July 1 Linkorma

Several ex-Terriers become free agents today, including Chris Drury, Tony Amonte, Joe DiPenta, Tom Poti, Dan Lacouture, and Carl Corazzini.

We have more post-draft coverage beginning with a feature on Colorado’s #1 choice, Kevin Shattenkirk. He and second round choice Colby Cohen are not the first Terriers connected to the Avs organization. Drury, who played a key role on the Avs 2001 Stanley Cup championship team, was a 3rd round draft choice when the franchise was in Quebec. Jeff Kealty was the Nordiques final first round draft choice before the team moved to Colorado.

The New Brittain Herald interviewed San Jose Sharks' sixth round choice and incoming BU freshman Nick Bonino, who led Avon Old Farms to the New England Prep championship in 2007. Both this article and another on the San Jose site indicate that Sharks scouting director Tim Burke had hoped to draft Bonino last season, but didn’t have room to make the choice. That was rectified in this year’s entry draft.

Super Saponari Brothers: 2007 Terrier recruit Victor Saponari of Culver Military Academy and his brother Vinny, an NTDP U17/18 standout and a 2008 recruiting target, have been keeping busy in their home state, playing in the Georgia Elite High Level Camp. Vinny and Victor were the overall first and second leading scorers and their Honeyman team won the annual event.

ISS Scouting has released preliminary top five selections for the next two drafts and 2009 BU recruit Ethan Werek was ranked #5 for that year. Incoming freshman Colin Wilson, who ISS had in its top five for 2008 last year, has dropped out of the top five, but remain a projected early first round choice.

The National Select 16 tournament was played last week in Rochester, N.Y. BU 2009 recruit target and new NTDP U17 member Ryan Bourque was fifth in scoring, despite playing for a weak team in the event. New Jersey Junior Devils product Kyle Palmieri, another incoming NTDP U17 who played in the Select event and has expressed interest in BU, is the nephew of former New York Mets shortstop and manager Bud Harrelson. Another new U17 player, defenseman Richie Crowley of Thayer, had a strong tournament with three goals in five games.