Six weeks into the season, Ryan Tverberg of the University of Connecticut is making a name for himself.
Coming into the year, it’s not a stretch to say quite a few people around Hockey East were not familiar with the Toronto-born right winger.
That’s changing in a hurry.
Through 11 games, he is tied for third in the country in goals with nine and tied for second in Hockey East in points with 15.
It’s been a quick rise to prominence for Tverberg, who was with Alberni Valley of the British Columbia Hockey League at this time a year ago, then enrolled at UConn in January. He’d played the previous season with the Toronto Junior Canadiens of the OJHL, but with Ontario reeling because of Covid, he’d headed west to the BCHL.
“He’s an interesting kid. He was originally committed to Harvard. At some point last year he was told he wasn’t going to get in or something along those lines,’’ said UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh.
“(Assistant coach) Joe Pereira got a bead on him and when he found out he wasn’t going to get into Harvard, we got interested. The kid was like, ‘Hey, I’ll come to school now.’
“We had money at the time, so we said, sure, we’ll bring him in. He basically started out on our fourth line last year and by the end of the year he’s on our first power play.’’
Tverberg, 19, said choosing UConn simply was a case of going to the school that showed him the most love.
“They clearly wanted me the most. That was the biggest thing. They wanted me and were pushing hard. I felt wanted and decided to come in right away,’’ he said.
Born in Toronto, Tverberg is a dual citizen – Canadian and American. Word is USA Hockey looked into whether he is eligible to play for the United States at the World Junior Championship next month, but concluded that he is not.
The 19-year-old, who played on a line with Jachym Kondelik and Carter Turnbull at Providence College, gets his nose dirty. He scored a goal from the edge of the blue paint on Saturday night. He has goals in five straight games, but don’t get the idea that he’s a one-dimensional player.
“The thing about him is he’s one of those natural goal-scorers that also could play on your fourth line if he had to because he finishes checks, he skates, he competes. Is he a complete player yet? No, but how many kids are? He should be a freshman. He really plays the game hard, he’s got a terrific shot and a nose for the net,’’ said Cavanaugh.
In his second game at UConn last January, Tverberg scored a goal and an assist against New Hampshire. He’s been building confidence ever since.
“Getting some games in last year (was helpful), getting a feel for the speed and how the game is overall. The jump to college from Junior A is pretty big,’’ he said.
Tverberg has impressive speed and is physical for a player who is listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds.
“That’s definitely a new thing. College is so much bigger, faster, stronger. In juniors I didn’t throw that many hits. It’s kind of something I developed last year when I came in halfway through. I wanted to show what I’ve got and earn a spot in the lineup. So I hit a lot last year and it’s transitioned into my game now,’’ he said.
“I definitely try to play with speed, a lot of pace. I try to catch defenders flatfooted and create offense. I try to make plays however I can in the offensive zone.’’
Growing up in Richmond Hill, Ont., Tverberg didn’t live and die with every Leafs game when he was young, but grew more interested as the years passed.
“If there was a game being watched in my house, it was usually the Leafs. Everyone is a Leafs fan in Toronto. I didn’t follow it too much at a young age but as I got older, they are the only team anyone cares about, so I may as well cheer for them as well,’’ he said.
Naturally, Tverberg doubled down on his support for the Leafs after they drafted him. As the 2020 NHL Draft was winding down, Toronto made a trade with the Boston Bruins for the 213th pick, in the seventh round. They selected Tverberg, whose phone exploded with congratulatory calls and texts.
“We loved his character, we loved his game,’’ John Lilley, Leafs’ director of amateur scouting at the time, said. “We had some guys who were really passionate and really wanted him.’’
It’s worked out well so far for Tverberg.
“Everything about it has been great. I already went down there and skated in the summer with them, things I couldn’t do if I wasn’t local,’’ he said.
UFKO ON A HEATER FOR UMASS
Former Chicago Steel D-man Ryan Ufko, drafted in the fourth round by Nashville this year, has a goal and six assists in his last three games, including 1-2-3 against Boston University on Saturday night.
“He’s really smart. A really talented offensive player. Different than Morrow, he’s more of a puck mover,’’ said coach Greg Carvel.
The UMass coaching staff put Morrow and Ufko together on the top power-play unit against Providence College two weekends ago and it paid off in two goals – 1-1-2 for Morrow and two primary helpers for Ufko -- in the third period as the Minutemen completed a sweep of the Friars.
“I really like Morrow on the half wall and Ufko on the top. It’s really where both of them should be,’’ said Carvel.
Ufko’s stock is on the rise.
“He just has to get comfortable with the pace, get stronger, be able to win more battles,’’ said Carvel.
FREE-AGENT WATCH
Wilmer Skoog, BU
Centering BU’s top line, the 6-foot-2 Swede’s offensive production has picked up as a junior as he leads the Terriers with 5-6-11 in 12 games this season. His boots may be a bit heavy, but Skoog figures to earn an AHL/ECHL contract when he leaves BU.
Nick Poisson, PC
After putting up 5-9-14 in 24 games as a freshman last season, the sophomore winger already has 3-12-15 in 13 games. Poisson is a smart player who is more playmaker than shooter. All three of his goals came in a wild comeback win against Denver. It feels like the sweet spot for him as a free agent will come a year from now if he keeps producing.
Zach Metsa, Quinnipiac
Metsa is the best defenseman on the fifth-ranked team in the country. A senior, he leads the Bobcats in scoring with 2-11-13 in 12 games. He’s undersized at 5-foot-9, but that shouldn’t stop him from landing an AHL/ECHL deal.
