New England Hockey Journal’s RinkWise

Takeaways from 2025 Hockey Recruiting

Evan and Pat dive into the college hockey recruiting season. They discuss the landscape of hockey recruiting as fall hockey approaches. They explore notable recruits, the effects of the CHL ruling on recruiting, and the trend of players making more realistic commitments. The episode also covers significant commitments in the boys and girls hockey scenes, highlighting key players and their potential impacts on their future teams. Additionally, the show includes a nostalgic segment on memorable hockey experiences and locker room smells.
 
Topics
00:40 Recruiting Season and College Choices
03:32 Impact of CHL Ruling on Recruiting
05:20 Realistic Commitments and Player Strategies
10:46 BC and BU Commitments
20:41 Northeastern and Other Hockey East Schools
28:17 Dartmouth's Recruiting Strategy
30:25 Dartmouth's Strategic Recruiting Moves
30:50 Harvard's High-End Prep Kid Trend
31:22 Dartmouth's New Market Strategy
33:29 Notable College Commits
33:38 UMass and Other Local Commits
34:16 Notre Dame's Local Talent
34:46 Cornell and UNH Commits
35:21 Quinnipiac and Other Notable Commits
35:48 Transition to Girls' Recruiting
36:52 Big 10 and Local Girls' Commits
39:22 Trends in Girls' College Hockey
43:07 Notable Girls' Commits
48:42 Overtime: Hockey Nostalgia

The Hoops/Hockey Crossover Show

The Hoops/Hockey Crossover Show
This crossover episode between New England Hockey Journal's Rink Wise and New England Basketball Journal's Hoop Wise podcasts. The hosts discuss the idea of merging the discussions around the two sports, focusing on the differences and similarities in player development, recruitment, and the unique challenges each sport faces. Topics covered include the yearly schedules for basketball and hockey, the impact of club and prep teams on player growth, the role of advisors and agents, the rising cost of playing these sports at elite levels, and the potential of future changes in the structure and governance of these youth sports.
 
Topics
01:13 Basketball vs. Hockey: Seasonal Differences
01:38 Open Gyms and Recruitment in Basketball
04:18 Fall Hockey Showcases and College Scouting
05:33 The Role of Club Teams in Player Development
12:05 Prep School and Club Team Dynamics
16:52 Balancing Multiple Sports and Commitments
26:46 Shoe Circuits and Sponsorships in Basketball
31:25 Exploring Brand Influence in Basketball and Hockey
31:53 The Business of AAU and College Recruiting
35:09 Junior Hockey Pathways and College Eligibility
46:38 The Role of Advisors and Agents in Youth Sports
51:46 The Rising Costs of Youth Sports
57:45 The Impact of Club Teams on Local Hockey Programs
59:46 Conclusion and Future Discussions

Exeter Coach Sean O'Brien

Evan and Pat talk with Sean O'Brien, the new head coach of the boys' hockey team at Phillips Exeter Academy. Sean shares insights from his career, including his recent move back to New England from Pittsburgh, his previous coaching stint at Harvard, and his philosophy on integrating technology and video analysis to enhance player development. He also discusses the balance between academics and athletics in a prep school environment, the impact of the CHL ruling on prep hockey, and the importance of building professional networks and relationships for long-term success. The episode concludes with a discussion on outdated hockey strategies and the evolving role of analytics in coaching.
 
Topics
00:29 Guest Introduction: Sean O'Brien
01:34 Sean O'Brien's Journey to Phillips Exeter
05:03 The Appeal of Phillips Exeter
07:23 Recruitment and Academic Balance
12:32 Lessons from Harvard
16:49 The Role of Technology in Coaching
24:24 Seamless Video Integration in Coaching
25:17 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Sports
26:48 Impact of CHL Ruling on Prep Schools
29:15 Evaluating Player Readiness for Junior Hockey
31:19 Balancing Hockey and Academic Development
35:46 Building Long-Term Professional Networks
40:04 Hockey Strategy Insights: Overtime Segment

Brandon Borges of Williston Northampton

Evan sits down with Brandon Borges, the newly appointed head boys hockey coach at Williston Northampton. Borges, an alumnus of the school, shares insights about his transition into the coaching role and his vision for the program. He discusses the importance of summer training, balancing player workloads, and the unique challenges of returning to coach at his alma mater. Borges also reflects on his own hockey journey from inner-city Providence to playing junior hockey, providing valuable advice for current players navigating college and junior hockey aspirations. The discussion concludes with a light-hearted segment about the nuances of being a passionate hockey fan.
 
Topics
00:26 Meet the New Coach: Brandon Borges
00:55 Summer Training Strategies
03:06 Returning to Alma Mater: Williston Northampton
03:42 Brandon's Hockey Journey
08:12 Challenges and Lessons in Youth Hockey
20:21 Junior Hockey Experience and Advice
24:21 Personal Struggles and Reflections
24:43 Timing and Development in Hockey
25:52 Deciding When to Move On
28:22 Realistic College Hockey Dreams
32:50 Recruiting and Building Relationships
38:30 Overtime: Fun Hockey Questions

BB&N's Ed Bourget on Development and Recruiting

The guest is Ed Bourget, Director of Hockey Operations at Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N). The discussion delves into Ed's extensive background in hockey, from playing high school hockey at Shrewsbury High and Sacred Heart to his professional stint in Europe. Ed provides insights into his new role at BB&N, focusing on supporting both the boys' and girls' hockey programs. The conversation also explores player development, managing the grueling prep school hockey schedule, and balancing the demands of athletics with academic and personal life. Ed emphasizes the importance of rest, development beyond just hockey skills, and preparing for life after the sport. The episode concludes with reflections on the evolving landscape of hockey recruitment and the significance of enjoying the process.
 
Topics
00:19 Ed's Hockey Background
01:26 Coaching Philosophy and New Role
03:09 Player Development and Training
09:51 Recruiting Process Insights
17:49 Balancing Academics and Athletics
21:59 Life After Hockey
22:55 Path to Coaching
25:28 Future of Prep School Hockey
30:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Reacting to the 2025 QMJHL Draft

In this episode of the New England Hockey Journal's Rink Wise Podcast, hosts Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly discuss various updates in the sports world, focusing particularly on the recent US Open and the New England D1 Championship in baseball at Polar Park. While updating on baseball, the hosts delve into the major topic of the week—the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft. They provide insights into significant picks, including a detailed analysis of picks from New England and the implications for prep schools, junior hockey leagues, and the National Team Development Program (NTDP). The podcast also explores potential recruiting battles between the USHL and Canadian junior leagues, value picks, snubs, and the future of New England players in junior hockey. The episode wraps up with insights into what the changes in draft dynamics might mean for the evolving landscape of prep and junior hockey.
 
Topics
00:31 High School Baseball Championships
02:30 QMJHL Draft Overview
05:29 Impact on New England Players
10:36 Future of Junior Hockey and Prep Schools
13:18 Quebec Ramparts' Bold Move
15:47 Carter Meyer Draft Reactions
16:41 Quebec's Strategic Draft Picks
18:46 Notable Draft Picks and Surprises
20:09 Underrated Draft Picks and Value Finds
22:45 Draft Snubs and Missed Opportunities
27:10 USHL vs. QMJHL: The Recruiting Battle
30:31 Concluding Thoughts and Future Updates

Scout & Former NHL Player Eric Boguniecki

Evan and Patrick Donnelly are joined by Eric Boguniecki, a former NHL player and current scout for the Arizona Coyotes and Utah Mammoth. They discuss Eric's impressive career, his transition from coaching to scouting, and his insights on player development. Eric shares personal stories about his son's unique path from baseball to hockey, emphasizing the importance of multi-sport participation for young athletes. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of prep school and junior hockey, the impact of the CHL ruling on college commitments, and the potential for new NCAA Division I programs. Additionally, they dive into personal anecdotes about their love for hockey and the emotional highs and lows of being a sports fan.
 
Topics
00:46 Introducing the Special Guest: Eric Boguniecki
01:22 Eric’s Career Journey
01:51 Life on the Road as a Scout
03:21 Transition from Coaching to Scouting
04:58 Scouting Insights and Player Evaluation
06:21 The Importance of Hockey Sense
12:26 Balancing Sports and Family Life
16:53 Jake Boggan's Unique Path in Sports
17:15 Challenges and Changes in Prep School Hockey
36:45 Hockey Prep School Culture
37:16 Memorable Football Moments
38:25 Jake's College Recruitment Journey
40:37 NCAA Recruitment Rules and Challenges
42:00 The Impact of Transfer Portals
44:03 The Future of College Hockey
47:46 Hockey's Growing Popularity
55:12 Overtime: Personal Hockey Stories

Takeaways from the Mass. Hockey Festivals

Evan and Pat discuss the recent Mass. Hockey Festival for both boys and girls, providing insights on standout players, snubs, and potential future stars. The conversation also touches on the unpredictability of New England weather, their personal gripes about hockey, the impact of youth sports' financial demands, and fun insights into their hypothetical Zamboni ride theme songs.
 
Topics
01:38 Mass Hockey Festival Overview
02:06 Boys' Festival Highlights
04:28 Rising Stars: Oh Eights and Oh Nines
10:23 Notable Snubs and Surprises
12:22 2000 Tens: Future Prospects
15:22 NTDP Aspirations for 2010s
18:13 Personal Anecdotes and Girls' Festival
19:05 Stock Risers: Girls in Hockey
19:37 Standout Performances at the Festival
22:32 Young Talents to Watch
24:55 Future Stars: The 2010s
30:24 Unpopular Opinions in Hockey
37:04 Overtime: Fun and Final Thoughts

Boys Prep Season Recap

Evan and Pat reflect on the recently concluded boys prep hockey season, discussing standout teams, surprising performances, and key players. They highlight teams like Deerfield, St. Mark's, Dexter, Rivers, and more for their unexpected success. They delve into the contributions of standout players such as Carter Meyer, Joe Salandra, Billy McCaslin, and others. Additionally, they discuss the potential impact of the CHL on the future of prep hockey and look ahead to how teams might shape up next season. The episode concludes with an 'overrated or underrated' segment, adding a fun twist to the in-depth hockey analysis.
Topics
00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter
00:34 Reflecting on the Bruins' Season
01:34 Prep Hockey Season Recap
02:21 Surprising Teams of the Season
12:59 Standout Players and Performances
17:42 NTDP Evaluation Camp Insights
21:48 Analyzing Pandolfo's Potential
22:22 Lessons from Sears' Development Path
24:14 Impact of CHL on Prep Hockey
27:50 Teams to Watch Next Season
29:52 NHL Draft Prospects
33:28 Overtime: Underrated or Overrated
39:46 Wrapping Up the Prep Season

Girls Hockey Season Recap

Evan and Pat reunite in the studio to discuss the end of the girls' hockey season. They reflect on the exciting season, highlighting standout teams like Loomis Chaffee and Nobles. The discussion covers how various teams performed, their top players, and expectations for the next season. Goal-tending performances and uncommitted prospects are also spotlighted. The episode concludes with a fun 'overrated or underrated' segment featuring items like wearing jerseys to games and bubble hockey.
 
Topics
00:37 Reflecting on the Girls Season
01:18 Loomis Chaffee's Dominant Performance
03:14 Nobles and Andover: Season Highlights
05:29 Rivers and Exeter: Rising Teams
06:26 New Hampton's Elite Eight Aspirations
07:50 Dexter and BB&N's Strong Seasons
09:29 Thayer and St. Mark's: Surprising Runs
11:25 Tabor's Competitive Season
12:46 Deerfield's Adaptable Strategy
13:46 Standout Players of the Season
17:17 Williston's Unexpected Playoff Exit
19:06 Top Goalies of the Year
21:38 The Lone Goalie's Journey
22:07 Uncommitted Standouts to Watch
25:17 Prep Transfers and Future Prospects
26:52 Teams to Watch Next Season
30:18 Overtime: Overrated or Underrated?
38:18 Wrapping Up and Future Coverage