- How often do the existing recruits from the USANTDP attend games/visit campus? We hear about all of the trips Shane Morris or De'Mario Jones visit campus. Do these kids visit often or do their own games just conflict too much? By the time they reach campus is there an equivalent to a Team 134 dynamic?
- What is the hockey team's hit rate on prospective recruits? I know the team loses recruits to the OHL a la Jack Campbell, Lucas Lessio or a John Gibson, but are there many current college hockey recruits which were heavily pursued by Michigan? If so, who? We know the Gareon Conleys, Cameron Colvins and Travis Johnsons. Who are the hockey equivalents?
- Any word on Matthew Tkachuk? I saw the tweet on his visit. Is he likely to follow his father to BU or does Michigan have a chance?
- Finally, any info on all of the premium local young defense recruits? Zach Werenski '97 of Little Caesar's, Sean Day '98 of Compuware, Jakob Chychrun '98 of Little Caesar's and Chris Trouba (Jacob's brother) '99 of Compuware. Are Werenski and Day off to the OHL? Heard Day was applying for exceptional player status.
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Great questions. I'm relatively new to college hockey recruiting and also would love to hear answers to your questions.
12/22 9:36 AM | IP: Logged |
I think generally the local USA guys make it to five games, maybe more. Bob and I in the past have picked them out of the crowd quite a few times. But the dynamic isn't as strong as it is in football. There are some elements that are helping -- twitter among them -- but I've asked guys recently and they don't often know everyone in their class before they show up on campus. I think that'll improve but because hockey games are a few times per week, and everyone has a different schedule, i don't think it's that easy for them to communicate as often as the football guys do.
2. Depends who you ask, but for Michigan nowadays, they generally hit on 70-80% of the kids they offer. They're a bit like OSU in football back in the day where they wouldn't really offer a kid unless they knew he was going to commit. There exceptions, such as Trouba and Tkachuk most recently, but the amount of kids that U-M offers in a class that actually takes his time and has options is generally 2-4 per year.
3. No word on Tkachuk yet but Michigan does have a chance. The family lives in St. Louis and because they live in the Midwest, they're not automatic Hockey East guys. I think the odds are long, but I think U-M has a 30-40% chance.
4. I'll inquire about those kids for you.
12/26 5:25 PM | IP: Logged |
70-80% is impressive. Domi, Nurse, Marcantuoni, Lessio, Campbell, Gibson, Carrick, Knight--seems like most of the kids that they miss out on go to the OHL and not college.
Glad to hear on Tkachuk. Tkachuk is a December birthday. Not sure how that works if he makes the USNTDP as he is only a freshman. I know Kyle Connor will end up playing for Youngstown for three years, but the kids only spend two years in Ann Arbor
Any of Werenski, Day, Chychrun and Trouba would be great. Premium defenseman in the mold of Trouba, Merrill, and Downing. BTW, Connor Carrick sure would look good in the Maize and Blue this year. He is manning the PP for Plymouth and is their leading scoring D. Not sure if he thought that he would not see time with 7 other D, but with Merrill and other injuries he could have been really helpful this season
12/26 6:29 PM | IP: Logged |
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