NCAA: Former Merrimack Forward Joey Cassetti Commits to Miami

Former Merrimack College forward Joey Cassetti (***3/4), who left the team at the semester break and returned to the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks, announced on Wednesday that he had committed to Miami beginning with next season.

Cassetti, under NCAA rules, will have to sit out the first semester of next season before he’ll gain his eligibility in the second half of the season, although there is an appeals process in which Cassetti can try to earn his eligibility for the start of the 2020-21 season.

In 14 games with the Warriors during the first half of this season, Cassetti had two assists. Since returning to the Black Hawks, the 20-year-old California native has eight goals and three assists in 17 games.

“Joey has played more USHL games than anyone else on this season’s team,” said Black Hawks General Manager Shane Fukushima.  “He has seen just about everything you can see during a junior hockey career.  That experience will be valuable to Miami, but we’re excited about what he can help us accomplish this season and hope he’ll be able to add a few more new experiences before he goes back to college.”

Cassetti is a former NTDP player who had 37 points in 62 games with Waterloo last season.

Penn State added one of Cassetti’s Waterloo teammates, 2000-born forward Xander Lamppa (****), for this coming fall. The Minnesota native has good size (6-foot-3) and has 43 points in 46 games (15 goals, 28 assists).

“Could be a little more physical with size,” said our scouts. “Great net-front presence and tough to get off the puck. Did a good job on the power play moving and being active creating a goal line option for passes, moving to screen goalie, also showed he could make plays and distribute well. Good hands and always had his head up.”

Niagara picked up goaltender Patrick Pugliese (***1/2) for next season. The 20-year-old California native has a .911 save percentage and a 2.95 GAA with the New Jersey Junior Titans (NAHL) this season.

“Patrick plays very deep in his net, but has excellent reactions and is very strong down low,” said our scouts. “Pugliese competes on every puck and has a wide frame but is fairly agile in the crease. Pugliese needs to challenge shooters more, which may help him control his rebounds better but he is very good down low, has an active stick and is a very good play reader.”

Niagara also added for North Dakota recruit Carter Randklev (****) from the Fargo Force (USHL). The 1999-born forward is a Moorhead, Minnesota native and has 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) in 41 games this season. Our scouts praised his motor and compete.

“Played at a very high pace and couldn’t seem to be matched,” they said. “Strong willed, and excellent on the forecheck. Moved feet, strong stick lifts to pick defenders pockets, and was not afraid to go to net front or corners.”

Elsewhere in Atlantic Hockey, Air Force committed Clayton Cosentino (***1/4) for 2021. A hometown kid from Colorado Springs, Cosentino is a 2000-born forward who is in his first season with Aberdeen in the NAHL this season, where he has 15 goals and 16 assists in 49 games. Prior to the NAHL, he played U18 hockey with the Colorado Rampage.

“He was strong on his skates and the puck,” said NZ scouts. “His feet are a bit heavy and an area he must improve to take another step. His strength was wearing defensemen down low and getting pucks to the net. He can fire the puck and appeared athletic as he maneuvered through traffic.”

Clarkson added a piece for the future in 2002-born defenseman Carter Rose (***1/2). A New York native, Rose played for Top Gun in the EHF U18 league this fall and had 28 points in 26 games for Holderness School this winter; he’s projected to join Clarkson in 2022.

“Holderness relies on Rose to play big minutes and counts on him in all situations,” our scouts said. “He is a strong, puck-mover that plays with pace. He is solid in all three zones and made smooth, efficient plays regularly. He doesn’t panic with the puck on his stick and will calmly identify passing options before snapping tape-to-tape passes. He keeps good gaps defensively and closes on forwards well. He runs the Power Play and quickly moves the puck to the open man. He has a good shot from the point and uses his athleticism and feet to change angles to get the puck through. Solid prospect that keeps getting better.”