There were 11 commitments from the class of rising high school juniors — 2007 and 2008-born players — over the past week, bringing the total to 83 since this cycle began on August 1.
Below is a breakdown of the week’s biggest commitments, followed by a full list of the action from Aug. 10-16.
Miami stays hot
Miami remained active in the second week of this window, accounting for nearly 30% of the week’s total commitments by adding three more to its recruit pool. That, combined with the four commitments the RedHawks received in week one puts them atop the standings for most total commitments in this cycle with seven.
Among their commits this week was Max Anderson, PuckPreps No. 83 2007-born skater and the No. 3 uncommitted American in his birth year. A standout for Cretin-Derham Hall (MN) and a Sioux City Musketeers first round pick, Anderson chose Miami from a pool that included St. Thomas, Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, Colorado College and Arizona State.
The RedHawks also committed Kase Kamzik, our No. 148 2008-born skater, and Mason Minsky, another Sioux City pick who starred for the Chicago Reapers 16U last season, posting 60 points in 47 games.
Irish say quality > quantity
Despite committing just two players since Aug. 1, Notre Dame sits fifth in our 2008 Class Rankings because of the five-star status of both their commits. This week, the Irish paired Parker Trottier — who they committed in the early hours of day one — with his future teammate on the USNTDP U17 Team, Aurelio Garcia.
Garcia, who sits No. 28 in our rankings, won a national championship with the Chicago Mission 15U last season, tallying nine points in six games in the tournament. He was t-fifth in scoring in the 2023 U.S. Boys 15 Player Development Camp, totaling eight points in four games.
Notre Dame is one of four teams (Michigan, Boston College, Boston University) to have committed multiple five-star recruits in this cycle.
Batting 1.000
Colorado College continued its successful start to the cycle this week by committing three-star defenseman Will McLaughlin, our No. 239 2008-born skater. A native Albertan, McLaughlin played in the U.S. in his 15U season, totaling 46 points in 66 games from the blue line for Little Caesars. He’ll play in the same state and conference as his brother Finn, a 2006-born defenseman, who is committed to Denver.
All four of the Tigers’ commits since Aug. 1 are PuckPreps top-300 ranked skaters. CC secured Dain Gordon (No. 150 2008) on day one, followed by Lincoln Kuehne (No. 137 2007) and Jimmy Egan (No. 296 2008) over the next week.
Music City’s first star
Tennessee State has yet to play a game of NCAA Hockey — or any level of hockey for that matter — yet the Tigers landed a recruit before 35 Division I programs in this cycle. Aidan Gray, a 3.5-star, 5-foot, 10-inch forward from Detroit, is our No. 172 2008-born skater. He posted 29 points in 49 games for the Windy City Storm 15U last season and is set to join Little Caesars 16U this fall.
Gray is the fourth player to commit to Tennessee State. He joins 2003-born forward Trey Fechko, an Arizona State decommit and former standout for Edina and Holy Family Catholic high schools (MN), Xavier Abel, an ACHA transfer from Missouri’s Drury University who will be 24 when TSU begins its inaugural campaign as an NCAA Division I independent in 2025 and Tyron Fevry, a 2006-born Canadian forward playing in the GOJHL.
On the board
Michigan Tech stayed local with its first commitment of this cycle, adding in-state defenseman Todd Kilpela. Playing for Hancock Central High School, just four miles away from the Huskies’ campus, Kilpela totaled 32 points in 24 games as a sophomore. He’s set to play for Victory Honda 18U this season.
Minnesota State, Colgate and Bowling Green also got in on the action this week.
The Mavericks added forward Sam Kappell, the No. 8 uncommitted 2007-born American and top pick by his home state Madison Capitols in the 2023 USHL Futures Draft. Kappell had 10 points in 34 games with the Capitols last season.
The Raiders kept their eyes out east, committing 2007-born Tommy Coccaro, a forward with the Mid Fairfield Rangers and Westminster Prep. He posted 20 points in 25 games with the latter last season.
Bowling Green committed three-star Quinn Kipfer, a Canadian forward who totaled 39 points in 30 games for the Huron Perth Lakers U16 last season and will play for Stratford in the GOJHL in 2024-25.
Full list of commitments (listed in order of commitment):
Aidan Gray - Tennessee State
Todd Kilpela - Michigan Tech
Mason Minsky - Miami
Max Anderson - Miami
Aurelio Garcia - Notre Dame
Tommy Coccaro - Colgate
Will McLaughlin - Colorado College
Kase Kamzik - Miami
Sam Kappell - Minnesota State
Anthony Spadaro - UMass
Brady Logue - Merrimack
Quin Kipfer - Bowling Green