Future 'Cat, Jeff Wyer

Welcome 2011 recruit, Jeff Wyer, goaltender out of Reading High School, Reading, Massachusetts.

Wyer is best known for being a key component of last year's Reading Rocket's team that became the first public high school to win Massachusetts' Division 1A Super 8 Tournament. Jeff shut-out their opponents, the Malden Catholic Lancers, in that game. Said of the Future 'Cat,

"Our line didn't win it, our D didn't win it, it was Jeff in net that got us to this point," said Kiley. "He amazes me sometimes how he does it." (Boston.com)

There's a sweet highlight video associated with the link above where you can see that Wyer is clearly a top talent in the crease with sound positioning, fluid movement, quick reflexes, focus, great hockey sense and on top of it all battles to make the big saves.

Former Merrimack College head coach and coach of the defeated Lancers, Chris Serino, had this to say,

"When he came out of the first period playing that well, I knew it was going to be a long night,"

Wyer's own coach, Peter Doherty, who stepped down as head coach of the Rockets last week after 29 years, said

"Jeff Wyer was a key player in this victory,"

Now, for some really astute readers of TUMHB you may recognize the Doherty name but with a different first name attached. Peter's son, Mark, Reading's assistant coach, played for our own University of New Hampshire Men's Hockey Team from 1981 to 1984 and was Captain of the team right before their inception into the newly minted Hockey East Conference. Mark played in 73 games for the Wildcats scoring 86 points and is one of the annual returnees for the Alumni Game.

As for Jeff, he was nominated Globe Northwest Hockey's number one star this year by Boston.com (3/19/09)

No. 1 star
Jeff Wyer, Reading: The senior posted nine shutouts and allowed 34 goals in 23 games (1.48 goals against average)[more]

The UNH Hockey Recruits and Prospects Blog reports that Wyer will spend the next two seasons with the EJHL's Valley Jr. Warriors, though I would not be surprised if that stint is shortened to one season if his performance merits it.

Future 'Cat, Jeff Wyer.

Welcome to Wildcat Nation, Jeff!

Go 'Cats!