The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog: 2017 recruit Harper shines at Select 17s; McAvoy's stock rises

Wednesday, July 01, 2015

2017 recruit Harper shines at Select 17s; McAvoy's stock rises

Four games into USA Hockey’s Select 17 Development Camp in Williamsville, N.Y, 2017 recruit Patrick Harper is the top goal-scorer with five and is tied for the points lead with eight. Fellow 2017 recruit Hank Crone scored a goal and an assist for the Red squad in a 6-5 loss to Columbia. Crone has tallied three points.

SB Nation’s Jeff Cox, covering the tournament, tweeted a confirmation that Harper, who was a sophomore at Avon Old Farms last season, will accelerate to graduate next spring and then play a season in the USHL before arriving at BU in 2017. His USHL rights are owned by Omaha, where Crone will enter his second season in September.

Cox also tweeted: "Harper has been dynamic at Select 17s. He's part of an AOF team that I suspect will be No. 1 in prep hockey next winter."

@thfblog Harper was very good, dynamic w/ puck, great skater, good chemistry with Merrimack commit Drevitch, Crone had a SO goal in his game
— Jeff Cox (@JeffCoxSports) June 30, 2015

►Incoming freshman center Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, who was drafted by the Bruins in the 2^nd round of last weekend’s NHL Entry Draft, has been invited to the Swedish Junior National Team’s evaluation camp. He played for Sweden in last year’s WJC tournament and, the previous year, helped Sweden win the World U17 Challenge. Last week, rising sophomore defenseman Brandon Hickey was named to Canada’s WJC evaluation roster. Five Terriers are on the evaluation camp roster for Team USA: forwards Jack Eichel and incoming freshman Jordan Greenway, and three defensemen, sophomores John MacLeod and Brandon Fortunato, and incoming freshman Charlie McAvoy.

►McAvoy ‘s stock has soared over the past few seasons. After winning MJHL Offensive Defenseman of the Year and leading the NJ Rockets to league playoffs in 2012-13, he earned a spot on the NTDP U17s and about 15 scholarship offers. He committed to BU in August 2013. Now, after two strong seasons in the NTDP and playing on the U18s top D pairing with Chad Krys in the World U18s, he's being projected as a 2016 first-rounder: Future Considerations has him at #24, DraftBuzz at #21 and Hockey Prospects at #6.

► Both Harper and McAvoy are alums of the NJ Rockets organization. Harper had 29 points in 24 games for the Rockets' U19s in 2013-14. McAvoy had 56 points in 69 games for the Rockets in 2012-13.

►Three current Terriers and five incoming freshmen are on the roster of the Boston Knights for the upcoming John Cuniff Senior Chowder Cup, which begins July 16. Rising sophomores AJ Greer, Brien Diffley and Fortunato are joined by Forsbacka-Karlsson, Greenway, McAvoy, Maxim Letunov and Robert Carpenter.

Here in Buffalo, hearing Jack Eichel will announce decision on where he's playing next year before next wk's Sabres Development Camp.
— Jeff Cox (@JeffCoxSports) June 30, 2015

►Boston Globe hockey writer Fluto Shinzawa's Sunday column discussed David Quinn's contract extension:

David Quinn is happy at Boston University. In his second season as Jack Parker’s replacement, the BU alum fell one win short of an NCAA title. On Thursday, Quinn signed a five-year deal to remain at BU. He enjoys the progression of dealing with players from recruits to alums.

So it would take a very good deal, such as the one that pulled North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol to Philadelphia, to convince Quinn to leave BU.

Hakstol’s hiring showed that NHL teams are thinking progressively about tabbing NCAA coaches. Others who would make good pros include Enrico Blasi (Miami University), Nate Leaman (Providence), and Norm Bazin (UMass-Lowell).

Quinn, who coached in the Colorado organization for four seasons (three as head coach in Lake Erie, one as an Avalanche assistant), belongs in this group. He’s smart, driven, and positive.

“You never say never,” Quinn said about returning to the NHL before signing his extension. “But I love it here. I work at my alma mater. I work at a place that cares about hockey. It gives you all the resources to have success. I can build relationships with players — lifelong relationships. It’s different in pro hockey.”

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