Michigan Hockey Recruits

NOTE: Please contact me with any recruiting tips. Thanks!

2014 AND BEYOND RECRUITS
Dylan Larkin | Kyle Connor

Cristoval ‘Boo’ Nieves (2012)
Forward – 6’2, 175 lbs.
Birth Date – 1/23/94
Current Team – Kent School

Boo Nieves started making a name for himself with the Syracuse Jr. Nationals and in December 2009 became Michigan’s first verbal commitment for 2012.

He had his eyes set on joining the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17 Team this season but was surprisingly not given an offer after camp.  Boo could have gone the major junior route after being drafted this past summer but opted to keep college his destination and joined the Kent School in Connecticut, where he is being coached by former Michigan captain and standout Matt Herr.

A second round pick of Indiana in the 2010 USHL Futures Draft, I expect Nieves to make the jump to the Ice next season before heading to Michigan in 2012.

Articles of interest
12/3/09 – Prep Watch: National attraction

Connor Carrick (2012)
Orland Park, IL
Defenseman – 5’10, 183 lbs.
Birth Date – 4/13/94
Current Team – U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17 Team
2010-11 Stats: 32 games, 4 goals, 12 assists, 25 PIM

Justin Selman (2012)
Upper Saddle River, NJ
Forward – 6’0, 187 lbs.
Birth Date – 10/2/93
Current Team – Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
2010-11 Stats – 29 games, 6 goals, 9 assists, +8 rating, 27 PIM

Articles of interest
9/2/10 – A dream summer on ice for Justin Selman

Daniel Milne (2012)
Unionville, Ontario
Forward – 5’11, 175 lbs.
Birth Date – March 24, 1994
Current Team: St. Michael’s Buzzers (Ontario Junior Hockey League)
2010-11 Stats – 29 games, 5 goals, 9 assists, 10 PIM

Don’t let the stats fool you.  Milne is the only 1994-born player on his team, so some players are upward of four years older than him.  I take it as a very good sign he has accomplished what he has at his age and expect his numbers to grow significantly over the coming year.

Jacob Trouba (2012)
Defenseman – 6’2, 193 lbs.
Birth Date – 3/11/94
Current Team – U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 Team

Considered a top 1o prospect for the 2012 NHL Draft, Jacob Trouba is a top blue line talent who chose the Wolverines over Notre Dame and Kitchener (OHL). Trouba has drawn comparisons to Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler but with more of an edge. He has offensive upside and plays a physical game and will be an exciting player to watch in the Maize n’ Blue!

Articles of interest
9/27/11 – Jacob Trouba commits to Michigan
8/17/11 – Trouba won’t take his commitment lightly
3/3/11 – The Hockey News Prospect Watch: Jacob Trouba

Max Shuart (2012/2013)
Northville, MI
Forward – 6’1, 180 lbs.
Birth Date – June 27, 1994
Current Team: Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Shuart is the nephew of former Michigan captain Alex Roberts.  Not sure if he’s a 2012 or 2013 commit.  Heisenberg has him listed as 2012 and Alex Kile as 2013, however there’s only 12 days separating their birthdays.

Former U-M captain Alex Roberts on Max… “He is a solid 2 way LW who plays the game very smart. He makes the high percentage plays and supports the puck very well. He has good size and plays the body well. He scores his goals by going to net and getting in the high traffic areas rather than from the perimeter. I am very excited to see him at Yost. He is a great kid and excellent student.”

Alex Kile (2013)
Troy, MI
Forward – 5’11, 190 lbs.
Birth Date – July 9, 1994
Current Team: Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

Kile leads Honeybaked in goals and assists and is ninth in league scoring.

JT Compher (2013)
Northbrook, IL
Forward – 6’0, 165 lbs.
Birth Date – April 8, 1995
Current Team: U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17 Team

Considered a top two-way forward, Compher will be joining the U.S. National Team Development Program in fall 2011.

Articles of Interest
2/10/11 – JT Compher verbals for 2013
2/19/11 – JT Compher to join U.S. NTDP
2/22/11 – Compher laces skates for Ann Arbor

Tyler Motte (2013)
Forward – 5’11, 178 lbs.
Current Team: U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17 Team

After a successful career with the Detroit Honeybaked program, Tyler Motte will be joining the U.S. NTDP Under-17 Team this fall, and by the sound of things he has future captain written all over him.  Tyler was voted team captain of Honeybaked by his teammates and his coach Mike Hamilton called him “a pure leader.”  Coach Hamilton offered even higher praise when he said he wanted Tyler to attend Miami (Ohio), where his son Trevor committed, just so his son could spend four more years with him.  ”If you get to pick people you want to hang out with your son, he’s definitely one of them,” coach Hamilton said.

Want more?  2013 commit Michael Downing says Tyler “has the best work ethic I have ever seen, and he is a fantastic kid.”

Motte not only excels at hockey, but baseball, too, and his high school team won the state championship this past year.

Motte’s older brother C.J. is a goalie who will be a freshman at Ferris State this fall.

Honeybaked coach Mike Hamilton on Motte: “He obviously can produce some points.  He’s second on our team right now in points.  He brings all aspects to the game.  He can score goals, he’s a great setup guy.  He’s on one of our power play units.  He’s one of our penalty killers.  He’s a guy we put out when we need a goal with a minute left.  He’s also a guy we can put out when we’re up a goal with a minute left.  He is a well rounded player.  He plays every situation of the game.  You have some guys who are power play specialists.  He can play every aspect of the game.”

Articles of Interest
2/24/11 – Talking Tyler Motte with Honeybaked coach Mike Hamilton

Alex Talcott (2013/2014)
Kentwood, MI
Forward – 5’11, 180 lbs.
Birth Date – February 26, 1995
Current Team:

Alex Talcott played up a year with the Honeybaked Midget Major team this past season, where he collected eight goals and 13 assists in 37 games.

East Kentwood High School hockey coach Todd Bell on Alex… “For lack of a better word, he’s a freak of nature, and in a very good way. He’s mature, strong, and naturally very athletic, complemented by the fact that he’s a great kid with a good work ethic who does the things that he needs to do to get better.”

Articles of Interest
3/4/2011 – Alex Talcott commits to Michigan
7/28/2009 – East Kentwood’s Alex Talcott is tops in hockey

Evan Allen (2013/2014)
Forward – 5’10, 180 lbs.
Current Team: U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17 Team

Evan Allen will be spending 2011-12 with the U.S. NTDP Under-17 Team after a long, successful career with the Detroit Honeybaked program.  He’s described by Honeybaked coach Mike Hamilton as an offensive player with “a nasty shot.”

“He’s out there to score goals and that’s what he’s done for us for years,” Hamilton said of Allen.

Allen sounds to be in the mold of former Wolverine Andy Hilbert.

Honeybaked coach Mike Hamilton’s scouting report on Evan Allen… “He’s a fairly average sized kid.  I think he’s 5’10, right in that area.  His skating is probably slightly above average.  He’s got an NHL shot.  I mean, he can absolutely fire the puck.  Good vision.  Sees the ice well.  He’s our main power play guy.  We kind of key our power play off of him and he’s phenomenal on the power play.  We don’t use him too much in the penalty kill situation.  But like I said, on the power play he’s our go to guy.  He’s been the leading scorer in the league the last two years.”

Articles of Interest
3/17/11 - Talking Evan Allen with Honeybaked coach Mike Hamilton

Bryson Cianfrone (2013/2014)
Forward – 5’8, 155 lbs.
Current Team:

A highly-skilled forward, Bryson was considered a possible first round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Draft, but after seeing him fall it was revealed he made a verbal commitment to the University of Michigan.

Spencer Hyman (2012/2013)
Forward – 6’0, 208 lbs.
Current Team: Hamilton Red Wings (Ontario Junior ‘A’ Hockey League)

Nicknamed “The Bus,” Spencer is the younger brother of 2011 Wolverine commit Zach Hyman.

Michael Downing (2013)
Defenseman – 6’3, 175 lbs.
Current Team: Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

A top 2013 defenseman who saw his stock take off after the U.S. Select 16 Festival in June 2011.  The Canton, Mich. native was being recruited by several major programs in the CCHA and WCHA and was quick to commit to the University of Michigan after being offered. A self described “Michigan guy” and offensive defenseman, Downing could be a future power play quarterback for the Wolverines as Dubuque head coach Jim Montgomery says he has “a bomb of a shot.”  Downing will be spending next season with Dubuque of the USHL along with his older brother Jake.

Articles of Interest
8/1/11 – 2013 commit Michael Downing didn’t take long to pick Michigan

For a full list of college recruits, visit Chris Heisenberg’s NCAA Hockey Recruits