Bob Turow is just getting his feet wet as commissioner of the USPHL, the job he was hired for in October.
Understandably, it’s going to take time to get up to speed. After all, the USPHL is a hockey colossus with hundreds of teams, from Mite through juniors. As Turow puts it, “We’re coast to coast and border to border.’’
But even as he settles in, Turow already knows where he wants to go with the National Collegiate Development Conference, the 13-team junior league, including eight in New England, that is under the USPHL umbrella.
The United State Hockey League is unquestionably the No. 1 junior league in the U.S. Turow’s goal is to build the NCDC into the No. 2 league. That means leapfrogging the North American Hockey League.
Turow, who founded the Prospects Tournaments 25 years ago, used to work in the USHL. That league wasn’t always at the top of the junior hockey food chain.
“The USHL is an animal unto itself now. There was a time, like in 2000, the USHL and the NAHL were equal, and look where (the USHL) is today, 20 years later. There’s things that happened that drove the USHL up to where it is now,’’ Turow said.
“If you would have told me in 2000 that in 2020 the USHL would have more NHL draft picks than the Ontario league or more than the Quebec league or more than the Western Hockey League, I would have looked at you like you’re crazy. And yet, when you include the National Team Development Program’s numbers in the USHL, which I do because they’re part of the league, that’s the case,’’ Turow said.
To be clear, the NCDC is looking to increase its college commitments, not necessarily its NHL picks.
“Our immediate goal will be to be that next league that a player can play in and develop so that he can play Division 1 hockey. So we have to take a look at all our operations and figure out, OK, what are we doing well and can be build off it, number one. And number two, what do we need improvement on and how can we improve it. That’s the whole process that I’m going through right now. Make no mistake about it, our goal is to be that choice, behind the USHL.’’
Turow played a part in the USHL’s climb to the top, establishing the league’s combines and its central scouting department.
“In 2004, Gino Gasperini, the commissioner of the USHL, approached me about forming a USHL Central Scouting operation — identifying who the best players were in the country and then bringing those players in to Chicago, where we could showcase them to our USHL teams. We were focused on 14- and 15-year-olds. We also had a 16- and 17-year-old event, as well, but the real focus was on 14- and 15-year-olds,’’ he said.
“We wanted the USHL to be top of mind when it came their turn to make a choice of where they were going to play as a 16-, 17-, 18-year-old. So we will have to figure out that component here,’’ he said.
“For a kid from New England, the NTDP and the USHL are probably going to be top of mind. But we want to be operationally so sound that if that’s not the place for that player right now, then the natural default will be in the NCDC.’’
While readily acknowledging that it will take a lot of work to reach that goal, Turow says it is doable in time. “We’re in a really sound position. We don’t have to fix the foundation. It’s there,’’ he said.
Because of the pandemic, New England prep hockey is in a state of flux and some very good prep players have opted to play in the NCDC. Players are “looking at us in a more favorable light. We’ve been given an opportunity this year to earn that with more players,’’ Turow said.
As a result, the caliber of play is better than in recent years.
“We want to be as good as we can be so the light shines bright on us and more people choose us and the momentum grows, just like in the USHL, and we become something greater than what we are today. That would be the goal.’’
Generals march on
The good news for the Northeast Generals is that despite the pandemic, they’ve played 13 games, tied for the most in the NAHL.
The bad news is they are 4-9 and in last place in the North Division.
“Without sounding like I’m making an excuse while I make an excuse, we haven’t had our roster for one game yet,’’ said coach and general manager Bryan Erikson.
The Generals are giving up just under four goals a game.
“We need to solidify our ‘D’ a little bit. We’re giving kids a long leash this year to kind of prove they can play or not play. Sometimes that’s to the record’s detriment. It’s pretty important to give kids a long look. It’s a long season. We’re five games under .500, which in the grand scheme of things is nothing,’’ Erikson said.
The Generals have three games in Danbury next week. They aren’t scheduled to play in Attleboro again until Dec. 18.
“We’re going to test within 72 hours of going and do more tests within 72 hours of return. We’re putting protocols in place to keep everyone safe, and the people around us safe. We’re going to adhere to all the rules and continue to play,’’ he said.
“We’re probably going to be road warriors for a while. We’ve got some waivers in front of the governor and the board of health to request some help with being classified as college/pro, like they have in other states with the USHL. We’re hopeful they’ll understand. (State officials) have a lot more important stuff to worry about than whether an NAHL junior team can play. We’re trying to be patient.’’
Haas making his mark
The Generals would be lost without Hugo Haas. Literally.
The 19-year-old goalie from the Czech Republic has been in net for all four of the Generals wins so far. His .931 save percentage is ninth in the NAHL.
“He’ll get the bulk of the starts going forward. He’s proven he’s a legitimate high-end Division 1 goalie. He’s got 22 schools on him right now. For us, it’s time to start riding him,’’ said Erikson.
After having their eyes on Haas for two years, they landed him this season. He played for the Vaxjo Lakers in Sweden’s top junior league last year.
“He’s been a little bit better than advertised. You always worry about the transition from the bigger ice to North American ice. He had trouble adjusting to playing the puck on the small sheet. Once he made that adjustment, it was huge. His rebound control and ability to play the puck have been extraordinary. We’re expecting him to be a guy who plays probably 80-90 percent of the rest of our games,’’ Erikson said.
“He’s been fortunate to have (Boston Bruins goalie coach) Bob Essensa on the ice with him in practice. Hugo badgers him with questions all day. It’s nice to have that sounding board in a guy who coaches at (the NHL) level and who played at that level.’’
