UNH Commits Update: 9-20-2019

The UNH Men's Hockey Blog

WELCOME to the 9th Season of UNH Commits Update on The UNH Men's Hockey Blog. The 2019-20 regular season has begun in most junior leagues, including the British Columbia Hockey League, North American Hockey League, and National Collegiate Development Conference. The United States Hockey League preseason ends on September 21st and the regular season begins September 26th. New England Prep Schools and United States High Schools begin in late November.

As of today, there are 15 young players who have verbally committed to the University of New Hampshire. Three of them - Aidan Curran (Salmon Arm Silverbacks, BCHL), Will Margel (Madison Capitols, USHL) and Connor Sweeney (Trail Smoke Eaters, BCHL) - are on track to enroll at UNH in the Fall of 2020. Seven others - Nicolas Ardanaz (West Kelowna Warriors, BCHL), Nicholas Cafarelli (Wenatchee Wild, BCHL), Robert Cronin (Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL), Alex Gagne (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL), Carsen Richels (Blaine High School, Minnesota), Jack Ring (Northeast Generals, NAHL), and David Sacco (Lawrence Academy, NE Prep) - are projected for 2020 or 2021.

News & Notes

British Columbia Hockey League:

~ 2020 UNH Commit Aidan Curran made the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) 30-player roster, played in their first preseason game, but was released. Yesterday, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks announced that Curran has joined the team. Last season, as a center for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, Curran tallied the 6th most assists (37 in 55 regular season games) in the National Collegiate Development Conference.

~ 2020 or '21 UNH Commit Nick Cafarelli is tied for 4th in BCHL scoring. In his first three BCHL games, the 5'10", 185 lbs. right-shot center for the Wenatchee Wild scored 3 goals, including the game-winner in his first game, and 3 assists. Last season, as a junior at Cushing Academy, Cafarelli lead the team in scoring with 18 goals, 27 assists in 33 games.

National Collegiate Development Conference:

~ 17-year-old Cy LeClerc, a senior at Exeter, New Hampshire High School, got off to a fast start in his first two games of junior hockey with the Islanders Hockey Club (IHC). The 5'8", 163 lbs., right-shot center scored a goal in his first game and the game-winner in his second. He also chipped in 2 assists. LeClerc is projected to enroll at UNH in Fall, 2021.

North American Hockey League:

~ 2020 or '21 UNH Commit Jack Ring scored his first NAHL goal in his second game this season with the Northeast Generals.

United States Hockey League:

~ In USHL preseason action, 2020 UNH Commit Will Margel tallied 2 goals, including the game-winner for the Madison Capitols with just 18.8 seconds left in regulation. It was his first game in junior hockey.

~ 2020 or '21 UNH Commit Robert Cronin also scored 2 goals including the game-winner in his first USHL preseason game. He also tallied an assist as the Dubuque Fighting Saints downed Cedar Rapids 5-2.

2019-20 Statistics

Player	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM
2020 Commits
Aidan Curran 1/22/01 (F)	Salmon Arm Silverbacks	BCHL	-	-	-	-	-
	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL^^	1	0	0	0	0
Will Margel* 3/16/01 (F)	Madison Capitols	USHL^^	1	2	0	2	0
Connor Sweeney 5/5/00 (F)	Trail Smoke Eaters	BCHL	5	0	0	0	0
2020 or '21 Commits
Nicolas Ardanaz 5/30/02 (D)	West Kelowna Warriors	BCHL	5	0	2	2	0
Nicholas Cafarelli 12/31/01 (F)	Wenatchee Wild	BCHL	4	3	3	6	8
Robert Cronin 8/15/00 (F)	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL^^	1	2	1	3	0
Liam Devlin 1/7/01 (F)	Chicago Steel	USHL^^	2	0	0	0	0
Alex Gagne 8/12/02 (D)	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL^^	2	0	0	0	0
Carsen Richels 10/3/01 (F)	Blaine High School	Minn HS	-	-	-	-	-
	MPLS ST PAUL	UMidwest HSELH	5	3	3	6	0
Jack Ring 12/18/00 (F)	Northeast Generals	NAHL	5	1	1	2	0
David Sacco 1/3/02 (F)	Lawrence Academy	NE Prep	-	-	-	-	-
	Cape Cod Whalers U18	EHF Selects	4	2	0	2	18
2021 Commits
Cy LeClerc 8/17/02 (F)	Islanders Hockey Club	NCDC	2	2	1	3	0
2021 or '22 Commits
JP Turner 1/31/03 (F)	Avon Old Farms	NE Prep	-	-	-	-	-
	NV River Rats 16U	Beast Series	5	1	6	7	4
Morgan Winters 12/8/01 (F)	Tabor Academy	NE Prep	-	-	-	-	-
	NV River Rats 18U	Beast Series	4	1	0	1	2
2022 or '23 Commits
Nick Ring 10/26/03 (F)	Boston Advantage U18	ECEL	-	-	-	-	-
* = Signed National Letter of Intent
^^ = USHL Preseason

NOTE
The statistics for the commits, presented in the above table, are categorized by the projected year they will enroll in UNH. For example, the "2020 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2020. I have based these projections on the following factors:
~ 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.