It's being reported that Compuware Midget Minor forward Austin Watson has committed to Maine for the 2010 season.
Watson joins one of his Compuware teammates, Stuart Higgins, in committing to the Blackbears. He is a tall, lanky forward that many feel has the potential to be one of the top forwards in his age group by the time he is done developing.
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Minnesota did not offer. Oh, and the CHL don't want him either
What exactly is the point of these postings that say so-and-so didn't want some recruit or other? There are 59 D1 teams (58 next year) and how many hundreds of midget and junior teams, not to mention the few players that come over from Europe. Is your team really supposed to recruit every single teenager on the planet?
It just means that the kid is not gopher material and they don't want him.
So, you're too good for him? I thought you were complaining that you missed out on a good one because of some lack on the part of your coaching staff. Geez, that's even more pathetic than I imagined.
It's to bad the gophers suck and Watson would never play for them anyways.
If the Gophers suck, what does that mean for Maine?
gofalcons,
if you spend any time in the comment sections of this blog, the whole "didn't want him" thing for a recruit is just a poor attempt at comedy by a few losers. Usually it comes from a few North Dakota fans but I am sure it comes from fans of other teams on occasion as well.
Minnesota, Maine it doesn't matter come May 3rd.
Really a Michigan kid going to Maine. For what the Education or the Blackbear Hockey history.
If it's the Education, then he should of waited for Miami,Notre Dame,Michigan or Michigan State. Education wise all are BY FAR better Educational institution's.
BY FAR!
Now, if it's because of hockey. Then why go 1,000 miles away to play in the Hockey East for 1 maybe 2 yrs. He's 6-3 and has great hands, he'll be rated as a 1st rd NHL draft if he keeps going on this pace. So really he's going to Maine for 1 yr of education.
OR do you think he's trying to drop in the OHL first round to Plymouth, who'll have around the 12-15th pick in the first rd. He can live at home and follow in AJ Jenks shoes as the next Plymouth NHL first round draft pick. Education for Plymouth players is at Univ of Michigan-Dearborn or Eastern Michigan Univ. By the way both better Educational institution's than Maine.
So really Maine (1,000 miles) or Plymouth (30 min's).
saying Minnesota didn't want a Michigan kid is moronic; look at Gopher's roster; how many kids there that aren't Minnesota boys, either by birth or playing there in HS; "anonymous": pull your head out of your ... p.s. what is Gopher record this year ??
The "Minnesota did not offer" posts are trolls from other programs.
Whenever their respective teams get a recruit from the state of Minnesota, they like to claim they stole him out from under the Gophers, even if the Gophers never offered.
The 2 kids to Maine recently, you folks don't understand the connection. Sometimes it is more about the connection, than the location, or education. Maine is a fine university, has fine coaches, and one of the finest D-1 programs in the country. Minnie, ND, and Mi schools are not all that. Just sayin!
He's too slight to play in the OHL. Far too many Candadian kids far superior in talent available anyways.
MAY 3rd mark it down.
The "connection" to Maine is his Midget minor HC played at Maine in the early 90's.
MAY 3rd.
Jeff Hazelwood- ask him about his FULL ride to Maine.
Jeff Hazelwood? Maine didn't ruin that kid, it was Mazzoleni. Where is he btw, not at SNC?
I cannot blieve that anyone would doubt Austin Watson's talents. He is a top 10 1992 born in the nation. I think that more top prospects will commit to Maine now because of Austin Watson, so look out for Maine to have one of the best recruiting classes come 2010. However, I know that Watson was not offered a scholarship by Michigan, which I am only guessing, until recently was his reported first choice.
If Michigan was his first choice, it seems kind of silly to make a big college decision so soon without waiting a bit longer for an offer to come (unless he knew one wasn't coming). He's not going to college until fall 2010, so why rush it? Watson was listed on Rivals Michigan hockey hot board, but I'm not sure if that was because of interest on his part, their part, or both, but I would think they would have eventually offered him if he's as good as people say. U-M already has his teammates Luke Moffatt and Jared Knight committed for 2010, too.
Watson is a very good player but too smart to be going to Maine. Look what it did for his coach!Watson's "family advisor" is using this to get a better contract with the OHL. You heard it here first!
Watson and Merrill are both OHL bound while Moffat is now leaning more and more to the dub.....bad times are coming for the NCAA
Too smart to go to College? The Tub is for the ones who can't hack the NCAA stuff, these kids are smarter than you think, until their slime ball advisors get invloved. TJ , from Comp, had a great, progressive career at UM, and he played under Shawn Walsh, one of the great coaches in college. he knows better than to steer a kid across the border. Not too smart a move, unless you can't cut college.
I guess Steve Stamkos, Zac Bogosian, Pat Kane, Eric Staal, Sidney Crosby, Keith Yandle, Colin Long, Joe Thornton, Bobby Ryan etc, etc, etc, etc, etc...All made the wrong choice??
Lets leave it up to the kids, just because a player chooses MJ, doesn't mean they can't "cut" school, come on! That is just warped...
What top out-of-state player would ever subject himself to the frustration of playing for Minn? Nepotism sucks and why get short shifted for some local hack to make the Ventura State proud? Gophers suck and everyone outside of Minn knows it. Clueless wonders never cease to open their mouths and spew their foolish verbal diarrhea. HA
As for the choice of Maine, great kinesiology program, small school & change of culture from the midwest.
Actually, Keith Yandle famously couldn't cut it in school. He failed to get admitted to two different institutions.
..but he isn't working at a McJob...right?
bad charactor kid... hope he works thru that
Michigan forward makes commitment to Bears
By Larry Mahoney
Saturday, February 09, 2008 - Bangor Daily News
The University of Maine men’s hockey team has landed another forward from Todd Jenkins’ Compuware Midget Minor Elite Under-16 team in Michigan.
Austin Watson, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound right winger, has verbally committed to attend Maine on a scholarship beginning in 2010. Watson’s linemate, center Stuart Higgins, had committed to Maine earlier.
Jenkins, who coaches the Compuware team, is a former Black Bear winger.
"Austin reminds me of David Capuano," said Jenkins, referring to the former two-time first-team All-American at Maine. "He has great hands in traffic. He has soft hands. He can distribute the puck real well, and he’s a goal scorer. I expect him to be a first- or second-round NHL draft choice."
"You can use him in every situation," added Jenkins. "He sees the ice real well and plays well in the defensive zone."
The 16-year-old Michigan native is fifth in the league in scoring with nine goals and 23 assists in 22 games.
Watson chose Maine over Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Michigan.
"I just really liked the way it is in Maine," said Watson. "I liked the atmosphere. It seemed like a terrific atmosphere to play in."
He said having his linemate and friend Higgins going to Maine was another factor in his decision.
Jenkins said both Watson and Higgins have been invited to the U.S. National Team Development Program’s camp next month and both have a good shot to earn roster spots on the USA Under-17 team next season.
Watson said he wants to spend the next two years "getting bigger, fine-tuning my game and shooting the puck a little more so I’ll be ready to step into a big role when I get to Maine."
Watson’s coming to Maine is dependent upon his being accepted to the school and meeting NCAA Clearinghouse requirements.
lmahoney@bangordailynews.net
990-8231
if he is going to maine, why is he still visiting ohl teams??
watson was not offered at mich. thats a good thing as he will go to the O anyway and get beat up with his cocky attitude. thinks he is better than he is, ask kids who have played with him..
You always gotta leave your options open no matter what... Maybe Watson has a change of heart at the last minute and wants to play in the O... There is playing time right off the bat at maine compared to michigan who has an excellent recruiting class for this year and the next two to come... You cant come across many better kids then Watson... Sick hands and a crazy shot to boot. His decision to go with the bears was a good decision seeming he's not in it for the long run. Hes in there to get some expirience, get his skills touched up and to get some exposure. He wouldnt get as much playing time say at Michigan which has a really good recruting class the next couple years. To me Maine was a better choice among many others that he could have made. ANd you never know, he might just be going for the lobster.
He really liked Maine. He liked the coaches, loves the atmosphere, gets to be with Stu and Maine cohosts a tourney in Estero every Christmas which is only about 20 miles from our house here in Florida. The 2010 Frozen 4 are going to be in Tampa too. As for the "O"... don't count on it. NTDP is his #1 choice if he makes the team. Thanks for the nice comments.
Hey 92 Dad, as a Maine fan we welcome Watson and look forward to him winning the national championship at Maine. :)
Anon 11:33am Thanks and I have heard that the 2010 Final 4 may be in Tampa! Wouldn't that be cool since we live about an hour and a half south of there. Plus it will be great watching the Black Bears kick butt at Germain Arena in Estero, FL every Christmas. I am looking forward to great times watching Maine Hockey.
I would like to let you guys know that Watson commited to Windsor of the OHl today and that ur all dummies saying that the CHl doesnt want him or wutever. Maine is a great school academically, far better than Michigan State and Miami (Ohio) and Watson will be a top 10 pick in his NHL draft class. I played him and he is got everything size, speed, skill and intensity. So stop goin on about his life choices when uve never seen or spoken to him.
Thank u and u guys r all retards
he is my sisters friend
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