Friday, September 25, 2009

Looking forward: Two NTDP defensemen commit to BU


BU has received verbal comitments from a pair of slick, puck-handling defensemen from the U.S. NTDP—Adam Clendening (photo) and Alexx Privatera. They follow in the footsteps of Terrier blueliners who honed their skills with the U17s and U18s, including Brian Strait, Kevin Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen, David Warsofsky, Bryan Miller, and Freddy Meyer.

Joining BU’s 2010 recruit class is Clendening, a 5-11, 187 lb., right-shot from Niagara Falls, N.Y., who began last season with the U17s, scoring 14 points (1-13) in 39 games before being called up to the U18. He added five more points (1-4) and helped Team USA earn a gold medal in the World U18s. Prior to joining the NTDP, Clendening was a standout for the Toronto Marlies Minor team, scoring 4 goals and 33 assists in 50 contests.

USHR describes him as “an excellent puck moving defenseman who sees the ice very well….He has patience and moves it well.”

U18 Coach Ron Rolston:
“Adam is a very competent player with good hockey sense. He is
a good defender with his stick and makes it tough on other team’s forwards. He makes good decisions with the puck.’
Clendening had committed to Boston College last September, but when he indicated he was still considering the OHL, BC released him from his verbal. USHR reports that despite his commitment to the Terriers, “the BU staff believes there is a slim chance that Clendening might still go major junior.”

In a Niagara Gazette feature last Spring prior to the World U18s, Clendening indicated his interest in playing for BU. USA Hockey feature on Clendening.

Privatera is BU’s second 2011 recruit, joining Cason Hohmann. A 5-10, 178 right-shot from Old Tappan, N.J., he joins the U17s after playing last season for the North Jersey Avalanche and Bergen Catholic, the high school team that former Terrier Matt Radoslovich led to a New Jersey state championship. His Bergen Catholic teammate, Ian Spencer, has verballed to Vermont for 2012. Privatera had an 8-24-32 line in 20 games for the Avalanche Midget 16s.

USHR calls him “a nice skater with a quick stick and the potential to run the power play down the line.”

At this past summer’s Select 16s, he tied for seventh in scoring (1-6-7), two points behind scoring leader Hohmann. AHR’s scout at the Selects wrote:

“He was very strong on the puck and at times jumped into the play as the leader of the offense; we would just like to see him do that much more often.”

Our friend Paul Shaheen of AHR has provided scouting reports on Privatera and a feature article written last November.

No comments:

Site Meter