The tally is up to five when counting new recruits to the University of Maine since Ben Barr took over as head coach of the Black Bears. Maine recently received commitments from goaltender Platon Zadorozhny and defenseman Luke Antonacci. The news of the two new recruits comes on the heels of Maine adding defensemen Ryan...
The tally is up to five when counting new recruits to the University of Maine since Ben Barr took over as head coach of the Black Bears.
Maine recently received commitments from goaltender Platon Zadorozhny and defenseman Luke Antonacci. The news of the two new recruits comes on the heels of Maine adding defensemen Ryan Hopkins, Bodie Nobes and David Breazeale.
Zadorozhny is a big time goaltending recruit out of Russia. The late `02 appeared in 22 games during the 2020-21 season for MHK Spartak Moskva, posting a 13-7-1 record and .920 save percentage. The 6-foot-1 Russian was the ninth rated European goaltender for the 2021 NHL draft, per NHL Central Scouting, but he went undrafted.
Antonacci is the fourth blue liner to commit to the Black Bears since Barr was named the head coach back in May. The `02 from Princeton, N.J., has spent the past two seasons playing for the Maine Nordiques, whether it be with the midget program or the NAHL team.
In 2020-21 Antonacci appeared in 64 games in the NAHL, scoring seven goals and 21 assists. Prior to making the trek to Lewiston, Antonacci played for the ISS Kings, a now defunct program in Pennsylvania.
UConn adds blue line help for fall
Shreveport Mudbugs defenseman Aidan Metcalfe has committed to UConn for the 2021-22 season. From Palos Verdes, Calif., the `00 spent his only two seasons of junior hockey playing in the NAHL for Shreveport. Metcalfe spent two seasons playing prep hockey at Berkshire and skated for Mid Fairfield during the fall. Metcalfe was part of a Shreveport team that won the Robertson Cup as NAHL champions in 2020-21. In 65 games, he scored a goal and added 21 assists.
River Hawks gain a Euro
Under head coach Norm Bazin, UMass Lowell has enjoyed recruiting success in Europe. Look no further than current forwards Anders Lee and Carl Berglund, the River Hawks have had some impact Europeans on the roster.
Bazin is hoping to catch that magic once again with the addition of `01 right wing Theodor Pistek. The Tabor, Czech Republic, native comes to Lowell after spending the 2020-21 season with two different clubs in Sweden. Between Orebro HK and Koping HC, Pistek scored 21 goals and 33 assists in 43 games.
NCDC forward headed to NCHC
Ryan Rosborough, an `00 from Mount Brydges, Ontario, has committed to play college hockey at St. Cloud State. With the OJHL on pause due to Covid, Rosborough played in 40 NCDC games between the Junior Bruins and South Shore Kings. Between the two clubs, he posted 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points. He’s a recruited walk-on for SCSU.
