CollegeHockey247.com - Commitment Tracker: New Players, Old Names

June 14, 2010

Chris Dilks
Assistant Editor

It seems appropriate that with Father's Day this Sunday, this week's installment of the Commitment Tracker leads off with three players with pretty well-known fathers making their college commitments.

Michigan State picked up a commitment from Muskegon(USHL) defenseman Travis Walsh, who has strong family ties to the Spartans to say the least. Walsh is the son of the late Shawn Walsh, a former MSU assistant and head coach at Maine, as well as the grandson of legendary MSU hockey coach and former athletic director Ron Mason. Walsh is expected to join the Spartans for the 2012-2013 season.

The Spartans added another kid from a well-known hockey family when they got a commitment from Chicago(USHL) forward Jake Chelios. Chelios is the son of NHL defenseman Chris Chelios. His older brother Dean was a freshman with the Spartans last season.

Miami added their own second generation star for 2011 in Ohio Jr. Bluejackets forward Sean Kuraly. Kuraly's father, Rick, is the RedHawks second all-time leading scorer. Kuraly had a breakout year this past year, including joining the NTDP U17 team for an international tournament.

Minnesota added one of the top players available for the class of 2011 in speedy Eden Prairie(Minn.) High School forward Kyle Rau. Rau's older brother Chad was a standout for Colorado College.

Boston University made a late addition to their defense for next season in Vernon(BCHL) defenseman Garrett Noonan. Noonan is originally from the Boston-area, playing prep school hockey at Catholic Memorial, but traveled out to British Columbia to play his junior hockey.

North Dakota picked up a commitment from one of the top BCHL players in the class of 2011 in forward Mark MacMillan. He is projected as a potential late round draft pick in this year's NHL draft. His older brother Mitch will be a freshman at Northeastern next season.

Ferris State picked up two commitments for 2011 in the past week. The first is Bismarck Bobcats(NAHL) forward Dominic Panetta, who had a great playoff run for the Bobcats this year. The second is Humboldt(SJHL) forward Justin Buzzeo, who is originally from Ontario, but moved out to Saskatchewan on the advice of the Ferris coaching staff last season.

Colorado College added some depth at the goaltending position for next season with SJHL goalie Josh Thorimbert. Thorimbert's addition means that last year's third-string goalie for the Tigers, Mike Shiborowski, will likely be headed back to junior hockey.

Minnesota State had already lost a goalie to junior hockey earlier this summer in Kevin Murdock, and added NAHL goalie Evan Karambelas to replace him.

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