’99-born defenseman Nick Gonrowski of the Janesville Jets (NAHL) has committed to Wisconsin Stevens Point for next season. The Minnesota native was recently ranked No. 136 in the NAHL in our 1999’s National Rankings report.
Just like every player around the world, Gonrowski and the Jets had their season suddenly and abruptly end due to coronavirus.
“We had a great group of guys this year, and it certainly wasn’t the way we wanted it to end,” said the 21-year-old blueliner from New Hope, Minnesota. “I’m going to miss everyone from Janesville, for sure, but I’m really happy to see that I have a new chapter of hockey to look forward to.”
Gonrowski finished his first year as a Jet with a goal and eight assists in 22 games. He returned last fall as one of the rare veterans on a young Jets roster, and helped lead the back end with a quiet but positive veteran influence. Gonrowski picked up two goals in a 5-0 Jets win over the Northeast Generals at the 2019 NAHL Showcase Tournament, and finished this season with three goals in 48 games. He was also selected to and played in the 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the Midwest Division team.
“That’s a really strong program at Stevens-Point, and they’re only getting better with Nick,” said Janesville coach Corey Leivermann said. “Coach Krueger and coach Strong are getting a great skating defenseman who can get up and down the ice with ease. Coming in as a freshman, I know Nick will want to get into as many games as he can. He’s going to be a great player there just like he was in Janesville.”
’00 J.P. Mella to Trinity for 2020
Mella is a 5-foot-11 Connecticut native that our scouts noted played bigger when we saw him play in the Avon Old Farms Christmas Tournament last season.
“He played bigger than listed as he always appears to be in the correct position,” they said. “He picked the correct time to be aggressive and pucks seem to hit him square. Really high IQ in the net as he anticipates well, knows when to tie up and slow things down and finds pucks in traffic. He is quiet in the net, poised and efficient.”
After two years at Gunnery, Mella moved to the EHL this season where he posted a .907 save percentage with the CT Chiefs. Prior to Gunnery he suited up for Shattuck St. Mary’s.
’99 D Gunnar Stadem to Tufts for 2020
An Alaska native, he’s a physical and tough defenseman who was ranked No. 36 in the NCDC in our 1999 National Rankings.
After playing for Selects Academy and the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, he was with the Northern Cyclones in the NCDC this season, posting five goals, 14 assists in 102 PIMs in 47 games.
“Gunnar had over 100 PIMs at the time of this report being written,” our scouts said at this year’s NCDC Showcase. “He has a strong core and longish frame. His toughness in his end as noted as he made a formidable pairing with DeFazio. We noted more his feet. He was able to stick with opponents when he defended and weave his way up ice with possession. He took his space and ripped some shots up ice. His skills are vastly underrated and he appeared to us to be a solid, tough, athletic two-way defenseman.
’99 F Shane Bull to SUNY-Oswego for 2020
’99 F Noah Bull to SUNY-Oswego for 2020
The Bull twins are from Whitby, Ontario. Shane was ranked No. 289 in the Top-300 of our 1999’s National Ranking Report and Noah was ranked in the Top-30 among ’99-born players in the OJHL.
The brothers played four seasons in the OJHL, the first three with the Whitby Fury.
They began the 2019-20 season with Corpus Christi in the NAHL. The brothers were dealt to Pickering on Dec. 13, 2019 where they re-joined head coach Rob Pearson, who was their coach in Whitby.
Shane had 24 points (6G/18A) in 25 games in Pickering, Noah 18 points (7G/11A) in 26 games. In Whitby, Shane had 99 points in 161 games, Noah 72 points in 149 games.
Our scouts said of Noah … “We noted Noah as he is very tough to play against, especially when he hunts pucks. He is average sized but sturdy and tough. He took away opponents passing and skating lanes and then neutralized their hands; followed by contact.”
And our scouts noted on Shane … “Shane was strong on the puck. He is really strong and used his strength to win pucks and punish opponents on the forecheck. He is a balanced skater at 6’ and 220lbs. Hard to knock off the puck and power on his edges. He showed a hard snap shot. He also protected the puck well along the wall and on the cycle.”
’01 G Alex Kozic to Bowdoin for 2020
Kozic hasn’t taken a traditional route to college hockey, in part because he’s from a place not many college hockey players come from. Originally from London, Kozic had a .919 save percentage and a 2.97 GAA for the Twin City Thunder in the NCDC this season and he played at Shattuck St. Mary’s prior to junior hockey.
Until 2017, he was playing overseas.
“Former Shattuck netminder is not big, but battles and battles,” said our scouts. “Very good glove which makes him bigger and not afraid to handle the puck and catch defense in stride for quick breakout. Showed good agility going post to post, including a great push to flash his right pad against the Bandits.”