UNH Commits Update 11-30-2023: Spotlight on Josh Player

Josh Player (D)
2024 or '25 UNH Commit

Player Spotlight

~ Josh Player (DOB: 5/13/05), the 6'0", 190 lbs., right-shot defenseman from Thorofare, New Jersey, played three seasons of 15U through 18U with Bishop Kearney Selects (Rochester, New York) - one year behind UNH freshman Ryan Conmy. Last December, Player moved up to the USHL as a 17-year-old. In 38 games with the Green Bay Gamblers, he scored 1 goal, 5 assists.

This season, Player has earned a leadership role as an Alternate Captain and starting defenseman for Green Bay. He has upped his offensive play scoring 3 goals and a game-winning assist in his last 5 games.

These video highlights show Player's range of offensive skills. Two goals came from the blueline - one wrister and a slap shot. On the other goal and assist, he skates strong to the net. Each score happened when teams were at full strength.



Josh Player verbally committed to UNH in August, 2022 and signed his National Letter of Intent in December, 2022. He graduated from high school last spring. I project he'll enroll either next fall or in 2025. It will depend on a variety of factors including how many current UNH defensemen leave the team at the end of this season.

News & Notes

~ The current window for signing a National Letter of Intent opened on November 8th and will close on August 1, 2024. A flurry of players signed an NLI with UNH over the last few weeks including Luca Primerano, Jack Sadowski, Connor de Haro, Price Grimes, Reid Conn, and Lars Petter Eckholm. 10 out of the 16 players committed to UNH have signed an NLI.

~ The New England Prep School season got underway this week. 3 UNH Commits are playing: Jack Sadowski (Kimball Union Academy, Meridan, NH), Kole Hyles (Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, MA), and George McCaffrey (Westminster School, Simsbury, CT).

2023-24 Statistics

Player	NZ Stars**	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM	+/-
2024 Commits
Reid Conn* 2/2/04 (D)	3.75	Chicago Steel	USHL	15	2	1	3	52	-3
Connor DeTurris 10/8/04 (F)	3.75	Nanaimo Clipper	BCHL	11	3	2	5	2	-
Lars Petter Eckholm* 3/7/04 (F)	3.25	Cowichan Valley Capitals	BCHL	19	3	4	7	4	-
Connor MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F)	4.0	Penticton Vees	BCHL	21	6	17	23	6	-
Ryan MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F)	4.0	Penticton Vees	BCHL	21	9	15	24	0	-
Ryan Philbrick* 6/20/04 (D)	3.75	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	18	0	4	4	10	+3
2024 or '25 Commit
Sebastian Bradshaw 5/26/05 (F)	3.75	Coquitlam Express	BCHL	3	0	1	1	8	-
		Brooks Bandits	AJHL	3	0	1	1	8	-
Conner de Haro* 10/17/05 (D)	3.75	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL	13	1	0	1	2	+2
Josh Player* 5/13/05 (D)	3.75	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL	20	4	1	5	16	-1
Luca Primerano* 3/17/05 (F)	3.5	Prince George Spruce Kings	BCHL	21	2	4	6	4	-
Jack Sadowski* 7/29/06 (F)	3.75	Kimball Union Academy	NE Prep	2	6	0	6	-	-
		Wildcats 19U	NEFPHL 19U	17	11	15	26	0	-
		Massachusetts District	USA Selects 17	6	1	2	3	4	-
2025 Commits
Nikita Konevych 6/3/06 (D)	NR	Austin Bruins	NAHL	6	0	0	0	0	-4
Price Grimes* 1/28/06 (D)	3.5	Chicago Steel	USHL	17	1	3	4	20	-6
Niko Tournas 2/17/06 (F)	4.0	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	10	1	1	2	16	+1
		New England District	USA Selects 17	6	4	5	9	1	-
2025 or '26 Commits
Kole Hyles 1/16/06 (F)	3.75	Cushing Academy	NE Prep	1	0	0	0	0	-
		Central Mass Peguins	EHF 18U	23	8	10	18	-	-
		New England District	USA Selects 17	6	4	3	7	0	-
2026 Commits
George McCaffrey 1/2/07 (F)	3.5	Westminster School	NE Prep	-	-	-	-	-	-
		MidFairfield Rangers 15U	NE Pack	10	3	4	7	0	-
		Team White	USA Selects 16	5	3	1	4	0	-
* = Signed National Letter of Intent
** = Neutral Zone 5-Star Rating

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 "2024 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2024. 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 Commit Reid Conn: A Hard to Play Against Defenseman

Reid Conn (D)
2024 UNH Commit

"The bigger right-shot defenseman showed good mobility...was using his size and strength well to be physical in his own zone when needed...a steady presence at both ends." Neutral Zone, October, 2023

Reid Conn Defenseman, 6'4", 205 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Centennial, Colorado DOB: February 2, 2004; 19 years, 9 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2023-2024 Team: Chicago Steel (United States Hockey League) Committed to UNH on July 25, 2023 at Age 19 years, 5 months

USHL Highlight Reel

In 48 USHL games last season (29 w/Fargo Force, 19 w/Chicago Steel), Reid Conn scored one goal. So far this season, he's scored 2 goals in 12 games. The first 2 clips in this highlight reel show Conn going to the net to tally these goals. At 6'4"/205 lbs., Conn can be physically intimidating as illustrated in the final 2 video clips.

Interview

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

Mike Lowry: Congratulations on your commitment to play for the University of New Hampshire. How did you first become interested in UNH?

Reid Conn: I first became interested in UNH just following college hockey, and hearing about it from friends. My interest increased over time as I began to have discussions with the coaches, and when I got on campus for a visit to see the school and hockey program first hand!

Mike Lowry: What are the main reasons you chose to commit to UNH?

Reid Conn: During my visit, I really liked how I connected with the coaches right away, and everything about the hockey program, school, and atmosphere of UNH. Following the games so far this year and seeing the atmosphere is very exciting.

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

Conn: I will be at UNH next season.

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

Conn: At this stage of my development, the main strengths of my game include my defensive and play making ability / simple play. My focus area for improvement is to continue becoming a better defenseman and always working on my foot work.

Lowry: At 6'4", 205 pounds, you're known for your physical play. How do you use your size to your advantage defensively and offensively?

Conn: I can be physical in the D zone to help separate opposing players from the puck and use my body to create separation and space for myself. In the offensive one I can use my big frame to protect the puck.

Lowry: Have you seen the UNH team play? If so, how do you think you can help the team when you join it?

Conn: Yes I have seen a few games this season. My physicality, playmaking ability, and hard work ethic, coupled with my strong defensive play will help the team.

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

Conn: Academically, I’m into business and economics. Right now I am leaning towards majoring in business at UNH.

Neutral Zone Scouting Reports

USHL Game Report, October, 2023

"Conn was a nice surprise in this game as not a lot of expectations. The bigger right-shot defenseman showed good mobility and adequate puck-handling skills for his size. In the 2nd period he showed good gap control in 1v1 situation with his body positioning and use of his stick to check the opponent to negate the shot/pass out of play. He was using his size and strength well to be physical in his own zone when needed. He scored the team’s only goal in the 3rd period as he broke to the net receiving #12 Brisson pass in the side slot for the goal. While Conn is a bit older for the league with the ’04 birthdate he was a steady presence at both ends."

Select 15 USA Hockey Player Development Camp, August, 2019

"Conn is a big boy at 6’3” and almost 200lbs. He had some solid battles and seemed to target the better players on the opposing teams. We liked that plus he only took one penalty. Being tough to play against was a good place to start for Reid but he did well in other areas as well. He cut off the cycle and when given the choice, forced puck carriers away from his net and to his help. His passing was sharp and he fired pucks accurately on the tape. His first passes from the zone were very good and he showed he could carry if the situation called for it. His head was always up and he looked athletic. Up ice, he made some smart keeps at the blue line. One started a play that resulted in a Pierre goal. He is an intriguing player with great size, a sharp stick and upside up the ice. One to watch as he wasn’t just a big body. He has some space to get better."

Youth and Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Season	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM	+/-
Reid Conn (D)	2023-24	Chicago Steel	USHL	12	2	1	3	33	-2
	2022-23	Chicago Steel	USHL	14	0	2	2	38	-2
			Playoffs	5	0	0	0	0	0
		Fargo Force	USHL	29	1	3	4	27	5
	2021-22	Minnesota Wilderness	NAHL	50	4	5	9	18	-13
			Playoffs	9	0	4	4	4	6
	2020-21	Colorado Thunderbirds 16U AAA	16U AAA	60	5	13	18	-	+51
			T1EHL 16U	13	1	0	1	4	-
	2019-20	Colorado Thunderbirds 16U AAA	T1EHL 16U	3	0	4	4	0	-
		Colorado Thunderbirds 15U AAA	T1EHL 15U	20	3	3	6	12	-
		Team Navy	USA Select 15	4	0	1	1	2	-
	2018-19	Colorado Thunderbirds 14U AAA	T1EHL 14U	13	1	1	2	12	-
	2017-18	Colorado Thunderbirds 14U AAA	14U AAA	15	3	6	9	44	-
		Colorado Thunderbirds 13U AAA	13U AAA	12	4	4	8	26	-