One of the worst-kept secrets in the college hockey world became official late last week when Will Smith officially committed to Boston College.
The '05 from Lexington, Mass., had previously pledged to Northeastern back in May of 2019. The Junior Eagles product is in his first season with USA Hockey’s NTDP. In 16 games with the NTDP U-17 team, Smith has nine goals and 10 assists.
Smith is a power forward with skill, who is considered by many to be the best '05 in the country. On November 11, I wrote about the high probability of this happening. His commitment to Jerry York’s program furthered their dynamite recruiting class in that birth year. In committing to BC, Smith joins four NTDP teammates: right wings Will Vote (Arlington, Mass.) and Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) and defensemen Drew Fortescue and Aram Minnetian.
Smith choosing the Eagles leaves little doubt as to the college program with the best '05 recruiting class. Obviously, things can change between now and September of 2023, but BC is at the forefront in terms of this age group. No other program is even close right now, but Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Boston University are the only other programs with multiple elite '05s committed.
Thayer product switches to Friars
Des Moines Buccaneers right wing Michael Stenberg has switched his commitment to Providence. After originally committing to Penn State, the former Thayer and South Shore Kings forward has chosen Nate Leaman’s program.
The Needham, Mass., native has four assists in 11 games in what is likely going to be his first full USHL season. In nine games for Des Moines in 2020-21, he had one assist. With prep hockey limited last season, he started in the NCDC, scoring two goals and seven assists in 16 games.
Stenberg is an athletic power forward who brings a physical element to the game. He’s at his best when he’s playing big, being hard to play against, and forcing opponents to make mistakes due to his heavy forecheck. He has a hard shot and can create time and space for his linemates by bullying opposing defensemen. Obviously, his physical prowess is limited as a younger player in the USHL. Providence’s staff is counting on him regaining that physical advantage as he continues to strengthen and as he adjusts to the pace of the junior and college game.
Stenberg continues a trend for Providence committing Thayer players or alums. On their current recruiting list, the Friars boast former Thayer forwards Joseph and Peter Kramer, '02 twin brothers from Bridgewater, Mass., and defenseman Declan Loughnane (Milton, Mass.). Current third-string goaltender Jimmy Scannell (Medfield, Mass.) and former Friar Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.) also came by way of Tony Amonte’s prep program.
Defensive reinforcement for the Huskies
If there’s one area where Northeastern needs improved depth, it’s the team’s blue line. Jerry Keefe and his staff believe they have found a key piece to the future. The Huskies have committed USA Hockey NTDP U-18 defenseman, Kaden Muir.
A dual citizen, the Manchester, N.H., native was the last player to commit to a college from the '04 NTDP group. Muir won’t bring much of an offensive threat, but he has good size, skates well, and has NHL pedigree. His father, Brian, played at UNH before skating in 308 NHL games.
In 18 games so far this season, Muir has one goal. Prior to joining the NTDP for the 2020-21 season, he skated for the Toronto Marlies. Muir is expected to play in the USHL for the 2022-23 season, and will eventually join a Northeastern blue line comprised of current Tri-City Storm defenseman Vinny Borgesi and Des Moines defenseman Jackson Dorrington (North Reading, Mass.).
South Kent duo commits to ECAC programs
South Kent Selects Academy goaltender Jacob Fowler and defenseman Marian Mosko have made their college choices, committing to Clarkson and Cornell, respectively.
Fowler is one of the more well-regarded '04 goaltenders in the country. The Melbourne, Fla., native has a .916 save percentage in 14 appearances for South Kent in 2021-22. He posted an impressive .945 save percentage in 22 games last season while playing up with the school’s 18-U team. He’s expected to spend the 2022-23 season in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms. Fowler played youth hockey for the Florida Alliance. He’s the fourth member of the organization’s 16-U team from 2019-20 to commit to a Division 1 college, joining forward Gavin Brindley (Michigan) and defensemen Seamus Casey (Michigan) and Aiden Dubinsky (Minnesota Duluth).
Mosko is a swift-skating defenseman from Zilina, Slovakia. The '04 has bounced around over the past three seasons since coming to this side of the pond. He played the 2019-20 season with Des Moines Buccaneers 16-U and 2020-21 with the New Jersey Rockets 16-U. In 26 games so far this season, he has five goals and 15 assists.
A number of local colleges were recruiting both players, coached by Andrei Uryadov, a Russian who played for South Kent before skating at RPI in college.
Three BCHL skaters commit to local colleges
Bentley, Brown and UConn have added '01s from the BCHL who will arrive at their respective schools for the 2022-23 season.
Ryan Nause, from Riverview, New Brunswick, and in his third season of junior hockey, has committed to Bentley. A defenseman, he has a goal and eight assists in 16 games so far this season for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Shostak committed to Brown out of the Vernon Vipers. The Calgary, Alberta, native has five goals and three assists in 15 games this season, his third in the junior hockey circuit.
Fraser, from West Vancouver, British Columbia, committed to UConn. He has five goals and 13 assists in 17 games this season for the Nanaimo Clippers. In his third season of junior hockey, Fraser’s production has increased each year.
