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.

Terriers add forwards Lachance and Musa to 2022 recruit class

On the first day that 2003 birthdates could make commitments, Coach Albie O’Connell secured verbals from two high-end forwards for 2022: Tabor Academy’s Shane Lachance and Trinity-Pawling’s Jack Musa.  Both have prior BU connections--but very different ones.

Lachance, a 6’4,” 190 pound power forward from Andover, Massachusetts, is the son of former BU and NHL defenseman Scott Lachance and the grandson of legendary Terrier coach Jack Parker. His uncle, Bob Lachance, played for BU’s 1995 national championship team.

As a repeat sophomore at Tabor, he scored 22 points in 28 games and led the Seawolves with 13 goals. Lachance also had a standout year for the Neponset Valley River Rats 16Us with 28 points (12G,16A) in 27 games including five points in the BEAST 16U series. 

As a result, Lachance’s recruiting stock shot up. NEHJ’s Jeff Cox, who this past Spring rated Lachance as the #2 2003-birthdate prospect in New England, and #1 uncommitted, reported:

During his rookie season in prep, Lachance showed flashes of why I believe he’s a top two-round draft pick in 2021. He’s starting to come into his own as he grows into his body. The Andover, Mass., native scored 13 goals this winter for the Seawolves. Notably, 10 of those tallies came over the last 16 games of the season. He has the length to protect pucks and get off quality chances while driving the net and penetrating the middle of the ice. His skating continues to get more fluid at each viewing. He might not be the most productive ’03 in prep next season, but in two or three years, I believe he’ll be at the top of this class.

In May he was selected by Tri-City in the USHL Phase 2 draft and also by Rimouski in the QMJHL draft (32^nd overall).

Previously, Lachance spent two seasons at Andover High, earning All-MVC honors in 2018-19.

● Elite Prospects Page

● Eagle Tribune Andover’s Lachance honored to be pick in USHL Draft

Musa, scored 30 points in 24 games for Trinity-Pawling and 29 points in 17 games for the North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA. His BU connection is the three Avalanche teammates who previously committed to BU for 2022: defenseman Lane Hutson and forward Devin Kaplan—who were selected for the 2020-21 NTDP U17s—and goalie Anton Castro.

https://twitter.com/overtheboards/status/1289636740601278464

03 F Jack Musa (@NJ_Avalanche 16/@TPrideHockey) commits to BU. Great look for the Terriers, small scorer with great talent and compete level. 30 points in 24 games in prep hockey as a late '03 (sophomore)

— Over the Boards (@overtheboards) August 1, 2020

This past June, NEHJ’s Cox wrote: 

Musa, who just finished his second season at Trinity-Pawling, is being pursued by several programs from across Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, the Big Ten and NCHC. He’s already been on a visit to Boston University, and a few other programs are looking to get him on campus in August. From Orange Park, Fla., Musa is on the smaller side, but he has a bulldog mentality to go along with his skill-set. He had nine goals and 21 assists in 24 games as a sophomore.

He earned third team all-star honors in the 2019-20 BEAST series16U scoring six goals and three assists skating on a line with Kaplan.

 

Last summer, Musa was named MVP of the 2019 Chowder Cup with 16 points in six games, earning the Bob Crocker Award named for the longtime BU assistant coach and NHL scout.

Musa’s older brother, Joey, who also played for Trinity-Pawling, will be a freshman at Dartmouth this season.

● Elite Prospects Page

● North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA stats

In addition to Lachance and the four from the Avalanche, BU's 2022 recruit class also includes: Selects/Green Bay center Ryan Greene, who joined Kaplan and Hutson on the BEAST series16U first all-star team; Thayer wing Nick Roulounakis, and Gentry Galaxy forward Jack Harvey.

Looking back

71 former Hockey East players are rostered for the NHL’s 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 16 Terriers, the most of any conference school.

Boston University (16) - Nick Bonino (NSH), Shane Bowers (COL), Alex Chiasson (EDM), Adam Clendening (CBJ), Charlie Coyle (BOS), Dante Fabbro (NSH), Joel Farabee (PHI), Jordan Greenway (MIN), Matt Grzelcyk (BOS), Clayton Keller (ARI), Charlie McAvoy (BOS), Matt Nieto (COL), Danny O'Regan (NYR), Jake Oettinger (DAL), Evan Rodrigues (PIT), Kevin Shattenkirk (TB)

● HockeyEastOnline report

● HockeyEastOnline Hockey East in the Stanley Cup Preview