RPI forward Todd Burgess, who was a fourth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, announced this week that he will transfer to Minnesota State for his senior season, utilizing the graduate transfer rule which allows him to transfer without sitting out a season.
Burgess appeared in 32 games last season and scored 14 goals and six assists for 20 points.
Burgess had a prolific career in the NAHL with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. In 60 games he scored 38 goals and added 57 assists.
’00 Natan Vertes to Alaska Fairbanks for 2021
Vertes is originally from Budapest, Hungary and he just moved over to the U.S. this season, where he played for the Aberdeen Wings in the NAHL, scoring 30 points (18g-12a) in 44 games. Prior to the NAHL, all of his hockey experience came in Hungary.
Vertes also appeared in 13 games for the Hungarian National Team’s U20 team, where he scored 13 goals and added 15 assists for 28 points.
NZ Scouts on Vertes: “He is a bit stiff when he skated but looked balanced and skated through contact with ease. He is not a giant but very strong. He used leverage to his advantage and his balanced skating. He showed poise with the puck even through stick checks and traffic. He scored a hattrick against Lone Star in a loss on the first day. … Natan worked hard on the forecheck as he pinned defensemen and got off checks. He can grind shifts out and was on the puck a lot. He is not explosive but has great edges and thus terrific balance. He may need to add that extra step for DI hockey but his play here was excellent and he stood out while also producing.”
’02 Eli Pilosof to Brown for 2021
Pilosof is a Toronto native who has been in the OJHL. This season with the Pickering Panthers he appeared in 52 games and scored 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists).
NZ Scouts on Pilosof: “His top speed is very fast. What we really liked was his ability to create in traffic. He showed he could weave his way to space. He is clever and his hands are quick and compact. Size did not limit as he knows where to go and how to get there to make plays. Well done for a 2002 here.”
’00 D Artyom Borshyov to Lake Superior State for 2020
Borshyov was originally committed to Quinnipiac but he de-committed last month. A 6-foot-3 defenseman, Borshyov has played junior hockey primarily here in the U.S., with the exception of appearances for the Belarusian national team at the Under-18 World Junior Championships (he captained the team in 2018).
Borshyov spent two years in the NCDC with the Northern Cyclones and this season he appeared in 48 games for the Youngstown Phantoms, scoring five goals and adding 12 assists.
NZ Scouts on Borshyov: “Moves pucks very well,” NZ scouts said. “Has the ability to beat forecheckers one on one. Poised on the power play. Shoots the puck very well and quick from the point. Above average vision. Ability to find the back side on the power play.”
’99 F Devon Fields to Adrian for 2020
Fields was ranked No. 187 in our 1999’s National Rankings report last week. He’s a big, strong forward who has a long career in the NAHL and finished this season in the USPHL. This season he had three points in nine games with the Austin Bruins (NAHL) and then had four goals and three assists in nine games with the Metro Jets in the USPHL.
A native of Detroit, he also grew up playing for Victory Honda and Little Caesars.
“Devon is another player for Austin who is really too talented for the NAHL,” scouts noted at last year’s NAHL Showcase. “Devon is big, strong and mobile. He pumped accurate passes from his end and stepped up and bodies players at his blue line. The 1999 made some big hits and seemed to enjoy contact. He showed the recovery speed to take chances and is a fluid backward skater.”
’99 D John Serafin to St. Thomas for 2020
Serafin was ranked No. 150 in our 1999 National Rankings. He’s a towering defenseman (6-foot-5) who had 12 points in 44 games for the Odessa Jackalopes and WB/Scranton Knights in the NAHL this season.
NZ Scouts on Serafin: “John is interesting. Huge player at 6’5” who clogged up lanes, used leverage on the wall and used his reach to gather pucks. Those things you would expect. Then we watched his feet more. Kept his gaps tight. He showed he could stop and start and stay with a very quick, smaller, shifty forward 1v1. He was very alert in the crease and aware of moving forwards and the high slot.”
’99 F Bailey Sommers to Hamline for 2020
Sommers appeared in 39 games for the Granite City Lumberjacks (NA3HL) this season, scoring 23 goals and adding 22 assists for 45 points. A Minnesota native, he played four seasons with Redwood Valley High School before his junior career, and he’s spent the last three seasons with Granite City.
NZ Scouts on Sommers: “He seems to know where to go. If he can add more quickness and agility, he will become very interesting. Put up huge number the last two season of a lower level on MNHS. Interesting player.”
’99 D Anthony Capraro to Franklin Pierce for 2020
The California native has been in New Hampshire since 2017, playing for the Northern Cyclones. This season he had three goals and three assists in 43 games in the USPHL.
