Since many schools do list their early commitments, it's interesting to see that one of the best incoming classes in the fall of 1999 belongs to Merrimack College. That says a lot for a school that is hampered by an administration that doesn't really care much for hockey, and has an arena (the Volpe Center) that Peewee leagues might not really enjoy playing in. Coach Serino has obviously used many of the contacts that he established while up at UNH to help in his first full year of recruiting, and that has helped him get at least one player who would normally only have looked at Michigan, BU, BC, UNH or other programs of that high caliber. It seems like every Hockey East program will have good classes coming in, and that is a result of the league being perceived by many as the best College Hockey league in the nation.
Here is the final listing of the players that have committed to Lowell and some information on each. Two players that have been reported to be heading to Lowell since late 1998 were both not cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, and so will not be attending UMass Lowell. Those two players are goalie Martin Kresac, from Danville of the NAHL, and Christain Schonmoser of Surrey in the BCHL. There is also one more player that will be joining the Hawks, a transfer from Iona, who sat out the second semester last year, and must sit out one more semester in order to be able to join the Hawks in January.
Darryl Green, LD, Chatham (WOJHL). Green, the second of three defensemen currently being recruited by the Hawks would not be eligible for the 99/00 season if he were to join the team. Because he played five games for the S.S. Marie Greyhounds in the 1995-96 season, he won't suit up till October 2000. He almost became a River Hawk one year earlier, but it was decided he would be better off going to the juniors for one more year. Green is the oldest of Lowell's five recruits (born 4/9/78), and at 6'0", 188, will be able to handle himself well in Hockey East. Green, who is the Captain of the Maroons, is a very high scoring defenseman (52 games, 15 goals, 38 assists) averaging over a point per game and also averaging just under 4 PIM a game with 179 total penalty minutes. His 53 points make him the sixth highest scorer on his Maroons' team. Green is also a force on the power play, with eight of his fifteen goals coming on the man advantage.
Mark Concannon, C, Winchendon Prep and Steve Slonina, RD, BC High. Unfortunately, there isn't much information available in regards to these two Massachusetts kids. Both Slonina and Concannon have committed to Lowell and will be eligible in October 99. Concannon is 6'1", 190 pounds, born 6/12/80. Slonina is the youngest Lowell incoming freshman, born 4/3/81, and 5'11", 185 pounds. He is ranked by one recruiting website as the 24th best senior from the New England/New York area. He helped his BC High team all the way to the finals of the Super 8 Tournament in Massachusetts, losing to Catholic Memorial. Slonina is a very versatile player, and can play both defense and forward. The plan for Slonina is to move him to a wing position in college. Concannon played last year for DIII Hull High School last, and in his final year there put up a 38-35-73 line in just 20 games. Concannon is ranked 28th by the same website for New England/New York seniors. Just like Slonina, Concannon was part of a State Finalist team, but Concannon came out on the better side. Concannon's Winchendon Prep won the NEPSIHA DII Title 4-2, and he scored the first goal of the game. Concannon has the potential to be a sleeper for the Hawks, but must work on his speed. He does understand this though and is concentrating on improving that over the summer.
Josh Reed, D, Vernon Vipers (BCHL) has also committed to the River Hawks. Reed was born 05/21/79, and at 6'2, 204 is going to be yet another physical presence on the Hawks blue line. Reed has put up respectable numbers for a defenseman, with a 15-38-53 line in 54 games. He has also spent an average of two minutes a game in the penalty box, with 110 minutes on the year. He was one of the best defenseman in the BCHL last year, and is expected to play in all situations. His Vernon team won the Cup in Canada, as the best Junior Team, and more than seven players from that team will be playing in the NCAA's next year.
The River Hawks might have finally cornered one of their highest ranked players in a long time as US-Under 18 National Development Team player Ron Hainsey, LDhas committed to Lowell. Hainsey is ranked by one website as the fourth best defenseman, and 12th best player overall, in the New England/New York area. As far as I know, he is the first ever US U-18 player to commit to UML. Hainsey, born 3/24/81, is from Bolton, CT, and is 6'2", 165 pounds. His numbers on the U-18 team are 48 GP, 5-12-17, 3 power play goals, and 41 penalty minutes. There is some question about his attitude, but hopefully the coaching staff can make this kid into something special. He is also expected to come in and play in all situations for the Hawks.
Ed McGrane, RW, Milton Merchants (OPJHL) is one of the few forwards that has committed to Lowell. McGrane only played 24 games for the Merchants this year (he played for Hamilton at the start of the season). In the 49 games he played this year, McGrane has put up incredible 47-68-115 numbers. If he can carry that offensive prowess to D1 Hockey next year, that will be a big boost for the Hawks offense. McGrane was born in '78, and is 5'11" and 185 pounds. The Merchants are currently in the playoffs, but finished the regular season with an incredible 43-4-3 record, scoring over 6 goals per game. Coincidentally, Darren Hayder, the UNH Super Frosh who scored over 30 goals this past year, also played for Milton last year. The coaching staff expects him to play right off the bat next year, and expects that the fans will enjoy watching him play.
Tim Calabro, LW, Billerica is another Mass High School commitment, who I couldn't find much information on. Calabro's Billerica team did make it to the Division 1 state semifinals, where they lost to St. John's of Shrewsbury. Calabro did score a goal in the game. Born in 1978, Calabro is 6', 185 pounds, and was a Hockey Night In Boston Sophomore All-Star just two years ago. Calabro committed to the River Hawks on NESN during a Bruins game. He won the John E. Carleton Memorial Award, given to the best student athlete in the Eastern Massachusetts area. Former Lowell Coach Bruce Crowder and the Northeastern Huskies were also fighting for Calabro. The Hawks have requested Calabro to play in the juniors for one year, so River Hawks fans can look forward to seeing him play next year.
Jeremy Domish, D, Tecumseh Bulldogs is another defensive Lowell commitment. He plays in the same league as does Daryl Green, in the OPJHL. Dornish was born in 1979, 5'9", 47 games played with a 9'32'41 line, and 104 penalty minutes. He can not play or practice with the River Hawks, and will not be eligible till the following year.
Geoff Schomogyi, W, Milton Merchants (OPJHL) is the last River Hawk forward. The 5'11", 180 pounder plays on the same team as fellow River Hawk recruit Ed McGrane (listed above). Schomogyi, born in 1979, has put up almost the same type of numbers as McGrane in 50 games, with a 43-62-105 line. The forward is a speedster, who is excellent at skating up and down the ice, a-la Shannon Basaraba. He doesn't have the physical aspect of the game down yet, but is a willing learner.
Upon learning of Martin Kresac's not clearing the clearinghouse, the River Hawks signed Dan Weinreib, G, Choate as the last River Hawk in coming freshman. The goalie was ranked fourth best in the New England area by USHR. He isn't very big, but has lots of skills. Don't expect him to see much playing time next year, but he's a great security blanket to have behind the two sophomore goaltenders that will get most of the ice time next year.
Another recruit joining the River Hawks is defenseman Andy Wozneiwski, Dubuque Fighting Saints. Wozneiwski is a big and tall defenseman, at 6'3 and 195 pounds. Born May 25, 1980, the 19 year old is from Buffalo Grove, IL, and played for Stevenson High School before joining the USHL. While with the Saints last year, he put up a 9-8-17 line in 56 games, with 6 power play goals and 2 game winners.
Mike Sgroi, F, Tecumseh Bulldogs was a late Lowell commitment. He played last year on the same team as fellow Lowell recruit Jeremy DomishOPJHL. Sgroi is a big kid at 6'4", 210 pounds. His stats were 50 games played with a 42-32-74 line, and 214 penalty minutes. Prior to that he played for the Springfield Blues in the NAHL. Sgroi is originally from Orlando, Florida.
Finally, transfer Ken Farrell, F, Iona finishes off the list of new players fans can expect to see for the Hawks this year. A 6'0, 185 pound player, he will have to sit out one more semester before he can play. The Fort McMurray, Alberta native played one semester for Iona, putting up 5-14-19 numbers in 14 games.
Thanks to Chris Heisenber for his help with this information.
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