It’s been a busy week for Dartmouth on the recruiting trail, including the Big Green landing a commit from St. Paul’s center Cooper Flinton.
In addition to Flinton, first-year head coach Reid Cashman and his staff also landed two defensemen out of the British Columbia Hockey League. ’00 Brady MacDonald will come to Hanover next fall while ’04 Tait Ross provides hope for the long term.
In Flinton, Dartmouth is getting a power forward who can play left wing or center. The Auburn, N.H., native is in his third year at St. Paul’s, playing for head coach Dan Murphy. During the 2019-20 season, Flinton scored 11 goals and 14 assists in 27 games.
He’s played split-season hockey for the Northern Cyclones. Flinton was limited this fall due to coronavirus restrictions at St. Paul’s, but he appeared in four games with the Northern Cyclones 18-U, scoring two goals and adding four assists.
Flinton is a blossoming prospect who has gotten better over the past two years. He has the size, shot and physical presence. His skating has gotten better, but it’s an area that he can continue to work on prior to getting to Dartmouth. Projecting forward, Flinton likely will be a middle-six winger with goal-scoring ability for the Big Green.
Flinton’s father, Eric, played college hockey at New Hampshire from 1991 to 1995. In 148 games for the Wildcats, the elder Flinton tallied 62 goals and 70 assists for 132 points. He played briefly in the minors following graduation, getting as far as the Binghamton Rangers in the American Hockey League.
MacDonald is a junior hockey veteran in his third season in the BCHL after spending two seasons prior to that in the GOJHL. The Dorchester, Ontario, native is a big defensive defenseman who can chip in offensively from time to time. In 87 BCHL games with the Victoria Grizzlies, MacDonald has scored seven goals and 25 assists. MacDonald played for the Strathroy Rockets in the GOJHL and Midget hockey before that for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs.
Ross is a younger prospect who Big Green fans should be excited about, despite his likely arrival not being until at least the 2022-23 season. A good-sized blueliner, Ross played Canadian prep hockey for Delta Hockey Academy the past two seasons. In 2019-20 with the school’s 16-U team, Ross scored three goals and 17 assists in 38 games. He also racked up 72 penalty minutes. The BCHL season is on hold due to coronavirus restrictions in the province, but Ross is expected to suit up for the Surrey Eagles.
Yale lands goaltender of future
Yale received a commitment from ’01 goaltender Luke Pearson, it was announced earlier this week. The Whitby, Ontario, native will matriculate to New Haven next fall after playing four seasons of junior hockey.
The 6-3 backstop will play for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs when the 2020-21 BCHL season begins next month. In 36 regular-season games with that organization in 2019-20, he had a .900 save percentage. He elevated his game in the playoffs with a .943 save percentage in two appearances. Prior to the BCHL, Pearson tended the net for the Whitby Fury in the Ontario Junior Hockey League and spent his Midget hockey years with the Whitby Wildcats.
NCDC leading scorer headed to Sacred Heart
Jersey Hitmen left wing Daniel Ebrahim has committed to Sacred Heart. The ’00 from Brooklin, Ontario, is leading the United States Premier Hockey League NCDC with 11 goals in 18 games. He’s added nine assists for 20 points.
It is Ebrahim’s second season in the NCDC. He had 20 goals and 28 assists in 43 games in his inaugural season in the league in 2019-20. Prior to that, he played in the OJHL with the Whitby Fury and Pickering Panthers. His commitment to the Pioneers is for the 2021-22 season.
Merrimack lands a Swede
Swedish defenseman Adam Arvedson has committed to Merrimack, the player tweeted on Thursday. The ’01 plays for Farjestad BK J20 in his native country. In 27 games this season, Arvedson has six goals and 15 assists. He likely will begin playing for the Warriors to begin the 2021-22 season, but it could be delayed until 2022-23.
Mountain commits to Vermont
’00 right wing Luke Mountain has committed to Vermont. The Woodbury, Minn., native is in his third season playing for the Maryland Black Bears in the North American Hockey League.
Mountain has six goals and four assists and 35 penalty minutes in 12 games this season. The Shattuck-St. Mary’s alum scored 28 and 25 points, respectively, in his first two seasons with Maryland.
Mountain is a winger with good size. He can shoot the puck and be heavy on pucks. His physical element will be a key part of his being in the lineup at UVM. Skating is the biggest concerns many USHL and college programs had when scouting Mountain.
