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Thursday, October 27, 2022
Spotlight on Jason Siedem: UNH Commits Update 10-27-2022
Jason Siedem 2023 UNH Commit
News & Notes
~Jason Siedem (DOB: 10/17/02), the 6'0", 185 lbs., right-shot forward from Madison, NJ, committed to the University of New Hampshire on October 17th. A former Boston College commit, Siedem is currently tied for 5th in scoring in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. In 16 games with the Blackfalds Bulldogs, he's scored 6 goals and 17 assists.
Siedem's 4 power play goals are tied for 4th in the AJHL. Three of them came on consecutive nights. In a 5-3 win over the Lloydminster Bobcats on October 14th, Siedem got the Bulldogs on the board with a first period power play goal. He did the same thing the following night against the Olds Grizzlys. His second power play goal tied the game with a minute left in regulation. This highlight video shows all three:
~Ronan Walsh, (DOB: 5/3/02), the 6'4", 210 lbs., right-shot forward from Andover, New Hampshire, has committed to UNH for the 2023-24 season. A former Vermont commit, Walsh has scored 4 goals and 4 assists for the Aberdeen Wings (NAHL).
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 "2023 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2023. I have based these projections on the following factors:
~ Number of UNH players leaving the team at the end of the previous season and the position they played.
~ Number of incoming transfer players and the position they play.
~ 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.
Jack Sadowski
Forward, 6'0", 179 lbs. Shoots Left
Hometown: Arlington, Massachusetts
DOB: July 29, 2006; 16 years, 3 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars
Current Teams: Kimball Union Academy (New England Prep)/Islanders Hockey Club 18U Prep (Eastern Hockey Federation)
Committed to UNH on August 9, 2022 at Age 16 years.
2022 Highlight Reel
As a sophmore last season, Jack Sadowski was a top scorer for Arlington High School, the Boston Junior Eagles 16U, and at the USA Hockey Select 16 Development Camp. The first goal in this highlight video is from Massachusetts Division 1 semifinal game. The final two goals are from the Select 16 camp.
Interview
I had an opportunity to interview Jack Sadowski, via email, about his hockey career and commitment to UNH:
Mike Lowry: Congratulations on your commitment to play for the University of New Hampshire. What are the main reasons you chose to commit to UNH?
Jack Sadowski: I chose to go to UNH because it has always been a dream of mine to go there. I grew up going to games at the Whit and watching UNH play since both my parents graduated from there. My dad played hockey there so it was something we always did together, watching UNH play. I knew as soon as I toured UNH that I wanted to go there.
Mike Lowry: Your Dad, John Sadowski, played 4 seasons for UNH in the late 1990's, including the 1999 NCAA National Championship game, and he was named the Hockey East "Best Defensive Forward" in his senior year. He and future UNH head coach Mike Souza were teammates throughout their 4-year UNH playing careers. Did those factors enter into your decision to commit to UNH?
Jack Sadowski: Yes. I would definitely say my dad going to UNH was a big reason I wanted to go there. Growing up he was always telling me stories of what UNH had to offer and how much fun he had on and off the ice. After hearing those stories about all the fun he had, I knew it was where I wanted to go.
I was so excited when Coach Souza and Coach Giuliano offered me a spot. I was shocked and I’m really looking forward to being part of the UNH community. I really think it's a great fit for me. .
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?
Jack Sadowski: I knew that I wanted to go somewhere close to home and in Hockey East and when UNH gave me a chance, I did not hesitate very long to commit there.
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?
Sadowski: I have not really been thinking too much about when I will attend there. I know that I still have a lot of work left to do but I'm looking forward to it, when the coaches feel I’m ready.
Lowry: At this stage in your development, what are the main strengths of your game? What areas are you trying to improve?
Sadowski: At this stage in my development, I would say my main strengths are my stick skills like passing, stick handling, and creating plays. Some areas of my game that I am trying to improve on are my skating and defense.
Lowry: Last year, as a sophomore at Arlington High School, you helped lead the Spy Ponders to the semifinals of the Massachusetts High School Division 1 Playoffs. Overall, how would you describe your experience playing 2 seasons for your hometown high school?
Sadowski: I don't really think I can describe how awesome it really was. Nothing compares playing for your hometown. It was the best hockey experience of my life. Every day after school heading down to the rink, to practice and getting the opportunity to represent my town was really something special.
Then the playoff run last year, that was unbelievable especially playing with all your buddies. Our whole community would be at our games, cheering us on. As we kept winning more and more people would come watch but unfortunately we fell short of our goal but that final game, the semifinals, it was the best.
Lowry: This year, you plan to play for Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. What went into your decision to transition from a public high school to prep school?
Sadowski: I knew that eventually I was going to have to leave Arlington if I wanted to take the next step in my hockey career and education. I know I made the right decision.
Lowry: Over the last two seasons, your midget hockey team - the Boston Junior Eagles - played in the USA Hockey National Championships. Last spring, you led the Jr. Eagles 16U team to the semifinals scoring 7 goals and 4 assists in 5 games. In addition, you were one of the top scorers at the 2021 USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp and the 2022 Select 16 Camp. How do you think your skills compare with the other top US forwards born in 2006?
Sadowski: I think my skills compare pretty well although I'm not the greatest skater. I have other parts to my game that are right up there with the top guys in the US.
Lowry: Last May, the Muskegon Lumberjacks selected you in the 6th Round (85th Overall) of the 2022 USHL Phase I (Futures) Draft. Do you anticipate playing for Muskegon before you enroll at UNH?
Sadowski: I would definitely hope to play for Muskegon before I go to UNH. It will not only help me develop on the ice it will also give me time to get older, bigger, faster, and stronger.
Lowry: When do you plan to graduate from high school? What are your academic strengths and interests? Have you thought about what you might major in when you enroll at UNH?
Sadowski: I plan to graduate high school in 2024 from Kimball Union Academy. I would say my strengths are History, Science and English and my weakness is Math. I have not thought too much about it but I'm hoping to do something in business.
"Sadowski is a good-sized, balanced skater out of Arlington HS (MA) who has excellent puck control and stickhandling ability. A sixth round pick by Muskegon in the USHL, he had a productive week here offensively with a 3-5-8 line in 5 games. He’s a gamer; of his 3 goals he scored two of them came on empty net goals to seal games and the other was the game winning goal in his final game of the camp on a deke move in tight and strong finish. He also was the secondary assist on two game winning goals, both of which he started the play."
"Sadowski is strong on his edges, he can make quick stick moves around defenders but can also maintain possession through contact. He makes a pass in the neutral zone and immediately accelerates up ice and fills the lane trying to get it back. He showed great zip on his passes and could activate his points from down low in the zone and fired several cross ice pass through the neutral zone that led to clean zone entries. He does try to get too cute at times and over expose the puck when he’d be better off protecting it and making a simpler play but he’s got obvious puck skill and poise. He could improve his overall speed, particularly his explosiveness in his first few steps, because he doesn’t separate through the neutral zone and is always operating with a defender tight on him but it’s hard to deny his production as he was one of the leading point producers in the camp."
"A 2006 playing u16 Boston Jr. Eagles, left wing, very smart and crafty, can feel pressure and welcomes opponents running at him, reads gaps very well and does an excellent job of slowing his pace to manipulate the gap into his favor, very obvious that he has spent time working on his skating and mechanics, exceptional processing, high level touch, he’s going to have a blast this year with Arlington."
This updated table shows the scoring statistics, penalty minutes and +/- ratings (where available) for the 2022-23 season for the 15 players committed to play for the University of New Hampshire. It also includes the player's overall rating on the 5 Star scale provided by the scouting service Neutral Zone. The players are grouped according to my projections on when they will enroll at UNH.
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 "2023 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2023. I have based these projections on the following factors:
~ Number of UNH players leaving the team at the end of the previous season and the position they played.
~ Number of incoming transfer players and the position they play.
~ 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.
UNH Freshmen Carfagna & Muszelik Earn Hockey East Honors
Damien Carfagna Hockey East Defender of the Week
Tyler Muszelik Hockey East Rookie of the Week
It's hard to imagine a better start to the 2022-23 season for the UNH Men's Hockey team. After a 6-hour bus ride to Potsdam in the "North Country" of upstate New York, the Wildcats overcame a 3-1 deficit in the third period of last Friday's game against Clarkson University, to win 4-3 in overtime. A quick trip to nearby Canton on Saturday lead to more success with a 4-1 victory over St. Lawrence University.
This season's team is relatively young with 8 freshmen and 9 sophomores. The 6 freshmen who saw action over the two games will, no doubt, remember the excitement and nerves. Freshmen forwards Cy LeClerc (1 goal, 1 assist) and Morgan Winters (1 goal) scored while Stiven Sardarian and Jake Dunlap played regular shifts. The outstanding play of two other UNH freshmen earned them weekly honors from Hockey East.
Damien Carfagna Named Hockey East Defender of the Week
Last weekend, all 11 Hockey East teams were in action for the first time this season. On Monday, the league announced the recipients of the weekly awards. 19-year-old UNH freshman Damien Carfagna was named "Defender of the Week". The 5'11", 168 lbs., left-shot defenseman from Wood Ridge, New Jersey, who was primarily paired with sophomore Colton Huard, blocked one shot and registered a +1 rating against Clarkson. On Saturday, Carfagna cranked up his offensive game firing 8 shots on goal against St. Lawrence and scoring his first NCAA goal. His overall rating for both games was +3.
Here's his goal, which put UNH comfortably ahead early in the third period:
Interview with Damien Carfagna
I had an opportunity to interview Damien Carfagna, via email, about his NCAA debut and the Hockey East weekly honor:
Mike Lowry: Congratulations on earning the Hockey East “Defender of the Week” award for your first NCAA games. Would you describe your experiences leading up to the your first shift, during the early stages of the game, during the final moments, and after the game?
Damien Carfagna: In the weeks leading up to the game everything was about learning the system here at UNH and getting comfortable playing with my teammates. Obviously I had some nerves before my first shift, but my teammates and the coaching staff did a great job making sure that I was comfortable with playing my game at this level. In the second game I was more confident. In the third period I was able to score on a shot from the blue line, so it was good to get my first one out of the way early.
Mike Lowry: How would you self-evaluate your performance?
Damien Carfagna: I feel like I had a very positive start to my college career this past weekend. This past weekend was a good starting point for me that I would like to build off of. Being awarded Hockey East Defender of the Week was something special for me, but I still feel like I have areas of my game that I can improve as I play more games and get more experience at this level.
Lowry: How does the overall level of skill and competition in your first collegiate game compare to what you encountered in the USHL?
Carfagna: The biggest difference that stood out to me was the strength of some of the players. In the USHL, you’re still playing against teenagers, but in college you’re often playing against grown men. Every moment of the game is also more competitive, as a shorter season at the college level allows for fewer mistakes to be made.
Lowry: How would you describe the team’s style of play and it’s strengths?
Carfagna: We have a very fast team, and we used it to our advantage in the opening weekend. We’re hard on our forecheck, and our conditioning and depth allows us to play a hard, fast game for an entire 60 minutes.
Tyler Muszelik Named Hockey East Rookie of the Week
UNH had two freshmen earn a Hockey East honor this week. 18-year-old Tyler Muszelik, a 6'3", 195 lbs. goalie from Long Valley, New Jersey was named "Rookie of the Week". It is the first time a UNH freshman goalie has been named Hockey East rookie of the week since Casey DeSmith earned the honor midway through the 2011-12 season. It may be the first time a UNH freshman goalie earned the award based on his first NCAA game.
In his NCAA debut against St. Lawrence in the second game of the 2022-23 season, Muszelik faced 32 shots on goal and only one got past him. On a St. Lawrence power play late in the first period, a shot ricocheted off a UNH defenseman and Muszelik had no chance to stop the redirection.
With 13 minutes remaining in the game and UNH leading 4-1, junior forward Nick Cafarelli committed a 5-minute major penalty for contact to the head. The door was open for St. Lawrence to stage a comeback. Fortunately, the UNH penalty kill shut the Skating Saints down and Muszelik made 6 key saves.
Here's a few of Muszelik's saves during the St. Lawrence 5-minute power play midway through the third period:
Interview with Tyler Muszelik
I had an opportunity to interview Tyler Muszelik, via email, about his NCAA debut and the Hockey East Rookie of the Week honor:
Mike Lowry: Congratulations on earning the Hockey East “Rookie of the Week” award for your first NCAA game. Would you describe your experiences leading up to the opening face off, during the early stages of the game, during the final moments, and after the game?
Tyler Muszelik: I was eager to play my first official college game so when coach Souza said I was in versus Saint Lawrence I was excited. I felt prepared and felt confident thinking back that I had already played some college opponents last season.
I felt sharp during the game so when it was close I just wanted to keep making saves to give us the opportunity to score a few more and take a bigger lead. When the game was over I was just happy and relieved to have had a good first college game and celebrate with my teammates on a successful weekend as a team.
Mike Lowry: How would you self-evaluate your performance?
Tyler Muszelik: The team made it easier for me by clearing guys out of the net front and not giving up to many grade A chances. I thought I was steady and thanks to my teammates kept Saint Lawrence to just 1 goal.
Lowry: How does the overall level of skill and competition in your first collegiate game compare to what you encountered in the USHL and international competition?
Muszelik: There is definitely a difference between college and USHL/international play. The guys are obviously older and they're bigger and stronger. It was a lot more physical of a game then I was used to. There was a lot more traffic in front of my net and plays were made a little bit faster.
Lowry: How would you describe the team’s style of play and it’s strengths?
Muszelik: I think our team this year is an "in your face" kind of team who can really skate and pride ourself on effort and compete. I think skating is a big strength of ours this year and we can really take advantage offensively because of it.
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