16-Year-Old Lucas Bahn Commits to UNH

Lucas Bahn
Skipjacks Hockey Club

Lucas Bahn (DOB: 9/11/1999), a 5'9", 150 lbs., right-shot defenseman from Hendersonville, Tennessee, has committed to the University of New Hampshire. The target date for his enrollment is either the Fall of 2018 or 2019.

UNH Commit Lucas Bahn

Bahn recently completed his first season with the Skipjacks Hockey Club based in Odenton, Maryland. He played a full, 26-game regular season with the Skipjacks 16U team in the United States Premiere Hockey League. Bahn scored 3 goals including 1 power play goal and 1 game-winning goal, and dished out 13 assists including 5 on the power play. He was the 8th leading scorer among all defensemen in the USPHL 16U League.

The Skipjacks 16U team finished the 2015-16 regular season in second place in the South Division of the USPHL. Bahn was also called up to play 9 games with the Skipjacks 18U team and tallied 2 goals.

In the opening game of the 16U Playoffs, aka "Tournament of Champions", Lucas Bahn scored the second goal for the Skipjacks to tie the P.A.L. Junior Islanders 2-2. The Skipjacks went on to win 4-3. Here is the video highlight of Bahn's goal:



The 16U team won the next three playoff games including the South Division Title game and the conference semifinal game against the Junior Bruins . The Skipjacks were defeated 8-2 by Selects Academy in the USPHL 16U Championship Game.

Lucas Bahn grew up playing hockey in Hendersonville, a suburb of Nashville. Colby Drost, the Director of Recruiting for the Skipjacks Hockey Club, scouted Bahn and was responsible for gaining a commitment from him to move to Maryland and play for the Skipjacks. Drost recruited several other notable Skipjack players who have made Division I college commitments including Kenneth Hausinger (UMass Lowell), Christian Hausinger (Sacred Heart), and Ryan Finnegan (Quinnipiac). He was also part of the Skipjacks' recruiting effort with Mac Wiseman (UConn), Patrick Giles (Boston College), and John Mulera (Providence).

Colby Drost, who also is a scout for the Dubuque Fighting Saints and Assistant Coach at Skidmore College, provided this assessment of Lucas Bahn's skills:

"Lucas is a GREAT skating 2-way defenseman that has a great hockey IQ. He can be the first one in on the rush and can be the first one back because of his decision making and skating ability. He makes smart plays with the puck and in the new age of defenseman, he doesn't need to defend as much because he can break the puck out by making a pass or skating it. Consistent player that has great tools on him and can play on the PP. Lucas also can get pucks to the net and time after time makes the right plays. I believe he can be drafted into the USHL this spring, and will have opportunities across other leagues as well."

When Bahn was 13 years old, he played for the Nashville Jr. Predators Bantam AA team in the 2013-14 season and scored 4 goals and 7 assists in 57 games. The next season, Bahn tallied 3 goals and 10 assists in 53 games with the Jr. Predators 14U AAA team. In the 2014-15 season, Lucas was a freshman defenseman for Hendersonville High School and scored 3 goals and 17 assists in 28 games. He also played for the Mid-American Generals 15U AAA team.

I had an opportunity to interview Lucas Bahn, via email, about his hockey career and commitment to UNH:

Mike Lowry ("C-H-C"): Congratulations on your commitment to play for the University of New Hampshire. What are the main reasons you chose UNH?

Lucas Bahn: Thank you very much! First and foremost, UNH’s campus was absolutely incredible. The structure and size of the campus seemed perfect for a great college atmosphere. Secondly, the rink was awesome; Not only its capacity, but also the locker rooms and training facilities along with it. One of the biggest aspects that stood out to me though, was the fact that hockey seemed to be the biggest sport on campus, and how all the students took pride in their hockey team. Lastly, I was thoroughly impressed with the coaching staff.



Mike Lowry: What other college programs were you considering?

Lucas Bahn: I didn’t really have too much interest. I had had conversations with Providence College, but nothing too serious, but in the end everything about UNH seemed perfect for me.



Lowry: Have you and the UNH coaches agreed on a target date for you to enroll as a freshman at UNH and join the team?

Bahn: I have not discussed it with the coaching staff in depth yet. I think it just really depends on development for me. Being a late-bloomer, it may take an extra year in juniors before I am ready to play for UNH. It looks like I will be joining the team around 2019, but that is subject to change.



Lowry: At this stage in your hockey development, what are the strengths of your game? What areas are you trying to improve?

Bahn: The strengths in my game would have to be my skating and hockey sense; whereas, I am training hard to improve my shot strength and accuracy as well as my body positioning.



Lowry: You played youth hockey with the Nashville Jr. Predators. For college hockey fans who may not be familiar with that part of the country, would you describe the vibrant hockey scene in the greater Nashville area?

Bahn: The growth of hockey in the Nashville area has skyrocketed in the last few years. People in the the Nashville area have a passion for hockey it is rapidly spreading. The Predators have really helped people familiarize themselves with the sport and begin to develop a love for the game. It’s awesome to see the all younger kids learning to play the game and loving every minute of it.



Lowry: Last season, you played for the 16U and 18U teams of the Skipjacks Hockey Club, based in Maryland. Do you anticipate playing for the Skipjacks 18U team in the United States Premiere Hockey League next season?

Bahn: Yes for sure. I have so many good things to say about the organization and coaching staff. I truly believe that the Skipjacks have the two best Midget level coaches in the country, Jason and Jared Kersner, and the facilities are incredible to go along with it.



Lowry: Do you plan to play in either the United States Hockey League or British Columbia Hockey League before you come to UNH?

Bahn: Yes, I definitely would love to have the opportunity to play in one those leagues. That is certainly a huge goal of mine and I hope I can achieve it in the near future.



Lowry: When do you plan to graduate from high school? What are your academic strengths and interests?

Bahn: I plan to graduate in 2018 and my academic strengths would be Math and working with numbers. I am really interested in pursuing a career in Sports Management and some sort of business degree.