USA Hockey NTDP U18 center Ryan Fine has switched his commitment from Boston University to Harvard.
The Center Moriches, N.Y., native became the first `05 to commit when he originally chose the Terriers back in April 2019 before NCAA legislation went into effect preventing players from verbally pledging before August 1 entering their junior year of high school.
Fine was a member of the Mid Fairfield Junior Rangers before heading to Plymouth, Mich., to join the NTDP. In 48 games last season for the U17 team, Fine scored four goals and had 18 assists in 48 games. Through 11 games this season, he has a goal and three assists.
Fine is an undersized forward who was considered a top player in his birth year during his bantam and midget minor years. His stick and grit were factors that allowed him to have that distinction.
Eight players on the NTDP U18 team are committed to three Beanpot schools, including five slated to head to Boston College next fall. Local forwards Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.), Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) and Will Vote (Arlington, Mass.) are joined by defenseman Drew Fortescue and Aram Minnetian in having the BC logo next to their names on the line chart. Forward Sal Guzzo and Fine are committed to Harvard and defenseman Kai Janviriya is a Boston University recruit.
Brendan Dumas commits to Sacred Heart
St. Sebastian’s alum Brendan Dumas (North Attleboro, Mass.) committed to Sacred Heart. Dumas is enjoying tremendous success in the NAHL with the New Jersey Titans. In 2021-22, he scored 24 goals and 41 assists in 72 games as his team captured the Robertson Cup as playoff champions in the NAHL. He has five goals and 12 assists through 14 games this season. Dumas is a hard-working forward with skill who skated for the Cape Cod Whalers in addition to his time at St. Sebastian’s.
Taft goalie Rudy Guimond goes Ivy
Taft junior goaltender Rudy Guimond, who is having an excellent fall season with the Yale Junior Bulldogs 18U, has committed to Yale. The '05 from Pointe-Claire, Quebec, is in his second season at Taft, playing for former Boston College forward Ryan Shannon. In 2021-22, Guimond helped the Junior Bulldogs 16U team advance to nationals while splitting time at Taft with senior goaltender Mikey Roberts, a recruited walk-on at Dartmouth. Guimond helped the Junior Bulldogs win the Beast Series Playoffs over the weekend.
With assistant coaches Joe Howe and Rob O’Gara out on the recruiting trail, the Bulldogs have added some solid `05s from prep hockey. In addition to Guimond, the staff has secured commitments from Brunswick center Eli Friedman, Avon Old Farms defenseman Hudson Miller and Dexter Southfield defenseman Jonathan Lanza (Winthrop, Mass.). The program also has a very good commitment from `06 Ryan Staples (Middletown, R.I.), who will be a newcomer at Loomis Chaffee.
Jason Siedem opts to return to New England
It’s been a long and winding road for Jason Siedem, an `02 who played prep hockey at Avon Old Farms from 2017 to 2021. He’s had to endure injuries, illness, and being de-committed by Boston College. The Madison, N.J., native is in his second season playing in the AJHL with the Blackfalds Bulldogs and recently committed to UNH. In 15 games this season, Siedem has scored six goals and 14 assists. The UNH staff would have been familiar with him from his years in New England, but it’s likely they made up their mind on offering him after the recently completed AJHL Showcase.
Merrimack gets an AJHL blueliner
Merrimack received a commitment recently from `03 defenseman J.R. Ashmead, who skated for the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL. In 16 games, he has eight assists. The Calgary, Alberta, native is in his third season with the organization.
Yellow Jackets go back to Minnesota
American International has done a good job recruiting in Europe during Eric Lang’s tenure in Springfield. However, the Yellow Jackets have also been able to sneak a few good players out of the state of Minnesota. Lang and his staff hope they have found another hidden gem in `02 Hunter Jones, a native of Andover, Minn. After finishing his high school career in 2020, Jones moved onto the NAHL where he’s spent the past three seasons. In 2022-23 with the Oklahoma Warriors, he’s scored six goals and eight assists in nine games.
Brown gets goalie for future
Brown received a commitment from former Nichols goaltender Lawton Zacher, an `03 from Buffalo, N.Y. In nine appearances in the NAHL for the Minot Minotauros this season, Zacher is 7-2-0 with a 1.77 goals against average and .939 save percentage. The NAHL is considered a strong breeding ground for goaltenders. Brendan Whittet and his staff, assistants Jason Smith and Matt Plante, are hoping they’ve found gold in the league that has also produced former UMass Lowell stud goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, now with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.
