Minnesota Wild prospect Nikita Nesterenko has committed to Boston College, he announced Thursday on Twitter.
Nesterenko, an '01 from Brooklyn, N.Y., was selected by the Wild in the sixth round with the 172nd overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. The Lawrenceville alum has three goals and nine assists in 16 games with the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs.
It's his first season of junior hockey after playing prep school hockey the previous three seasons. Nesterenko still needs to bulk up in order to be an impact player at the collegiate level, but he's best known for his puck skills.
Nesterenko was previously committed to Brown University, but de-committed earlier this month. Several schools from across college hockey gained interest following the BCHL Showcase.
BC pursuing Alex Jefferies
Boston College head coach Jerry York met with Gunnery right wing Alex Jefferies following his game Saturday at the New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Mass.
Jefferies, a late '01 from Lunenburg, Mass., plays split season hockey for the Rochester Selects 18-U coached by former Brown defenseman Kyle Quick.
The former Merrimack staff, including head coach Mark Dennehy and Curtis Carr saw something in Jefferies long before any other Hockey East schools did. Since then, Jefferies' stock has grown exponentially to the point where he's considered a shoe-in to be selected in the 2020 NHL Draft.
The Eagles have offered Jefferies a full scholarship, according to multiple sources. While he's still committed to Merrimack for now, according to different sources, the scuttlebutt in the rinks on Sunday was that a de-commitment was more probable than not.
It's obviously a difficult situation. There's been plenty of discussion over the past several years on the validity of the gentleman's agreement, which was an attempt to persuade opposing coaches from tampering with players who had verbally committed to another school.
It's not against NCAA rules to recruit players who have only verbally committed. The only rule is against doing so once a player has signed a National Letter of Intent.
If Merrimack can fend off BC and other top schools for Jefferies, it will be a huge recruiting coup for the Warriors and Scott Borek's staff.
Merrimack lands Weilandt
While the future of one commit is in doubt, Merrimack's staff landed a very good player from the USHL over the weekend. '02 right-shot forward Luke Weilandt committed to the Warriors.
The Chicago, Ill., native has two goals and three assists in seven games for the Sioux Falls Stampede. In his first season of junior hockey, Weilandt previously played for Chicago Mission 16-U and Team Illinois 14-U.
Borek and his staff are in a difficult situation as they try to rebuild a Merrimack program that has sixteen freshmen this season. Including Carr, who has left for Bowling Green, the staff has pulled in some good players.
Brille commits to Brown
'03 forward Matthew Brille of the New Jersey Rockets 16-U has committed to Brown University. The Bethesda, Md., native is off to a hot start with head coach Noel Rubin's team. He's a forward who plays with a lot of energy. He does a good job on puck pursuit and forecheck as well as going to the greasy areas. He's a nice commit for Brendan Whittet and his staff.
