ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan ice hockey team has announced the signing of five players to National Letters of Intent for the 2015-16 season. Forwards Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Mich.), Connor Murphy (Ancaster, Ontario) and Brendan Warren (Carelton, Mich.) and defensemen Nicholas Boka (Plymouth, Mich.) and Joseph Cecconi (Youngstown, NY)have committed to the Wolverines beginning next season.
“These classes are years in the making, but it’s nice to finally get them on paper,” associate head coach Billy Powers said. “On defense we feel really good about getting two right-handed shots. Up front we have players that are coming from the NTDP and the USHL and we’ve found that those two leagues do a great job in getting guys ready to show something early in their college careers.”
Nicholas Boka: A 6’1″, 197 pound defensemen … Currently playing with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) Under-18 team … Has recorded a goal, assist in 13 games played … Named a “C” skater on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary 2015 Players To Watch list … Competed in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game … Recorded 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 52 games with the USNTDP U-17 team in 2013-14, where he was a teammate of current Wolverine Zach Werenski … Played in the Compuware Midget Minor (Mich.) program before joining the USNTDP.
Joseph Cecconi: A 6’2″, 205 pound defenseman … Currently playing with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) … Has recorded a goal and four assists, playing in all 16 games so far this season … Named a “B” skater on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary 2015 Players to Watch list … Competed in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game … Recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in 28 games played with Muskegon in 2013-14 … Played for the Buffalo Junior Sabres Midget Minor program before joining Muskegon.
Kyle Connor: A 6’1″, 182 pound forward … Playing in his third season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL) … Leads team in scoring with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 14 games played this season … Set Youngstown Phantoms all-time goal-scoring record with 55th career goal on Sunday (Nov. 16) … Named an “A” skater on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary 2015 Players to Watch list … Competed in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, recording an assist … Led Youngstown with 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists) in 56 games in 2013-14 … Played in the Belle Tire Midget Minor program, where he was teammates with current Wolverines Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski in 2011-12.
Connor Murphy: A 5’9″, 168 pound forward … In his first season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL) … Currently tied for team lead with seven goals on the season while also adding five assists in 15 games … Played two seasons with the Caledonia Corvairs of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) … In 2013-14, led Caledonia with 96 points (32 goals, 64 assists) in 49 games played … Murphy was named OHA GOJHL Junior B Player of the Year … In Jan. 2014, Murphy was the only GOJHL player named to the NHL Central Scouting North American Midterm Rankings … In 2012-13, Murphy recorded 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists).
Brendan Warren: A 6’0″, 191 pound forward … Currently playing with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) Under-18 team … In 21 games, has recorded 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) … Ranks fourth on the team in goal-scoring … Named a “B” skater on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary 2015 Players to Watch list … Scored a goal in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game … Recorded 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 53 games with the USNTDP U-17 team in 2013-14, where he was a teammate of current Wolverine Zach Werenski … Played in the Compuware Midget Minor (Mich.) program before joining the USNTDP.
