‘03 (D) Bodie Nobes commits to Maine for 2023
This is an intriguing commitment by new Maine head coach Ben Barr. Maine, at one point, was dominating out in Quebec (along with Vermont) and Barr heads back there to land Nobes.
Prior to this past season, where he suited up for the Ottawa Jr. Senators in the CCHL, Nobes played for Stanstead College and the Mille-Iles Seigneurs Banatam program. With Stanstead in 2018-19, he scored 32 points from the blue line in 58 games.
Nobes father is Kelly Nobes, the former head coach at McGill University.
‘00 (F) Tommy Middleton commits to Colorado College for 2021
Middleton had a nice season for Janesville (NAHL) during COVID, finishing with 34 points in 33 games after starting the season with Dubuque in the USHL. He’ll be a nice complementary player for the new staff at CC. Middleton also had a really strong playoff showing for Janesville.
Middleton was originally committed to St. Thomas, but that was back in February before Rico Blasi was hired there as the head coach.
NZ Scouts: “Thomas is a quick forward who plays a smart game. He has slick hands and the ability to beat defenders. He plays very well in both ends of the ice and competes as well.”
‘04 (D) Andrew Centrella commits to Providence for 2023
Centrella played at Northwood last season and also saw some action for the Omaha Lancers in the USHL. He’s not huge, but he’s strong. He excels defensively and plays a style that will allow him to transition into college hockey pretty quickly, I think. Furthermore, he plays a man’s game now, and he isn’t going to wither under the pressure of bigger, stronger players.
NZ Scouts: “He’s got a mature approach to the game; he’s not flashy but plays a high percentage game. He has real zip on his passes, he moves it quick and with a purpose. His edges are strong and balanced, he can withstand body contact and forecheck pressure and keep his poise and make the right play. He is both strong on his skates and on his stick and was excellent at getting low, boxing out in front of his net and using his lower body strength to push opponents off the puck in the corners and behind his net. Defensively he’s tough to get around because his gaps are superb; he has nearly perfect stick and body positioning, he’s always within a stick length of the puck carrier on zone entries and can step up and make the open ice hit or drive them towards the boards and regain the puck.”
‘04 (D) Kazimier Sobieski commits to UMass for 2023
The Deerfield, Mass. native just turned 17 and he had a nice season for Shattuck St. Mary’s this past season, posting 28 points as a defenseman in 47 games for the 16U team. He has been a consistent scorer from the blue line since he was at Eaglebrook School in 2017.
NZ Scouts: “He reminded one of our scouts of Ian Moore who was a high NHL Draft pick last year. Sobieski played with great balance and knocked bigger played off the puck with ease. He covered in front and protected his end. He smothered the cycle and used his reach to stop the rush. Up ice, he came alive as he made some slick/silky puck plays. He undressed an opponent at the offensive blue line and ripped a puck which resulted in a rebound goal.”
‘03 (D) Max Rud commits to Minnesota for 2022
Rud is the son of former Colorado College captain Eric Rud. Last season was his senior year in high school and he posted 26 points in 15 games for St. Cloud High. After the high school season he debuted in the USHL with Sioux Falls and posted three assists in nine games.
Rud will be 20 in September; he’s currently 6-2 and weighs 175 pounds. It appears that he’ll play a full season in the USHL before heading to Minnesota in 2022-23.
NZ Scouts: “A big puck-moving defenseman that showed tremendous ability to protect the puck. At times, he holds on to it too long but his ability to take contact and keep control is impressive. He snaps the puck well making cross ice tape to tape and smooth D to D along the blue line.”
‘00 (D) David Breazeale commits to Maine for 2021
Breazeale is a good example of “hard work pays off.” After high school in Michigan he joined Shreveport in the NAHL and spent the last three seasons there, including serving as the team captain. He had 21 points in 54 games this season.
His offensive totals as a junior player don’t project him as a player who will score a lot of points at the college level, but he has been praised for his ability to break out the puck. He’s a sneaky-good addition for Maine, who will need some help on the blue line in Barr’s first season.
NZ Scouts: “Doesn’t panic with the puck in high-pressure situations which allows him to make poised plays that typically lead to fewer turnovers and more puck possession. Can rip a one-timer and has great offensive instincts. Long reach that he uses to protect the puck and gain body position on his opponents. Plays a complete game, high ceiling for this player!”
