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| Matt Van Voorhis |
by Ryan Gauthier
Edina, Minnesota native Matt Van Voorhis [5'7 170 lbs.] was one of four players to sign a Letter of Intent recenty to play hockey at the University of Denver for the 2013-14 season. With four years of junior hockey under his belt, Van Voorhis will be a twenty year-old Freshman next season.
The defenseman is currently playing his second season of hockey with the
Sioux Falls Stampede, where he has already registered three goals and
nine assists over the first 25 games this season. The Stampede are in first place in the USHL Western Conference at the midpoint of the season.
Van Voorhis, 19, was a member of the U.S. National Team Developmental
Program from 2009-2011 and helped guide Team USA to two gold medal
finishes at the 2011 Under-17 Four Nations Cup and the 2010 World
Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
2013 Recruiting Class Updated StatsD Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 29 gms, 3 goals, 10 assistsF Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 24 gms, 5 goals, 2 assistsF Landon Smith (Chicago, USHL) - 29 games, 10 goals, 5 assistsF Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 29 games, 10 goals, 10 assistsF Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 26 games, 5 goals, 13 assistsD Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 22 games, 4 goals, 7 assistsF Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 35 games, 5 goal, 7 assistsF Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 30 games, 13 goals, 17 assistsD Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18) 22 games, 4 assists.
2014 Recruiting Class Updated StatsF Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 31 games, 3 goals, 10 assistsF Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 21 games, 4 goals, 6 assistsF Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 24 games, 5 goals, 4 assists.
2015 Recruiting Class Updated StatsF Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 24 games, 3 goal, 10 assists
4 comments:
DU will graduate four scholarship players plus Zack Hope this Spring.
The four players to sign LOI's recently were Van Voorhis, Moore, Hawkinson & Butcher. So they will be on the roster next season.
Then it may depend on players leaving early. Ausmus, Chatham & Smith would probably be candidates to replace Mayfield and/or Nick Shore.
Nick has been playing very well, and he's one of our top 3 players. But I think it would be odd if he didn't come back for his senior season. He's a LONG way from being NHL ready and he might as well get his additional year of development at DU, along with his degree. Seems to me that his brother Drew's advice will carry a lot of weight in Nick's decision. I hope to see Nick back for his senior season!
You have to think that the NHL Strike will factor in these guy's decisions to go pro early.
There is a massive logjam on AHL rosters right now with a ton of young players who might be on NHL rosters or on the brink of making the big club playing in the minors.
It certainly gives one a more realistic look at the timetable it will take to make it to the NHL.
Add to the chaos a number of older players who might have retired or gotten injured this season will be back and rested when the strike ends.
If and when the strike is settled, older players will probably have play longer, for less money and put off retirement because of lower salaries. So there might be even fewer opportunities for younger players to break through.
And lastly it will be interesting to see what happens to the rookie pay scale in the negotiations.
All interesting points, DG. This might keep some "on the fence" kids in college for another year. We'll see.
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