In this week’s D-I commitment notebook, Robert Morris and Augustana are building for 2023. Plus, commitments at Brown, Wisconsin, AIC, Lake State, and New Hampshire.
’02 (D) Thomas Haynes (★★★¼) to Robert Morris for 2023
Haynes will join the relaunched Robert Morris program next season. The Ontario native is a D currently playing for the Brockville Braves (CCHL) and has been with the team for the last two seasons. In nine games this season he has seven points (3g, 4a) and in 53 games last season he had 37 points (4g, 33a).
NZ Scouts: “A thicker-bodied defenseman with a good shot. He doesn’t panic with the puck and consistently will move it to the forwards after winning possession (usually with brush-by contact or a stick check). Two separate times Haynes was able to deliver a long pass on target to set up an offensive chance.”
’03 (G) Lawton Zacher (★★★½) to Brown for 2023
Zacher is off to a terrific start with Minot (NAHL) this season, having posted a 1.57 GAA and .947 save percentage in seven starts. He’s currently in his first year of junior hockey after spending the last three seasons at Nichols School. In 30 games last season he had a 2.04 GAA and .931 save percentage.
NZ Scots (NY Tier I State Tournament): “Zacher played well all game and shouldered lots of action throughout the championship game. He was tested on several occasions and was up to the task. He displayed his quickness down low making several pad saves, ability to get post-to-post quickly, tracked pucks well, limited rebounds and was mentally dialled into the game. Zacher showed he has potential for the next level.”
’03 (F) Garrett Drotts (★★★½) to Augustana for 2023
Drotts has 12 points (7g, 5a) in 14 games to start this season with Kenai River in the NAHL. The Grand Rapids, Minn. native is in his first season of junior hockey after he graduated from Grand Rapids High this past spring. Last season in 28 games for Grand Rapids he had 23 goals and 25 assists.
NZ Scouts: “Drotts is a smooth efficient fast skater that consistently wins puck races and forces many turnovers in the offensive zone with his puck pursuit. His goal came from getting in on the goaltender handling the puck and forcing him to turn it over then he circled the zone to then drive the net unattended for an easy back door tap-in. Drotts can explode up ice and has a powerful first three steps to create some separation from the opposition.”
’04 (D) Adam Barone (★★★½) to Lake Superior State for 2023
Barone is from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, which isn’t far from the Lake State campus. In 13 games for Cobourg (OJHL) this season, Barone has one goal and 15 assists for 16 points. Last season he appeared in 47 games and had 24 points (3g, 21a).
NZ Scouts: “Offensive defenseman for the Cougars who gets up and down the ice a lot with his offensive mindset that allows him to jump into the play to be the late guy. He makes a first good pass and will join the rush not afraid to lead the play into the zone. He defends well and relies on his active stick to break plays up which works a lot of the time. His agility and stick movement break plays up rather than using his physicality. In the offensive zone his blue line work is highlighted a lot throughout the game. He’s able to create new lanes with hip movement forcing blockers off their path.”
’06 (D) Price Grimes (★★★¾) to New Hampshire for 2024
Grimes, 16, is already 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds. The Tennessee native is playing for the Sioux Falls Power 16U AAA team this season an he has five points (1g, 4a) in 15 games thus far. Last season fo the Windy City Storm 15U AAA team, he had 26 points (4g, 22a) in 62 games.
Price was ranked No. 122 in our Top 300 National 2006 Rankings.
NZ Scouts: “Grimes is a good-sized, mobile defenseman who covers a lot of ice and is almost like an octopus with his reach and length to strip opponents of pucks. He played with some edge, rode opponents off the puck against the rush and was deliberate in lifting sticks around the net and boxing out to give his goalie clean sight lines. He can carry the puck out of his end, showed some wiggle and ability to get around forecheckers.”
’02 (F) Hunter Jones (★★★½) to AIC for 2023
Despite interruptions due to the pandemic, Jones has a good amount of junior hockey experience. This season he has appeared in seven games for the Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL) and he has 12 points (5g, 7a) in those games.
Jones played for Oklahoma in the NAHL last season as well as Waterloo in the USHL. The Minnesota native played at Andover High prior to junior hockey.
NZ Scouts: “Plays a physical game where he’s not afraid of confrontation in front of the net or an open ice hit in the neutral zone. He also takes hits to make plays, doesn’t shy up at the red line before an icing and will be first on puck on the corners regardless of who is chasing him. His style is hard-nosed and he plays with an edge. He’s a good skater, with stability, he can protect pucks longer and stay active along the wall. Given his size and strength he has a good net-front presence.”
’03 (D) Gabriel Lunn (★★★¼) to Robert Morris for 2023
Lunn is from Lockport, N.Y. In nine games for the Johnstown Hawks (NAHL) this season, he has three assists. Last season he suited up for the Utica Jr. Comets in the NCDC where he posted 26 points (6g, 20a) in 49 games. Lunn also played at Nichols school, where he had 25 points (10g, 15a) in his final season.
NZ Scouts: “Gabriel is a defensive defenseman that can shut down forwards. He maintains good angles on forwards and forces them into bad positions with the puck along the boards. He forces forwards wide and rides them into the boards until they are out of space. He thrived on the penalty kill because of his quick stick and hockey IQ. He knew where to expect the puck and got it out of his zone in a hurry.”
’02 (G) William Gramme (★★★½) to Wisconsin for 2023
Gramme is from Sweden. He’s in his first season of North American hockey this season and he has posted a 1.94 GAA and .927 save percentage for the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) thus far. Throughout his time in Sweden, Gramme came up through the Huddinge IK organization. In his final season of play in the J20 Nationellite league (the top junior league in Sweden), he posted a 3.61 GAA and .889 save percentage.
