2007 BU recruit class announced

Courtesy of the BU Sports Information Office

BU Men’s Ice Hockey Announces Seven-Member Class of 2011

BOSTON -- The Boston University men’s ice hockey program will welcome seven newcomers to its 2007-08 roster, as announced today by head coach Jack Parker. Nick Bonino (Farmington, Conn.), Joe Pereira (West Haven, Conn.), Victor Saponari (Powder Mills, Ga.) and Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) will bolster the team’s forward lines, while Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and Colby Cohen (Radnor, Pa.) will join the Terriers’ defensive corps. Goaltender Adam Kraus (Irving, Texas) rounds out the freshman group.

The Terriers had the most incoming freshmen selected in last month’s National Hockey League Entry Draft of any Hockey East school, as Shattenkirk and Cohen were picked by the Colorado Avalanche in the first and second rounds, respectively, and Bonino was a seventh-round selection by the San Jose Sharks.

"This incoming class certainly filled our needs," said Parker. "We struggled a bit offensively last year after leading the league in scoring the year before. Freshmen usually don’t play a big role coming in, but this group will be counted on to be important members of our offensive production, both in 5-on-5 situations and on the power play."

Wilson (shown in photo), the son of former Dartmouth and NHL standout Cary Wilson, was dominant at the AAA Midget level in Canada before joining the U.S. National Team Developmental Program. After moving up from the U-17s to join the U-18s late in the 2005-06 season, he was a member of the gold-medal winning team at the 2006 World U-18 Championships. He was the second-leading scorer this past year for the U-18s, which won the silver medal at the World Championships, and was tied for the lead in scoring for the tournament. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward is projected as a top-10 pick in next year’s NHL Entry Draft.

The United States Hockey Report Prep Forward of the Year, Bonino (6-1, 180) captained Avon Old Farms to the 2007 New England Division I prep championship, finishing third among all New England preps in scoring with 66 points, including 23 goals. After being the top scorer at Farmington High School during the 2004-05 campaign, he moved to Avon and led the team in scoring (26-30-56). Bonino also was the leading scorer and co-MVP of the 2006 Spring Hockey Night in Boston.

"Wilson is a big, strong center iceman who plays well in all three zones," said Parker. "He is a proven point producer who will center one of our top lines.

"The same holds true for Bonino. He’s a gifted offensive forward who will be plugged in on our top lines, as well as the power play."

Last season’s top scorer at South Kent School, Pereira (5-10, 175) led the Cardinals to the New England prep playoff semifinals. He scored 25 goals in each of his two years at South Kent after earning all-state honors at West Haven High School.

"Pereira is the best skater among the newcomers," said Parker. "He possesses good speed and intensity and he is a real good goal scorer. We expect him to jump right in and fill one of the slots our forward lines."

Saponari joins the BU program from Culver Military, where he posted 20 goals and 22 assists in 39 games this past season as a post-grad. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward was named to the all-tournament team at this year’s Cushing tournament.

"Much like Pereira, Saponari is a determined and intense type of player," said Parker. "He will be an asset on our forecheck and will also improve our overall team speed."

The captain of the U.S. National U-18 Team, Shattenkirk (5-11, 190) was named the top defenseman at the 2007 World Championships after helping his team earn the silver medal. He was named to the 2004-05 All New England Prep First Team as a sophomore at The Brunswick School before joining the NTDP. In the 2006 North American Hockey League playoffs, Shattenkirk led the U-17 team in scoring.

"Shattenkirk is a complete player who is a real leader," said Parker. "He is a smart defensive player who can be an effective quarterback on the power play."

Cohen was also a member of the NTDP before moving on to play for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. He led all USHL defensemen in scoring this past season with 60 points (13g, 47a). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound blueliner broke out on the scene in 2004-05 with the Syracuse Stars of the Eastern Junior Hockey League, tallying 43 points in 50 games.

"Cohen is a terrific offensive defenseman," said Parker. "He has great hands and passes well, and he put up a lot of points during his year in the USHL. Like Shattenkirk, we expect him to be important for us on the point in power-play situations."

Playing for the Alaska Avalanche of the North American Hockey League, Kraus (6-3, 175) posted a 3.50 goals against average and a .912 save percentage this past season after spending two years as a member of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings at the AAA Midget level.

"Kraus was a highly recruited goaltender, especially by schools from the WCHA," said Parker. "We are confident that he can enter the goaltending mix right away and fight for ice time."