| UMass Lowell Riverhawks 2009/2010 Recruiting Information (Stats through games as of 02/09/09) |
| This will be Coach Blaise MacDonald's eighth recruiting class at UML and it will be a relatively small one. There will be 3 seniors graduating during the summer of 2009; Nick Monroe, Mike Potacco and Mark Roebothan (all forwards). Coach MacDonald began last year to start to even out the classes bringing in 7 freshmen to cover one graduating senior, the expectation is to see 3-5 freshmen added to the program in the fall of 2009. Players that have signed an NLI (National Letter of Intent) will be highlighted in red. Players in this class cannot sign an NLI till November of 2009. |
UML currently has three commitments for the class of 2013. The first commitment came in early March of 2008 from defenseman Colin Wright of the Burlington Cougars (OPJHL). It's apparent that as UMass Lowell was recruiting current freshmen Tim Carr and Michael Budd, they must have been impressed enough by Wright to offer him. Having the chance to play with a couple of friends might have been one of the reasons the 6', 187 Burlington, Ontario native committed to UML. Wright (born 4/3/89) currently has a 11-39-50 line in 46 games (with 90 PIM). Wright's 46 points has him in sixth in scoring for defensemen. Wright finished the 07/08 season at Burlington with a 16-26-42 line in 49 games with just 30 PIM. Seven of his goals were on the power play. Lowell's second commitment also came in March of 2008, this time from 6', 185 pound forward Riley Wetmore of the Green Mountain Glades (EJHL). His freshman year at Lowell, Wetmore will be one of four Green Mountain Glades on the team along with seniors Barry Goers, Tommy Powers and Paul Worthington. Born 7/28/89, Wetmore currently is the second leading scorer in the EJHL with a 30-34-64 line in 37 games, with 54 PIM. Lowell's received a commitment in early November from a local Massachusetts recruit playing in the Midwest. Joe Caveney of the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL). Originally from Fitchburg, MA, the 6', 190 pounder is a forward with one assist in 4 games this year. The speculation in this corner is that Caveney (born 7/5/88) will be a recruited walk-on at Lowell, coming in at the age of 21. Caveney had played for the EJHL's New England Huskies for the 2006/2007 & 2007/2008 seasons, and had been an EJHL All-Star during the 07/08 season. During the 07/08 season, Caveney was the third leading scorer in the EJHL with a 22-38-60 line in 45 games, and he had posted a 12-25-37 line in 44 games the previous year. Lowell's most recent commitment came in mid November from a very young Robert Visca of the Orangeville Crushers (OPJHL). From Everett, Ontario, the 5'11", 190 pound forward was born 4/7/91. Visca seems like a very good get for Lowell. He's in his second year with the Cardinals, and put up an impressive 28-16-44 line in 49 games, as just a 16 year old during the 2007/2008 season. He was drafted by the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL in the 5th round as well. Visca had been hurt a bit this year, but has now put up a 17-16-33 line in just 26 games played (with 5 goals and 7 assists on the power play). He seems to be a scorer, who will be a wonderful addition at Lowell. Lowell's added another defensive recruit for 2009 with Chris Ickert of the Langley Chiefs (BCHL). From Abbotsford, BC, the dimunitive defenseman (only 5'7", and 165 pounds) was born 2/23/89. Ickert is currently in his fourth season with the Chiefs, having twice been named a Coastal Conference All Star. According to the Chiefs website, his nearly point per game production the last three years has helped make him one of the premiere offensive defensemen in the BCHL. He currently has played in 35 games, with a 5-16-21 line and only 24 PIM. In his first full season with the Chiefs (06/07), he had a 7-33-40 line in 58 games, while in 07/08, he put together a 4-34-38 in 47 games. The last Langley Chief to head to UMass Lowell of course was Ben Walter. Ickert was chosen by the Regina Pats (and traded immediately to the Calgary Hitmen) in the WHL’s 2004 Bantam Draft. Ickert was the 62nd pick in the draft, and the second pick of the fourth round. |