UNH Commit Cade Penney: An Agile, Offensive-Minded Defenseman

Cade Penney
2021 UNH Commit

"Cade is becoming the player that we hoped for at 16U. He is a very good skater with good hands who sees the ice very well. His outlets were very strong today as he can buy himself time and spot the opening." Neutral Zone

Cade Penney Defenseman, 6'0", 165 lbs. Shoots Right Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia Hometown: West Chester, Pennsylvania DOB: 3-23-2001 Turns 19 in March Current Team: New Jersey Titans (NAHL)                        ~ Right Defenseman Neutral Zone Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Committed to UNH: February, 2020 at Age 18 years, 11 months. Projected enrollment: Fall, 2021

2019-20 Highlight Reel

Interview

I had an opportunity to interview Cade Penney, 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?

Cade Penney: I was looking for a top school with a top hockey program and UNH definitely has both.

Mike Lowry: What other college programs did you consider during the recruiting process? Which schools did you visit and which ones made an offer to you?

Cade Penney: I was in discussions with various colleges throughout the process. There were schools in MN, PA, NY, MA and NH. The best fit for me was definitely UNH.

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?

Penney: I am focused on my current team's stretch drive to the playoffs and will be discussing the next steps for my UNH career at the end of the season.

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

Penney: I am told by my coaches that my key strengths are my skating and hockey IQ. I feel I have improved my defensive game and continue to work on this part of my game.

Lowry: In your first season in the North American Hockey League last year, you scored 2 assists in 31 games with the New Jersey Titans. So far this season, you've scored 6 goals and 24 assists in 51 games and have a +/- rating of +30. What factors have lead to your increased scoring and improved play in the defensive zone?

Penney: Last year, when I made the New Jersey Titans, I was only 17 years old and was coming from the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U16 program. Last season was a year of transition for me personally. I was learning to play with many older/larger players. I worked very hard to improve all parts of my game and when the opportunity was there, work hard in the games. This season, I came into camp with confidence and the focus to be a key part of defense. A big focus was to improve my defensive game.

Lowry: When you were 12 years old back in February, 2014, you competed in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament as a member of the Lac St. Louis Lions Pee-Wee team. The tourney is known as hockey's version of the Little League World Series and has featured many future Hall of Famers. What are your memories of playing in your first international tournament? You played much of your youth hockey with the Philadelphia Junior Flyers organization. How did you become a member of the Pee-Wee team from Quebec?

Penney: I am Canadian and was born in White Rock, British Columbia then moved to Montreal when I was 2 years old. I started my hockey in Montreal and lived there for 12 years. We moved to the Philadelphia area in 2015 and I have dual citizenship. The Quebec Tournament was a lot of fun. Playing hockey in Canada gave me the love for the game and helped me as I moved to the US hockey system.

Lowry: Last May, you were drafted by the Des Moines Buccaneers in the 6th round of the USHL Entry Draft. Do you plan to try out for the Buccaneers or any other USHL team this summer?

Penney: It was great to get drafted by Des Moines and be part of their tryouts last season. I will wait until the end of the current season before I decide who I will try out for.

Lowry: What are your academic strengths and interests? Have you thought about what you might major in when you enroll at UNH?

Penney: I am very interested in business and sports management.

Neutral Zone Scouting Reports

Motor City Cup U16: Top 35 Rankings, September, 2017

"Cade is a smaller defenseman who can rush the puck up ice and is very efficient on the power play. He has smooth, patient hands, and the vision to create scoring chances. He makes a lot of high pace, skilled plays and looks to be an agile, offensive-minded defenseman at the next level. He was passed over at the USHL Draft, but we don’t see that happening again after this season."

Liberty Bell Games Top 80, July, 2017

"Penny was, as a whole, solid on defense. We didn’t see much on the attack from him which is odd. However, he is a smart player that does the little things well. He is very mobile and positions himself well, keeping forwards to the outside and cutting off the passing lanes on defense. His vision is good, he reads the play, goes through his progressions well and is a very poised player in general. We like that he knows when to join the rush and when not to do it. He has real upside."

Youth & Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Season	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM	+/-
Cade Penney  (D)	2019-20	New Jersey Titans	NAHL	51	6	24	30	24	+30
		Team East	NAHL Prospects	2	0	0	0	0	-2
	2018-19	New Jersey Titans	NAHL	31	0	2	2	26	-8
			Playoffs	5	0	0	0	2	-2
		New Jersey 87's	EHL	4	0	1	1	0
	2017-18	Philadelphia Jr Flyers 16U	AYHL 16U	20	4	7	11	10
			T1EHL U16	28	0	8	8	24
	2016-17	Philadelphia Jr Flyers 15U	AYHL 15U	28	7	15	22	20
			Playoffs	2	0	0	0	8
			T1EHL U15	16	4	8	12	10
			Playoffs	4	1	1	2	4