From: Anchorage Daily Newsby Doyle Woody
Patience and poise are hallmarks among David Carle's coveted hockey skills, and they came in handy in picking a college -- the defenseman waited until halfway through his senior year of high school to pull the trigger.
Carle, 18, of Anchorage, on Thursday confirmed he has given an oral commitment to begin playing next fall at the University of Denver.
The blue-chip blueliner who skates at Shattuck-St. Mary's, a prep school in Faribault, Minn., renowned for developing elite players, said he narrowed his choices to Denver and St. Cloud State. He informed Pioneer coaches of his decision Wednesday night.
"There's the history of the program -- there's a lot there,'' Carle said by cell phone Thursday night. "And there are opportunities with academics. There's a lot of positives in Denver, a lot of upsides.''
And although comparisons no doubt will be legion, David Carle said his choice had little to do with the Denver experience of his older brother, Matt, the San Jose Sharks defenseman. Matt Carle, 23, helped the Pioneers to two national titles (2004, 2005) and as a junior in 2006 won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's best player before stepping directly into the NHL.
"Initially, he talked to me a little about it,'' said David, who plans to study business. "But he stayed out of it -- obviously, he's biased. The more the (recruiting) process went along, (Matt's time at Denver) was a non-factor.
"I made the choice for myself. I was going to make sure I was going to make the right decision.''
Similarities between big and little brother abound. Both are effortless skaters who shoot left-handed, possess offensive skills, left home at 15 to pursue their rink dreams and attracted NHL attention as teenagers. Of course, Matt has said he thinks David skates a little better than he did at the same age.
David has played the last three seasons at Shattuck after playing his freshman season at South High and for the Alaska All-Stars. In 43 games at Shattuck this season, Carle has produced eight goals and 26 assists for 34 points.
"I've really grown up here at Shattuck,'' David said. "Shattuck, and the whole way it works and functions, deserves a lot of the credit.''
David said he visited Denver, St. Cloud, Boston University, Boston College and Michigan State, and those schools became his five finalists. BU stayed in the mix until he narrowed his choices to Denver and St. Cloud.
At Denver, Carle will eventually be teammates with two other players from Anchorage. Goaltender Adam Murray and defenseman William Wrenn, both 16 and both of whom play in USA Hockey's prestigious National Team Development Program, have committed to join the Pioneers in 2010.
The NHL's Central Scouting Service in its mid-term rankings released a month ago ranked Carle 74th among 210 North American skaters rated for next summer's draft. That makes him a virtual lock to be the second Carle drafted. The Sharks selected Matt Carle in the second round, 47th overall, in 2003, when he was 66th among North Americans in Central Scouting's final rankings.
Like his brother before him, David Carle said he isn't putting too much stock in the rankings.
"It's exciting, but I don't pay much attention, to be honest,'' he said. "It's definitely an honor. You just take care of your business, and things will take care of themselves.''
Carle, 18, of Anchorage, on Thursday confirmed he has given an oral commitment to begin playing next fall at the University of Denver.
The blue-chip blueliner who skates at Shattuck-St. Mary's, a prep school in Faribault, Minn., renowned for developing elite players, said he narrowed his choices to Denver and St. Cloud State. He informed Pioneer coaches of his decision Wednesday night.
"There's the history of the program -- there's a lot there,'' Carle said by cell phone Thursday night. "And there are opportunities with academics. There's a lot of positives in Denver, a lot of upsides.''
And although comparisons no doubt will be legion, David Carle said his choice had little to do with the Denver experience of his older brother, Matt, the San Jose Sharks defenseman. Matt Carle, 23, helped the Pioneers to two national titles (2004, 2005) and as a junior in 2006 won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's best player before stepping directly into the NHL.
"Initially, he talked to me a little about it,'' said David, who plans to study business. "But he stayed out of it -- obviously, he's biased. The more the (recruiting) process went along, (Matt's time at Denver) was a non-factor.
"I made the choice for myself. I was going to make sure I was going to make the right decision.''
Similarities between big and little brother abound. Both are effortless skaters who shoot left-handed, possess offensive skills, left home at 15 to pursue their rink dreams and attracted NHL attention as teenagers. Of course, Matt has said he thinks David skates a little better than he did at the same age.
David has played the last three seasons at Shattuck after playing his freshman season at South High and for the Alaska All-Stars. In 43 games at Shattuck this season, Carle has produced eight goals and 26 assists for 34 points.
"I've really grown up here at Shattuck,'' David said. "Shattuck, and the whole way it works and functions, deserves a lot of the credit.''
David said he visited Denver, St. Cloud, Boston University, Boston College and Michigan State, and those schools became his five finalists. BU stayed in the mix until he narrowed his choices to Denver and St. Cloud.
At Denver, Carle will eventually be teammates with two other players from Anchorage. Goaltender Adam Murray and defenseman William Wrenn, both 16 and both of whom play in USA Hockey's prestigious National Team Development Program, have committed to join the Pioneers in 2010.
The NHL's Central Scouting Service in its mid-term rankings released a month ago ranked Carle 74th among 210 North American skaters rated for next summer's draft. That makes him a virtual lock to be the second Carle drafted. The Sharks selected Matt Carle in the second round, 47th overall, in 2003, when he was 66th among North Americans in Central Scouting's final rankings.
Like his brother before him, David Carle said he isn't putting too much stock in the rankings.
"It's exciting, but I don't pay much attention, to be honest,'' he said. "It's definitely an honor. You just take care of your business, and things will take care of themselves.''
DU Recruiting Classes
2008
F Nate Dewhurst (Des Moines, USHL)
F Joe Colborne (Camrose, AJHL)
D John Lee (Waterloo, USHL)
F Stepan Novotny (Indiana, USHL)
D David Carle (Shattuck-St Mary's HS)
2009
D William Wrenn (U.S. Under-17)
D Matt Donovan (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
D Paul Phillips (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
G Adam Murray (U.S. under-17)
F Drew Shore (U.S. Under-17)
F Shawn Ostrow (Camose, AJHL)*
*Could be either a 2009 or 2010 recruit
2008
F Nate Dewhurst (Des Moines, USHL)
F Joe Colborne (Camrose, AJHL)
D John Lee (Waterloo, USHL)
F Stepan Novotny (Indiana, USHL)
D David Carle (Shattuck-St Mary's HS)
2009
D William Wrenn (U.S. Under-17)
D Matt Donovan (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
D Paul Phillips (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
G Adam Murray (U.S. under-17)
F Drew Shore (U.S. Under-17)
F Shawn Ostrow (Camose, AJHL)*
*Could be either a 2009 or 2010 recruit
3 comments:
Are Dewhurst and Novotny mainly considered role players? Their offensive numbers this season seemed modest, according to the stat sheet.
Both players are only 17 years old which goes a long way to explaining their stats in the USHL. (remember that DU had 4 freshman this year that were 21 when they showed up on campus. 3 more Freshmen were 20 years old by opening day).
Dewhurst was originally slated to arrive in 2009. He did play very well last summer for the USA under 17 team in the Czech Republic. I'd look for him to be similar to Matt Glasser, a player that should produce by his sophomore year.
Novotny just jumped from high school to the best team in the USHL in mid-season. A difficult task to say the least. The Hockey News seems to think that he will be drafted in the NHL draft.
These are guys that might have needed an extra year in the USHL, but whats the point if everyone is leaving after two seasons to play pro hockey. You might as well have them contributing right away and adjusting to college.
Probably 3rd or 4th line players when they arrive on campus and should develop nicely. They are not role players, just young in this day and age.
His teammate Toews committed to the better school, but that is here nor there at this point.
Post a Comment