UNH Commits Update 4-19-2024: Central Scouting; Latest Projection on Incoming Freshmen; & Playoff Season

Connor MacPherson Ranked 195th

Jack Sadowski Ranked 215th

2024 NHL CSS Final Rankings

Earlier this week NHL's Central Scouting Service released the Final Rankings of North American Skaters. UNH Commit Connor MacPherson is ranked #195 and Jack Sadowski is #215. The 2024 NHL Draft will be held on June 28-29 in Las Vegas.

Last year, four players who were committed to play for UNH made Central Scouting's Final Rankings for North American Skaters and three were subsequently drafted in the 2023 NHL Draft:
~ Ryan MacPherson Philadelphia Flyers, Round 6, 172nd Overall (Final Rank #211).
~ Ryan Conmy Los Angeles Kings, Round 6, 182nd Overall (Final Rank #112).
~ Sebastian Bradshaw Dallas Stars, Round 7, 221st Overall (Final Rank #194).
~ Connor MacPherson Not Drafted (Final Rank #128).

Projected Changes to 2024-25 UNH Roster

As of today, the following 6 UNH players from the 2023-24 roster plan to leave the team through graduation (Gr) and/or the transfer portal (TP):
GOALIES (2)
Tyler Muszelik (TP to UConn)
Jeremy Forman (Gr, TP)
FORWARDS (4)
Stiven Sardarian (TP to Northern Michigan)
Harrison Blaisdell (Gr)
Nick Cafarelli (Gr, TP)
Cam Gendron (Gr, TP)
DEFENSEMEN (0)*
* Senior defensemen Nikolai Jenson and Luke Reid have one year of eligibility remaining and reportedly plan to remain on the UNH roster next season.

Implications for Incoming Freshmen
There was a total of 8 defensemen on the 2023-24 roster. Unless one of them enters the transfer portal or signs a professional contract, or the coaching staff decides to carry 9 defensemen on the 2024-25 roster, there are currently no apparent openings for an incoming freshman or transfer defenseman. If an opening becomes available, I project the defensemen listed under "2024 or '25 Commits" in the stats table below would be potential candidates.

Jared Whale a sophomore goalie for the University of Alaska-Anchorage committed to UNH through the transfer portal. He will backfill the opening created by Tyler Muszelik's transfer. That leaves one open roster slot for a goalie which could be filled by a transfer or a junior hockey goalie not currently committed to UNH.

The MacPherson twins, Connor and Ryan, will fill 2 of the 4 openings for forwards on UNH's 2024-25 roster. The forwards listed under "2024 or '25 Commits" in the stats table below and forwards from other schools listed in the transfer portal are potential candidates for the remaining 2 openings.

UNH Commits in the 2024 Playoffs

United States Hockey League
3 UNH commits have been participating in the 2024 USHL Playoffs. Reid Conn and the Chicago Steel were eliminated in the opening round. Price Grimes was on Chicago's roster but did not dress for the 3-game series.
Josh Player and the Green Bay Gamblers defeated the Steel in the opening round and will face Muskegon in the USHL quarterfinals. Conner de Haro and the Youngstown Phantoms eliminated Madison and will play Dubuque in the quarterfinals.

British Columbia Hockey League
8 UNH commits have been participating in the 2024 BCHL Playoffs. 4 of them and their teams were eliminated in the opening round:
Connor DeTurris (Nanaimo Clippers)
Lars Petter Eckholm (Cowichan Valley Capitals)
Sebastian Bradshaw (Coquitlam Express)
Luca Primerano (Prince George Spruce Kings)
Connor and Ryan MacPherson and the Penticton Vees defeated the Prince George Spruce Kings in the opening round and will play the Vernon Vipers in the quarterfinals. Ryan Philbrick, Ryan Grout and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks beat the Merritt Centennials and will face the West Kelowna Warriors in the quarterfinals.

Ontario Junior Hockey League
Jayden Connors and the St. Michaels Buzzers lost to the Cobourg Cougars in the opening round of the 2024 OJHL Playoffs.

Special Offer

Neutral Zone has provided "in depth amateur scouting coverage and rankings" since 2015. It's my go-to source for scouting reports on young players who have committed to UNH. NZ is offering a special discount for followers of UNH hockey. Subscribe to Neutral Zone and receive 20% off your subscription by entering "UNH20" in the Discount Code box when you register.

2023-24 Statistics

Player	NZ Stars**	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM	+/-
2024 Commits
			Playoffs	3	1	1	2	8	+3
Connor MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F)	4.0	Penticton Vees	BCHL	54	11	31	42	16	-
			Playoffs	4	2	0	2	0	-
Ryan MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F)	4.0	Penticton Vees	BCHL	54	16	22	38	12	-
			Playoffs	4	0	2	2	8	-
2024 Transfer
Jared Whale 11/1/02 (G)	3.25	University of Alaska-Anchorage	Independent	24	10	12	1	2.67	.909
2024 or '25 Commits
Reid Conn* 2/2/04 (D)	3.75	Chicago Steel	USHL	59	3	8	11	72	-19
			Playoffs	3	1	1	2	8	+3
Connor DeTurris 10/8/04 (F)	3.75	Nanaimo Clippers	BCHL	43	15	24	39	8	-
			Playoffs	5	0	4	4	2	-
Lars Petter Eckholm* 3/7/04 (F)	3.25	Cowichan Valley Capitals	BCHL	45	6	7	13	10	-
			Playoffs	5	0	0	0	0	-
Conner de Haro* 10/17/05 (D)	3.75	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL	51	2	8	10	35	+23
			Playoffs	3	2	1	3	0	+6
Ryan Philbrick* 6/20/04 (D)	3.75	Salmon Arms Silverbacks	BCHL	5	0	2	2	4	-
			Playoffs	6	0	4	4	0	-
		Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	30	2	5	7	14	+5
Josh Player* 5/13/05 (D)	3.75	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL	59	5	6	11	59	+1
			Playoffs	3	0	0	0	4	-4
2025 Commits
Sebastian Bradshaw 5/26/05 (F)	3.75	Coquitlam Express	BCHL	41	5	9	14	43	-
			Playoffs	7	0	0	0	2	-
		Brooks Bandits	AJHL	3	0	1	1	8	-
Luca Primerano* 3/17/05 (F)	3.5	Prince George Spruce Kings	BCHL	54	9	13	22	8	-
			Playoffs	4	0	0	0	0	-
Jack Sadowski* 7/29/06 (F)	3.75	Kimball Union Academy	NE Prep	37	41	50	91	-	-
		Wildcats 19U	NEFPHL 19U	17	11	15	26	0	-
		Massachusetts District	USA Selects 17	6	1	2	3	4	-
2025 or '26 Commits
Jesse Allecia 10/12/05 (F)	3.50	Salisbury School	NE Prep	26	17	8	25	-	-
		Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18U	18U AAA	30	13	12	25	-	-
			BEAST 18U	8	2	3	5	0	-
			USA 18U Nationals	6	1	1	2	2	-
Price Grimes* 1/28/06 (D)	3.5	Chicago Steel	USHL	41	1	5	6	48	-5
			Playoffs	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ryan Grout 8/15/07 (G)	4.0	Salmon Arms Silverbacks	BCHL	15	11	3	1	2.23	.926
			Playoffs	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kole Hyles 1/16/06 (F)	3.75	Cushing Academy	NE Prep	32	14	9	23	-	-
		Central Mass Peguins	EHF 18U	23	8	10	18	-	-
			USA 18U Nationals	4	1	2	3	4	-
		New England District	USA Selects 17	6	4	3	7	0	-
Niko Tournas 2/17/06 (F)	4.0	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	41	2	3	5	20	-2
		New England District	USA Selects 17	6	4	5	9	1	-
2026 Commits
Nikita Konevych 6/3/06 (D)	NR	Corpus Christi IceRays	NAHL	20	0	4	4	75	-7
		Austin Bruins	NAHL	8	0	1	1	0	-4
George McCaffrey 1/2/07 (F)	3.5	Westminster School	NE Prep	23	4	7	11	-	-
		MidFairfield Rangers 15U	NE Pack	10	3	4	7	0	-
		MidFairfield Rangers 16U	USA 16U Nationals	4	1	1	2	2	-
		Team White	USA Selects 16	5	3	1	4	0	-
Jayden Connors 2/26/07 (D)	3.75	St. Michaels Buzzers	OJHL	46	2	21	23	36	-
			Playoffs	10	1	2	3	8	-
* = Signed National Letter of Intent
** = Neutral Zone 5-Star Rating

NOTE
The statistics for the commits, presented in the above table, are categorized by the projected year they will enroll in UNH. For example, the "2024 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2024. I have based these projections on the following factors:
~ Number of UNH players leaving the team at the end of the previous season and the position they played.
~ Number of incoming transfer players and the position they play.
~ If a National Letter of Intent has been signed.
~ The year the commit and UNH coaches originally targeted for enrollment in UNH.
~ How old the commit would be upon admission.
~ Number of years in junior hockey prior to admission.
~ The commit's performance in recent seasons as well as injuries.
~ Anticipated date of high school graduation.

Goalie Jared Whale Commits to UNH Out of Transfer Portal

Jared Whale (G) 2024 UNH Transfer

"Whale looks bigger than his 5’11” frame and does a good job of reading plays." Neutral Zone, January, 2022

Jared Whale Goalie, 6'0", 185 lbs. Catches Left Hometown: Calgary, Alberta DOB: November 1, 2002; 21 years, 5 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Stars 2023-24 Team: University of Alaska-Anchorage (Independent) Committed to UNH on April 6, 2024 at Age 21 years, 5 months.

NCAA Highlight Reel

In the 2023-24 season, Jared Whale was the #1 goalie for the University of Alaska-Anchorage. He started in 24 of the Seawolves' 34 games and compiled a record of 10-12-1 (2.67 GAA, .909 Save%). Whale shutout two top 10 NCAA teams in away games. He made 32 saves against #9 Providence in a 2-0 win and 41 saves against #6 Wisconsin in a 1-0 victory. This highlight reel from the University of Wisconsin game shows his most outstanding saves:

Interview

I had an opportunity to interview Jared Whale, via email, about his hockey career and commitment to UNH:

Mike Lowry: (1) Congratulations on your commitment to play for the University of New Hampshire. Since March 31st, 140 freshman, sophomore and junior hockey players have entered the transfer portal. Why did you consider transferring from the University of Alaska-Anchorage?

Jared Whale: The main reason I wanted to transfer from UAA was because I wanted to join a conference and be involved in conference play. I missed competing in those big playoff and standings games that we weren’t able to get in Anchorage. To me there was no better conference to join than Hockey East in that sense because it’s known for its very competitive nature.

Mike Lowry: How did you become interested in UNH? What are the main reasons you chose UNH?

Jared Whale: I’ve known about UNH since I was around 13-14 and thought that it would be a great spot to go and play. When UNH reached out I started my research on their history and culture and found the way I approached hockey matched well with the way UNH ran their program.

As well, when I was talking to other players I know that have either played for or in UNH they all said it was one of the best atmospheres in college hockey. I was also a big fan of the campus and the academic programs and Alumni programs UNH has to offer for my life after hockey.

Lowry: When you renewed the recruiting process, what college programs, other than UNH, did you consider? Which ones made an offer to you?

Whale: When I went in the portal I did have interest from other schools, they were all great opportunities and programs. It made the decision really tough, but at the end of the day I wanted to play in Hockey East for UNH!

Lowry: At this stage in your hockey development, what are the strengths of your game? What areas are you trying to improve?

Whale: The strengths to my game are my ability to read and anticipate the play, I also move around my crease really well giving me the ability to make difficult saves look easier. I would like to implement a little faster recovery time and to move on my feet more. I would also like to improve my puck handling so I can make life easier for the defensemen.

Lowry: Did you have an opportunity to watch the 2023-24 UNH team play? If so, how do you think you can help the team when you join it?

Whale: I was able to watch a couple UNH games right at the end of the season. I will be able to give UNH a chance to win every time I am in goal and probably steal a couple big wins on top of that as well.

Neutral Zone Scouting Report

USHL Game Report, October, 2023

"Whale kept his team in the game, but ultimately gave up a late goal on a deflected shot. Making 37 stops on 40 shots, Jared showed good composure in a game that was heavily controlled by Fort McMurray. Whale looks bigger than his 5’11” frame and does a good job of reading plays. He will need to work on his depth management with potential tip threats. This will give him more awareness and a better chance to make saves on deflected and tipped pucks."

College & Junior Hockey Statistics

Player	Season	Team	League	GP	Win	Loss	Tie	GAA	SV%	SO
Jared Whale (G)	2023-24	Alaska-Anchorage	Ind.	24	10	12	1	2.67	.909	2
	2022-23	Alaska-Anchorage	Ind.	7	1	6	0	4.14	.899	0
	2021-22	Olds Grizzlys	AJHL	25	3	19	2	4.61	.883	0
		Brooks Bandits	AJHL	9	8	1	0	1.67	.932	2
	2020-21	Brooks Bandits	AJHL	10	8	1	0	1.65	.912	1
	2019-20	Drumheller Dragons	AJHL	1	1	0	0	4.00	.897	0

UNH Commits Update 3-22-2024: Revised Projections on Incoming Freshmen

Connor MacPherson (F) 2024 UNH Commit

Ryan MacPherson (F) 2024 UNH Commit

Reid Conn (D) 2024 UNH Commit

The 2023-24 UNH team took steps in the direction of returning to national prominence. The Wildcats were nationally ranked for 20-consecutive weeks reaching as high as #10 in late November. Their 20-15-1 record was the best since 2012-13 (20-12-7), the last time UNH played in the NCAA Tournament. UNH's 2.50 Goals Against Average was 14th best in the nation.

One key measure lagged behind in the national picture - goal-scoring. UNH averaged 2.94 Goals Per Game which was 31st in NCAA Division I. Five UNH players scored 10 or more goals in 2023-24 - Ryan Conmy (14), Liam Devlin (13), Harrison Blaisdell (11), Cy LeClerc & Morgan Winters (10).

In order to build on the program's progress in a meaningful way, returning UNH players will need to increase their scoring output and new players known for their offensive prowess will be needed. There are two potential sources for new players to help move UNH forward. Incoming freshmen, the focus of this article, is one. The second is players available in the transfer portal.

Potential Openings on 2024-25 Roster

UNH's postseason has just barely begun. Between now and opening day, the UNH roster will evolve. As of today, Harrison Blaisdell is the only current UNH player who will definitely not be on the 2024-25 roster. He finished his 5th season and is no longer eligible to play.

There are 6 seniors with one year of eligibility remaining. Forwards Nick Cafarelli and Cam Gendron, defensemen Luke Reid and Nikolai Jenson and goalie Jeremy Forman were freshmen in 2020-21. Because of the disruption caused by COVID, players on that roster were given one additional season of eligibility. Goalie Raphael Gaughn has used 3 eligibility years so has one left.

Since the bonus COVID year of eligibility went into effect only 3 UNH seniors have remained for their graduate year. Forward Eric MacAdams and goalie Mike Robinson returned in 2021-22. Forward Harrison Blaisdell returned this season. 6 former UNH players used the extra year of eligibilty to play at other schools. Defenseman Benton Maass (Minnesota State, 21-22), forwards Kohei Sato (Bentley, 21-22), Jackson Pierson (Notre Dame, 22-23), Eric Esposito (Mercyhurst, 22-23) and Chase Stevenson (Merrimack, 23-24), and goalie David Fessenden (Canisius, 23-24).

The transfer portal opened up at the end of this season for all graduating seniors with a year of eligibility. So far, none of the UNH seniors have entered the portal. The portal will be open for undergraduates from March 31 to May 14.

Potential Options for Current UNH Commits

All recruits and committed players born in 2003 who are playing junior hockey this season will not be eligible to continue their junior career in 2024-25. The UNH coaching staff have flexibility in this regard. None of the players currently committed to UNH were born in 2003 so technically, UNH is not obliged to enroll any of them next fall due to expiration of junior eligibility.

Realistically, UNH hockey is very likely to admit at least a few committed players who are judged to be ready to play Division I next season and have the most potential to advance the team's success. A total of 10 commits have signed a National Letter of Intent with UNH so new freshman players will probably come from that pool.

Projections as of March 22, 2024

~ To boost offensive production in 2024-25, I believe Connor and Ryan MacPherson will enroll at UNH in Fall, 2024. The twin brothers are 4 star prospects according to Neutral Zone (the same as UNH's current leading scorer freshman Ryan Conmy).

Connor MacPherson (DOB: 3/2/2005), the 6'0", 176 lbs, right-shot winger from Windsor, Ontario, is currently ranked 179th North American skater prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft by NHL Central Scouting. He's scored 11 goals, including 6 game-winners, and 31 assist in 50 games for the Penticton Vees in the British Columbia Hockey League.

Neutral Zone Scouting Report

BCHL Game Report, December 19, 2023

"Tonight (Connor) MacPherson showed that he was able to get plenty of high-quality chances because he is great at carving out space in the slot and shows very quick hands under pressure. A couple of times tonight he would make a move right into a shot. This would catch both the defender and goalie off balance a little bit he was quick with his movement. One of the more underrated parts of his game tonight was how deep he came back into his own zone to contribute defensively."

Ryan MacPherson (DOB: 3/2/2005), the 6'1", 183 lbs, left-shot center was drafted in Round 6 (172 Overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft. He's scored 16 goals, including 7 power play and 1 short-handeded, and 22 assists in 50 games for the Penticton Vees (BCHL).

Neutral Zone Scouting Report

BCHL Game Report, December 19, 2023

"(Ryan) MacPherson had the quickest hands on the ice sometimes but the play ended up dying in the corner. He passes up chances to take the puck to the net to make the highlight reel pass the back door. He made great hockey plays tonight but could capitalize more with an attack mentality rather than a perimeter one. He was pure offense tonight his motor works harder near the goalie than it does coming back into his own end but when he does work he is hard to get the puck from."

~ I project at least one defenseman who's signed a National Letter of Intent will be on the 2024-25 UNH roster. When I interviewed Reid Conn in November, I asked him if he and the coaches had agreed on a target date for enrollement. His reply was "I will be at UNH next season". Neutral Zone rates him a 3.75 star prospect.

Reid Conn (DOB: 2/2/2004), the 6'4", 205 lbs, right-shot defenseman from Centennial, Colorado, is the only committed defenseman in his third season of junior hockey. He has scored 3 goals and 7 assists in 51 games for the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League. His +/- rating is -11 and he's accumulated 68 penalty minutes.

Neutral Zone Scouting Report

USHL Game Report, October 25, 2023

"Conn was a nice surprise in this game as not a lot of expectations. The bigger right-shot defenseman showed good mobility and adequate puck-handling skills for his size. In the 2nd period he showed good gap control in 1v1 situation with his body positioning and use of his stick to check the opponent to negate the shot/pass out of play. He was using his size and strength well to be physical in his own zone when needed. He scored the team’s only goal in the 3rd period as he broke to the net receiving #12 Brisson pass in the side slot for the goal. While Conn is a bit older for the league with the ’04 birthdate he was a steady presence at both ends."

Fine-tuning 2024-25 UNH Roster

There needs to be openings for the 2 incoming freshman forwards (Connor and Ryan MacPherson) and 1 defenseman (Reid Conn). Harrison Blaisdell's roster slot would go to one of the forwards. Using recent seasons as a guide, the 2nd forward slot and 1st defenseman slot will probably be created by graduating seniors not returning to UNH for a 5th season.

The future plans of graduating forwards Nick Cafarelli and Cam Gendron and defensemen Luke Reid and Nikolai Jenson will become clear in the coming months. Hypothetically, if none of them return to play for UNH next season, there'd be room on the 2024-25 roster for one addtional forward and one additional defenseman. Would these positions go to UNH commits beyond the MacPhersons and Reid Conn? Would UNH receive commitments from players in the transfer portal? If one or more undergraduate UNH player enters the transfer portal, who would move into the opening? Stay tuned.

This season's roster included 4 goalies: Jakob Hellsten, Tyler Muszelik, Jeremy Forman and Raphael Gaughn. Currently, 16-year-old Ryan Grout is the only goalie committed to UNH. Therefore, if any of the current goalies leaves the program, UNH would need to find a replacement either in the transfer portal or through a new commitment.

2023-24 Statistics

Player	NZ Stars**	Team	League	GP	Goals	Asst	Pts	PIM	+/-
2024 Commits
Reid Conn* 2/2/04 (D)	3.75	Chicago Steel	USHL	51	3	6	9	68	-11
Connor MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F)	4.0	Penticton Vees	BCHL	50	11	31	42	14	-
Ryan MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F)	4.0	Penticton Vees	BCHL	50	16	22	38	10	-
2024 or '25 Commit
Connor DeTurris 10/8/04 (F)	3.75	Nanaimo Clipper	BCHL	39	14	23	37	8	-
Lars Petter Eckholm* 3/7/04 (F)	3.25	Cowichan Valley Capitals	BCHL	42	6	7	13	8	-
Conner de Haro* 10/17/05 (D)	3.75	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL	43	2	6	8	29	+21
Ryan Philbrick* 6/20/04 (D)	3.75	Salmon Arms Silverbacks	BCHL	2	0	1	1	4	-
		Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	30	2	5	7	14	+5
Josh Player* 5/13/05 (D)	3.75	Green Bay Gamblers	USHL	52	5	5	10	36	+3
2025 Commits
Sebastian Bradshaw 5/26/05 (F)	3.75	Coquitlam Express	BCHL	37	5	7	12	41	-
		Brooks Bandits	AJHL	3	0	1	1	8	-
Price Grimes* 1/28/06 (D)	3.5	Chicago Steel	USHL	36	1	5	6	42	-5
Luca Primerano* 3/17/05 (F)	3.5	Prince George Spruce Kings	BCHL	50	8	13	21	8	-
Jack Sadowski* 7/29/06 (F)	3.75	Kimball Union Academy	NE Prep	37	41	50	91	-	-
		Wildcats 19U	NEFPHL 19U	17	11	15	26	0	-
		Massachusetts District	USA Selects 17	6	1	2	3	4	-
2025 or '26 Commits
Kole Hyles 1/16/06 (F)	3.75	Cushing Academy	NE Prep	32	14	9	23	-	-
		Central Mass Peguins	EHF 18U	23	8	10	18	-	-
		New England District	USA Selects 17	6	4	3	7	0	-
Niko Tournas 2/17/06 (F)	4.0	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL	36	1	3	4	20	+1
		New England District	USA Selects 17	6	4	5	9	1	-
2026 Commits
Nikita Konevych 6/3/06 (D)	NR	Corpus Christi IceRays	NAHL	16	0	4	4	42	-6
		Austin Bruins	NAHL	8	0	1	1	0	-4
George McCaffrey 1/2/07 (F)	3.5	Westminster School	NE Prep	23	4	7	11	-	-
		MidFairfield Rangers 15U	NE Pack	10	3	4	7	0	-
		Team White	USA Selects 16	5	3	1	4	0	-
Jayden Connors 2/26/07 (D)	3.75	St. Michaels Buzzers	OJHL	46	2	21	23	36	-
Ryan Grout 8/15/07 (G)	4.0	Salmon Arms Silverbacks	BCHL	14	10	3	1	2.18	.928
* = Signed National Letter of Intent
** = Neutral Zone 5-Star Rating

NOTE
The statistics for the commits, presented in the above table, are categorized by the projected year they will enroll in UNH. For example, the "2024 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2024. I have based these projections on the following factors:
~ Number of UNH players leaving the team at the end of the previous season and the position they played.
~ Number of incoming transfer players and the position they play.
~ If a National Letter of Intent has been signed.
~ The year the commit and UNH coaches originally targeted for enrollment in UNH.
~ How old the commit would be upon admission.
~ Number of years in junior hockey prior to admission.
~ The commit's performance in recent seasons as well as injuries.
~ Anticipated date of high school graduation.

UNH Commit Jack Sadowski's 2024 Championship Season

Jack Sadowski (F)
2025 UNH Commit

"I attribute a lot of my success to my team. My linemates were unbelievable all year long." Jack Sadowski, March 13, 2024

2024 Elite 8 Championship Highlight Reel

After leading New England Prep School Hockey with 37 goals, 45 assists, and 82 points in 34 regular season games, senior Jack Sadowski fittingly dominated the scoreboard in the Elite 8 Championship game. Kimball Union Academy defeated Cushing Academy 4-1 and Sadowski scored 2 goals (and arguably 3) plus an assist.

This highlight reel shows all of Sadowski scores in his final prep school game:

Interview

I had an opportunity to interview Jack Sadowski, via email, about his championship season and future plans:

Mike Lowry: Congratulations on your dominant season for Kimball Union Academy in New England Prep School Hockey. KUA finished last season 22-10-1, was seeded #8 in the 2023 Elite 8 Playoffs, and lost to #1 Cushing Academy 6-2 in the Quarterfinals. KUA improved to 32-5-0 this season, earned the #2 seed and just won the 2024 Elite 8 Championship defeating #1 Cushing 4-1.
What factors contributed to your team's improvement this season?

Jack Sadowski: We knew at the start of the season we had a great team. We had a bunch of veteran players who had the experience of losing in the first round of the Elite 8 and knew we didn't want to feel that way again. We used that as motivation all season.

We were obviously a higher seed this year which allowed us to get home ice for the first two rounds. We have some of the best fans in New England and being able to play in front of them was great!

Mike Lowry: Your individual performance was raised to a whole new level this season. As a KUA junior, you scored 23 goals, 19 assists in 33 games for a points per game average of 1.27. That production essentially doubled this season to 2.46 PPG with 41 goals, 50 assists in 37 games. You earned "Player of the Year" honors from both Neutral Zone Prep Hockey and U.S. Hockey Report.
What individual skills improved this season?

Jack Sadowski: I'm not really sure. I attribute a lot of my success to my team. My linemates were unbelievable all year long. I had already had one year playing with Sam LeDrew so this year we were able to build off of last year's chemistry and Corwith Simmers was really what held our line together as the center, he bailed Sam and I out a lot on the defensive end which led to more production on the offensive side for all three of us. I think we all worked really well together which created more opportunities for us throughout the season.

Lowry: Focusing on the Elite 8 Playoffs, KUA was in very tight games in the Quarterfinals (5-4 OT over St. George's) and Semifinals (4-3 OT over Salisbury). You scored the OT winner in the semis. You and the team really cranked it up in the 4-1 Championship game as you scored 2 official goals (plus a likely third that wasn't acknowledged) and added an assist.
What are some of your favorite memories from your triumphant final game playing for KUA?

Sadowski: So many great memories- I think the environment throughout the season but especially during the playoffs was awesome - at Harvard there were two great student sections that were loud and cheering the whole game. The championship game at Harvard being so close to home was great for me because it allowed so many friends and family members to be there to support me and my team.

Lowry: In our October 2022 interview shortly after you committed to UNH, you talked about the possibility of playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL before enrolling at UNH. They had drafted you in the 2022 Phase I Draft. You recently committed to the West Kelowna Warriors in the BCHL for next season.
What factors went into your decision?

Sadowski: A big part of my decision is that my former linemate Jackson Kyrkostas is there now and will be returning next year and then also getting another year to play with Sam LeDrew. After talking with the coaches and management it felt like a great fit. I think West Kelowna is going to help me develop and get me ready for UNH which ultimately is what is most important.

Neutral Zone Scouting Report

NE Prep Championship Sunday Report, March 11, 2024

"Sadowski is a below-average-sized left-shot left wing with elite game processing and game awareness. Yes, he had two goals had a third go in but was not counted and had a primary assist on the first goal of the game but it is all of the little things that he did that made him so impactful.
On every shift, he set picks or skated through a Cushing player’s lane so they would have to break stride to pursue his teammates. In the defensive zone, Sadowski did his job and was there to lend support when his teammates needed it without vacating his ice. And as a left-wing who had the wide lane twice, he changed when he was supposed to change so the flow of the KUA’s offense was not disrupted.
His hands are silky. His passes were where his teammates could make the next play without needing to adjust their routes or their hand placement. And his shots were money."

50th Anniversary of UNH Hockey's First Epic Season in Modern Era

March 5, 1974, UNH vs RPI, ECAC Quarterfinal

Gordie Clark

Jamie Hislop

Cliff Cox

"Charles Dickens had the French Revolution in mind when he wrote: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,' but that description is particularly appropriate to the bittersweet season just concluded by the University of New Hampshire hockey team." Arthur Kaminsky, The New York Times, March 10, 1974

The proud history of the University of New Hampshire Wildcats men's hockey program began on an outdoor rink in 1926. The modern era dates back to 1961 when the Eastern College Athletic Conference developed a hockey league and UNH was an original member. The ECAC established a 15-member Division One (DI) conference beginning in the 1964-65 season but UNH did not become eligible until the 1968-69 season.

In their first five DI regular seasons, UNH finished no higher than 5th place. They qualified for the 8-team Quarterfinal round of the DI ECAC Playoffs in 4 out of 5 seasons, but never earned home-ice advantage. A weekly national coaches' poll for college hockey began in the 1972-73 season but UNH had never made the Top 10.

The Best of Times

All that changed in 1973-74 - a season filled with first-time accomplishments. For the first time in team history, UNH finished the ECAC regular season in 1st-place. In fact, they topped the ECAC standings the entire regular season.

UNH made a mark on the national scene for the first time on December 3, 1973. The Wildcats won the first two ECAC games and their 4-2-0 overall record was good enough for #6 in the national poll. From Jan 28 to Feb 24, 1974, UNH was the #2 team in the nation.

In the February 11, 1974 national rankings, UNH came as close to #1 as it ever had. The Wildcats were 13-2-0 in the ECAC and 19-5-0 Overall. 4 of the 10 coaches representing the ECAC, Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), and Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) ranked UNH #1. However, Michigan Tech retained the top rank. At the end of the 1973-74 regular season, UNH lead the ECAC with a 15-5-0 record (22-8-0 Overall) and were ranked #4 nationally.

UNH's potent first line of the captain Gordie Clark and Jamie Hislop and Cliff Cox led the ECAC regular season in scoring. Hislop (55 points) was the #1 scorer followed by #2 Cox (53 pts), and #3 Clark (51 pts). They scored 69 goals combined. Clark was named a first team All-American, becoming the first two-time All-American in UNH history. Hislop and Cox earned first team All-American honors two years later in their senior season.

Sophomore UNH goalie Cap Raeder finished the season with the best Goals Against Average (2.64) in NCAA hockey and the third-best Save Percentage (.908). Raeder also earned first team All-American honors, making 1973-74 the first UNH season with two All-Americans.

The 1973-74 season was Head Coach Charlie Holt's sixth season behind the UNH bench. By season's end, he earned the Spencer Penrose Award as NCAA Coach of the Year for the second time. He also won the award in 1969 and 1979.

Interview

I am grateful for the opportunity to interview 1973-74 UNH Captain, 2-time All-American and American Hockey League Hall of Famer Gordie Clark, via email, about his memories of the 1973-74 UNH hockey season.

Mike Lowry: What are your most lasting memories from the 1973-74 regular season?

Gordie Clark: As Coach Holt and Coach Norton worked so hard to mold our team toward success in the 71/72 and 72/73 seasons, I could clearly see the level of skating and skill improving in all positions on our team. We had 12 players returning for the 73/74 year, and when I saw the size, speed, skill and character of the freshman class on the ice, I knew we had something special. Tim Burke, Paul Powers, Jim Harvie, Barry Edgar, Gordie MacRae, Tom Osenton!

WNAC Channel 7 Boston sent the 1st woman sports anchor, Barbara Borin, to interview me which meant others felt UNH was in for a special year. Pretty nice walking around campus on a beautiful day with a very sharp 1st woman anchor!

The Worst of Times

The UNH hockey team was flying high entering the 1973 Christmas break. On Friday night, December 21st, they beat Boston College 5-4 in overtime at the old McHugh Forum. With an undefeated record of 6-0-0 in the ECAC and 9-2-0 overall, UNH was nationally ranked at #4. A few hours after UNH triumphantly skated off the BC ice, unimaginable tragedy struck.

After the BC game, three UNH players from Ontario - Warren Brown (Sophomore Left Wing, Scarborough), Dave Bertollo (Junior Left Wing, Hespeler) and Jim Harvie (Freshman Defenseman, Sarnia) - headed home for Christmas in Brown's car. At around 1 AM Saturday morning, while driving on the Massachusetts Turnpike, they were rear-ended by a truck. The serious accident resulted in the death of 19-year-old Warren Brown. Bertollo and Harvie also suffered injuries.

“It's awfully hard for young men to even comprehend something like that, let alone play championship hockey afterwards.” said New Hampshire's highly respected coach, Charlie Holt. The team lost three of their next four games." The New York Times, March 10, 1974

Gordie Clark: I will never forget the day Coach called to tell me about the crash that took Warren Brown’s life as he, Harv and Bert were driving home to Canada on Christmas break. Warren had NHL size, strength, character, skating, a physical edge to his game and already had 7 goals in 11 games! Coach and Assistant Coach Norton kept in touch with all of us and we all connected to each other.

The Brown family attended an evening for Warren, told us how much Warren loved UNH and his teammates, and that Warren would want this team he loved to continue our journey.

Resilience

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, UNH's record fell from 6-0-0 ECAC/9-2-0 Overall to 6-2-0 ECAC/10-5-0 Overall. Their national ranking dropped from #4 to #6. Needing a spark to get the team back on track, Coach Holt juggled the lineup and created the Clark-Hislop-Cox (C-H-C) line. UNH went on a blistering 10-game win streak, including 8 ECAC wins, and rocketed up the National Rankings from #6 to #2. During one 5-game stretch, C-H-C averaged 5 goals per game.

Lowry: UNH's top line with Cliff Cox at center and you and Jamie Hislop on the wings, only started playing together in early January, 1974. What were the strengths of each of you and why did the line play so well together?

Gordie Clark: Obviously, coaching in the AHL and NHL after my playing days were over, I found out how much time coaches spend on putting new lines together. I would say it was a 50/50 success rate - some lines never made it work and others did. When Coach put Jamie LW, Cliff C and me RW, the line connected immediately, and once that line stays together every practice and every game there is a sense you develop of just knowing where each of us are on the ice.

Cliff was clearly the center - good on face-offs, work with the D-men down low in our zone and then once the D won the puck he presented himself so they could pass the puck to him and start the rush. All 3 of us were right shots and Jamie was much better than me on his backhand to receive pucks and passing the puck on LW. We could all skate, make plays and score when the puck was in the “shooting zone.”

With one game remaining in the 1973-74 regular season, UNH was awarded the #1 seed and home ice for the opening Quarterfinal round of the ECAC Playoffs - both for the first time in team history. They had lost the previous two games and had dropped from #2 to #3 nationally.

The final game against St. Lawrence was home at Snively Arena. Students waiting in line for a couple hours prior to gametime had become routine. The outcome would have no effect on UNH's first-place finish in the ECAC standings. St. Lawrence was battling for one of the last playoff berths.

With UNH ahead 4-3 early in the final period, Cap Raeder - arguably the best NCAA goalie at the time - suffered a right ankle injury. He tried to resume play but was unable. Freshman goalie Dan Magnarelli, who'd played in only 4 periods all season, entered the game. St. Lawrence won 5-4. The uncertainty of Raeder's playing status for the Quarterfinal game five days away became a dark cloud hanging over Durham.

1974 ECAC Quarterfinal - Thrilling Highs, Crushing Lows

The New Hampshire, UNH's student-run newspaper, reported fans starting to lineup outside Snively Arena's entrance over 5 hours prior to the doors opening*. Throughout the game "Snively shook with noise as it never had before and possibly never will again".

The melodrama surrounding goalie Cap Raeder's availability and ability to play began during warmups. Frenzied cheers of relief and enthusiasm greeted his arrival on the ice. Raeder hung in there early in the first period and Cliff Cox scored to put UNH ahead 1-0.

The brutal impact of Raeder's ankle injury stunned the crowd with about 6 minutes left in the opening period. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers, the 8th seed in the ECAC Playoffs, scored 2 goals eight seconds apart culminating in 4 goals over a 1 minute, 20 seconds span. Raeder was done. The immense pressure of not allowing any more RPI goals shifted to the shoulders of largely untested freshman Magnarelli. The comparable burden of overcoming a 3-goal deficit fell to the players in front of him.

The first period ended in an unusual scenario. Two sets of matching penalties had been called, leaving 3 players and a goalie for each team on the ice. The second period would begin with 1 minute and 45 seconds of 3-on-3 hockey with RPI leading 4-1.



Lowry: Forty-six seconds into the second period you, Hislop and Cox scored. A second goal came 19 seconds later and a third 40 seconds later. The top-scoring line in ECAC hockey had tied the game at 4-4 with 3 goals in 59 seconds. As you watch the replay, what thoughts come to mind?

Gordie Clark: The first thought I had when I watched the video of our 3 goals in 00:59 is when Coach came in the locker room to explain the refs putting 2 players from each team in the penalty box for 2 minutes. Then he said Jamie, Cliff and Gordie will start! We all sort of looked around because normally it’s 2 forwards and 1 defenseman.

Waiting for the puck to be dropped Jamie, Cliff and I looked at RPI and they had 3 defensemen. Coach Holt knew exactly what he was doing - from the drop of the puck we dominated the puck skating forward, 3 goals behind, as they skated backwards to defend a 3 goal lead. It may not seem long but a 1:45 shift (45-50 seconds isnormal) skating full out is tough. It shows Jamie, Cliff and me after each goal with our chests heaving and mouths wide open breathing hard! But as our fans screamed and teammates yelled we just kept going!

After UNH tied the game at 4-4, goal-scoring - and UNH fans' emotions- shifted back and forth. RPI went ahead 5-4 on a power play goal late in the second period. Cliff Cox answered early in the third, completing the hat trick. It was his 27th goal in 31 games. RPI regained the lead with less than 5 minutes left in regulation.

With the clock ticking perilously close to 00:00, UNH's junior winger Mike Burkart reignited crowd euphoria, tying the game at 6-6 with 1:37 remaining. Minutes later, UNH and RPI were headed to overtime.

An unlikely RPI hero named Rick Smith brought UNH's epic season to an end. The freshman center, playing in only his 8th college game, had scored his first goal of the season during the second period. Just one minute, 38 seconds into overtime, Smith beat Magnarelli for the second time. Stunned UNH fans, who had cheered on the team as it rose to college hockey prominence, were left wondering what might have been.

Lowry: What are your recollections of the loss when it happened? Have the ensuing 50 years changed your perspective on the meaning of your last game in a UNH jersey?


Gordie Clark: Cap Raeder was one of the best goalies in college hockey and I was proud the two of us were All Americans in 1974. Without Cap, it was going to be a battle to beat RPI with Don Cutts in goal. He was one of the top goalies in the ECAC. We wanted to go further in the playoffs and we put it all out that night.

This team put UNH on the map for good Canadian and US players and became the school recruits wanted to go to! Coach Holt changed me as a person and a player, and I just retired from 42 years of working in the NHL. The game I loved!

I will never forget our fans screaming and cheering us on. I will never forget the tears we all shared.



* I can confirm how early students began lining up outside Snively Arena with the hope of getting the best seats possible. I was near the head of that line and got a front row seat on the glass next to the UNH bench.