Time to see how the recruits are doing. Last Wednesday marked the beginning of the early signing period.  Justin Dixson is the only recruit who has been publicly reported as signing his NLI.  UMass typically doesn’t announce them as they get them, but will do so with a taped scouting report from coach John Micheletto in the future.  A reader was also kind enough to point out that Shane Bear had previously signed his NLI, so I’ve made that correction below.  Today is the last day of the early signing period.

Shane Bear – D – Brooks Bandits (AJHL) – 2016 (NLI Signed)
14 GP / 3 G / 11 A / 14 Pts / 10 PIM
Bear only played in one game this past week after returning from injury but it was a big one.  His goal and assist in the match helped Brooks take the lead in their division.

Troy Conzo – RW – Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) – 2016 or 2017
23 GP/ 6 G/ 7 A / 13 Pts /  6 PIM
Conzo had an assist in his last two games.

Kyler Nachtigall – LW – Brooks Bandits (AJHL) – 2016 (NLI Signed)
22 GP / 5 G / 12 A / 17 Pts / 24 PIM
Nachtigall had an assist in the last three games.

Jake Massie – D – Omaha Lancers (USHL) – 2016
6 GP / 0 G / 0 A / 0 Pts / 8 PIM
Massie is still looking for his first points of the season.

Jake McCarthy – D – South Shore Kings (USPHL) – 2016
8 GP / 0 G /1 A / 1 Pts / 6 PIM
McCarthy was pointless in his last three games.

Ty Pelton-Byce – C – Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) – 2016 (NLI signed)
16 GP /2 G / 3 A / 5 pts / 4 PIM
Pelton-Byce had an assist in the last week.

Justin Dixson – LW – Tri-City Storm (USHL) – 2017
11 GP / 0 G / 0 A / 0 Pts / 2 PIM
Dixson was pointless in his last couple games.  As mentioned he did sign his letter of intent this past week.  Here are the pictures of the moment from the Storm:

Colin Felix – D – St George’s (RI-HS) – 2017
0 GP / 0 G / 0 A / 0 Pts
Felix played for the Rhode Island Hitmen U18 before the high school hockey season started, picking up 6 goals and 19 assists in 17 games.  Prep hockey will be underway soon for Felix.

Nick Jenny – D – Omaha Lancers (USHL) – 2017
17 GP / 0 G / 3 A / 3 Pts / 10 PIM
Jenny was held pointless this past week.

John Leonard – LW – Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) – 2017
12 GP / 2 G / 1 A / 3 Pts / 4 PIM
Leonard was pointless in his last three games.

Cale Makar– D – Brooks Bandits (BCHL) – 2018
22 GP / 4 G / 18 A / 22 Pts / 14 PIM
Makar had a goal and an assist in his last three games.  Makar is third on Brooks in points and is second in the league for scoring by defensemen.

Brian Scoville – D – Winchendon (NE Prep) – 2018
0 GP / 0 G / 0 A / 0 Pts
Scoville is played for the Cape Cod Whalers U16 team before Winchendon starts up.  He had 3 goals and 6 assists in 31 games.  The Whalers won the U16 State Championship:

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Dominic Trento was named a UMass Co-Student Athlete of the Week with Field Hockey’s Melanie Kreusch.

California Rubber, a site dedicated to hockey in the Golden State, has this feature on Dennis Kravchenko.

Sports Illustrated has this excellent story on Frank Vatrano, his local Western Mass roots, and path to the NHL.