Boston College already had a loaded recruiting class when it came to the 2005 birth year. Committed were USA Hockey NTDP forwards Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.), Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.), and Will Vote (Arlington, Mass.) and defensemen Drew Fortescue and Aram Minnetian.
That class got even better late last week when it was announced that Smith and Leonard’s linemate, Gabriel Perreault, would follow suit. From Hinsdale, Ill., Perreault has 11 goals and 16 assists in 15 games so far this season with the NTDP U18 team. The Chicago Mission product is the son of retired NHL forward Yanic Perreault, who also happened to be one of his youth hockey coaches.
Perreault is a potential first-round pick in the 2023 NHL draft. Smith and Leonard also fall into that category, making it possible that BC will have three freshmen in 2023-24 who were plucked off the board in the first round.
That’s not unprecedented for the Eagles. The '01 group also had three with left wing Matthew Boldy (Millis, Mass.), center Alex Newhook and goaltender Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.).
It’s ‘deco’ season
This has been a common theme in the month of November over the past several years, but it’s happening again this year. November is when the national letter of intent gets handed out to prospective recruits who are receiving scholarship money. Whether it’s schools pushing players off or not giving as much money as originally planned or recruits opting for greener pastures, the de-commitments have been coming fast and furious of late.
Last week, Jack Musa switched from Boston University to UMass. Ryan Fine went from BU to Harvard. Sioux Falls defenseman Maxim Strbak de-committed from Vermont in hopes of pledging to a more marquee program.
More recently, a pair of New England '04s have decommitted and opened up their recruiting process once again. Thayer alum and Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenseman C.J. Foley (Hanover, Mass.) has cut ties with Holy Cross in favor of looking at bigger hockey programs. Omaha Lancers center Andon Cerbone (Stamford, Conn.), formerly of Mid Fairfield and Brunswick, has decommitted from Michigan.
Brunswick defenseman follows brother to Big Green
Brunswick and Mid Fairfield defenseman Cooper Cleaves, an '06 from Greenwich, Conn., has committed to Dartmouth. He joins his brother, Brunswick alum and current Vernon Vipers left wing Hank Cleaves, in committing to Reid Cashman’s program.
Cooper is a good-sized defender whose skating and overall game have gotten better as he got taller and leaner over the past 18 months. Similarly to his older brother, he’s somewhat of a late bloomer. He had two goals and one assist in the prep season last winter at Brunswick. He’ll take on a greater role as a junior in 2022-23.
Wildcats land USHL defenseman
New Hampshire has received a commitment from late '05 defenseman Conner de Haro, who is in his first season in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms. The Raleigh, N.C., native is another late bloomer with a development path on an upward trajectory. He had played for the Carolina Junior Hurricanes until last season when he ventured to Michigan to play for Fox Motors U16.
In 61 games, he scored 10 goals and had 38 assists for 48 points. In de Haro, UNH is getting a puck-moving defenseman who looks to push the pace in transition. He chose Mike Souza’s program over an NCHC school.
Former Avon Old Farms goaltender picks Tigers
Muskegon Lumberjacks goaltender Conor Callaghan has committed to Princeton. The '03 from Upper Saddle River, N.J., is in his first season playing in the USHL after spending four years at Avon Old Farms.
Often criticized for being undersized, Callaghan had always put up good numbers, whether with AOF or Mid Fairfield. He’s 5-2 with an .890 save percentage in eight regular-season appearances with Muskegon.
