Semi-cool story bro (if you're into college hockey recruiting)
So on Sunday night I'm waiting in line to pick up chinese food takeout. On that sunday night I guess nobody was cooking because the place was a madhouse.
I'm there with my son, who's wearing a Michigan hockey t-shirt. This woman, also waiting for her food order, see his t-shirt and strikes up a conversation with us. Apparently her son, a 16yo junior, just committed to Mel Pearson. This is pretty notable because not too many kids from NY state / Westchester get recruited for D1 hockey, much less Michigan. She said they narrowed it down to Michigan and Harvard - at the end it was a no doubter for them.
I had to ask what the recruiting experience was like and she said they went all out for him. On his visit they brought him to Yost and had his name and photoshopped image all over the scoreboard. His campus tour of course included the Big House which left them agape.
On the day that he called Coach Pearson to commit, coach was having dinner at the Chophouse (I think, as per the mom's recollection). This part was a little fuzzy in my recollection but at some point during the call she said that Rick Nash (former NHLer with the Blue Jackets and Rangers) then joined the call and chatted with her son.
That just goes to show how Coach Pearson is just absolutely killing it with recruiting. So glad to have him at the bench.
Here's an article on the commit, Brian Nicholas:
October 27th, 2021 at 6:07 PM ^
Mmmm. Taking a gap year to play juniors after HS. Is that an indication of our current depth or M's feeling that he is not at the elite level our recent 1st-rounders have been. With most of them moving on soon, probably the latter?
Welcome aboard, Brian.
October 27th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
That thought occurred to me as well. I figure it’s the same as a redshirt year.
October 27th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
Except that it doesn’t affect eligibility at all and you’re not practicing with the team or enrolled in the school
October 27th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
Deleted dupe comment
October 27th, 2021 at 6:36 PM ^
I hate being duped by a comment!
October 27th, 2021 at 7:26 PM ^
A year to get bigger, stronger, faster, better. He’s gonna be 17-18 when he graduates. A year in the juniors (no classes) to focus and to get in a strength program will do wonders for a talented and committed kid that age. Then still has all his eligibility.
Its just …. a really smart move.
Hockey is hard and 18 year olds don’t typically don’t stack up well against 20-25 year olds.
October 27th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
GO BLUE !!!
October 27th, 2021 at 7:04 PM ^
This was indeed a cool story! Hopefully this young man is lighting up Yost in a few years!
October 27th, 2021 at 7:14 PM ^
I was recruited a bit by Mel as well, and he was absolutely the best recruiter I came across. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a Michigan fan.
October 27th, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^
Cool story. I assume if Mel knew who you were you probably good enough to have played college hockey (or an equivalent) somewhere?
October 28th, 2021 at 9:02 AM ^
He probably has no recollection of me now and it never amounted to an offer. Ended up with a couple injuries in my early juniors years and fell off the college map after a couple lower end offers (Ferris, LSSU, and Bowling Green, all rescinded after injuries) Ended up playing a couple years of club hockey.
October 27th, 2021 at 7:32 PM ^
That is a cool story. But how was the Chinese food?
October 27th, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^
Pearson really is on a rampage out there. Hopefully he's able to pair the super high end guys with some of the quality 3-4 years guys and this program will be cooking for years
October 27th, 2021 at 8:52 PM ^
Great story. Excited he committed. Mel is the man.
October 27th, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^
And user name fits
October 27th, 2021 at 9:16 PM ^
Mel also has the best hair of any 62 year old and is extremely personable, calm and quite funny.
Someone asked him recently if he was living in the shadow of legendary Red Berenson. He said no but Red stops by once or twice a week ...and then deadpans.. but every time I go on the ice I am reminded of him as I walk on his signature ( the ice rink is named after Red with his signature).
Mel has obviously a great recruiter and with the school and great staff he has behind him, I don't see things slowing down with young NHL talent coming in.
He also thought some of our first rounders may be sticking around Ann Arbor longer than this year. Wouldn't that be nice?
update: Larkin scores in OT as Wings beat Ovechkin and the Caps on the road.
October 27th, 2021 at 9:19 PM ^
Cool story.
MY son played hockey in Westchester Country. Not close to getting a college offer though.
October 28th, 2021 at 12:18 AM ^
I mean, you said it, "cool story bro!"
But for real, good to know of another local on the board and hockey recruiting always intrigues me because of the Juniors and in very rare cases in the US, the European option.
October 28th, 2021 at 6:44 AM ^
While Mel learned at the knee of Red Berenson, he’s brought his own special sauce into the clubhouse. For three years, Brian, et.al., has been telling us that Mel would be killing it with recruiting. So nice to see his efforts bearing fruit. I’ve known a reasonable number UM athletes over my time in tree town, and hockey players have always struck me as the most grounded and down to earth, so as Jabril Peppers said, “Real knows real”.
October 28th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^
I remember the Peppers line (from a story about his recruitment):
"Real recognize real," Peppers said in the story of his visit with Michigan coaches. "That's the shortest and sweetest way you can say it. Real recognize real. They didn't put on a show. Basically who they are — they remind me of my coaches right now. That's how comfortable we felt there."
October 28th, 2021 at 6:45 AM ^
This part was a little fuzzy in my recollection but at some point during the call she said that Rick Nash (former NHLer with the Blue Jackets and Rangers) then joined the call and chatted with her son.
Isn't this a minor violation of NCAA recruiting rules?
October 28th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
Admittedly don't read much about Michigan hockey. What is it about Mel that makes his recruiting so impressive? In football and bball it seems to be about developing relationships. I get a sense in hockey it's that but maybe less so and more about something else?
October 28th, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
I wonder why Rick Nash.... maybe because played for Rangers ?
October 28th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
Speaking of chinese food, I miss China Gate