It’s been a positive start to the off-season for Cushing Academy right wing Jake Hewitt.
The Ashburnham, Mass., native spent the past week at the USHL’s Omaha Lancers Main Camp. On Monday, the rising senior committed to play college hockey at Army.
Hewitt, who scored 15 goals and 14 assists in 32 games for the Penguins as a junior, had interest from a Hockey East program as well, but the Knights had been on him for a while.
"Jake’s passion, compete level and leadership qualities on and off the ice are unmatched. He’s a high quality character kid,” said legendary Cushing coach Steve Jacobs.
“He is as determined a player as you are ever going to see. He can shoot and distribute the puck, demonstrates a strong will to score, and plays with great hockey sense in all three zones,” added Jacobs.
After the 2019-20 season with Cushing, Hewitt, an ’02, will likely play a year of junior hockey before matriculating to West Point for the 2021-22 campaign.
Huskies commit Steel’s Spetz
The University of Connecticut recently picked up a key defensive recruit for the 2020-21 season. Chicago Steel defenseman John Spetz committed to the Huskies last week.
Spetz, a ’99 from Oak Ridge, N.J., had 11 goals and 29 assists in 72 games between the regular season and playoffs for the USHL’s Eastern Conference Champion.
Spetz, who spent three seasons playing midget hockey for the North Jersey Avalanche, will be a considerable upgrade on the UConn blue line. He could likely step in and contribute this upcoming season for one of the team’s top two pairings.
Friars add a pair of skilled forwards
Last week, Providence picked up two skilled forwards for the future. Head coach Nate Leaman collected commits from ’01 Cody Monds and ’02 Michael Citara.
Monds, formerly committed to St. Lawrence, played the past three seasons for Chadd Cassidy at Northwood School. In 82 games this season for the Huskies, the Brockville, Ontario, native racked up 44 goals and 72 assists. Monds is slated to play the 2019-20 season for the Victoria Grizzlies in the BCHL.
Citara is a highly skilled forward with a ton of upside for the college game. The New Hope, Pa., native had a breakthrough year in 2018-19, registering 16 goals and 13 assists in 21 games for the Mercer Chiefs 16U. Citara, previously committed to Colgate, had skated for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers and ISS Kings the proceeding two seasons. He’ll play for Mount Saint Charles Hockey Academy in 2019-20.
UNH dives into Minnesota
It’s not often Hockey East schools are able to scoop top talent out of Minnesota, but New Hampshire head coach Mike Souza is hoping to find some magic in the talent-laden state.
The Wildcats picked up a commit from late ’01 forward Carsen Richels out of Blaine High School. As a junior, Richels potted 35 goals and added 34 helpers in 23 games for the Bengals. He also competed in the Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League.
