Class Highlighted by Five Forwards, Three Defenseman and One Goaltender
Colgate men’s ice hockey head coach Don Vaughan has announced the addition of nine newcomers to the program for the 2016-17 season. This year’s recruiting class features five forwards, three defenseman and one goaltender.
“We are excited to welcome these nine outstanding student-athletes to the Colgate Hockey program,” said Vaughan. “I want to thank my staff, Mike Harder ’97 and Juliano Pagliero, for their hard work in identifying and helping bring these young men to Colgate.
“These student athletes are a perfect fit for Colgate University and our hockey program. They are exceptional young men and each possesses a specific skill set that meets our needs. We lost a lot of offense to graduation after last season so there is opportunity for them to have an immediate impact. We are looking forward to start of the 2016-17 season.”
The Class of 2020 is the programs largest recruiting class to join the Raiders since they welcomed the 10 newcomers to the program in 2013, including nine players that are part of the Class of 2017 entering their senior seasons this year.
Included in this new class is goaltender Colton Point, who was selected in the fifth round with the 128th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars.
The 2015-16 Raiders finished the season with an 11-24-2 overall record and 6-14-2 mark in ECAC Hockey play. Colgate’s season came to an end in a thrilling three-game series with the Dartmouth Big Green in the first round of the ECAC Hockey Tournament with the Raiders falling 4-3 in double overtime in the final game of the series.
Jared Cockrell
Forward
5-11 180 lbs.
Byfield, Mass.
Before Colgate: Played with the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL from 2014-16…Tallied 61 goals and 62 assists in 115 games…Helped the Bandits win the 2016 AJHL Championship…Was named Brooks Bandits’ Top Rookie in the 2015 season and earned All-Around Top Forward honors in the 2016 season…Graduated from Kents Hill School in 2014…Served as captain of the varsity team in the 2013-14 season…Notched 48 goals and 73 assists in 80 games played…Earned Kents Hill Team MVP in 2014…Also played lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and biking while at Kents.
Personal: Jared Cockrell is the son of Larry and Tiffany Cockrell of San Diego, Calif….Has one brother and one sister…Born in Byfield, Mass.
Craig Ross
Defenseman
6-1 187 lbs.
South Glengarry, Ont.
Before Colgate: Spent three seasons at defender with the Cornwall Colts of the Central Canada Hockey League…Before the Colts, he attended Char-Lan District High School…Appeared in 158 games in his career with both teams, tallying 77 points on 13 goals and 64 assists…Also played soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, and basketball while at Char-Lan.
Personal: Full name is Ross Alexander Craig…Parents are Rodney Craig and Kimberley McRae-Craig of South Glengarry, Ont….Has two brothers…Born in Cornwall, Ont.
Bobby McMann
Forward
6-1 195 lbs.
Wainwright, Alberta
Before Colgate: Played three seasons with the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL…Notched 36 goals and 32 assists in 47 games in his last season with the Pontiacs…Tallied 129 points in his 152 game career with the team, recording 68 goals and 61 assists…Served as an alternate captain for the Pontiacs during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 season…Named 2016 AJHL Most Valuable Player…Earned Viterra North Division All-League Team honors after the 2015-16 season…Was team MVP, top scorer, and earned the 3 Stars award in his final season with the Pontiacs…Graduated from Wainwright High School in 2014 where he played golf and badminton.
Personal: Full name is Robert William Lucas McMann…Parents are Cecil and Connie McMann of Wainwright, Alta….Has two sisters.
Paul Meyer
Defenseman
6-4 210 lbs.
Edina, Minn.
Before Colgate: Played with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs after graduating from Edina High School in 2015…Tallied 15 goals and 73 assists in 123 career games…Helped lead his team to a 2014 Minnesota State High School Championship…Led his team to back-to-back Lake Conference Championships in the 2014 and 2015 seasons…Earned All-Lake Conference honors in the 2015 season…Named 2015 Edina Scholar Athlete…Was also a member of 212 Student Leadership and the Spanish Club.
Personal: Full name is John Paul Meyer…Parents are Rich and Annie Meyer of Edina, Minn….Has one sister.
Jacob Panetta
Defenseman
5-11 192 lbs.
Belleville, Ontario
Before Colgate: Graduated from Nicholson Catholic College in 2014…Besides hockey, he played soccer, volleyball, baseball, and ran track & field at Nicholson…Netted 72 points on 15 goals and 57 assists in 138 games over three seasons with the Wellington Dukes from 2013-14 through 2015-16…Had a breakout season in 2015-16 with nine goals and 36 assists for 45 points in 47 games.
Personal: Full name is Jacob Vincent Panetta…Parents are Vince Panetta and Lisa Trumpour Panetta of Belleville, Ont….Has two brothers and one sister…Cousin, Andrew Shaw, plays for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Tyler Penner
Forward
5-11 182 lbs.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Before Colgate: Played with the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL from 2013-2016…Served as team captain in the 2015-16 season and assistant captain in the 2014-15 season…Notched 23 goals and 35 assists in his final season with the Pistons…Totaled 79 goals and 77 assists in his 167 game career… Named MJHL Second Team All-Star in back-to-back seasons (2014-15, 2015-16)…Earned Steinbach Pistons Rookie of the Year for the 2013-14 season…Graduated from College Sturgeon Heights Collegiate in 2013.
Personal: Tyler Penner is the son of Kevin and Tracy Penner…Has one brother…Born and raised in Winnipeg, Man.
Colton Point
Goaltender
6-4 219 lbs.
North Bay, Ont.
Before Colgate: Attended Chippewa Secondary School…Spent one season with the Carleton Place Canadians of the CCHL…Registered 2.16 GAA over the course of his career…Finished his career with a .915 save percentage…Helped his team win the Bogart Cup…Attended the RBC Cup with his team…Assisted his team in becoming Fred Page winners…Earned the honor of top rookie…Also played volleyball, baseball, basketball, and track and field.
Personal: Parents are Gary and Colleen Point of North Bay, Ont….Has one brother and one sister.
Ben Sharf
Forward
5-11 185 lbs.
Williamsville
Before Colgate: Attended the Loomis Chaffee School after graduating from Williamsville East High School…Notched 17 goals and 61 assists in his 76 career games…Helped Loomis Chaffee become Large School Champions in the 2014 season…Was also a member of Connecticut Wolfpack, whom he helped lead to a 2015 U18 AAA Tier 1 National Championship…2014 Bowman Cup Participant, which recognizes the top prep/Jr. kids raised in Buffalo…Also played lacrosse at Williamsville East.
Personal: Full name is Benjamin Sharf…Parents are Zvi and Michelle Sharf of Williamsville….Has two sisters…Father, Zvi, played professional soccer…Born in Buffalo.
John Snodgrass
Forward
6-0 180 lbs.
Eagan, Minn.
Before Colgate: Graduated from Eastview High School in 2014 then spent one season with the Minot Minotaurous (NAHL, Junior B), followed by one season with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders (USHL, Junior A)…Tallied 27 goals and 31 assists throughout his 80-game career at Eastview High School…Served as team captain in his senior season…Recorded 35 points with Minot, coming from 17 goals and 18 assists…Notched eight goals and 15 assists in 64 games with Cedar Rapids…Named South Suburban All-Conference in 2014…Earned Eastview Rookie of the Year in 2012 and Eastview Best Offensive Player in 2014…Also played lacrosse…Member of National Honor Society and the LINC Leadership Program.
Personal: Full name is John Taylor Snodgrass…Parents are Joe and Nancy Snodgrass of Eagan, Minn….Has two sisters.