Sunday Recruiting Notes

Just spoke with Notre Dame Academy (Green Bay) defenseman Tim Davison (pictured) about his future plans. The junior to be was recently selected in the USHL Futures draft in the first round, 12th overall by the Youngstown Phantoms.

The Phantoms love Wisconsin players. They selected Jefferson Dahl and David Donnellan, both from Eau Claire in the 2009 expansion draft. Then they took Madison native Cody Strang in the 6th round of the 2009 USHL Draft.

Davison finished up camp with the Phantoms and was offered a spot on the team, a rarity for a player of his age. "It was a great experience being at the tryout camp. They treated everyone well. It seems like a great organization. I am very honored with the opportunity they have given me."

However Davison won't be in Youngstown this season. After talking it over with his parents, he has decided to go back to Notre Dame Academy for at least one more season. He said he also plans on (hopefully) playing with Team Wisconsin U18's. (Um, heres a secret, he'll make the team)
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Another Wisconsinite who recently made a USHL team was Milwaukee Jr. Admirals defenseman Jarrod Rabey. Rabey, who was a 15th round selection by the Indiana Ice in the 2009 USHL Draft has made the Ice for the 2010-2011 season. Rabey was instrumental in helping the Jr. Admirals to capture the WAHA Midget Major State Championship this season.

Rabey, who is currently listed at 6'2, 223 played in five games last season for Indiana. In those 5 contests, he was held off the score sheet. Don't expect him to stay off the USHL score sheets for long. Rabey recorded 53 points in 63 games for the Jr. Admirals last season.

For a kid that I initially criticized when he was drafted for being over weight, it looks like the future is bright for this blue liner. Reports I've heard indicate that he's gotten serious about hockey and has lost some weight. He's generated interest from some D-1 programs so keep an eye on his progress.
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In addition to the original two that I found out had made USHL rosters, I just found out that Green Bay Native Ryan Belonger has made the Youngstown Phantoms. Unlike Davison, Belonger is expected to play in Youngstown next season.

Belonger spent last season (his high school senior season) playing for the St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL and had a successful season. The 5'10, 180 pounder put up a 14-21-35 line in 60 games for the Bandits. The 1992 born forward really came on at the end of the season recording 7 points in 10 playoff games including four goals.

Belonger has been on a visit at Wisconsin and I know he's been in contact with a number of schools including (but not limited to) UW, UMD, MI Tech, MI State, Quinnipiac, and Yale.
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Another interesting kid to keep an eye on is Michael Vilardo. I've spoke of him on this site many times and he's still uncommitted. He originally committed to Ohio State when he was way too young and quickly decided that it wasn't the right place for him. He's taken his time in the process on this go round and is still evaluating his options.

Last season he started off playing midget hockey with the Chicago Mission program but was extended an invite to the NTDP after a few injuries mid-season. He himself ran into some shoulder injuries and was shut down in mid-February. Vilardo is now healthy but has aged out of the NTDP program and will be playing for the Indiana Ice this season with Rabey.

Vilardo is still keeping his options open but told me recently that Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are likely possible destinations. He did say that he still has strong interest in Wisconsin and Michigan as well. Last season he had also mentioned Notre Dame and Denver.
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I almost forgot about this but I'm glad I caught myself because this is pretty important news as well. Thanks to USCHO poster Ralph Baer, we've learned that Wisconsin is in on Canadian recruit Steven Beyers.

Beyers did an interview with a Toronto sports radio station The Fan 590 with David Grossman. In the interview, Beyers reveals that Wisconsin and RPI are on the top of his list. By the way if you listen to the interview, it's kind of awkward if you ask me.

He was drafted in the OHL Draft by Sudburry with the first pick in the third round but just listening to Beyers thoughts on Sudbury in the interview I don't think we need to worry about him ending up there. Chris Dilks from Western College Hockey projected him as a first round OHL pick in his draft year.

Beyers spent last season with Orangeville in the CCHL in Ontario. He was recently drafted in the USHL Draft by Fargo and it would make a ton of sense for him to play there next season. Beyers continues to grow and currently stands 5'11, 185 pounds.

It should be interesting to see if Beyers is drafted by an NHL club this summer. He was ranked #199 by NHL Central Scouting at the year end rankings. That means that it's probably a toss up as to him getting drafted. But all it takes is one team to like you.

Friday Recruiting News: Max McCormick, Michael Vilardo

As the Wisconsin high school hockey action picks up with the playoffs starting this week, one name keeps coming to the forefront, Max McCormick (pictured left) from Notre Dame Academy.

McCormick has really had a good year of hockey. He started things off last spring by being a key member of the Team Wisconsin U-16 squad that made it all the way to USA Hockey nationals and fared very well for themselves once they got there.

He continued that play this fall with with Team Wisconsin Major program, leading the team in scoring in the fall with 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games, good enough for 10th in the league in overall scoring.

McCormick didn't slow down once he started his high school season. He took the bull by the horns this year with (in my opinion) the best team in the state Notre Dame Academy, leading them to a remarkable 23-1 record heading into the playoffs.

McCormicks stock has continued to grow after his impressive performance in the Elite league in the fall. Minnesota State has been on him hard, recently bringing him in for a visit where he toured the campus and met with the coaching staff. According to his high school coach, Cory McCracken, Wisconsin has also been showing interest and was in attendance to watch him play recently.

McCracken had very nice things to say about McCormick. "Max, in my opinion, is the best forward in the state. We played a top 5 schedule and Max finished 5th in overall scoring. We have a handful of game changers at the high school level and Max is one of those."

He also had a lot of praise for his senior goalie Tony Kujava, who like McCormick is up for the WHCA Player of the Year award. "Tony is certainly among the elite goaltenders in our state. Based on the entire regular season, Kujo led the state in Wins, save percentage, and Goals against average. When you play a tough schedule and post good numbers it speaks to why he is a finalist. I do think goaltenders have traditionally taken a back seat during the POTY consideration. I hope our coaches give Tony fair consideration. I do think it's time to give a goaltender of the year award out in Wisconsin and recognize our state's best.

According to McCracken, Kujava has signed a tender with Janesville for the NAHL.
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It looks like Michael Vilardo has left the NTDP and will not be returning. Vilardo has battled shoulder injuries and has recently decided to take the rest of the season off to recover. He injured the shoulder when he was playing with the USA NTDP U-18 squad against Maine.

Vilardo tried battling through the injury and kept aggravating it. He recently traveled with the USA U-17's to Slovakia to compete where he further injured the shoulder to the point where it was recommended he receive an MRI.

According to Vilardo, his left shoulder has never fully healed from a previous injury and is sore, and he has a grade 2 separation and deep muscle bruising in the right shoulder.

Vilardo is an uncommitted forward who will spend at least next season in the USHL. He was scheduled to visit Denver, Harvard, and Notre Dame and has also talked with a few other schools.

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Vilardo Officially On Team USA

There has been a ton of disarray with the NTDP this season and they have been short on players. There had been rumors about late '92 born forward Michael Vilardo filling in with the NTDP U17 squad. Over the weekend, Vilardo played two games with the U17's against Green Bay (USHL). Tonight I was officially told that potential recruit Michael Vilardo has left the Chicago Mission and will play the rest of the season with the USA NTDP.

Vilardo, who at one point had committed to The Ohio State University, started this season with the Chicago Mission U18's. (In Vilardo's words, he felt he committed to early, before really looking at all of his options) Badger commit Jordan Schmaltz also plays for the Mission.

Current Badger committed recruits Michael Mersch and Frankie Simonelli both play with the U18's, and both hail from the state of Illinois like Vilardo. Just two seasons ago, Mersch and Vilardo teamed up to produce a dynamic duo for the Team Illinois U16 squad. Mersch led the team in scoring and Vilardo was one point behind him.

The interesting thing of note here is that the U17 team is made up of '93 birth year players so they are allowed to play in U17 international competitions. Vilardo will not be eligible for that portion of the schedule. Although he will still get to take part in a large chuck of USHL games that the U17's will play and get to participate in the rigorous training program at the NTDP.

Vilardo is a late '92 which means after this season he will have to play at least one season of junior hockey after he ages out of the NTDP this season. Like I've posted before, the Badgers are currently thin on forwards out of this age group. Vilardo should be a big time target for the coaching staff along with forwards Garrett Allen (Fargo Force), Ryan Belonger and CJ Eick (St. Louis Bandits NAHL).

Vilardo says he's keeping his options open at this point, but said that Michigan, Denver, Notre Dame, New Hampshire, Harvard, Wisconsin, and Princeton have shown the most interest.

chuckschwartz@live.com

Michael Vilardo Re-Opens His Recruitment

I received a bit of interesting news tonight when It was brought to my attention that Illinois forward Michael Vilardo has de-committed from The Ohio State University and is looking at other options.

Michael is an extremely talented forward who played as a '92 with the Team Illinois Minor program last winter. He is listed at 6', 160 pounds and recorded 48 points in 31 games last season in the MWEHL.

If you may recall, I posted about his commitment last winter. I may have over-reacted in the initial post, but I'm not backing off the principles of my original arguments. I will clarify, that Michael was a bit un-fairly singled out in the post, it was more of a general rant towards the recruiting process in general, it just so happened that he was "in the now."

The fact remains that Vilardo is a great player. Vilardo is changing teams and playing with the Chicago Mission Midget Major program this season. This is also the same team that 1993 born defenseman and Wisconsin commit Jordan Schmaltz will play for. It would not shock me to see him end up playing some games this season in the USHL for the Steel or another franchise. (He was drafted by Fargo but they do not currently own his rights)

I do not know if Vilardo has interest in the Badgers. I will say that we are in need of forwards in the 92 age group, and I'm assuming Schmaltz will be making an effort to try and make him a Badger. Vilardo certainly will be an option now. Along with kids like CJ Eick and Ryan Belonger from Green Bay, and another Wisconsin native Garrett Allen who has made the Fargo Force roster.