A "high-end" forward for 2022; U-Show talks with former BU co-captain John McCarthy UPDATED

BU has received a commitment for 2022 from high-end ‘04 forward Michael La Starza, who was recently tendered by USHL Waterloo. According to his advisor, 19 D1 teams had interest in obtaining his verbal.

Last season, the 5’10” left shot from Montreal scored 66 points (24g,42A) in 45 games to lead Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U (37-6-3) in scoring despite being one of the team's youngest players.

After playing Bantam hockey with the Lac St. Louis Lions, La Starza moved to SSM in Minnesota, scoring 69 points (31G,38A) for the Sabres' 14U team. Following the season, he scored a team-best seven goals in five games for All-American Prospects at the WSI U15 and led the team with an 8-4-12 line in five games at the 2019 Chowder Cup, earning the MVP award for the '04 Division. (Jack Musa, who committed last week, was MVP of the '03 Division).

NEHJ’s Jeff Cox calls La Starza "one of the more highly regarded Canadian players in his birth year" whose "skating, puck skills and hockey sense are all high-end." In a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft preview, he noted: 

I’ve seen La Starza several times with Shattuck-St. Mary’s and in a couple of summer showcases in New England. La Starza was the best player in the Junior Chowder Cup last summer. He produces because of his shiftiness and ability to make plays in small areas. His edge work was very good and he was able to get space for himself and his teammates. Rated 10th by QMJHL Central Scouting, La Starza has signed a tender to play with Waterloo in the USHL.  

When he accepted the Waterloo tender, La Starza explained, "My family and I we really value education and the USHL was the best route for me to get to college hockey."

                    

"Michael is a highly-gifted offensive forward with exceptional offensive instincts,” noted Black Hawks General Manager Shane Fukushima. 

● Elite Prospects Page

● USHL.com LaStarza steps into Blackhawks' plans

‪ ‪● World Today News report

 

Rising senior defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo has elected to spend the season in his native Finland due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus and its potential impact on the season. A third-round pick of the Red Wings in 2017, Kotkansalo was set to be an assistant captain this season.

● SBNation report

‪Looking back

The USHL’s “U Show” recently featured a long interview with John McCarthy, co-captain of BU’s 2009 NCAA championship team. He ended his 11 year pro career with the Sharks organization last December after suffering an ischemic stroke requiring a minor heart procedure. McCarthy, who now has joined the San Jose coaching staff, played 88 NHL games and 577 AHL games. In 2018, he represented the U.S. in the Winter Olympics in Korea along with Chris Bourque, Jordan Greenway and Matt Gilroy—his 2009 co-captain. As a Terrier senior he scored 29 points, skating on the second line with Nick Bonino and Brandon Yip.
● U Show: Episode 23 John McCarthy 

● NHL.com McCarthy retires

                    

Former Terrier Alex Chiasson, one of 16 Terriers rostered for the the NHL Round Robin, was the first to score a goal, finding the net--and adding a assist--in Edmonton's 6-3 win over Chicago. (video highlights)

The next night Bonino scored for Nashville and Clayton Keller scored for Arizona in a 4-2 win for the Predators, coached by John Hynes. (video highlights)

►NHL.com: Former NHL players Mike Grier and Bryce Salvador will coach an all-minority team at a New England hockey tournament this weekend. Our @WDouglasNHL has the story.