. Tri-City -- Tim Madsen, F, Elk River (Minn.) HS
- 4. Waterloo (from Chicago) -- Martins Karsums, F, NY Apple Core (EJHL)
- 5. River City (from Des Moines) -- Josh Ciocco, F, Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
- 6. Rochester (from Cedar Rapids) -- void
- 7. Sioux Falls -- Mick Berge, F, Dallas Midget AAA
- 8. Sioux City -- Cory Mozak, F, Pikes Peak Midget AAA
- 9. Lincoln -- Tyler Hirsch, F, Shattuck-St.Mary's
- 10. Green Bay -- Matt Miskovich, F, Grand Rapids (Minn.) HS
- 11. Des Moines (from River City) --Brian Papcun, G, Soo Indians (NAHL)
- 6th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- Nick Miller, F, Totino Grace (Minn.) HS
- 3. Tri-City -- Marty Mjelli, F, Prince George (BCHL)
- 4. Chicago -- Chad Solberg, F, Chicago Chill Midget AAA
- 5. Des Moines -- Mike Franks, F, Burnsville (Minn.) HS
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- Sean Muncy, F, St. Louis Midget AAA
- 7. Tri-City (from Sioux Falls) -- Bill Thomas, F, Cleveland (NAHL)
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- Brent Borgen, F, Mahtomedi (Minn.) HS
- 10. Des Moines (from Green Bay) -- Jordan Fox, F, Springfield Spirit (NAHL)
- 11. River City -- Andrew Brandt, F, Pittsburgh (NAHL)
- * Cedar Rapids (from Tulsa) -- Eric Thomassian, F, Walpole Stars (EJHL)
- 7th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- David Rohlfs, F, Compuware (NAHL)
- 3. Tri-City -- Brian Moore, F, Park Tudor (Ind.) Academy
- 4. Chicago -- Dan Knapp, D, Billings (AWHL)
- 5. Des Moines -- Skyler Visser, D, Springfield Jr. Blues(NAHL)
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- xxx
- 7. Sioux Falls -- xxx
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- Matt Nickerson, D, Texas (NAHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- Garrett Regan, F, Hill-Murray (Minn.) HS
- 11. River City -- Matt Jackson, F, Apple Valley (Minn.) HS
- 8th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- Jarret Sousa, D, Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL)
- 3. Tri-City -- Brady Murray, F, Shattuck-St. Mary's
- 4. Chicago -- Joe Piskula, D, Antigo (Wisc.) HS
- 5. Des Moines -- Tyler Schremp, F, Syracuse Jr. Crunch (OPJHL)
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- xxx
- 7. Sioux Falls -- xxx
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- Keith Rodger, D, Bozeman (AWHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- xxx
- 11. River City -- Joe Rooney, F, St. Sebastian's (Mass.)
- 9th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- Nathan Ries, F, Danville (NAHL)
- 3. Tri-City -- Rob Dubel, D, Maple Grove (Minn.) HS
- 4. Chicago -- Brady Dolim, F, Culver Military Academy (Ind.)
- 5. Des Moines -- Denny Reagan, F, Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- xxx
- 7. Sioux Falls -- xxx
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- Mitch Ganzak, D, Springfield Spirit (NAHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- xxx
- 11. River City -- xxx
- 10th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- xxx
- 3. Tri-City -- Luke Lucyk, D, Team Wisconsin Midget AAA
- 4. Chicago -- Jon Erickson, F, Eden Prairie (Minn.) HS
- 5. Des Moines -- Obiajulu Aduba, F, Walpole Stars (EJHL)
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- xxx
- 7. Sioux Falls -- xxx
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- xxx
- 10. Green Bay -- xxx
- 11. River City -- xxx
- 11th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- xxx
- 3. Tri-City -- xxx
- 4. Chicago -- Charlie Vitalie, F, Christian Brothers HS
- 5. Des Moines -- Alan Barton, G, Buffalo Jr. Lightning (OPJHL)
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- xxx
- 7. Sioux Falls -- xxx
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- xxx
- 10. Green Bay -- xxx
- 11. River City -- xxx
- 12th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- xxx
- 3. Tri-City -- xxx
- 4. Chicago -- Brent Kisio, F, Fort McMurray (AJHL)
- 5. Des Moines -- xxx
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- xxx
- 7. Sioux Falls -- xxx
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- xxx
- 10. Green Bay -- xxx
- 11. River City -- xxx
- 13th Round
- 1. Waterloo -- xxx
- 2. Topeka -- xxx
- 3. Tri-City -- xxx
- 4. Chicago -- Tom Goebel, F, Cleveland (NAHL)
- 5. Des Moines -- xxx
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- xxx
- 7. Sioux Falls -- xxx
- 8. Sioux City -- xxx
- 9. Lincoln -- xxx
- 10. Green Bay -- xxx
- 11. River City -- xxx
- 1. Waterloo -- Spencer Dillon, D, Shattuck-St. Mary's
- 2. Topeka -- Brett Tyler, D, Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL)
- 3. Tri-City -- Brandon Crawford-West, G, Texas Tornado (NAHL)
- 4. Chicago -- Brady Greco, D, Michigan Tech
- 5. Des Moines -- Jamie Hoffman, F, New Ulm (Minn.) HS
- 6. Cedar Rapids -- Austin Ullery, F, Cleveland Barons Midget AAA
- 7. Sioux Falls -- Derek Patrosso, F, Michigan Ice Dogs Midget AAA
- 8. Sioux City -- Sean Collins, D, Cleveland Baron (NAHL)
- 9. Lincoln -- Dylan Reese, D, Pittsburgh Forge (NAHL)
- 10. Green Bay -- Nate Higgins, F, Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
- 11. River City (formerly Omaha) -- Travis Anderson, D, Coon Rapids (Minn.) HS
- Cedar Rapids RoughRiders:
- Tyler Howells, F, Eden Prairie, Minn.(Holy Angels) 10/20/83
- Wesley Russell, G, Springfield, Ill. (Chicago Flames) 1/7/85
- Derek Peltier, D, Plymouth, Minn. (Armstrong HS) 3/14/85
- Zachary Pearson, White Lake, Mich. (Tri Wings) 2/27/84
- Jacob Schuster, D, Hopkinton, MA (Lawrence Academy) 2/5/85
- Chicago Steel:
- Jeff Dunne, D, Grover, Mo. (HoneyBaked Midget) 6/23/85
- David Graden, D, Burnsville, MN (Burnsville HS) 3/3/85
- Michael Grenzy, D, Lockport, NY (US NTDP) 2/6/84
- Matt Christie, F, Ajax, Ont. (Wexford Raiders) 2/2/85
- Des Moines Buccaneers:
- Bob Kenworthy, D, Brookhaven, PA (Philly Jr. Flyers) 4/4/84
- Matt Burto, F, Orange, CT (Avon Old Farms) 7/29/84
- Casey Russell, D, Orange, CT (Avon Old Farms) 11/25/84
- A.J. Bucchino, G, Bow NH (Avon Old Farms) 5/8/84
- Tom Kolar, F, Duluth, MN (East HS) 7/22/83
- Green Bay Gamblers:
- Jimmy Kilpatrick, F, New Prague, MN (Holy Angels) 1/27/85
- Josh Johnson, G, Esko, MN (Cloquet/Esko HS)
- Ryan Carter, F, White Bear Lake, MN (White Bear Lake HS) 8/3/83
- Kyle Klubertanz, D, Sun Prairie, WI (Chicago Chill) 9/23/85
- Noah Babin, D, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US NTDP) 3/11/84
- Lincoln Stars:
- Ben Gordon, F, International Falls, MN (Int. Falls HS) 1/31/85
- Dave Carlisle, D, Wyoming, MN (Shattuck) 6/25/84
- David Backes, F, Blaine, Minn. (Spring Lake Park HS) 5/11/84
- Christopher Porter, F, Sioux City, Iowa (Shattuck) 5/29/84
- Gino Guyer, F, Coleraine, Minn. (Greenway HS) 10/14/83
- Mike Nesdill, D, Phoenix, AZ (US NTDP) 2/7/84
- Omaha Lancers:
- Scott Thauwald, F, Rochester, MN (Mayo HS) 10/26/84
- Paul Stastny, F, St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Jr. Blues) 12/27/85
- Nate Raduns, F, Sauk Rapids, Minn. (US NTDP) 5/17/84
- Matt Carle, D, Anchorage, AK (US NTDP) 9/25/84
- Mike Howe, F, St. Cloud, Minn. (Apollo HS) 9/5/84
- Sioux City Musketeers:
- Brian Bales, F, Anchorage, AK (Alaska All-Star Midget AAA) 1/3/85
- Peter Cartwright, F, Anchorage, AK (Alaska All-Stars) 7/16/84
- Adam Fincik, F, Donora, PA (Pittsburgh Hornets) 1/18/84
- John Curry, F, Eagle River, AK (Alaska Blue Devils) 9/20/84
- Matt Hartmann, F, St. Cloud, Minn. (Apollo HS) 8/4/84
- Sioux Falls Stampede:
- A.J. Greco, F, Williamsville, NY (Miami-Ohio) 3/7/83
- Phil Johnson, D, Duluth, MN (Duluth East HS) 8/19/85
- Anthony Cosmano, F, Wheaton, Ill. (Chicago Chill Midget AAA) 1/13/85
- Marc Marcotte, D, L'Anse, MI (Marquette Electricians Midget AAA), 12/4/84
- Andy Sertich, F, Coleraine, Minn. (Greenway HS) 5/6/83
- Steven Canter, F, St. Louis, MO (Billings Bulls) 6/29/83
- Topeka ScareCrows:
- Tony Gliniany, D, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Osseo HS) 8/18/83
- Teddy Bancarz, D, Chino Hills, CA (LA Junior Kings) 5/11/84
- Brent Cummings, D, Austin, Minn. (Austin HS) 4/15/83
- Michael Zacharias, G, Plymouth, MN (Armstrong HS) 5/21/85
- Rob Rankin, F, Eagan MN (Michigan Tech) 4/17/82
- Tri-City Storm:
- Brian Kilburg, D, Mendota Heights, Minn. (Cretin-Derhan Hall HS) 5/10/84
- Scott Parse, F, Portage, Mich. (Soo Midget AAA) 9/5/84
- Tom Morrow, Afton, MN (Hill-Murray HS) 10/21/83
- Dan Kronick, F, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (Holy Angels) 11/16/84
- Mark VanGuilder, F, Roseville, MN (Roseville HS) 1/17/84
- Waterloo Black Hawks:
- Joseph Pavelski, F, Plover, Wisc. (Team Wisconsin) 7/11/84
- Reid Cashman, Red Wing, MN (Red Wing HS) 3/14/83
- Matt Maunu, D, Esko, MN (Cloquet/Esko HS) 4/3/84
- Derek Whitmore, F, Rochester, NY (Butte Irish) 12/17/84
- Visitation:
- O'Brien Funeral Home
- 146 Dorchester St.
- South Boston, MA 022127
- (617) 269-2390
- 5:00 pm -- 9:00 pm
- Sun. May 12 and Mon. May 13
- Mass of Christian Burial:
- Gate of Heaven R.C. Church
- 606 East 4th St.
- South Boston, MA 02127
- (617) 268-3344
- 10:00 am
- Tues. May 14
- 1/1 Mississauga -- Robbie Shremp, LC, Syracuse Jr. A
- 1/20 Plymouth -- Taylor Razska, LW, Detroit Jr. Red Wings
- 2/3 Brampton -- Dan Marziani, RD, Chicago Chill
- 2/11 Peterborough -- Patrick Kaleta, RW, West Seneca Wings
- 2/18 Saginaw -- Brandon Burns, LD, Pittsburgh Hornets '86
- 3/9 S.S. Marie -- Matt Lashoff, LD, Avon Old Farms
- 3/12 Kitchener -- Matt Auffrey, RW, Syracuse Jr. A
- 3/20 Saginaw -- Kevin Porter, LW, Michigan Ice Dogs
- 4/2 Kitchener -- Patrick Davis, RC, Detroit Belle Tire
- 4/20 Plymouth -- Mike Letizia, '85 LD, Chicago Young Americans
- 5/1 Sarnia -- Brandon Scero, LW, Compuware '86
- 5/5 Guelph -- Tyler Haskins, LC, Sioux City Jr. A
- 5/6 Plymouth -- Eddie Wheeler, G, Leamington Jr. B
- 5/7 Sarnia -- Drew Larman, '85 RC, Tecumseh Jr. B
- 5/13 Belleville -- Thomas Samaris, G, Apple Core Midget AAA
- 6/1 Kingston -- Jared Boll, RC, Chicago Chill
- 6/2 Kingston -- Chad Kolarik, RC, Deerfield Academy
- 6/3 Ottawa -- John Carter, RC, HoneyBaked '86
- 6/4 S.S. Marie -- Shawn Williams, G, Pittsburgh Hornets '86
- 6/5 Saginaw -- Todd McIllrath, LW, HoneyBaked '86
- 6/16 Plymouth -- Gino Pisellini, RW, Team Illinois
- 7/7 Sudbury -- Ian Keserich, G, Cleveland Barons '86
- 7/8 Plymouth -- Kevin Swallow, RW, Compuware
- 7/9 Sarnia -- Adam Abrahamson, RW Little Caesar's '86
- 7/10 Windsor -- Joe Grimaldi, RD, New York Bobcats
- 7/16 Guelph -- Matt Connors, RW, Nichols School
- 8/12 Kitchener -- Nick Schaus, RD, Buffalo Saints '85
- 9/5 Saginaw -- Jason DeSantis, RD, Detroit HoneyBaked '86
- 9/8 London -- Travis Turnbull, RC, St. Louis Blues '86
- 9/17 Barrie -- Justin Johnston, LD, Detroit HoneyBaked '86
- 9/19 St. Michael's -- Will Carpenter, RD, Detroit HoneyBaked '86
- 9/20 Plymouth -- Luke Lucyk, LD, Team Wisconsin
- 10/10 Windsor -- Michael Cox, RW, Detroit Belle Tire
- 10/18 Erie -- Dan Tormey, '85 G, Syracuse Jr. A
- 11/9 Barrie -- Joe Hall, RC, Chicago Chill
- 11/20 Plymouth -- John Marshall, RC, Perinton Blades
- 12/5 Saginaw -- Chase Ryan, RD, Chicago Chill
- 12/10 Windsor -- Dan Eves, LW, Detroit HoneyBaked '86
- 12/13 Guelph -- Alan Dorich, RD, Team Illinois
- 12/20 Plymouth -- Nik Sellers, RW, Compuware '86
- 13/9 Sarnia -- Nick Tuzzolino, RD, Buffalo
- 13/10 Windsor -- Scott Campbell, RD, Detroit Honeybaked '86
- 13/15 Guelph -- Rick Lynch, '85 LD, Buffalo
- 13/20 Plymouth -- Matt Cleveland, G, Chicago Chill
- 15/2 S.S. Marie -- Chris Ziomek, LW, Detroit HoneyBaked '86
- 15/5 Saginaw -- Nick Decroo, RW, Pittsburgh Hornets '86
- 15/8 London -- Danny Richmond, '84 LD, Chicago Steel Jr. A
- 15/13 Guelph -- Alex Okrzesik, G, Pittsburgh Hornets '86
- 15/14 Erie Otters -- Ian Boots, RC, Salmon River (NY)
- 15/20 Plymouth -- Steve Bandurski, RW, Compuware '86
- 1st Round: Swift Current -- Billy Smith, C, 8/10/86, Sterling, AK
- 2nd Round: Kamloops -- Moises Gutierrez, RW, 7/20/86, Anchorage, AK
- 3rd Round: Prince Albert -- A.J. Thelen, D, 3/11/86, Savage, MN
- 5th Round: Vancouver -- Brandon Brown, D, 3/19/87, Walla Walla, WA
- 5th Round: Portland -- Brandon Dubinsky, LW, 4/29/86, Anchorage, AK
- 6th Round: Kamloops -- Matt Butcher, C, 1/1/87, Bellingham, WA
- 7th Round: Medicine Hat -- Jeff Paukovich, C, 4/26/86, Denver, CO
- 7th Round: Seattle -- John Vadnais, D, 4/7/86, Faribault, MN
- 8th Round: Swift Current -- Alex Laseen, C, 11/18/86, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
- 9th Round: Tri-Cities -- Justin Fechione, D, 7/7/86, Anchorage, AK
- 10th Round: Lethbridge -- Blake Martin, C, 11/10/86, Anchorage, AK
- 13th Round: Kamloops -- Rino Linder, D, 7/23/87, Bothell, WA
5/15/02
Rolston Named Eagles Assistant
Top Harvard assistant Ron Rolston has been chosen to be an assistant on Jerry York's staff at Boston College. Look for an official announcement soon.
The job was created one month ago when former BC assistant Scott Paluch was named head coach at Bowling Green. The list of applicants was as long as it was accomplished (please scroll down this page to the USHR News of May 1st).
Rolston was Harvard head coach Mark Mazzoleni's first hire after taking over in the summer of 1999.
This past season, Harvard, after going through a 2-8-1 slump from the end of the reading break to the final game of the regular season, turned it around and went 4-1 in the postseason, winning the ECAC crown and moving onto the NCAA East Regionals, losing there to Maine, 4-3, in overtime. It was the fourth straight OT game the Crimson had appeared in.
Rolston was an assistant at Clarkson from 1996-99, and at Lake Superior State for five years before that. During his three years at Clarkson, the Golden Knights went 72-28-3 and reached the NCAA tournament every single year. At Lake State, where Rolston was an assistant under Jeff Jackson, the Lakers also reached the NCAA tournament every year, and won the whole thing twice -- in '92 and '94.
At BC, Rolston will fit in well. Like Paluch, he has an easy-going personality and sense of humor that lines up with that of coach York. He also has extensive recruiting contacts, and at Harvard was the guy the players relied on for their off-ice conditioning programs.
Rolston, who's from Fenton, Michigan, was a forward at Michigan Tech from '86-'89, where he played for Herb Boxer. He's the older brother of Boston Bruins forward Brian Rolston.
5/14/02
Dillon #1 Pick in USHL Draft
Former Shattuck-St. Mary's defenseman Spencer Dillon was the #1 pick in today's USHL draft, which is still going on. Here's the whole first round. The league's web site should have the whole list up tomorrow.
Note: USHL teams don't generally draft a player in the first round without a pretty strong feeling that he'll actually sign. Actually, most first-rounders commit in advance to the teams that draft them. So don't put too much by the actual draft order -- unlike the NHL for example, it's not a true straight draft. That's not to take anything away from the kids -- they're still first rounders.
5/14/02
USHL Tenders
Here is the final list of USHL signed tenders. Each team has four to six (depending on whether they made a trade or not). The USHL draft is today, via conference call.
5/14/02
Holt to Join NTDP
With '85 goalies Alvaro Montoya and Gerald Coleman heading off to, respectively, the University of Michigan and the London Knights (OHL), U.S. NTDP head coach Moe Mantha has brought on a new '85 goalie in Chris Holt, a dual citizen from Surrey, BC who played for the Billings Bulls (AWHL) this season, posting a 13-17-1 record, a 2.99 gaa, and a .906 save percentage.
Holt, a 6'2", 190 pounder, opened eyes at the Cedar Rapids Tournament last September. In the tournament's very first game, he blanked the Green Bay Gamblers, 2-0, kicking aside over 40 shots.
The year before, Holt played bantam hockey for the Semiahmoo Bantams in British Columbia. Sioux Falls (USHL) head coach Tony Gasparini coached him in a bantam game at Roy Henderson's Global Showcase in Vancouver, liked what he saw and invited him to the Stampede Camp three weeks later. Gasparini set him up with Billings, with the aim of bringing him to the USHL this fall.
But that was before NTDP goaltending coach Darrin Madeley saw Holt at the Rocky Mountain District Select 16 tryouts the weekend before and sent a thumbs-up back to Ann Arbor.
Holt, a 6/5/85 birthdate, was born in White Rock, BC, but his mother is an American.
The other '85 goalie the NTDP had offered a spot to, 6'2" Joe Fallon, who played for Bemidji (Minn.) HS as a 10th grader before going to the Rochester Mustangs last season, has decided instead to stick with the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, who selected him in the USHL dispersal draft on April 19.
The bottom line here? The NTDP is looking for one more top '85 goalie -- unless, of course, the next-best guy is an '86.
5/13/02
Geris OT Goal Gives Muskies Clark Cup
Omaha, Neb. -- The Sioux City Musketeers, trailing 3-1 with just a little over five minutes remaining in the third period last night, came roaring back with three straight goals, the last a Ryan Geris shot at 3:41 of overtime, to defeat the Omaha Lancers -- the defending champion -- in the fifth and deciding game of the Clark Cup final.
The OT game-winner was the second of the game for Geris, a defenseman from Alexandria, Minn. who's going to Minn-Duluth in the fall. It came on a rebound that clanged off the post and came back out front for Geris, who fired it past Omaha goalie Dominic Vicari.
It was the second time in the series that Sioux City came back from a 3-1 lead to win by identical 4-3 scores, the other time coming in regulation play on Sat. May 4th, also at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum.
Last night, the Musketeers' third-period comeback began when Matt Ciancio scored a shorthanded goal at 14:55. The tying goal came 54 seconds later when big Nathan Schwartzbauer stole the puck from Omaha's Aaron Slattengren in the Lancers' end.
BU-bound Brad Zancanaro had three assists for the Musketeers.
Omaha got two goals in a 20-second span of the first period, the first a powerplay tally by Matt Davis, and the second by Yale Lewis. At 8:21 of the third period, Aaron Slattengren scored the goal that put the Lancers up 3-1.
Andy Franck, who finished the playoffs with a 2.46 gaa and .916 save %, kicked out 28 shots for the Musketeers; Vicari, who finished with a playoff-best 1.50 gaa and .922 %, kicked out 31 for the Lancers.
Leading postseason scorers were: Slattengren (13 gp, 7-11-18); Brandon Schwartz, Sioux City (12 GP, 10-5-15); Zancanaaro (12 gp, 1-13-14); Joey Crabb, Green Bay (7 gp, 4-8-12); and Ciancio (12 gp, 5-6-11).
Last night's game, before a sellout crowd of 5,908, was the Lancers last appearance at Ak-Sar-Ben. This fall, the Lancers will move across the Missouri River to a brand-new arena in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They will be renamed the River City Lancers.
Notes: For Sioux City, it was the first time in 16 years that the Musketeers had won the Clark Cup, the last time coming with the powerhouse (42-6-0 in the regular season) team of 1985-86, coached by Bob Ferguson, now at Des Moines. The Lancers didn't even exist then, joining the league as an expansion franchise the following season and going 0-48-0. After a couple more rough seasons, current Air Force head coach Frank Serratore took over in '89-90, winning the cup in his first and only season at Omaha. Since then Omaha has won five more, one under Dave Morinville, two under Mike Guentzel, and two under current head coach Mike Hastings. In the last 12 years, Omaha has won six of 12 Clark Cups, most recently last year; Des Moines has won three; Green Bay two; and Lincoln one.
It was the third Clark Cup title for Sioux City head coach Dave Siciliano, who won two straight for the Thunder Bay Flyers in the late '80s.
5/13/02
It's Different, Now
In past years, of course, the winner of the Clark Cup would go on and play in the Gold Cup for the U.S. Jr. A championship.
However, last summer the USHL announced it would no longer take part in the Gold Cup, choosing instead to add five games to the regular season, going from 56 to 61; and changing the first round of the playoffs from a best-of-three to a best-of-five series. The aim was to increase the league's bottom line while simultaneously -- with the Tier I push on the agenda -- disassociating themselves from the country's other two Jr. A leagues.
The decision, which USA Hockey let slide, left a diminished version of the Gold Cup, which nonetheless soldiered on the weekend of May 3-4 at the Valley Ice Garden in Bozeman, Montana.
In one semifinal, Compuware (NAHL) defeated the Fernie Ghostriders (AWHL), 5-4, with Jason Paige scoring the winning goal late in the third period. Earlier, Andy Greene (1g,2a), Frank Fudero (2g), and Mike Falk scored for Compuware. Justin Tobe had 21 saves.
In the other semi, the Pittsburgh Forge (NAHL) defeated the Bozeman IceDogs (AWHL), 3-1, with goals coming from Dylan Reese, Andy Cote, and Mike Handza. Tim Heneroty kicked out 20 shots for the win.
In the final, Compuware got goals from Matt Rutkowski, Danny Knapp, Chris Connor, and Mike Walsh -- and a 15-save shutout effort from Chris Davidson -- to dispatch the Pittsburgh Forge, 4-0. Note that Pittsburgh outshot Compuware, 31-15.
Compuware and Pittsburgh, an expansion team, had met in the finals of the Robertson Cup the previous weekend, with Compuware winning that series, two games to none.
5/10/02
Cunniff Succumbs to Cancer at 57
South Boston's John Cunniff, a two-time All-American forward at Boston College who went on to play for the 1968 Olympic team at Grenoble, France before embarking on a lengthy career in pro hockey, died early this morning at the Albany (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Cunniff, an exciting, nifty 5'9", 175 lb. forward who averaged over two points a game with the Eagles, never reached the NHL but played in the WHA with the New England Whalers and Quebec Nordiques. He began his coaching career with Cape Cod of the now-defunct NAHL, went on to Binghamton (AHL), then moved to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers as a coach and then scout. Over the past 13 seasons he has served the New Jersey Devils organization in the same capacities.
In addition, Cunniff served USA Hockey in many capacities, serving as an assistant at the last three winter Olympics.
Cuniff leaves four children: Christopher, 36; Patrice Linehan, 35; Paula Jaber, 33, and David, 31. He also leaves seven grandchildren, ranging in age from five months to four years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Cam Neely Foundation; 30 Winter St., 2nd Fl.; Boston, MA 02108
5/9/02
UNH Reloading
UNH is reloading up front, bringing in three top forward prospects, one for this fall and two for the fall of '03.
Coming in this fall is 6'2" RC Mark Kolanos of the Calgary Royals (AJHL). Kolanos, the 17-year-old younger brother of ex-BC Eagle and current Phoenix Coyotes center Krys Kolanos, is an excellent skater for his size, handles the puck well, and features good hands and vision.
An October '84 birthdate and a native of Calgary, Kolanos was a rookie in the AJHL this year, centering the third line and putting up decent numbers -- 17-18-35 in 58 games -- despite not seeing much time on the power play. All things being equal, UNH would have liked Kolanos to stay another year at Calgary, get stronger, and put up bigger numbers. Of course, if had accomplished that, UNH would have found themselves in the middle of a big-time recruiting battle. So they grabbed him now.
You may recall that it took Kolanos' older brother several months of adjusting to DI hockey before he caught fire after Christmas of his freshman year. The younger Kolanos, who played midget AAA hockey in 2000-01 with the Air Canada Cup winning Royals squad, will need time, too, and even then it may be a bit unfair to expect him to turn into a big-time point producer like his brother. Time will tell.
Coming to New Hampshire the following year -- fall '03 -- is 6'1, 185 lb. RW Brett Hemingway, the BCHL Co-Rookie of the Year. Hemingway, who plays for the Coquitlam Express, told interested schools he was going to visit UNH first, see how he felt, and then possibly open the process up to other schools. But after visiting UNH 2-3 weeks ago, and liking what he saw, he decided to make Durham, NH his next stop. Of course, already having older brother Colin, a similar style of player, coming off a career year for the Wildcats couldn't have hurt much.
Hemingway finished this season with a 45-39-84 line in 60 games (with a weak team), scoring at a faster clip than the year before when he was playing with the PoCo Bucs, a Jr. B team in the Vancouver area. In 36 games there, he put up a 22-19-41 line. Going into this past season, he was not projected as a player with the potential to win the BCHL Rookie of the Year.
In other words, he blossomed this season, even if, as a 9/28/83 birthdate, he was a late bloomer.
Hemingway has excellent hands, and is a good pro pro prospect. But he also needs to improve his skating.
Also arriving in the Live Free or Die state in the fall of '03 is 6'2", 190 lb. Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) LW/C Dan Winnick, who, in 47 games in the Provincial League, put up an 18-25-43 line, just four points behind Merrimack recruit Luch Aquino. Winnick, who's just an '85, is a well-rounded player, a Derek Bekar-type who has great feet, makes plays, sees the ice well, and can score. Michigan State and major junior teams also sought Winnick.
His older brother, 6'2" RD Andrew Winnick, is a Ferris State recruit for this fall.
5/6/02
Caron Chooses Yale
6'3", 215 lb. wing Ed Caron, who is just completing his freshman year at UNH, will be transferring to Yale.
The other school in the running for Caron was Dartmouth .
Caron, the second round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in last summer's NHL draft, will, of course, have to sit out next season's games. He will, however, practice with the team, and be eligible for NCAA competition in the fall of '03, his junior season.
5/6/02
Alaskan Goalie Named to NTDP
5'10" Jordan Pearce, an '86 who played for the Alaska All-Stars and also led Service High School to the state championship as a freshman, will be joining the U.S. National Team Development Program this fall.
Pearce, a native of Anchorage, compiled a 12-1-0 record for Service HS and posted a 1.09 GAA and a .939 save percentage. He shut out archrival Dimond HS 1-0 in the state championship game in February.
Pearce is the tenth player from Alaska to play for the NTDP since it's beginning in the fall of '97. Preceding him were Barrett Heisten, Mike Lee, Will Magnuson, Joey Hope, Steven Belanger, Joey Crabb, Jason Ryznar, Matt Carle, and Tim Wallace.
5/5/02
Schremp #1 Overall
For the second straight year, an American has been made the top pick in the OHL draft as 6'1", 195 lb. Syracuse Jr. Crunch center Robbie Schremp was selected by the Mississauga IceDogs, where he'll be a teammate with center Patrick O'Sullivan, the Sterling Heights, Mich. native selected as the #1 overall pick last season.
Overall, fifty Americans were drafted (out of a total of 298 players). All are '86s, with the exception of five, who are noted below. The first number on the left is the round each player was drafted in; the second number designates which slot in that round they were selected in.
5/5/02
McGrath Spurning OHL for U. of Michigan?
In the days leading up to the OHL draft, it was expected that the Oakville Blades (OPJHL) 6'0", 175 lb. center Evan McGrath would be taken by the Brampton Battalion, who held the third pick overall.
Brampton wound up passing on McGrath, one of four impact players in the draft, because of his NCAA leanings. His older brother, Brett McGrath, an '83, plays for the Ottawa '67s, but the family is reported to be disappointed in his OHL experience. That's why the younger brother is leaning toward taking the NCAA route, with the University of Michigan prominently in the picture.
However, while Brampton and the eight teams that followed passed on McGrath, the Kitchener Rangers grabbed him with the 12th overall pick.
At the Ontario Under-17 Evaluation Camp at Waterloo University last night, both Michigan head coach Red Berenson and the Kitchener staff, headed up by coach/GM Peter DeBoer (formerly of Plymouth) were in attendance.
Look for a DeBoer vs. Berenson taffy pull here.
McGrath, meanwhile, is reported to be considering staying at Oakville for another season, accelerating his studies, and joining the Wolverines in the fall of '03.
McGrath, who has abundant speed and skill, was #6 in the Provincial League scoring race with 87 points. The only '86 surpassing him was Robbie Schremp, who had 93 points. Some scouts insist that the difference between Schremp and McGrath is marginal.
In one 10-game stretch in January, McGrath posted an 11-16-27 line. McGrath finished the season with a 43-44-87 line in 49 games. He's a 1/14/86 birthdate.
5/4/02
Auffrey Opts for NTDP
6'0", 175 RW Matt Auffrey of the Syracuse Jr. Crunch (OPJHL), who was in negotiations with OHL teams until pretty much the last minute, has decided instead to join the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Auffrey, a 1/3/86 birthdate from Evans Mills, NY, would have been among the top picks in the first round, perhaps in the #4 to #7 range -- if he had indicated a willingness to go that route. That would have made him the second-highest picked U.S. kid, behind only Syracuse teammate Robbie Schremp. Instead, he opted out, but was still picked by Kitchener in the third round.
In the end, Auffrey just wanted to keep his college eligibility -- and play for his country. He's made an unofficial visit to Boston College (which has done well by western N.Y. State kids in recent years), and other Div. I schools.
Auffrey, in 49 games with Syracuse this season, posted a 27-31-58 line.
5/4/02
OHL Draft Today
Once again this season, the OHL is conducting its draft via the Internet -- we love the personal touch -- with proceedings getting underway at 9 am EST today, Sat. May 4.
Once again, Don Cherry's Mississauga IceDogs will be leading off. The IceDogs have won just 27 of 272 games played since joining the league as an expansion team four years ago. They have finished with the worst record in the CHL each season.
The top players in the draft are U.S. forward Robbie Schremp of the Syracuse Junior Crunch (OPJHL), and Chatham Maroons (Western Ontario Jr. B) defenseman Wes O'Neill.
If everything were normal in the draft, they'd be the top two picks, but O'Neill doesn't want to play for Mississauga or Kingston, preferring to be picked by Brampton, which drafts third. And Schremp, of course, has the leverage of joining the U.S. National Team if he doesn't get drafted by a team he wants to go to. In just a few hours we'll see how it all shakes out.
OHL clubs are allowed to select players born in 1986, and undrafted '85s.
5/3/02
Eleven U.S. Kids Taken in WHL Bantam Draft
The annual WHL Bantam Draft was held yesterday in Calgary.
The Vancouver Giants, an expansion club, received the firrst overall pick in a trade with the Prince Albert Raiders and selected Gilbert Brule, a center from N. Vancouver, BC.
There were a dozen Americans selected, the first being Billy Smith, an all-state sophomore forward from Soldotna HS in Alaska. Smith was selected by Swift Current with the 18th pick of the first round.
The full list of US players drafted, along with their hometown, follows:
The draft allows WHL teams to add players from the bantam age group (1987 birthdates, which means some drafted players can be as young as 14) and add them to their 50-player protected lists. It's really designed to get players in the fold before the kids are even old enough to think about the NCAA route.
A couple of the players drafted yesterday, Thelen and Vadnais, both Shattuck-St. Mary's defensemen, have already committed to playing for the U.S. National Program in Ann Arbor next season.
5/3/02
Caron Decision Soon
Look for Ed Caron, a 6'3", 215 lb. freshman wing at UNH this past season, to make his decision on where he will be heading this fall by the end of the weekend.
Caron, who notified UNH coach Dick Umile on April 15th of his decision to leave the Durham, NH school at the end of the current school year, has narrowed his choices down to either Yale or Dartmouth. He's visited both, really likes both, and now must make the tough decision. Needless to say, all of the Ivies were interested in the former Exeter star, but Caron, the second round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in last summer's NHL draft, quickly zeroed in on the above mentioned schools.
Caron played for Dartmouth coach Bobby Gaudet at the 1998 Select 16 Festival, and he played for Yale coach Tim Taylor last August at the U.S. National Junior team tryout camp in Lake Placid. Caron was among the players held over to play with the veterans, but didn't make the final cut.
Caron will not be able to play next season. He will enroll as a full-time student, practice with whichever of the two schools he enrolls at, and begin play in the fall of '03 as a junior.
5/2/02
Coaching Musical Chairs
Look for Northern Michigan AD Dan Spielmann to interview four or five candidates for the Northern Michigan head job in the next couple of weeks. The next coach is likely to come from a field that includes former Notre Dame assistant and Des Moines (USHL) head coach Tom Carroll; Michigan State assistant Dave McAuliffe; current NMU assistant Dave Shyiak; St. Norbert's (NCAA Div. III) head coach Tim Coghlin; Union College head coach Kevin Sneddon; and Alaska-Fairbanks head coach Guy Gadowsky.
New York Rangers assistant coach Walt Kyle, a former college player at both Boston College and Northern Michigan, is generally considered to have the job if he wants it. However, Kyle, the key recruiter behind Northern's 1991 NCAA Championship team, was not let go when the NY Rangers GM Glen Sather fired coach Ron Low a couple of weeks ago. Sather, who's had Kyle on his staff since Edmonton days, might want to keep him around in some capacity, perhaps even head coach of the big club. And the Rangers pay better than NMU.
-- Don't be surprised to see Mark Osiecki, who has guided the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) to four straight winning seasons, to be named the new coach of the U.S. Under-17 Team. Osiecki, now 33, was a defenseman on Wisconsin's 1990 NCAA championship team. He has also coached U.S. Select Teams in recent summers.
-- New Bowling Green head coach Scott Paluch needs at least one assistant and it could well be Tom Carroll who, as we mentioned above, is also in the hunt for the head job at Northern Michigan.
Former BGSU star George Roll is also prominently mentioned in connection with the assistant's job at his alma mater, but it's considered unlikely he'd leave his head coaching job at Oswego State.
Former assistant Dave Smith, who was at Miami for a couple years before heading to BGSU, will not be retained by Paluch. Smith, a former star forward at Ohio State, is looking for another job in college hockey.
The last we heard, it's uncertain whether BGSU's other assistant, Tim Alexander, the former Cleveland Barons (NAHL) coach/GM, will be staying on or not.
5/2/02
Mullen a Minuteman
5'11", 165 lb. Tilton School forward Mike Mullen has accepted a scholarship to play at UMass this fall.
Mullen, who's the son of NHL Hall of Famer Joe Mullen, is a Pittsburgh native whose play this season helped Tilton win its third straight Div. II prep title.
Mullen, who has a good stick and sees the ice well, was a force every time he stepped on the ice in the playoffs, figuring in nine of his team's 12 goals over the three games.
Mullen, a right shot who was a PG at Tilton, is a 7/16/83 birthdate. St. Lawrence also showed interest in him.
5/1/02
Rolston Top Candidate for BC Assistant's Job?
The early betting on who'll get the Boston College assistant's job vacated when Scott Paluch took the Bowling Green head coaching job last month is centering -- at least today -- around Harvard assistant Ron Rolston. Other reports have University of Nebraska-Omaha assistant Tom Mutch, Northeastern assistant Jamie Rice, and UMass assistant Mark Dennehy right up there, too. Cap Raeder, who has had many jobs at just about every level of hockey since graduating from UNH back in the mid-70s, went in today for an interview and is also being mentioned prominently.
That group, according to most reports filtering up from the coaches convention in Naples, Florida -- and filtering down from the Heights -- is the iron, at least as of now.
For what it's worth, Dennehy is the only BC grad among the above group.
Reportedly 40 to 50 applied for the job. Among those reportedly interviewed were Dartmouth's Dave Peters (a BC guy); Army's Brian Riley; former BC forwards Scott Harlow, Bob Sweeney, and Kevin Houle; former BC defenseman and current Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL) head coach Peter Masters; and Valley Jr. Warriors (EJHL) head coach Andy Heinze. No doubt there were others. Look for Tim Sweeney, another former BC forward, to interview this week.
5/1/02
St. Paul's School D-man Arrested for Selling Ecstacy
Yesterday's Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune reported that St. Paul's School 5'10", 180 lb. RD Matt Gosselin, an 11th grader from Salem, NH and a member of the 1999 New England Select 15 Team, has been charged with selling drugs to classmates at the Concord, NH boarding school in early April.
Among those buying the liquid Ecstacy was a girl who overdosed and had to be hospitalized. She has since recovered.
Gosselin, meanwhile, has been kicked out of school, while 11 other students who used the drug, liquid Ecstacy, were disciplined.
According to the Eagle-Tribune, neither police nor school officials would say, presumably because of juvenile involvement, if any other students would be facing criminal charges.
The school has reportedly sent a letter to all parents, and also held an assembly to discuss the incident with the whole student body present.
Meanwhile, another elite New England boarding school with a top hockey program has had its own drug scandal to deal with over the past week. In this particular incident, the names of a handful of students, including two top hockey players, were discovered inside a car containing marijuana. Also found inside the car, belonging to a local day student, was a list of names followed by what each student owed on his drug purchase.
In this case, the incident didn't extend outside the school, and school officials handled it. No one was hurt, no one was convicted, and because of that we will not be releasing any names. Graduation is just a few weeks away and the players, both seniors, will be allowed to graduate.
