In the spirit of football’s Early Signing Day (ESD), below is a snapshot of how Michigan Hockey’s 2020 class is sorting itself out. Note that Michigan head coach Mel Pearson hasn’t issued a formal press release announcing the class in the past. First formal notification of the class members has taken place in the late summer when the upcoming season’s roster is posted on the official mgoblue website. That said, veteran hockey recruiting observers are able to piece together an accurate, if not completely exact, picture of where things currently stand.
With a large senior graduating class in ’20 and several potential early pro signees on the roster, expect an incoming class of 10-12 players. This will be Mel’s highest quality class yet with, frankly, even better classes coming over the next two years based on current commitments. The highly competitive Big Ten conference requires a high level of recruiting. The other Big Ten teams are recruiting at high levels also.
Most players use social media to announce when they sign their LOI (letter of intent). These five players made such announcements in November and should definitely be in the 2020 class:
Philippe Lapointe 6-0 190 Wing(R) Trail (BCHL) 17 games 13 goals 20 assists 50 PIMs 2000-birth year
Son of former NLH forward Martin Lapointe, Philippe will already be 20 years old when he hits Ann Arbor. Despite ordinary size, Lapointe plays a heavy game combining grit with soliid offensive ability/vision, kind of like his “old man”. Michigan will benefit from Lapointe’s current year captaincy of former Michigan stalwart and current GM/head coach of Trail, Jeff Tambellini’s squad.
Erik Portillo 6-6 224 Goaltender Dubuque (USHL) 15 games 2.05 goals against average .912 save percentage late 2000-birth year
Huge (literally) goaltending prospect serving his first year in North America after prepping in his native Sweden. Quick for his size, butterfly style, really good hands. Third round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Thomas Bordeleau 5-10 180 Center (L) USNTDP 28 games 10 goals 15 assists 12 PIMs 2002 birth-year
Lightning quick forward with great puck control and still with a huge upside. High quality skating and vision.
Jacob Truscott 6-1 175 Defense(L) USNTDP 28 games 2 goals 9 assists 26 PIMs 2002 birth-year
Solid two-way defenseman capable of running a power play, but willing to be physical when needed. Quality skater and passer.
Kent Johnson 6-1 170 Center (L) Trail (BCHL) 34 games 24 goals 41 assists 8 PIMs late 2002 birth-year
Current BCHL scoring leader both in goals and in points. Elite hockey IQ. Exceptional skills across the board. Competing in international play for Canada.
The following six players have not yet announced as Wolverine signees, but remain committed and stand varying likelihoods of being included in the 2020 class:
Steve Holtz 6-3 190 Defense(R) Penticton (BCHL) 33 games 4 goals 14 assists 20 PIMs 1999 birth-year
Two-way defenseman with quality skating skills who took his game from the USHL to the BCHL this season with positive results.
Josh Groll 5-10 180 Wing(L) Lincoln (USHL) 18 games 11 goals 11 assists 34 PIMs 2001 birth-year
Breakout season for Groll earned him an invite to play for the US in the World Junior A Challenge where he excelled offensively along with future teammate Brendan Brisson. Solid skills across the board with an extra uptick in the skating and IQ departments. Michigan is hopeful that he’s the type of natural scorer that they so badly need.
Ethan Szmagaj 5-11 180 Defense (R) Waterloo (USHL) 24 games 0 goals 9 assists 14 PIMs late 2001 birth-year
High level skating ability packaged in a feisty two-way rearguard. Not an elite offensive defenseman, but one you want in your corner as a heart and soul type.
Cole McWard 6-0 180 Defense (R) Tri-City (USHL) 26 games 4 goals 5 assists 10 PIMs 2001 birth-year
Offensive, both in his shot and playmaking ability, defenseman. Capable of playing his off side at the point on the power play.
Brendan Brisson 5-11 180 Center (L) Chicago (USHL) 20 games 9 goals 13 assists 18 PIMs late 2001 birth-year
Ups his level of play each year and is considered a breakout offensive player this season after doing the same the past two seasons. Brisson just finished being the go-to offensive force for the US team in the World Junior A Challenge, a top age group international tournament. Skating, play making and high hockey IQ are his calling cards.
Owen Power 6-4 210 Defense (L) Chicago (USHL) 24 games 7 goals 18 assists 12 PIMs Late 2002 birth year
The biggest wild card in this listing, the Canadian man-child is already garnering predictions of a top 10 placement in the 2021 NHL Draft. Skilled, tough defender who excels at both ends of the rink, Power is probably too young to move to the NCAA level next season. His skills say otherwise. Stay tuned.
With a large senior graduating class in ’20 and several potential early pro signees on the roster, expect an incoming class of 10-12 players. This will be Mel’s highest quality class yet with, frankly, even better classes coming over the next two years based on current commitments. The highly competitive Big Ten conference requires a high level of recruiting. The other Big Ten teams are recruiting at high levels also.
Most players use social media to announce when they sign their LOI (letter of intent). These five players made such announcements in November and should definitely be in the 2020 class:
Philippe Lapointe 6-0 190 Wing(R) Trail (BCHL) 17 games 13 goals 20 assists 50 PIMs 2000-birth year
Son of former NLH forward Martin Lapointe, Philippe will already be 20 years old when he hits Ann Arbor. Despite ordinary size, Lapointe plays a heavy game combining grit with soliid offensive ability/vision, kind of like his “old man”. Michigan will benefit from Lapointe’s current year captaincy of former Michigan stalwart and current GM/head coach of Trail, Jeff Tambellini’s squad.
Erik Portillo 6-6 224 Goaltender Dubuque (USHL) 15 games 2.05 goals against average .912 save percentage late 2000-birth year
Huge (literally) goaltending prospect serving his first year in North America after prepping in his native Sweden. Quick for his size, butterfly style, really good hands. Third round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Thomas Bordeleau 5-10 180 Center (L) USNTDP 28 games 10 goals 15 assists 12 PIMs 2002 birth-year
Lightning quick forward with great puck control and still with a huge upside. High quality skating and vision.
Jacob Truscott 6-1 175 Defense(L) USNTDP 28 games 2 goals 9 assists 26 PIMs 2002 birth-year
Solid two-way defenseman capable of running a power play, but willing to be physical when needed. Quality skater and passer.
Kent Johnson 6-1 170 Center (L) Trail (BCHL) 34 games 24 goals 41 assists 8 PIMs late 2002 birth-year
Current BCHL scoring leader both in goals and in points. Elite hockey IQ. Exceptional skills across the board. Competing in international play for Canada.
The following six players have not yet announced as Wolverine signees, but remain committed and stand varying likelihoods of being included in the 2020 class:
Steve Holtz 6-3 190 Defense(R) Penticton (BCHL) 33 games 4 goals 14 assists 20 PIMs 1999 birth-year
Two-way defenseman with quality skating skills who took his game from the USHL to the BCHL this season with positive results.
Josh Groll 5-10 180 Wing(L) Lincoln (USHL) 18 games 11 goals 11 assists 34 PIMs 2001 birth-year
Breakout season for Groll earned him an invite to play for the US in the World Junior A Challenge where he excelled offensively along with future teammate Brendan Brisson. Solid skills across the board with an extra uptick in the skating and IQ departments. Michigan is hopeful that he’s the type of natural scorer that they so badly need.
Ethan Szmagaj 5-11 180 Defense (R) Waterloo (USHL) 24 games 0 goals 9 assists 14 PIMs late 2001 birth-year
High level skating ability packaged in a feisty two-way rearguard. Not an elite offensive defenseman, but one you want in your corner as a heart and soul type.
Cole McWard 6-0 180 Defense (R) Tri-City (USHL) 26 games 4 goals 5 assists 10 PIMs 2001 birth-year
Offensive, both in his shot and playmaking ability, defenseman. Capable of playing his off side at the point on the power play.
Brendan Brisson 5-11 180 Center (L) Chicago (USHL) 20 games 9 goals 13 assists 18 PIMs late 2001 birth-year
Ups his level of play each year and is considered a breakout offensive player this season after doing the same the past two seasons. Brisson just finished being the go-to offensive force for the US team in the World Junior A Challenge, a top age group international tournament. Skating, play making and high hockey IQ are his calling cards.
Owen Power 6-4 210 Defense (L) Chicago (USHL) 24 games 7 goals 18 assists 12 PIMs Late 2002 birth year
The biggest wild card in this listing, the Canadian man-child is already garnering predictions of a top 10 placement in the 2021 NHL Draft. Skilled, tough defender who excels at both ends of the rink, Power is probably too young to move to the NCAA level next season. His skills say otherwise. Stay tuned.
