Shier commits to Dutchmen for next season

by Ryan Fay

Kevin Shier of the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Toronto Lakshore Patriots has committed to Union for the 2014-15 season.

"I'm definitely over the moon," Shier said in a statement on the Patriots website. "As soon as I went down there, I kind of fell in love with the school. It has everything I want in a university, and it was a really easy decision once the offer came down. I'm really excited."

Shier, 20, leads Toronto Lakeshore in scoring this season with 44 points (18 g, 26 a) in 36 games. The native of Toronto, Ontario has 84 points (30 g, 54 a) in 84 career games in the OJHL.

Shier (Toronto Lakeshore Patriots)

Patriots head coach Jason Fortier praised the 6-foot, 190-pounder for his offensive abilities.

"Kevin is a gifted offensive player with a quick and accurate shot," Fortier said. "He has quick hands and is an amazing team first player. Look for Kevin to bring a smile to the rink everyday and bring an ability to score big goals."

Fortier said there are some similarities between Shier and current Dutchmen forward Daniel Ciampini, who starred in the OJHL with the St. Michaels Buzzers from 2007-2011.

"Daniel made an impact nightly in the OJHL and Kevin does the same," Fortier said. "Good hands with good speed and both can score."

Shier's biggest needs on the ice moving forward include the defensive side of the game.

"As is the case for many freshman, he will require some attention to detail in the defensive zone and bring his compete level each and every day," Fortier said. "He has all the tools to help Union as a hockey player on and off the ice, but that is not saying he won't face challenges along the way."

Shier visited Union in mid-December and the trip provided some unexpected drama. While making the trek to Schenectady, Shier was one of five people who stopped and helped save the life of New York State National Guardsman Timothy Neild, whose pickup truck veered off the highway and slammed into the Route 481 bridge near DeWitt, New York. The truck burst in flames moments after Neild was rescued to safety.

Union was one of several schools interested in Shier, who finished sixth in scoring in the recent Central Canada Cup Junior "A" all-star tournament.

"He had several top programs interested but the fact he was a 1993 born limited the amount of teams he could be recruited by due to available roster spots," Fortier explained. "Union really did their homework and attended numerous games in scouting Kevin. [He] was really leaning towards Union from day one due to the success of the program and head coach Rick Bennett [being] well-known for helping his players improve."

Shier joins forward Roman Ammirato (Amarillo/NAHL), defenseman Nick DeSimone (Buffalo/OJHL), forward Tyler Hynes (Omaha/USHL), defenseman Connor Light (Omaha/USHL) and forward Ryan Scarfo (Powell River/BCHL) as likely additions next fall.

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Dutchmen land potential future pro in Maier

by Ryan Fay

Taft School boys varsity hockey head coach Daniel Murphy didn't mince words when asked about the long-term potential of Cole Maier, a senior forward at Taft who recently committed to Union for the 2015-2016 season.

"I anticipate he will be a top six forward for [Union] and the type of player that could be an excellent pro hockey player," said Murphy, who played professionally in the ECHL from 1993-1996 following four years at Maine.

Maier

He said there is plenty to like about Maier, who was second on the team in scoring with 22 points (11 g, 11 a) in 23 games last season. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Maier has a goal and three assists through four contests this season, and is serving as a co-captain.

"Cole is a great competitor," Murphy said. "He has very good size, long strides and long arms which makes him very strong on the puck. He excels at puck protection and wins one-on-one puck battles all around the rink."

Like most prep players, Murphy said the 18-year-old's biggest need going forward is continuing to add strength.

"Cole just needs to continue to get physically stronger," said Murphy. "He has a great frame and is already well built. But with another 10 pounds of muscle, he will be a dominant college hockey player."

That projection may become reality sooner than later in his college career thanks to his athleticism.

"Cole is a fantastic athlete," Murphy said. "He played 'sweeper' on the school's varsity soccer team for two years and runs track. Because he is such a great all-around athlete, his development at Union should accelerate pretty quickly due to the fact that he will only have to focus his energy on his studies and hockey."

Maier, a native of Pequannock, New Jersey, will likely play a year of junior hockey next season before coming to Union in the fall of 2015.

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DeSimone to play in Central Canada Cup

by Ryan Fay

Buffalo Junior Sabres (OJHL) defenseman Nick DeSimone, who recently committed to Union for the 2014-2015 season, will play in the upcoming Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, it was announced Monday.

DeSimone, who leads all OJHL defensemen with 29 points (8 g, 21 a), will skate with the OJHL's South-West team, one of two teams being sent by the league. The other is the North-East team.

The LHJAAAQ will also send two teams, while the CCHL and NOJHL will each send one.

The third annual tournament will be hosted by the QJAAAHL's Terrebonne Cobras from December 27-29 at the Cité du Sport.

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Rivalry game helped Union land DeSimone

by Ryan Fay

Nick DeSimone, a defenseman for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, was one of the 2,254 in attendance at Messa Rink for Union's 4-3 win over Capital District rival RPI on November 15.

Experiencing of one college hockey's best rivalries helped sell him on coming to Union next season. He announced his commitment via Twitter two days after the game.

DeSimone

"It was pretty packed and pretty cool to see," said DeSimone, who was also recruited by Lake Superior State, RIT, and former Union head coach Nate Leaman's Providence Friars. "It was definitely one of the things that clinched it for me."

But the 19-year-old liked other things about Union as well.

"Just everything about the campus," DeSimone said. "It's pretty historic. The people that work there that I met were really personable. I feel like it's a really good fit for me."

He said Union first began to express interest after a showcase game against Mississauga on September 28. DeSimone registered a goal and an assist that day. The two parties kept in contact about once a week before escalating talks leading up to the commitment.

DeSimone, who leads all OJHL blueliners with 29 points (8 g, 21 a) in 27 games, said Union envisions him fitting in as an offensive defenseman. It's a well-timed match considering the program will lose at least one, and possibly two, offensive defenseman after the season.

The Dutchmen will graduate senior defenseman Mat Bodie, who has 11 assists in 11 games this season. Junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who has four goals and eight assists in 11 contests, could sign with the Philadelphia Flyers, the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft.

In the meantime, DeSimone will continue to hone his skills under Junior Sabres head coach/general manager Michael Peca, who recorded nearly 500 points in 13 NHL seasons before hanging up the skates in 2010.

"It's been great," DeSimone said of learning from Peca, who has been stressing keeping things simple. "You learn a lot from a guy who's been through it all and knows just about everything there is."

Related:
Q&A with Buffalo Junior Sabres head coach/general manager Michael Peca

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Q&A with Buffalo Junior Sabres head coach Michael Peca

by Ryan Fay

Union recently landed a commitment from Buffalo Junior Sabres (OJHL) defenseman Nick DeSimone for the 2014-2015 season.

To get the skinny on DeSimone, I conducted a phone interview with Junior Sabres head coach/general manager Michael Peca.

Peca scored nearly 500 points in 13 seasons in the National Hockey League before retiring in 2010. Best known for his time with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders, he was a two-time (1997, 2002) Frank J. Selke Trophy winner for top defensive forward.

Peca

RYAN FAY (RF): Most people out this way have never seen DeSimone play. What kind of player is he?

MICHAEL PECA (MP): He's a good offensive defenseman. He has great instincts offensively. He played forward a bit coming up through the game of hockey and that has served him well to see the ice and where forwards might be or be heading. He does a lot of that without putting himself in situations where he's vulnerable defensively.

For him to come in here and be one of our leaders (he's an assistant captain), it says volumes about what kind of person he is. He's had brothers go through the game of hockey, so he's seen the type of hard work and dedication required to even go from junior hockey to college hockey. He has put in that work, and it's great to see it pay off for him.

RF: DeSimone's numbers are up quite a bit this year. Last year with the EJHL's Connecticut Oilers, he had four goals and nine assists in 36 games. This year, leads OJHL defensemen with 28 points (8 g, 20 a) in 26 games. What do you attribute this year's spike to?

MP: Sometimes when you see what a player is capable of doing, you have to get out of their way. The one thing I tell these kids, and we stress early on, is that we don't burden them with overly complicated systems or responsibilities. These kids are still exploring themselves as hockey players. Sometimes the more freedom you give them, the more confidence they're going to gain from it. We give them the responsibility and freedom to explore from time to time. A lot of kids flourish in that environment, and I'm glad he's been able to.

RF: Where would you like to see him improve before making the leap to college hockey?

MP: Our challenge with every kid is to prepare them for the next level and to do that sometimes is hard. At times, they're ahead of the majority in the league, so there's a tendency to cheat a little bit, gamble too much, or make a high-risk play because they can get away with it. Our coaching staff's goal is to teach these kids to make mature decisions with the puck and be responsible when they're on the ice.

When you get to the next level, coaches will be patient, but not as patient as they are at our level. They're going to want a player who's responsible for them and able to step into the lineup and contribute right away. That doesn't mean just contributing offensively, but not being a liability defensively.

We're grooming these guys to have their game ready, but also the maturity part of it to be responsible young men so they know what they're in for when they live the college life.

RF: How is the defensive side of his game coming along?

MP: It's good. That's our focus moving forward. You have to defend unless you're as gifted offensively as some of the ones who don't come around very often. Shoring up that part of his game is crucial. He's going to be stepping into college hockey next year and the pace of the game is going to be that much faster -- and not just the speed of the players, but the puck movement and the decision making. The more stable he can be defensively at this level, the more prepared he'll be moving forward next year.

RF: What kind of player could you see him ultimately developing into at the college level?

MP: He has all-around capabilities, but he's a guy who's going to develop into an offensive force and be able to quarterback a power play.

RF: How much of an adjustment period do you think he'll need at the collegiate level?

MP: His goal, and our goal for him, is to prepare him to step in right away and contribute. A lot of it depends on opportunity and taking advantage of those opportunities. But he's a bright kid, and I don't think it will take him long to adjust.

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Dutchmen Recruit Recap - 11/4/13

by Ryan Fay

It has been a few weeks since the last recruit recap, so lets check in on how future Dutchmen are doing for their current teams:

2014-2015 RECRUITS

F Roman Ammirato (Amarillo, NAHL) chipped in a helper in Amarillo's 4-0 victory over Topeka on Friday. Ammirato has 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) in 16 games. The 13 assists are tied for third-best in the circuit.

Light (USHL)

F Tyler Hynes (Omaha, USHL) was held off the scoresheet over the weekend, but the Guilderland native has gotten off to a strong start with 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 13 contests. For a recent feature on Hynes, click here.

D Connor Light (Omaha, USHL) collected the first point of his junior hockey career with an assist in Omaha's 4-1 win over Lincoln on Saturday. Light, who has appeared in 11 games this season, is ninth in the league with a plus-10 rating.

F Ryan Scarfo (Powell River, BCHL) picked up a goal in Powell River's 4-3 loss to Nanaimo on Friday, and an assist in Powell River's 4-1 win over Nanaimo on Saturday. Scarfo has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 18 games. He ranks in the top 10 in the league in goals (10th) and points (9th).

2015-2016 RECRUITS

F Mark Dufour (Islanders Hockey Club, USPHL Premier) has seven points (6 goals, 1 assist) in 11 games. The six goals rank second on the team. After a weekend off, the Islanders Hockey Club returns to action this coming weekend for two games against the Connecticut Yankees.

F Brett Supinski (Connecticut Wolf Pack U-18 National team) has piled up 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 29 games. Supinski is the most recently announced recruit; he committed to the program last week.

G Joe Young (Philadelphia Flyers, USPHL Premier) turned aside 25-of-27 shots as the Flyers downed the P.A.L Junior Islanders, 7-2, on Saturday. Young's 2.67 goals against average is fourth-best in the league, and his .927 save percentage is tied for third-best.

2016-2017 RECRUITS

F Wade Novak (New Jersey Colonials U-16 National team) has accumulated 14 points (9 goals, 5 assists) in 8 games. He leads the team in points and goals. The Colonials haven't played since Oct. 6; they resume play this weekend. Novak is the younger brother of current Dutchmen forward Max Novak.


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Dutchmen recruit Hynes excelling in second USHL season

by Ryan Fay

Guilderland native and former Albany Academy forward Tyler Hynes was supposed to make his debut with the Union men's hockey team this fall.

But the 19-year-old recruit opted to wait another year and play a second season with the United States Hockey League's Omaha Lancers, where he recorded 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 53 games last season.

"I wasn't real happy with my performance last year," Hynes said. "My goal is to be the best player that I can when I get to Union. I didn't think I was ready this year, and I didn't want to wait a year or two at Union to get into the hang of things and get up to that speed."

Hynes

The decision to return to Omaha for a second season is paying off; his second season with the Lancers is proving to be a substantial improvement over his first.

Hynes is on pace to easily blow past his numbers from a season ago, as he has already accumulated nine points (four goals, five assists) in his first 11 games. Last year, he didn't collect his ninth point until February.

Hynes pointed to a change in his role as one key to his fast start this season.

"Last year, they had me as a real physical guy, more of a fourth-line, defensive-minded player," Hynes said. "This season, [first-year Lancers head coach Brian] Kaufman has given me more freedom offensively. He's put me with some more skilled players. I like to see myself as a little creative player, not uber-skilled, but skilled enough to be more than a fourth-line guy who's just going to lay the body. I got a little too into that role last year, and away from what got me there to that point."

Hynes also credited spending time over the summer at NHL skills coach Paul Vincent's development camp, something several other Union players have done in recent years.

"I did things there that I had never done before with my skating and especially my stick-handling," Hynes said. "Stick-handling is the biggest difference in my game. It has allowed me to create more time and space for myself. I've always had a pretty good shot, but last year I had trouble getting it off and trouble creating space. This year, I've added an extra step, which has helped me get around defenders instead of getting rubbed off into the boards. The game is a lot easier when you have a split-second more of space."

Kaufman, an assistant coach with the Lancers last season, added he sees another change in Hynes this year.

"He has a lot more confidence," Kaufman said. "Last year was a little bit of an adjustment for Tyler with a new league and a new surrounding. He knows he's ready to go now."

Despite the gains Hynes has made this season, Kaufman said there is still room for improvement before the forward makes his Union debut next fall.

"Just some of the details of the game, like making sure he's on the defensive side of pucks at all times," Kaufman said. "His compete level is great, but sometimes he's outside of the system. He runs around a little bit at times. He needs to continue to work on the mental side of the game."

When Hynes joins the Dutchmen, Kaufman said Union will be getting a player who can impact the game in a multitude of ways.

"He can be a great second or third line player," said Kaufman, who played Division I hockey at Miami (Ohio) from 2005-2009. "He'll play in front of the net on a power play, he's very good on the penalty kill, and he'll be a great energy guy. He'll finish checks, block shots, and do a lot of things not a lot of people are willing to do."

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Dutchmen land Supinski for 2015-16

by Ryan Fay

Union picked up a commitment from Millbrook School forward Brett Supinski for the 2015-16 season on Thursday.

The 18-year-old led Millbrook in scoring as a junior last season with 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) in 20 games.

After he graduates from Millbrook in the spring, the 5-foot-11, 165-pounder will play junior hockey for a year before arriving at Union.

Supinski's commitment was first reported by Chris Heisenberg.

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Union Recruit Recap - 10/19/13

by Ryan Fay

It's time for another recap of the latest happenings among Dutchmen recruits.

2014-2015 commit Roman Ammirato (Amarillo, NAHL) collected three helpers in Amarillo's 7-1 romp over Corpus Christi on Friday, giving the forward 13 points (3 g, 10 a) through 11 contests. His 10 assists are tied for fourth in the league, and his 13 points are tied for fifth-best.

Hynes (USHL)

Guilderland native Tyler Hynes (Omaha, USHL) picked up a goal and an assist in Omaha's 5-3 victory at Chicago on Friday. The forward leads the league with a plus-10 rating, and has seven points (2 g, 5 a) through seven games. The offensive output has been a nice step-up from last year, when the 19-year-old went 6-9--15 in 53 games. Hynes, a teammate of current Dutchmen defenseman Jeff Taylor when the two were at Albany Academy, is set to join the Dutchmen next fall.

Another Omaha player arriving at Union next autumn is 6-foot-5 defenseman Connor Light. While Light remains without a point through seven games, he is tied for third on the team with a plus-7 rating.

Forward Ryan Scarfo (Powell River, BCHL) has potted a goal in three straight contests. Overall, the former Governor's Academy standout has 18 points (9 g, 9 a) through 13 games. His 18 points are tied for seventh-best in the circuit, while his nine goals are tied for fifth-best. Scarfo, 19, is slated to join Union next season, but is already on the radar of NHL teams.

Forward Mark Dufour, a 2015-2016 commit, has four goals in six games with the Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL-Premier). He missed four games after breaking and badly cutting a finger, but returned on Oct. 10.

Goaltender Joe Young, another 2015-2016 commit, has appeared in nine games for the Philadelphia Flyers (USPHL-Premier). He ranks fifth in the league with a 2.67 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. The 19-year-old hasn't allowed more than two goals in a game since Sept. 28, when he allowed four at the Junior Bruins.

Max Novak's younger brother, Wade Novak, recently committed to Union for the 2016-2017 season. Season stats are unavailable for the 16-year-old forward, who is currently skating with the New Jersey Colonials Midget 16 National Team.

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Novak commits to Dutchmen

by Ryan Fay

New Jersey Colonials Midget 16 National Team forward Wade Novak has committed to Union for the 2016-2017 season.

"Interesting player," the U.S Hockey Report wrote of Novak. "High skill level. Good skater with a quick set of hands. Our guess is that his name will be one we hear a lot in the coming years."

Novak, 16, spent last season with the New Jersey Hitmen of the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League. The 5-foot-10, 145-pounder scored 14 points (5 g, 9 a) in 18 regular season contests before recording two points (1 g, 1 a) in four playoff games.

Novak is the younger brother of current Union forward Max Novak.

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Big NAHL debut for Ammirato

by Ryan Fay

Men's hockey recruit Roman Ammirato had an impressive debut with the Amarillo Bulls of the North American Hockey League.

The forward scored a goal and added two assists in Amarillo's season-opening 6-3 win over Johnstown on Wednesday. The contest was part of the NAHL Showcase, which concludes September 22.

Big offensive numbers are nothing new for Ammirato. He scored 83 points (34 goals, 49 assists) in 51 games last season with Cornwall and Hawkesbury of the Central Canada Hockey League.

Ammirato, 20, will join the Dutchmen next season.

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Recruit Recap - 9/17/13

by Ryan Fay

Several Dutchmen recruits have already started their season, and here's what they have done so far:

F Ryan Scarfo is off to a scorching start with the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League. The 19-year-old missed last season due to injury, but has quickly regained his stride as he currently leads the BCHL with 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) through four regular season games.
ETA at Union: 2014-2015

Scarfo (cred: BCHL.ca)

F Mark Dufour is also off to a hot start. Dufour has three goals through three regular season games with the Islanders Hockey Club of the United States Primier Hockey League.
ETA at Union: 2014-2015 or 2015-2016

D Connor Light has two goals in three preseason games with the Omaha Lancers of the U.S Hockey League. Both of Light's tallies were game winning goals.
ETA at Union: 2014-2015 

F Roman Ammirato and the rest of the Amarillo Bulls of the North American Hockey League will take part in the upcoming NAHL Showcase, which runs from September 18-22 in Blaine, Minnesota. The Bulls will play four regular season games in the showcase.
ETA at Union: 2014-2015 

G Joe Young stopped 18-of-20 shots, but was hung with a hard luck loss as the Philadelphia Junior Flyers of the USPHL fell 3-1 to the Portland Junior Pirates on September 7.
ETA at Union: 2015-2016

F Tyler Hynes has not appeared in preseason action for Omaha (USHL).
ETA at Union: 2014-2015

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Eyewitness Report: Ryan Scarfo

by Ryan Fay

Up next in "Eyewitness Report" is 2014-2015 men's hockey recruit Ryan Scarfo.

A multi-sport standout at Governor's Academy (hockey, baseball, soccer), Scarfo enjoyed a strong junior season on the hockey team in 2011-2012. He led the team with 15 goals and finished second with 29 points in 29 games played.

But his senior season on the ice never got off the ground. After sustaining a broken collarbone during soccer season last fall, Scarfo was kept out of hockey action until January. According to the U.S Hockey Report, he then suffered a season-ending separated shoulder on his first shift back with the hockey team.

As Governor's Academy boys varsity hockey head coach Leon Hayward explains, Scarfo is healthy again and offers Dutchmen fans plenty of reasons to be excited.

------------
Ryan Scarfo
Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 | DOB: 3/3/94 | Position: F | Shoots: L
Previous Team: Governor's Academy (MA) (NEPSIHA)
2011-2012 Stats: 29 gms, 15 g, 14 a, 29 pts (junior season)
2012-2013 Stats: Injured (senior season)
2013-2014 Team: Powell River Kings (BCHL)
Joining the Dutchmen for the 2014-2015 season
STRENGTHS: Scarfo is a strong skater with quick hands and a pro release. His release is probably his biggest weapon as a scorer. He has a strong hockey IQ. He also plays an extremely consistent game, and was always a factor in our biggest games. There is a pro element to his make-up as a player and as a person. He has never been afraid to outwork anyone. - Hayward

AREAS OF REFINEMENT: During his junior year, he passed the puck too often. I would like to see him shoot the puck more on a regular basis. Like any young, skilled offensive player, he needs to continue to work at his defensive game. - Hayward

HEALTH REPORT: He is young, so it is more a mental thing than battling the physical side of things. In the BCHL, he will need to be physical and bump guys, and from there he can really start to move forward towards getting his timing and game back. He has already played tournament games this summer, so as he heads off to Powell River, he is feeling strong and confident. He also put on about 10 pounds of muscle and is pushing 190-plus pounds. - Hayward

PROJECTION: He can become a high-end guy who scores and defends against the opposition's top lines. Union has a steal; he's someone who will help lead them to many more Frozen Four appearances. - Hayward

DID YOU KNOW?: Scarfo served as the senior class president at Governor's Academy last year.

Eyewitness Report: Mark Dufour

by Ryan Fay

In this installment of "Eyewitness Report," Kents Hill School boys varsity hockey head coach Larry Cockrell breaks down the game of his former player, Union men's hockey recruit Mark Dufour. Cockrell discusses Dufour's strengths, weaknesses, and what he could develop into at the Division I level.

Mark Dufour
Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 | DOB: 6/26/95 | Position: F | Shoots: R
2012-2013 Team: Kents Hill School (ME) (NEPSIHA)
2012-2013 Stats: 32 gm, 25 g, 15 a, 40 pts
2013-2014 Team: Middlesex Islanders (USPHL)Joining the Dutchmen in the fall of 2014 or 2015

Dufour (cred: Samantha McMahon)

STRENGTHS: Mark has very good size and handles the puck and puck protects extremely well. He also shoots the puck very well, so you couple those two strengths, and he is deadly around the net. I always felt if he was anywhere near the net in a scoring situation he would more often than not beat the goalie. - Cockrell

AREAS OF REFINEMENT: He will have to work on the other side of the puck -- playing good defense. He is totally capable of being tough defensively given his size and skating ability, but he tends to think too offensive sometimes (though that makes him a threat, too). Also, because he has very good hands, he sometimes holds on to the puck too long and puts himself in a bad position. As he matures as a player and learns to give the puck up to get it back, he will take his game to a totally new level. - Cockrell

PROJECTION: Mark is a very talented player who knows how to put the puck in the net. He is highly competitive and has a bit of a mean streak; he will battle. As he matures physically and as a player, I have no doubt he could be an impact power forward at the Division I level. - Cockrell

RELATED: Eyewitness reports on Michael Pontarelli and Connor Light 

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Eyewitness Reports on Pontarelli, Light

by Ryan Fay

It has been a busy last seven days in Union hockey recruiting.

Cornwall Colts forward Michael Pontarelli is joining the Dutchmen this fall, a year earlier than expected, while former Phillips Academy Andover (MA) prep defenseman Connor Light committed for the 2014-2015 season.

Few Dutchmen fans have ever seen either prospect play, so for some additional insight, I went to a couple people who have.

Michael Pontarelli  Height: 5'7" | Weight: 183 | DOB: 12/22/93 | Position: F | Shoots: R
2012-2013 Team: Cornwall Colts (CCHL)
2012-2013 Stats: 53 gm, 52 g, 55 a, 107 ptsJoining Dutchmen this season
Cornwall Colts assistant coach Dustin Traylen, previously a goaltender at Clarkson from 2002-2005, weighs in on Pontarelli:

Pontarelli (cred: Pointstreaks)

"Michael has been an offensive machine over the last few years. He was far and away the best offensive player in the CCHL last season. He is a consistent scorer and that can be attributed to his diligent work on and off the ice. He is a game-changer and a difference maker in almost every game that he is a part of.

Michael is deceptively powerful; he is a baby faced assassin. He is really on strong the puck, which will serve him well in the corners at places like Cornell. He worked very hard on learning to play a solid two-way game last year, which previously had been a knock on him. His improvement is due in large part to Colts head coach Ian MacInnis, who worked tirelessly with him to improve that aspect of his game.

As [junior "A" hockey] player of the year in Canada, and more importantly a two-way contributor on [our] championship team, there is not a whole lot more we could have asked of him at the junior level.

It's never fair to look too far ahead, but if Michael continues to learn and adapt at the rate that he's going, he could be a four year force [at Union]. If the chemistry with his linemates is good early, you can anticipate production early and often."

Connor Light
Height: 6'5" | Weight: 205 | DOB: 2/8/95 | Position: D | Shoots: L
2012-2013 Team: Phillips Academy Andover (MA) (NEPSIHA)
2012-2013 Stats: 25 gm, 6 g, 5 a, 11 pts
2013-2014 Team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)Committed for 2014-2015 season
Phillips Academy Andover (MA) boys varsity hockey head coach Dean Boylan, formerly a defenseman at Yale from 1970-1973, breaks down Light:
 
"Connor obviously has great size (6'5"/205), but he has an exceptional skill set to complement that size. He has good hands and very good feet for a big man. He can shoot; he scored three goals in one period last year.

Light (cred: Phillips Academy)

He is still learning to make good decisions coming out of the zone. I can say the same thing about any young defenseman that I have coached.

I think Connor can eventually develop into a shut down defenseman who is sent out to play against the other team's top unit. As I said, he also has some very good offensive skills."


RELATED: Hawkesbury coach high on Union recruit Roman Ammirato

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Pontarelli joins incoming class

by Ryan Fay

Add one more player to list of incoming men's hockey recruits.

Michael Pontarelli, who most recently played for the Central Canada Hockey League's Cornwall Colts, will debut with the Dutchmen this fall. The highly-touted forward was scheduled to arrive for the 2014-2015 campaign, but the door opened to come a year early when Josh Jooris gave up his senior season and signed with the Calgary Flames on July 30.

Pontarelli (icelevel.com)

The 5-foot-8, 187-pound Pontarelli dominated in 53 games with the Colts last season. Despite missing the start of the season with mono, he led the circuit with 52 goals, 14 more than any other player. His 107 points also paced the league while his 55 assists ranked fifth. He was a major weapon on the power-play, finishing third in the league with 17 power-play tallies.

Pontarelli, a native of Laval, Quebec, was a big reason why Cornwall won the CCHL championship, netting 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 19 postseason contests.

The forward ended up with more hardware on his shelf than a hardware store, skating away with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Most Valuable Player award, the CJHL Top Forward award, the CCHL MVP, and the CCHL Sportsmanship and Ability Award.

Pontarelli, 19, figures to be a welcome addition to a team that will be looking to replace four 25-plus point scorers. In addition to Jooris, the fourth-leading scorer on last year's team with 28 points, the Dutchmen graduated Wayne Simpson (36 points), Kyle Bodie (33 points), and Greg Coburn (28 points). Simpson and Bodie were Union's top two scorers last year and Coburn was tied for fourth with Jooris.

Pontarelli tweeted his intention to return for a second season with Cornwall earlier this summer after a chance to play with the U.S Hockey League's Muskegon Lumberjacks didn't come together. The Lumberjacks traded up to select Pontarelli in the fifth round of the 2013 USHL draft.

Joining Pontarelli in this season's nine-member freshman class are forward Alex Gonye, defenseman Noah Henry, defenseman Matt Krug, forward Eli Lichtenwald, defenseman Griffyn Martin, goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos, defenseman Jeff Taylor and forward Mike Vecchione.

RELATED: Dutchmen wasted little time calling on Pontarelli

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Union the "obvious choice" for Light

by Ryan Fay

Phillips Academy product Connor Light recently committed to Union for the 2014-2015 season, and he didn't have a shortage of suitors at the Division I level.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound defenseman was also courted by three of Union's biggest league rivals: Cornell, Rensselaer, and Yale. Vermont, which is coached by former Union head coach Kevin Sneddon, also had interest in the 18-year-old.

But for Light, who had six goals and five assists in 25 games for Phillips last season, Union was the "obvious choice" for a combination of reasons.

"I knew I wanted to end up in the ECAC since over the past several years the league has proved to be one of the top leagues in college hockey, if not the best," Light explained. "Being back-to-back ECAC champions proves what Union is capable of and I just felt very comfortable with head coach Rick Bennett and his staff. [Union] is clearly a program that can develop players and push them to the next level, so I'm excited to have the opportunity to play for a proven program.

"Union is also a great place to be from an academic perspective, which really made Union the obvious choice for me."

As for what Union's staff liked about him, Light said, "I think the staff really liked my work ethic, knowing several of my coaches, how much improvement I've made to my game over the past couple years, and trying to be more than just a big, stay at home defenseman."

Light will play one season with the U.S. Hockey League's Omaha Lancers before joining the Dutchmen next fall. The Lancers drafted him in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2013 USHL draft. He'll be teammates this season with another Union recruit, forward Tyler Hynes, who will also join the Dutchmen next fall.

Light said he enters the upcoming season with a few clear objectives.

"At this point, I am more of a raw athlete than a refined hockey player, so hopefully this year in Omaha I can refine my skills and work on applying my physical abilities to the game," Light said. "This year should be a good way to challenge myself with a much quicker pace than what I am used to in prep school, so I'm excited to get out there and get to work."

NHL Central Scouting ranked him 185th among North American skaters in its final 2013 NHL draft rankings. The Sudbury, Massachusetts native wasn't drafted.

VIDEO: Connor Light 2012-2013 season highlights (Light is #2 in navy blue).

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Recruiting notes on Ammirato, Hynes

by Ryan Fay

Roman Ammirato, who recently committed to Union for the 2014-2015 season, played just 22 games for Shawn Anderson's Hawkesbury Hawks last season.

But the 5-foot-8, 157-pound centerman left a big impression.

Ammirato (Cornwall Standard-Freeholder)

"He is a very exciting and dynamic player," said Anderson, the co-owner/head coach of the Hawks, who acquired Ammirato in a January trade with Cornwall.

Anderson, a teammate of Union head coach Rick Bennett on the 1994-1995 Hershey Bears, also praised Ammirato for his compete level and scoring touch.

"Roman's strength as a player is that he is always competing," Anderson said. "You would think looking at him that he will be out-battled in one-on-one situations. It is the opposite; he wins most of his one-on-one's with his speed and smarts.

"His size is deceiving and he plays a lot like [Tampa Bay Lightning forward] Martin St. Louis. He scores points whether it is filling the net or making the plays to help put the puck into the net."

Ammirato scored points in spades last year, finishing as the fourth-leading scorer in the Central Canada Hockey League with 83 points (34 goals, 49 assists) in 61 games played between stops in Cornwall and Hawkesbury.

According to Anderson, Union was one of "four or five" schools he spoke with about Ammirato after the Williamstown, New Jersey native joined his club in January.

Anderson said Ammirato could be a "highlight player" at the Division I level, but could still benefit from adding additional physical strength as he moves up the hockey chain.

The 19-year-old will play this upcoming year with Amarillo of the North American Hockey League prior to coming to Union for the 2014-2015 season.

"It will be very difficult to fill the void of a player like Roman. We will miss him on the ice," Anderson said. "The Hawks are very proud of Roman and wish him all the best."

ARRIVAL DELAYED

Union fans will have to wait a year to watch forward Tyler Hynes, who was previously expected to join the Dutchmen this fall.

Hynes, a Slingerlands native who played prep hockey at Albany Academy with incoming defenseman Jeff Taylor, has decided to play a second season with the U.S Hockey League's Omaha Lancers. He's now scheduled to arrive at Union in 2014-2015.

"I was supposed to come in this year but I felt like I wasn't ready and the coaches at Union supported my decision to stay in the USHL one more year," Hynes said. "I want to be the best player I can be when I get to Union and in this case that meant playing another year of junior hockey."

In 53 games played with Omaha last season, the 19-year-old had six goals and nine assists.

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Ammirato commits to Union

by Ryan Fay

Roman Ammirato, a center for the Hawkesbury Hawks of the Central Canada Hockey League, announced on Wednesday that he has committed to Union for the 2014-2015 season.

"Off to play D1 Hockey at Union College in 2014-2015," Ammirato tweeted. "Couldn't be any happier!! #Dutchmen #UnrealFeeling."

The 20-year-old Williamstown, New Jersey native spent the past two seasons in the Central Canada Hockey League.

He started last season with the Cornwall Colts, where he was a teammate of fellow 2014-2015 Union recruit Michael Pontarelli. Ammirato was traded to the Hawks in early January. Between the two stops, he played in 61 games and finished as the fourth-leading scorer in the CCHL with 83 points (34 goals, 49 assists).

The 5-foot-8, 157-pound Ammirato piled up 34 points (19 goals, 15 assists) in 37 games with the Colts during the 2011-2012 season.

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Recruit Pontarelli picks up two more awards

by Ryan Fay

Men's hockey recruit Michael Pontarelli has added two more awards to his mantle.

The Cornwall Colts forward was named the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Most Valuable Player and the CJHL Top Forward earlier this week. This season marks the first time those awards were handed out.

He previously won the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) MVP and the CCHL Sportsmanship and Ability Award.

Pontarelli, 19, paced the CCHL in scoring this past season with 52 goals and 55 assists in 53 games.

He will probably play another year in Cornwall before arriving at Union in the fall of 2014.