It’s early in the junior hockey seasons and the high school/prep seasons have yet to begin, but it’s time to take a look at the 17 players who have either signed national letters-of-intent or given verbal commitments to the University of Vermont men’s hockey program.
UVM head coach Kevin Sneddon cannot comment on any recruit until the student-athlete has signed an LOI and been admitted to the university. However, numerous online sites carry statistics of many players in the junior, prep or high school ranks.
Listed below are 2014-15 statistics as of Nov. 24 for the 17 current recruits with team, games, goals-assists-points, penalty minutes if available. The anticipated year of attendance for each player is subject to change.
Note: The status of some players previously listed as committed to UVM has changed and are no longer listed here. This is the up-to-date list as of Nov. 24.
Scheduled to enter 2015
F Drew Best, 5-10, 175; Plymouth, MI
Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) 7 games 1-3-4 16 PIM (no longer with team)
Omaha Lancers (USHL) 5 games 0-4-4 0 PIM (current team)
F Ross Colton, 5-7, 141; Robbinsville, NJ
Cedar Rapids Roughriders (USHL) 17 games 6-8-14 4 PIM
F LiamCoughlin, 6-3, 185; South Boston, MA
Vernon Vipers (BCHL); 22 games 9-9-18 14 PIM
F Tyler Gernhofer, 5-10, 195; Grapevine, Texas
Bloomington Thunder (USHL) 11 games 2-1-3 6 PIM (no longer with team)
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) 6 games 2-1-3 0 PIM (current team)
F Conor O’Neil, 6-1, 191; Hummelstown, NJ
New Jersey Hitmen (USPHL Premier); 24 games, 12-27-39, 39 PIM
F Craig Puffer, 5-8, 160; New Canaan, CT
Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL); 24 games, 19-8-27, 18 PIM
D Mike Lee, 6-0, 180; Hamden, CT
Penticton Vees (BCHL); 26 games 0-10-10 12 PIM
D Matthew O’Donnell, 5-11, 180; Fountain Valley, CA
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) 13 games 0-3-3 4 PIM
Scheduled to enter 2015/16
F Brian Bowen, 6-1, 210; Littleton, MA
Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) 14 4-5-9 2 PIM
F Alex Esposito, 6-0, 200; West Haven, CT
Loomis-Chaffee (NEPSHC) (season not underway)
G Stefanos Lekkas, 5-9, 146; Elburn, IL
Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) 9 games 2.69 .904
Scheduled to enter 2016
D Joe O’Connor, 6-2, 200; Hamden, CT
Westminster School (season not underway)
Scheduled to enter 2016/17
F Ace Cowans, 5-7, 150; Beverly, MA
Groton School (USHS) (season not underway)
F Martin Frechette, 5-8, 150; Rockland, Ontario
Cumberland Grads (CCHL) 29 games 4-8-12 4 PIM
F Max Kaufman, 5-7, 160; Pittsford, NY
Kent School (NEPSHC) (season not underway)
D Austin Dittenhafer, 6-3, 194; Peque, PA
Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack (EHL) 14 games 1-3-4 12 PIM
USA-S17 5 games 0-1-1 n/a PIM
D Owen Grant, 5-11, 180; Stittsville, Ontario
Carleton Place Canadians (CCCHL) 16 games 0-2-2 6 PIM
Correspondent Ted Ryan covers college hockey for The Burlington Free Press. Contact him at TedRyanVT@aol.com and follow him on Twitter at @TedRyanVT.
