UMaine Black Bears Recruiting

[Ma#1ne Hky]

".....UNH has been on a good run as of late with recruiting........"

Really? According to whom? Our lame duck head coach?

UNH and Maine are in the same boat...sinking, at least after this season you will have CHANGE.

[Drew S.]

Fyi ~ Jack York tweeted the following earlier this afternoon: "Excited to officially sign with the @OHLRangers can't wait to get things started"

I was thinking a few weeks ago, it's amazing how little anyone who has decommitted from Maine has done. I believe Watson played a bit in the NHL and Arnold had a decent career at UML but can't think of anyone else. Over the last 10 years there have been quite a few kids too.

[tylerzx2002]

I was thinking a few weeks ago, it's amazing how little anyone who has decommitted from Maine has done. I believe Watson played a bit in the NHL and Arnold had a decent career at UML but can't think of anyone else. Over the last 10 years there have been quite a few kids too.

That will likely change with Wahlstrom, but I also can't think of many.

Kevin Gagne comes to mind, but he never hit the NHL (was stuck in Norfolk with the Ducks blue line being very deep) and is in Sweden now.

Tyler Johnson (the goalie) hasn't done much in the OHL, and I believe there were big things expected of him if he came to Orono.

[Bhall44]

Really? According to whom? Our lame duck head coach?

Dating back to December Wazny, Commesso, Maas, Gildon, Sweeny, Pierson... that is a very good run for any program according to anyone who follows youth and junior hockey.

[Bhall44]

Prospect review by Jeff Cox covering recent tournaments gives praise to Nick Capone.

Nick Capone
#15 Yale 16U, Forward, 12/17/01, Shoots Right (Maine)

The Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL) affiliate player was dominant at times in both the River Rats Jamboree and ECC Labor Day Cup. He is huge and loves to play physically. He can control and protect the puck for long stretches along the wall and down low. He has a good shot that he gets off quickly. He has pro upside and is a huge get for Ben Guite and the Maine staff. He’s a newcomer to Salisbury this winter, but expect him in the USHL next season.

[Bhall44]

Kyla Kawamura scored 1 goal and 1 assist in his debut with Powell River (BCHL). For his efforts he was named Energy Player of the Game. Highlights can be found at link below.

http://www.powellriverkings.com/king...in-home-opener

[Bhall44]

Brent Hill is now playing for Islanders HC (NCDC) coached by Sean Tremblay.

[Bhall44]

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sp...eason-20170925

bad new for BC could be good new for UMaine. Cedar Rapids has a lot of forwards fighting for roster spots. Harry Roy being a '00 has tough competition. These injuries could play a significant role in him making the team. Oct. 3 is final cut to roster size 23 for ushl teams.

[Drew S.]

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sp...eason-20170925

bad new for BC could be good new for UMaine. Cedar Rapids has a lot of forwards fighting for roster spots. Harry Roy being a '00 has tough competition. These injuries could play a significant role in him making the team. Oct. 3 is final cut to roster size 23 for ushl teams.

That is really bad news for BC on Walsh. I believe he is one of the top 00's and a shoulder injury is one of the worst a hockey player can have. Is Roy ready for USHL or would he be better off elsewhere?

On another note, what has happened to Brent Hill in calendar year 2017? He started off great last year and has fallen off a cliff in the last nine months.

[Bhall44]

That is really bad news for BC on Walsh. I believe he is one of the top 00's and a shoulder injury is one of the worst a hockey player can have. Is Roy ready for USHL or would he be better off elsewhere?

On another note, what has happened to Brent Hill in calendar year 2017? He started off great last year and has fallen off a cliff in the last nine months.

It would good for Roy and UMaine if he plays in USHL this year.

I would be interested to know where you got the impression Brent Hill has "fallen of a cliff"? I thought he played his best hockey down the stretch of last season. He finished top 30 in PPG in CCHL, played excellent on PK, tenacious forecheck, and played great during the playoffs. Playing for Jason Clarke at Carleton Place, who runs one of the best junior teams around, was great experience for him. Just not sure what warrants your negative outlook on Hill?

[Drew S.]

It would good for Roy and UMaine if he plays in USHL this year.

I would be interested to know where you got the impression Brent Hill has "fallen of a cliff"? I thought he played his best hockey down the stretch of last season. He finished top 30 in PPG in CCHL, played excellent on PK, tenacious forecheck, and played great during the playoffs. Playing for Jason Clarke at Carleton Place, who runs one of the best junior teams around, was great experience for him. Just not sure what warrants your negative outlook on Hill?

It turns out we're both right. He started off hot last year scoring 16 points in his first 10 games. He then cooled down scoring 10 points in his next 18 games, but as you correctly pointed out he finished with 10 points in his last 11 games. This year he only had two points in his first eight games. Do you think he is a guy who will be a little streaky as far as points go?

[Bhall44]

It turns out we're both right. He started off hot last year scoring 16 points in his first 10 games. He then cooled down scoring 10 points in his next 18 games, but as you correctly pointed out he finished with 10 points in his last 11 games. This year he only had two points in his first eight games. Do you think he is a guy who will be a little streaky as far as points go?

Correct me if I am wrong but it seems as though you are grading him on box score stats soley? He actually missed December and first half of January (12 games). Upon his return he had a handful of games at the end of January where he did not score points (5 games in a row). I am not one for evaluating talent based on points alone and Brent Hill is a perfect example. His most significant contribution comes from turnovers he creates with his forecheck and his work on the PK preventing goals. He is a capable and consistent scorer (with right line combo) but not someone who should be expected to be Devin Shore.

[Drew S.]

Correct me if I am wrong but it seems as though you are grading him on box score stats soley? He actually missed December and first half of January (12 games). Upon his return he had a handful of games at the end of January where he did not score points (5 games in a row). I am not one for evaluating talent based on points alone and Brent Hill is a perfect example. His most significant contribution comes from turnovers he creates with his forecheck and his work on the PK preventing goals. He is a capable and consistent scorer (with right line combo) but not someone who should be expected to be Devin Shore.

There really isn't much else to go on. I would argue if you go back in time points are usually a pretty good predictor on how a player will perform. A lot of points doesn't necessarily mean a player will be good, but in the lower leagues, like whatever they're calling the EJHL these days, if a guy isn't around at least a point a game I doubt he will bring much to the table. There are some obvious exceptions to this. The first is that they don't matter that much in the USHL. Another is that where a guy is relative to his teammates is very important as well. If I get a chance sometime I will go back and check and think you would be surprised on how strong the correlation is, even with guys who are good players but not prolific scorers at the college level.

[Bhall44]

Ben Beck was traded from Lone Star (NAHL) to Brookings (NAHL) where he will now team up with fellow UMaine recruit Max Sasson.

[Bhall44]

All Maine recruits on USHL 30 man rosters have made the final 23 man roster

[Drew S.]

All Maine recruits on USHL 30 man rosters have made the final 23 man roster

That is wonderful news!

I read on twitter the other day that three kids who play for Fargo just decommitted, you think Maine has any interest in any of them? It seems like it could be a good opportunity.

[Bhall44]

I read on twitter the other day that three kids who play for Fargo just decommitted, you think Maine has any interest in any of them? It seems like it could be a good opportunity.

Not sure. I think next year's class is pretty well set at this point but that doesn't mean Red & Co. wouldn't jump on talent if they knew it was an upgrade or better fit. Then again, if we commit those three to go along with the three Maine already has on Fargo we would pretty much have a USHL farm team and would make HockeyTV viewing a lot easier....

[Bhall44]

Watched a fun USHL game last night against Sioux Falls and Fargo. Final score 2-1 Sioux Falls. The game featured 4 UMaine recruits in total. All three goals in the game were scored by UMaine recruits. Adam Dawe scored both for Sioux Falls and now had 4 goals in 3 games, while JSS scored hte lone goal for Fargo and how has 3-1-4 through 5 games. Dawe looks very comfortable in the USHL and the Fargo trifecta are looking good while they play for a very good coach/teacher in Cary Eades.

[Drew S.]

Watched a fun USHL game last night against Sioux Falls and Fargo. Final score 2-1 Sioux Falls. The game featured 4 UMaine recruits in total. All three goals in the game were scored by UMaine recruits. Adam Dawe scored both for Sioux Falls and now had 4 goals in 3 games, while JSS scored hte lone goal for Fargo and how has 3-1-4 through 5 games. Dawe looks very comfortable in the USHL and the Fargo trifecta are looking good while they play for a very good coach/teacher in Cary Eades.

Fake news. All of Red's recruits suck.

[Bhall44]

2 goal game tonight for JSS including the game winner. He now has 5 goals in 6 games.