After a quiet start to the August 1 recruiting period, Northeastern made a big splash over the weekend. The Huskies landed commitments from Avon Old Farms and Yale Junior Bulldogs center Joe Connor and Hill-Murray (Minn.) right wing Ben Miller. Connor was one of the prized rising juniors on the market in New England. The...
After a quiet start to the August 1 recruiting period, Northeastern made a big splash over the weekend.
The Huskies landed commitments from Avon Old Farms and Yale Junior Bulldogs center Joe Connor and Hill-Murray (Minn.) right wing Ben Miller.
Connor was one of the prized rising juniors on the market in New England. The Amherst, N.H., native was always considered a strong prospect, but his performance at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp and the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup elevated his stock. The Huskies beat out a couple of other top Hockey East programs for his services.
Connor scored two goals and had nine assists in four games at Select 17s before posting a pair of
goals and a helper at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. As a sophomore at Avon Old Farms, Connor scored 13 goals and had 14 assists in 26 games.
Miller possesses good size, a hard shot, and hockey sense. The ’06 from Woodbury, Minn., scored two goals and had 14 assists as a sophomore at Hill-Murray this past winter. Miller has been known as one of the better goal scorers in Minnesota for a number of years.
When it comes to recruiting ’06s, Northeastern should have a leg up with head coach Jerry Keefe’s longstanding knowledge of the age group, due to his son Owen being in the birth year.
Two other ’06s from the region have also joined in on the commitment party. Kimball Union left wing Jack Sadowski and Bishop’s College defenseman Elliott Groenewold recently announced their commitments to New Hampshire and Quinnipiac, respectively.
Sadowski, from Arlington, Mass., played two seasons at his hometown high school. A longtime member of the Boston Junior Eagles, he’s known for being a goal scorer. His hockey sense and stick are considered elite attributes. Sadowski’s father, John, was college teammates with UNH head coach Mike Souza.
Groenewold has spent the past two seasons playing just across the border at Bishop’s College in Canada. The Bellows Falls, Vt., native scored 12 goals and had 20 assists in 43 games for the school’s U16 team during the 2021-22 season. A puck-moving defenseman, he skates with his head up and likes to join the rush.
