Maine Hockey Journal

Canadian forward commits to UMaine

Red Gendron and the rest of the University of Maine coaching staff saw something special in forward Ethan Crossman.

Before the season even started, the coaching staff offered the 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward from Sackville, New Brunswick a “full ride” for the 2017-18 season.

“I choose the University of Maine because it’s (location), it’s pretty close to New Brunswick and pretty close to home,” Ethan Crossman said. “I toured the school. It seems like a great spot. It has everything I’m looking for.”

The 15-year-old Crossman is always looking to better himself.

“He’s a great young man,” Notre Dame Hounds Director of Hockey Development Del Pedrick said. “He’s a guy keyed on getting better and wants to be better. He has high expectations for himself, he’s demanding yet he maintains a relationship with all of us. He’s fun to work with.”

This past season he played for the prestigious Notre Dame Hounds at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan which has produced NHLers such as Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, Jaden Schwartz, Rene Bourque, Willie Mitchell, Jordan Eberle, Sean Couturier and Tyler Myers. The program has also produced current Portland Pirate Brandon Gormley, former Black Bears Scott Pellerin, and Teddy Purcell

For the season, he had seven goals and 19 assists in 34 games for the Hounds in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. He also represented New Brunswick at the Canada Winter Games where he had four goals and two assists in seven games as New Brunswick finished winless in their group.

“The transition is always tough on the first-year midgets, and it was no different for Ethan,” Pedrick said. “The competition level really pushed him and I think he improved because of it. I think he was a little below of his expectations in terms of offensive production. That’s because of playing in a competitive league, and he couldn’t do what he wanted. It took a little bit of time, and he came out of it okay.”

Crossman didn’t focus on the offer that was hanging over his head.

“It didn’t affect me that much, you think about it sometimes and you try to work harder – work as hard as you can because you never know what can happen,” Crossman said.

He’s considered an offensive player.

“I am more of a playmaker with a strong, physical presence,” Crossman said.

He added he needs to get better in the defensive zone the next few years before heading to Orono.

“I think (he needs) to improve his explosive speed and play with the puck,” Pedrick said. “He (has) all the tools and he has to work on executing at a higher pace of play and pushing that speed and tempo every time he touches the puck.”

As a 99 birth year, he’s eligible for the upcoming Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Draft, which will be held in Sherbrook, Que. June 6. Playing major junior in Canada makes a player ineligible for NCAA hockey. This weekend he’s taking part Gatorade Excellence Challenge, a combine event held by the QMJHL and Hockey Canada with two Quebec teams and one team each from the Maritime Provinces.

He was named to the New Brunswick team before making the commitment to the University of Maine.

“Everyone really goes, and it’s not saying you are going to the Q, it’s not saying you are going to the NCAA or anything,” Crossman said. “It’s a Team (New Brunswick) thing, playing against (other provinces).”

It’s the third year that the QMJHL used this providential format for its combine. Next Thursday, the league will release their final Central Scouting Rankings for the upcoming draft.

Maine has been hit in the past with kids committing to the Maine then having a change of heart opting to play in Canada in either the QMJHL or the Ontario Hockey League. Austin Watson committed before the 2008 OHL Draft and sent a couple of letters to OHL teams saying he was committed to Maine. He signed with the Windsor Spitfires after he wasn’t offered a spot on the USA National Team Development Program.

Also in 2008, Kevin Gagne decided to join the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Q.

Darcy Ashley and Stephen Gillard both gave their verbal commitment to the Black Bears before signing with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Q. Brandon Francisco went to Sarnia of the OHL after he verbally committed while Jared Gilbert went to the Kitchener Rangers.

The Sackville native said he wouldn’t be using his commitment to go to a team of his choosing. Sackville is 30 miles out of Moncton where the Moncton Wildcats have had success in the past of having kids changing their NCAA plans

I don’t plan on doing that,” Crossman said. “I mean you really can’t tell the future, but I am planning on coming to Maine and having a great time.”

Crossman coming to Maine is contingent on his acceptance in the university and meeting all NCAA eligibility requirements.

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