USHL Chicago Steel rookie defenseman, 17 year old Zack Rall (6ft 192lbs) has committed to UAA. Rall is a former member of the unbeaten Five Nations Cup USA U-17 Select team from August of 2009. In 33 games this season with Chicago, Zack has 0g-4a and 29 penalty minutes.
Zack played all of his youth hockey here in Anchorage and has been one of a small but growing group of players that have consistently been invited to USA select development camps over the last few years. Zack is generally classified as an offensive minded defenseman.
Along with Matthew Friese, UAA now has 2 of the small number of elite level '92 born players from the area. That's an important piece of the success puzzle for the Seawolves. The more local guys we can get, the fewer that burn us when they get to other WCHA schools.
Based on his age and statistical development, I'd guess that Zack would show up on UAA campus no earlier than the start of the 2011 season. Another year of USHL hockey is perfectly in-line for a player in his situation before jumping to the WCHA. Congratulations to Zack and kudos to the UAA staff for snagging another quality local prospect. With Zack's resume' he was no doubt offered by multiple schools. It's great to see our guys win a recruiting battle even if I don't know for sure who they won it against.
Play hard and develop over the next season Zack. We'll be following you here on the blog and will be excited when you hit the ice wearing the Green & Gold.
11 comments:
sweet, b4 heisenburg donald, that's awesome, well Zack.
It's nice to get a tip once in a while. That was the case today.
Woody on his blog is saying that Crowell is done and Parky is not practicing yet.
Crowell done????
Crowell hurt his knee in Mankato. Sounds like he is done for the year.
Bummer for Crowell, so I bet we see Selby or Currier this weekend.
I just want Parkinson ready for the playoffs ... get better Craig!
There are about 10 bonifide forsure D-1 92s..Glad to see a couple come back. In fact you coul almost fill a College team if you included the 93s and were able to land them all. Great to see...Those age groups run deep.
Happy to see Rall join the Seawolves...but, "offensive-minded" defenseman??? With 0 goals ans a handfull of assists in 33 games? I guess that IS pretty offensive! :)
Anon,
I know right? Much as that seems somewhat of a mislabel it does appear to be the case. Don't forget he's a 17 year old rookie playing in THE top Junior A league in North America and with older more experienced players getting the nod to rush the puck, I'm sure this season Zack has been learning a lot about being responsible in his own end.
He always performed well in offensive terms playing amongst his age-group even in International play representing the U.S. So, hopefully the label looks more apt next season in that league.
Great pickup for the Seawolves! Good kid from a great family, and hopefully more kids will come home.
Donald's comments are right on here. I have attended several Chicago Steel games and am very familiar with their personnel and coaches. The current roster includes several "more veteran" offensive-defensemen. Zack has been asked to play a more "stay-at-home" game this season and has excelled at doing so. I am sure he has not forgotten the skills that have him scouted as "offensive-minded" and his current experiences are only rounding out his game. It is worth noting that Zack's coach in Chicago is former NHL defensemen Steve Poapst who has developed a reputation in the USHL for grooming defensemen for great success in both D1 and the NHL draft.
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