UNH Recruits: 2012-2016

[Dan]

For comparison purposes, Vecchione finished 15th in USHL scoring. UNH has now gone 5 years without a top 40 USHL scorer, regardless of age.

Well than the good news is Poturalski DOES return to the USHL and I'd be surprised if he wasn't a top-40 scorer next year...

C-H-C, I'd have to think UNH is very much behind Poturalski returning (or at least more than OK with the decision). If they wanted/needed him this season I'd think UNH's desires would outweigh Cedar Rapids' and Carlson's wishes. I do think Poturalski could and would have made an impact next year - but can understand why the UNH coaches might feel they have a log-jam of interchangeable parts at the forward position. I'm not sure being a center plays into it, because UNH has often prefered to start center's on the wing early in their career. Downing being the most recent example...

It will be interesting to see if one of, both or neither Masters or McNicholas come this season...

[herbst20]

I have said all year that Poturalski needed another year in juniors. I talk to CHC periodically to update him on Poturalski's progress and season. I attend most Cedar Rapids home games. I think his injury hurt his development/training in the offseason. He will be given a strict workout schedule this year and if he can add 10-15 pounds of muscle, he will be a force. He has all of the offensive tools to be a very successful D1 centerman.

I will keep this forum updated as far as the CR tryout camp goes. Last year we had Kalinowski, Poturalski, and Charley Borek in camp.

[CrazedUNHfan]

I am very interested to see what happens now to Masters and McNicholas.

Masters was very hyped but has been injured for most of the year and his numbers seem to have regressed considering he put up 1/2 a point a game as a 17 yer old in the USHL
McNicholas has been injured for a significant amount of time this year and barely made it back for his playoffs. At 18 had numbers close to when Downing was 17 and Downing stayed another year.

We lose Block, Henrion, and Pavelski forwards from our active roster at the end of the year
That leaves us with 13 forwards returning + Kelleher.

I think that having 4 forwards as healthy scratches is excessive but we have seen what injuries can do to a team.
I think now would be a smart time to take Masters and McNicholas as part of the fall of 2013 class and see what they can do. We should expect a few injuries and I would like to see them fight for some fourth line time so they have some experience for their sophomore year when they will likely see some openings in roster spots.

[C-H-C]

"UNH Recruits Kelleher & Eiserman with Team USA at World U18 Championship"

[C-H-C]

20-year-old, 5'7", 155 lbs, right-shot forward Collin Bourque commits to UNH for Fall 2013:
https://twitter.com/UNHRecruitsCHC/s...79025311821826

[Scott]

20-year-old, 5'7", 155 lbs, right-shot forward Collin Bourque commits to UNH for Fall 2013:
https://twitter.com/UNHRecruitsCHC/s...79025311821826

Well, I guess that answers the question as to who is coming this fall in place of Poturalski.

[C-H-C]

"Forward Collin Bourque Commits to UNH for Fall 2013"

[C-H-C]

Defenseman Matias Cleland has signed his National Letter of Intent to come to UNH this fall.
To date, Cleland, Tyler Kelleher, and Collin Bourque have announced plans to play for UNH next season.

[CrazedUNHfan]

"Forward Collin Bourque Commits to UNH for Fall 2013"

I am confused by this given our log jam of forwards. If we say McNicholas comes in 2014 and Masters comes in this fall we will have 4 healthy scratches at forward this coming year and then 3 or 4 already the year after that. I felt like we could handle Poturalski's move to the fall of 2014 with our glut of forwards that we have on the roster.

Hopefully this will work out but I am worried the coaches wanted to fill a roster spot and rushed it. The only other thing that I can think of is if we don’t know something about Master's or McNicholas's injury and one or both of them haven’t progressed enough or won’t be 100% ready for the fall. I also don’t know how ready Bourque will be for the competition of D1 hockey because when I looked at his team's roster there are a lot of division 3 commits but it doesn’t seem like he was playing against anyone close to as good as he will be playing in the fall.

Anyone else confused by this like I am?

[C-H-C]

I am confused by this given our log jam of forwards. If we say McNicholas comes in 2014 and Masters comes in this fall we will have 4 healthy scratches at forward this coming year and then 3 or 4 already the year after that. I felt like we could handle Poturalski's move to the fall of 2014 with our glut of forwards that we have on the roster.

Hopefully this will work out but I am worried the coaches wanted to fill a roster spot and rushed it. The only other thing that I can think of is if we don’t know something about Master's or McNicholas's injury and one or both of them haven’t progressed enough or won’t be 100% ready for the fall. I also don’t know how ready Bourque will be for the competition of D1 hockey because when I looked at his team's roster there are a lot of division 3 commits but it doesn’t seem like he was playing against anyone close to as good as he will be playing in the fall.

Anyone else confused by this like I am?

Expect clarification on McNicholas and Masters by early May.

Collin Bourque is a right-shot forward. UNH loses 3 right shots - Henrion, Block, and Pavelski - to graduation. That leaves Silengo, Camper (both had concussion injuries last season), Willows, Smith, and Hill plus Tyler Kelleher. That may have been a factor. Also, they probably hope Bourque is a "diamond in the rough". The recommendation of UNH Hockey Hall of Famer Jon Fontas probably entered into their decision as well.

[Dan]

And where might Nick Roberto - who reportedly decommitted from Maine and will pick from BU, PC & UNH - fit into the picture...??

[C-H-C]

Tyler Kelleher just scored a shootout goal to lead Team USA to victory against Russia in semifinals of U18 World Championship. USA will face Canada for the gold medal on Sunday.

[C-H-C]

"UNH Recruit Michael McNicholas Ready for Western Canada Cup"

[nhhockeyguy15]

And where might Nick Roberto - who reportedly decommitted from Maine and will pick from BU, PC & UNH - fit into the picture...??

He ended up committing to BU

[herbst20]

Cedar Rapids takes 2 UNH recruits over the past two days;


Charlie Kelleher in the 3rd Round of the Futures draft.

Danny Tirone in the Entry Draft yesterday!

[JB]

I am confused by this given our log jam of forwards. If we say McNicholas comes in 2014 and Masters comes in this fall we will have 4 healthy scratches at forward this coming year and then 3 or 4 already the year after that. I felt like we could handle Poturalski's move to the fall of 2014 with our glut of forwards that we have on the roster.

Hopefully this will work out but I am worried the coaches wanted to fill a roster spot and rushed it. The only other thing that I can think of is if we don’t know something about Master's or McNicholas's injury and one or both of them haven’t progressed enough or won’t be 100% ready for the fall. I also don’t know how ready Bourque will be for the competition of D1 hockey because when I looked at his team's roster there are a lot of division 3 commits but it doesn’t seem like he was playing against anyone close to as good as he will be playing in the fall.

Anyone else confused by this like I am?

You realize some of the "log jam" is intentional.

1997-98 - 15 F, 9 - D - Hockeydb (appears to only cover those that played - no 3rd goalie listed)
1998-99 - 14 F, 8 - D - Hockeydb (appears to only cover those that played - no 3rd goalie listed)
1999-00 - 17 F, 8 - D - USCHO full roster (example 3rd goalie listed)
2000-01 - 14 F, 8 - D - USCHO full roster (example 3rd & 4th goalie listed)
2001-02 - 14 F, 7 - D, 3 - F/D - USCHO full roster
2002-03 - 14 F, 9 - D, 1 - F/D - USCHO full roster
2003-04 - 17 F, 9 - D, 1 - F/D - USCHO full roster
2004-05 - 14 F, 9 - D - USCHO full roster
2005-06 - 15 F, 9 - D - USCHO full roster
2006-07 - 14 F, 7 - D - USCHO full roster
2007-08 - 16 F, 8 - D - USCHO full roster
2008-09 - 16 F, 8 - D - USCHO full roster
2009-10 - 14 F, 7 - D, 1 - F/D - USCHO full roster
2010-11 - 15 F, 8 - D, 1 - F/D - USCHO full roster
2011-12 - 15 F, 7 - D - USCHO full roster
2012-13 - 17 F, 8 - D - USCHO full roster
2013-14 - 14 F, 8 - D - Projected
2014-15 - 15 F, 8 - D - Projected

This means UNH averages just over 15 F and 8 D on the roster every year. That makes this last year a bit a a jam at 17 but 3 to 4 forwards in the stands isn't a ton for UNH. For 2015/2016 they have a bunch of commitments that are ether year projecting the roster is a nightmare.

That means with 3 pushing out a year for what ever reasons all of a sudden you need Bourque just to have the bodies if injuries occur. Bourque isn't likely to be getting $$.

[CrazedUNHfan]

Well I hope that we didn’t offer any money to Bourque because as a 20 year old without a team I doubt he had any leverage.

I do realize that the logjam is somewhat intentional. That is why I thought it served its purpose by being a buffer when Poturalski deferred to the fall of 2014 so that we didn’t have to scramble and add a last second recruit. I hope the kid is a diamond in the rough but based on his level of competition and his age it will be a big adjustment to play college hockey this fall. I am not going to get my hopes up for him being a key fixture in our offense during his 4 years.

I assume that your projection on 2013/2014 is based on the idea that we haven’t heard anything from Masters or McNicholas. But with Masters and McNicholas still on the table for this coming year and Kalinowski possibly the year after that so we could have our projected roster look like this over the next 2 years.

2013-14: 17 F, 8 D
2014-15: 16 F, 8 D

This isn’t that likely but it isn’t necessarily bad thing either. I am worried that too many players on the roster will lead to decommitments and anger over ice time (Chevrier). I understand that the coaches want to fill the locker room but to me it felt like a forced pickup. I feel like they are bringing a body in just to fill a spot that didn’t need to be filled.

[C-H-C]

@UNHRecruitsCHC:

"Enrollment of #UNHHockey recruit #MichaelMcNicholas deferred for one year. @ClippersHockey @McNick9"

[C-H-C]

@UNHRecruitsCHC

"2014 #UNHHockey recruit #MichaelMcNicholas will play for @VernonVipers next season: http://www.vipers.bc.ca/leagues/news...573&page=70222 … @McNick9 @bchllive "