Three Players Sign Letters of Intent

As you’ll read in The Gazette on Wednesday, CC secured letters of intent from Tim Hall, Andrew Hamburg and Rylan Schwartz. Those are in addition to the letters of intent from Nick Dineen and David Civitarese, signed last fall and earlier this year, respectively.

The recruits that are definitely coming in 2008, barring injury or some unforeseen circumstance, are Dineen, Hall, Civitarese and Joe Marciano. Possible additions to that class–resulting from early departures and other roster changes–include Hamburg and Schwartz. If either of those two makes a rapid skill development this season, then that would also earn them consideration for 2008 matriculation.

Coach Scott Owens discusses some of the players below:

F Nick Dineen, Omaha, Neb.
Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
5-foot-9, 190 pounds, 2/28/89
Shoots: Right
Fun fact: Dineen played for the AAA Pikes Peak Miners in 2004-05 and attended Liberty
Owens: “Dineen is really excelling right now. He’s in his third year in the league. He’s a tremendous locker-room guy. He’s a great leader. He can play gritty, he can score. He’s really having a great year. He was one of their top three guys in that (World Junior A) tournament up at Trail (B.C.). He’s all about team. …We knew that he had tremendous character. In midgets he scored a fair amount. His first two years in the USHL, he just scored OK, but now he’s settling down and he’s still pretty young.”

C Tim Hall, Sewickley, Pa.
Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets (USHL)
5-foot-8, 160 pounds, 2/2/90
Shoots: Left
Fun fact: Hall is the second player from the Pittsburgh area in CC history. John Mooney, who played for CC from 1989-91.
Owens: “Tim Hall had 17 goals and 14 assists as a ’90 (birthdate) last year in the USHL. He’s off to a little bit of a slow start this year, but he played well overseas this summer and he also really played well up at Trail (at the World Junior A tournament). He’s a tenacious, hard-working left-handed forward with some scoring touch. He’s a smart hockey player and he’ll be an asset to us. He needs to get things rolling a little bit now, but no matter what we’re bringing him in next year.”

2008 or 2009

C Rylan Schwartz, Wilcox, Saskatchewan
Notre Dame Hounds (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League)
5-foot-10, 180 pounds, 1/8/1990
Fun fact: Plays for the same team that produced sophomore defenseman Kris Fredheim and assistant coach Norm Bazin.
“He’s been doing well. He’s only played two, three months of junior hockey. He did very well in midgets. Our original discussion on him was for ’09. We just wanted him to mature and that’s where we thought he’d fit in nicely for us.”

RW Andrew Hamburg, Phoenix
St. Louis Bandits (North American Hockey League)
6-foot-2, 175 pounds, 6/17/1989
Fun fact: Nicknamed “Hammer”
Hamburg landed with the Bandits after a two-game stint with the NAHL’s Texas Tornado. Originally thought would be playing for Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL, but was one of the final cuts.
“He was a late cut. It’s tough for high school. It’s a learning experience. He ended up in St. Louis, which has a very good North American team and he’s doing pretty well.”

I’ll catch Owens about Civitarese and Marciano later this week.

National Letter of Intent Early Signing Period Begins Today

Thanks to Nick Dineen‘s parents for this photo, which shows the Omaha, Neb., native’s reaction after one of his goals in the World Junior A Challenge.

Dineen is one of at least four recruits expected to join CC next fall and he already signed a National Letter of Intent in 2006.

The early signing period begins today and lasts through Nov. 21. Forwards Tim Hall, David Civitarese, and Andrew Hamburg are expected to sign letters of intent this week. Once they have received the letters, CC’s coaches will be able to comment specifically on the recruits.

Recruiting Round-up

Nick Dineen, who will join Colorado College next season, leads the United States Hockey League defending champion Sioux Falls Stampede as a third-year player and co-captain.

The Tigers’ latest pickup, Tim Hall, played a key role in his Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets’ sweep of the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL). Game 1: Hall’s shootout goal clinched the win. Game 2: Hall picks up an assist.

Dakota Eveland, who will join CC in 2009 or 2010, had an assist in the Omaha Lancers’ win over the Tri-City Storm this weekend.

On a low-scoring Okotoks Oilers (Alberta Junior Hockey League) squad, David Civitarese is one of the youngest but also the third-leading scorer among forwards.

Andrew Hamburg still has not resurfaced after being released from Waterloo (USHL). EDIT: Looks like the Texas Tornado (NAHL), where Hamburg was traded to, will start up this weekend.

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Tiger Tracks:

Though the same stature as former Chicago Wolves teammate and AHL record-setter Darren Haydar, Brett Sterling got the nod. An interesting piece on how timing can make all the difference when trying to stick on a NHL roster.

Aaron Slattengren‘s strong second half last season has his Augusta (Ga.) Lynx (ECHL) coach predicting big things. (subscription required)

Bad Karma? A knee injury to Brett Krahn cleared the way for Curtis McElhinney to make the Calgary Flames’ roster. Now, because of a knee injury of his own, McElhinney will be out of commission for at least a week, this article says.

Straub To Report To Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)

Former Colorado College defenseman Brandon Straub learned Sunday afternoon that he will be sent to the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, the Lake Erie Monsters (Cleveland, Ohio).

Once the Avalanche returned from the Burgundy and White scrimmage, held at Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, a cut list was posted. Straub estimated he was among “four or five” defensemen, one goaltender and “a bunch” of forwards who did not make the Avalanche roster for Monday’s exhibition game at Phoenix, he said.

In his meeting with the Avalanche coaching staff, Straub received positive feedback about his performance during four days of rookie camp, two days of training camp and the scrimmage, in which he had two assists.

“They said they were happy with me, especially because I came out of nowhere as an undrafted free agent,” Straub said. “They thought I was a pleasant surprise.”

Straub’s report was consistent with coach Joel Quenneville’s comments after the game.

“He got our attention in rookie camp,” Quenneville said. “I thought that he’s done a nice job here. Not everybody had that opportunity to come to training camp . . . I didn’t know that much about him but he showed his versatility and he was being active in the game.”

Although he was disappointed that he didn’t make the roster, Straub made a point to stress the positive.

“About a month ago, I didn’t have a camp to go to,” Straub said. “Now, I have a week off and I can go in there with an edge, having gained experience here.”

During Sunday’s scrimmage, Straub was mostly paired with John-Michael Liles, who was also his partner throughout the two-day training camp.

“I thought he did great,” Liles said. “There’s a reason why he’s here.”

Liles said he had to remind Straub not to apologize for mistakes.

“He’s very humble,” Liles said. “I told him, ‘Don’t worry about it.’”

Straub said being paired with Liles helped ease his nerves.

“I could ask him for pointers,” Straub said. “He was really helpful and told me about their systems and where to be on face-offs and stuff like that. . . . With some guys, you’re on edge and afraid to make mistakes. With him, it’s the opposite. He encouraged me to take chances. As long as I was working hard out there, he was happy.”

A contract still hasn’t materialized and the organization can continue to evaluate Straub until the end of the month, per the terms of Straub’s amateur tryout contract.

Straub said he will spend the week in Colorado Springs, training, skating and lifting. Tigers strength coach Mark Stephenson, who was in attendance Sunday, is directing Straub’s lifting program.

When he reflected on the experience of taking the ice at Cadet Ice Arena in an Avalanche uniform, Straub called it “one of the most fun times I’ve ever had playing hockey.”

“I could do it in my hometown and next to NHL players and I was right there playing well and contributing,” he said. “It was very exciting.”

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Former CC defensemen Richard Petiot and Tom Preissing are among 39 players and 13 defensemen left in the Los Angeles Kings’ training camp. Preissing scored a goal for the Kings in Saturday’s preseason game against the Ducks. The Kings play the Avalanche at Pepsi Center at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.

This writer called former CC defenseman Mark Stuart a “virtual lock” to make the Boston Bruins’ final roster.

Former CC forward Aaron Slattengren signed on for another season with the Augusta Lynx (ECHL). Lynx training camp begins October 5 and former CC right wing James Brannigan will be bidding for a roster spot.

CC recruit David Civitarese (Calgary, AB), who is slated to join the Tigers in 2008, scored his first goal of the season Saturday.