Posts Tagged ‘ncaa’
Total Package Hockey and Premier Ice Prospects Announce Open Registration for Smashville Girls Hockey Showcase
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Total Package Hockey “TPH” and Premier Ice Prospects “PIP” join forces to support the Smashville Girls Hockey Showcase for Tier I Girls’ teams, 12U-14U-16U-19U in conjunction with the Smashville NCAA Women’s Hockey Showcase to be held over Thanksgiving every year!
“The Predators are creating an amazing event that will couple elite girls’ hockey with the collegiate tournament; providing girls the opportunity to play in a high-level tournament and see some of the top caliber Division-one teams in action,” said Kathy Pippy, PIP Girls Hockey Director. “PIP is excited to partner with another industry leader, TPH to establish the Smashville Girls Hockey Showcase as a highly-competitive, highly-scouted annual event over Thanksgiving weekend!”
Last month the Nashville Predators announced the formation of the Smashville NCAA Women’s Hockey Showcase in partnership with TPH and PIP, indicating the 2021 participating collegiate teams will be 2021 NCAA Championship qualifiers Boston College Eagles and Colgate Raiders, who will be joined by the Mercyhurst Lakers and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. In 2022 the participating teams will include 2021 NCAA Champion Wisconsin Badgers, NCAA Runners-up Northeastern Huskies and Penn State Lions and Princeton Tigers.
“The Nashville Predators continue to lead by example in hockey, but most importantly, they also continue to do so in the community,” Total Package Hockey CEO Nathan Bowen said. “This support of and investment in growing women’s and girl’s hockey is just another of the many examples of the Predators organization’s consistent commitment and actions. We are excited for the opportunity to work with Premier Ice Prospects and the Nashville Predators to support this incredible opportunity for growth of girl’s hockey.”
The 2021 edition of the Smashville Girls Hockey Showcase will take place November 26-28th, with the NCAA games occurring on the 26th and 27th. Boston College will play Colgate and Minnesota will play Mercyhurst on Friday, with the winners of those games facing off in the championship game Saturday afternoon and the losers playing for bronze.
For additional information on the Smashville Girls Hockey Showcase, please go to www.premiericeprospects.com or click here to register your team today!
Michael Mancinelli Commits to Arizona State University
Congratulations to Michael Mancinelli for committing to Arizona State University. Michael is an alum of the TPH Center of Excellence program in Detroit. Again, congratulations and best of luck for the remainder of your USHL season and your transition to the college game.
Excited to become a sun devil! Looking forward to my next chapter🌞😈#forksup🔱 pic.twitter.com/yr9YCXVsBy
— Michael Mancinelli (@mikemance9) December 17, 2019
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TPH Thunder Alum Buncis Gets DI Commitment
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — The Johnstown Tomahawks are proud to announce that team captain Filips Buncis has committed to play Division I hockey at Arizona State University for the 2017-18 season.
Buncis, a native of Riga, Latvia, has played 124 games with the Tomahawks in three seasons. The 6-3 forward has scored 71 career points (21 goals, 50 assists) and was named the first European captain in Johnstown hockey history in September 2016.
He represented Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto earlier this season and was named to the NAHL Selects team at the 2017 Top Prospects Tournament in Plymouth, Mich. in February.
For Buncis, the chance to play Division I hockey at a burgeoning program like Arizona State is a “new challenge.”
“I really liked the coaching staff, the campus and I saw it as a new challenge for me to help build a new Division I program,” Buncis said. “I believe Arizona State is a great fit for me. They are building a great program there.”
Buncis will be joining fellow countryman and Aston defenseman Gvido Jansons with the Sun Devils in 2017-18.
“I grew up with him and we are great friends,” Buncis said. “I will be cool to play on the same team with at ASU.”
In three short seasons, Buncis has established himself as a fan favorite in Johnstown, place where Buncis will look back on fondly.
“It has been an unbelievable three years here in Johnstown,” Buncis said. “Johnstown is a great hockey town with the best fans in the league. I am really glad I spent three years in Johnstown.”
Buncis also had high praise for the Tomahawks coaching staff.
“They have been a huge part of my development and helped me prepare for the next level,” Buncis said. “They trusted me with the captaincy this season and that has helped me grow as a player and person this season.”
Located in Tempe, Ariz., the Arizona State Sun Devils are a newcomer to NCAA Division I hockey as the program transitioned to Division I play starting in 2014-15. They currently compete as an Independent with plans to join a conference in 2017-18.
Tomahawks head coach, Mike Letizia, was proud of his captain for announcing his commitment.
“I could not be prouder of our captain Filips Buncis on committing to Arizona State,” Letizia said. “Filips has been one of the most decorated players in our team’s history with all the international competition he has represented his country in, being the first European captain in Johnstown hockey history and now becoming a Division I hockey player.”
Letizia commented additionally that Buncis is dedicated to the Tomahawks and the community.
“Since he has been with the Tomahawks, he has grown his game tremendously through his hard work and dedication to our hockey club,” Letizia said. “He has been a fantastic leader for this year’s team. Filips will be able to help build the tradition of ASU hockey, and I firmly believe the best is yet to come for this outstanding young man.”
In addition to the many accolades he has earned while a Tomahawk, Buncis will be departing for Latvia to attend the Team Latvia World Championship team camp in hopes of making the official roster for the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Cologne, Germany and Paris.
“I will be practicing with the best players in Latvia, basically my idols growing up,” Buncis said.
The tournament begins May 5 and concludes May 21.
Buncis said he plans on coming back to lead the Tomahawks into the Robertson Cup playoffs.
“I want to win it all with this team,” he said. “I know we can do it. I want to bring the cup back to Johnstown!”
Johnstown returns to the Cambria County War Memorial Arena March 17-18 for a St. Patrick’s Green Out Weekend. The team will wear specialty Irish jerseys against the Aston Rebels presented by the Holiday Inn.
Recruiting: Max Sasson commits to Maine
By @MichaelCaples –
Max Sasson wanted this story to start with a message to young hockey players in the same spot he once was.
Keep working, even if you aren’t playing for the team you want.
“Before I start, I want to say for all the kids who are worried that they didn’t make a 14U team,” Sasson told MiHockey, “I did not make one top team before this year started.”
Sasson didn’t let his team situation get in the way of his hockey dreams. The 2000 birth-year player kept working, and this year, he seized the opportunity to play for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies midget minor team.
“OJG is the only place I could have played u16,” Sasson said.
Now, he’s telling MiHockey about why he picked the University of Maine for his college hockey career. Sasson has thrived with OJG, leading his team with 38 points in 31 games (as listed on the Tier 1 Elite League website). The Total Package Hockey Center of Excellence student said he found the ‘perfect fit’ at Maine.
“I picked Maine because when I went on a visit, I felt right at home,” Sasson said. “It was just a perfect fit and I knew right away.”
He’s still a few years away from suiting up for the Black Bears, but he said he’s excited to have the chance to one day play college hockey.
“I am beyond excited to play college hockey,” Sasson said. “I knew once I went to the game at the Harold Alford arena in Maine that it was a easy decision to go to college. The atmosphere, playing in front your friends, and studying what you choose that’s why I am playing college hockey.”
“We’re very proud of Max – a great example of how hard work pays off,” said TPH Detroit director of hockey Brandon Naurato. “He has fought through adversity to better himself and better his chances of becoming a college student-athlete. Now, he’s one step closer to earning his degree while playing D1 college hockey.”
TPH alum Nathan Krusko earns ECAC Rookie of the Week honors
TPH Thunder alum and current Harvard forward Nathan Krusko was named ECAC Rookie of the Week last week.
Krusko, a freshman from Alpharetta, Ga., tallied his first career hat trick in a 5-2 win over Quinnipiac on Jan. 6. In 16 games with the Crimson this season, Krusko has five goals and two assists for seven points.
With the TPH Thunder, Krusko averaged nearly a point per game in his midget major season, tallying 34 points in 35 games in 2013-14. He played his junior hockey for the Minnesota Magicians (NAHL) and Omaha Lancers (USHL).
TPH Detroit CoE student-athlete Tino Passarelli commits to Miami
Congratulations to TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athlete Valentino Passarelli on his commitment to Miami University.
The Honeybaked U16 standout is the 14th TPH Detroit CoE student to commit to an NCAA Division I school since 2014.
The 5-foot-9 forward has perennially been a star player for the Honeybaked program and has posted eight points in 12 games this season according to Eliteprospects. Passarelli was also drafted by the Fargo Force in the 2016 USHL Futures Draft.
Congrats to Tino on his commitment!
TPH alum Josh Wilkins named Hockey East Rookie of the Week
Congrats to TPH alum and Providence Friars forward Josh Wilkins, who was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Jan. 2.
From the Providence website:
“Providence College men’s hockey freshman Josh Wilkins (Raleigh, N.C.) was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week in an announcement made by the league on Monday (Jan. 2).
Wilkins put the Friars up 2-1 on the power play just 1:16 into the third period with the eventual game-winning goal in Providence’s 3-1 win over then No. 2 Denver on Saturday night and recorded a shot on goal in Friday’s 2-2 tie with the Pioneers. He also tallied a season-high eight shots on goal in the win for the Friars on Saturday. This season, Wilkins sits in a third place tie among Hockey East rookies with 15 points (6-9-15) and also ranks third with 53 shots on goal. Wilkins is the first Friar to earn Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors since Brian Pinho on Oct. 14, 2014.
The Friars currently hold a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) and are 2-0-1 against Denver since the two teams met at the 2015 Northeast Regional Final at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence on March 29, 2015.
Wilkins and the Friars are back in action this Saturday (Jan. 7) at Frozen Fenway against No. 8 Boston College. Face-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. between the Friars and Eagles.”
TPH Detroit CoE student-athlete Xan Gurney commits to Western Michigan
Congrats to TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athlete Xan Gurney, who has announced his commitment to Western Michigan University!
Gurney, a second-year TPH CoE student, is currently a defenseman on Compuware U16. The Grosse Ile, Mich., native is the 13th TPH Detroit CoE student to make a commitment to an NCAA Division I school.
The 16-year-old is in his first season back with Compuware after spending two seasons with their bantam program. Last year with Little Caesars, Gurney tallied 11 points in 17 games according to Eliteprospects.com. He was drafted in the fourth round (No. 53 overall) by the Chicago Steel in the 2016 USHL Futures Draft.
TPH alum Nathan Krusko scores first collegiate goal with Harvard
Congrats to former TPH Thunder AAA star Nathan Krusko on scoring his first collegiate goal for Harvard!
Krusko’s goal helped Harvard take down Bentley, 5-2, on Nov. 26.
The Alpharetta, Ga., native spent four years with the TPH Thunder AAA program, tallying 88 points in 99 games. He also played for the Minnesota Magicians (NAHL) and the Omaha Lancers (USHL) before joining the Harvard hockey program.
TPH Thunder alum Fossier excelling at Maine
Mitch Fossier, a TPH Thunder alum and current Maine Black Bear, is lighting it up as a freshman and the college hockey world is taking notice. From the Gwinnett Daily Post:
“Mitch Fossier, a product of Duluth’s AAA Thunder hockey program, exploded onto the college scene in his debut with the University of Maine and hasn’t slowed down.
Fossier, who was coached by former Atlanta Gladiators’ captain Paul Flache while with AAA Thunder, had a hat trick in his first game with the Black Bears on Oct. 7. The next night he scored the game-winning goal to complete a sweep of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institude.
Maine took on No. 3 Quinnipiac last weekend and Fossier had the overtime winner and assisted on two other goals.
The Alpharetta native’s eight points in four games tie him for second in the nation in scoring.
Fossier has already been named Hockey East’s rookie of the week twice. Maine plays in Miami (Ohio) this weekend.”