UNH Recruits Update: Jan-15-2016

Mike Robinson First 2 USPHL Wins

Charlie Kelleher Goal-a-Game Last 4 Games

Brendan van Riemsdyk 5 Points Last 3 Games

Player Spotlight - Mike Robinson

Last June, 6'4", 200 lbs. Mike Robinson was sitting on top of the world. On June 27th, the San Jose Sharks selected Robinson in the 3rd round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 86th overall pick and the 7th goalie selected. A week later, Robinson participated in the Sharks' Player Development Camp. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury during the camp which required surgery to his right wrist.

Robinson's recovery kept him out of the Boston Junior Bruins' lineup from September through December. On January 2nd, Mike played in his first USPHL Premiere Division game. After a couple of losses, Robinson got back on track in the USPHL Winter Showcase at the Jr. Bruins' home rink, the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, MA. Last Saturday, Robinson made 24 saves as the Jr. Bruins downed the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime. On Sunday, he faced 40 shots from the Jersey Hitmen and turned away 38 of them. The Jr. Bruins won 9-2.

Although Robinson surrendered 4 goals on 34 shots on Monday against the P.A.L. Junior Islanders, his Goals Against Average has improved to 3.07 and his Save Percentage is up to .909. His won-loss record has improved to 2-3-0. In November, Mike Robinson signed a National Letter of Intent with UNH and is on track to enroll next Fall.

Player Spotlight - Charlie Kelleher

Charlie Kelleher has potted a goal in each of the Junior Bruins' last 4 games. In the three games played at the USPHL Winter Showcase, Kelleher registered 3 goals and 3 assists. Although Charlie has played in 9 fewer games, he is only 10 points behind the USPHL's leading scorer William Vizzo. Kelleher is tied for 4th in USPHL scoring (42 points) and assists (29).

For the second consecutive season, Charlie Kelleher has been selected to the USPHL Premiere Division All Star Team. The USPHL All Star game will be played on Monday at Lawler Arena on the campus of Merrimack College.

Player Spotlight - Brendan van Riemsdyk

2016 UNH Commit Brendan van Riemsdyk also had an outstanding performance at the USPHL Winter Showcase last weekend. In three games, BVR scored a goal and dished out 4 assists. Three of his assists came on the Islanders Hockey Club's power play. In 30 games this season, van Riemsdyk has registered 10 power play assists, the second highest in the USPHL. In fact, BvR is tied for 2nd for the most special team points in the USPHL. He has compiled 4 power play goals and 10 PPA.

Brendan van Riemsdyk has also been named to the USPHL Premiere Division All Star Team for the second consecutive year. His game will begin at 12:30 on Monday at Lawler Arena.

NOTE
The statistics for the recruits, presented in the following table, are categorized by the projected year they will enroll in UNH. For example, the "2016 Recruits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2016. I have based these projections on a number of factors including:
~ If a National Letter of Intent has been signed.
~ The year the recruit and UNH coaches originally targeted for enrollment in UNH.
~ How old the recruit would be upon admission.
~ Number of years in junior hockey prior to admission.
~ The recruit's performance in recent seasons as well as injuries.
~ Anticipated date of high school graduation.
~ Number of UNH players leaving the team at the end of the previous season and the position they played.

Player	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM
2016 Recruits
Liam Blackburn*  (F)	West Kelowna Warriors	BCHL	41	22	31	53	32
Justin Fregona*  (F)	Langley Rivermen	BCHL	34	21	16	37	31
Patrick Grasso*  (F)	Des Moines Bucs	USHL	31	10	13	23	6
Charlie Kelleher  (F)	Junior Bruins	USPHL	27	13	29	42	20
Nick Nonis  (D)	Powell River Kings	BCHL	39	1	4	5	38
Brendan van Riemsdyk*   (F)	Islanders Hockey Club	USPHL	30	12	20	32	30
Mike Robinson*  (G)	Junior Bruins	USPHL	5	2W	3L	3.07	.909
2016 or '17 Recruits
Joe Cipollone  (F)	Tri-City Storm	USHL	24	4	2	6	8
	Vernon Vipers	BCHL	12	4	3	7	2
Liam Darcy  (D)	Islanders Hockey Club	USPHL	22	1	7	8	0
Aaron O'Neill  (F)	Chilliwack Chiefs	BCHL	9	4	0	4	2
	Tri-City Storm	USHL	8	0	1	1	2
2017 Recruits
Eric MacAdams  (F)	Sioux Falls Stampede	USHL	27	5	4	9	60
2017 or '18 Recruits
Eric Esposito  (F)	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL	30	1	4	5	26
Jason O'Neill  (F)	Langley Rivermen	BCHL	30	4	10	14	2
* = Signed National Letter of Intent

News & Notes

United States Hockey League:

~ 2017 or '18 UNH Commit Eric Esposito scored his first USHL goal last Saturday in a 5-3 win by the Youngstown Phantoms. At the time, the Madison Capitals were leading 3-2 so Esposito's was the game-tying goal. The 17-year-old, right-shot winger has tallied a goal and 4 assists in his rookie season. Here's a video clip of Eric Esposito's first USHL goal: