Kevin Clare Commits to Michigan

All your NTDP are belong to us.

Kevin Clare became the fifth member of the NTDP's Under 17 team to commit to Michigan. He'll join Jack Campbell, Jon Merrill, Luke Moffatt, and Jacob Fallon in the incoming Class of 2010 (Mac Bennett is in the class as well).

He's a 6'1" 189 defenseman from New York. As of the last update to the NTDP site, Clare had 2 assists in 16 games this season. He also has 16 PIMs.

He previously played for the Tier III New Jersey Hitmen. They won the Eastern Junior Hockey League championship and were the runner up for the Tier III Junior A National Championship. Clare was the youngest player in the EJHL and put up a 3-13--16 line in 37 games.

From the Jersey Hitmen Head Coach Toby Harris:

"Kevin really deserves this," commented Hitmen head coach Toby Harris. "Last season he did everything we asked of him. He embraced the program, he competed hard and most of all he consistently came to work everyday, something that you do not see in such a young man. I am very proud of Kevin and what he has accomplished thus far. I am very happy for the Clare family and know that Kevin will be very successful in every facet of life whichever path he chooses. The Hitmen organization wishes him all the best!"

OHL Watch: He was a 4th round pick of the Erie Otters and according to Head Coach Bob Bassen, "He told us he wants to play Junior A when he's done [with the NTDP]." I guess he had a change of heart.

USHR was pretty impressed with him during the Select 16 Development Camp, saying that he's "smooth and dishes out crisp hits".

The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog wrote the following about him in March:
Another Hitman defenseman, Kevin Clare, is regarded as one of top blueline prospects in the East for 2010. Clare, who USHR reported has visited both BU and BC and also is interested in Michigan and Notre Dame, is from New Rochelle, N.Y., hometown of BU freshman Kevin Shattenkirk.

I guess he ultimately picked Michigan over UNH and Vermont.

Other Stuff:
-Matt Hunwick scored again tonight for the Boston Bruins. He has points in five straight games. He has a 3-3--6 line in 10 games and is +7.

-Steve Kampfer is back on the ice in full pads, though he's only skating on his own at this point. Still, it's looking pretty promising that he'll be able to return this season, hopefully in the next couple of months. That's really great to hear...

-Have I mentioned that I love Tristin Llewellyn? I've had this classic quote of his in my signature on The Yost Post for awhile--"Nobody likes them and I've always dreamed of beating the crap out of Minnesota. I've played with guys from Minnesota and guys that went to Minnesota and never liked one so it was very satisfying."--and he was on the warpath again:

“I personally hate Minnesota,” sophomore defenseman Tristin Llewellyn said. “I played juniors, played with all those sort of guys. Minnesota was godly. They always called it the ‘U.’ That really got under my skin.

“We hate them as much as we hate (Michigan) State.”

He rules.

-Also in that Daily article, the lines have been jumbled again. Rust and Hagelin are back together (YES!) with Czarnik on the other wing. I like it. Three guys who need to get jump-started, but Rust and Hagelin have always been good together. That might be just the ticket to get the two of them going--and to get Czarnik going as well. That has the potential to be a really good line.