Dec. 9, 2014
Notre Dame, Indiana – University of Notre Dame hockey coach Jeff Jackson today announced that four student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University beginning with the 2015-16 campaign.
Signing National Letters of Intent in the early-signing period are forwards Cal Burke (Boxborough, Mass.), Christian Fischer (Wayne, Ill.) and Dylan Malmquist (Edina, Minn.) along with defenseman Tory Dello (Crystal Lake, Ill.). These four are scheduled to join three others who signed letters of intent earlier, but deferred to the 2015-16 season. That group includes defenseman Bobby Nardella (Rosemont, Ill.) and forwards Andrew Oglevie (Fullerton, Calif.) and Joe Wegwerth (Brewster, N.Y.).
In making the announcement, Jackson said, “The four players that we have signed this fall combined with three from last year give us a talented group of players that will fill some key roles for us next season. This group will add more speed to the lineup, while providing some toughness and grit. The forwards are proven goal scorers and the two defensemen in the group are strong skaters with the ability to move the puck. All of these players have the skill and talent to be outstanding college hockey players.”
Burke is a 5-11, 175-pound right-handed center/right wing currently playing for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In 21 games, Burke has seven goals and six assists for 13 points, including a power-play goal, two short-handed goals and a game winner while being +10 on the year. With Cedar Rapids, Burke is a teammate of fellow Irish recruit Andrew Oglevie, with both players contributing to the RoughRiders 18-3-0 start and first- place standing in the USHL’s Eastern Conference.
A native of Boxborough, Massachusetts, Burke played his high school hockey at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, where he played three seasons. In 2013-14, he had 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 27 games. In his three years at Noble and Greenough, he saw action in 83 games with 34 goals and 55 assists for 89 points. Following his high school campaign last year, Burke moved on to play for the Boston Jr. Bruins where he played in 12 games, netting 12 goals and six assists for 18 points. He also got his start in Cedar Rapids, playing in five games at season’s end but did not record a point.
A quick, aggressive player, Burke has shown a nose for the net and an ability to finish. He has made a smooth transition from prep school hockey to the United States Hockey League. He garnered a C rating (potential 4-6 round draft pick) by NHL Central Scouting in their preliminary rankings in November.
Jackson on Burke: “Cal Burke is a talented player who is quick and aggressive on the ice and has a strong, all-around game. Throughout his career, he has shown an ability to finish and plays in all situations. Cal has made a strong transition from the high school level to the United States Hockey League this season with Cedar Rapids.”
Dello is a 6-1, 190-pound right shot defenseman who is currently playing for the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League where he is a teammate of fellow recruit Bobby Nardella. A product of the Chicago Mission junior program, Dello is a quick, mobile defenseman who has excellent speed and moves the puck well. He plays a shutdown, defensive role with Tri-City and is strong in the corners and in front of the net. With Tri- City, Dello has eight assists in 20 games this season and is +2 with 30 minutes in penalties. The Storm is currently in third place in the USHL’s Western Division with a 10-7-3 record.
A native of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Dello is in his second full season with Tri-City as he played 46 games with the Storm in 2013-14, scoring a pair of goals with five assists for seven points and 30 penalty minutes. He also has played internationally for the United States, serving as team captain on the gold-medal winning Under-17 team at the Five Nations Tournament in 2013-14 and was a member of the bronze medal Under-18 team that played in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament last August. In September, he was selected to play in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game and received a C ranking in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings.
Jackson on Dello: Tory Dello is a solid, all-around defenseman who can play a shutdown role, but also has shown the potential for a good offensive side to his game. He plays a strong game in his own zone and isn’t afraid to take the body in the corners or in front of the net. He’s a strong skater who can move the puck and is beginning to take a more active role in the offensive zone.”
Christian Fischer is a 6-1, 212-pound right wing who is currently a member of USA Hockey’s National Team Developmental Program where he is a member of the Under-18 team. A true power forward, Fischer has good hands and uses his size and strength to get to the net to score.
A native of Wayne, Illinois, Fischer is a product of the Chicago Mission junior program and in his final season (2012-13) helped them to the USA Hockey Tier I national championship, the Illinois state championship and the Nike Bauer Invitational while scoring 12 goals and 14 assists in 25 games.
With the Under-17 team in 2013-14, Fischer played in 54 games, scoring 19 goals with 23 assists for 42 points. His four game-winning goals tied for the team lead. He played on gold-medal winning teams at the 2014 Five Nations Tournament, scoring a goal and an assist in four games, and the 2014 World Under-17 Challenge where he added two goals and four assists in six games.
This season, Fischer is fifth in scoring with 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 27 games as the Under-18 team is 20-6-1. He has one power-play tally and one game winner on the season. In September, he played in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game and received a B ranking in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings.
Jackson on Fischer: “Christian Fischer is a true power forward who attacks the net with or without the puck. He is a very competitive player with a strong will to succeed. He plays the game at both ends of the ice and has the potential to play a key role for us next season as we will replace two graduating right wings in Peter Schneider and Austin Wuthrich.”
Dylan Malmquist is a 5-10, 165-pound left shot forward who can play either center or left wing and is another in a long line of players to come to Notre Dame from Edina High School. A dynamic offensive threat, he is in his senior season at Edina where he will be looking to help the Hornets to a third consecutive Minnesota State title. He is one of the top candidates for Minnesota’s “Mr. Hockey Award” that goes each year to the top player in the state. In six games this season, Edina is 4-1-1 and Malmquist has four goals and seven assists for 11 points.
In his first three seasons at Edina, Malmquist has played in 74 games and has 53 goals and 58 assists for 111 points. As a sophomore (2012-13), he led the Hornets in scoring with 24 goals and 22 assists as Edina won the 2013 AA state championship and was a teammate of current Irish players Connor Hurley and Bo Brauer. As a junior in 2013-14, he was third in scoring with 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points. He then had five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in five postseason games on the way to a state championship. Prior to his junior year, Malmquist was selected to skate for the United States in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where the U.S. won a silver medal.
Known for his speed and excellent hockey instincts, Malmquist thinks the game fast and has excellent vision and playmaking skills to go with a good shot. Last season he was ranked 182nd in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings and is eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He was a first-round draft choice in 2012, 10th overall by the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks and saw his rights traded last May to the Lincoln Stars.
Jackson on Malmquist: “Dylan Malmquist is a dynamic player who can score goals, as well as, set them up. He’s got a great mind for the game and sees things on the ice before they happen. He continues to develop his game and has become a force at both ends of the ice. He has the talent, the drive and the desire to be an outstanding hockey player.”
Nardella, Oglevie and Wegwerth are all playing in the USHL this season and are having strong seasons. Ogelvie is currently second in scoring on first-place Cedar Rapids and is ninth in the league with 23 points on five goals and 18 assists in 21 games. He leads all USHL skaters with a +21 and his 18 assists are third in the league. Nardella is sixth among USHL defensemen in scoring with 14 points on two goals and 12 assists in 20 games. He is +4 on the year and leads all USHL defensemen with 10 power-play assists. Oglevie and Nardella were both selected to play in the 2014 World Junior A Challenge Dec. 14-20 in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. This is Oglevie’s second appearance on the U.S. Junior Select Team, as he helped them win the gold medal in 2013. Wegwerth is in his first season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers and is fifth on the Gamblers in scoring with three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 21 games.
Freshman Class of 2015-16
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. S/C Hometown/2014-15 TeamCal Burke C/RW 5-10 183 R Boxborough, Mass./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)Tory Dello D 6-1 190 R Crystal Lake, Ill./Tri-City Storm (USHL)Christian Fischer RW 6-1 212 R Wayne, Ill./USA Under-18 TeamDylan Malmquist C/LW 5-10 165 L Edina, Minn./Edina High School** Bobby Nardella D 5-9 160 L Rosemont, Ill./Tri-City Storm (USHL)* Andrew Oglevie RW 5-9 156 R Fullerton, Calif./Cedar Rapids Rough Riders (USHL)** Joe Wegwerth LW 6-3 230 L Brewster, N.Y./USA Under-18 Team
* Signed national letters-of-intent in 2012-13 but deferred to 2015-16.
** Signed national letters-of-intent in 2014-15 but deferred to 2015-16.