Today in the Duluth News Tribune and online at duluthnews.com, I take a look at the four recruits Minnesota Duluth will bring in next season. Neal Pionk and Adam Johnson of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, Parker Mackay of the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints and Nick Deery, goaltender for the Stienbach Pistons of the MJHL, will make up the Bulldogs’ 2015-16 freshman class, with the possibility of one other recruit maybe joining them should head coach Scott Sandelin feel the need to replace freshman Brett Boehm, who left the program mid season.
Below is a breakdown of UMD verbal commitments who are projected to come to campus beyond the 2015-16 season. Recruits are broken down by birth year (Name, Position, Primary 2014-15 Team, Primary 2014-15 League, Birthday, Age on Sept. 1, 2015). Stats are as of April 9, 2015, so prior to Friday’s games.
1995
Hunter Miska, G, Penticton, BCHL, 7/7/95, 20
Miska has backstopped Penticton to the BCHL finals series. He’s 45-13-3 with a 1.91 goals against average and .932 save percentage. Miska will join the Bulldogs in 2016-17 after Matt McNeely graduates.
1996
Nick Wolff, D, Des Moines, USHL, 7/21/96, 19
Woldd has a goal and 10 assists in 48 games with a minus-6 rating for Des Moines, which will not make the USHL playoffs. With seven defensemen returning, plus Pionk coming in next year, there’s no room for Wolff yet. He’ll join UMD in 2016-17, unless junior Andy Welinski is lured away a year early by Anaheim.
Josh Laframboise, F, Salmon Arm, BCHL, 8/30/96, 19
Laframboise has nine goals and five assists through 36 games this year. Right now he’s projected to join UMD in 2016-17, but would be the most-likely candidate among those currently committed to join UMD next season if Sandelin feels he needs another forward.
1997
Kobe Roth, F, Warroad, MSHSL, 1/11/97, 18
Roth battled a reported ankle sprain this season. According to Hockey Hub, he only appeared in 12 games, finishing with 12 goals and five assists, though half of his goals came in Warroad’s first section game. Des Moines owns his USHL rights. Roth could join UMD next year, but 2016-17 looks more likely when UMD has to replace a large junior class.
Jarod Hilderman, D, Penticton, BCHL, 4/11/97, 18
Hilderman totaled a goal and 12 assists in 65 games for Penticton, which is playing for a BCHL championship. Based on the Bulldogs’ defensive needs in 2016-17, you’ll probably see him in Duluth then with current teammate Miska.
Nick Swaney, F, Lakeville South, MSHSL, 9/9/97, 17
Swaney posted 29 goals and 32 assists in 27 games for Lakeville South. What’s even more encouraging is he’s now finishing 2014-15 with Waterloo in the USHL, where he has eight goals and two assists through 13 games. Waterloo isn’t in the USHL playoffs. Swaney could join UMD either in 2016-17 or 2017-18.
Phelan Shaw, D, Okotoks, AJHL, 10/9/97, 17
Shaw started 2014-15 with the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs before he was released and picked up by Okotoks. In 44 AJHL games, he totaled two goals and 14 assists. Based on what UMD currently has at defense and what is coming in, Shaw will arrive in Duluth in 2017-18.
Michael Graham, F, Eden Praire, MSHSL, 11/27/97, 17
In 30 games, Graham scored 26 goals and 23 assists for Eden Praire, which finished fourth in Class AA this year in the state tournament. Graham’s USHL rights are owned by the Fargo Force. If he makes the jump to juniors next year, he could join UMD in 2016-17, otherwise he’ll arrive in 2017-18.
1998
Riley Tufte, F, Blaine, MSHSL, 4/10/98, 17
He scored 29 goals and 34 assists in 30 games for Blaine, which lost in the consolation game of the Class AA state tournament. He’s finishing 2014-15 with Fargo in the USHL and through seven games has a goal and four assists. Fargo won’t be making the USHL playoffs. Tufte could play for UMD in 2017-18 or 2018-19.
Joey Anderson, F, USNTDP U-17, USHL, 6/19/98, 17
Anderson was the second leading point scorer and second in goals on the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-17 squad this season, totaling 21 goals and 21 assists in 53 games. He could be on campus as soon as the 2016-17 season after he plays for the USNTDP U-18 squad next year.
Scott Perunovich, D, Hibbing, MSHSL, 8/18/98, 17
The newest Bulldogs recruit finished with 11 goals and 45 assists in 27 games as a sophomore for Hibbing. His USHL rights are owned by Cedar Rapids of the USHL. The earliest he could join UMD is 2017-18 or 2018-19.
1999
Matt Anderson, D, Holy Family, MSHSL, 4/11/99, 16
Anderson posted seven goals and 27 assists in 27 games for Holy Family this season. He’s undrafted by the USHL as of now, but that should change in June if he isn’t tendered before than. He could join UMD in 2017-18 or 2018-19.
Mikey Anderson, D, Hill Murray, MSHSL, 5/25/99, 16
The younger brother of the USNTDP’s Joey Anderson – neither is related to Matt Anderson – recently signed a tender with Waterloo of the USHL, meaning he must play at least 55 percent of next season in Waterloo. In 30 games with Hill Murray, Anderson scored eight goals and seven assists. He’s no stranger to moving up the hockey ranks fast having played varsity hockey as an eighth grader. Anderson can join UMD as early as 2017-18.