RW Oliver Wahlstrom - Boston College, NCAA (2018, 11th, NYI)
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Hockeyfrilla
Swe prospect fanatic
If someone with the knowledge of the NCAA Hockey could enlighten me as to what the advantage is, for the player, to "commit" to a school at such a young age?
TravisR81
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- May 25, 2008
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While this may be true in some cases there's countless examples of high-profile recruits not being able to qualify academically to play collegiately (e.g. Sheldon Richardson, Trey Metoyer). Players still have to pass through the NCAA clearinghouse to be eligible.
VictorLustig
Registered User
- Feb 8, 2012
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He can't play for Sweden in IIHF tournaments unless he plays there for 3(?) years.
tealhockey
@overtheboards
- Jun 2, 2012
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It gives them some security and not have to worry about recruiting process but nothing is binding as this is a verbal commit and it's far from certain he ends up a Black Bear. One big benefit is that it definitely gets your name out there to scouts. Could end up as a top Q draft pick because of how hyped he will be by his draft year.
bottomofthefoodchain
Registered User
The reason Nylander was given an exemption was because he played all his hockey growing up in the US while being a dual-citizen of Canada and Sweden. If he had played in Canada or been a US citizen he would have had to live and play in Sweden for two full years before being eligible to play for them in an IIHF tournament.
He may have been asked to play for them for the tourney. Does not necessarily mean he will play for Sweden internationally.
Henrik Samuelsson from Arizona and William Nylander from Maryland are proof that no matter where a player is from good hockey genes and a love of the game can take you far. Wahlstrom may not have the same hockey bloodlines, but he's developed into a pretty fine player so far in a place which is far from a hockey hotbed in Maine.
I noticed that his current team is listed as Shattuck St. Mary's on his profile page from the recent World Selects Invitational. I guess he'll be moving to Minnesota to play for their bantam team next year. I'll be curious to see how long he stays there and where he ends up afterwards.
The Exiled One
Registered User
I once heard about a "kid" who played on the Shattuck prep team as a freshman. I wonder what ever happened to him?
Seriously, Shattuck and Tom Ward will improve ANY bantam or minor midget. After that, NTDP, USHL or QMJHL would be the next logical step.
Pretty sure Crosby played Prep as a young sophomore. Just like MacKinnon played U16 as a young sophomore. I can't think of the last freshman to make Prep.I once heard about a "kid" who played on the Shattuck prep team as a freshman. I wonder what ever happened to him?
The Exiled One
Registered User
All this is true, in addition to many other reasons. First, the "commitment" could be more aptly described as "accepting a scholarship offer." Again, this is just a verbal offer which the school can rescind, but this doesn't happen too often because it makes the school look bad to other prospects.
Also, it should be mentioned that scholarships in hockey are typically partial, anywhere between 10% to 100%. Even the blue chip players tend to get only 90%. So, if it was a solid offer, it makes a lot of sense to accept it because, though not legally enforceable, it's a bigger commitment for the school than for the player.
Also, unlike other NCAA sports, D1 hockey tends to abide by a "gentleman's agreement" to refrain from recruiting kids verbally committed to other schools. He was dead set on Maine, so this will get the other college recruiters off his back.
Basically, when Maine offered the scholarship, there's very little reason for a lifelong Black Bear fan and legacy like Wahlstrom to NOT accept it.
3 Minute Minor
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- Sep 29, 2009
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tealhockey
@overtheboards
- Jun 2, 2012
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This pace puts him at around 145 points in 65 games if he maintains.. last year's team, which had some of the brightest prospects and most gifted scorers in the 1999 age group, and won a national championship, were led by Minnesota recruits Scott Reedy (125) and Brannon McManus (120). solid start for the kid
Nathan MacKinnon had 58 54-47-101 and Taylor Cammarata had 58 92-78-170 for Shattuck Bantam in 09-10.
3 Minute Minor
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2009
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He's definitely on the right pace.
I wonder if Halifax/Quebec have started their recruiting process yet lol
I wonder if Halifax/Quebec have started their recruiting process yet lol
Extremely weak loop in which SSm plays against
Players are getting 6-8 points a game
Real judge is what they will do in points vs honeybaked chicago mission and mississaugua rebels
Players are getting 6-8 points a game
Real judge is what they will do in points vs honeybaked chicago mission and mississaugua rebels
Saw in the video below that Wahlstrom almost went to play in Sweden with MODO this season before deciding to head to S-SM. Also seems he's still unsure of whether or not he'll play for Sweden or the US if he gets the opportunity. Considering his goal is to play NCAA/NHL it'd be a strange detour to head over to play in Sweden if the move is purely about IIHF eligibility.
http://tv.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/sport/ishockey/hockeystudion/article54956.ab
http://tv.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/sport/ishockey/hockeystudion/article54956.ab
He's an American boy with a Swedish dad, I can understand the slight anguish if he get to the point he could play for both Sweden OR the US. Luxury problem, but still a bit of a problem I guess for him...
William H Bonney
Registered User
Nice find, Cagney. He'd have to move to Sweden for 2 years to even be IIHF eligible for them (barring a waiver which I doubt the IIHF would grant) and I'd imagine that's even less likely now since he chose not to make the move for this season. Everything else I've ever read about him made it seem like USAH wasn't really in his plans at all but this interview made it seem a lot different. I'm sure it'll be a battle till the end but I imagine if he sticks with SSM it's going to be hard for him to pass up the NTDP.
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