Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Midsummer Linkorama


SI.com’s “Best Game I’ve Ever Seen” series produced this gem today. It’s from Sports Illustrated reporter—and daughter of a Michigan State goalie, Lisa Altobelli describing her first Beanpot game while a student at BU.

2000-01 Terrier Captain Carl Corazzini is back in red, having signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The Framingham speedster, one of many St. Sebastian’s alums to skate for BU, spent the past two seasons in the BlackHawks organization, playing 7 NHL games. He played a dozen games for the Bruins in 2003-04; earlier in his pro career Carl suited up for a team with one of the all-time best names: the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. BU College of Communication professor Jack Falla, a former Sports Illustrated staffer, penned an insightful and revealing article about Captain Carl in a 2000 issue of Bostonia.

BU 2008 recruit defenseman David Warsofsky has been named to the Team USA U18 team that will play next month in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The team was chosen from players in the recently concluded national Select 17 festival in St. Cloud. Warsofsky, who played on last summer’s U17 USA squad in the Three Nation’s tournament, joins the NTDP program this fall and will play for Coach John Hynes’ Ann Arbor-based Under 18 team.

Warsofksy, who spent the past two seasons at Cushing Prep (Sports Illustrated Video Faces in the News clip) where he was a prep all-star both years and last year’s USHR Prep Defenseman of the Year, was ranked among the top six defenseman at the Select festival. USHR described him as a “super mobile, puck-moving D,” while Chris Dilks of the Western College Hockey blog reports that he’s“Very relaxed and poised with the puck. Can make a great pass, even when he’s under a great deal of pressure. He has NHL-level skills, but lacks ideal NHL size.”

Speaking of his size, the USA.com summer U18 roster lists Warsofsky at 5-10, 170, a nice spurt from the 5-9, 160 lb., September 2006 numbers from Cushing. [Note the name Jake Youso on the roster; older fans may remember his grandfather, Frank Youso, who played offensive tackle for the Giants in the "greatest game ever played" (and the toughest loss), the 1958 NFL championship overtime win by the Colts]

Another Terrier recruit who stood out in St. Cloud is 2009 defenseman Max Nicastro whom USHR put in a group of blueliners rated A-, just behind the top six, reporting that he “has the tools. Not sure how well he sees the rink.” Dilks says the California-born defenseman who joins the USHL Chicago Steel in the fall is an “extremely smooth skater, and comfortable with the puck. Can make a nice pass in just about any situation. He’s listed at 6’3” 195 lbs., but looked a lot lankier.”

In today’s Research on Ice newsletter, Paul Shaheen quotes Steel GM Jason Koehler as saying, "Nicastro will simply be one of the best first year Ds in the USHL this season. He is a stud in my opinion. Will be a top three round NHL pick - would not shock me that he becomes a first-round pick next summer if he adds weight to his frame. Max is not your typical West Coast player, more gritty. Very exciting, great PP guy."

Among forwards at the Select 17s, BU recruiting target Vinny Saponari had a strong camp. USHR ranked him among its top 12 forwards and wrote:”Excellent, and fun to watch. He can bring you out of your seat with his 1-on-1 moves.” Dilks concurred, reporting “I thought he was one of the better forwards at the camp. He’s very confident and poised with the puck and always seemed to be creating offensive chances. He probably had an even better week than his point totals indicate.”

Saponari, whose brother Victor is in BU’s 2007 recruit class, was a top scorer with the NTDP U17s last season and moved up the U18s for the IIHF World U18 Championships. Warsofsky-Saponari should be a dynamic combo for next season’s U18s; Terrier fans will get a look on Dec. 8 when John Hynes brings his team to Agganis for an exhibition game.

If the BU coaches observing the Select 17s scouted Omaha defenseman Adam Comrie, they probably were impressed. The defensively-minded LD from Virginia earned kudos from USHR’s Chris Warner: “Big – he’s 6’4” – and mobile. An excellent skater with a hard shot. Keeps the game simple. A little error prone, but he does have all the tools.” The Western Blog was even more effusive: “He probably has the most upside of anyone at the camp. He’s a big kid that is very physical and is good at jumping into the play. He’s a pretty good skater too. He had a lot of penalties, but more from being overly aggressive as opposed to being out of position.” It’s just speculation on our part, but with so many RDs expected on next season’s roster, Comrie might be a good fit for the 2008 class.

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