Coach John Micheletto and the Massachusetts hockey program has picked up another commitment, presumably for this coming fall.  Des Moines forward Joe Widmar announced on twitter tonight that he has committed to the Minutemen.

Widmar has 15 goals and 15 assists in 36 games for the USHL’s Buccaneers.  That puts him 19th in the league in goals and 26th in total points.  Widmar is a center with really good size at 6’1” 225 lbs.  He is originally from Northbrook, IL but has already played hockey on the East Coast, suiting up for the Connecticut Oilers of the EHL last year.

Widmar was originally committed to Maine, but decommitted earlier in the fall.  SBN College Hockey had this profile of him last winter, touting his physical play and strong skating.  USHR also has this very positive scouting report on him.

Yet another key recruiting pickup for Micheletto and his staff.

Now to see how the rest of the recruits did last week:

Brandon Egli – D – Vernon Vipers (BCHL) – 2015 (NLI signed)
33P / 1 G / 9 A / 10 Pts / 28 PIM
Egli scored his first goal of the season in a 5-1 victory over Merritt.

Jake McCarthy – D – South Shore Kings (USPHL) – 2015 or 2016
10 GP / 0 G /2 A / 2 Pts / 11 PIM
McCarthy was held scoreless this past week.

Kurt Keats – C – Powell River Kings (BCHL) – 2015 (NLI signed)
40 GP / 27 G / 24 A / 51 Pts / 63 PIM
Keats had a rare scoreless week, though being hit in the face with a puck probably didn’t help his production.

Austin Plevy – C – Brooks Bandits (AJHL) – 2015 (NLI signed)
46 GP / 27 G / 50 A / 77 Pts / 66 PIM
Plevy had a goal and two assists in two games.  Plevy continues to lead the league in points, assists, game-winning goals, and power play assists.  He’s third in the league in goals.

Nic Renyard – G – Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) – 2015
23-6-3 / .923 save % / 2.16 GAA / 4 shutouts
Renyard had a tough week, getting a loss in two appearances and giving up 6 goals in 72 minutes of play.  He’s tied for the league lead in wins, is second in save percentage, and third in goals against average.  His four shutouts is first in the league.

Ivan Chukarov – D – Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL) – 2015
36 GP / 9 G / 20 A / 29 Pts / 37 PIM / +24
Chukarov had an assist this past week.  Chukarov is 4th in the league for goals by a defenseman and 5th points by a defenseman.

William Lagesson – D – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) – 2015
27GP / 1 G / 11 A / 12 Pts / 69 PIM/ +11
Lagesson was scoreless this past week.

Shane Bear – D – Brooks Bandits (AJHL) – 2016
45 GP / 5 G / 26 A / 31 Pts / 43 PIM
Bear was scoreless in two games this past week.

Troy Conzo – RW – Wenatchee Wild (NAHL) – 2016 or 2017
3 GP / 0 G / 0 A /0 Pts / 0 PIM / –2  Des Moines (USHL)
26 P/ 3 G/ 2 A / 5 Pts / 10 PIM / -1 Wenatchee (NAHL)
Conzo was scoreless this past week.

Kyler Nachtigall – LW – Brooks Bandits (AJHL) – 2016
47 GP / 12 G / 9 A / 21 Pts / 47 PIM
Nachtigall had a goal this past week.

Ty Pelton-Byce – C – Team Wisconsin U18 (Elite)/Madison Memorial (WI HS) – 2016 (NLI signed)
21 GP / 12 G / 12 A / 24 Pts / 8 PIM  Team Wisconsin U18
18 GP /27 G / 23 A /50 pts  Madison Memorial
Pelton-Byce had two goals and two assists in his most recent game.

John Leonard – F – Springfield Rifles (Mass Selects)/Springfield Cathedral (MA HS) – 2017
14 GP / 21 G / 11 A / 32 Pts  Springfield Rifles
14 GP / 27 G / 17 A /44 Pts  Springfield Cathedral
Leonard had three goals and six assists in two games this past week, including a two goal, four assist effort against #8 Central Catholic.

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Nick Canelas has this in-depth profile of Brandon Montour for USCHO.

Montour is also highlighted in this Gazette piece regarding the recent good fortunes of the team.