NLI Signing Notebook: Wisconsin Signs Slew on Day 1

Some players across the country began signing National Letters of Intent this past Wednesday, locking in their commitments with schools for the upcoming season. 

We say “some players,” because as Neutral Zone scouting director Brendan Collins pointed out on Twitter yesterday, “nearly 100 verbally committed NLI eligible prospects didn’t receive their paperwork yesterday on signing day.”

From what Neutral Zone has been able to track down online and confirm through our own sources, here are the players who we know have signed NLIs to this point.

Big Ten

Wisconsin was very busy on the first day of official signings. Winger Daniel Laatsch out of the NTDP signed on Wednesday. The Badgers also inked goaltender Cameron Rowe, who last year played for the NTDP and this season as a 3.80 GAA and an .890 save percentage in eight games for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL. 

The Badgers weren’t done there, putting pen to paper with defenseman Luke LaMaster and forward Sam Stange, who has six points (2-4-6) in 12 games with Sioux City (USHL) this season. The Badgers also signed Sioux City defenseman Anthony Kehrer.

Hockey East

Nick Capone signed with UConn. The 2001-born forward has five points (1-4-5) in 13 games for Tri-City (USHL) so far this season.

Providence was able to ink a pair of players from the NTDP, signing both winger Chase Yoder and winger Brett Berard. The Friars also signed Czech native and Kimball Union forward Tomas Mazura, who had 54 points (14-40-54) for Kimball Union last season in 37 games. 

Merrimack inked Sioux Falls forward Luke Weilandt, who sat down with Neutral Zone for an interview earlier this week. The Warriors also inked Mark Hillier and Devlin O’Brien out of St. Andrew’s College in Ontario. 

WCHA

Minnesota State locked in a commitment from Tri-City’s Brendan Furry and Fargo Force captain Ondrej Pavel, who has eight points (4-4-8) in 12 games this season. The Mavs also locked in Conner Gregga from the Coquitlam Express (BCHL), who has 21 points (7-14-21) in 24 games this season after a 43-point (21-22-43) campaign last season.

MSU stayed busy, signing both Jake Livingstone and Akito Hirose. Livingstone is a defenseman who is scoring at more than a point-per-game clip (6-19-25 in 22 games) for the Langley Rivermen (BCHL) while Hirose is a playmaking forward who has 29 points (4-25-29) in 24 games for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL).

Atlantic Hockey

Michael Kane signed with Holy Cross; the left winger is currently with the New Jersey Hitmen (NCDC) and previously played at the New Hampton School in New Hampshire. 

AIC kept up its run of signing talented European players by inking Adam Stacho, a Slovakian forward who is currently with the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL). AIC also signed Czech forward Michael Stinil, who has 16 points (9-7-16) for the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) in 17 games.