UNH Commits Update: November-10-2017

The Angus Crookshank Show

Player Spotlight - Angus Crookshank

2018 UNH commit Angus Crookshank's goal-scoring barrage just keeps going. Since the last "UNH Commits Update" a week ago, Crookshank has tallied 3 goals in 3 games. On these video highlights, the Langley Rivermen announcer on hockeytv.com said "this 18-year-old has the shot of a professional hockey player" (He just turned 18 on October 2nd):



Crookshank has now buried 12 goals in 14 games this season. He leads the British Columbia Hockey League in goals per game with .86. Although he has played in 5-8 fewer games, only 5 players have scored more total goals. Angus is also tied for 1st in the league in game-winning goals (4) and tied for 3rd in power play goals (4). Finally, he has scored the 7th most points per game (19 pts in 14 games; 1.32 PPG) in the league.

Before the 2017-18 season began, the Neutral Zone scouting service rated Angus Crookshank as a 4 Star prospect on their 5-Star scale. Based on his early season performance, Neutral Zone has upgraded his rating to 4.25 stars. UNH freshman Charlie Kelleher, who plays on the first line and is tied for 3rd in scoring for the Wildcats (1 goal, 6 assists), also had a 4.25 star rating in his final year of junior hockey.

Angus signed a National Letter of Intent with UNH a year ago during the November early signing period. He graduated from high school last spring. He is on track to enroll at UNH next fall.

2017-18 Statistics

NOTE
The statistics for the commits, presented in the following table, are categorized by the projected year they will enroll in UNH. For example, the "2018 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2018. I have based these projections on a number of factors including:
~ If a National Letter of Intent has been signed.
~ The year the commit and UNH coaches originally targeted for enrollment in UNH.
~ How old the commit would be upon admission.
~ Number of years in junior hockey prior to admission.
~ The commit'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
2018 Commits
Joey Cipollone  (F)	Junior Bruins	NCDC	19	5	13	18	8
Angus Crookshank*  (F)	Langley Rivermen	BCHL	14	12	7	19	4
Liam Darcy  (D)	Islanders Hockey Club	NCDC	14	0	6	6	2
Eric Esposito*  (F)	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL	9	3	2	5	40
Corson Green  (D)	Sioux Falls Stampede	USHL	10	1	0	1	12
2018 or '19 Commits
Ryan Verrier*  (D)	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL	10	1	2	3	6
2019 Commits
Lucas Bahn  (D)	Sioux City Musketeers	USHL	9	1	1	2	0
Chase Stevenson  (F)	West Kelowna Warriors	BCHL	21	5	7	12	14
2019 or '20 Commits
Jackson Pierson  (F)	Culver Academy	Prep	4	2	10	12	-
	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL	2	0	0	0	0
Connor Sweeney  (F)	Lawrence Academy	NE Prep	-	-	-	-	-
Marek Wazny  (F)	Burlington Cougars	OJHL	4	1	3	4	0
	Brookings Blizzard	NAHL	7	0	0	0	0
* = Signed National Letter of Intent

News & Notes

National Letter of Intent Early Signing Period:

~ The early signing period began on Wednesday November 8th and extends to November 15th. On the first day, Ryan Verrier, a left-shot defenseman from Reading, Massachusetts, signed a National Letter of Intent with UNH. A decision on his enrollment date will be made later this season. In his first season in the USHL, Verrier has scored a goal and 2 assist with the Green Bay Gamblers.

~ I anticipate 2 and possibly 3 current UNH commits will sign a National Letter of Intent before the early signing period is over.

British Columbia Hockey League:

~ 2019 Commit Chase Stevenson, who recently committed to UNH, scored his 5th goal of the BCHL season in the West Kelowna Warriors victory on Wednesday night. Before the 2017-18 season began, the Neutral Zone scouting service rated Stevenson as a 3.75 Star prospect. They have upgraded Stevenson's rating to 4 stars on their 5 Star scale. Here's his most recent goal:



Ontario Junior Hockey League:

~ 2019 or '20 Commit Marek Wazny began this season with the Brookings (South Dakota) Blizzard. They had selected him in the 1st Round of the 2017 North American Hockey League Draft. Over his first 4 NAHL games, he was getting significant playing time including starting at center in 2 games. Wazny's playing time diminished with the Blizzard and he moved to the Burlington Cougars (OJHL) near his family’s home in Mississauga Ontario. He’s become a key player for the Cougars playing center on their second line and wing on their first power play unit and scoring a goal and 3 assists in 4 games. Marek now has the opportunity to finish his senior year of high school near his home. Wazny is also on the affiliate list of the Omaha Lancers in the USHL.

Prep School:

~ After playing two games with the Green Bay Gamblers as an affiliate, 2019 or '20 Commit Jackson Pierson began his senior season with Culver Academy on October 29th. The Eagles have won their first 4 games and Pierson leads the team with 2 goals and 10 assists.

~ 2019 or '20 Commit Connor Sweeney has been preparing for the New England Prep School season by playing in the New England Fall Prep Hockey League. Sweeney and the U19 North team advanced to the playoff finals and he assisted on the game-tying goal. When the New England Prep season begins in early December, Sweeney will play for Lawrence Academy.