Brody Brunet to LSSU
Sudbury area product Brody Brunet has committed to the Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association effective the 2016-2017 season.
A 1997 birth-year forward, Brunet stands in at 6 feet, 195 pounds.
A graduate of the Nickel City Sons AAA program, Brunet spent the 2013-2014 season with the Sudbury Nickel Barons of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Brunet had 12 goals, 15 assists, 27 points in 52 games while playing as a 16-year old for the Nickel Barons.
Sault, MI native Chase Gamelin made a commitment to LSSU as well. He was playing on a line with his high school line mate and fellow LSSU-Commit, Will Gauthier. This duo was dominant last year at the high school level. Could this be a tandem we see through the college ranks?
It may be a couple of years before we see Gauthier and Gamelin in Lakers uniforms. It likely depends upon how fast they develop playing for the Eagles and when the Laker coaches feel they are ready.
Under Damon Whitten, there appears to be a move to recruit more younger players with an eye towards letting them develop in Juniors for 2-3 years before bringing them up to the Lakers. While Jim Roque was coach, the Lakers pretty much went after older players, 19-20 year olds (mostly 20). There were a few exceptions to that, Gauthier being an example, but not many. With the recruitment of more younger players, that means that Damon Whitten will likely have to do some juggling in terms of which seasons to bring the younger guys up to the Lakers, based upon scholarship availability and how fast the young guys develop in Juniors. Some guys may have to play in Juniors a year longer than they thought.
Damon has brought in several older players for this upcoming season to fill out the roster, but it’s clear that the Lakers are also now going to be recruiting more younger players like Brunet and Gamelin.