Incoming UNH Freshman Ara Nazarian

Ara Nazarian - Forward #22

For the 2015-16 season, the UNH hockey team welcomes six freshmen. The Class of 2019 includes 5 forwards - Marcus Vela, Ara Nazarian, Jason Kalinowski, Chris Miller, and Frankie Cefalu - and defenseman Matt Dawson. Here is a profile of Ara Nazarian, including a new interview with his former coach Dave Allison of the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Ara Nazarian Last Team: Des Moines Buccaneers United States Hockey League DOB: 6-19-1996 Hometown: Boxford, MA Forward, 5'9", 185 lbs. Shoots Left Commit to UNH: 4-2-2013 at Age 16 years, 10 months. Signed National Letter of Intent: 4-21-2015

Coach's Report

Throughout the 2014-15 regular season, Ara Nazarian was coached by Dave Allison, Head Coach and General Manager of the Des Moines Buccaneers. Last week, I had an opportunity to interview Coach Allison regarding Nazarian's strengths and readiness for NCAA hockey:

Mike Lowry ("C-H-C"): What are Ara's strengths and how did he develop during his season with the Buccaneers?
Coach Dave Allison: Ara was a player that progressed start to finish and became a valuable asset. And I might add what a great kid he was as well. By the end of the season Ara was just starting to kill penalties and accept he could play against top lines. And in order to do that he had to bring a consistent level of compete and competency.

Mike Lowry: What kind of adjustments will Ara need to make as he begins his NCAA career?
Coach Allison: At the end of the year, Ara was able to play vs the top players in the USHL, yet he still needed to learn how to compete and win more battles than he lost against the top players. He needs to solidify this foundation and make it his norm.

Scouting Reports

From Elite Hockey Prospects :

"This smart, skilled forward with creative hands can have moments where he looks disinterested in the play but when he sniffs out an offensive chance he becomes hard to handle and aggressive offensively. Has a quick release on a real dangerous shot selection.”

From Kirk Luedeke, New England Hockey Journal:

"ESPN Boston’s inaugural Mr. Hockey isn’t a dynamic skater but he’s got outstanding hands and a lot of vision and creativity. He’s been on area watch lists for years."

Career Achievements

~ 2012-13 season: ESPNBoston.com "Mr. Hockey" Award - Top Massachusetts High School Hockey Player.
~ Member of 2012, 2013, and 2014 Super 8 Champion Malden Catholic High School. Team's leading scorer as sophomore and junior.

2014-15 USHL Highlight Reel

High School & Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Year	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	+/-	PIM
Ara Nazarian  (F)	2014/2015	Des Moines Buccaneers	USHL	60	12	16	28	-17	16
	2013/2014	Malden Catholic	Mass. HS	20	20	27	47
		Super 8	Mass. HS	4	1	8	9
	2012/2013	Malden Catholic	Mass. HS	23	21	20	41
		Super 8	Mass. HS	5	9	5	14
	2011/2012	Malden Catholic	Mass. HS	21	14	16	30
		Super 8	Mass. HS	5	4	0	4

Links to Articles on Ara Nazarian

"Ara Nazarian Commits to UNH"

"UNH Recruit Profile: Ara Nazarian"

"UNH Recruit Ara Nazarian Signs National Letter of Intent"

Incoming UNH Freshman Frankie Cefalu

Frankie Cefalu - Forward #9

For the 2015-16 season, the UNH hockey team welcomes six freshmen. The Class of 2019 includes 5 forwards - Marcus Vela, Ara Nazarian, Jason Kalinowski, Chris Miller, and Frankie Cefalu - and defenseman Matt Dawson. Here is a profile of Frankie Cefalu, including a new interview with his former coach Jon Lounsbury.

Frankie Cefalu Last Team: Walpole Express Eastern Hockey League DOB: 3-13-1995 Hometown: Buffalo, New York Defense, 5'11", 170 lbs. Shoots Right Commit to UNH: 1-30-2015 at Age 19 years, 10 months.

Coach's Report

Throughout the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, Frankie Cefalu was coached by Jon Lounsbury, Head Coach of the Walpole Express. This week, I had an opportunity to interview Coach Lounsbury regarding Cefalu's strengths and readiness for NCAA hockey:

Mike Lowry ("C-H-C"): What are Frankie's strengths and how did he develop during his seasons with the Express?
Coach Jon Lounsbury: Frankie developed a ton in his 2 seasons with the Express. He is one of the most dynamic players I have seen. Coaches often talk about "hockey sense" - Frankie has an incredible feel for the game of hockey. He sees things develop and attacks. This past season Frankie became stronger and took a lot of pride in his defensive play. Those two things were the difference makers for him this season. .

Mike Lowry: What kind of adjustments will Frankie need to make as he begins his NCAA career?
Coach Lounsbury: He is going to need to adjust to the new speed of the game, but he also has the ability to dictate the pace of the game while he's out there. He also has to get used to the academic rigors and stress that will come with being a student athlete. Frankie graduated from a prestigious high school (Nichols School, Buffalo NY). He has been out of the classroom for 2 seasons. We are excited for his next adventure and can't wait to see him in a Wildcats' uniform.

Junior Hockey Achievements

~ 2013-14 season: First Team EHL All Star. Second leading scorer in Eastern Hockey League, 1st in assists (17g, 46a).
~ 2012-13 season: Most assists in EHL (46).

2014-15 Highlight Reel

Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Year	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM
Frankie Cefalu,  (F)	2014/2015	Walpole Express	EHL	44	17	46	63	48
		Playoffs	EHL	4	4	3	7	2
	2013/2014	Walpole Express	EHL	42	9	46	55	45
		Playoffs	EHL	2	1	0	1	0

Link to Article on Frankie Cefalu

"Buffalo Native Frankie Cefalu Commits to UNH"

Incoming UNH Freshman Matt Dawson

Matt Dawson - Defense #27

For the 2015-16 season, the UNH hockey team welcomes six freshmen. The Class of 2019 includes 5 forwards - Marcus Vela, Ara Nazarian, Jason Kalinowski, Chris Miller, and Frankie Cefalu - and defenseman Matt Dawson. Here is a profile of Matt Dawson, including a new interview with his former coach Pat Mikesch.

Matt Dawson Last Team: Green Bay Gamblers United States Hockey League DOB: 8-13-1996 Hometown: Tsawwassen, British Columbia Defense, 5'10", 160 lbs. Shoots Left Commit to UNH: 7-11-2015 at Age 18 years, 11 months. Signed National Letter of Intent: August 2015

Coach's Report

Throughout the 2014-15 regular season, Matt Dawson was coached by Pat Mikesch, Head Coach and General Manager of the Green Bay Gamblers. This week, I had an opportunity to interview Coach Mikesch regarding Dawson's strengths and readiness for NCAA hockey:

Mike Lowry ("C-H-C"): What are Matt's strengths and how did he develop during last season with the Gamblers?
Coach Pat Mikesch: Matt is a very good first pass defenseman that provides offense by joining the rush late and by using his shot from the blueline. He earned more responsibilities last year as he improved his defensive game.

Mike Lowry: What kind of adjustments will Matt need to make as he begins his NCAA career?
Coach Mikesch: Matt will need to continue to work on his defensive game against bigger and faster opponents. His understanding of the game and work ethic will help his development.

Junior Hockey Achievements

~ 2013-14 season: Leading scorer among the Surrey Eagles defensemen (6g, 28a). Among all BCHL defensemen, tied for 10th in scoring, T-7 in assists.
~ 2012-13 season: As a 16-years-old, played on Surrey Eagles team that won the Western Canada Cup and advanced to the semifinals of the Royal Bank Cup.

2013-14 Highlight Reel

Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Year	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	+/-	PIM
Matt Dawson,  (D)	2014/2015	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL	57	5	8	13	-25	35
	2013/2014	Surrey Eagles	BCHL	56	6	28	34		47
		Playoffs	BCHL	6	2	2	4		4
	2012/2013	Surrey Eagles	BCHL	5	0	0	0		2
		Playoffs	BCHL	4	0	1	1		4
		Surrey Eagles	WCC/RBC	9	0	0	0		0

Link to Article on Matt Dawson

"Defenseman Matthew Dawson Commits to UNH for This Fall"

Incoming UNH Freshman Marcus Vela

Marcus Vela - Forward #17

For the 2015-16 season, the UNH hockey team welcomes six freshmen. The Class of 2019 includes 5 forwards - Marcus Vela, Ara Nazarian, Jason Kalinowski, Chris Miller, and Frankie Cefalu - and defenseman Matt Dawson. Here is a profile of Marcus Vela, including a new interview with his former coach Bobby Henderson.

Marcus Vela Last Team: Langley Rivermen British Columbia Hockey League DOB: 3-3-1997 Hometown: Burnaby, BC Forward, 6'2", 200 lbs. Shoots Right Commit to UNH: 9-25-2013 at Age 16 years, 6 months. Signed National Letter of Intent: 4-21-2015

Coach's Report

Throughout the 2013-14 and 2014-15 regular seasons and BCHL Playoffs, Marcus Vela was coached by Bobby Henderson, Head Coach and General Manager of the Langley Rivermen. This week, I had an opportunity to interview Coach Henderson regarding Vela's strengths and readiness for NCAA hockey:

Mike Lowry ("C-H-C"): What are Marcus' strengths and how did he develop during last season with the Rivermen?
Coach Bobby Henderson: It was a treat coaching Marcus the past two seasons. Marcus is a very versatile two way forward. His physicality and hockey sense our his two best attributes in my opinion. Right of out the gate as a 16 year old we were able to use Marcus in a primarily defensive role. He played head to head against teams top lines and was relied heavily on as a penalty killer.
As the season progressed and into his second season, Marcus really started to produce consistently. He was on our top line all year as well as on our top power play unit. We also continued to use him in all defensive situations like the season before. He was our guy in key defensive zone face offs, penalty kill and shut down situations.

Mike Lowry: What kind of adjustments will Marcus need to make as he begins his NCAA career?
Coach Henderson: Marcus has all the tools to make smooth transition to college hockey. I think like any player there will be a bit of a transition period as he adjusts to the pace of play. With his work ethic and character it shouldn't take long for the UNH staff to have confidence to use him in all situations.

2014-15 Achievements

~ Drafted in the 7th Round (170th Overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks.
~ Played for Team Canada West in the 2014 World Junior A Challenge and the 2015 Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Game.
~ BCHL "Player of the Week" March 3, 2015
~ Regular Season: 3rd Leading Rivermen Scorer (49 pts) and goal-scorer (20).

2014-15 Highlight Reel

Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Year	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM
Marcus Vela  (F)	2014/2015	Langley Rivermen	BCHL	50	20	26	46	57
		Playoffs	BCHL	3	0	1	1	4
	2013/2014	Langley Rivermen	BCHL	54	11	11	22	41
		Playoffs	BCHL	12	1	4	5	6

Links to Articles on Marcus Vela

"Meet Marcus Vela: UNH's Newest Recruit"

"UNH Recruit Marcus Vela Makes Canada West Team"

"UNH Recruit Marcus Vela Signs National Letter of Intent"

"Marcus Vela, Incoming UNH Freshman, Drafted by San Jose Sharks"