It's been just over one month since we've looked at what's been happening in the college hockey recruiting space and there have been various commitments since Aug. 22.
That included a local player choosing a school in the Midwest and prospects from outside New England choosing local schools.
For those who haven't already, I highly recommend checking out Parts 1 and Part 2 of our investigation into how many players make it to the school they committed to. It helps to contextualize the chances these players in this story have of ending up at these schools.
Let's dive into the latest news and takeaways from the recruiting trail.
Where will Rian Chudzinski end up?
Before we dive into commitments, it's important to catch up on Rian Chudzinski — one of the best uncommitted 2007-born prospects in the region.
He has interest from what feels like everywhere. Hockey East, ECAC, Big Ten and NCHC schools are all in on him, per source. It's hard to pin down who the favorite schools are or what part of the country he favors the most.
With interest like that, many players would've committed by now. But Chudzinski has a unique recruiting perspective because of his father, Rob.
Rob spent 1994-2003 in coaching positions with the University of Miami football team. After moving to the NFL from 2004-2017 — including a stint as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns — he landed at Boston College and is currently the associate head coach.
He has been a big part of recruiting lots of football talent. Even though it's football, many lessons can cross into hockey. He knows the upsides and the downsides of recruiting.
Chudzinski is taking his time with his decision, although it wouldn't be a surprise if he has his mind made up before his hockey season at Dexter Southfield begins. It will be his first season in Brookline, Mass., after spending the last two on St. Sebastian's varsity squad.
Tommy Bleyl to Michigan State
It's not everyday that you see kids playing in New England committing to Michigan State. It also isn't surprising though, given that Michigan State associate head coach Jared DeMichiel and assistant Mike Towns both spent time coaching at New England colleges.
Bleyl has long been one of the best 2007-born defensemen in New England. He was an attendee at USA Hockey Select 15, 16 and 17 Camp over the last three years, proving to be a steady hand on the backend. Most recently, he made the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Team USA.
BEAST FALL CLASSIC: 12 uncommitted standout 18U forwards | 6 uncommitted standout 18U defenders
While Bleyl is from Schenectady, N.Y., he's been a member of Mid Fairfield for a very long time. He spent last winter with Albany Academy, where he notched nine goals and 20 points in 27 games.
The steady, puck-moving defenseman transferred to Cushing for this coming winter, where he projects to be a big piece on defense.
Connor Davis to Northeastern
I was sitting with a Division 1 assistant coach back at the Flood-Marr in December. As we watched Salisbury, we were both in awe of how good Davis was playing. I had seen Davis with the Avon Regals 18U squad in the fall, but this was different. His motor never stopped, he had skill, he was smart. It was impossible not to notice him.
That Division 1 coach found Davis' family to talk to them at an intermission.
On Sept. 3, Davis announced his commitment to Northeastern, which has a history of recruiting Salisbury standouts.
It's a great get for the Huskies, as Davis was tied for the Salisbury-lead in points with 30 in 27 games last season. He will be one of the top forces to watch in prep this winter as a senior '06.
I got to watch Davis, who now plays for the Northern Connecticut Nor'Easter Storm, at the Beast Fall Classic and he regularly controlled the game. His pro shot was the focal point of his team's power play.
Davis will also be an NHL Draft prospect to watch this winter.
Colin Feeley to Harvard
Hey, look — another Salisbury prospect committed to a Division 1 program.
A day before Davis picked Northeastern, Feeley committed to Harvard. Feeley was with Mid Fairfield's 15O team last season, along with Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. The Wyckoff, N.J., native has a facet of his game that separates him: his size.
He stands at 6-foot-6 and 174 pounds. As a defenseman, that is size that any school or team would want a chance to coach. He's an '08 and while he wasn't taken in the Phase 1 Draft in the spring, he should be an intriguing Phase 2 selection next year.
He's raw. But what he could be is an exciting prospect for Harvard. The Crimson have committed nine '08s since Aug. 1.
Yale gets commitments from a pair of '08s
Yale got a commitment from forward Danick St. Pierre in late August. On Sept. 7, forward Greg Najda pledged his commitment to Yale, too.
St. Pierre was a standout for Seacoast Performance Academy's 15O team last season, scoring 31 goals and tallying 62 points in 67 games. The North Hampton, N.H., native was strong at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp this summer, posting two goals and three points in five games.
Najda had 24 points in 23 games for the Oakville Rangers 16U team last season. An '08 from Mississauga, Ont., he was a seventh-round pick by the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL Priority Selection earlier this year. He stands at 6-foot-1 and 168 pounds and will play for Choate this winter.
COLLEGE NUMBERS: How many August commits, goalies make it to their college hockey destination?Â
Quinnipiac picks up a goalie and a defenseman
Quinnipiac hasn't been the busiest team since Aug. 1, but the Bobcats did get commitments from a defenseman and a goalie since September began.
It started with Nathan Bienstock on Sept. 4. He's an '08 defenseman who has been a standout with the New Jersey Rockets for a long time, putting up 17 goals and 49 points in 67 games for the 15O team last season. He also played for Hillsborough High in New Jersey last winter, which is where he's from, and notched 22 goals and 70 points. At 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, he's known for his offensive abilities.
Then came Samuel Doyon-Cataquiz, an '07 goalie from Falls Church, Va. Some local hockey fans may remember him from his time with Mount St. Charles 15O squad in 2022-23. He spent last season with BK Selects' 18U team, posting a 2.55 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.
Doyon-Cataquiz was sensational at Select 17 Camp this summer, posting the best save percentage (.942) among all goalies at the event. His 1.67 GAA was second-best.
Jonathan Morello to BU from Clarkson
In June, the Boston Bruins selected forward Jonathan Morello in the fifth round (154th overall) in the NHL Draft. He was initially committed to Clarkson. He had committed there on Nov. 21, 2022.
But on Aug. 30, Morello switched his commitment to Boston University.
The 6-foot-3, 192-pound center tallied 57 points in 50 games for the St. Michael's Buzzers in the OJHL last season. He had a standout playoffs, posting 21 points in 11 games.
He's with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL this season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: How many recruits actually make it to play college hockey?Â
Other commitments
- Aug. 29: Henry Sampair committed to Maine. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound defenseman is known for his offensive abilities and spent last season with the 16U Long Island Gulls. A Mahtomedi, Minn., native, he's with the 18U Gulls this season.
- Sept. 4: Kam Hendrickson committed to UConn. The '06 goalie played for Chanhassen High in Minnesota last season, as well as a handful of games for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. He's slated to play for Omaha this season.
- Sept. 8: Dane Sorensen committed to UMass. A native of Santa Monica, Calif., he made the move from the Los Angeles Jr. Kings to Shattuck-St. Mary's prior to his 14U season and has been there ever since. He's a 6-foot-1, 174-pound defenseman.
- Sept. 11: Pavel Martinu committed to UNH. While he's from Czechia, he played in the region last season with Seacoast Performance Academy's 16U team, posting 30 goals and 55 points in 56 games. The exciting part about Martinu is that he's a 6-foot-5, 209-pound forward.
- Sept. 13: Owen McCarthy committed to UMass Lowell. While he's from Chicago, he's spent the last bunch of years in Canada, most recently playing for Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U17 Prep last season, posting 23 points in 29 games from the blue line. He's 5-foot-8, 141 pounds and will be with the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL this season.
- Sept. 17: Andrew Clarke committed to Dartmouth. He's an '04 and posted 15 points in 55 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL last season. He played for Chaminade College Prep from 2018-22, before moving to the St. Cloud Norsemen in the NAHL in 2022-23. He's from Creve Coeur, Mo.
