Graduate Story Archive

Congratulations to Jim Park Goalie School students Parker Van Buskirk and Neil Conway for being taken in the 2004 OHL entry draft held Saturday May 1st. Parker, who played Midget AAA in Windsor, ON last season, was selected as the second goalie overall by the Mississauga Ice Dogs in the third round while Neil, who played junior A with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Provincial Jr. League as a fifteen year old last season, was selected as the sixth goalie overall by the Owen Sound Attack in the fourth round. Both goalies will have good shots at making their respective teams when training camp arrives in August and we wish them the best of luck.

Merrimack freshman and Jim Park instructor Jimmy Healey has been named NCAA Hockey East Superskills Rookie of The Month for February, going 2-1-2 and posting a 2.56 GAA & .920 SV%. In that span, Healey made 41 saves in a 4-4 tie with top ranked Boston College, 33 saves in a 3-1 win over Boston University and 31 saves in a 4-1 victory over Northeastern. We are pleased to announce that Jimmy will be back to teach at the school in 2004.

Congratulations to Trevor Gorsuch of St. Charles, MO for a successful 2003-04 season with the AAA Blues. In addition to leading his league in GAA, nine year old Trevor won a Silver Stick MVP, a tournament MVP and hopes to lead his team to a league championship later this month. In recognition of his strong play, Trevor has been invited to attend the USA prospects camp for his age group.

The Jim Park Goalie School would like to congratulate its over 50 alumni currently playing junior, college and professional hockey throughout North America. Here are just a few of our alumni and their 2003-04 teams:

Robert Esche - Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Steve Valiquette - Toronto Roadrunners (AHL), Jamie Vandespyker - Amarillo (Central Pro League), Shawn Degagne - Amarillo (Central Pro League), Blake Grenier - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL), Eric Tobia - Belleville Bulls (OHL), Chris Beckford-Tseu - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL), Jeff Lantz - Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), Dan Tormey - Des Moines Bucaneers (USHL), Adam D'Alba - Chicago Steel (USHL), Shane Connelly -Chicago Steel (USHL), Tyler Chesnutt - Central Texas Blackhawks (NAHL), Jason Kearney - Toledo Ice Diggers (NAHL), Neil Conway - Stouffville Spirit (OPJHL), Blake Cross - Oshawa Legionnaires (OPJHL), Jacob Thaler - Green Mt. Glades (EJHL), Brian Foster - New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL), Kevin Bendel - NJ Rockets (Metro Jr.B), Tyler Deieso - NJ Devils (Metro Jr. B), Wylie Rogers - Alaska Fairbanks (NCAA - CCHA), Todd Marr - Cornell U. (NCAA - ECAC), John Daigneau - Harvard U. (NCAA - ECAC), Gabe Winer - U.Mass (NCAA - Hockey East), Jimmy Healey - Merrimack U. (NCAA - Hockey East), Justin Eddy - Quinnipiac (NCAA - Atlantic), Mike Betz - Ohio State (NCAA - CCAC)

Congratulations to `88 born goaltender and Jim Park student Neil Conway for an outstanding rookie season with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Provincial Jr. A league. In just his first season of Junior A competition, the just turned 16 year old native of Cleveland, Ohio posted an impressive 17W-7L record and respectable 3.55 GAA in a tough division that features the nationally ranked Aurora Tigers. In recognition of his strong play he was awarded a roster spot for the OPJHL’s Future Stars game held last month and is currently ranked a top 40 prospect by OHL Central Scouting. Conway should garner serious rookie of the year consideration.

Congratulations to former student and current instructor Jimmy Healey for posting his first NCAA victory. The Merrimack freshman stopped 36 of 38 shots vs. Bemidji State in a 3-2 overtime win on November 23.

On October 14, the ’92 Bridgewater Invitational Fall Extravaganza Hockey Tournament was held, where 14 “AAA-select” teams from Canada, Texas, Illinois, Washington, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts competed. Spencer Ash, representing the Bridgewater Bandit hockey team, of the “AAA” Metropolitan Boston Hockey League, won the goalie skills competition top honors. This is an event where each team selects their best goal scorer and attempts to score against the best goalies representing each team. Ash shut-out all shooters. Spencer is a sixth grade student at Duxbury Middle School who also plays in net for the Duxbury Youth Hockey PeeWee A team.

Congratulations to Jim Park Goalie School alumni Adam D’Alba, Shane Connelly and Jeff Lantz for outstanding starts to their 2003-04 junior seasons. All three currently rank among the top five goalies in the United States Junior League in save percentage. In 12 games thus far, D’Alba has posted a GAA of 1.98 and save percentage of .934 with the Chicago Steel while his partner, Connelly, has posted a GAA of 1.66 and save percentage of .939 in 4 games played. Jeff Lantz plays for the Sioux City Musketeers and has 2.35 GAA to go along with a .921 save percentage. N.B. D’Alba was also named Goalie’s World Magazine’s goalie of the month for October.

Congratulations to goalie school student Rebecca Lahar on an outstanding season. Rebecca claimed the number one job at Colgate University this year and in doing so set a new ECAC single-season record for saves with 599. In nineteen decisions (4-13-2) she posted a 3.55 GAA and .898 save percentage and was named to the ECAC (North Division) All-Rookie Team for her efforts.

Congratulations go out to 4-year attendee of the school Johanna Ellison (Cloquet, MN). In the consolation final of the Minnesota State High School Championships (Girls AA division) Johanna stonewalled a heavily favored Moorhead team, stopping 32 shots for the 3-2 win. The victory came hot on the heels of a superb 2-1 win in the consolation semi-final in which she stopped 19 of 20 shots. The freshman at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton finished her season with an 18-9-2 record posting 5 shutouts, a 1.62 GAA and .926 save percentage earning her a spot on the Duluth News Tribune’s 2002 All-Area Girls Hockey Team. As for the icing on the cake, Johanna was the only ninth grader named to the team!

Hats off to Jeff Katz (Princeton, NJ) for an excellent 2001-02 season. The 4-year student of the goalie school and sophomore at West Windsor-Plainsboro South High School capped off a successful campaign when he was named to the Trentonian’s All-CVC (Colonial Valley Conference) 2nd Team. As an added bonus Jeff was also awarded All-CVC 3rd Team honors by The Trenton Times, a second paper covering high school sports in the Central N.J. area. In the words of Jeff’s coach Brian McGurney "he’s the best goalie in the CVC right now...it’s going to take the rest of the conference and the rest of the state a short time before they realize what a top notch goaltender he is". Given his coach’s support and confidence in him we’re sure this won’t be the last time you’ll hear the name Jeff Katz.

It has been a rocky road the last couple of years for former student and current instructor Cameron MacDonald but patience, hard work and perseverance has finally paid off for the 25 year old netminder from Beaverton, On. After being sidelined most of last season with knee troubles, Cameron signed with the Fort Worth Brahmas of the Central Hockey League. After a lengthy lay off, the third year pro got his first victory of the season and completed his comeback in impressive fashion, stopping 40 of 41 shots en route to a 3-1 victory over the Corpus Christi Icerays on December 2. For those who know Cameron, news of his comeback comes as no surprise and we can’t think of anyone more dedicated and more deserving of their success. Way to go Cam!!

Noteworthy: In 8 games this season, Cameron has posted 1-2-0 record with a 2.97 GAA and .900 save percentage.

We are sure that opposition players and fans have uttered these words on more than one occasion this season. Despite playing on a team not known for it’s defensive prowess, 15 year old Sean Griese has managed to post some very impressive numbers this season. In 20 games played, the Bantam AA goalie and native of Monument, CO can boast a 1.75 GAA and .934 save percentage. "His use of the butterfly and the half butterfly has been a crucial part to the success he is having against the opponents he has faced so far" says David Griese, Sean’s dad. Sean has his eyes set on playing junior hockey one day so be on the watch for this talented young netminder in future editions of "Graduates In The News".

Summer goalie school attendee Alex Koch shone brightly at a Thanksgiving Holiday Tournament held last month in Anchorage, AK. In addition to playing for his regular team in the Squirt division, the native of Palmer, Alaska also played for his organization's Pee Wee entry in the tournament. In eight games, Alex allowed just eleven goals and earned himself two shut-outs and two game MVP awards as well as a spot on the all-tournament team to complete the hat-trick. Did we mention that both teams won their respective championships? Way to go Alex!.

After three strong seasons with a mediocre Burlington Cougars Hockey Club in The Ontario Provincial Junior League, Jamie Van de Spyker was thrown into the fire in his freshman year at The University of Findlay, Ohio. In their first year of Division I Hockey (College Hockey America Conference), The Findlay Oilers struggled winning only four League games. In spite of his team's growing pains, Van de Spyker posted respectable numbers for a rookie goaltender on a team which scored an average of two goals per game while giving up more than five. In recognition of his outstanding play this season, The Oilers awarded Jamie with Team Rookie Of The Year honours.

Noteworthy: In eleven League starts this season, Jamie recorded three of his team's four victories and has been given the starting job at Findlay for the next three years.

Congratulations to Lynn Hasday (Rockville Centre, NY) for an excellent season in her first year of NCAA competition. The freshman at Colby College (DIII, NESCAC) began the season by stealing the number one goaltending job and never looked back from there. In 18 games played Lynn had 9 of her team’s 13 wins, finished with a 9-6-2 record and posted an impressive 2.52 GAA and .892 SV%. Way to go Lynn!

After attending our 2001 Super Dedicated Camp last August, 15 year old Michael Sadjadi (Faribault, MN) competed for and won a job with the Bantam AA squad at renowned prep school Shattuck St. Mary’s. Mike has had a successful season to date, racking up 12 shutouts to go along with a 2.30 GAA. In his team’s trip to the 2002 Port Huron Silver Stick Finals (January 24-27) Mike didn’t allow a goal in three games played and was rewarded with the Bill Lalley Memorial Championship Games Most Valuable Goalie award for his efforts. Congratulations Mike!

Congratulations to former student Mike Betz for setting an Ohio State Buckeyes record for the most shutouts in a single season. Mike recorded his 5th shutout of the season with a 19 save effort in a 5-0 win over Lake Superior State on January 12. The former record of 4 shutouts was shared by Bill McKenzie (1970 and 72) and former Jim Park Goalie School student and instructor Jeff Maund (1998). Mike is in his sophomore year at Ohio State and with two more years of NCAA eligibility ahead of him we are sure he has a bright future.

Noteworthy: In 26 games this season, Mike has posted a 14-10-2 record with a 2.31 GAA and .914 save percentage.