UNO Hockey Recruiting Update (Feb. 2019)

Back on Nov. 7 (remember that far back?) we posted a look at UNO Hockey’s recruits for 2019 and beyond. 

In the intervening months, we’ve written individual profiles of the incoming recruits who have committed to UNO since our November update was published. You can read those write-ups at the following links:

>> Read our profile of Ryan Brushett (F) - Powell River Kings (BCHL)

>> Read our profile of Brock Bremer (F) - Muskegon Lumberjacks / Lincoln Stars (USHL)

>> Read our profile of Vincent Nardone (F) - Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)

>> Read our profile of Kirby Proctor (D) - Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

>> Read our profile of Matt Miller (F) - Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

>> Read our profile of Tyler Rollwagen (F) - Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Prep)

It will be interesting to see when the various recruits land at UNO. Some of the 2019 class signed NLIs last November during the early signing period (the next signing period for D-I hockey begins in April). 

The ideal roster size is 26-28 players per season. UNO’s freshman class for the 2019-20 season will be rather large, if the commitments below hold. UNO has 10 departing seniors from this year’s roster, but 12 (or more) players projected as coming in the fall. In addition, UNO is likely to add another goaltender in the spring, since both Evan Weninger and Alex Blankenburg are seniors.

Years ago, I remember David Quinn — a UNO assistant at the time — talked about trying to achieve “balance” in recruiting classes. The goal was to have six or seven players per class — meaning the roster wouldn’t be gutted after any particular class graduated. 

Since our comprehensive recruiting update last fall, there have been some changes to the classes. Here’s how 2019 is looking (as of the publication of this blog post):

2019 RECRUITS

Forwards

Josh Boyer - Madison (USHL) - signed NLI

Joey Abate - Youngstown (USHL) - signed NLI

Nolan Sullivan - Muskegon (USHL) - signed NLI

Noah Prokop - Green Bay (USHL) - signed NLI

ADDED - Ryan Brushett - Powell River (USHL) - Signed NLI

ADDED - Matt Miller - Sioux City (USHL) - committed Jan. 7, 2019

ADDED - Brock Bremer - Muskegon/Lincoln (USHL) - committed Nov. 15, 2019

Defensemen

Alexandre Roy - Jamestown (NAHL) - signed NLI

Colby Enns - Central Illinois (USHL) - signed NLI

ADDED - Kirby Proctor - Des Moines (USHL) - signed NLI

ADDED - Brandon Scanlin - Brooks (AJHL) - signed NLI

Goaltender

Isaiah Saville - Tri-City (USHL) - signed NLI

This list has changed a bit since November. Davis Pennington was listed as part of the 2019 class, but he looks to be part of the 2020-21 class now. In addition, Jack Clement was originally listed for 2019, but he will be attending Miami (OH) in the fall. 

Our working assumption is that both Bremer and Miller (added to the “Forwards” list) will join UNO as part of the 2019-20 class, but neither has signed a National Letter of Intent with the team (as far as we can tell in our research). 

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

Statistically speaking, here is what the 2019-20 recruits look like (at the time of this writing at 1 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2019):

Forwards

Josh Boyer - In 40 games: 9 goals, 9 assists (3rd on Madison in points) | -14 

Joey Abate - In 39 games: 9 goals, 13 assists (7th on Youngstown in points) | -11 

Nolan Sullivan - In 42 games: 14 goals, 4 assists (11th on Muskegon in points) | +8 

Noah Prokop - In 39 games: 9 goals, 5 assists (10th on Green Bay in points) | -17 

Ryan Brushett - In 51 games: 37 goals, 38 assists (1st on Powell River in points) | N/A

Matt Miller - In 37 games: 11 goals, 11 assists (5th on Sioux City in points) | +1 

Brock Bremer - In 39 games (was traded to Lincoln mid season): 11 goals, 14 assists | +1 

Defensemen

Alexandre Roy - In 44 games: 3 goals, 16 assists (10th on Jamestown in points) | +11

Colby Enns - In 39 games: 3 goals, 7 assists (16th on Central Illinois in points) | -9 

Kirby Proctor - In 42 games: 1 goal, 14 assists (10th on Des Moine in points) | +6 

Brandon Scanlin - In 33 games: 14 goals, 18 assists (14th on Brooks in points) | +3

Goaltender

Isaiah Saville - In 23 games, has a 1.76 GAA and a .934 save % (stopping 553 of 592 shots)

When you look at the forwards slated to come in next season, the player who stands out in terms of pure point production is Ryan Brushett — the top point producer in the BCHL with 37 goals and 38 assists (in 51 games). 

Brushett is a ‘98 birthday, so he is older than some of his peers in the league (this is his fourth season playing junior hockey — one season in the USHL, three seasons in the BCHL). He was originally a Providence commit (May 2015). 

The rest of the skaters on the list (all playing in the USHL) don’t rank higher than 70th in the USHL in terms of total points (Bremer is ranked 70th as of this writing). 

Nolan Sullivan is 37th in the USHL in goals. Bremer is 58th in the league in goals. Miller is ranked 60th in goals. Abate is 84th. Boyer is 88th. Prokop is 91st. 

Saville is the lone goalie commit (so far) for 2019-20. He hasn’t played since Jan. 19 (injury). Saville did make NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings (read our post “UNO Recruits Saville, Proctor in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Player Rankings” for more information). 

FUTURE RECRUITS

2020 RECRUITS

Forwards

Lukas Sillinger - Penticton (BCHL)

Oliver MacDonald - Muskegon (USHL)

Zach Michaelis - Chaska (HS)

Blaine Warnert -  Chaska (HS) / Fargo Force (USHL)
Davis Pennington - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (NAHL)

ADDED Vincent Nardone - Flin Flon (SJHL)

ADDED Tyler Rollwagen - Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Prep)

Defensemen

Greg Japchen - Wilkes-Barre (NAHL)

2021 RECRUITS

Forwards

Cameron Berg - Omaha (USHL)

Defensemen

Griffin Ludtke - Lakeville South (HS) 

We’ve profiled both players listed as “ADDED” in the 2020-21 class — Nardone and Rollwagen. There is some debate as to when Rollwagen will arrive at UNO (three different recruiting sites have three different years). Rollwagen has 14 goals and 43 assists with Shattuck-St. Mary’s as of this writing. Nardone has 17 goals and 20 assists in his rookie season with Flin Flon (SJHL).

The rest of the 2020s are a mixture of junior players and high school prospects. Sillinger has 14 goals and 6 assists for the Penticton Vees this season (which ranks him 5th on the team in goals, and 12th in total points).

FINAL THOUGHTS

The big question with the 2019-20 recruiting class is whether they can provide immediate aid to a UNO team that has struggled in the 2018-19 campaign. 

Anywhere from a third to a half of the roster next season will be newcomers. 

With UNO looking at one of the largest freshman classes in recent history, it will be fascinating to see how the team fares next season. 

It is possible that a fresh look will be just what the doctor ordered to help remedy UNO's woes this season. Only time will tell, but it will be exciting to see how the new pieces fit into the lineup next season. 

We'll be back to do an update after the season is over.