(above) Zac Larraza committed to the University of Denver yesterday
On the heels of signing Beau Bennett, the University of Denver pulled of another major recruiting coup by landing prized forward Zac Larraza from Scottsdale, Arizona. Larraza was being pursued by college hockey powers Boston College, Michigan and Michigan State as well as the Prince George Cougars on the WHL in Canada. He will attend DU in the Fall of 2011 and currently plays Left Wing for the USNDT-Under 17.Larraza continues the recent trend of DU landing elite college bound players from non-traditional hockey playing areas west of the Mississippi. Matt Donovan (Oklahoma), William Wrenn & Adam Murray (Anchorage), Drew & Nick Shore (Denver), Jason Zucker (Las Vegas), David Makowski & Scott Mayfield (St. Louis), Tyler Pham (Ft. Collins) to name a few.
Larraza will be be highly sought after in the 2011 NHL Draft due to his size (6'3 175 lbs).
2010 Recruiting Class
F Jason Zucker (U.S. Under-18)
D David Makowski (Green Bay, USHL)
F Nick Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Beau Bennett (Penticton, BCHL)
2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-17)
2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Team Illinios)
5 comments:
This big advantage that D.U. has over every other team in college hockey keeps growing. Oklahoma,Missouri,Nevada,California,Colorado. Utah, Oregon--you're next.
Interesting comment from Western College Hockey Blog about Zac Larraza today.
"Also committed off the NTDP U17 team was Arizona-born forward Zac Larraza. I was pretty surprised to see his name off the board so early just because he's still extremely raw. He'll definitely be a project."
http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/2009/12/9/1194092/two-commits-from-the-ntdp
Both of DU's 2011 recruits (Larazza & Mayfield) have been described as "projects." Both are 6'3 175 lbs. Yet both are still 21 months away from enrolling at DU. Plenty of time to grow physically and develop as hockey players.
It will be interesting to track their progress over the next 21 months.
Better bulk up a bit more for being 6'3" if he wants to compete with NHL players...
nobody talks about my friend like that hes the next syd the kid except better
Larraza has already taken major strides over last season. At one point he was in the top three players on the under 17 natonal team. I watched him play in Fargo and he was easily the best player on the ice that night.
As for mayfiled he has consistently been improving and I look forward to watching to see his strength gans from the off season he could be a force if he put on a few Lbs
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