LSSU adds two more to freshman class

The Lake Superior State Lakers have added goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson and defenseman Matt Cowie to its list of 2007 spring recruits.

Cowie, a Nepean, Ont., native, is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defenseman who totaled 12 goals and 30 assists in 45 games with the Nepean Raiders of the Central Junior A Hockey League. He is regarded as one of the most-distinguished captains in the Raiders' history after helping Nepean reach the CJHL finals five straight seasons.

"We recruited him last summer, but he had trouble getting through the NCAA Clearinghouse," said LSSU coach Jim Roque, who finds that Canadian prospects often lack the core classes necessary to get through the Clearinghouse. "We are really glad to get him. He's like a Troy Schwab on defense. He's a really good skater and competitive kid."

Mahoney-Wilson, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound goaltender from West Roxbury, Mass., is a 2004 ninth-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks. He was drafted after totaling six shutouts and a 1.16 goals-against average at Boston's Catholic Memorial High School. He suffered an injury in 2005 and missed half of the 2005-06 season, and bounced around three leagues - the British Columbia Hockey League, United States Hockey League and Eastern Junior Hockey League. He was picked up last season by the Newmarket (Ont.) Hurricanes and finished 10-10-2-2 with a 3.23 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.

"He's a lot like Jeff Jakaitis was," Roque said. "He played behind some really good goaltenders and just needed a chance. But he played all this year in Newmarket. He's an athletic goaltender."

Mahoney-Wilson's father, Randy, and two uncles played for Providence College. His uncle, Ron Wilson, is the current coach of the Sharks. His grandfather, Johnny Wilson, is a former player and coach for the Detroit Red Wings whose name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1950.

LSSU's freshman class for the fall of 2007 will be comprised of five forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender.