NBC Sports has reported that Nashville Predators’ first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen, who was slated to attend Boston College this fall, will instead forgo his NCAA eligibility and has signed to play for Jokerit in the KHL.
Reportedly, Tolvanen did not meet BC’s admission requirements.
The Mercyhurst women’s team has announced the hiring of Kelley Steadman as its new assistant coach.
Steadman, who graduated from Mercyhurst in 2012, had a successful career as a Laker. In 140 games, she totaled 78 goals and 54 assists for 132 total points and was part of four consecutive CHA regular-season-championships and four NCAA tournament appearances.
“It is gratifying to see Kelley rejoin our program as our new assistant coach,” Mercyhurst head coach Michael Sisti said in a statement. “Kelley was an outstanding student, player and person while here at Mercyhurst. She will be a wonderful role model for our players. She clearly understands the key elements of pride, commitment and the pursuit of excellence that have helped build our program. Kelley, Lou (Goulet) and I are excited to start the upcoming season.”
During her senior season with the Lakers, Steadman was named CHA Player of the Year as she led the conference in goals. She was also named to the All-CHA First Team and was a Patty Kazmaier Top-30 nominee.
While Steadman was in the program, the Lakers had a 113-23-6 overall record while she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
“Mercyhurst is the program where my hockey career started and I couldn’t be more proud and excited to be a part of the coaching staff,” Steadman added. “I am looking forward to doing my part in continuing the great legacy this program has built and helping this next group of women achieve their goals inside and outside of the rink.”
After her graduation from Mercyhurst, Steadman played four seasons of professional hockey and five years with the United States National Team. She was a member of the Clarkson Cup champion Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (2012-13), the European Cup champion Moscow Tornado in the European Women’s Hockey League (2013-14) and the Isobel Cup champion Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League (2016-17). She was the championship game MVP during each of her teams’ championship runs.
In international play, Steadman won two World Championship gold medals while playing for Team USA (2011, 2013).
Steadman also spent three seasons as an assistant for the Robert Morris women’s program — one year as a volunteer assistant and two years as the director of hockey operations (2014-17). While there, Steadman earned a master’s degree in instructional leadership from RMU.
Southern New Hampshire announced Friday that Sean Walsh has been hired as the sixth coach in program history.
Walsh will begin his duties with the Penmen on July 10.
“During the search process, the name ‘Sean Walsh’ kept coming up as a bright, up-and-coming, coach,” said SNHU associate athletics director and search committee chair Tom Wilkins in a statement. “When the search committee had Sean on campus, we were immediately impressed with his passion and energy. Sean is well-known in the hockey community as a hard-working recruiter with a strong knowledge of the game, and I’m excited to see the new direction the program will take under Sean’s leadership. The committee was comprehensive in its efforts to identify the right candidate and I appreciate the hard work the search committee put in.”
Added SNHU director of athletics and recreation Anthony Fallacaro: “Sean comes highly-recommended from some of the most respected and successful hockey coaches in the country, and we believe he is the right person to fulfill the mission and vision of both the university and our department. I am confident Sean can instill a new foundation for our hockey program that begins with the basics of all great programs: dedication in the classroom, a commitment to campus citizenship and community service, while always striving to achieve excellence on the ice. We expect great things from our hockey program, and I believe in Sean’s understanding that our culture off the ice will be the foundation for our success on the ice.
“We are not just creating a team for next year or the year after, but rather a program that can endure time and be something our administration, campus, fans and alumni can be proud of.”
Walsh comes to Southern New Hampshire after spending the past seven seasons as the top assistant at UMass Boston. Walsh oversaw recruiting, development of defensemen and goaltenders, and day-to-day operations. During his tenure, Walsh helped the program reach new heights, as the Beacons posted seven consecutive winning seasons and an overall record of 151-53-16. During the 2015-16 season, he was part of a coaching staff that led UMass Boston to its first-ever NCAA Division III Frozen Four, as well as its first NEHC regular-season and tournament titles since 1982.
“I’d like to thank Anthony Fallacaro, Tom Wilkins and the rest of the search committee for the opportunity to lead the ice hockey program at Southern New Hampshire University,” Walsh said in a news release. “I know there is a lot of work to be done and I am very excited about this opportunity. I’m happy to return to my alma mater and get started right away.”
Prior to joining the Beacons’ coaching staff, Walsh served as an assistant coach at Lawrence.
Walsh graduated from SNHU in 2006 with a degree in communications.
Notre Dame played its last game representing Hockey East this past April in a Frozen Four semifinal loss to eventual champion Denver (photo: Melissa Wade).
Notre Dame officially became a sport affiliate member for Big Ten hockey on Saturday.
The Fighting Irish join Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin to give the conference seven hockey programs for the 2017-18 season.
Notre Dame, which had been in Hockey East since the 2013-14 season, will make its Big Ten debut Nov. 3-4 with a series at Ohio State.
With the addition of the Fighting Irish, schedules for each of the seven conference programs will move to a 24-game format that concludes with the 2018 Big Ten tournament, to be held the first three weekends of March with all games taking place on the campus of the higher-seeded teams.
The 2017-18 season marks the 58th year of men’s hockey at Notre Dame. Under the guidance of head coach Jeff Jackson, the Fighting Irish have qualified for the NCAA tournament eight times in 12 seasons, reaching the Frozen Four three times, most recently in 2017.
Notre Dame has previously shared a conference with five of the six Big Ten hockey programs. The Fighting Irish were members of the CCHA (with Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State) from 1992-93 through 2012-13. Prior to that, they were members of the WCHA (with Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin) from 1971-72 through 1980-81.
Notre Dame hockey becomes the conference’s third sport affiliate member, following the Johns Hopkins men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. The Blue Jays joined the conference in men’s lacrosse in 2015, while the women’s team opened its inaugural Big Ten season in 2017.
Joe Marsh (right) coached the St. Lawrence men’s program for 27 seasons (photo: Melissa Wade).
Dartmouth announced Friday that Joe Marsh will serve as women’s hockey interim head coach for the upcoming 2017-18 season while Laura Schuler assumes head coaching responsibilities for the Canadian Olympic Team.
Marsh is the former longtime head coach of the St. Lawrence men’s hockey team, guiding the Saints from behind the bench for 27 years from 1985 through 2012.
During his time in Canton, Marsh amassed a program-record 482 wins with two regular season ECAC Hockey titles and five tournament championships. In both 1988 and 2000, Marsh led the Saints to the NCAA’s Frozen Four, taking his team to the national title game in the former.
The two-time national coach of the year (1989 and 2000), Marsh was also tabbed as the recipient of the Tim Taylor Award as ECAC Hockey’s top coach four times during his career (1989, 1992, 2000 and 2001) — the most in league history.
“I’m excited to step in and help Laura’s program,” Marsh said in a statement. “I’m coming into a program that Laura and her staff are continuing to establish on a national level. Philosophically, we are on the same page.
“The transition should be easy because of how well she has built and organized this program in her time here.”
“It’s really exciting to have someone of Joe’s caliber, experience and character step in,” Schuler added. “There is no doubt he will help to take our team in a positive direction. Joe and I spent a lot of time talking about our team’s vision, direction and plan. It was evident this will be a smooth transition and I felt that both he and I were on the same page.”
Marsh will join the Big Green staff that features assistant coaches Chris Cobb and Courtney Sheary.
Adrian has announced that Bulldogs assistant coach Chase Fuchs has resigned his position to become the director of scouting and serve as an assistant coach with the USHL’s Bloomington Thunder.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chase publicly,” said Adrian head coach Adam Krug in a statement. “We will miss Chase within the men’s hockey program here at Adrian College. Chase had made it known that he wants to get into the realm of player personnel at the junior level or into the NHL scouting business, and the Bloomington Thunder will provide a great next step in his career.
“From day one of the interview process, two years ago, through today, Chase has shown me that he is ambitious and is very motivated to be a winner both on and off the ice. I wish him the best of luck.”
Fuchs added: “I would like to thank Adrian College and Coach Krug for the opportunity they gave me two years ago to be part of such a great program with a great reputation. Coach Krug believed in me and gave a young coach a chance, and that is something I will always remember.”
During Fuchs’ two seasons on the Adrian bench, he helped the Bulldogs to a pair of NCAA Division III tournament appearances, two NCHA Peters Cup regular-season titles and the 2016 NCHA Harris Cup championship while sporting a 44-11-3 overall record and 34-5-1 conference mark.
“I am disappointed that we were unable to win a national championship in my two years here, but I know that it is right around the corner for this program,” said Fuchs, a 2014 graduate of Clarkson. “I can’t wait to see it happen because this school from President (Dr. Jeffrey R.) Docking and down, and all the players truly deserve one for all the work and effort they put in.
“This program has allowed my career to really take off, but without the hard work and success of our players I would not be moving on today, so I want thank them as well for everything they have done for me. I will truly miss my time and the people at Adrian College, but I am very excited for what the future holds at Adrian.”
Krug said that he is looking to fill the vacancy and will announce a replacement for Fuchs in the near future.
Mark Strobel has been named the new associate head coach at Wisconsin.
Strobel had previously been in the same role at Ohio State since the summer of 2015.
“[Wisconsin is] where my heart has always been,” Strobel said in a news release.
Strobel fills the void created June 13 when Don Granato left to become an NHL assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It’s a special place, that’s all I can say,” Strobel added. “It’s family to me.”
“He’s a guy you want to be around,” said UW head coach Tony Granato. “Every time you see Mark Strobel, you see a happy, energetic, passionate guy that loves life, loves hockey, loves the Badgers and has always been a big part of our program.
“He’s a phenomenal person, a great coach, who’s going to add a lot to our program. He’s one of those guys you meet one time and you feel like you’ve known him your whole life.”
Strobel, a defenseman, played four seasons for the Badgers from 1991 to 1995.
Shane Starrett went 26-6-4 during the 2016-17 season with a 1.99 GAA and a .925 save percentage for Air Force as a sophomore (photo: Omar Phillips).
Former Air Force goalie Shane Starrett enters his first offseason camp as a professional hockey player.
And he has his two years as a Falcon to thank for it.
“Being at Air Force definitely helped me mentally,” Starrett said. “There is a lot of mental tests when you go through basic and survival training. That helped me become mentally tougher and taught me how to best handle stressful situations. You feel you can get through any battle and that definitely has helped me become a better goalie.”
Starrett, 22, left the Atlantic Hockey program this spring, taking advantage of a longstanding Department of Defense policy that allows sophomores to leave the service academy without penalty if they decide the military is not for them.
He signed a two-year contract on April 10 with the Edmonton organization and joins the Oilers for their development camp the first week of July. At this point, he is assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League.
The recent reversal of another DoD policy that had allowed academy graduates to go pro and forgave their five-year military commitment, makes Starrett’s opportunity a unique one for former Falcons. He is grateful for the chance.
“It’s something I have worked for and dreamed of from the start,” Starrett said. “I am excited but I also know I have to prove myself again.”
While pro opportunities are rare for Air Force players, coach Frank Serratore is not about to bet against Starrett’s chances of enjoying a lengthy professional career.
“I have a lot of faith and confidence in Shane Starrett,” Serratore said. “It’s a tough road trying to make it to the National Hockey League, but he has the size, athleticism and skill set needed.”
Starrett is confident as he prepares for the Oilers camp. He was an invited college free agent at last summer’s Chicago Blackhawks development camp and will rely on that experience now.
“I am going into it with the same attitude as last summer — prove myself to them and prove my worth,” he said. “It is different going in as part of the organization. You are always having to prove yourself in college and especially as a pro.”
Starrett is looking forward to the extra tutelage from Oilers consultant Sylvain Rodrigue.
“Their goaltending coach is really looking forward to working with me,” Starrett said. “Edmonton is a young team that is obviously going to be great in the future. Edmonton is a great fit for me.”
Starrett may be the last Falcons hockey player to have a full-time pro career, but that will not keep AFA graduates out of the minor leagues if circumstances allow.
A number of former Falcons, including goalie Andrew Volkening, forward Jacques Lamoureux and defenseman Greg Flynn, were part-time players or practice-squad athletes for minor league teams near where they were stationed. Lamoureux has played in five of the last six seasons thanks to a flexible work schedule and an understanding commanding officer.
Knowing the limitations placed on active-duty personnel keeps Air Force recruits grounded while they consider a military career after college hockey. That has made the policy reversal a non-factor in recruiting, Serratore said.
“It hasn’t really come up,” he said. “It’s business as usual. [A minor league opportunity] can happen but it takes a lot. They all know that coming in.”
Vines has been an assistant coach for the Engineers men’s hockey team for the last eight seasons.
“Bryan is a total professional who brings extensive hockey knowledge and leadership to our women’s Ice hockey program,” said RPI director of athletics Dr. Lee McElroy in a statement. “He is a tremendous teacher and coach who will provide our student-athletes with a passionate and successful experience.”
“I am very excited to work with the RPI women’s hockey team this coming season,” added Vines. “I would like to thank Dr. Jackson and Dr. McElroy for the opportunity to stay at RPI and help continue to build the program with [assistants] Jake [Anderson] and Christie [Cicero]. We have a wonderful staff and a great group of players and I can’t wait to get started. I am very familiar with the team and we will be looking to make the transition as smooth as possible, so we can have a successful year in the classroom and on the ice.”
A four-year letter-winner on defense at Denver, Vines was in charge of the Engineers’ defensive and penalty killing units since 2009-10. Before coaching the men’s team, Vines served as assistant general manager and assistant coach with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL.
Prior to joining the Bulldogs, he was a volunteer assistant coach with Miami and spent three years with the Colorado Avalanche as a video coach.
Three former Wisconsin hockey standouts are among 10 former Badgers that will be inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 29 at Union South.
The hockey players include Sara Bauer, Brian Elliott and Bob Suter.
One of the most honored women’s hockey players in program history, Bauer was the first Badger to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the nation’s top player in 2006. The forward led UW to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007 and was a two-time USCHO.com and WCHA Player of the Year. Bauer wrapped up her career as Wisconsin’s all-time scoring leader and was a two-time UW female athlete of the year.
Bauer also skated with the Canadian National Team from 2004 to 2008. She returned to school to earn her master’s degree in education and opened the Sara Bauer Academy for hockey training and skills.
Elliott was the starting goalie for the Badgers’ 2006 NCAA championship team, earning first-team All-America honors. A top-three finalist for the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, Elliott was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick and the 2005-06 UW Athletic Board Scholar. He set school records for career GAA (1.78) and save percentage (.931).
Elliott was drafted in 2003 and has played for 10 seasons in the NHL with Ottawa, Colorado, St. Louis and Calgary. He is also a two-time NHL all-star.
A Madison legend, Suter was a member of UW’s 1977 NCAA championship team. The defenseman earned second-team All-WCHA honors in 1979 while being named the inaugural winner of the Fenton Kelsey Jr. Most Competitive Player Award on the UW team.
Suter was a member of the “Miracle on Ice” U.S. team that won gold in hockey at the 1980 Olympics and also skated for Team USA at the 1981 World Championships. Suter was drafted in 1977 by the Los Angeles Kings but never played a game in the NHL. The Madison East High School graduate returned to Madison, where he opened a sporting goods store called Gold Medal Sports. Suter also coached youth hockey in Madison and became part owner and director of Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton. The arena was named in his honor following his death in 2014.
Williams has named Dana Borges as the men’s team’s new assistant coach.
Borges replaces Mike Monti, who moved up when Williams head coach Bill Kangas went on a sabbatical.
“I’m extremely thrilled to have the opportunity to be at Williams,” Borges told the Berkshire Eagle. “It’s Williams, right? It’s a place of high character, great tradition. It’s somewhere I’m really excited to be a part of.”
“He was the guy that stood out among the others,” added Monti. “We had a really nice pool, and we were very fortunate to have that.”
Borges played at Division II Stonehill from 2009 to 2013 and was a semifinalist for the Joe Concannon Award.
After college, he coached at Stonehill for two years before being named the volunteer assistant coach at Colgate late last summer.
“Coming from Colgate, I liked that kind of small-town, tight-knit community where everybody cares for each other, everybody’s pushing for each other,” Borges said in the Eagle. “I got a strong sense of that, just meeting with different individuals, how much everybody is working together for that common goal — help the kids, help each other to be better people and accomplish things every day.”
Red Hot Hockey will return for a sixth edition to Madison Square Garden this Thanksgiving weekend as Boston University and Cornell will play Nov. 25, 2017.
Tickets for Red Hot Hockey will be on sale directly through Ticketmaster.com and the Madison Square Garden website. Fans have the opportunity to buy tickets in either the Boston University or Cornell fan sections beginning on June 23 at noon. Student tickets will be available at a discounted rate at the box office at Agganis Arena (Boston University) and at the Cornell Athletic Ticket Office in Bartels Hall.
“Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden is five months away, but alumni and fans of Cornell Hockey are already making plans to attend,” Cornell director of athletics and physical education Andy Noel said in a statement. “At reunion weekend, many alumni specifically mentioned the annual battle at MSG and I was delighted that enthusiasm is building so soon.”
The inaugural Red Hot Hockey event, staged in front of 18,200 students, alumni, parents and fans, was a resounding success. Held on November 24, 2007, it featured members of the 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, including Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan and David Silk from Boston University, as well as NHL Hall of Famer and Cornell alum Joe Nieuwendyk.
BU is undefeated at Red Hot Hockey, winning in 2007, 2011 and 2013 while skating to ties with the Big Red in 2009 and 2015. The Terriers have never relinquished the Kelley-Harkness Cup, which honors legendary coaches Jack Kelley (BU) and Ned Harkness (Cornell), since it was introduced four years ago.
“All of us at Boston University are looking forward to another great weekend in New York City for what has truly become a ‘bowl game’ for Terrier Nation,” said BU director of athletics Drew Marrochello in a news release. “Now 10 years since its inception, Red Hot Hockey was the perfect way to reignite this rivalry, and it continues to be a highly anticipated fixture on our calendar.”
The BU-Cornell rivalry began on Jan. 10, 1925, with a 7-2 victory by the Terriers, and includes two matchups in the NCAA title game (1967, 1972). However, the schools met only sporadically since BU left the ECAC to join Hockey East in 1984-85 before the initial Red Hot Hockey event.
“When I look back to past Red Hot Hockey games, I remember special nights for our team and BU alumni and fans,” said BU coach David Quinn in a statement. “Playing on this stage is incredible and we are grateful that Madison Square Garden has invited us and Cornell back once again.”
“We are very excited to return to Madison Square Garden for another year of this fantastic event,” added Cornell coach Mike Schafer. “Red Hot Hockey is something that everyone around our program awaits with great anticipation, and it’s amazing that it’s remained such a prominent event in college hockey for 10 years.”
Matt Woodard, who spent the past four seasons at RIT and helped the Tigers make the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, has joined the Yale women’s staff as an assistant coach.
“We are excited to Have Matt join the Yale athletics family,” said Yale head coach Joakim Flygh in a statement. “Matt fits very well into what our core values are and I have no doubt that he will hit the ground running for us.”
Woodard joined the RIT staff for the 2013-14 season and helped the Tigers win College Hockey America championships in each of his first two years, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 2014-15.
Prior to his stint at RIT, Woodard spent two seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Manhattanville.
Woodard is a 2009 graduate of American International, where he played defense for the Yellow Jackets. He tied for fourth on the school’s all-time games played list (133), the most for an AIC blueliner. He then played pro hockey for the Fort Wayne Komets and the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the CHL in 2009-10.
A double major in criminal justice and psychology, Woodard was a four-time Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team selection at AIC. He was on the Dean’s List every semester and was the recipient of the Dr. James A. Brennan Award for outstanding achievement as a double major. He also earned the ECAC Award of Merit for excellence on the field of competition and in the classroom.
In addition to Woodard, the Yale coaching staff also includes Amanda Boulier, returning for her second season with the Bulldogs.
Frederik Tiffels was the first German national to play for Western Michigan (photo: Candace Horgan).
Western Michigan junior forward Frederik Tiffels has signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving up his final season of NCAA eligibility.
Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the sixth round (167th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft, Tiffels leaves WMU after three seasons, appearing in 105 career games with 59 points on 27 goals and 32 assists. Tiffels was the first German national to play for the Broncos when he made his debut back in 2014.
This past season, he tied his career-high with 21 points on nine goals and a career-best 12 assists, helping the Broncos reach the NCHC semifinals and the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in program history.
“We’re really excited for Freddy’s opportunity,” said WMU coach Andy Murray in a statement. “He’s done everything the right way at Western. For a guy who English was a second language, he was an ‘A’ student and a leader on the ice and in our locker room. He leaves us in great academic standing and is close to completing his degree.”
“I’d like to thank Coach Murray, the staff and my teammates as well as Kathy Beauregard for giving me this opportunity,” added Tiffels. “Western Michigan hockey had all the resources that I needed to get better and it was a wonderful experience in my three years here. I’d also like to thank the Pittsburgh Penguins for taking a chance and drafting me. I look forward to repaying that trust as I continue to work hard and improve every day.”
Recently, Tiffels starred for Germany at the 2017 World Championships, scoring two goals in the tournament and helping the team advance to the quarterfinals.
John Burke talks to his Rensselaer players during a 2013 game (photo: Shelley M. Szwast).
Rensselaer fired women’s hockey coach John Burke, the school announced on Saturday.
Burke had a 184-228-52 record in 14 seasons leading the Engineers.
RPI was 10-24-2 last season and finished eighth in 12-team ECAC Hockey.
“We conduct annual evaluations of our athletic programs and the performance of all our coaches at the end of the season and we have determined that a change in leadership is necessary,” RPI athletic director Lee McElroy said in a statement. “We appreciate Coach Burke’s contributions and wish him the best in his career.”
Rensselaer hasn’t had a winning season in women’s hockey since 2009-10.
Burke took over as head coach after Bill Cahill died in October 2003 and led the Engineers through a transition from Division III to Division I in hockey.
Before being the women’s head coach at RPI, he was an assistant coach for the school’s men’s team.
A former player at Bowling Green, Burke also coached at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts and as an assistant at Hamilton.
Of 31 NHL teams, 29 picked at least one college player or recruit. The Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues were the only exceptions.
Defenseman Dylan Samberg, a Minnesota Duluth recruit, was the first of five college-connected players to be selected on Saturday, at 43rd overall to the Winnipeg Jets.
Michigan’s Luke Martin was the first player who’s already played in college to be drafted on Saturday. He was the 52nd overall pick, by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Massachusetts incoming freshman Cale Makar was the No. 4 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (photo: Dan and Margaret Hickling).
Defenseman Cale Makar led seven college players or recruits in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft on Friday in Chicago.
Makar, who’s scheduled to join Massachusetts in the fall, was selected by the Colorado Avalanche with the fourth overall pick.
The Calgary native, who was ranked ninth among North American forwards by NHL Central Scouting, played last season for Brooks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Makar said the length of time he spends at UMass will depend on how he develops.
“My intention is to play in the NHL when I’m ready,” he said. “Whenever I feel I’m ready, whenever the organization feels I’m ready, hopefully I can make that jump.”
Only Makar and Minnesota incoming freshman Casey Mittelstadt were among college-connected players selected in the opening 18 picks. Mittelstadt, a center who was ranked third, went eighth to the Buffalo Sabres.
Two college players and three recruits were among the final 13 picks of the first round.
Michigan recruit Joshua Norris, a center from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, went 19th to San Jose.
St. Cloud State center Ryan Poehling and Boston University goaltender Jake Oettinger went back to back at 25th and 26th to Montreal and Dallas, respectively.
Terriers recruit Shane Bowers was picked by Ottawa with the 28th pick.
Eeli Tolvanen, who is committed to Boston College, went to Nashville with the 30th selection.
Rounds two through seven are Saturday at the United Center, starting at 9 a.m. CDT.
Schools interested in exploring the addition of Division I hockey programs will now be able to get help in their efforts.
The NHL and NHLPA are contributing to a fund for schools that want to investigate the potential to add hockey, the groups and College Hockey Inc. announced Friday.
Illinois will be the first school to take advantage of the initiative.
“While I think everyone in hockey has hoped to see programs added, this is a groundbreaking project by the NHL and NHLPA to take the initiative to help make that happen,” College Hockey Inc. executive director Mike Snee said. “Those of us at the college level are grateful for the leadership the NHL and NHLPA are showing with this project.”
The announcement was made Friday before the start of the NHL Draft in Chicago.
Illinois produces the most Division I men’s players of any state that doesn’t have a Division I program.
A master plan at Illinois has included the potential for a hockey arena on campus.
“The idea of varsity hockey at the University of Illinois has great appeal,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whittman said. “With hockey’s popularity in both Chicago and St. Louis, and rapidly growing youth participation across the state, we anticipate tremendous interest in the sport and at our university. We are grateful to College Hockey Inc., USA Hockey and our colleagues with the Chicago Blackhawks, who have been incredibly supportive during our preliminary due diligence.”
Division I men’s hockey has added two programs in the last five years, both launched by large donations.
Penn State added men’s and women’s hockey teams in 2012, with Terry and Kim Pegula donating more than $100 million.
Arizona State shifted the focus westward, forming a men’s team in 2015 behind $32 million from Don and Chris Mullett and an anonymous donor.
“The NCAA develops tremendous talent and expanding the number of schools at the Division I level, for us, is a no-brainer,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.
Denver commit Ian Mitchell takes part in the 2017 NHL Combine earlier this month in Buffalo (photo: Hickling Images).
A year ago in Buffalo, it was a banner day for college hockey at the NHL Draft.
This year will be proof just how different draft classes can be from year to year.
One year after 11 players with college ties were selected as first-round picks, a number that tied the record high, there is a possibility when this year’s first round concludes on Friday night that as few as four players will know their NHL fate.
From there, it will become a wait-and-see game for the remainder of the 83 college players- both current and incoming freshmen – who made the final NHL Central Scouting lists (and maybe a handful not ranked who seem to be late-rounders) at the annual event being staged this year in Chicago.
After Friday’s opening round (7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network), the second through seventh rounds will take place on Saturday (10 a.m. ET, NHL Network).
It does seem to be a consensus among the cognoscenti that at least a quartet of players will college ties are first-round locks. Leading that are Minnesota recruit Casey Mittlestadt and Massachusetts freshman-to-be Cale Makar. Both were among the top-ranked players in Central Scouting’s final list of North American forwards and defensemen. Also ranked high is Eeli Tolvanen, a Finnish-born player heading to Boston College.
The top-ranked current collegians are St. Cloud State’s Ryan Poehling (ranked 13th among North American skaters) and Boston University goaltender Jake Oettinger (top-ranked North American goaltender).
Goaltenders, though, often aren’t first-round selections. In the last five years, only three have been selected (Andrei Vasilevsky, 2012; Malcolm Subban, 2012; Ilya Samsonov, 2015) on Friday.
All of this isn’t to say that this still can’t be a banner year for college hockey as a draft isn’t only about the opening round. It’s quite possible given the number of players ranked by Central Scouting that more players could become NHL property than last year when 61 were taken over the seven rounds.
And as for those with high rankings, NHL scouts have plenty to say.
Mittlestadt, the future Gopher, has impressed Central Scouting despite having played much of last season in high school, as opposed to junior hockey where most players build their pedigree.
“We’ve watched him play against his peers in international tournament and have seen him play in the USHL and various camps, and he always makes a difference,” said NHL director of Central Scouting’s Dan Marr. “It doesn’t really matter where he plays because you get the same game from him no matter the environment.”
His Central Scouting report list his as “a strong, dynamic skater who has elite quickness both with and without the puck.”
Makar, who raised eyebrows when he first appeared on Central Scouting’s players to watch list last spring and then premiered on the midterm rankings ranked 10th (he ascended one spot to ninth on the final rankings), is the top-ranked defenseman in the draft and could crawl into a top-five spot if an NHL club wants a good, puck-moving defenseman.
“It’s his hands and how well he can pass and handle the puck at that speed that really catches your eye,” said NHL Central Scouting’s John Williams. “He moves it with great vision and good lateral mobility which is important in today’s game.”
Finnish-born Tolvanen, who played last year in Sioux City of the USHL, at 5-foot-10 might not have the stature, but scouts really like his hockey sense.
“He plays the game at a high pace and it very tough to contain,” said NHL Central Scouting’s David Gregory. “He understands the game very well and can be responsible in all zones.”
Gregory also touted Tolvanen’s passing skills and ability to see the open man and called his shot one that he can “release on the fly.”
Poehling, who scored eight goals and 13 points in 36 games for St. Cloud State last season, is likely to be the current collegian picked first. He earned a spot as a top-three center as a freshman and towards the end of the season was played most games on the Huskies second line.
“I think [Poehling] has great range and a nice long, strong stride,” said Gregory. “He uses good puck protection and has a long reach. There is really nice upside.”
Oettinger isn’t the only goaltender with high draft aspirations. Keith Petruzzelli, who is headed to Quinnipiac, was compared to Pittsburghs’ two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray by Central Scouting’s goalie guru Al Jensen.
“He’s good on his angles and is square to the shots,” said Jensen of Petruzzelli. “He’s tough to beat low and has good rebound control with soft pads and absorbs higher shots well into his body.”
Jensen also praised Oettinger, calling his positional play “very good,” noting he has a “phenomenal butterfly with great rebound control.”
All of these players have potential to be first-round picks and are all likely to fall no lower the early second round.
