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Can Your Personality Influence Your Portfolio? New Research Points to Yes
Academic researchers have been exploring how investors' personalities might affect their financial decisions and wealth outcomes.
In one study, three finance professors (Dr. Zhengyang Jiang from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Cameron Peng from the London School of Economics, and Hongjun Yan from DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business) surveyed more than 3,000 members of the American Association of Individual Investors — a relatively sophisticated group of market participants. These researchers examined correlations between five personality traits and the investors' market expectations and portfolio allocations.1
Another study (by Mark Fenton-O'Creevy from The Open University Business School and Adrian Furnham from the BI Norwegian School of Management) involved more than 3,000 U.K. participants. These authors looked for correlations between the same five personality traits and three measures of wealth: property, savings and investments, and physical items.2
Here's a look at how these studies were conducted and some of their key findings, which may offer insight into how you can make more fruitful financial decisions.
The Big Five
Both studies were designed around the "Big Five" model of personality, which has long been used by psychologists to measure people's personalities and identify their dominant tendencies, based on five broad traits. These traits are openness to experience (curious and creative), conscientiousness (organized and responsible), extraversion (sociable and action-oriented), agreeableness (cooperative and empathetic), and neuroticism (emotionally unstable and worry-prone).
Each participant was rated on a spectrum for each trait according to how they answered survey questions, the results of which typically capture how individuals differ from one another in terms of their feelings, preferences, and behaviors.
Meaningful results
The first study pinpointed two traits that were closely correlated with investors' market perceptions and investment behavior: openness and neuroticism. Investors who scored high for openness entertained the possibility of extreme market swings, but were more willing to bear the risk, and they allocated a larger share of their investment portfolios to stocks. Highly neurotic personalities were pessimistic about market performance, worried more about a potential crash, and had a smaller portion of their assets invested in stocks. The data also showed that investors who scored higher on neuroticism and extraversion were more likely to buy certain investments when they became popular with people around them — which could easily take them down the wrong road.3
The second study found that conscientiousness was positively correlated with all three measures of wealth, even more so than education level, often because this personality type brings a diligent approach to saving and investing. Unfortunately, the traits of agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism were associated with lower lifetime wealth accumulation. Highly agreeable people may devote more of their money to helping others and might also be more vulnerable to financial scams, whereas extroverts could be more impulsive spenders.4
Both studies found common ground in one respect: highly neurotic investors tend to be risk-averse, and their volatility fears may cause them to have overly conservative portfolios.
Share of portfolio invested in stocks, by personality type
Source: The Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2023
Implications for Investors
You might take some time to consider how your personality impacts the many financial decisions that you make in life. Becoming more self-aware may help you tap into your strengths and counter any weaknesses that could prevent you from reaching your goals.
Even the most experienced investors can fall into psychological traps, but having a long-term perspective and a thoughtfully crafted investing strategy may help you avoid costly, emotion-driven mistakes. Also, discussing your concerns with an objective financial professional might help you deal with tendencies that could potentially cloud your judgment.
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful. Although there is no assurance that working with a financial professional will improve investment results, a financial professional can provide education, identify appropriate strategies, and help you consider options that could have a substantial effect on your long-term financial prospects.


text: "The Customer/Purchaser acknowledges that its attention has been brought to this clause in line with Section 49 of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 and has read and understood the contents hereof in line with Section 22 of the CPA. The Customer/Purchaser also acknowledges and understands that GMT does not directly supply the Goods purchased on the website and does not have direct control over the quality and standard of the Products sold on the website. GMT will at all times strictly enforce adherence with any and all legislation and regulations to supply the highest quality goods for safe human consumption. The Customer/Purchaser understands that GMT cannot warrant the state of the Product and hereby indemnifies GMT against any losses, claims, costs, illness, damages and expenses of whatsoever nature which may arise from the Purchase and/or consumption of the Goods and/or Products purchased on the GMT website."

subset: commoncrawl


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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delivers oxygen to the brain and other major organs until medical professionals arrive and can better administer care. It can save the life of someone whose heart or breathing has stopped by nearly drowning or heart attack.
This is serious stuff. If you know CPR, you can save a life and keep a person from brain damage. It is, quite literally, a life and death matter. Plus, you could end up in one of those dramatic recreations like they used to feature on Rescue 911! which could be your 15 minutes of fame.
The Red Cross tells the story of a young boy who fell into a pool and was pulled out after going unconscious. After being saved by CPR, admitted to, and then released from the hospital, his father had this to say:
Myles was dismissed from the hospital the next morning and, despite everything that happened, was adamant about going to Worlds of Fun. This was the best Father's Day gift I could have ever received, watching my wife, son and daughter reunited and healthy, playing together again! No days are taken for granted any longer!
For this reason, the American Heart Association recommends bystanders and those formally trained alike administer CPR. When death is on the line, it's better to do something to try to help than nothing.
Here are some guidelines. If you've never been formally trained in CPR, perform hands-on CPR only. This is 100-120 compressions per minute with no more than a 10-second break between cycles.
If you're well-trained, perform CPR and rescue breaths. If you're rusty, stick to compressions.
In 2010 the American Heart Association made a startling change to the recommended CPR steps, stating that compressions alone can be as successful as compressions and breaths together.
Let's be honest and admit that's a relief. Kissing a complete stranger isn't always the most pleasant experience.
Let's take a look at these steps to CPR.
Check The Person's Vitals
Perform the following steps:
1. Check the scene for immediate danger. Make sure you are not putting yourself into harm's way by going to the person. Is there a fire? Is there traffic? Live wires? If you are able to prevent danger, do so. If not, carefully pull the person to safety. Ideally, you will place a blanket under the person to drag them.
2. Check for consciousness. Tap the person on the shoulder and say loudly, "Are you OK?" If they respond, CPR is not needed. In fact, it would be really odd, and possibly illegal if you began performing CPR on them.
You can apply first aid care or call 911 if you think it is still necessary.
3. Call for help. If they do not respond and you are alone, call for help. You want to get medical professionals on the scene as soon as possible. If someone is nearby, have them call, and you can begin to perform CPR.
4. Check for breathing. Unless you're a trained professional, do not take the time to check for a pulse. Instead, check for signs of breathing. See if the chest is rising and falling. Feel if there is air coming in and out of his or her mouth. If there are no signs of breathing, follow these steps.
Begin Performing CPR
1. Remember the acronym CAB. While administering CPR, use CAB to remember the correct order of the steps to CPR. The letters stand for compressions, airway, and breaths.
2. Do compressions to restore blood circulation. Place the victim on his or her back. He or she must be lying as flat as is possible during compressions for safety. Slightly tilt their head back.
Put the heel of one hand on the breastbone 2 finger-widths above where the lower ribs meet. This will be right between the nipples. Put your other hand on top of the first, palm down. Interlock the fingers of your second hand with the fingers of your first hand. Position yourself directly over your hands. Keep your arms straight and rigid.
Perform 30 chest compressions pushing the chest down no more than two inches. Do this at the rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
The rate of compressions would keep the beat to a song such as "Stayin' Alive." Sing that in your head to get the right rhythm if it helps. Or you could sing it out loud, which may either have a positive or negative effect on the person in question, depending on their preference for disco.
3. Clear the airway. Place one palm on the victim's forehead and lift his or her chin with your other hand. Gently pull back the head to look inside the mouth and see if there is any obstruction. If you see something obvious in the airway, such as a large football, remove that first.
Take no more than 10 seconds to look for signs of breathing. Is the chest moving up and down? Can you feel breath coming out of the mouth?
4. Give rescue breaths. With the airway open, give 2 rescue breaths if you are trained in CPR. Give a one-second-long rescue breath. If you see the chest rise, give a second breath. If it does not rise, tilt the head and lift the chin again. Then proceed to try your second breath.
If there is no sign of your breath entering the lungs, perform the Heimlich Maneuver. Straddle him or her from behind with your face facing the back of their head. Place one fist just above the belly button and the other on top of the first hand. Thrust a few times. You are doing this to dislodge anything that may be blocking the trachea. If this is unsuccessful, resume CPR.
5. Begin again with CAB. Thirty compressions and 2 breaths are considered one cycle. After giving two breaths, resume compressions. Continue CPR until there is movement or help arrives. If you are taking turns performing CPR with another person, minimize breaks between switches.
Using an Automated External Defibrillator
1. If you are too exhausted to continue, use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available. This is used to jumpstart a person's heart. Before you turn it on, make sure there are no puddles or standing water nearby.
Seriously. Using an AED in or around water can be a shocking experience. Yes, that was a terrible joke. No, we won't take it back.
2. Turn on the AED and follow the prompts.
3. Fully expose the chest. Make sure the chest is dry. If he has thick chest hair and you are able, shave spots where the AED pads go. Shave kits are included in most AED kits. Be sure not to cut the victim when you shave him, as this can interfere with rhythm analysis.
4. Remove any metal the person has on his or her body. Take off earrings, necklaces, piercings, and underwire bras. Also, look for evidence of a pacemaker. A medical bracelet should indicate this. If you believe the person has a pacemaker, you need to keep the AED pads at least 1 inch from the location of the pacemaker.
5. Attach the sticky pads that are connected to electrodes to the victim's chest. Follow the directions in the kit when determining pad placement.
6. Analyze and apply shock. First, be sure that no one is touching the body. Press analyze on the AED, and it will tell you if shock needs to be administered.
7. Leave sticky pads on the victim and resume CPR for another 5 cycles.
Put the Patient in Recovery Position
1. Once the victim is stabilized and breathing normally, place him or her in the recovery position.
If any funny jokes came to mind while you were performing CPR, you could finally tell them. Although, come to think of it, most people probably won't find them funny at this point, so maybe save them for later.
2. This is a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position. Gently turn him or her to their side. Bend the top knee and use it to keep the body from rolling onto its stomach. Bend both elbows and use them to prop up the body. This position allows the victim to breathe more easily. The mouth is facing downward, which prevents choking and suffocation.
This in-depth, step-by-step guide should instill confidence so that when a person is in danger and needing CPR, you will be able to administer it.
Ideally, we would all take an accredited course that includes first aid, CPR, and AED. But remember that it is always better to try and help than to stand by and do nothing.
And if you do CPR on someone, you could also end up marrying them, just as happened to this couple:
Turns out that learning CPR can save lives and improve your love life.


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Taste{full} Deal Alerts!
2:30 PMAs if you needed another reason to indulge in the amazing end-of-summer sales and exciting fall-is-almost-here sales!
Starting tomorrow, Take another 25% off already reduced items at BananaRepublic.com. Enter code BRSALE25 at checkout. Offer starts 8/20/10 and ends 8/22/10.
Restrictions: Valid through August 22, 2010 at 11:59PM ET on select Banana Republic markdown merchandise purchased online. Offer not valid at Edition by Banana Republic, Banana Republic Stores or Banana Republic Factory Stores. Not valid on International shipments. Qualifying amount applies to merchandise only. GiftCard purchases, online gift certificates, packaging, taxes, shipping & handling, and payment of a Banana Republic account do not count toward the qualifying amount. Not valid for cash. No adjustment on previous purchases. Offer is nontransferable without consent from Banana Republic. Cannot be combined with any other offers and is valid in the US only.
Hit up Old Navy today, tomorrow, and Saturday for a cascading sale. Shop early. Save more!
Restrictions: Offer valid on Old Navy merchandise only from 8/21/10 at 12:01 am ET through 8/21/10 at 11:59 pm ET online only. Not valid at Old Navy stores. Not valid on Old Navy Everyday Steals and Leather Outerwear. Not valid on international purchases. Qualifying amount applies to merchandise only, not value of gift cards purchased, packaging, applicable taxes or shipping & handling charges. Offer valid only on standard shipping to your order's first "ship to" address anywhere in the US (including Puerto Rico). If you choose express or next day shipping options additional charges will apply. Online code is limited to one time use only. No adjustments on previous purchases. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts including Gap Inc. employee discount. Gap Inc. is not responsible for lost or stolen coupons.
Happy Shopping!


text: March 24th, 2016 by | Posted in News, Sports Comments Off on INDIA BEAT BANGLADESH – WC T20India have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when they defeated Bangaladesh by one run in the WC T20 match at Bangalore. Until the last over, Bangla Desh had the match well and truly in their control but they lost their nerves in in the last 3 balls of their innings. Needing just 11 runs in the last over to win the match but lost 3 quick wickets in the process. They needed just two runs of the last three balls when all hell broke loose and they could not score one run. Hritik Pandya was the bowler of that fruitful over. (more…)


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Getting rid of wasps is not only a dangerous task but could even prove fatal for those in close proximity. Our local Grimsby wasp removal team are trained to deal with any wasp nest problem in a safe and efficient manner. we can apply our wasp treatment and remove the nest that same day in Grimsby and the surrounding areas.
If you find a wasp nest in Grimsby please avoid disturbing the area. Wasps, hornets & bees only sting in self defense when either their nest or queen is under threat. If you would like a free quote or estimate on removing a wasp nest, call our pest control team on 0800 051 8640
Cluster Flies
Cluster flies are usually between 3.5mm and 6mm in size, and they have reddish eyes. These flies gather (or cluster, hence the name) near building holes, in roof spaces and in lofts. They gather together around autumn, to hibernate, and they come out of hibernation in spring.
Calls made will not be charged


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Wholesome is a word we often associate with our children's well-being. We feed our kids wholesome food to nourish their growing bodies. We encourage wholesome activities to help them develop good habits and useful skills. Yoga is not only wholesome, but holistic as well. In other words, it's an activity that develops the whole child—physically, mentally, and emotionally. What's more, kids of all ages have fun doing yoga asanas and watching their balance, flexibility, and strength improve. They also learn to focus and relax. This positive experience is likely to keep them practicing yoga as adults, reaping yoga's many benefits for years to come.
Many types of exercises help children develop strong muscles, but the strength they gain is rarely balanced with increased flexibility. Yoga postures, however, improve both strength and flexibility, giving kids an ease of movement that helps them improve their performance and prevent injuries. They develop balance, coordination, and the ability to focus. Even kids who aren't athletic enjoy yoga asanas. Because yoga is a gentle, noncompetitive form of exercise, they can practice, do well, and build confidence in a nonthreatening environment.
On a deeper physical level, yoga's focus on good posture helps young spines grow straight and strong. The poses regulate and balance the production of hormones, which is especially important as children approach and pass through puberty. Yoga postures also improves their digestion, nutrient absorption, and elimination while helping to strengthen the immune system.
In yoga, kids get their bodies and minds working together. They concentrate on positioning and moving in a slow, controlled manner. Sometimes they focus on holding a pose, on their breathing, or on the animal they are imitating. This ability to focus carries over into other aspects of their lives, making it easier for them to concentrate on schoolwork and other important tasks.
Yoga also gives children valuable tools to help them cope with the stress they often face. This stress may be in the form of academic pressure, sports competitions, problems at home, and so on. Yoga postures, breathing, and relaxation techniques teach them how to calm the mind and release excess tension from the body.
Yoga is wonderful for children. The asanas build strength, stamina, and flexibility. Kids also learn patience, perseverance, and concentration, which helps them become happier and more productive. Whether children are dealing with tight muscles, obesity, divorce, fear, or anxiety, they can use yoga to bring them relief not only throughout their childhood, but also in their adult lives.


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Myddleton Road Market
Sunday 2 July 2023 11.00am - 4.00pm
Myddleton Road, Bowes Park, London N22 8LZ
PGC cannot guarantee that all What's On information is 100% accurate. If in doubt, contact the organisers or visit their website using the More Details button.
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Shimmer and Shine! This time with our brand new Metallic Strand Cord! We have had so much fun working with this cord and the we love the bling this cord adds to our projects.
This cord is called Strand Cord because it is made up of 3, 6, 9 or 12 strands of cord twisted together. It ties and knots just as well as Chinese knotting cord and the best yet is that although metallic, its ends can be sealed with a flame.
3 strand: 0.2mm
6 strand: 0.4mm
9 strand: 0.6mm
12 strand: 0.8mm
Sold on little spools of 35 yard (0.6mm) or 27 yards (0.8mm)
Note: As this is metallic cord, its can sometimes be itchy to wear if being used alone for a jewelry project so pair this cord with our Chinese Knotting Cord or DMC or Royal Broidery Cotton Floss for a softer feel. You will love the results!


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Product Description
Coilover Suspension Street MTS Technik - MTSGWBM01
MTS Technik Coilover Suspension - the perfect choice for drivers who appreciate the flexibility and the ability to adjust the suspension altitudes depending on your preference and road conditions. Stiffening of the suspension makes the car better to drive, more predictable and more secure.
Optimum alignment of the MTS Technik coilover suspension components causes recognition of the growing number of users. Large rims in the summer, smaller in the winter - thanks to MTS Technik coilover kits You can adjust the ride height to Your needs.


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TAMPA, Fla. (WFTS) -- "It is a terrible thing to lose someone. It's equally terrible to lose yourself in grief," said Peter Snelling, Executive Director with Tampa's Right at Home.
He says it helps to learn the four main stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger and acceptance.
"Denial is something that results from someone saying, 'I can't believe this is happening to me.' Bargaining could be 'If only I had taken him to the doctor earlier,' or 'If only I could have told him goodbye in the right way.' And there's a lot of guilt associated with that," he explained.
The third stage, anger, is best to be channeled in a healthy way, either through physical exercise, journaling or talking with a therapist, pastor or friend.
"They may have many things that need to get off their chest and let them know it's okay to be angry about losing someone," he said.
The final stage, acceptance, is not easy.
Snelling says that's because many feel bouts of confusion as they bounce from one stage of grief to another.
"So someone can be in a level of acceptance and be okay for this hour. And the next hour, they could be in total denial that it ever happened. And it gives you a sense of uncertainty and anxiety because you just don't know why you're experiencing all these emotions," he explained.
With this pandemic lasting well over a year, many people may still be in denial; not being able to have a funeral or memorial service for a loved one can leave people without closure.
"When you don't see them. They just simply vanished? Wow. There's no closure. Families need closure. Loved ones need closure. And unfortunately, COVID has affected that and has taken that away from many families and that's sad. That's very sad," he said.
Finding ways to cope with grief is imperative to both your mental and physical well-being.
So Snelling says to consider these other tips.
- Join a virtual grief support group
- Get adequate sleep
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain proper nutrition
- Listen to your body.
This story originally reported by Wendy Ryan on ABCActionNews.com


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I love a good ghost tale and admit I loved Tales from the Darkside when I was younger. So, I'm celebrating Halloween with a post highlighting some paranormal-photo activity.
According to About.com, "The Brown Lady" is arguably the most famous ghost photograph ever taken. It was snapped in September, 1936 by Captain Provand and Indre Shira, two photographers who were assigned to photograph Raynham Hall for Country Life magazine. The ghost is thought to be that of Lady Dorothy Townshend, wife of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount of Raynham, residents of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England in the early 1700s. Her husband suspected her of infidelity, and although her "official" death is recorded in 1726, it was thought that he just locked her away in a room until she died many years later.
Now you too can add in a spooky specter to each photo you take! For those who prefer old school film to Photoshop-trickery, the Ghost Finders Camera promises "there's a ghost in every room!".
I don't know about you, but I think I can get the same effect with the light-leak in my Holga. It also reminds me of this photo my mother showed me when I was younger, it was of the sky where the virgin mary was appearing in a cloud. Maybe they took it with a "holy ghost finder" camera.


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Wed. 2/29/12
How KUA was KO'd
A lot of people are scratching their heads today and wondering: how in the world did Kimball Union not make prep hockey's Elite 8? A lot of people are also wondering what the 'Hoosac issue' is. And why Millbrook got bounced. And why the Sunday coaches meeting, chaired by Brooks head coach and NEPSIHA president Dave Ries, which usually is wrapped by lunchtime, stretched almost to dinnertime.
It was, said Ries, "a perfect storm."
For the sake of simplicity, let's look at each of the issues separately.
Before doing so, however, bear in mind that while the NEPSIHA playoff calculations – the RPI, the JSPR points, et al – are complex, they are that way only because, in order to arrive at a true measure of a team's body of work on the ice, a huge number of variables have to be taken into account. Anyone who reads this publication knows, if only from a casual perusal of different teams' schedules and results, that not every win and loss is created equally. A win over Salisbury has more value than a win over Portsmouth Abbey. But how do you measure that? How do you put a precise value on it? The JSPR system attempts to do just that.
The complexity of the math, says Ries, "is not only the beauty of the system, but also the reason 60 prep coaches wind up banging their heads on their desks trying to figure the whole thing out."
This year, a layer of complexity was added to the process when outside forces, in the form of the NEPSAC Executive Board, became involved with the process. For those of you who are new to this, the aforementioned board, headed by Suffield Academy AD Dave Godin, consists of a group of ADs who are charged with overseeing prep athletics. They sit at the top of the food chain, and have greater powers than the NEPSIHA coaches. They also have their own set of rules, and their own ideas on how things should be handled. And that brings us to…
-- The Hoosac Issue: A major variable separating prep teams is not only the number of games they play, but also the number of games they play against Div. I prep teams – i.e. teams that belong to NEPSIHA. It was determined that, in order for a team's body of work to be accurately measured, they needed to play 15 'NEPSIHA games.' If a team drops below that threshold, the statistical sample becomes too small, and skews the numbers in an unfair manner. As a consequence, game results of teams that fail to meet this minimum are tossed under the JSPR system.
St. Thomas More, Hamden Hall, Harvey, King-Low, Rye Country Day are Div. I schools that fell below the 15-game threshold this season. So, too, did Hoosac, finishing with 14 games.
When USHR posted JASPR points and the RPI right before the final weekend of the regular season, it was with all games involving the above-named schools removed from the equation. It was obvious that not one of them would reach the 15-game level, so… out the door they went. Pretty black and white.
However -- and this is where things get sticky -- there are teams out there in contention for playoff spots who had played Hoosac during the season, and had done well in those games. South Kent went 3-0 vs. Hoosac. Brunswick and Albany Academy went 2-0. Tilton and Millbrook each went 1-0. And each of those schools stood to lose something if Hoosac's games were eliminated.
We know South Kent and Tilton, when they got wind of the fact that Hoosac was going to fall short of the 15-game minimum, was not happy, and voiced their displeasure. Perhaps others did, too.
At any rate, somebody went to the NEPSAC Executive Board, and they started looking into it.
The thorn in the ointment here is the fact that Hoosac had 'intended' to play 15 NEPSIHA games -- and would have -- but for a snafu on the part of Kingswood-Oxford which, on Wed. Jan. 11, had somehow committed their hockey team to be playing two different games in two different places at the same time (a home game vs. St. Thomas More, and a road game at Hoosac). We have no idea who messed up with the scheduling there, not that assigning blame makes any difference.
The bottom line is the fact that South Kent and others made the argument that since Hoosac 'intended' to play 15 games and only failed to do so because of forces beyond their control, that an exemption should be made and Hoosac's 14 NEPSIHA games should count in the calculations. This, of course, goes against the agreed-upon rules for determining how playoff seeding is calculated. However, NEPSAC rules -- and decisions – trump NEPSIHA decisions.
Godin and the executive board reportedly felt that Hoosac had made a "good-faith effort" to comply by scheduling 15 games at the start of the season. This, at least, is what was reported to us. Godin did not answer an email from USHR seeking clarification as to how the executive board arrived at its decision.
At any rate, knowing that this storm was brewing, Ries, after Saturday's games, requested two sets of numbers – one with Hoosac in and one with Hoosac out. On Sunday morning, when the committee met to go over the numbers, they had to first settle the Hoosac issue. Before they had a chance, Godin and the executive board settled it for them: Hoosac was back in.
This was good news for South Kent, Albany Academy, and Brunswick, all of whom got a boost and moved up in the seedings.
It was felt at the time that putting Hoosac back in knocked Kimball Union out of the big tournament, and bounced them down to the small tournament. Everyone felt that way, and, at first glance, that conclusion seemed totally logical. The playoff system, however, sometimes requires a deeper look into the numbers in order to truly tease out what exactly caused Team A to moved ahead of Team B. This deep study is not necessary in order to arrive at accurate numbers, only to answer how and why.
-- Here then is the big surprise: it wasn't Hoosac that caused Kimball Union's fall from the Elite 8.
KUA got KO'd when Gunnery topped Berkshire, 4-3, on the final day of the regular season.
If you look at the JSPR comparisons after games of Wed. Feb. 22, Avon, Cushing and KUA were all tied with seven JSPR points. Given that KUA beat Avon, Avon beat Cushing, and Cushing beat KUA, the tiebreaker was then determined by RPI order. KUA was 7th, Avon 8th and Cushing 9th. This is where things stood last Thursday morning – and it was reported on USHR. At the time, KUA looked pretty secure given their RPI. However, they were not secure. In order to move up from that three-way tie, all one of these teams needed to do was to gain a JSPR point (and not lose any). Avon gained the point, while Cushing and KUA did not, and it was one game that caused this: the Berkshire vs. Gunnery game.
Let's look at the Berkshire-Avon JSPR comparison from Thursday morning. Berkshire was beating Avon head-to-head and in the RPI. At the same time, Avon was beating Berkshire in record against mutual opponents and record against teams under consideration. Thus, the comparison is tied 2-2 and, since the first tiebreaker is head-to-head, Berkshire gets the JSPR point. However, once Gunnery defeated Berkshire on Saturday, Berkshire's RPI dropped and Avon jumped over Berkshire in RPI. Suddenly, while Berkshire still held the advantage in a head-to-head comparison, Avon moved ahead of Berkshire in RPI while still maintaining their advantage in mutual opponents and teams under consideration. As a result, the final JSPR comparison now falls Avon's way 3-1 -- and Avon gets an additional 'new' JSPR point.
When that happened, Cushing and KUA were still tied with seven points each. (The top six seeds remained the same and Avon, with eight points, became the #7 seed.) When two teams are tied, you go to their JSPR comparison for the tiebreaker. How, then, did Cushing and Kimball Union compare using this criteria? The answer: Cushing wins head-to-head, and record against teams under consideration. KUA wins RPI and record against mutual opponents. In other words, it's a 2-2 tie. However, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head. And since Cushing went 2-0 against KUA this season, the Penguins won the JSPR comparison over KUA. This comparison was like this both on Thursday and on Saturday.
When all the points were added up, and all the tiebreakers were settled, Cushing became the #8 seed -- and KUA was out of the tournament. Ultimately, Kimball Union's downfall was the fact that they lost – twice – to Cushing during the regular season. They could still have gotten into the big tournament if Berkshire had managed to pull out a win over Gunnery on Saturday. But, in the final analysis, because of the losses to Cushing, KUA no longer controlled their own destiny. They needed forces beyond their control to come through, and Berkshire was unable to help them.
-- The Millbrook Situation: Strictly going on the math, Millbrook would have made the playoffs this season, sneaking into the last spot in the Small School Tournament. However, they ran afoul of a NEPSAC rule stipulating that no team with a losing record shall be allowed to compete in NEPSAC post-season play.
Millbrook finished the season 10-14-3 in NEPSIHA play. But they also played a lot of tough teams. They split with Albany Academy and Brunswick, both of whom made the playoffs. They tied Kimball Union at the Belmont Hill-Nichols Tournament. They also played Belmont Hill, Kent, Gunnery (2x), Berkshire (2x), Winchendon (2x), and Salisbury – again, all playoff-bound teams. In total, Millbrook played 15 games against playoff-bound teams. They didn't fare particularly well against them, but the fact remains that they played a tough schedule, which gets you something, particularly when the team in question wins the games that they 'should win,' as Millbrook did. And that is how Millbrook earned the last small-school spot. But, due to the losing record, they are not allowed to compete. St. Mark's, 15-9-3 in Div. I play got the final seed in their place. But St. Mark's only played six games against teams that will be in action tomorrow – Lawrence, St. Paul's, Brooks (2x), and Dexter (2x). In those, six games, the Lions went 1-5, beating only Brooks. The numbers show that Millbrook, by a slim margin, was the better team. Their crime: playing a schedule that was too challenging. Their punishment: getting booted from the Small School Tournament due to a NEPSAC rule that is – at best -- outdated.
On Sunday night, NEPSIHA president Dave Ries issued a statement on what transpired. We include it here in full.
"This year we ran into a situation with our playoff system that was not in compliance with NEPSAC tournament policies. One of our members, Hoosac, started the season with 15 games scheduled against other NEPSAC schools eligible for tournament consideration. Due to a cancellation/scheduling conflict, one of these games was not played, dropping them below the 15 game minimum. Following our formula, we removed ALL of their game results from last week's playoff calculations, which not only removed Hoosac from playoff consideration but affected all their opponents as well. The NEPSAC Executive Board found this out and informed us that removing these scores from their opponent's records is not acceptable. After much discussion, it was decided that the Hoosac results must be included for their opponents to bring our tournament into compliance with NEPSAC rules.
"Additionally, when we went to this formula two years ago, we knew that there was the chance of a team with a sub-.500 record qualifying for post-season play. We were told by the Executive Board that we would have to appeal on a case-by-case basis were this to happen. Today we faced that situation and were told that the .500 rule would be upheld."
Tues. 2/28/12
N.Y. Times Puts Juniors & Fighting on Page 1
The New York Times has a front-page article today entitled "Junior Hockey on Cusp of a Revolution: Trying to Stop Fighting."
The article covers recent efforts by USA Hockey and Hockey Canada to ban fighting from junior leagues -- including major junior -- in both the U.S. and Canada.
Tues. 2/28/12
New England Prep All-Stars Named
As voted by NEPSIHA coaches:
Matt Beattie, Sr., F, Exeter
Chris Calnan, Jr., F, Nobles
Brian Hart, Sr., F, Exeter
Gavin Bayreuther, Jr., D, Holderness
Rob O'Gara, Sr., D, Milton
David Cunningham, Sr., G, Belmont Hill
Ben Foster, Sr., F, Choate
Boo Nieves, Sr., F, Kent
Phil Zielonka, Sr., F, Salisbury
Marc Biega, Sr., D, Salisbury
Colin Sullivan, Sr., D, Avon Old Farms
Michael Santaguida, Sr., G, Avon Old Farms
Tues. 2/28/12
Elite 8 Prep Preview
#1. Salisbury
Record: 23-3-0
Leading Scorer: Philip Zielonka (26 GP, 26-22-48)
D1 Committed Players: Philip Zielonka (Harvard), Jason Kalinowski (UNH), Thomas Welsh (Penn State)
Who's Hot: Salisbury enters the tournament riding a 13-game unbeaten streak. Senior forward Philip Zielonka is red hot. The Harvard recruit has produced 19 points in his last seven games. Junior goaltender Justin Nichols has allowed just four goals over his last four starts. Junior forward Aaron Berisha has 10 goals on the season, but five of them have come in the last four games.
Scouting Report: Andrew Will's squad has more depth than any other team in prep hockey. The first line of Zielonka, senior John Stevens and senior Zack Pryzbek form one of prep hockey's top trios. Offensive-minded senior Marc Biega headlines a D-corps that includes five D1 prospects. In net, St. Catharine's, Ont. native Justin Nichols has been lights out this season with a .943 save percentage. Salisbury is the consensus favorite to win the crown.
#2. Nobles
Record: 21-4-1
Leading Scorer: Adam Gilmour (24 GP, 24-29-53)
D1 Committed Players: Chris Calnan (BC), Andrew Doane (Brown), Tim Boyle (Union), Tyler Wood (Brown)
Who's Hot: Senior forward Adam Gilmour figured in all five of his team's goals in the season finale against Milton and has produced eight points in his last two games. BC recruit Chris Calnan has tallied six goals in his last five games. '97-born freshman Cal Burke has just eight points on the year, but half of those points have come in the last seven games. Fellow '97-born forward Colin White has tallied 11 points over his last eight games as the eighth grader continues to develop into a primary scoring threat.
Scouting Report: Brian Day's Bulldogs have lost just four games all season, but three of those losses have come in the last six games. Calnan and Gilmour could be the most dangerous duo in prep hockey, but White, Burke, and seniors Andrew Doane and Max Franklin give Nobles plenty of offensive firepower. Late bloomer Tim Boyle is the centerpiece on the backend and he will have to log lot of minutes on Wednesday against Avon as senior defenseman Phil Sciretta was suspended for hitting from behind in Saturday's regular season finale against Milton. It is difficult to win a title without a significant contribution from your goaltender and Connor Maher will have to improve on his .895 save percentage for Nobles to contend.
#3. Exeter
Record: 21-2-5
Leading Scorer: Matt Beattie (26 GP, 39-34-73)
D1 Committed Players: Matt Beattie (Yale), Brian Hart (Harvard), Michael St. Denis (Army)
Who's Hot: Matt Beattie and Brian Hart have been scorching hot all year long as the two have combined for 135 points in 53 games played. PG Matt Rubinoff has also chipped in six points in his last three games.
Scouting Report: Dana Barbin loves to ride his horses and Gunnery should expect to see a lot of Beattie and Hart. While those two forwards get the headlines, Exeter also has four other forwards averaging over a point-a-game in Rubinoff (50), PG Alex Carlacci (38), junior John Cross (33) and senior Michael St. Denis (32). Senior Will Goss has emerged as one of prep hockey's finest defenders and will be relied on heavily in the post-season. Exeter could be the only team to enter the playoff tournament without a starting goaltender as PGs Tim Cooney and Nolan Daley have been rotating down the stretch.
#4. Lawrence
Record: 22-3-3
Leading Scorer: Devin Tringale (28 GP, 16-26-42), Tyler Whitney (28 GP, 7-35-42)
D1 Committed Players: Devin Tringale (Harvard)
Who's Hot: The Spartans have been 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Senior Matt Baldino enters the tournament riding a six-game point streak, having produced nine points over that span.
Scouting Report: The best word to describe Kevin Potter's squad would be balanced. No other team in the tournament has more scorers who have produced double-digit point totals. Harvard recruit Devin Tringale attracts the most attention, but the offense runs through Tyler Whitney. Whitney, the younger brother Joe and Steven Whitney, has elite hockey sense and is excellent quarterbacking the PP. Six other forwards average .74 points-per-game or more, giving Lawrence Academy three lines capable of scoring any shift. The team's top defender is Naples, Florida native Jacob Schechter. The senior has averaged over a point-a-game producing a 5-17-22 scoring line in only 18 games played. Senior goaltender Nathaniel Heilbron has been excellent all season long. The West Vancouver, BC native has been quite the iron man, playing in all but 29 minutes this season. The 5'9" puck stopper has given up more than three goals just three times this season and sports a .926 save percentage.
#5. Belmont Hill
Record: 21-5-4
Leading Scorer: Carl Hesler (30 GP, 10-18-28)
D1 Committed Players: Carl Hesler (Dartmouth), Joe Mcnamara (Holy Cross), Sean Gustin (Holy Cross)
Who's Hot: Belmont Hill enters the postseason on a six-game winning streak and, like their first round foes, is 8-1-1 in their last 10. Sophomore forward Will Golonka has scored eight goals on the year, with five of those having come in the last five games. Senior forward Devin Albert, who was injured and missed over a month to start the season, has scored four goals and added two assists over the course of the final four games of the season.
Scouting Report: Jeremiah McCarthy's team is the only group in the prep tournament without a single scorer producing at over a point-a-game pace. The team is built from the net out with senior David Cunningham being the MVP at this point in the year. The Amherst recruit has played 80% of the games and has flashed an impressive .945 save percentage. Junior Mike Najjar has been the most consistent scoring threat. The Stoneham, Mass. native has tallied 13 goals in 30 games played.
#6. Gunnery
Record: 21-7-2
Leading Scorer: Jarrid Privitera (27 GP, 16-22-38)
D1 Committed Players: Jarrid Privitera (Boston University), Jake Wood (RPI), Cameron Romoff (Brown)
Who's Hot: Junior Anthony Bird has rattled off a 3-4-7 scoring line over the last four games. Privitera, a senior, has found the score sheet in six of his team's last seven games.
Scouting Report: Chris Baudo has a lot of weapons in his arsenal as nine forwards are chipping in .70 points-per-game or more. Of those nine forwards, Privitera, Bird, junior Marc Cibelli and senior Jake Wood are all exceeding more than a point-a-game. Exeter's top line should expect to see a lot of 6'2" 175 lb. shutdown defenseman Dakota Ford. Gunnery has seen consistent goaltending this season from junior Dawson Sprigings. The Toronto, Ontario native has a respectable .918 save percentage while getting roughly 75% of the starts.
#7. Avon Old Farms
Record: 19-6-1
Leading Scorer: Vincent Russo (26 GP, 17-20-37)
D1 Committed Players: Griff Martin (Yale)
Who's Hot: Avon finished the season on a 9-2 run. The Winged Beavers will enter the playoffs with offensive confidence as they have outscored their opponents 20-2 during their current three-game unbeaten streak. Over those same three games junior Vincent Russo has produced an eye-popping 10 points.
Scouting Report: Russo, a Team Comcast product, has figured in more than ome-third of his team's goals this year. Seniors Colin Sullivan, Jon Ahern and Jack Even, along with junior Griff Martin, give Avon a formidable top four on the backend. John Gardner's ace has been senior goaltender Michael Santaguida. The Mississauga, Ontario native is more than capable of stealing a game single-handedly and owns a .948 save percentage—which is tops in all of prep hockey.
#8. Cushing
Record: 18-9-3
Leading Scorer: Garrett Hehir (29 GP, 17-31-48)
D1 Committed Players : Shane Eiserman (UNH), Corey Scammon (Lowell), Kyle O'Brien (Bentley)
Who's Hot: Cushing's play down the stretch has been quite average (6-6-1), but the Penguins may have the ship back on course as they are winners of their last three. Sophomore forward Eiserman appears to be heating up with a 3-2-5 scoring line in just his last two games. Sophomore forward Shane Kavanagh has been quietly consistent, figuring in on the scoring with at least a point in six of the team's last seven games.
Scouting Report: You cannot take Rob Gagnon's crew lightly because they have players with the ability to break a game open in the blink of an eye. UNH recruit Eiserman, leading scorer Hehir and the aforementioned Kavanagh comprise a potent top line. Junior forward Thomas Aldworth presents a significant threat on the second line. PP quarterback and captain Corey Scammon is looking to make a run in his fourth season at Cushing. Goaltending inconsistencies have plagued the team from day 1, but senior Liam Moorfield-Yee has stepped up and gives Cushing a chance to win on most nights.
Tues. 2/28/12
MIAA Schedule
In the MIAA playdown, held last night at Merrimack, #9 St. John's-Shrewsbury almost blew a 5-0 lead but held on and edged #8 Needham, 5-4, to advance to the next round, to be played Sunday, also at Merrimack.
In the nightcap, #10 Central Catholic got three goals from senior Michael Kelleher to go up 3-0, but #7 Burlington came back and tied things up at 3-3. Central, however, came back to score three of the next four goals, and skate off with a 6-4 win.
St. John's-Shrewsbury has been re-seeded at #8 and and Central Catholic is now #7. Here's the schedule for Sunday:
Super 8, Sunday March 4 @ Merrimack College
#4 Hingham vs. #5 BC High, 12:00 pm
#2 St. Mary's vs. #7 Central Catholic, 2:15 pm
#3 St. John's Prep vs. #6 Springfield Cathedral, 4:45 pm
#1 Malden Catholic vs. #8 St. John's-Shrewsbury, 7:00 pm
After Sunday, Super 8 play will continue with two games on Tues. night 3/6 (5:45, 8:15) and two on Wed. 3/7 (5:45, 8:15) before all four teams meet again on Sun. 3/11 (12:00, 2:15, 4:45. 7:00). The crossover round is on Wed. 3/14 (5:45, 8:15). All games are at Merrimack with the exception of the final, which will be held at the TD Garden on Sun. night March 18th.
Tues. 2/28/12
EJHL Playoffs Get Underway Today
The EJHL playoffs are underway, with four games scheduled for today:
Springfield @ Green Mountain, 11:50 am
Huskies @ Bridgewater, 2:20 pm
Apple Core @ Valley, 2:30 pm
Rochester @ Bay State, 7:00 pm
The Junior Bruins (37-7-1), South Shore Kings (37-8-0), New Hampshire Junior Monarchs (30-14-1), and Jersey Hitmen (27-14-4) all get byes and don't start play until the quarterfinals on Sat.-Sun. March 3-4.
Click this link for the full EJHL playoff schedule:
EJHL Playoff Schedule
Tues. 2/28/12
Shea Leaves Moncton; Returns Home
Yahoo Sports Canada has posted an article detailing the circumstances surrounding former Nobles forward Brandon Shea's departure from the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL).
A '95 from Marshfield, Mass., Shea, the third-leading scorer as a freshman last year at Nobles, had committed to the NTDP and Boston College before changing course and going major junior over the summer.
First-Rounder Brandon Shea Bolts from Wildcats
Wed. 2/29/12 -- For the scores to today's games please go to the USHR Prep Pages.
Winter Storm Coming
A winter storm is coming to New England Wednesday afternoon, with snow reaching Hartford and Worcester around lunchtime. Weather reports indicate that snow could be pretty heavy in Boston by the evening rush hour, and the region is under a winter snow advisory.
The only game times that have been affected by the storm so far are the Avon Old Farms @ Nobles tilt, which has been moved up to a 2:00 pm faceoff; the Brunswick-St. Seb's game, which has been moved up a half hour, to 4:00 pm; the KUA-St. Mark's game, which has also been moved up by a half-hour; and the Westminster-Berkshire game, which has been moved up by a full 90 minutes. In addition, the Gunnery is having bus problems and their game vs. Exeter, scheduled to be played at St. Mark's at 3:00 pm, will now faceoff at 4:00, and possibly a little later.
If there are any additional changes, we will have them for you here.
The coaches have a contingency plan to play Thursday -- same time/same venues -- in case games have to postponed. However, Thursday is also looking bad weather wise -- maybe even worse.
Wed. Feb. 29, 2012:
Stuart/Corkery Tournament:
#8 Cushing vs. #1 Salisbury -- 3:45 pm (@ Avon Old Farms)
#5 Belmont Hill vs. #4 Lawrence Academy -- 4:00 pm (@ Lawrence)
#6 Gunnery vs. #3 Exeter -- 4:00 pm (@ St. Mark's)
#7 Avon Old Farms vs. #2 Noble and Greenough -- 2:00 pm (@ Nobles)
Martin/Earl Tournament:
#8 Westminster vs. #1 Berkshire -- 3:00 pm (@ Berkshire)
#5 Albany Academy vs. #4 St. Paul's -- 3:30 pm (@ Deerfield)
#6 Choate vs. #3 Kent -- 4:00 pm (@ Kent)
#7 Brunswick vs. #2 St. Sebastian's -- 4:00 pm (@ Williston-Northampton)
Piatelli/Simmons Tournament:
#8 St. Mark's vs. #1 Kimball Union -- 3:00 pm (@ KUA)
#5 Dexter vs. #4 Winchendon -- 5:30 pm (@ Winchendon)
#6 Kent's Hill vs. #3 Holderness -- 4:00 pm (@ Exeter)
#7 Brooks vs. #2 South Kent -- 4:00 pm (@ Eaglebrook School)
Semis and Finals:
Fri. March 2 (IceCenter Salem, NH)
5:30 pm -- Stuart/Corkery Semifinal (1-8 winners vs. 4-5 winners)
8:00 pm -- Stuart/Corkery Semifinal (2-7 winners vs. 3-6 winners)
Sat. March 3 (IceCenter Salem, NH)
9:00 am -- Piatelli/Simmons Semifinal (1-8 winners vs. 4-5 winners)
11:30 am -- Piatelli/Simmons Semifinal (2-7 winners vs. 3-6 winners)
2:00 pm -- Martin/Earl Semifinal (1-8 winners vs. 4-5 winners)
4:30 pm -- Martin/Earl Semifinal (2-7 winners vs. 3-6 winners)
Sun. March 4 (IceCenter Salem, NH)
10:30 am -- Piatelli/Simmons Final
1:00 pm -- Martin/Earl Final
3:30 pm -- Stuart/Corkery Final
Mon. 2/27/12
St. Andrew's Wins Mid-West Prep Title
St. Andrew's College topped Lake Forest Academy, 3-1, yesterday to win the Mid-West Prep League 2011-12 championship.
For St. Andrew's, it was their fifth league title in the eight years they have been a member of the league.
James Lappin, Brandon Cercone, and Burke White scored the St. Andrew's goals, and Hayden Neuman earned the win in net. Matt Ustaski scored Lake Forest's lone goal.
In Saturday's semis, St. Andrew's topped the Edge School, 4-2, while Lake Forest edged Stanstead College, 3-2 in OT.
Midwest Prep Hockey League All-Stars:
Northeastern Division:
Greg Jansz, F, St. Andrew's College; Mark Jankowski, F, Stanstead College; James Robinson, F, Edge School; Carl Greco, D, Ridley College; Mitch Ferguson, D, Edge School; Hayden Neuman, G, St. Andrew's College.
Western Division:
Frankie Senese, F, Lake Forest Academy; Dominic Oliver, F, Shady Side Academy; Ken Tencza, F, St. Francis School; Andrew Debrincat, D, Lake Forest Academy; Ty Gladwell, D, Shady Side Academy; Josh Hickey, G, Gilmour Academy.
Sun. 2/26/12
Mass Super 8 Seeding
The MIAA has seeded teams for the Mass High School Super 8 Tournament. They are as follows:
1. Malden Catholic (15-1-4)
2. St. Mary's (18-1-3)
3. St. John's Prep (13-5-2)
4. Hingham (16-4-2)
5. BC High (10-5-5)
6. Springfield Cathedral (10-6-6)
7. Burlington (14-1-6)
8. Needham (16-4-1)
9. St. John's--Shrewsbury (15-4-3)
10. Central Catholic (12-3-5)
Play-in games are tomorrow (Mon. 2/27) night at Merrimack College. #8 Needham will play #9 St. John's-Shrewsbury at 5:45 pm followed by #7 Burlington vs. #10 Central Catholic at 8:15 pm.
Sun. 2/26/12
NEPSIHA Tournament Seeds
Here are the final NEPSIHA seeds, for each of the three tournaments. Please check the prep pages later this evening for times and venues for Wednesday's games (look for a lot of neutral site games).
Open Tournament (Stuart/Corkery)
1. Salisbury
2. Nobles
3. Exeter
4. Lawrence
5. Belmont Hill
6. Gunnery
7. Avon Old Farms
8. Cushing
Large School Tournament (Martin/Earl)
1. Berkshire
2. St. Sebastian's
3. Kent
4. St. Paul's
5. Albany Academy
6. Choate
7. Brunswick
8. Westminster
Small School Tournament (Piatelli/Simmons)
1. Kimball Union
2. South Kent
3. Holderness
4. Winchendon
5. Dexter
6. Kents Hill
7. Brooks
8. St. Mark's
Sat. 2/25/12
Three Commitments
-- 6'1", 165 lb. Delbarton senior goalie Colton Phinney has committed to Princeton for the fall of '13.
A 6/17/93 birthdate from Chatham, NJ, Phinney has a 20-1 mark this season, with a .946 save percentage.
"Colton is one of the best goalies in the country," says Delbarton head coach Bruce Shatel. "He's 6'1". He's athletic. He's great when the game is on the line. And he handles the puck like a pro right now."
Phinney will be joining current Delbarton teammate Tommy Davis (fall '13) and former teammate Michael Ambrosia (fall '12) at Princeton.
This is Phinney's fourth year at Delbarton, and his second as a starter. During his first two years he backed up Bobby Kaminski (Bowdoin).
Phinney will play for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) next season.
-- Berkshire School 6'2", 195 lb. LC Kevin Rooney has committed to Providence College for this coming fall.
Rooney, a Canton native, is the leading scorer at Berkshire with a 12-12-24 line in 27 games. He's also one of the team's captains.
"Very few kids of his size skate as well as he does," says Berkshire head coach Dan Driscoll. "He can flat-out fly and is a physical presence. He plays both ends of the rink extremely well."
Rooney's uncle is Steve Rooney, who played at Providence College for Lou Lamoriello in the early '80s before going on to play 154 NHL games with Montreal, Winnipeg, and New Jersey. His first cousin, Chris, is currently a junior forward for the Friars.
-- 5'9", 170 lb. Kimball Union junior LW Nick Roberto has committed to Maine for the fall of '13.
A Wakefield, Mass. native and a 4/4/94 birthdate, Roberto played on Malden Catholic's Super 8 winning team last season before coming to KUA as a repeat junior this year. In 28 games, he has a 14-14-28 line.
"His biggest asset is the fact that he competes hard and plays with a ton of energy," says KUA head coach Mike Levine.
Fri. 2/24/12
Gordon Conference All-Stars
Here is this winter's Gordon Conference All-Star Team:
League MVP:
Tommy Muratore, Sr. D, Delbarton.
First Team:
John Baiocco, Jr. F, Delbarton; Drew Melanson, Jr. F, Delbarton; Daniel Malafronte, Sr. F, CBA; Tommy Muratore, Sr. D, Delbarton; Tommy Davis, Sr. D, Delbarton; Colton Phinney, Sr. G, Delbarton.
Second Team:
Cole Maier, Jr. F, Don Bosco; Brendan Calello, Sr. F, Don Bosco; Justin McKenzie, Sr. F, Don Bosco; Connor Wynn, Jr. D, Bergen Catholic; Cody Calcagno, Soph. D, Don Bosco; Matt Manley, Sr. G, Seton Hall.
Honorable Mention:
Tucker James, Jr., Bergen Catholic; Dan Perez, Jr, SPP; Matt McMorrow, Sr., Don Bosco; Josh Melnick, Jr., Delbarton; James Martello, Sr. , CBA; George Watkins, Sr., Gloucester Catholic; James Potter, Jr., SHP; Billy Faulkner, Sr., Pope John; Mike DeSimone, Sr., St. Augustine Prep; Derek Jester, Sr., Bishop Eustace.
Tues. 2/23/12
O'Keefe Chooses Yale
6'3", 210 lb. Dan O'Keefe, a right-shot defenseman from Team Comcast U-18s, has committed to Yale for the fall of 2014.
A 3/6/94 birthdate from New Jersey, O'Keefe is, according to Team Comcast head coach Jared Beach, "A big, physical, strong kid who skates well for his size. He competes hard and plays a shutdown game, but he also moves the puck well and has offensive ability."
In 38 Elite League games, O'Keefe has a 1-9-10 line with 12 pims.
The schools O'Keefe visited were Princeton, Harvard, St. Lawrence, and Yale.
O'Keefe, currently undrafted in the USHL, will play the next two years in that league.
Tues. 2/21/12
Calnan to the Heights
Noble & Greenough junior forward Chris Calnan has committed to Boston College for the fall of 2013. The Norwell, Mass native is leading Nobles in scoring with a 22-23-45 line in only 22 games played.
The 6'3" 195 lb. power forward is a bit of late bloomer (25 points in '10-11) who has really turned it on this season. Back in December, we ranked Calnan as the fourth best junior/prep/high school prospect in New England. In Central Scouting's mid-term rankings the Bulldogs' ace was slotted in at #94 and is expected to be drafted this June somewhere between the 3rd and 5th round.
Calnan made his final decision between BC, Harvard and Yale. Look for the '94 birthdate to be pulled in all directions in the offseason as EJHL and USHL teams will make a strong push for his services.
Tues. 2/21/12
Big, Mean D-Man for Wildcats
Merritt Centennials (BCHL) defenseman Dylan Chanter has committed to the University of New Hampshire for the fall of 2014.
The 6'3" 195 lb. blueliner plays with a real mean streak, is strong in 1x1 situations, can make a good first pass, and goes against the grain of a "typical" UNH defenseman. The Armstrong, BC native also possesses leadership intangibles.
The 9/17/95 birthdate is not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2014. The rugged defender made his final decision between UNH, Michigan Tech, and the Portland Winterhawks (WHL). Portland made a strong push in the last 48 hours to sign Chanter for 2012-13 but in the end the NCAA route won out.
In 50 games for Merritt, Chanter has a 2-10-12 line with 45 pims.
Mon. 2/20/12
Masters Sent Home by Muskegon
UNH fall 2013 recruit Jordan Masters has been dismissed from the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) for a violation of team rules. The 4/30/94 DOB has a 5-10-15 scoring line through 31 games played this season.
The 5'10", 163 lb. forward led the USA Hockey Select 17 festival in scoring over the summer after producing a 9-2-11 scoring line in only five games played. His performance at the festival earned him a spot on the US Under-18 Team which participated in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. While the team finished an underwhelming fifth place, Masters led the squad in scoring (4-3-7 in 4 games played) out-producing the likes of potential first round NHL draft picks Alex Galchenyuk (Sarnia-OHL) and Boo Nieves (Kent School).
It is likely that Masters' season is now over, but Muskegon has yet to release him from their protected list. The second-year player is currently home in Rochester, NY and all parties involved will reevaluate the situation in the off season.
Mon. 2/20/12
Holderness D-man Picks Saints
Holderness School junior defenseman Gavin Bayreuther has committed to St. Lawrence for the fall of 2014.
Bayreuther, who arrived at Holderness from the Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, NH – where both his parents teach -- as a 5'8" freshman in the fall of 2009, has grown to 6'1", 175 lbs. and is among the leading scoring d-men in New England preps with a 10-18-28 line in 24 games played.
A 5/12/94 birthdate, Bayreuther has been a standout for Holderness which, under second-year head coach – and St. Lawrence alum -- Allie Skelley, has gone from 7-21-1 last season to 18-8-2 so far this year. They are a virtual lock for the small school tournament.
Bayreuther, who will play a year of juniors before going to St. Lawrence, is a puck-moving d-man who has show excellent offensive skills at the prep level. He's a strong skater who can take if from goal line to goal line and should be able to play on the power play at the college level. He is good at getting pucks through traffic to the net. He needs work on his defensive play, and has one more year at Holderness and then a year of juniors (either the USHL or EJHL) before heading to upstate New York.
Bayreuther has been a three-sport athlete every year since his freshman year, playing soccer, hockey, and lacrosse. He was heavily recruited by Div. I programs for lacrosse.
Mon. 2/20/12
Sampson Takes the Reins at Winchendon
Jarrett Sampson has been named head coach of the Winchendon School Varsity, effective immediately.
Sampson, a 29-year old from Prince Albert, Sask. played two years for the South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) before going on to Dartmouth, where he played four years, graduating in '06.
At Winchendon, he will take the place of Sean Hayes, who has accepted a position in the admissions office at Becker College in Worcester, Mass.
Winchendon, 14-20-1 last season, has improved to 14-11-0 this season.
Vesey Honored
South Shore Kings (EJHL) forward Jimmy Vesey, a Harvard recruit formerly at Belmont Hill, was honored before yesterday's game for setting a new EJHL single-season scoring record this season.
In last Thursday's 6-3 win over Bay State, Vesey broke the previous single-season EJHL scoring mark of 83, set by the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs' Paul Thompson during the '06-07 season and equaled by South Shore's Chris Wagner during the '09-10 season.
Vesey has since added to his total and now has a 46-41-87 line in 44 games played. South Shore has one more regular season game remaining.
The second-leading scorer in the league is Vesey's teammate, Nick Bligh, a Dartmouth recruit out of the Dexter School, who has 81 points thus far.
Vesey, a 6'2", 185 lb. 5/25/93 birthdate from North Reading, Mass., was passed over by NHL teams in his first year of eligibility last June, but pro scouts have been watching him closely all season and he's sure to hear his name called this time around.
Sun. 2/19/12
A New #1 in USHR Prep Poll
After six straight weeks at #1 in the USHR Prep Poll, Nobles, losers of three of their last four, has relinquished the top spot to Salisbury, winners of 11 straight.
For Salisbury, it is the first time they have been in the #1 spot since the first poll of the season, at which time they were 4-0-0. That initial poll, back in December, featured eight teams that are also in this week's poll. (St. Sebastian's, #2 back then, and South Kent, then #10, are the two teams that subsequently fell out of the Top 10.)
Also, while there's been a reshuffling of the deck this week, no team that was in last week's poll has been booted to the curb this week -- and that's a first for this season. of course.
USHR Prep Poll: Week of Feb. 20, 2012
Sun. 2/19/12
BU's Nicastro Arrested for Sexual Assault
Boston University junior defenseman Max Nicastro was arrested early this morning by campus police and charged with sexual assault, according to BU Today.
The alleged assault reportedly occurred in a BU dorm. Nicastro is being held on a $25,000 cash bail and will be arraigned in Brighton District Court on Tuesday. (On Dec. 12, senior center Corey Trivino was arraigned in the same court -- and also held on $25,000 bail.)
Boston University AD Michael Lynch announced that Nicastro has been suspended from the team pending the outcome of the investigation.
Wed. 2/15/12
Californians Coming to New England
6'1", 175 lb. Chicago Fury (U-18 Elite League) forward Tyler Moy has committed to Harvard for the fall of '13.
A 7/18/95 birthdate and a native of San Diego, California, Moy, a right-shot forward, is the second-leading scorer on the Fury with a 15-24-39 line in 36 games played.
One of the better players at last summer's Select 16 Festival in Rochester, NY, Moy previously played for the San Diego Jr. Gulls and the Southern California Titans. He was selected by the Omaha Lancers in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft and will play there next season.
Moy made his final college pick from between Harvard, Princeton, and Providence.
5'11" goaltender Billy Faust, who is from Alta Loma, California, about 40 miles east of LA, has committed to the University of Vermont for this fall.
A 2/20/91 birthdate, this is Faust's second season in the BCHL (he played for Penticton last season) and, in 42 games, he has a .914 save percentage and a 2.77 gaa while playing for a team tied for ninth place in the league.
Faust will join incoming freshman Brody Hoffman of Fort McMurray (AJHL) as UVM's goalies of the future.
Tues. 2/14/12
Gilmour Changes His Mind
Noble & Greenough 6'2", 194 lb. junior RW Adam Gilmour has decommitted from Quinnipiac.
Gilmour, the leading scorer at Nobles with a 17-27-44 line in 20 games, originally committed to Quinnipiac in the fall of 2010, prior to his sophomore year. The speculation is that Gilmour will resurface at a Beanpot school.
A 1/29/94 birthdate from Hanover, Mass., Gilmour was ranked #145 among North American skaters in last month's mid-term ranking by Central Scouting.
Nobles, which was cruising along at 18-1-1, is now riding a two-game losing streak, having been beaten 6-0 by Governor's last Wednesday and 5-2 by St. Sebastian's yesterday.
Tues. 2/14/12
Nittany Lions Land First Blue Chipper
Penn State has received a commitment from 5'10", 160 lb. Team Comcast Under-16 defenseman Kevin Kerr for the fall of 2014. The 2/9/96 birthdate from Bensalem, PA, who has a 4-10-14 scoring line through 15 league games, played for Team USA at the recent Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria and stands a strong chance to make the NTDP.
Kerr, a sophomore in high school, is a significant get for Guy Gadowsky and his staff for a couple of reasons. First, while Penn State has some excellent recruits committed, Kerr is the first blue-chipper. Second, and most importantly, is the fact that he is an in-state recruit. There has been a long line of Philadelphia-area kids who have had success at the college level -- Tony Voce and John Gaudreau at BC, Chad Kolarik at Michigan, and many others -- and these are the kids Penn State will seek to attract, much like BC and BU tend to draw the high-end Boston area kids.
Team Comcast head coach Jeremy Hall, a former forward at UMass-Lowell, thinks very highly of his top defenseman. "Kevin reads the play so well and thinks the game two steps ahead of everyone, and this is what makes him such a good offensive defenseman. He does not put himself in bad situations, as he is very intelligent and knows when and when not to jump into the rush. In my opinion, he is the best defenseman in our league. His impact at the U16 level is tremendous; when he is on the ice he makes everyone better. For Penn State, this is huge. "
Kerr made his final decision between Penn State and Ohio State. Michigan and BU, among others, had also expressed interest in the future power play quarterback.
Sun. 2/12/12
Nobles is #1 Again, Though Barely
Noble & Greenough, despite being blanked by Governor's Academy 6-0 last Wednesday, holds onto the #1 spot by the slimmest of margins over #2 Salisbury in this week's USHR Prep Poll.
Only one team has been booted out of the Top 10 this week, and that is Cushing, last week's #10. Since then, the Penguins have lost three in a row -- to Tabor, to Canterbury, and to Salisbury.
USHR Prep Poll: Week of Feb. 12, 2012
Sun. 2/12/12
Salisbury-Cushing in UMass Sunday Matinee
Amherst, Mass. -- The Patriots season appears to have ended so, with the freed-up time, USHR was out in full force Sunday to take in the matinee game between Cushing and Salisbury, played at the UMass practice rink adjoining the Mullins Center here. It was a close contest with Salisbury coming away with a 3-1 decision after an empty-netter with 11 seconds on the clock.
Let's start with this: Salisbury is going to be a very tough team to beat down the stretch. The group is talented, well coached, and can really clamp down defensively. Though Cushing has a slew of talented forwards, they were unable to generate a lot of grade "A" scoring opportunities — and the ones they did were stopped by junior goaltender Justin Nichols. Head coach Andrew Will's squad has the ingredients of a championship caliber team: high end forwards, a deep corps of defensemen, and a goalie who stops everything he is supposed to stop -- and then some.
Here is who we felt were the top ten players this afternoon:
1. John Stevens, F, '94 (Salisbury) 6-2/185—Was the best forward in the game today. Figured in all of Salisbury's goals (1g, 2a) and the ice seemed tilted every time he stepped on it. Seems to be developing the offensive side of his game and we left thinking he could turn out to be a top six forward in D-I college hockey. Plays a pro-style game, is reliable defensively, and can protect the puck. Could be a late pick in the NHL draft this June.
2. Shane Eiserman, F, late '95 (Cushing) 6-2/196—The UNH recruit is a difference maker and will be a unique player for the Wildcats as he does not fit their stereotype. Was very good here today as he scored Cushing's only goal — on an absolute laser. When he is moving his feet and drops his shoulder en route to the front of the net, there is not much defenders can do to stop him. In the third period Eiserman started to try to dangle through players, which is not his game. Is a power forward in the making and we feel he has the earmarks of a high NHL draft pick when 2014 rolls around.
3. Marc Biega, D, '94 (Salisbury) 6-0/195—Would like to attend Harvard, if he is able to get in. If not, then Harvard's loss will be someone else's gain as the senior captain has excellent offensive instincts. Possesses elite vision and looks right at home at the top of the umbrella on the PP. Played a great game today as he scored the game-winner and also assisted on the first goal. Will need to get stronger and improve his skating in order to be an effective defender at the next level, but is prepared right now to contribute on the offensive side of the redline.
4. Jason Kalinowski, F, '95 (Salisbury) 6-0/180—Looks more like 5'10" on the ice (team roster lists him as 6'0") , but nonetheless was excellent in this game. The UNH recruit showed us another gear today -- something that we had not previously seen — and was very involved in all aspects of the game. Blocks shots, finishes checks, makes plays, and is a finisher around the net. In other words, he's someone you want on your team, not someone you want to be playing against. Displayed high-end vision in heavy traffic areas — a promising quality.
5. Ryan Segalla, D, late '94 (Salisbury) 6-2/190—May have to bring a tape measure to the rink as we have a hard time pegging Segalla at 6'2" -- 6'0" seems more appropriate. The Rockland, Mass native was very good today. Was partnered with Biega and together they were very efficient. The 12/29/94 birthdate is very reliable with the puck on his stick and makes tape-to-tape passes with ease. Looked far more confident than he did at the Flood-Marr Tournament and is developing into a D-I defenseman. Is a strong candidate to take over the PP quarterback position when it is vacated by Biega's graduation.
6. Corey Scammon, D, '93 (Cushing) 5-9/175—The UMass-Lowell recruit has a lot of qualities you cannot teach: great vision, hockey sense and poise. The Cushing PP was not good here today, but when the Orlando, Florida native had the puck on his stick he made things happen. Will need to get stronger and faster to keep pace in Hockey East, but will have a spot on the PP the day he arrives at Tsongas Arena.
7. Zack Pryzbek, F, '94 (Salisbury) 6-4/205—On the drive to Amherst we were thinking, "How does Pryzbek only have 13 points in 20 games this season?" After watching him today we can conclude that he certainly needs to work on his finishing abilities, but his numbers are in no way indicative of his value. There is no one better in prep hockey along the walls. Is excellent in regards to getting pucks out of the zone and getting them in deep. Wears opponents down with his ability to possess the puck and log time in the offensive zone. Is a D-I/pro prospect with a lot of upside. If he did not play on such a deep offensive team his numbers would be much greater.
8. Justin Nichols, G, '95 (Salisbury) 5-9/150—We had not gotten a good read on the second round OHL draft pick, mainly because he is rarely tested. In this particular game, though, Cushing forced him to make some athletic saves, and he was up for the challenge. The St. Catherines, Ontario native has a .944 save percentage through 15 games, which is extremely difficult to accomplish no matter how good the team in front of you is.
9. Philip Zielonka, F, '93 (Salisbury) 5-11/180—When we think of Zielonka three words come to mind: Experienced, Intelligent, and Sniper. Does not turn the puck over, makes smart decisions, creates a lot of offense from scratch and if you give him the puck in the scoring area it will end up in the back of the net. If Salisbury is going to win a championship this season something tells us that the Harvard recruit is going to be a big reason why. The Lac St. Louis Lions product is currently leading the team in scoring with a 20-13-33 scoring line in 22 games played.
10T. Garrett Hehir, F, late '93 (Cushing) 6-1/190—When Shane Eiserman is on the ice a lot of eyes are glued on him and Hehir goes unnoticed. However, the Auburn, Mass. native is at least part of the reason why Eiserman has made a seamless transition to prep hockey. Hehir, a 12/23/93 birthdate, has a very good sense of the game and knows not only where to be on the ice, but has that sixth sense in that he can see plays developing. Is not blessed with elite speed, but because of his hockey sense he has managed to be very productive for the Penguins and is leading the team in scoring with a 15-27-42 scoring line. Has a strong stick and a heavy shot.
10T. Jacob Hand, F, '94 (Salisbury) 6-3/195—With Anthony DiFruscia out with a concussion Hand was moved up the second line with Aaron Berisha and Kalinowski. The Oakville, Ontario native has a lot of tools and could turn out to be a real steal. Has obvious size, but also has a soft set of hands and elusive speed. Generated a lot of scoring opportunities today and made some eye-opening plays. Would like to see him play at a faster pace and with a greater sense of urgency.
Fri. 2/10/12
Scott Young's Comeback
Scott Young, a 16-year NHL veteran and current head coach at St. Mark's School, has agreed to a short-term contract with Brunflo IK in Sweden's second division.
So, is the Clinton, Mass native attempting to make a comeback? No. St. Mark's will be on break from March 10th-19th and Young will return when school resumes. The winner of the second division in Sweden moves up to the first division and Brunflo IK will be in the tournament during the St. Mark's spring break. Clearly, they feel the NHL veteran, now 44 years old and retired since the '05-06 season, could put them over the top. For his career, the Boston University alum played in 1,172 NHL games and put up an impressive 342-415-757 scoring line.
We contacted Young to see what his motives were for making the decision to play again.
"Europe is a beautiful place," he said. "The team is flying myself, my wife, my child and my mother-in-law over to Sweden and it should be a lot of fun."
But what about the hockey?
"I really don't know what to expect," Young said. "I have not played in five years. Every so often I put the gear on and skate with my guys here at school, but it is obviously not the same thing as playing in a real game."
We asked Young – assuming he does play well – if he will consider playing again next season.
"Hopefully, I play well and they will fly me over for spring break again next year," Young said. "But I am fully committed to coaching and am not entertaining the idea of a comeback."
The second-year bench boss has done an excellent job since taking over at St. Mark's, going 29-20-1. St Mark's had been in a down period since the '80s when Young, BC assistant coach Greg Brown, and NHL veteran Doug Brown (Greg's older brother) put St. Mark's on the map.
This year, the Lions are 14-7-1 to date, which is very impressive considering that just four years ago the team was 0-23-1. While Young is certainly a big piece of the resurgence, we would be remiss not to mention the impact of junior forward Mike Pontarelli, who leads the prep hockey scoring race with a staggering 41-26-67 scoring line in only 22 games played. The Laval, Quebec native is getting significant attention from ECAC and Hockey East schools.
Tues. 2/7/12
The Top Uncommitteds (Part II)
Back in October we asked ourselves, "Who are the best players available who could step into a college lineup as soon as next season?" We did our best to rank our top 25 uncommitted players – and, since then, 17 of those 25 have made their college choice. Below is a look as to how things turned out.
1. Seth Jones (NTDP)-Uncommitted
2. Alex Kerfoot (Coquitlam-BCHL)-Uncommitted
3. Wesley Myron (Victoria-BCHL)-Boston University
4. Adam Tambellini (Vernon-BCHL)-North Dakota
5. Matt Benning (Spruce Give-BCHL)-Uncommitted
6. Reese Wilcox (Merritt-BCHL)-Cornell
7. Max Gardiner (Dubuque-USHL)-Penn State
8. Jacob Fallon (Indiana-USHL)- UVM
9. Paul Geiger (Stouffville-OJHL)-Clarkson
10. Alex Barron (Indiana-USHL)-Quinnipiac
11. Cody Bradley (Dubuque-USHL)-Uncommitted
12. Brandon Morley (Surrey-BCHL)-Uncommitted
13. Ben Hutton (Nepean-CCHL)-Maine
14. Mark Cooper (St. Michaels-OJHL)-Western Michigan
15. Matt Lane (NTDP)-Boston University
16. Kyle Baun (Cornwall-CCHL)-Colgate
17. David Goodwin (Sioux City-USHL)-Penn State
18. Drake Caggiula (Stouffville-OJHL)-North Dakota
19. Mike McKee (Lincoln-USHL)-Western Michigan
20. John Draeger (Shattuck)-Michigan State
21. Dalen Hedges (Nepean-CCHL)-Uncommitted
22. Eric Schurhamer (St. Thomas Academy)-Maine
23. Darcy Murphy (Wellington-OJHL)-Uncommitted
24. Austin Ortega (Cedar Rapids-USHL)-Nebraska-Omaha
25. Shane Omdahl (Bismark-NAHL)-Uncommitted
As the college season nears an end, NHL GM's are preparing to sign many of college hockey's best, some of whom have eligibility remaining. Losing players before you expect them to leave can, of course, create quite the headache for NCAA coaches. If it's any consolation, we feel -- despite our October list being pretty well picked over -- that there are still players available who could step in and contribute. Below is a look at The Top Uncommitteds (Part II).
1. Seth Jones, D, '94 (NTDP) 6-4/190—Has narrowed his decision down to North Dakota or Everett (WHL) – and we have the feeling the Dub will win out (but really hope we're wrong). The son of former NBA player Popeye Jones is the likely #1 overall selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Will make an immediate impact wherever he decides to play.
2. Alex Kerfoot, F, '94 (Coquitlam-BCHL) 5-9/155—Has decided to return to the BCHL for another season as the potential All-American will undergo surgery in the near future. Would he be an impact player next season? Without a doubt. Has 53 points in 39 games played in his rookie season. BC, Harvard and Yale are still the frontrunners.
3. Marc Biega, D, 94 (Salisbury) 6-1/195—Salisbury's captain has led the team to an impressive 16-3 record while producing 27 points in only 19 games played. Has had three brothers play hockey at Harvard, but the Montreal, Quebec native will not be the fourth. Will quarterback a D1 power play in the future. A number of ECAC and Hockey East schools are interested.
4. Matt Benning, D, '94 (Spruce Grove-AJHL) 6-0/210—Major contributor on the 41-5 Saints. Could probably benefit from playing another season of juniors, but if a team needs a d-man, Benning most certainly should be near the top of the list.
5. Brandon Morley, F, '94 (Surrey-BCHL) 5-9/160—Uber-skilled forward has a brother, Tyler, who recently committed to Alaska-Fairbanks. Will the former Merrimack recruit follow suit?
6. Regan Soquila, F, '93 (Merritt-BCHL) 5-10/178—Sits 16th in the BCHL in scoring with a 13-44-57 line in 48 games played. Has the ability to provide immediate offense.
7. Alex Iaffalo, F, '93 (Fargo-USHL) 5-11/165—December '93 DOB has produced 11 goals in 38 games played in his rookie season. The Eden, NY native, and former Buffalo Regal, projects to be a top nine forward at the next level.
8. Jordan Young, D, '92 (Youngstown-USHL) 5-10/178—College ready. Could play in the top six for someone next season. The Cave Creek, Arizona native is in his second season in the USHL.
9. Nate Arentz, F, '94 (Fargo-USHL) 6-1/185—Has produced a 6-9-15 scoring line in 33 games played in his second season in the USHL. A good skater who is capable of making high-end plays.
10. Ryan Renz, D, '93 (Vernon-BCHL) 6-2/210—Big defender who plays with an edge. Is a safe pick to be a reliable defender at the NCAA level. Harvard and Northern Michigan have expressed interest. 1-19-20 in 43 games played. Was formerly committed to Northeastern.
11. Hunter Fejes, F, '94 (Shattuck) 6-1/190—The Anchorage, Alaska native is the leading goal scorer on a very good Shattuck prep team. 26-26-52 in only 41 games played.
12. Cody Bradley, F, '94 (Dubuque-USHL) 5-10/163—The son of NHL veteran Brian Bradley came out of the gates flying for Indiana, but his game cooled off and he was shipped to Dubuque. Since arriving with his new team he has produced 10 points in 14 games played.
13. Colin Sullivan, D, '93 (Avon Old Farms) 6-2/210—The Avon captain recently decommitted from Yale as he was asked to play a year of juniors, and he feels he is ready for college. The seventh round selection of the Montreal Canadians has produced 7 goals in 16 games played this season. Could be playing in Hockey East. Boston College is interested.
14. KJ Tiefenwerth, F, '92 (Junior Bruins-EJHL) 5-9/160—The former BC recruit sits third in the EJHL in scoring with a 24-41-65 scoring line in 35 games played. The captain of the top team in the EJHL, he has always been a point producer -- and all signs indicate that he could do the same in college. A bit older than most of the players on this list, he presumably will also be more ready to step in and help someone out.
15. Will Merchant, F, '94 (Eagan High) 6-0/180—One of Minnesota high school hockey's finest. Produced 33 goals in 31 games played last season. A fourth round draft of the Tri-City Storm (USHL) – and that's where you'll likely see him next season unless a school scoops him up at the last minute.
16. John Stevens, F, '94 (Salisbury) 6-2/185—Reliable center possess a nice all-around skill set. Has good size and a lot of upside. If he develops a little more sizzle with the puck the son of LA Kings asst. coach John Stevens could become a steal.
17. Woody Hudson, F, '92 (Indiana-USHL) 6-3/225—Recently decommitted from RIT. The former Milton Academy forward, now playing in Indiana, is a physical specimen who is extremely difficult to play against. Will make for a very effective third line player in college.
18. Nikolas Olsson, F, '94 (NTDP) 5-11/192—NTDP product can skate and plays with an edge. Escondido, California native has yet to find his scoring touch, but could play a role for an NCAA team and has big game experience on his resume.
19. Dalen Hedges, F, '94 (Nepean-CCHL) 5-8/165—Small, skilled forward is piling up the points this season. Has a 26-31-57 scoring line in 45 games played for the nationally ranked (8th) Nepean squad.
20. Darcy Murphy, F, '92 (Wellington-OJHL) 5-9/174—Having a hard time trying to figure out why a school has not jumped on the Wellington Dukes' sniper. Numbers don't lie and this guy has 46 goals in 42 games played this season.
21. Zack Pryzbek, F, '94 (Salisbury) 6-4/205—Big power forward has an excellent upside. Plays a big man's game and is outstanding along the boards. Is a sure thing to be a third line player, but we feel he has top six potential.
22. Will Goss, D, '92 (Exeter) 6-5/205—A lot to like about the 6'5" defender's game. Skates well for a player his size and plays a pretty conservative game with the puck. Has been a big part of Exeter's success this season and has produced 24 points in 21 games played. Played at Wellesley (Mass.) HS before going to Exeter as a junior.
23. Kyle Kramer, F, '92 (Nanaimo-BCHL) 5-9/180—Productive forward in a very good league. Has scored 24 goals and 45 points this year.
24. Blake Leask, D, '92 (Bonnyville-AJHL) 5-9/170—Need someone to run your PP? How does 47 points in 50 games sound? Leads the Alberta Junior League in scoring for defensemen. Could be a rock worth turning over.
25. Andrew Hunt, G, '92 (Surrey-BCHL) 6-2/180—Surrey sits third in the BCHL standings and Hunt is a big reason why. The local product sports a 2.65 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
Sun. 2/5/12
2012 NEPSIHA Playoff Schedule
On Wednesday Feb. 29, the NEPSIHA Playoffs begin with quarterfinal games at campus sites.
As has been the case in recent years, there will be four games played in each of three divisions, i.e. Stuart/Corkery Tournament (Open); Martin/Earl Tournament (Large Schools); and Piatelli/Simmons Tournament (Small Schools).
Wed. Feb. 29 (at campus sites)
Fri. March 2 (IceCenter Salem, NH)
5:30 pm -- Stuart/Corkery Semifinal (1-8 winners vs. 4-5 winners)
8:00 pm -- Stuart/Corkery Semifinal (2-7 winners vs. 3-6 winners)
Sat. March 3 (IceCenter Salem, NH
9:00 am -- Piatelli/Simmons Semifinal (1-8 winners vs. 4-5 winners)
11:30 am -- Piatelli/Simmons Semifinal (2-7 winners vs. 3-6 winners)
2:00 pm -- Martin/Earl Semifinal (1-8 winners vs. 4-5 winners)
4:30 pm -- Martin/Earl Semifinal (2-7 winners vs. 3-6 winners)
Sun. March 4 (IceCenter Salem, NH
10:30 am -- Piatelli/Simmons Final
1:00 pm -- Martin/Earl Final
3:30 pm -- Stuart/Corkery Final
All schools are eligible for the open tournament, but only large and small schools may be entered in the other two tournaments. Small schools include the following: Proctor, Rye CD, Brooks, Pomfret, New Hampton, KUA, Kingswood-Oxford, St. Mark's, Middlesex, Rivers, King-Low, Portsmouth Abbey, St. George's, Gunnery, Groton, Tilton, South Kent, Holderness, Winchendon, Dexter, Hamden Hall, Pingree, Millbrook, Kents Hill, Harvey, Hebron, Berwick, Vermont Academy, NYA, and Hoosac.
Sun. 2/5/12
Wood to Brown
Noble & Greenough 6'2", 200 lb. junior RD Tyler Wood has committed to Brown.
Wood, who played two years at Governor's before transferring to Nobles this fall, is a 3/23/94 birthdate from Manchester, Mass.
He's the son of former Yale and NHL forward Randy Wood.
Sun. 2/5/12
Florentino Joins U17s for Europe Trip
South Kent School 6'1", 205 lb. junior RD Anthony Florentino will be joining the U.S. Under-17 Team this week for the trip to Piestany, Slovakia to take part in the Vlad Druzilla Tournament Feb. 7-13.
A 1/30/95 birthdate and Providence College recruit, Florentino is the only player who is joining the team from outside the program. Florentino flew to Ann Arbor today, and will be traveling with the team to Slovakia on Monday.
"He's top notch," says his coach, Eric Soltys. "He's one of the best players in the league at his age. He's looking forward to showing the world what he can do. This couldn't be happening to a better kid."
Sun. 2/5/12
Once Again, Nobles is #1
Noble & Greenough (18-1-1) just keeps rolling along, and once again tops this week's USHR Prep Poll.
Only one team has been booted out of the top ten, and that would be Albany Academy. The Cadets, who sprinted out to a 16-2-0 start, have lost four of their last five and will be looking to rebound against Millbrook on Wednesday.
USHR Prep Poll; Week of Feb. 6, 2012
Wed. 2/1/12
A Great Night for Mass. High School Hockey
We watch a lot of games here at USHR, and every now and then we stumble into a rink and witness hockey in its purest form, which is what happened last night in Malden, Mass. as #1-ranked Malden Catholic topped #2-ranked St. John's Prep, 5-2, with an empty-netter at the end. The Valley Forum was filled -- standing room only – and the pace of the hockey was excellent, with two teams just going after it hard. It is games such as this that have us wondering why everyone is in such a rush to play in the USHL, EJHL, etc. It just seemed like such fun to be playing in that game. High school/prep hockey has taken its licks over the last decade, which is too bad because it is games like this one that make us realize that some kids are being cheated out of an amazing experience, a time of their life that just won't come again. There was a time when junior hockey was primarily for players who needed another year or two after high school to prepare themselves for college hockey and, quite frankly, that is the way it should be. In the meantime, we would encourage any elite 14 or 15-year-old kid to watch a Malden Catholic -- BC High game, or an Andover — Exeter, or a Nobles -- St. Sebastian's game and tell us it is not a game he would want to be playing in. There is nothing quite like having the students you go to school with pile into a building and shout themselves hoarse cheering for you. Talk to the kids who played in last night's game, and also talk to the Minnesota high school kids. As a matter of fact, talk to any player who has won both a prep/high school championship along with a junior hockey championship and ask them which was the fonder memory. Believe us, we are not knocking junior hockey here. The USHL and the EJHL are both excellent leagues and both have developed great players. And if a player can look in the mirror and say to himself, "I have accomplished everything I possibly can at the high school level" then he should just go right ahead and move on to juniors or the NCAA. No problem. However, far too many players are leaving schools early — long before they have accomplished all they can, or are even ready -- and are cheating themselves out of great memories, memories which they will never be able to get back. Believe us in this: if you're good enough, juniors will still be there – and they'll still want you. There's no rush.
Back to the MC vs. St. John's Prep game. For top-ranked Malden Catholic, the player who impressed us the most was '97 born freshman defenseman Casey Fitzgerald. In fact, he impressed us more than any other player in the entire game. The BC recruit is going to be a good one. We have watched him play with his own age group and were very impressed, but when he plays with older players at a faster pace his game is elevated to another level. As a 5'10" defenseman he will have to fight the size battle when it comes to playing pro hockey, but there is zero doubt in our mind that he will be a slam-dunk at the NCAA level. The tandem of junior forward Ryan Fitzgerald and senior forward Brendan Collier is also really fun to watch. It seems like they control the puck 80 percent of the time they are on the ice. Ryan Fitzgerald appears to have been born to play at Boston College, as he fits the stereotype of a BC forward to a T. With one year left in high school, the older Fitzgerald brother is the perfect example of a player who will be able to look himself in the mirror and say, "I have gotten everything I can out of playing high school hockey." As for Collier, he's an old school throwback. You can tell he just loves playing the game. BU has an excellent prospect in Collier, and, if he can add another step, he could play on the top two lines as a freshman. A player with whom we were less familiar is junior Mike Iovanna. Playing on a line with Collier and Fitzgerald will make most players look good, but Iovanna is not just riding shotgun. He contributes a lot, and possesses an excellent stick. Iovanna will have a great chance to prove himself as a player next season when he is not playing with perhaps the two best linemates in the Catholic Conference. We think he will surprise a lot of people. Also, '96-born freshman forward Ara Nazarian played with a lot of jump and determination. He was hungry for the puck, and displayed more grit than we have seen from him in the past. Nazarian, combined with sophomore forward Tyler Sifferen, gives the Lancers two lines that are threat to score every shift.
For St. John's Prep, the clear-cut star is BU recruit Sam Kurker. The senior forward can really shoot it and is very difficult to knock off the puck in scoring areas. The 6'1", 198 lb. winger was ranked #41 on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, which makes him the second-highest rated high school/prep player, trailing only Kent's Boo Nieves. We believe Kurker will need to get faster in order to make an impact at BU early in his career, but in this particular game he was very dangerous when he had the puck. That said, we would have liked to have seen him play with more urgency in a couple of areas, e.g. getting the puck back and creating turnovers. His linemate, junior forward Brian Pinho, scored both of the Eagles' goals last night and stood out -- he has a solid skill level and finishes his opportunities. Prep's senior captain, Nick Pandelena, is an interesting story. The huge defenseman has a scholarship locked up and has signed a national letter of intent with Boston College. There is just one catch: the scholarship is not for hockey, but golf. Pandelena is a player we feel could also make a contribution to the BC hockey team. He may not crack the lineup on any kind of regular basis, but he is certainly someone capable of practicing with the team and, should the need arise, step into the lineup on an emergency basis. If Pandelena can significantly improve his speed, he could be a player at some point. Finally, senior goaltender David Letarte gives St. John's Prep an opportunity to win every night. The four-year starter has a brother who is an Army Ranger and hopes to follow in his footsteps one day. It may not be a bad idea for West Point head coach Brian Riley and his staff to come and check out the aspiring GI.


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Ever since Nino celebrated his second birthday, we've been talking almost daily about what kind of cake family members will be getting for their upcoming birthdays. For Grandpa there was polenta cake, rolled out annually on request (with ever so slight variations to satisfy my urge to experiment). Daddy wants a whiskey one next January. Nino was shocked to discover that his Nonna isn't that keen on cake, nor is a close toddler friend, but we've now been to enough birthdays with caterpillars and rainbows and tray bakes to establish a playing field to work from and, after much debate, we've hit on a lemon sponge with fresh strawberry buttercream to make for me at the end of the month.
My go-to is almost always chocolate so it's refreshing to be pointed in a different direction by my mini kitchen sidekick and I'm excited to make and taste his fruity creation. But before then, chocolate cravings still call – thank goodness for an uncle with a birthday before mine and a last minute lunch invite creating the need to whip up an easy one bowl chocolate cake for a sunny Sunday afternoon. Continue reading