Crimson Hockey

Harvard Goes West

2010-05-13T23:50:00.003-04:00

Harvard has a new addition to the Class of 2011 in Brayden Jaw. Brayden is a power forward who is describes as someone who lays it on the line every shift. He's 6'1'' 185lbs and is described as a "Ray Sawada" type player by his coach at Nanimo (Sawada was a very effective player at Cornell). He had a 13-21-34 line in 58 games and really picked up his game in the playoffs.

Harvard's Class of 2011 forwards resemble a typical Cornell class - size, strength, and grit!

Welcome to Harvard Brayden!

The Gifts Keep on Coming!

2010-04-23T14:20:00.003-04:00

Mike Seward (6'1'' 195lbs LW) from Winchester has committed to Harvard's class of 2011. He will spend a year in the EJHL (next year) en route to Cambridge. He was recently ranked #208 (just squeaked in there!) in Central Scouting's final rankings for the upcoming NHL Draft in June and who knows - a team may take a flier on him.

Welcome to Cambridge!

...And the NEPSAC Stork Left Us....

2010-04-16T18:30:00.003-04:00

....Two recruits, one of which comes in slightly unheralded, and one comes in very heralded.

Kyle Criscuolo (5'9'' 155lbs), a junior forward at Choate (from New Jersey) has committed to Harvard. He led Choate in scoring with a 19-22-41 line in 26 games. He has described as fast and resembles they type of player that BC has brought in over the years. Though bulkier, the description can't help but remind you of Steve Martins, a fellow Choate alum who went off to have a great career at Harvard.

Petr Placek (6'4'' 200lbs), a junior RW at Hotchkiss (from Czech Republic) is a bit of a late bloomer, but has really blossomed....blossomed so much in that he could be a 1st-2nd round draft pick in the 2011 NHL Draft if he has a good Fall next year. He had a 16-16-32 in 27 games which was good for 2nd on the team in scoring.

Central Scouting Final Rankings for Upcoming NHL Draft

2010-04-08T12:21:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Central Scouting released its final Rankings for the upcoming draft in June:

Harvard players:
Patrick McNally - 40 (His mid-term ranking was 84)
Danny Biega - 46 (His mid-term ranking was 31)
Tom O'Regan - 129 (His mid-term ranking was 148)
Dan Linnell - Unranked (His mid-term ranking was 197)

Other ECAC Players:
Ken Agostino (Yale) - 72 (His mid-term ranking was 79 )
Brian Ward (Dartmouth) - 121 (His mid-term ranking was 91)
Garnet Hathaway (Brown) - 110 - His mid-term ranking was 173)
Joe Faust (Princeton) - 118 (His mid-term ranking was 127)
Luke Curadi (RPI) - 125 (His mid-term ranking was 113)
Brian Ferlin (Cornell) - 141 (His mid-term ranking was 122)
Jessie Beamish (Dartmouth) - 159 (He was previously unranked)
Eric Neiley (Dartmouth) - 173 (His mid-term ranking was 166)
Kyle Quick (Brown) - 188 (He was previously unranked)
Andrej Sustr (Brown) - 195 (His mid-term ranking was 210)

State of the Union...

2010-03-15T15:49:00.003-04:00

Harvard has ended its 2009-2010 Men's Hockey campaign with a demoralizing sweep at the hands of its arch-rival Cornell by a combined score of 8-1 in both games. This comes at the end of a brutal season and for this Harvard fan, probably the worst in recent memory, particularly given some of the expectations by fans, the media, and the coaches coming into the season.

Before we focus on the future (and there is much reason to be optimistic that I will get into later), let's talk about what went so horribly wrong for much of the season. Why did we see Harvard display its talent on such few occasions:

1) Conditioning - I would think that this would be a commodity at the D1 level, but what else could explain the colossal 3rd period collapses of this team (youth as well) that led to being outscored 49-32 in the 3rd period during the course of the year. Harvard gave up nearly half of its goals in the 3rd period. Yikes!!

2) Youth - Harvard was the youngest team in the ECAC, by far...particularly if you rank players by class (D1 experience) as opposed to age. Lots of guys simulataneously having to not only adjust to the rigors of college academics, but also the pace of D1 hockey - that is not a recipe for success. As we all know, ECAC and NCAA success is often predicated on the performances of the upper-classmen.

3) UpperClassmen Leveling out on the Improvement Spectrum - This is a very worrisome trend. Freshman and sophmores peaking early in their Harvard careers, and flat-lining during their Junior and Senior classes. There were many, many examples of this on this year's team. Is it the decision to focus more on academics and life after hockey? Is it frustration with the team and the system? Something else?

4) Coaching - This is the 2nd year in a row where Harvard has failed to earn a double-digit win total. Few would argue that Harvard does not have the talent to win. What is troubling is that lack of chemistry and the lack of systems that allow for players to come in and integrate into a well-honed system (See Cornell and its Left Wing Lock). I think next year is a make/break year for Harvard and if there is another performance like the last 2 years, the whispers will amplify.

5) Face-Offs - Harvard finsihed the year at a 45% clip which translates into a lack of puck-possession and the inability to create offensive-zone scoring opportunities.

6) Penalties - 302 -> 421 -> 459 ---These are the last 3 years of Penalty Minutes for the Crimson. Harvard was 17-13 in the 2007-2008 season. We know the results these last 2 seasons. This is a trend that MUST be reversed. This probably has direct implications on the 3rd period collapses - guys are dead in the 3rd period from killing penalties all game.

So, after 2 years of burying my head in my hands on Friday & Saturday nights during hockey season, why does this fan have reason to be optimistic. Well, the numbers don't lie:

Harvard returns 85% of its goals scored next season (70/82 for all of you quant folks out there)
Harvard returns 84% of its assists next season (109/132)
6/7 Harvard's leading scorers are back (Doug Rogers is #7)

On the flip side, the major thing that give me pause is:

Harvard loses 3 of its Top 6 Defenseman. Next season's regulars will be Danny Biega, Chris Huxley, Ryan Grimshaw, and Brendan Rempel. The remaining 2 spots will be filled by (Dan Ford, Peter Starrett, and Dan Fick) - Harvard is going to be dangerously young and it will lack depth on its back line
Given that lack of depth, there are some available folks to provide much-needed depth (Brandon Russo at Salisbury comes to mind)

Expected line combinations assuming no late additions or early defections:

Forwards

Killorn Leblanc Biega

Everson Morrison Fallstrom

McCollem Michaud Moriarty

Greiner Moore Kroshus

Extras: Valek, Bozoian, Coassin, DelMauro

Defense

Biega Starrett

Huxley Rempel

Ford Grimshaw

Extra: Fick

I welcome your thoughts and comments and hope to generate some healthy discussion as we look forward to the 2010-2011 season which will hopefully reflect a vast improvement from this past season!

Nobles' Reardon Considering Crimson....

2010-03-14T18:42:00.002-04:00

Michael Reardon, 6'0'' 180lb Junior Defenseman, had a 8-15-23 line in 29 games and was the 2nd leading scoring defenseman on the team, after Sr. Gus Young who will matriculate at Yale in the Fall. He would be a 2011 or 2012 recruit for Harvard. Other schools in the picture include Cornell, Colgate, Brown, and Quinnipiac. He's a very talented baseball player as well and could potentially be a 2 sport athlete.

Reardon was ranked 140th by Central Scouting which would translate into a late round draft pick at the upcoming NHL Draft in June.

Couple of Recruiting Updates

2010-03-10T19:42:00.003-05:00

Pat McNally (6'2'' - 180lbs), a junior Defenseman at Milton Academy, will join Harvard's Class of 2011. He was a first Team all New England selection (along with Gus Young) and he led Milton in scoring (as a defenseman!) with a line of 14-21-35 in 28 games.

Pat is projected to be a 3rd-4th round draft pick and was ranked #84 in Central Scouting's January Mid-Term Rankings for the upcoming 2010 NHL Draft.

Connor Riley (brother of current Harvard goalie John Riley) has committed to Harvard. Connor is a goalie at Deerfield (PG) where he posted a .921 Save % despite a very sub par Deerfield team this year.

With Richter (1 Year of eligibility ) and Carroll (2), I expect Connor to be waiting in the wings for the foreseeable future. It will be interesting to see if Harvard can land Jay Williams out of Hotchkiss for 2011 or 2012.

The Armpit of America...

2010-03-02T19:15:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's been a wile since I have posted. It's been a trying and difficult year to be a Harvard Hockey fan. And yet, like salt on a wound, the news gets worse and worse.

A few weeks ago, Andrew Calof, arguably the only potential impact forward Harvard has in its Class of 2010, was rejected by Harvard's admissions office. The irony of this is not that he was rejected, but that he was later accepted by Princeton - not exactly North Dakota'esque if you catch my drift.

The following is all speculation, but perhaps some folks in the know will chime in:

1) Harvard has too many players on the lower end of the Academic Index scale and thus, if/because Calof was on the lower end of the AI scale, admissions had to deny him
2) Calof was given a verbal admission subject to him needing to up his SAT or SAT II scores and he failed to reach the bar set
3) Admissions has it out for Donato

Let's also remember that Calof''s grandfather is a Harvard grad.

If Calof had been denied at Harvard and then went to a BC, that would not have raised any eyebrows...but to go to Princeton...something does not feel right about that given that it was admissions that sent Calof packing....

Quebec Goalie to Harvard

2010-02-03T00:18:00.002-05:00

Raphael Girard, a senior goalie at Northwood and originally from Quebec, has committed to Harvard's Class of 2010.

Thus far at Northwood, he has some very solid statistics - 22-3-3 with a 1.43 Goals Against Average.

He attended Canada's World Junior Challenge tryout (U-17) Camp as a member of Team East.

He was also drafted in the 11th Round Draft Pick of Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.

Welcome to Harvard Raph!

Choate Pipeline Continues!

2009-11-30T17:12:00.002-05:00

Danny Linnell, a junior at Choate, chose Harvard over Dartmouth and UNH. He is a Right Wing (5'8'' 185 lbs) that had a 15-12-27 in 25 games last year for Choate - that was good for 4th on the team overall and good for 2nd in goals scored. Furthermore, he is the leading returning scorer and will play on a line that also features Phillipe Hudon (8-12-20) who chose Cornell over Harvard.

Harvard has strong blood lines to Choate (Steve Martins, Sam Bozoian, Rence Coassin, etc). He is described as a play-maker who has high-end speed.

He is scheduled to arrive in Cambridge in 2011, but he is also a draft pick of Cedar Rapids in the USHL where he could very well spend a year before matriculating at Harvard.

Fick Bleeds Crimson

2009-11-13T01:17:00.003-05:00

Forest Lake Senior defenseman, Dan Fick (5'11'' - 170lbs) has committed to Harvard and will lace them up in the Fall of 2010. He's described as a puck-moving defenseman who will likely QB the PP. He's had a great season thus far in Minnestoa's Elite League, leading all defenseman in scoring with a 5-8-13 line in 23 games.

He's described as a real rink rat.

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/page/show_article/32770/37247

Welcome to Harvard!

Updates

2009-11-08T12:25:00.002-05:00

First off, there is a heck of a Harvard blog that is executed by the great broadcasting team over at WHRB. I would encourage all of you to check it out at:
http://whrbsports.blogspot.com/

On the recruiting front, another player that Harvard is keeping an eye on:

Matt Harlow - 5'10'' - LC - 170lbs - He skates on Nobles' top line and would be a recruit for the Class of 2011 or 2012. Harlow was drafted by Youngstown (USHL) where he could spend an extra year for seasoning after Nobles. He is described as a gifted play maker who plays with an edge and is one of the top forwards in New England in his age group. As a sophomore at Nobles, he finished 3rd in scoring (behind Billy Arnold & Kevin Hayes) with a 19-18-37.

Back in the swing of things...

2009-10-19T01:00:00.002-04:00

One week away from the start of the 2009-2010 campaign and the heralded freshman class well into their first semester, I thought it time to dust off the blog cobwebs. Without further ado...

New Potential Recruits:

Shaun Pauly - 5'11'' - 173lbs - RW - Wenatachee Wild (NAHL) - 1992 DOB & probably a Class of 2011 recruit - Also being pursued by Boston University, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado College, Denver, Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown. http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=3175892&seasonid=4527

Michael Vilardo - 5'11'' - 165lbs - LW - USNDT U17 - Started the season with the Chicago Mission - Also pursued by Michigan, Notre Dame, Denver, and UNH. He had previously committed to Ohio State, but backed out of that commitment. He was one of the elite forwards at the U-17 Select Camp in Rochester this summer. In 4 games with the USNDT, he has yet to register a point. http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=3345027&seasonid=4429

Current Recruits:

Andrew Calof - Center who plays for Nepean (CJHL) and thus far has a 12-16-28 line in 15 games played and is the leading scorer. Andrew is the 4th leading scorer in the entire CJHL and is a great set-up man on the PP. Andrew was also recently selected to represent Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge in November on Prince Edward Island. http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=1453421&seasonid=4401

Mark Luzar - Defenseman who plays for Burlington (CCHL) and thus far has a 0-2-2 line in 11 games played. He is a 2011 recruit. http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=3140944&seasonid=4693

Dan Ford - Defenseman who plays for Sioux City (USHL) and thus far has a 2-1-3 line in 5 games played and is the leading scorer. Dan was supposed to matriculate this fall at Harvard, but opted for one more year of seasoning in the USHL. He is a 2010 recruit. http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=2292188&seasonid=4429

Tom O'Regan - Left Wing at St. Sebastians. Tom's season will not get started until late November / early December. He is a 2010/2011 recruit (will largely depend on how he performs in his senior year and how whether he needs another year of seasoning)

Harvard's Freshman Class:

Harvard's Class of 2009 was ranked 5th overall (behind Notre Dame, Denver, BC, and Minnesota), though given the depth and size of this class, I think Harvard should be #2 behind Notre Dame. Louis Leblanc was heralded as the #1 incoming forward in all of college hockey. http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archives/Features/0910/recruitsteam_0801.htm

My shot at Harvard's opening line-up:

Goalie: Kyle Richter

1st D: Alex Biega & Ryan Grimshaw
2nd D: Chris Huxley & Ian Tallet
3rd D: Chad Morin & Danny Biega
Extras: Brendan Rempel & Jack Christian & Peter Starrett & Alex Leinberry

1st F: Matt McCollem, Doug Rogers, Louis Leblanc
2nd F: Mike Biega, Alex Killorn, Alex Fallstrom
3rd F: PO Michaud, Connor Morrison, Erik Kroshus
4th F: Luke Greiner, Daniel Moriarty, Colin Moore

Extras: David Valek, Michael Del Mauro, Marshall Everson, Rence Coassin, Sam Bozoian

I can't tell you how hard it was to place the forwards. I can only imagine the competition and difficult decisions Donato will have week in and week out.

If anyone has any insights or recruiting rumors, please send me an email.

Development Camp Update

2009-07-14T13:30:00.002-04:00

By and large, Harvard players performed well at their respective development camps. Below is a hodgepodge of fan and coaching analysis:

Louis Leblanc - 1st Round (#18) by Montreal Canadiens

He made a GREAT rush at the start of the 1st, skated pass a d-man from the outside and drove the net but didn't score but that was great to see. But 2 things are absolutely certain. He needs to bulk up BIG TIME. And he needs to make quicker decisions with the puck. The overall rhythm of this camp is impressive and Leblanc is not there yet. But you see that he has skills, you see that he's not afraid of anybody, you see that he has a great work ethic, so based on that you can't be disappointed. But if you expect a 1st rounder to blow you away and came away as the best player today, you might be disappointed and especially when you start comparing him to other players like Avtsin and others I will talk about today. But a great prospect he is that will need to indeed become much stronger and much faster in his decision making.

Alexander Fallstrom - 4th Round (#116) by Minnesota Wild

I really liked what I saw from him. He is a big player with some good speed and good hands. He was a noticeable player all day and appeared to have a good hockey IQ. I am happy he is intelligent (Harvard) but wish he was going to a better hockey program. But, again, I liked what I saw from him today
The player that stood out the most to me was Fallstrom. I really like his game and think he will definitely help the Wild someday down the road.

Alex Killorn

A couple of NCAA guys looked sharp in Alex Killorn (Harvard) and Matt Marshall (Vermont). Both guys looked pretty quick and fast on the ice. Killorn showed pretty good hands in close on one play where he cut into the crease and roofed a shot over Jaroslav Janus

Alex Biega

He was the biggest surprise for me. Quick, strong, and battling very well. When he had the puck he was very hard to take him off it. Strong on his skates and battled hard. When he was the one without the puck he played physical, quick and fierce, knocking the guy down. Also showed nice hands on a few of his shots.

See Ya Zach!

2009-06-05T16:40:00.002-04:00

Mitchell signs with the Guelph Storm out of Major Junior's OHL.

More to come....

Zach Mitchell joins Harvard's Recruiting Class of 2011

2009-04-14T15:40:00.004-04:00

Zach Mitchell - 5'11' - 155lbs - RW - (1993 birth year) plays for the Toronto Marlies. He is described as follows as part of the OHL Draft preview:

Mitchell is an outstanding offensive producer that is still responsible in his own zone. He scored four goals and five assists for nine points in the OHL Cup to help the Marlies to the championship. He played in all situations this season and excelled at killing penalties.“He distributes the puck quite well, and once he does move it to an open teammate he immediately works to get himself into a support position,” Kitamura said. “This makes him very tough player to defend. He works to get into a shooting position, anticipates the play and wins races to loose pucks regularly. When he does get a scoring chance, he usually puts the puck into the back of the net.”

Welcome Zach!!

Harvard Recruits & Final Central Scouting Rankings

2009-04-14T15:10:00.002-04:00

Name - Final Ranking (Mid-term Ranking):

Louis Leblanc - 13 (18)
Alexander Fallstrom - 69 (84)
David Valek - 72 (76)
Brendan Rempel - 98 (85)
Marshall Everson - 181 (123)

Danny Biega is not eligible to be drafted until next year because of his age. Mark Luzar & Zach Mitchell (more coming on this new recruit) will not be eligible until the 2011 draft.

Daniel Ford, Andrew Calof, Conor Morrison (too old), and Luke Greiner were not mentioned.

Leblanc, Fallstrom, and Valek were all invited to the NHL combine from May 25-30 in Toronto

Another Blue Chippah for Harvard!

2009-03-28T19:49:00.003-04:00

Even with all my bias, I think that with this latest signing, Harvard most certainly has the #1 recruiting class in the nation - particularly with the hit Notre Dame took when Cam Fowler bolted for Major Junior.

David Valek - 6'2'' 215 power forward from the USNDT has signed with Harvard and will join the Crimson in 2009. Valek has a 6-13-19 line in 40 games this year with the national team. In international tournament play, he is the 2nd leading scorer for the team with a 4-4-8 in 8 games.

In the CSS Mid-Season rankings, Valek was ranked #76.

With Everson, Leblanc, Valek, Fallstrom, Rempel, and Ford - Harvard will likely have 6 NHL draft picks in the Class of 2009.

Andrew Calof Chooses Harvard

2009-03-25T00:41:00.002-04:00

Andrew Calof is a 5'10 - 165lb center and is a '91 birth year. His line is 47-53-100 in 59 games.

He was awarded the top prospect award by the CJHL, fastest skater title in the Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects all star competition and made the CJHL prospects all-star roster. He also had the 3rd most points in the entire CJHL.

Andrew will join Harvard in 2010, though with some pretty serious interest from Major Junior teams, let's not count our chickens before they've hatched (He was drafted by the Mississauga Ice Dogs - now Niagara Ice Dogs - who selected him in the 2007 OHL draft.

Andrew's grandfather graduated from Harvard.

New England Prep School All Stars Announced

2009-03-03T13:46:00.003-05:00

These awards were voted on by the coaches:

East Forwards:
Chris Kreider, Andover (Jr.) (Chose BC over Harvard)
Dan Weiniger, Exeter (Bowdoin)
Wayne Simpson, Lawrence (Union)
Defensemen:
Tom Larkin, Exeter (Colgate)
Thomas Kader, Tabor (?)
Goaltender:
Mike Condon, Belmont Hill (Princeton)

West Forwards:
Wade Megan, South Kent ( BU)
Mark Goggin, Choate (Chose Dartmouth over Harvard)
Robbie Bourdon, Taft (Colgate)
Jake Goldberg, Berkshire (Jr.) (Undecided)
Kevin Goumas, Canterbury (Jr.) (Undecided)
Defensemen:
Danny Biega, Salisbury (Harvard)
Mac Bennett, Hotchkiss (Jr.) (Michigan)
Goaltender:
Alex Vazzano, Gunnery (Jr.) (Union)

Noticeable omissions include Andy Isles (Cornell) and Steven Whitney (BC)

Is Harvard after the following?

2009-02-25T01:19:00.004-05:00

Players that Harvard should be taking a closer look at on the recruiting front:

Luke Duprey - 6'5'' 210lbs - Junior at Andover - Defenseman
David Valek - 6'2'' 185lbs - USNDT - Forward
Eric Haula - 6'0'' 170lbs - Junior at Shattuck St. Marys - Left Wing
Kirill Grotovets - 6'0'' 170lbs - Junior at Shattuck St Mary's - Defenseman
Gus Young - 6'2'' 190lbs - Junior at Nobles - Defenseman
Mark Hourihan - 6'2'' 185lbs - Junior at Nobles - Right Wing

Anybody know anything on these players or have a few other names to share?

Morrison to Don Crimson

2009-02-18T11:27:00.003-05:00

Conor Morrison made it official. He will play for Harvard. He chose Harvard over BU, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.

He should be looked at as an immediate contributor and his currently putting up some gaudy numbers in the BCHL - admittedly a wide-open league where numbers can be a little inflated.

Welcome to Cambridge!!

Conor Morrison Considering Crimson?

2009-02-15T17:49:00.002-05:00

Conor Morison, a forward playing in the BCHL for Salmon Arm (5' 10'', 160lbs, 89 bday) is rumored to be considering Harvard, BU, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

He would not be a Louis Leblanc type win, but he'd be a solid, impactful player. He played at Northwood prior to heading out West, and is the 2nd leading scorer for Salmon Arm (37-45-82 in 48 games).

Morrison also represented Team Germany in the World Juniors and finished the tourney with a line of 1-1-2 in 4 games played.

Checking in with Harvard Recruits

2009-01-11T20:10:00.004-05:00

Well, this has been a trying season for Harvard thus far. And when a season starts to turn for the worst, it can be cathartic to take a glimpse to the future, especially when it is as bright as Harvard's.

This just in: Red Line Report projects Harvard's Class of 2009 as the #3 class in the nation behind Notre Dame and Minnestoa.

Class of 2009:

Marshall Everson (17-17-34, +21 in 13 games) - the leading scorer for Edina (2 pts more than Anders Lee) and leads the team in +/-, goals, SHGs, and GWGs. He is the 7th leading scorer in all of Minnestoa High School Hockey and is a likely finalist and potential winner for Mr. Hockey in Minnestoa. Marshall projects to be a scorer in college and should be expected to contribute immediately. His younger brother (Max Everson) is a very highly regarded defenseman.

Louis Leblanc (15-18-33, +7 in 32 games) - the 2nd leading scorer on his Omaha team and 6th overall in the USHL. He is far and away the leading scorer for his 1991 birth year as most of the folks ahead of him are 1988s. Big things are expected of Leblanc and he should be a mid to late 1st round draft pick in the 2009 NHL draft. Coming in, he may very well be the most highly touted Harvard recruit in the last 35 years.

Dan Ford (0-3-3, -12 in 26 games) - a puck moving defenseman, Dan has struggled in the USHL. Of course, playing for a subpar Sioux City team has not helped. Most expect Dan to be a mid-round draft pick, though I'm not sure what impact the USHL has had.

Luke Greiner (6-16-22, -11 in 30 games) - a small, but speedy forward.

Alexander Fallstrom (21-28-49, in 34 games) - He is tied for the lead in total points (leads the team in goals) with potential NHL 1st round pick, Eric Haula. He is a hard-nosed and gritty player who should be drafted this year. Illegal Curve cited him as their favorite player on Shattuck last year as a junior.

Brendan Rempel (0-4-4 in 31 games) - He is a stay-at-home defenseman who is not afraid to throw his weight around and be a physical anchor on the blue line.

Danny Biega (0-2-2 in 11 games) - does not bring the offensive flair of his older brother Alex, but is projected to be better in his own zone and can bring some offensive ability when he needs to.

Class of 2010:

(no recruits yet)

Class of 2011:

Mark Luzar - He is 6'3 190lbs as a 15 year old! Due to his age, not a lot of info out there, though he is considered by many the top Ontario defenseman for the 1993 birth year.

Anders Lee to Notre Dame

2008-12-31T21:28:00.003-05:00

Anders Lee has decided on Notre Dame and will enroll for the 2010-2011 season after spending a year with Green Bay of the USHL.

He could have come to Harvard for the 2009-2010 season if he had wanted to.

Good luck to Anders and too bad for Harvard.

More on Everson & Iles

2008-12-29T21:29:00.001-05:00

Big coup for Cornell on Andy Iles as he committed to his hometown team for 2010. Puts Cornell in the driver's seat for the top 2010 Class in the ECAC as he could very well be the top goalie recruit in the country for that birth year.

As for Everson, HockeysFuture had the following scouting report on him:

As good as Marshall Everson was last year as a junior, he’s even better this year as a senior. To start with, he looks stronger out on the ice and that’s reflected in his great play all over the ice. His added physical strength has also enhanced the power in his skating without sacrificing speed.

Everson is a very strong two-way winger who plays almost equally as well defensively as he does offensively. He uses his size and strength to great advantage, especially when it comes to battling for puck possession. He is a tough competitor who plays with a bit of an edge and never backs down when challenged. Everson is basically a player who you’d love to have on your team, but would hate to have to play against.

Two of Everson’s greatest attributes are his hands and his vision. He can make plays at high speeds and distributes the puck really well. He also possesses great stick work, which can be seen in the way he takes away open lanes and spaces.

Everson currently leads the Hornets with seven goals and is tied for second on the team with 13 points through eight games.

Luzar to the Crimson

2008-12-25T00:26:00.002-05:00

Mark Luzar, a 6'3 200lb LD out of Mississauga, committed to the Crimson for the Fall of 2011. He is one of the top defenseman out of Eastern Canada and has a 1/1/93 birthdate.

Interesting that Harvard has a 2011 recruit before it has landed a player for 2010.

Biega Follows in Footsteps; Iles Considering the Crimson

2008-12-13T02:26:00.002-05:00

Per USHR:

This is probably no big surprise to anyone but 5’11” Salisbury RD Danny Biega will be joining his brothers at Harvard next fall. It’s official now.Biega, a Montreal native in his second year at Salisbury after coming down from the Lac St. Louis Lions Midget AAA squad, will be at Harvard with both brothers, junior defenseman Alex and sophomore forward Michael, for one season. After that he and Michael will be Crimson teammates again the following year.But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. For Harvard fans who have yet to see Danny, we should tell you he’s a different kind of player. Whereas Alex has the happy feet, loves to zing quick and hard passes, and has a lot of flash to his game, Danny is more of a traditional d-man – he’s gritty, tenacious, and thrives on going into the dirty areas and battling opposing forwards. But he also has a good stick, and offensive skills that are perhaps a little overlooked. Last season, as a junior, he was Salisbury’s leading scorer among defensemen with a 4-13-17 line in 25 games. Biega is a late ’91 – 9/29/91, to be exact – so he isn’t eligible for the NHL draft until 2010.
Many schools wanted Biega, who is a co-captain at Salisbury this season, but weren’t able to get far. It came down to Boston College, which offered a full scholarship, and Harvard, which offered the opportunity to play with his brothers. There’s a fourth and final brother in the pipeline, and that’s Mark Beiga, a 5’9” defenseman who, like his brothers before him, is playing for the Lac St. Louis Lions Midget AAA. Mark, though, is just 14. He’s a ’94, the youngest player on the team. We haven’t seen him play, but we can tell you that you don’t play in the Quebec Midget AAA League as a 14-year-old without having some serious talent.

As long as we’re on the subject of serious talent, we are expecting that Andy Iles, an Ithaca, NY native and Salisbury’s junior goaltender, will be making his decision soon. The five schools on his list: BC, UNH, Cornell, Harvard, and Providence College.

Recent Q&A with Louis Leblanc (Courtesy of McKeen's)

2008-12-09T19:54:00.001-05:00

McKeen's: After 15 games into the 2008-09 USHL season, your rookie and only season in the USHL, you're adjusting fairly well and averaging about a point per game.
Leblanc: Yep.
McKeen's: With that said, what have been some the biggest adjustments for you coming out of Quebec midget AAA?
Leblanc: Probably the speed and the size of the players. It's a lot faster game. You've got to keep your head up more often, I guess. It's a lot faster.
McKeen's: In what other ways is the USHL different from Quebec midget AAA?
Leblanc: I guess it's more up-and-down hockey, it's a lot more hitting. The guys are also older. We have a 15-year-old on our team, but also ranging up to 20-year-olds. Last year I had 16 and 17-year-olds.
McKeen's: Going back to your time with Lac St. Louis, you put up over a point per game as a 15-year-old.
Leblanc: Yep.
McKeen's: Which is a pretty good year, and over two points per game last season as a 16-year-old. Noting that, what were some of the highlights of your time with Lac St. Louis and what were the areas of your game that improved the most during those two years?
Leblanc: Well, the first year, I think, me and my buddy on the team, we had 31 goals. Then, the second year, I got 54 goals. I just think I had a lot of practices. I played a lot, so I had a lot of icetime. I was on the powerplay, PK, double shift. I think my endurance went up, and my shot, and my speed. Overall, I think those were two good years for me.
McKeen's: Now, this year, what are some of the areas of your game that you're focusing on improving with the Lancers?
Leblanc: Probably my shot, my d-zone, working on the d-zone coverage, getting the puck up. It's just trying to improve everywhere, and getting bigger.
McKeen's: On the other hand, what would you say are your existing strengths as a player and what type of style do you consider yourself or that you'd like to play?
Leblanc: Probably a two-way player. I like playing in our d-zone, the corners. I like when it gets a little tough. Then, I like making good breakout passes to my wingers, and then going to offense and trying to create something out there.
McKeen's: I remember a play tonight like what you described, where you were helping your defensemen down low, got the puck, skated from behind the net and started the breakout. Now, this summer you were selected to Canadian U-18 Selection Camp, and you were the only player not playing with a major junior team to be selected to that camp. So, what was it like to be named to that camp?
Leblanc: Oh, it was obviously a great honor. Representing Canada is a big deal for me, and it should be a big deal for every hockey player. I went out there to Calgary and I didn't know what to expect. You know, major junior guys, oooh, and whatever. I just went out there and worked hard, and I guess they liked what I put out for them on the ice and then I left for Slovakia and had a pretty good tournament there.
McKeen's: That goes perfectly into my next question, because you played for Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and had three goals and two assists in four games, and you guys won the gold medal. Tell me about that experience.
Leblanc: It was great. We left from Calgary, it was a long flight, we got there, our stuff wasn't there, our sticks weren't there, so we couldn't practice the first day. But, when the stuff arrived, we practiced. We had a little rough game against the U.S., still managed to win that, and then we just picked it up from there. It was a battle, but we got it done.
McKeen's: Who were some of your Team Canada teammates on that team that impressed you the most and why?
Leblanc: Probably Taylor Hall and Matt Duchene, and maybe Jared Cowan on defense. They're just phenomenal players. I played with Matt and Taylor on a line, and the puck was just on your stick and you just had to tap it in. It was fun. It was a good experience.
McKeen's: How did you find that you matched up with your major junior teammates?
Leblanc: I think I did pretty well. We had Simon Despres on defense and Hubert Labrie on defense, and I think we were the only three from Quebec. I think I still managed to do pretty well. I put up some good numbers. I was a little impressed at the beginning, but I found I could play with those guys.
McKeen's: Not surprisingly, having represented your country, you've also represented your province.
Leblanc: Yep, at U-17s.
McKeen's: Yeah, at the Canada Winter Games in 2007 and then the usual World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Going back to 2007, what was it like to play for Team Quebec, since you'd just turned 16?
Leblanc: Yep, underage.
McKeen's: And then going to Whitehorse for the tournament.
Leblanc: Yeah. It was special. I was invited to summer camp, and I was a little disappointed. So, I started off the season strong and I showed the scouts, or whatever, that I should be there, got the tryout, made the team, and then off to Whitehorse. I don't think I'm ever going to go back there again, but it was fun. It was a different mentality, a different game. It was cold, obviously, but it was fun. It was still hockey.
McKeen's: That was a special event there, because they had a teams from every province, including Yukon and including the Northwest Territories, and I saw the Yukon was in your pool. What was it like playing Team Yukon and what was the reaction of the Canadian fans to having something where every province but Nunavut was represented?
Leblanc: It was fun. I think we played them in the first game. We started off soft. We really didn't think they were going to be that good. But, they had a pretty good team. I think they actually scored the first goal on us. It was the first game of the tournament, but we fought back and won 5-1, I think, that game. The fans were going pretty wild.
McKeen's: Whitehorse is a place that very few other people will end up going to in their lives, so tell me a bit about that area.
Leblanc: I think they built a lot of stuff just for that tournament. They built a sports complex and stuff for all the events, because it was not only hockey, it was wrestling, curling, figure skating, and more. It was alright. It was obviously a lot of snow. The food was alright, all the athletes ate at the same place, and we had busses. We didn't do much. We just played, ate, and slept.
McKeen's: Going back to the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, you led team Quebec in scoring with three goals and three assists in five games, with the normal combined provincial teams, except for Ontario and Quebec.
Leblanc: And countries were there, too.
McKeen's: Right, you beat me to that. What was it like at that event and how did it compare to the Canada Winter Games?
Leblanc: I think it was stronger than the first tournament I was in. The players were my age now, so it's kind of hard to compare. There's more players, more countries, and I think the overall play was a little faster. It was more an NHL-type of play.
McKeen's: Back in May you committed to Harvard. When did Harvard start talking to you, what was the recruiting process like, and what made you decide Harvard was the right place for you?
Leblanc: I think it started off after my first year of midget in Lac St. Louis. They started talking to me and wanted my transcripts and stuff to see if my grades were good enough. It was hard. It was a hard decision, but I had only a few schools in mind, and I just thought it was the best option. If I'm going to college, I want the best education possible. If the NHL doesn't work, then I have the best degree to work with. So, that was my main thing, and I think I could still be an NHL player going to Harvard.
McKeen's: There have been players from Harvard before and some still making a real go of it now.
Leblanc: And the coach played in the NHL.
McKeen's: Yeah, Ted Donato.
Leblanc: Teddy Donato's there. So, I think it's a special place to go.
McKeen's: If I might ask, what were some of the other programs that were pursuing you?
Leblanc: There were a few. I think it came to down to Vermont, BU, BC, and CC, UMass, I think Michigan was calling, and RPI.
McKeen's: A nice collection of programs. Off the college track, you were selected in the first round of the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft, by Val-d'Or with the 18th overall pick, and you were considered as a candidate to go much higher, but there was the college thing, and you decided to go the USHL/college route. So, and you touched on this some, what made you decide to go this route?
Leblanc: How it works in Quebec is after your first year of midget, teams start talking to you and you have interviews. I told every team that I don't want to go to major junior. If you're going to draft me, you're just going to waste a pick. The first teams were smart, they didn't take a chance, they knew I wasn't coming. Then I guess Val-d'Or thought I had a deal with the Quebec Remparts, but I didn't have a deal. I just wanted to study, in case I didn't make it to the NHL. I just wanted something safe, you know? If I bust my knee tomorrow, at least I'm going to Harvard and I can do something with my life. That was the main reason.
McKeen's: Usually a Harvard degree means something.
Leblanc: Yeah. A little bit (smiles). Yeah.
McKeen's: You were also drafted in the second round of the USHL Futures Draft, and that was when Mike Hastings was the coach for the Lancers. What did the Lancers tell you at that time and did you have any reaction or concerns when Hastings went to Minnesota?
Leblanc: No, not at all. Obviously he recruited me, I guess, with their scouts and stuff. I came down to visit, I met him. I thought he was going to stay. But, hey, he got a job at the University of Minnesota. It's the world of hockey, everyone wants to move up. If I get a call tomorrow for the NHL, I'm going to go, you know? I guess it's normal, and he talked to me, he explained his situation, and he gave it to coach Littler, and said he was an excellent coach and things would be under control. I stuck with it and I just came down and talked to Luc, the owner, Robitaille. It felt like a good place, and so far I'm happy.
McKeen's: It is kind of cool having Luc Robitaille as your owner.
Leblanc: Yeah, for sure.
McKeen's: You're projected by some as a potential late first-round pick, second-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Do you ever think about or envision that, and if so, what do you see?
Leblanc: Not really. Right now, I know it's coming, it's in Montreal, too, and I come from Montreal, and there's going to be a lot of pressure. There's obviously a lot of pressure this year to put up points and play well. I'm just having fun right now, enjoying the times, and trying to get better. I'm not focusing on that right now. In June, I'll start worrying about.
McKeen's: Right, or maybe May, since there's a good chance you'll be invited to The Combine.
Leblanc: Yeah.
McKeen's: That'll be fun. Lastly, who were, and maybe are, some of your favorite players and who are some players you'd like to equate to?
Leblanc: I guess maybe Vinny Lecavalier. He's a good overall player, a good centerman, big centerman, good shot. He just works hard, he's in there, he puts up nice points, and I like his skill. (Pauses to think some more) Obviously the Crosby's and Ovechkin's, just their work ethic and stuff is unbelievable. I also kind of like Steve Begin for the Montreal Canadiens, a grinder in style. He's a fun guy to watch and I've been to the Bell Center a few times to watch the games, and he's out there and plays with heart and just has fun.
McKeen's: Definitely. Begin's a nice fourth-line player.
Leblanc: Yeah.

Marshall Everson

2008-12-09T19:45:00.002-05:00

A bunch of people who have seen Edina play have offered up some good takes on Everson. They are as follows:
1) Stood out to me much more so than Budish (Zach) or Lee (Anders)
2) Terrific finisher
3) Hard nose for the puck and puts up a lot of PP goals - Frequently in right place at right time
4) Does not create as much offense for himself as Budish and Lee do

Back in the Swing

2008-12-07T17:07:00.002-05:00

After a brief hiatus these last 2 months (similar to the Crimson over the last 5 games), I'm ready to get back to posting with some more regularity.

Recruiting:
1) Still awaiting final word from Anders Lee. Last I heard, it was between the Gophers, Pioneers, and Harvard.
2) Dan Federico of the Jr. Bruins out of the EJHL. He's a 6'1'' 195lb '92 defenseman from Acton, MA. think UNH may be looking at him as well among others.
3) Danny Biega - I would assume that him coming to Harvard is a formality, but he was recently heralded as the top defenseman in the Founders League. He's a senior at Salisbury, but Heisenberg lists him as a 2010 recruit so I wonder if he will do a stint in the USHL before matriculating at Harvard.
4) Steve Rogers - He's back at St. Sebs after a sting in Ann Arbor on the national team. Haevn't heard much about him recently, but with older brother Doug at Harvard, Harvard should be in the mix for his services.
5) Phillipe Hudon - 6'1 freshman forward out of Canada is supposed to be a stud. We are real early here, but USHR called him the top newcomer in the Founders League. Keep in mind that he is a '93 and only a frosh.

Hockey for a good Cause!

2008-10-03T15:30:00.002-04:00

Have any of you ever seen Harvard play at Lynah? Well, for this Harvard fan, I seized the moment in 2004 and enjoyed one of the finest hockey memories to date. Harvard lost the game 2-0 (should have been worse), but the atmosphere was electric and exciting and regardless of the outcome it was just a fantastic night of hockey.

In any event, a Cornell hockey fan is auctioning his 2 center-ice tickets to the game at Lynah which takes place on Friday, November 21st @ 7PM. The proceeds of this auction will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Watching a great hockey game on top of donating $ to a great cause? I can't think of a much better combination. Details below:

http://elf.elynah.com/read.php?3,132774

Meland to Princeton

2008-09-29T20:29:00.002-04:00

Eric Meland will matriculate at Princeton. I know that Harvard had shown some interest. Might this mean that Anders Lee is on the way?

Harvard bests BC for Rempel

2008-09-26T12:54:00.003-04:00

After losing a # of hotly contested recruiting battles to Boston College (most notably Chris Kreider), Harvard finally came out on top for a very highly regarded defenseman, who won a championship with Avon Old Farms last year, and who has taken his talents to the USNDT this year. He will come to Harvard in the Fall of 2009.

Per USHR:

The Boston College hockey program is currently on such a roll that losing recruiting battles is almost unheard of.

But that's exactly what's happened, as 6’3”, 200 lb. U.S. Under-18 Team defenseman Brendan Rempel has committed to Harvard University for the fall of ’09.Rempel, who had narrowed his final choice to just those two schools, is a Willington, Conn. native who played the ’06-07 season at the Pomfret School, then last season transferred to Avon Old Farms, where he grew into his body, and blossomed, gaining confidence while playing on a powerhouse team that went 27-1-0 and capped things off by winning the New England Prep School title.

Rempel continued his strong play at the Select 17 Festival in July, and was named to the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that played in the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. From there, he was invited to spend his senior year in Ann Arbor with the Under-18 Team.

A right shot, Rempel posted a 0-14-14 line for Avon last winter. He’s eligible for June’s NHL draft.

Welcome to Cambridge!!

Adversity for the Crimson

2008-09-16T12:05:00.002-04:00

Well, you usually hear stories like this from other programs. I will leave out names, but we all know which programs walk a very fine line with regards to ethics, judgment, etc.

In any event, it seems that Harvard will be without the services of 2 of its key players for next season. The two players are Kyle Richter and Jack Christian. I have not heard definitively the reasons and I'm not going to rumor monger, but they were obviously serious enough to warrant a decision that must be very dificult to bear.

What does this mean for Harvard? Well, they go from probably a solid #2 finish (Princeton is the clear favorite) in the ECAC on paper, to probably a #4 or #5. And the ability to move up and down from those numbers will be significant- that is what happens when you have to rely on goaltenders with no college hockey experience. We all remember 1989 with Roy & Hughes...but we also know that is the exception as opposed to the role.

Taking a year off from competitive hockey...any competitive sport is devastating. Not only is it very difficult to recreate game-like situations, but mentally, it can be even harder. Both players will have to regain the trust of their teammates, who I am sure at some level feel like they have been let down. However, Harvard is entering the season fully informed of all of this and can prepare accordingly. Having your chemistry altered mid-season is a much tougher pill to overcome.

In any event, adversity can be an interesting enigma. It can bring a team closer together and be something they can rally around or it can be a source of division and excuses. I think we will all learn about the type of character in Harvard's dressing room and the type of leadership that exists.

I am confident that Harvard will come through okay!!

Catching Up

2008-09-06T17:09:00.001-04:00

Been a while since I posted, but thought I'd update a few tidbits:

1) Brendan Rempel, a senior defesneman at Avon, but opting to spend his senior year on the national team, is supposedly down to BC and Harvard. BC recently outgunned Harvard for Chris Kreider.

2) Eric Meland, #1 from his class in North Dakota and playing this year in the USHL at Lincoln, may end up at Harvard.

3) Anders Lee is still very much considering Harvard.

4) David Valek, a senior forward on the national team, is supposedly also being looked at hard by Harvard.

Looking forward to the season. This year's freshman come in with a lot of accolades and I expect a few (Grimshaw and Killorn in particular) to have an immediate impact.

Billy Arnold to Boston College....

2008-07-23T14:40:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of USHR:

Noble & Greenough RC Billy Arnold, the top ’92 in Massachusetts, has committed to Boston College.

Arnold, who repeated when he entered Nobles, will be a 10th grader this season, and will matriculate at the Heights in the fall of ’11. A 6’0”, 215 lb. native of Needham, Mass., Arnold had, in 29 games as a freshman at Nobles, a 13-23-36 line.

This spring, he was invited to join the U.S. NTDP, but opted to stay at Nobles.From Aug. 19-24, Arnold will be playing for the U.S. Under-17 Select Team at the Five Nations Tournament in Prievidza, Slovakia.

Other schools in the picture for Arnold were BU, UNH, and Harvard. On this one, though, the Eagles, who considered Arnold a must-get, appeared to have the upper hand from the get-go.

Arnold is a tenacious player with good skating skills. He’s extremely strong on the puck, utilizing his low center of gravity to drive to the net. He thinks the game well, and both gets open and finds the open man. He’s very dangerous down low, has a quick release to his shot, and is not afraid of heavy traffic. He carries a bit more weight than he should, but he’s also just a couple months past his 16th birthday, so that is something that can be worked on.

Before going to Nobles, Arnold played at the Fessenden School, a pre-prep in West Newton, Mass.

D'Amigo to RPI....

2008-07-23T14:15:00.002-04:00

It appears that LW USNDT-18 player, Jerry D'Amigo, has selected RPI over Harvard, Notre Dame, and Miami. I did not realize that Harvard was pursuing D'Amigo, rather his teammate, David Valek.

With the Under-17 Team, D’Amigo, in 64 games, posted an 11-17-28 line with 75 pims. He’s described as a smart player who can make plays and create offense. On top of that, he is also very competitive, physical, and a leader.

Looks like a solid win for RPI....

Alex Fallstrom to Yale....I mean Harvard in 2009!!

2008-06-22T23:35:00.005-04:00

Well, USHR seems to say Harvard, but Chris Heisenberg (who has been known to make edits quickly - see Anders Lee - has left Fallstrom has a Yale recruit. It appears (per USHR) that Fallstrom had planned on going to Yale about a month ago, but has since changed his mind and wants Harvard. Can you blame him?

In any event, here is the skinny on Alex:

He is currently a Junior at Shattuck-St. Mary's - the perennial prep school hockey dynasty in Minnestoa. as a junior, he had In 62 games for Shattuck, he had a 20-47-67 line with 28 pims, which was good for 6th on the team (Greiner was 4th with 80 pts) overall and best among Juniors.

Fallstrom is a power forward and plays a hard-nosed game. He skates well, has good hands, a good shot, and a knack around the net. A junior at Shattuck this past season, he has three options for the fall. He may return to Sweden to play Under-20s there, he may follow J.P. Parise to Des Moines, or he may return for his senor year at Shattuck.

Other blogs (illegalcurve.com) have said that Fallstrom is their favorite forward at SSM.

Welcome to Harvard Alex!!

Bonjour Louis!

2008-05-14T14:05:00.002-04:00

Well, as both reported by Heisenberg and Cyberpresse, it appears that Louis will don Crimson in 2009. this is a significant recruit that is getting high accolades for the 2009 NHL Draft. He could be a potential 1st rounder.

Reportedly, he will spend next season in the USHL plaing for Omaha and then will play for Harvard in 2009.

A write-up from January of 2008:
Louis Leblanc (2009), RW, Lac St-Louis Lions (Midget) Was the leading scorer and best player on the team, as he played on the first line and registered a bulk of the PP time .. a fluent, and swift skater who generates good speed on his crossovers .. he has an extra gear, which allows him to separate himself from defenders in open ice .. he challenges defenseman out wide with favorable success .. an offensive-minded player whose skill set marries well with his physical edge .. he bullies himself into all areas of the ice and has the coordination to bat down loose pucks and stay involved with most plays .. he willingly comes back to defend and often likes to log the puck out of his own zone since team Quebec lacked a true, bona fide offensive defenseman capable of making a first pass .. leading goal scorer, he has ok finish but at times, tried to do it all by himself, which resulted in him being caught deep and odd man breakouts going the other direction .. shows promise and ability to become a good power forward

Welcome to Cambridge!!

Louis Leblanc to Harvard?

2008-05-13T14:25:00.004-04:00

There have been several mentions that Louis Leblanc will go to Harvard in 2009. What I have read and heard is nothing I would deem definitive, but stay on the lookout for more news on this front.

Opinions will span the spectrum, but many feel that Leblanc is a potential NHL first rounder. He was the best player for Quebec at the recent U-17 tournament.

NHl Central Scouting

2008-05-05T17:02:00.002-04:00

I apologize for taking a brief hiatus from the blog. In any event, there hasn't been a ton of news as of late, but NHL Central Scouting did release its final rankings. I've tried to highlight all of the relevant players below:

Joe Colborne - #28 - Denver (Harvard was in running) (Up from #30)
Mark Goggin - #103 - Dartmouth (Harvard was in running) (Up from #142)
Anders Lee - #112 - TBD (Harvard is very much in running for) (Up from #174)
Marshall Everson - #117 - Harvard (younger brother Max is an up and comer on the blueline) (Up from #172)
Antoine Laganiere - #126 - TBD (Not heard Harvard in mix, but should be) (Down from #104)
Nik Pokulok - #132 - Clarkson (Younger brother of former Cornell blueliner) (Drop from #96)
Peter Starrett - #185 - Harvard (Not previously ranked)
Ryan Grimshaw - #205 - Harvard (Up from #210)
Matt Hoyle - #27 ranked Goaltender - Harvard (Down from #16)

Anders Lee to Harvard?

2008-03-14T11:28:00.004-04:00

Rumors are flying today (and now officially confirmed by Heisenberg and now it has been taken off of Heisenberg's site) that Anders Lee (6'2'' 188lbs) has committed to Harvard for 2009. Anders is a junior forward for Edina and plays on the same line as Marshall Everson. He is a 2 sport star and while not scoring goals on the ice, he is throwing TDs for Edina's football team.

He had a line of 32-22-54 in 31 games, good for 3rd on the team after Everson (Harvard) and Budish (Minnesota). Ironically, this was Edina's huge line and arguably, the best line in the state.

Like Everson, he is rated a B prospect by Central Scouting. Unlike Everson who received Honorable Mention, as did Budish, Lee was selected as 1st Team All-State and is a very likely finalist and potential winner of Minnesota's Mr. Hockey award next year.

Harvard is really following up its 2008 recruitng with a vengeance. Everson, Grenier, and Lee - 3 of the most highly regarded forwards out of Minnestoa. Could it be the next line of fire?

Don't know if this has been falsely reported or it's a done deal, but not official yet....but as soon as I hear, I will update. This would be a great win for Harvard if true.

Catholic Memorial Captain to Don Crimson

2008-03-01T08:33:00.002-05:00

It's official. Peter Starrett, a defenseman at Catholic Memorial, has decided to join the Crimson, spurning offers from crosstown rivals BC and BU, who both wanted Starrett to play a year of junior hockey.

Starrett is listed at 6'3'' 195 which sounds like he has to continue to grow into that frame.

He's got a 4-15-19 line in 17 gmaes thus far.

With Christian, McCafferty, Tallet, Huxley, Biega, and Morin returning....and Grimshaw and Starrett arriving (only MacDonald departs), there will be some serious competition on the blue line in Cambridge next season. This is as good a group of defenseman that Harvard has had in quite some time.

Peter Starrett to the Cantabs?

2008-02-20T16:10:00.002-05:00

This has yet to be confirmed by the usual reputable sources - USHR, Heisenberg, etc - but in a Cathlolic Memorial game write-up, the following paragraph implies Starrett will be donning Crimson next year:

"The Eagles plight didn't get much better at the start of the third as Peter Starrett, who will ply his trade at Harvard next season, gave CM a 4-2 lead just 21 seconds into the third with another quick shot from the blue line."

Prep All New England Teams Announced

2008-02-16T11:53:00.003-05:00

2007-08 All-New England East Team

Goaltender:
Ryan Purdy, Sr., Exeter

Defensemen:
Derrick Pallis, Sr., Nobles (Princeton)
Mike Daly, Sr., St. Paul's (Holy Cross)

Forwards:
Bobby Farnham, Sr., Andover (Brown)
Wayne Simpson, Jr., Lawrence (Union)
Andrew Glass, Sr., Nobles (Boston University)
Jason Bourgea, Sr., St. Paul's (Dartmouth)

2007-08 All-New England West Team

Goaltender:
John Yanchek, Sr., Hotchkiss

Defensemen:
Tommy Cross, Sr., Westminster (Boston College)
Connor Goggin, Sr., Choate (Dartmouth)

Forwards:
Adam Pawlick, Jr., Salisbury (Clarkson)
Alex Killorn, Sr., Deerfield (Harvard)
Cam Atkinson, Sr., Avon (Boston College)

Minnesota Pipeline to Harvard continues....

2008-02-08T08:50:00.000-05:00

Luke Grenier, a speedy forward from heralded Shattuck-St. Mary's has committed to Harvard for the Fall of 2009. Listed at 5'9 175 lbs, Luke's final decision came down to Harvard and St. Cloud State. He will play next year in the USHL at Sioux Falls before matriculating at Harvard.

Through 44 games, Luke has a line of 23-36-59, which is good for 4th on the team behind David Toews (North Dakota in 2008), Derek Stepan (Wisconsin in 2009) and Jordan Murray (Wisconsin in 2008).

Make no mistake about it, this is a huge win for Harvard. Welcome aboard Luke!!

Daniel Moriarty Commits to Harvard

2008-01-29T14:47:00.000-05:00

Daniel currently leads the Alberni Bulldogs out of the BCHL in goals with 23, assists with 27, and points with 50 in 46 games so far this season, or good for 1.1 pts per game. "Daniel has been a leader for us, both on and off the ice this season as our team's captain. He has been a great role model for our younger players and an example of what hard work and perseverance will allow players to accomplish," according to his coach.

It was reported that Daniel raised his SAT scores over 300 points since joining the Bulldogs....a testament to his character and work-ethic no doubt. He is an '87 birthdate.

He's a right shot and is listed at 5'9'' and 180lbs. Prior to the BCHL, Daniel played for Melville in the SJHL. He also looks like he plays with an edge as he took 130 PMs in 58 games last year.

Welcome to Harvard!!

Derrick Pallis to Princeton?

2008-01-19T10:25:00.000-05:00

While I have not seen an article that explicity makes this determination, I have seen several references, most recently in USHR, that Pallis is heading to New Jersey.

NHL Central Scouting Service Mid-term Rankings

2008-01-09T15:09:00.001-05:00

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/292438

For Harvard:

Matt Hoyle - 16th rated North American goalie
Marshall Everson - #172 rated North American skater
Ryan Grimshaw - #210 rated North American skater

Other Notables (Some of which seem strangely out of place):
Colin Wilson (BU) - #9
Joe Colborne (Headed to Denver) - #30
Jimmy Hayes (Headed to BC) - #65 - man, has his stock plummeted
Julien Cayer (Headed to Clarkson) - #77
Nik Pokulok (Sasha's brother I assume at Northwood) - #96
Justin Daniels (At Kent and headed to Northeastern) - #102
David Warsofsky (Headed to BU) - #103
Antoine Lagoniere (Junior at Deerfield) - #104
Tyler Barnes (Headed to Wisconsin) - #112
Drew Daniels (At Kent and headed to Northeastern) - #113
Vinny Saponari (Headed to BU) - #122
Derrick Pallas (Senior at Nobles) - #139
Mark Goggin (Headed to Dartmouth) - #142
Joseph Campanelli (Headed to Yale) - #145
Pat Mullane (Headed to Boston College ) - #151
Danny New (Headed to Providence) - #157
Greg Burke (Headed to UNH) - #175
Ben Smith (Boston College) - #184
Paul Thompson (UNH) - #185
Paul Lee (Headed to Dartmouth) - #199
Nicholas Prockow (Headed to Colgate) - #207
Matt Reber (Dartmouth) - #208

Taking Stock of Recruits

2007-12-30T16:18:00.001-05:00

Well, with the new year only a few days away and the Harvard team playing very anemic as of late, I thought it would be healthy to take stock of the incoming recruits and how they have performed year to date.

Name Games Goals Assists Points Pts / Game

Forwards
Alex Killorn 9 14 12 26 2.8
Marshall Everson 12 21 5 26 2.2
Sam Bozoian 30 13 24 37 1.2
Eric Kroshus 9 2 7 9 1.0
Rence Coassin 24 8 9 17 0.7
Colin Moore 26 3 0 3 0.1

Defensemen
Dan Ford 26 3 18 21 0.8
Ryan Grimshaw 25 2 4 6 0.2

Goalie
Matt Hoyle 3.27 90.4%

Harvard looking at Starrette

2007-12-27T22:20:00.000-05:00

USHR mentioned recently that both BU and Harvard are taking a very hard look at current Catholic Memorial Senior Peter Starrette.

Starrette is described as follows: The 6-3, 212-pounder moves and handles the puck like someone 6 inches smaller, and reminds him of Chris O'Sullivan, the CM standout who was selected 30th overall in the 1992 NHL draft.

Given the fact that as of now, Harvard has only 7 defensemen on the roster for the 2008-2009 season, and they lose a big body in Co-Captain Dave MacDonald, I would think Starrette would be a very attractive addition for the Crimson.

Coassin to the Crimson

2007-12-27T22:00:00.000-05:00

New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) forward Rence Coassin has committed to Harvard for the fall of 2008. He is described by his current coach as follows: "I would say he might be one of the hardest working players I have ever coached."

Coassin, a left-shot center, is in his second year with the Monarchs after graduating from Choate in 2006. As a senior at Choate he was an assistant captain and was selected to the All-Founders League Team. He compiled a line of 10-17-27, good for third on the team, and was around the same point totals as Sam Bozoian and Joe Smith (junior at the time). Doug Rogers had a line of 25-37-62.

"I realized I wanted to attend Harvard when I was 11 years old and watched a family friend, Brett Nowak, play in his first Beanpot for Harvard,” stated Coassin. “Being able to go to a school with a nationally ranked hockey program and outstanding academics is a dream come true. I would like to thank Coach Donato and his coaching staff for giving me this unbelievable opportunity. I cannot wait to compete for a National and Beanpot Championship every year."

A 6’1”, 197 lb. native of Hamden, Conn., Coassin is a 2/20/88 birthdate. In 24 games with the Monarchs this season, he has a 8-9-17 line, good for 4th on the team.

My guess is that barring a real blue chipper, Harvard is likely done at forward for the Class of 2008.

Welcome to Harvard Rence!!

Harvard Recruiting Hotbeds

2007-12-10T21:52:00.000-05:00

I did an analysis of Harvard recruits from 2000 - 2009 (thus far), in order to determine in which leagues Harvard has had the most success. This is more of a quantity than quality exercise. Also, I tried to focus on when someone signed with Harvard - if a player signed while at Deerfield, but then spent a year in the USHL before matriculating, that player counted towards the Prep tally. Results are as follows:

Preps - 23
USNDT - 9
USHL - 9
EJHL - 7
AJHL - 5
OPJHL - 3
BCHL - 2
Minny - 2
NAHL - 2
Midwest - 1
ATJHL - 1

I'm not sure what conclusions you can make and it would be interesting to compare Harvard relative to the other Ivies who are competing for similar talent based on a certain academic threshold. It does appear that the farther West you go, Harvard's success wanes.

Anyone have any thoughts? Where does Harvard need to bolster its recruiting? How can it achieve this?

George Hughes to St. Lawrence

2007-12-07T10:44:00.000-05:00

George is currently a senior defenseman at Taft and will be a freshman at SLU in the Fall of 2008. As many of you know, George's father was a former Harvard hockey player and his Uncle, Jack Hughes, was a spectacular defenseman at Harvard who was one of the final cuts for the 1980 Olympic Team.

Harvard will have 7 defenseman on its roster next year as of now - Dave MacDonald, JD McCabe, and Chris Kelley graduate and Ryan Grimshaw matriculates. Given the length of the season, Harvard will want at least 8 defenseman on its roster. There may be some forwards that can play defense, but this certainly would not be a long term solution.

Minnesota High School Hockey Forum

2007-12-03T11:56:00.000-05:00

I don't know how reliable this is, but there is an entire link dedicated to Edina High School and it may be a great way to keep tabs on incoming recruit, Marshall Everson. He is off to a great start and scored 5 goals in a recent game. The link is as follows:

http://www.ushsho.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12981

Also, incoming recruit Alex Killorn out of Deerfield, scored 4 goals in his opening game.

Looks like Harvard has some snipers coming in. A win is a win, but it looks like we will be giving Kyle Richter some more breathing room next year and the year after.

ECAC Class of 2008 Rankings (so far)

2007-11-26T09:26:00.000-05:00

Stealing a thread title from my peer over at Big Red Puckhead, I thought I would take a shot at ranking the various Classes of 2008 as they now stand. I considered the following criteria in my rankings - Size of Class, # of Impact players, NHL Draft Picks, NHL Pre-Draft Ratings, Chris Heisenberg's rankings, and finally, who else was competing for the player (ie if Minnesota was going after someone vs Holy Cross). The rankings follow:

1) Harvard (6 Players, 3 Impact, 3 NHL Bs)

This may seem like the ultimate homer pick, but in all honesty, this was not that close. Harvard has all the pickings of what looks to be a truly elite class - a 3rd round draft pick (Killorn - who should be ECAC Rookie of the Year), a shut-down goalie (Hoyle), a highly touted defenseman (Grimshaw). Mix in guys like Kroshus (seems to be having a down year), Colin Moore (NHL "B" rating), and a guy like Sam Bozoian (lighting up the NAHL) and you have to wonder if this is circa 1980s for Harvard.

2) RPI (7 Players, 2 Impact, 1 NHL B, 1 NHL C)

If nothing else, this class tells you that Seth Appert has arrived. Last year, he was able to deliver Polacek and Brutlag from Minnesota, but had to do so by bringing them early, perhaps somewhat prematurely. However, this class just about guarantees that RPI is on the upswing. Allen York out of Camrose is the biggest get, but Bergin and Morissette should make some noise as well. I am not sold on Cullen yet as he is showing some growing pains in the USHL.

Fairly Significant Drop

3) Yale (8 Players, 1 Impact, 1 NHL B)

Yale has the biggest class which is the cornerstone of this ranking. The class is highlighted by Nick Maricic (Goalie at the USNDT) and Coach Allain's own goaltending background seems to be paying healthy dividends. Not sure if Mike Richter is helping out as well, and if so, what goalie wouldn't sign up for that? No other big-time wins, but Yale is bringing in a lot of folks from the USHL who are older (1988s).

4) Cornell (7 Players, 1 Impact, 1 NHL C)

Cornell's biggest win is goalie Mike Garman out of the BCHL who should be able to compete for a starting spot right away (He is old - 1987). However, expectations have to be somewhat tempered after a disappointing season thus far for Garman. Other than Garman, Keir Ross seems ready to become another physical and solid, stay-at-home Big Red defenseman. Chris Moulson could be a sleeper, but Cornellians should not expect Chris to play at the same level as his brother, Matt. The rest of the class seems to be a lot of role players. I'd like to see Cornell bring some more skill and defenseman who can move the puck as more and more teams (BU at MSG) are going to exploit this weakness.

5) Dartmouth (4 Players, 1 Impact, 1 NHL C)

Not a great class for Dartmouth, but folks in Hanover should be very excited about Troy Matilla. Paul Lee also appears to have significant upside, but other than these two, a very ordinary class for the Big Green.

6) Quinnipiac (5 Players, 1 Impact, 1 NHL C)

Quinnipiac landed two solid recruiting class in both 2006 and 2007. This class does not appear to be in the same league as those prior. David Arudin and Joey Manley are two guys out of the BCHL who can put the puck in the net.

7) Clarkson (5 Players, 1 Impact)

To be truthful, Clarkson's class is somewhat of an enigma. There isn't a lot of information out there on the incomers, but 4 new Ontario bodies coupled with a 6'4'' forward who is "still filling out" has me thinking that this class could be higher. Louke Oakley looks to be a very good playmaker.

8) Brown (6 Players, 1 Impact)

Kevin Koopman (already drafted) looks to be a very solid and physical stay-at-home defenseman for the Bears. Unfortunately, Brown's scoring issues were not addressed by this class. A lot of 3rd and 4th line guys.

9) Colgate (2 Players, 1 Impact)

It's hard to put a class of this few players ahead of others with considerably more depth, but like last year, Colgate's focused efforts appear to be paying of. I think Austin Smith should be the 2nd best incoming forward after Alex Killorn. He is fast with great skills and a nose for the net. The other player is Prockow who should be an above average player for Colgate.

10) St. Lawrence (2 Players, 1 Impact)

A surprisingly sparse class for SLU who in my opinion, should have leveraged last year's success a little better on the recruiting front. The highlight here of course is Augie DiMarzo. He was Union's 2nd leading scorer as a freshman and there is no question he can and will produce. Character issues aside, he should step in and have an immediate impact up in Canton.

11) Princeton (4 Players)

This is a down year for Princeton as no one jumps out of you. Brodie Zuk has put up some stats in the BCHL, but he is a 1987, and I wonder if he is exploiting the age discrepancy. Princeton seems to have taken a step back in this year's recruiting.

12) Union (4 Players)

Recruiting like this make you realize the tough position that Union is in. It doesn't have the academic pedigree of an Ivy, it can't give scholarships like RPI, and it doesn't have the hockey pedigree as a Clarkson. It is the ultimate "tweener" school. This class isn't going to get Union out of the ECAC doormat.

This is clearly a work in progress. Should anyone have any additional insights, questions, etc, please email me.

Welcome Marshall!!

2007-11-20T17:11:00.000-05:00

Marshall Everson, a junior center / wing out of Edina High School in Minnesota, has committed to Harvard for 2009. This represents Harvard's 2nd player to verbal for the Class of 2009 in less than a week.

Everson is described as a good-sized power forward -- a left shot wing -- with good speed and acceleration for his size. He's a smart player, with good hockey sense. In the Fall Elite League, he posted a 9-11-20 line in 11 games

There does not appear the be a ton of additional information on Marshall, but he is rated as a "B" player by Central Scouting. He is known to be a good skater and a very hard worker.

It's good to see Harvard rejuvenate the Minnesota pipeline.

Central Scouting Players to Watch - 10/31/07

2007-11-19T20:54:00.000-05:00

As we know, NHL potential does not always translate into college success. The ratings translate accordingly:
A - 1st or 2nd Round Pick
B - 3rd - 5th Round Pick
C - Later Round Pick

The following Harvard recruits, potential recruits, and recruits we lost out on were rated as follows:
Joe Colborne - A - Denver
Matt Hoyle - B
Mark Goggin - B - Dartmouth
George Hughes - C
Derrick Pallas - B
Tyler Barnes - A - Wisconsin
Ryan Grimshaw - B
Colin Moore - B
Joe Marciano - C - Colorado College
Mike Biega - Limited Viewing
Marshall Everson - B

A couple of points:
1) Chris Heisenberg ratings do not necessarily see eye to eye with these ratings. Plenty of folks who received B or C ratings are relatively low on Heisenberg's list.
2) "A" recruits seem very hard to come by for Harvard. Harvard has gone after a few and lost them to some WCHA heavyweights. Harvard is probably best served by pursuing upper-echelon B players like the Ryan Grimshaws of the world (who everyone was after anyway).

Thoughts?

Marciano Chooses CC over Harvard

2007-11-18T17:37:00.000-05:00

USNDT defenseman, Joe Marciano, who happened to be the last player on the USNDT yet to commit, chose CC over Harvard. Before the USNDT, Marciano played at Shattuck St. Mary's and had 8 goals and 15 assists in 45 games.

It seems that Joe was waiting on an additional ACT score to meet Harvard's academic hurdle, but decided CC was the right fit.

Welcome Dan Ford

2007-11-15T18:22:00.000-05:00

It looks like Dan Ford, a LD out of the EJHL's Syracuse Stars is set to join the Crimson in 2009. Interestingly enough, both Morin brothers formerly played at Syracuse.

Dan is listed as 6' 180lbs. He was drafted in the 5th round of the USHL Futures Draft in October by Sioux City.

Ford selected Harvard over Clarkson, Yale, and UNH

Harvard's Class of 2008

2007-11-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

Thus far, Harvard's Class of 2008 (on paper) looks to be one of the strongest in recent years. In fact, one could argue that it rivals the Class of 2001 (Welch, Lannon, Cavanagh, Dov, etc) and has many of the same components. Thus far, the class consists of the following:

Matt Hoyle - Goalie - Indiana Ice
Ryan Grimshaw - Defenseman - USNDT
Colin Moore - Wing - USNDT
Eric Kroshus - Wing - Camrose Kodiaks
Sam Bozoian - Wing - St. Louis Bandits (returning as a sophmore)
Alex Killorn - Center - Deerfield Academy

Given the losses of Graduation to a very deep Class of 2005, Harvard would appear to have the following at the start of the 2008-2009 season:

Forwards - 14 (Seems light)
Defenseman - 7 (Seems light)
Goalies - 5 (Seems high)

My guess is that Harvard will be looking to bring in at least one more defenseman and one more forward for the Class of 2008.