Connecticut, not always known for recruiting younger players from outside of the region, has received commitments from '04 Joey Muldowney and '05 Charlie Lewinski.
Both players have competed in the region this fall with Muldowney’s Nichols Prep team coming to Marlboro for the Junior Bruins Shootout and Lewinski and his Compuware club more recently visiting the same venue for the Beantown Fall Classic.
Muldowney has 22 goals and 13 assists in 19 games for Nichols, a Buffalo, N.Y., prep school that plays a full season schedule. Muldowney is on the smaller side, but he has grown a little over the past couple of years. The Lake View, N.Y., native is skilled, has a good stick, and can scoot. Prior to playing for Nichols, Muldowney has played for the Buffalo Regals and Buffalo Junior Sabres.
Muldowney is the third '04 to commit to the Huskies, joining Gunnery right winger Michael Murtagh and Chilliwack defenseman Kevin Fitzgerald.
Lewinski, from Novi, Mich., has always been well regarded among players in the '05 birth year. His combination of size, strength and skating makes him a potential big impact power forward. His consistency has been questioned by some, but UConn’s staff is banking on him developing into the player many think he could be with his physical tools.
In 21 games for Compuware 16-U this season, Lewinski has six goals and 17 assists for 23 points. He spent the previous two seasons with Belle Tire 14-U and Compuware 15 Only.
UConn’s staff has now committed four '05s, including Lewinski. The most prized possession in the birth year for the Huskies is Victoria Grizzlies leading goal scorer Matthew Wood. Also committed to the Huskies in this birth year are St. Andrew’s College defenseman Jax Wismer and New Jersey Rockets 16-U center Thomas Klochkov. If all four get to Storrs, it will be a major coup for Mike Cavanaugh, Joe Pereira and Tyler Helton.
Mountie picks Purple Eagles
Mount Saint Charles 18-U defenseman Dylan Shane has committed to Niagara. The '04 from Kutztown, Pa., is in his third season playing for the Woonsocket, R.I., program. In seven games listed on Elite Prospects, Shane has two assists. Shane isn’t flashy nor dynamic, but he’s a very good two-way defenseman.
Shane is a feather in the cap for Niagara’s recruiting efforts. Head coach Jason Lammers and associate head coach Mark Phalon are familiar names to loyal fans of Hockey East as the former was a key assistant coach at UMass Lowell and Phalon spent time on Northeastern’s staff.
Interestingly, Niagara doesn’t often go after younger players. Shane is just the seventh current commit for the Purple Eagles, but the first '04. Of the other six commits, four are `01s while there is one each in the '02 and '03 birth years.
Quinnipiac goes back to BCHL
Coquitlam Express defenseman Matthew Campbell has committed to Quinnipiac. The '03 defenseman North Vancouver, British Columbia, is in his second season playing full time in the BCHL. In 10 games this season, he has two goals and five assists. His 2021-22 total is just one point shy of matching his mark from 2020-21 in 17 games.
Campbell is the second consecutive commit out of the BCHL for Rand Pecknold’s program. Just last month Chilliwack Chiefs defenseman Lucas Sorace committed to the Bobcats.
Another European for Catamounts
Jokerit U20 defenseman Maxim Strbak has committed to Vermont. The '05 from Slovakia has spent the past three seasons with the well-known Finnish organization. This is his first year with the U20 team. In 16 games, he has a goal and five assists.
Smartly, UVM head coach Todd Woodcroft and his staff have emphasized recruiting internationally since taking over in Burlington prior to the 2020-21 season. Three players on their current recruiting list are from Europe while six freshmen on the 2021-22 roster hail from the other side of the pond.
