Rangers tab Lilley as Dir. Player Personnel; Wilmer to Tri-City in big USHL trade

 

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OFFICIAL: #NYR have named John Lilley Director of Player Personnel and Director of Amateur Scouting. pic.twitter.com/9GeAWFwWEU

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 3, 2021

Former Terrier forward John Lilley has been named Director of Player Personnel and Director of Amateur Scouting for the New York Rangers. The Wakefield, Mass., native had spent the previous 15 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and was named Director of U.S. Scouting in 2016.

Lilley is the second Terrier recently hired by Rangers President Chris Drury. In May, Mike Grier—a Drury teammate at BU and in the NHL—was named new hockey operations advisor who also will assist Rangers prospects with on-ice and off-ice development.

After starring a Cushing Academy, Lilley skated in 23 games as a freshman in 1991-92, with a 9-9-18 scoring line. That season he played for the bronze-medal winning US squad in the 1992 World Junior Championships, finishing tied with Keith Tkachuk and Chris Ferraro for second in team scoring. Also on that US squad were Rich Brennan, Scott Lachance and Mike Predergast.

Lilley left BU early in the 1992-93 season, joining the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds and scoring 50 points in 45 games. A year later, he was named to the US Olympic team for 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway, putting up 27 goals and 23 assists in 58 games. Later that year he made 13 starts for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, recording four points.

After six seasons in the minor leagues and in Europe, he began coaching with USA Hockey as an assistant for U18 and U17 teams. Lilley joined the Maple Leafs as a scout in 2006.

● NHL.com report

● Elite Prospects page

 

►Junior forward Robert Mastrosimone recently spoke with DetroitRedWings.com for an NHL Prospect Spotlight article. He and fellow Red Wings recruit, sophomore Ethan Phillips, spent part of July in Detroit in a development program.

● 2019-2020 Mastrosimone highlights

 

► Incoming freshman defenseman Ty Gallagher, selected by the Bruins in the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft, is at Boston’s development camp at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.

Looking ahead

In a blockbuster USHL trade, 2022 recruit Jeremy Wilmer was traded by Waterloo to the Tri-City Storm for four draft picks, including first round selections in the 2022 and 2023 Phase 2 drafts. The Blackhawks had selected him #3 overall in last May’s Phase 2 draft.

The 17-year-old left-shot forward from Rockville Centre, N.Y., had 36 points (11G,25A) in 37 games with the NTDP U18s last seasons and 33 points (12G,21A) in 45 games the previous season with the U17s. Previously, he was a standout scorer (61 points in 25 games) with the North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA, frequently centering a line with fellow 2023 recruits Quinn Hutson and Devin Kaplan. Wilmer also skated for The Portledge School.

Storm GM Jason Koehler said “We are excited to announce the acquisition of Jeremy Wilmer to our club. Jeremy is a player who’s been an offensive weapon over the years, and we feel he's a great fit for our club. With two years of USHL and junior experience with the USA NTDP, we think Jeremy should slide right into an important role with our club and contribute offensively on a nightly basis.”

● StormHockey.com Storm acquire Jeremy Wilmer

►The sons of two Terrier stars of the 1990s participated in the recent USA Hockey Select development camps. Jake Pomichter, whose dad, Mike Pomichter was a 1994 All-American, skated in the Select 15 event. Luke Drury, whose dad, Chris Drury, was a two-time All-American and the 1998 Hobey Baker Award winner, skated in the Select 16 event. Both play for the Mid-Fairfield Rangers organization in Connecticut.

Looking back

Former Terrier and New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro talked with The Athletic about becoming an NHL game analyst for ESPN and the anxieties he confronted throughout his career.

DiPietro, who was the number one selection overall in the 2000 NHL draft, retired in 2014. He’s been a post-game analyst on Islanders broadcasts and co-host of a sports talk show on ESPN Radio in New York. In 2019, he was named head coach of the Portledge School, a Long Island prep school.

After two seasons with the NTDP, DiPietro played 29 games for the 1999-2000 Terriers posting a 2.45 GAA and a .913 save percentage. In the 2000 Beanpot, he blanked Harvard, 4-0, and beat BC, 4-1, earning both the MVP and Eberly Awards. Against St. Lawrence in the NCAA regional finals, he made 77 saves in a 3-2 quadruple overtime loss, his final game as a Terrier.

During that season, DiPietro played for Team USA in the World Junior Championships, producing a 1.81 GAA and a .935 save percentage, gaining a spot of the all-star team and was recognized as the tournament’s top goalie.

DiPietro played 318 games for the Islanders, recording a 130-136-8 record. He played in the WJCs again in 2001, in the World Championships in 2001 and 2005, and in the 2006 Olympic Games.

● TheAthletic.com Q&A with ESPN Analyst Rick DiPietro  (subscription)

● Elite Prospects: Career stats