Former DU Recruit Tyler Pham Heads To West Point

Monty continues to juggle the incoming recruiting classes as a third recruit in recent weeks falls off the DU recruiting radar.  Tyler Pham originally committed to the University of Denver in November 2009 as a 15 year-old.  Despite several seasons in the USHL, Pham's stats and his stature never reached the levels necessary to become a bona fide D-1 hockey player.

Pham recently tweeted that he will attend West Point.

Landon Smith and Cody Depourcq recently decommitted as well.  

Coach Montgomery is looking for players that will fit his system and it appears, these three recruits won't fit his style of play.

2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats 
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-18) 8 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 5 games, 0 goals, 0 assists
D Tariq Hammond (Okotoks, AJHL) - 12 games, 2 goals, 8 assists
F Evan Ritt (NJ Hitmen, USPHL)

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 4 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
F Kevin Conley (Team Wisconsin Under-16, AAA)
F Jarid Lukosevicius
F Logan O'Connor (Sioux Falls, USHL)
F Sebastian Fuchs (Kenai River-NAHL)

2016 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Troy Terry (Thunderbirds, AAA)
F Liam Finlay

DU Recruiting Update: Adding Mid-Season Depth

(above) Landon Smith could of provided some much needed depth at forward this season, but NCAA scholarship limits, mean that he'll arrive at DU over the summer

A few people online have asked why DU doesn't grab a forward from the list below and enroll the player in school over Christmas Break. The short answer, "It isn't that easy."  

The first problem is that most, if not all of the forwards on the list, are still in high school.  Its possible that Landon Smith [5'10 181 lbs] may have already graduated from high school since he turned 19 years-old as of Oct. 18th.

But that brings us to the bigger issue.  Every major hockey program playing D-1 ice hockey is limited to just 18 scholarships. Its possible to cut scholies into smaller amounts such as quarter, halves or three-quarters, but the total may never exceed 18.  With three goalies on the roster, DU likely has less wiggleroom than usual.  And its likely that three goalies on scholarship explains why DU is so thin at forward in the first place. 

Could DU use a player like Landon Smith this season?  No doubt, but with DU Tuition and Housing running around $15,000 per quarter and likely no scholarships available this year, it makes a roster move extremely unlikely.

2013 Recruiting Class Updated Stats

D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 23 games, 3 goals, 9 assists

F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 18 games, 5 goals, 2 assists

F Landon Smith (Chicago, USHL) - 22 games, 9 goals, 4 assists

F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 24 games, 8 goals, 7 assists

F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 19 games, 6 goals, 11 assists

D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 22 games, 4 goals, 7 assists

F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 30 games, 4 goal, 7 assists

F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 24 games, 11 goals, 12 assists

D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18) 22 games, 4 assists

2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats

F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 24 games, 2 goals, 9 assists

F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 21 games, 4 goals, 6 assists

F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 19 games, 4 goals, 3 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats

F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 20 games, 3 goal, 8 assists

DU Recruiting News & Notes

NHL Central Scouting released their preliminary rankings of players in each top junior league in both North America and Europe, eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft. Three University of Denver recruits were mentioned in the USHL's Top 25; #15 Trevor Moore, #20 Will Butcher & #21 Garrett Gamez.

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DU recruit Garrett Gamez was profiled in StormHockey.com. Gamez [5'11 180 lbs. Chino Hills, CA] fulfilled his lifelong dream when he committed to play college hockey at the University of Denver. 

“When I was eight years old I actually went to a tournament in Denver, and I just always loved it there. After nationals this year I visited New Hampshire, Northeastern, Colorado College and Denver. After I went to Denver, my mind was made up. It’s where I wanted to go since I was a little kid, and I was so blessed to get a full scholarship. That meant a ton to me and my family.”

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University of Denver hockey alum Scott McConnell, who is the head coach of the USHL Chicago Steel, announced that the Steel have acquired DU recruit Landon Smith [5'10 181 lbs. Greenwood Village, CO] from the Cedar Rapids Roughriders.  The move should net Smith more ice time and scoring opportunities.

2013 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 16 games, 2 goal, 7 assists
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 14 games, 3 goals, 1 assist
F Landon Smith (Chicago, USHL) - 15 games, 5 goals, 2 assists
F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 17 games, 7 goals, 4 assists
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 12 games, 1 goal, 8 assists
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 21 games, 3 goals, 10 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 23 games, 1 goal, 5 assists
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 17 games, 8 goals, 10 assists
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18) 20 games, 2 assists

2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 17 games, 7 assists
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 16 games, 4 goals, 5 assists
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 17 games, 4 goals, 3 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 15 games, 1 goal, 4 assist

DU Recruit Nets Preseason Hat Trick

(above) Big things are projected for DU recruit Landon Smith

Its only the preseason, but the 2012 USHL Fall Classic kicked off the hockey season this week. DU recruit Landon Smith [5'11 168 lbs - Greenwood Village, Colorado] announced he's ready for the regular season with three goals on just four shots for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders last night.

Smith's outburst, including the game winner, helped Cedar Rapids defeat the Lincoln Stars 4-3.

Hosted by the Sioux City Musketeers, 16 USHL Member Clubs compete in three preseason games each during the Fall Classic.

Video: DU Recruit Landon Smith's Amazing Goal

(above) DU recruit Landon Smith scores a shorthanded goal for Cedar Rapids

DU recruit Landon Smith (5'10 168 lbs.) is in his rookie season for the Cedar Rapids Rough Ridgers.  So far this season he has 4 goals and an assist in 20 USHL games.

The shorthanded goal scored above was a beauty (Dec. 9 vs. Green Bay).

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL)
D Dakota Mermis (Green Bay, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL)
F Garrett Allen (Des Moines, USHL)
D Nolan Zajac (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Quentin Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Grant Arnold (Green Bay, USHL)

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL)
F Landon Smith (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Connor Chatham (U.S. Under-17)
F Ray Pigozzi (Des Moines, USHL)
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-17)

2014 Recruiting Class
F Jared Fiegl (Colorado Rampage, U-16)
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-17)
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL)

Landon Smith Commits To DU In 2013

(above) Landon Smith

Forward Landon Smith (5'11 165 lbs) has committed to play college hockey at the University of Denver in the fall of 2013.

Landon played for the hometown Colorado Thunderbirds organization for the past three years playing on the U15 Midget Minor, U16 Midget Minor and U18 Midget Major teams. Smith has played in three USA National Championships with the Thunderbirds.

He was a member and captain of the 2010 Tier 1 U16 National Championship team, that won Colorado’s first Tier 1 hockey championship ever.

“Landon was a great leader for our championship team and is a young man that has not even come close to reaching his potential as a player. DU is getting a very special young man with a tremendous upside,” states Coach Ricci. “As a program, the Colorado Thunderbirds strive to prepare and produce young athletes that are ready to take the next step in their career. Landon is a fine example of the type of player that the Thunderbird program works to develop and move to the next level,” added Coach Ricci.

Smith was selected in the 5th Round of the USHL Draft May by Cedar Rapids and will be joining them this fall.  He is the third member from the U18 team to commit to play for the Pioneers.

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-18)
D Joey LaLeggia (Penticton Vees, BCHL)
F Larkin Jacobson (Janesville Jets, NAHL)
D-F Wade Bennett (Wichita Falls, NAHL)
F Matt Tabrum (Omaha, USHL)
D Josiah Didier (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Daniel Doremus (Sioux Falls, USHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL)
D Dakota Mermis (U.S. Under-18)
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL)
F Garrett Allen (Chicago, USHL)
D Nolan Zajac (Cedar Rapids, USHL)

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds U-18)
F Landon Smith (Colorado Thunderbirds U-18)