’03 D Brent Johnson commits to North Dakota
Johnson is a Texas native who was originally committed to Arizona State. This season the 5-foot-10 defender has 11 goals and 13 assists from the blue line for the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL). He debuted with Sioux Falls at the end of last season after finishing up with Little Caesars 16U AAA team.
We had Johnson projected as a 2021 recruit for the Sun Devils, and that would carry over for UND.
NZ Scouts: “He often liked to pull the puck into his body and had a quick release to get the shot past the first shot blocker and on net. He registered an assist on Sioux Falls’ second goal that tied the game. On the play he kept his head up and towards the net, walked the offensive blueline, pulled the puck into his body, but instead of shooting he fired a pass backdoor to his forward, Citara, who buried it. Johnson also did a good job of going back hard on pucks in the neutral zone and quickly advancing them back up the ice to start quick transition attacks. Overall, he played with his head up throughout the night, but was most effective on the offensive blueline.”
’00 D Jake Veilleux commits to Connecticut
Veilleux is staying close to home. He’s a Windsor, Conn. native, which is a short drive away from UConn’s campus and not far from Hartford, where the Huskies will likely resume playing home games next season.
If the BCHL season can get underway soon, Veilleux will play for the Victoria Grizzlies. He appeared in 57 games for the team last season, scoring three goals and adding seven assists. He’s an alum of the Selects Academy at the South Kent School.
As a 2000-born player, Veilleux projects as a 2021 arrival for the Huskies.
NZ Scouts: “Veilleux is a smooth skating forward who has gotten bigger and stronger this season. He’s skilled with the puck, carries it will end to end and has the skating ability and athleticism to beat defenders 1v1. He uses his size to his advantage and while he isn’t a big body checker, he plays a solid two-way game; he competes for pucks in his own end and has a strong stick in traffic.”
’00 D Philippe Chapleau commits to St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence adds the 5-foot-8 defenseman from Quebec. Like Veilleux, he’s expected to begin with the BCHL as soon as the season can begin, and he’ll play for the Penticton Vees, one of the top programs in the league.
Last season Chapleau appeared in 44 games for Longueuil College in the QJHL, where he scored 8 goals and totaled 47 assists for 55 points. Over his last two seasons with Longueuil College, he scored 14 goals and added 87 assists for 101 points in 86 games. Chapleau played for Canada East at the World Jr. A Challenge last season.
As a 2000-born player, we projected that Chapleau will arrive at St. Lawrence in 2021.
NZ Scouts: “Chapleau was one of the more impressive D-men in the tournament, and perhaps the most important to his team. He provided a steady defensive game, showing a good stick on the rush. He was perhaps most impactful as a puck mover on zone exits, and offensively as the quarterback of the East power play. He managed to get his shots through with ease, creating opportunities on rebounds, and moved the puck around well–making god decisions on passes.”
’04 D Michael Fisher commits to Princeton
Fisher is only 16 years old and he’s already 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. He’s been a mammoth presence for St. Mark’s on the blue line and now he has a commitment to an Ivy League school before his 17th birthday.
Last season Fisher had six points in 18 games.
NZ Scouts: “He was able to keep plays alive along the walls and chip pucks deep for the forwards to retrieve. He did a great job of shooting for sticks when he let it go from the blue line as opposed to cranking away a hard slap shot with no intent. Used nice fakes at the top of the zone to give himself more space and time to operate. Effectively made sharp feeds around the offensive zone including a nice sauce pass as well. Sprinted well laterally in order to keep the puck in to continue the offensive zone pressure. He is having an excellent summer so far based on the action we’ve seen.”
