Back on November 21st we learned that 16 year old Sam Mellor of the Kimberley Dynamiters in the KIJHL had verbally committed to the Seawolves. I had put off making a post about it because I was hoping that I'd receive additional information from the newspaper guy and blogger that writes about the Dynamiters. In absence of that, Sam is a bit of a mystery. I have no vitals (height/weight) as there are none listed on the KIJHL website or the Dynamiters website. He has 7 goals and 12 assists in 27 games. The Dynamiters are 14-11-2 and in last place in the 5 team Eddie Mountain Division.
This past Friday I acquired a bit of information about another verbal commitment from another 16 year old. Joe Giordano (1/29/92 ... 5' 9" 175lbs) from the New England Jr. Falcons of the Eastern Junior Hockey League has verbally committed to the Seawolves. Joe played for Loomis Chaffee Prep last season in the Founders League and had 11 points in 20 games. So far this season he has 2 goals and 3 assists in 22 games playing with and against 88's and 89 birthdates. The Jr. Falcons are 8-13-2 and in 6th in the 7 team Southern Division.
Both of these players represent a bit of a new trend for the Seawolves program. They are the youngest players to commit to UAA that we've ever seen. 16 year old hockey players verbally committing to colleges isn't a new thing overall ... just new to UAA.
It is an indication that the Seawolf coaching staff recognize that one way to get talented prospects to come to UAA is to get to them before the so-called "big" schools. At this point neither of these kids shows up on any establishment radar as future elite prospects however that doesn't mean they aren't. Honestly, there are only so many independent scouts available to look at a pretty large pool of players and evaluate them. Both of these guys are likely to begin school at UAA in 2011 but also could be 2012 depending on development. I think we can assume that both of them are "talented" players.
Normally, I'd wait to announce a player for Chris Heisenberg to list him. If I've been steered wrong in this case I'd be very very surprised, so I think the risk in making this announcement here is fairly small.
This past Friday I acquired a bit of information about another verbal commitment from another 16 year old. Joe Giordano (1/29/92 ... 5' 9" 175lbs) from the New England Jr. Falcons of the Eastern Junior Hockey League has verbally committed to the Seawolves. Joe played for Loomis Chaffee Prep last season in the Founders League and had 11 points in 20 games. So far this season he has 2 goals and 3 assists in 22 games playing with and against 88's and 89 birthdates. The Jr. Falcons are 8-13-2 and in 6th in the 7 team Southern Division.
Both of these players represent a bit of a new trend for the Seawolves program. They are the youngest players to commit to UAA that we've ever seen. 16 year old hockey players verbally committing to colleges isn't a new thing overall ... just new to UAA.
It is an indication that the Seawolf coaching staff recognize that one way to get talented prospects to come to UAA is to get to them before the so-called "big" schools. At this point neither of these kids shows up on any establishment radar as future elite prospects however that doesn't mean they aren't. Honestly, there are only so many independent scouts available to look at a pretty large pool of players and evaluate them. Both of these guys are likely to begin school at UAA in 2011 but also could be 2012 depending on development. I think we can assume that both of them are "talented" players.
Normally, I'd wait to announce a player for Chris Heisenberg to list him. If I've been steered wrong in this case I'd be very very surprised, so I think the risk in making this announcement here is fairly small.
56 comments:
remember there just verbal commitments(matt zaba, evan trupp, and countless others)
Zaba and Trupp never gave a verbal committment to UAA. Zaba did do a fly down visit, but that's the extent of it.
Overall in college hockey I'd say 95% or better of verbal commitments end up at the school.
Sorry folks, he was not part of the gophers recruitment.
LOL
But BC really wanted him.
;-)
again i show my inexperince to check out my comments
http://www.adn.com/sports/story/616625.html
hmmmm doesnt list doyle had anyting to do with that, but i will bet $ that he had the idea and convinced somebody else to put there name or write it for him, i fucking hate doyle
If a newspaper is going to report when a team gets into some stupid poll then they're pretty much obligated to report when a team drops out of the poll.
Don't blame Doyle for that. Blame everybody that thinks polls are worthy for discussion in the first place.
As long as I have this blog you won't find any post by me about the polls (except perhaps to point out how meaningless they are).
its safe to say i have an personal vedeatta against doyle. and anon@5:09 PM, im really sure that evan gave an verbal commitment-im going to try to find some evidence. and im also working on getting some multi-national exposure for the boys(not what you think, or is it?) more on that when 09 rolls around-im pretty sure no one currently does what im planning to do
Evan Trupp never gave a verbal to UAA. The Seawolves were in the running but Denver, Minnesota, UND, and a host of others were recruiting him. In the end the Fighting Sioux were able to secure his playing career.
Evan Trupp did not give a verbal to UAA.
Normally I would put this as Sitkafan, but I am at work and the option to put in my name is not working, anywho:
The title says it all:
Seawolves Look To Survive Second Half
http://www.uscho.com/blogs/from_the_press_box/toddmilewski/20081206/seawolves-look-to-survive-second-half.html
i got to thinking as to where i read or heard that....and i heard that from kurt haider during a blowout road trip. and thanks for writing that "the writer fromally known as SITKAFAN" um thats really just what everybody is thinking and wondering. and screw the march madness loss in work, taking time on the job to broadcast your thoughts about the boys is awesome. "and im also working on getting some multi-national exposure for the boys(not what you think, or is it?) more on that when 09 rolls around-im pretty sure no one currently does what im planning to do" some more info and thats all that im reveling into 2009: is that its only gonna work if all the seawolves fans go to a certain website...if my plan works, i hope to get maybe one or a couple of kids that our coaching staff may recruit to UAA by showcasing our team, style of play, and our passion to the game of hockey...i doubt i can really make a difference but im defintely going to try...
seawolves fan, U said: " im really sure that evan gave an verbal commitment-im going to try to find some evidence."
I think you might be remembering Brian Canady? He verballed to UAA, but Blais pretty much screwed UAA and recruited him anyway.
suze: no i wasnt thinking of brian.
i keep forgetting to write sbout this: does anybody know if the aces indeed have thrid-party advertising on there jerseys? somebody said they did but i dont know if they were talking about on the back of the aces jersey under the number-i was under the impression that was that particular players real job.
Seawolvesfan: You also might be thinking about Eric Felde... He verbaled to UAA but then went on to play Major Juniors - and now the Aces.. I remember that Doyle wrote about Felde's committment in a manner that indicated "maybe" this would lead other top prospects at the time - such as Trupp - to come to UAA too...
that might've lead to it, put im postivie i heard it on 550 a.m.
The Aces are sponsored by different companies. They used to announce them all the time at their games. I don't think that has changed. It might also be a place of secondary employment for the players, but if so, I think it's just a coincidence.
They don't work for them. I think some players cost more to advertise on.
I would think that at least a few of the Aces make enough money to survive through the winter without holding down a second job, but last time I was there they all had sponsors on their jerseys.
I mean it's not like Scott Gomez was out working for Waste Management.
well whatever it really is about, third-party advertising on jerseys is low-class in my opinion.
i was looking for gustav's profile for KENAI when i came across his wikipedia page-do most junior hockey players have there own wikipedia pages? thats either self-centered or awesome-i cant tell
Maybe somebody else started the Wiki on him? Who knows? Whether he did it or someone else did I don't think it matters. It's no different than having a Facebook page if you ask me.
I remember when Justin Bourne had his own site to promote himself. He called himself Justincredible! LOL
DD:
then i wont ask what having a mypsace means...and suze are you serious? why havent you mentioned this before? oh yeah i havent asked thats why. JUSTINCREDIBILE, thats cracks me up
Please keep Justin Bourne in your thoughts & Prayers as he is in alaska regional recovering from a broken Jaw.
Absolutely. I would also like to wish all the Seawolf players, coaches and fans a safe and happy Christmas Season.
ironic that when JUSTINCREDIBILE gets brought up he gets injured, Justin hope you get a full recovery quickly
i just missed out on finding the song thats usually played right after and before the national anthem for the boys, does anyone know whose its by? and also who does the song right as kurt haider begins his broadcast?
I dont know...it's hard to say. The kids coming out of colleges these days arent as strong as in the past I think. New England teams still dominate a lot.
According to the ADN:
Idaho's Justin Bourne, the former UAA and Aces winger who was struck in the face by a teammate's slap shot in Friday's 3-0 Aces win, broke his jaw in two places. Two plates were inserted in Bourne's jaw, said Steelheads coach Derek Laxdal.
Get well Justin! So sorry to hear about the incident that landed you in the hospital.
With 7 Alaskans currently in the Nhl you would think that we would be looking at the 92 class of players in Alaska that is the best birth group of players in a decade to come out of Alaska.it is very interesting that if they are giving full rides to kids that are playing up in weak leagues with poor stats.to give a 16 year old a fullride that is not a top Nhl prospect is basicly a guess that they may be a top player in college and comes with a lot of risk.
Shyiak said on his show that they are actively recruiting Alaskans. Trouble is, many of them leave Alaska to play juniors at a young age, and are being noticed and recruited by teams in the Lower 48. Only so much you can do, you can't put too much pressure on these kids at a young age.
i believe that the other issue is that all of those too kids believe they will be going to north Dakota and will step right in and be playing on the first line. The competition is so intense at a major school that you might get that scholly but after 4 years you might barely play and ya your chest is puffed out because of the ego thing but the reality is you picked splinters out of your ass and were misrable.at UAA the staff has proven you will get an opportunity. I just wish the local too prospects respected it more.most of the local players and parents are living in fairy tail land.
Exactly anon @ 9:05. Look at the Alaska players who have gone to the Lower 48 to play, a lot of them have left their teams and transferred, either back home to Alaska, or out of the WCHA.
Brian Canady is a prime example. A good prospect coming out of juniors, but on UND's 4th line and played very little. Bishop Hunter left UND after one year, Fournier left UND. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.
When you compare the atmosphere at the Sully compared to most arenas in the lower 48 it's a joke. Sully sucks, why would a kid want to play in a crap arena with 3,000 fans that make as much noise as 300 fans in Minnesota or No. Dak.
I already posted the attendance for DI teams, and UAA is better than many of them. I've seen the Ralph DEAD QUIET when their team is losing. 300 fans making more noise...pfffft!!
what the hell are you talking about MICHAEL BYNUM? please dont tell me your trying to say what im thinking you are
There is every reason to think that UAA's staff are doing the right things with regard to local prospects. I have no doubt that a contact from UAA is these local kids FIRST contact with a D1 program in most cases.
A time will come when a couple of truly "elite level" players will commit to UAA at the same time and lead the team to success. But their hands cannot be forced to do so.
Let's also remember that Alaska (lets face it ... it's pretty much ALL anchorage) produces that "truly elite level" player at most once in three years. Erik Felde was the last "truly elite level" player from Alaska and he was committed to playing at UAA before apparently not qualifying scholastically.
Look at high school scoring especially last year. There were 5 guys within a small difference of points ... so there's no "truly elite" player amongst them. Perhaps getting a couple of other 16 year olds to commit will open some eyes in the local community ... at least in letting that community know that UAA is serious about building a winner.
Bottom Line: The door is open. It is up to the prospects to step in.
Its very hard to judge any player especially a good one on anchorage highschool hockey because it is a terrible league. Any of the top players are extremly hadicaped playing with players that can't pass , shoot or think. Its very difficult to get a good read on a player watching no think, poor hockey which is another factor when comparing apples this will sum it up for you Donald.did Gomez tear up the ECHL by a huge margin?? Hell no. The points analogy thing you can throw out the window.there are several top prospects 15 and 16 year olds that is much more than usuall and it would be great if anchorage was a first choice.the coaches have done a great job on the last. Half dozen or so recruits it would be nice to c more success in Alaska which I think will come all I'm saying is we have a nice group of several that will be playin d 1 for some one and it would be great to get several to commit.
I don't disagree. The high school points comparison was just to display that there wasn't any real separation between the top scorers the last couple of years. Since they're playing in the same league against the same competition it can be assumed they all played about equally. Making none of them "elite".
I mentioned Felde as the last elite level player UAA had a shot at but I forgot William Wrenn. But from what I know of Wrenn he'd been in California since he was 15. So I don't know how much "Alaska" claims him.
Perhaps the next best prospect is William Rapuzzi. He is having a good rookie year in the USHL but I'm not sure if he is a "blue chippah". Pichler, Young, Haider are a year older than him I believe and not "blue chippahs". The next two Alaskan's that aren't a mystery to the rest of college hockey are Trace Strahle and Zach Rall since they both have USNDT invites.
There maybe another name or two that are also close to be D1 material. Jason Cohen is one ... Jimmy Geerin is another. But neither of them are particularly dynamic. And there may be others.
I guess I just wanted to make sure we remind ourselves that not every Alaskan D1 prospect is necessarily going to be a fit at UAA.
Most of the good young Alaska players have had contact with multiple schools already. These young players travel and go to summer festivals since they were 14 years old. They take unofficial visits to campuses when they are traveling. By the time they are 16 they are knowledgable of what is available out in college hockey. And when these kids see the UND / Minn / BU / Mich./ UNH / Wisc facilities it becomes difficult to sell a Sullivan arena and Wells Fargo sports center.
Thats ridiculous, the skill level of the players here in the Cook Inlet Conference is on par with any in the nation. The numbers dont lie. There are 260,000 people in the greater Anchorage borough and 5 solid NHL players that graduated in Anchorage and one that I had the pleasure of playing with, Scott Parker, that recently has been diagnosed with too much brain damage to play
Your NHL Alaskan count is wrong...
You have 7 now playing at the highest level...
Gomez
Dubinsky
Carle
Thompson
Crabb
Wallace
Conklin
Not a bad group of players....
I've seen Haider, Cohen and Pichler play (Young is no longer playing jr hockey). None of these guys appear to have the talent needed to play D-1 in my opinion. Or maybe its just that the Avs as a team are so bad that these kids' talent doesn't shine through. Topeka outskated them all last wknd and Fairbanks will do the same this weekend. It will be interesting to see if any Avs go D1. I've watched a few Ice Dogs games and they definitely have more talent and many prospects to make it to the D1 level.
Yeah, the Avs looked a lot smaller than than Topeka. Not only in size, but skill and versatility. They outshot Wasilla like 35-15 on Wednesday after the second period. They didn't show the shot count for the whole third period. The Avs play in a shitty town and they have a shitty team. They look like St. Cloud, but play like _airbanks.
Your NHL Alaskan count is wrong...
He said "5 solid NHL players that graduated in Anchorage"
However, and correct me if I'm wrong, I am pretty sure that none of Gomez, Dubinsky, Carle, Thompson, Crabb, Wallace, and Conklin graduated in Anchorage... which 5 are you counting?
Years of Anchorage H.S. Hockey:
Two Years: Gomez, Dubinsky, Thompson, Crabb, Wallace
One Year: Carle
(I'm fairly certain about these, but may be wrong. IDK how many years Conklin played, but he graduated from Shattuck.)
You are correct about those who graduate from Anc High School...
High school hockey is great for some kids but for those seeking the next level they leave early and go play outside no question...
Thanks for shitting on point, which was, there is no need to go outside to gain national exposure. The word is out, Alaska is full of natural talent
keys to sucess for the boys in 2009: Kevin Clark, Josh Lunden, Brian Bales, Craig Parkinson, and Mat Robinson need to get there points totals up. Clark, Bales, and Lunden have put up good numbers but we need them to keep it up. Parks and winged feet (robbie) have so far put dissapointing numbers. i know numbers isnt everything but we are going to need some more production to finish at or above .500. we also need to stay out of the box and if its possible to keep the other team out of the box cause we seem to play our best hockey 5 on 5. tommy grant should cut down on his penalties because he currently leads the team-we dont need him in the box, we need him on the ice. i also think why grant is getting so many penalties, the refs know he is arguably our most skilled foward(all around) and they keep an extra notice of him. our younger guys and frankly all of our guys need to step up-dont get intimdated in other teams barns and play our game. we do that and more than that i dont see a problem with us finishing in the top 5 in the wcha and have at least a .500 record. great start but now the real season begins, keep playing hard boys
The word is out, Alaska is full of natural talent
agree
I can't wait for January 9th to get here! Hopefully the tides will turn and UAA will surprise the crap out of Wisconsin with a sweep. GO SEAWOLVES!!! Enjoy your time with friends and family, rest and come back ready to kick butt.
Alaska's best players can't stay here for HS hockey. AK's HS game is very very slow all around because the depth isn't there. They need to go play NAHL, USHL to really be ready for D1.
UAA would be able to get the elite talent if the Sully was packed every weekend. I was up in Anchorage in 2005, and it was a really dull hockey environment. I remember the good old days, when the Sully rocked for the Wolves. The Aces really messed things up. Screw the Aces- the real hockey talent, passion and fire is in the WCHA. If Anchorage hockey fans don't wake up soon, UAA may end up losing it's WCHA membership. That would be a very sad day indeed.
Go Seawolves!!
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