Draft Rules - Revisiting the Draft

I mentioned that I would try to bring to light some draft rules for the Nation so here you are.

I pulled some excerpts from about.com's site written by Jamie Fitzpatrick which you can see in full through the title-link.

Most Pertinent to College Hockey:

Eligible Players

Players who turn 18 by September 15 and are not older than 20 by December 31 are eligible for selection. In addition, non-North American players over the age of 20 are eligible.

A North American player who is not drafted by the age of 20 is an unrestricted free agent. All non-North Americans must be drafted before being signed, regardless of age.

Re-entering the Draft

A player not signed by his NHL team within two years of being drafted can re-enter the draft, as long as he is 20 years old or younger at the time of the subsequent draft. Players over 20 become unrestricted free agents.

NCAA players are an exception: NHL teams retain the rights to a college player until 30 days after the player has left college.

A team that does not sign a first-round draft pick is awarded a compensatory pick in a future draft upon losing the rights to that player.

A player who has been drafted a second time cannot re-enter.

And this recent change:

NCAA Players - As of 2004, 18-year-old players from NCAA Division I schools can be drafted and retain their college eligibility as long as they don't play for a pro team or hire an agent. In previous years, an 18-year-old who opted into the draft lost his NCAA eligibility.

So, you can see that Phil did not turn 20 until March 19th (Happy Belated Birthday Phil!) so he WAS still draft eligible and it paid off. There were other Wildcat moves around the Washington Capitals organization as Bryan Muir(92-95), who was only one of two Caps that possess a Stanley Cup ring(see his name on the Cup), was let go after having missed much of last season after suffering a broken foot, so we'll wait to see where he lands - hopefully he gets a chance to build on his 05-06 breakout year. And Rod Langway(75-77) was in attendance at the Capitals Draft party signing autographs.

Go 'Cats!

Worth A Look

Wildcat Nation, you know that I don't like to stray far from home but I came across the title-linked post on Goon's "Goon's World" North Dakota blog and it was too good to pass up. Check it out.

For those questioning the relevance, don't forget that we'll be facing North Dakota at the end of December in what, I believe, could be the defining series of the year - it's always good to understand your enemies. And who doesn't like getting a chuckle at their enemy's expense even if you are laughing with them. The enemy of our enemy is our friend? - not if they're our enemy!

Wake me up when September ends!

Go 'Cats!

DeSimone & Kessel Drafted*6/24 UPDATE*

Phil DeSimone was taken in the third round, 84th overall, in the draft after virtually no pre-draft coverage and some even saying that he was too old to qualify for the draft. I'll get back to you on draft rules at some point. Phil will be Washington Capital property when he finishes his four years with us in Wildcat Nation. We'll see you in the fall!

*DeSimone will be flight risk. See for yourself.*

Blake Kessel, '08, was drafted by the New York Islanders and will eventually end up defending former BU goaltender Rick DiPietro having been selected at number 166 in the sixth round.

Congratulations Phil and Blake!

Paul Thompson, playing in the EJHL, was written off as playing in a non-draft qualifying league as only two goaltenders were taken in the draft from the EJHL - Maine recruit, towering at 6'6", Scott Darling (Capital District Selects) and another tall goaltender 6'3" Nick Eno of the Green Mountain Glades. Thompson will surely solidify his pro hockey future during his tenure in Wildcat Nation.

*Paul echoed my own sentiments and the Merrimack Blogger, Mike McMahon, carried Paul's voice to his day job in this Eagle Tribune article.

Bobby Butler was also a remote draft prospect and was also passed on by the NHL teams. It will be up to him to secure his own prospects at a future in professional hockey which I fully expect him to do if he continues to show up like he did at the end of last season.

*Hockey's Future had this on Butler.(scroll to the bottom)

Congratulations to all draftees! Now for the part that really counts - let's get back to hockey! Work hard and enjoy the 'off-season' guys and we'll see you ready to play in the fall!

Wildcat Nation, continue to check in to your UNH Men's Hockey Blog for any updates, news, stories and possibly some trivia.

Go 'Cats!

James Van Riemsdyk Goes Second

James van Riemsdyk was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers at approximately 7:15 EST as the second overall pick of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

James is now officially the highest ranked player to ever be recruited to the University of New Hampshire Men's Hockey Team.

Amidst wild speculation on the part of the commentators, James was excited but composed (if he stays with Philadelphia his home games would be approximately one half hour from where he grew up) and his definitive message of his plans to attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall of this year reiterated by the broadcasters. Many notes were made by various organizations but specially of note, was the Philadelphia Flyers' representative who said that they expected him in one or two years. Another broadcaster referenced the Whittemore Center ice surface as "Lake Whittemore" and made sure to point out the lack of high-caliber NHL players produced by our beloved Wildcats. To me this merely suggests the true entrance into the very upper echelon of collegiate hockey of the University of New Hampshire Men's Hockey Team. The same broadcaster speculated that James would need to work on his physical and grinding game, questioning if he would improve on such skills on the big sheet - others think he will be served well by playing at UNH. This of course says nothing as to James himself talking about improving his skating game while at UNH.

Congratulations James!

I'll be back tomorrow with a recap of other 'Cats taken in the draft.

Go 'Cats!

More, More & More

Even though I already have James' blog linked in the link section I've title-linked it here. He's recently posted a couple entries and their is a video discussing his prospects.

He said he'll be posting next from Columbus at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Go 'Cats!

More van Riemsdyk

If you'll pardon me for directing you to somewhere that someone thinks Barry Melrose Rocks - you'll find some more perspective on James van Riemsdyk and some photographs that are well, interesting. See it for yourself - title-linked of course.

The day is approaching and you might as well bet the farm that James will go in the first round on Friday and probably in the first five. But, stay tuned for Saturday and Rounds 2-7 where we should see Blake Kessel and Paul Thompson go somewhere between 50 and 100.

Go 'Cats!

James van Riemsdyk - Future NHL Star

I came across this title-linked TSN (Canada's Total Sports Network) article by Bob McKenzie through the Western College Hockey Blog while perusing the other College Hockey Blogs - hey I was bored!

McKenzie flat out predicts that James will be a "Future NHL star." I can't wait to see his feet hit the Whittemore Center Ice (yeah, I missed the first time and had to listen to it on the radio).

*NCAA Watcher over at the message boards was kind enough to bring this Nashua Telegraph article to everyone's attention.

Go 'Cats!

New Gem From The Message Boards

It appears that Kevin Regan has an opportunity to attend Bruins camp this fall from the title-linked article brought to us by pgv over on the USCHO message boards. If he does so he will foot the tab in order to comply with NCAA regulations. I think that even a short time at pro camp will pay dividends and the best goaltender in college hockey will return even better and have a stronger start to the season than he did last year.

Go 'Cats!

'Cats 'A Coachin'

No sooner does the news about Coach Shipulski (Melrose High School) come out and the subsequent back story of the link to the two most notable UNH Men's Hockey Coaches - than that of the story of another Wildcat, Kristian Hanson, comes through the grapevine.

Coach Hanson has returned to his prep school stomping grounds as head coach of the St. John's Prep Eagles. Kristian comes to the Eagles from the Salem Witches where he was named NEC Coach of the Year in 2005 and coached them to five post-seasons in his seven year tenure there - they had never made the post-season in their 56 year history.

Hanson spent two years with our Wildcats but was sidelined by injuries and had to retire from the team after two years. Before coming to UNH he had led the St. John's Eagles, scoring more goals than any other to ever don an Eagles' jersey.

I've title-linked an excellent article from the Newburyport News.

Congratulations Kristian! On the position AND the baby! Good luck! With both! It's too bad we couldn't have seen you don the Blue and White longer!

Go 'Cats!

Coach Shipulski *Redux*

Those who've been around UNH Hockey for a decade or so would be hard pressed to forget Wildcat, Jason Shipulski.

Now Jason, a native of Saugus, Massachusetts, will go by Coach for the Red Raider high school hockey team of Melrose, Massachusetts.

See the title-linked article for a few more details from the Official UNH Athletics Site.

*What I failed to mention is that some may recall a young Dick Umile seeing his coaching career take off from the same area including a stint at, you guess it, Melrose High School - where an even younger Umile was also a high school standout who managed to catch the train to UNH as UNH Hockey Coaching Legend, Charlie Holt arrived - who also graduated from Melrose High School in 1941 as the Hockey Captain where he would return to coach in 1947 after having attended Dartmouth College. Holt would then proceeded to wind his way through the hockey world to his most impressive hockey legacy, the University of New Hampshire Men's Hockey Team. He would win the Spencer T. Penrose Award in his very first year coaching the Wildcats and would proceed to revolutionize the game. See this excellent article produced by UNH graduate, Robert Cutting ('03), on Holt and his legacy. Turn, turn. Hockey roots run deep.

Congratulations and Good Luck, Jason!

Go 'Cats!

McKeen's Q&A with Paul Thompson

Don't know how you guys do it but this one was dredged from the Webiverse by Miker over at the USCHO Fan Forum. Figured I'd stick it out here for everybody.

Check the title-linked article from Mckeen's (a hockey scouting outfit for those that don't know) about this incoming freshman and former ECHL standout for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs winning two titles with the team and the player of the year this past year for his fantastic 83 point season - and that's in 44 games. And THAT does not count his 11 playoff points in 6 post-season games!

Read it! Stuff like this helps the off-season seem a little shorter!

This one goes out to Paul!



Go 'Cats!

Wildcat News

Nice title-linked article from the New England Hockey Journal on James van Riemsdyk.

You can also link to his blog from the link section here - see he's just like us, he already has Oct. 19th circled on the calender!

Also, the Hockey East All-Academic Team is out. Excellent job guys! Nice work. Keep it up!

Go 'Cats!

New Recruit for '08

Got caught sleepin' on the job - thanks to HOCKEYFANNCAA, at the USCHO message boards, for waking me on this one.

USHR reports that Kevin McCarey has committed to the University of New Hampshire today for the fall of 2008.

McCarey will be coming to UNH courtesy of the United States National Team Development Program where he played for the Under-17 Team this past year scoring 12 goals and 7 assists in 46 games. Kevin is a 5'11", 190 lbs. forward who led his birth year group in scoring after the departure of two of his teammates to the U-18 Team.

Inside College Hockey had this to say this time last year:

Kevin McCarey (5-11, 190): The Baldwinsville, N.Y. native was a close second to Czarnik in terms of vision and skill. He scored two goals and four points in five games. He plays a physical game and is always around the net. Last year, McCarey was one of the youngest (if not the youngest) players in the Eastern Junior Hockey League, where he skated for the Syracuse Stars. Like Czarnik, he's expected to play for the U.S. NTDP Under-17's this fall.

I'll have his recruit line up momentarily.

Welcome Kevin!

Go 'Cats!

Cup Coaching and Staff - Did They Go To College?

Since I brought it up and no one else has done it, here it goes... still no 'Cats, oh well... great, now I'll have to do a feature on coaching 'Cats!

ANAHEIM

GM - Brian Burke - Providence (hometown boy backstory with Providence)

Asst. GM - David McNab - Wisconsin (championship goaltender)

Asst. Coach - Newell Brown - Mich. State (became Asst. at Mich. State after just three years out from playing - story for the Mich. State blogger?)


OTTAWA

Asst. Coach - Greg Carvel - St. Lawrence (No joke - was and Asst. at Anaheim in 03-04!hmm... his backstory, like Burke's is a hometown boy, would probably make for a good post for the St. Lawrence blogger if there is one...)


Overall some seemingly interesting personalities in these managing/coaching former college players. Congrats to all of them on their success.

I would be interested to see some in-depth reporting from their respective bloggers.

As always,

Go 'Cats!