Quite a few freshman have already made huge contributions to their respective teams so far this year. Here's a look at a couple of them:
Kyle Turris, Wisconsin: Turris' success has already been much-publicized. He's leading the NCAA with 13 points after 6 games. He only registered a single assist against Michigan Tech last week, so it remains to be seen if he can continue to have success against WCHA competition.
Garrett Roe, St. Cloud: Similar to Turris, Roe also has 13 points on the year, though Roe is averaging over a point per game in 4 WCHA games. I was on hand to see his four point performance against Bemidji, which was one of the better freshman performances I've seen in a long time.
Richard Bachman, Colorado College: Bachman's numbers are an impressive 1.49 GAA and .950 save percentage, but even more impressive when compared to teammate Drew O'Connell's 5.02 GAA and .841 save percentage. The Tigers are 3-1-0 with Bachman in the net and 0-2 with O'Connell in the net.
Carter Camper, Miami: Camper has 10 points already on the year, including tallies in 6 of Miami's 8 games. His story is similar to that of former Denver forward Gabe Gauthier. Both were considered superstars at a young age, but the hype slowly faded as they got older, and both ended up going undrafted by the NHL(though that could change for Camper this summer). Gauthier helped the Pioneers win a national title as a sophomore and junior. Camper is trying to help lead Miami to their first national title this year.
Tyler Bozak, Denver: Bozak opened some eyes last weekend with a 5-point weekend against Minnesota. He now sits at 7 points in 8 games, helping prove that last year's gaudy point totals in the BCHL weren't just because he was an over-age player.
Max Campbell, Western Michigan: Campbell was a star in Ontario Jr. B hockey last year, and that has carried over to Kalamazoo. The freshman is second on the Broncos in scoring with 7 points through his first 6 games.
Evan Oberg, Minnesota-Duluth: Oberg was a late addition to the Bulldogs roster for this year, and though he hasn't scored a point yet, he's played incredibly strong defense, which has helped make the Bulldogs defense one of the toughest in the nation. Unfortunately, Oberg injured his leg in practice and will miss some time.
Take your pick, Michigan: It's hard to single out one freshman performance that has helped Michigan get off to their fast start. After 8 games, Matt Rust has 7 points, Carl Hagelin, Chad Langlais and Aaron Palushaj have 6, and first round pick Max Pacioretty lags behind with only 5. Fourth liner Ben Winnett has also chipped in 3 points. A trio of freshman defenseman in Scooter Vaughn, Tristin Llewellyn, and Kevin Quick have rotated in and out of the lineup and played well on defense.
Stu Bickel, Minnesota: Bickel committed to Minnesota last April, about a year and half after freshman teammates Kevin Wehrs and Cade Fairchild committed, but Bickel has played in every game so far for Minnesota and contributed a punishing, physical presence on the blueline.
Channing Boe, Minnesota State: Some questioned how Boe would transition to the college game after he finished last season a -22 with the Green Bay Gamblers, but Boe is one of a trio of freshman defenseman that have played excellent for the Mavericks so far, helping MSU to their best start since the 1999-2000 season.
Jacob Cepis, Bowling Green: Cepis has 4 points through 5 games including 3 points last Saturday against Western Michigan.
Landon Novotney, Alaska: Novotney has a goal in three of Alaska's four games so far this year, which is impressive given that the Nanooks only have 8 total goals.
Winston DayChief, Alaska-Anchorage: DayChief has 6 points through 8 games, and has already taken home one WCHA rookie of the week honor.
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10 comments:
Another freshman who has had some impact has been Dustin Gazley for MSU
chris, I think you forgot the other freshman Badgers or is there a limit of only one per team? The 3 freshman D have been very impactful in radically changing how the Badgers play (much more free wheeling than previous years).
The points are not there but I here that McDonagh is starting off well with the Badgers.
Question: Is Carter Camper the best 19 year old center in college hockey this season?
Why isn't Winston DayChief playing for the Sioux? (Sarcasticly)Why?!! Why?!!
Sparty frosh........have been so so. They have too many kids upclass that are doing the work.
Decent talent. The frosh need to step up in big games to balance things.
Anonymous (3:46) said...
"chris, I think you forgot the other freshman Badgers or is there a limit of only one per team? The 3 freshman D have been very impactful in radically changing how the Badgers play (much more free wheeling than previous years)."
Chucky,
Just think if your BBFF LaPoint had signed with the BADgers... what a team that would have been. That kid should have been mentioned in the blog about outstanding freshmen as well. He would be #1 line NHLer if he would have signed instead of stepping foot on the hostile and abusive campus.
Chris:
In line with your multi-player comments about Michigan ...
Craig Parkinson has the 3 goals and 3 assists for UAA and Blueliner Luka Vidmar has played strong on Defense and has 1g 2a.
Jeff Petry from Michigan State has been a game changing defenseman. He plays on the first PP unit and the top pairing. He also has 5 points in 7 games. He has done an excellent job filling in MSU's only question mark coming into this season.
Tommy Wingels has had a solid start with Miami with 4 goals and 5 points in first 8 games.
Chris,
Michigan's Langlais is probably the biggest freshman stand-out for them thus far. You mention him within the cluster of other forwards who have accumulated 6 points, yet he's a defenseman.
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