Maine secured good news on the recruiting trail last week as Shattuck-St. Mary’s defenseman Samuel Duerr announced his commitment to the Black Bears.
An ’02 left shot defenseman from Chicago, Ill., Duerr had a couple of solid performances recently in the New England area when he and his teammates were in the region for the Cushing Academy Invitational and the True Hockey Prep Cup.
Duerr is a mobile, offensive-minded defenseman who is steady in his own zone, as well. He has a good stick, gets shots on net from the point, and can jump up into the rush. Duerr played youth hockey for the Chicago Mission and has played in three USHL games this season with the Sioux Falls Stampede. Duerr is expected to arrive in Orono for the start of the 2021-22 season.
Mitton commits to Colgate
Former Northeastern recruit Ross Mitton has committed to play college hockey at Colgate University, he announced on Twitter.
Mitton, hailing from Copiague, N.Y., is in his third USHL season in 2019-20. The ’00 right wing has five goals and nine assists in 24 games with the Omaha Lancers after being acquired from the Lincoln Stars. Mitton also spent most of his first two seasons in the USHL with the Fargo Force.
Mitton grew up playing for the Long Island Royals, North Jersey Avalanche and Portledge School. He had interest from several other programs in Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, Atlantic Hockey and Big Ten.
Mitton’s strengths are being a hard-nosed player who goes to the greasy areas and forechecks with a purpose. He has a good motor and should be able to contribute immediately at Colgate.
Quinnipiac lands UVM transfer
Joey Cipollone, who left Vermont at the semester break, has announced he will finish his collegiate career at Quinnipiac. The Purchase, N.Y., native scored 12 goals in 47 games for the Catamounts.
Cipollone has played in four games with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm since his departure from Burlington. He has two goals in four games. The Loomis Chaffee alum played a season with Tri-City in between prep school and arriving at UVM.
Cipollone, a ’99, will be eligible as a junior at the beginning of the second half of the 2020-21 season.
Cushing alum chooses Air Force
Cushing alum Noah Kim has committed to play college hockey at Air Force. The ’00 from Fullerton, Calif., played two seasons for the Penguins from 2015-2017.
2019-20 is his third season playing junior hockey. He split time during his first two years with the BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild, NAHL’s Austin Bruins, and AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs. This season with the Okotoks Oilers, he has 12 goals and 40 assists in 47 AJHL games.
Cooper Connell Bentley
Bentley received a commitment from Coquitlam Express right wing Cooper Connell, it was announced late last week.
Connell, a ’01 from West Vancouver, British Columbia, will likely arrive at Bentley next fall. In 48 BCHL games this season, he has 13 goals and 18 assists. His point total in 2019-20 marks a significant increase in production after totaling just nine points last year.
