- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 443,711
- Reaction score
- 44
Apr. 15—Gavin Black and Kaden Spaniol's college recruiting processes were nearly identical.
First, the Rochester natives had some frustration over the lack of opportunities available with Division III programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Then came a phone call and an offer from an unexpected suitor.
That was followed by the same reaction from both of their mothers: Absolutely not.
"My dad joined the Marines right out of high school and moved around a lot," said Black, a 2023 Mayo High School graduate, who completed his junior hockey eligibility last month when the Rochester Grizzlies season ended. "He was super happy and excited for me. My mom, at first, was like 'no way.'"
Spaniol received a similar response: "My dad was like 'dude, this is a no-brainer, go take it. I'm not letting you say no.' ... Mom was like 'I don't know, that's really far away.'"
In the end — after some conversations and convincing their mothers — Black and Spaniol came to the same conclusion: the chance to play college hockey, for a brand new program, in a European country more than 4,500 miles away, was too good to pass up.
Within two days of one another last week, Black and Spaniol both committed to play for the University of Opole, in Poland.
"It's a brand new program; we'll be guinea pigs," Black said with a laugh. "I was the first commitment to the team. It was kind of a blind leap of faith, but it's a once in a lifetime thing."
The Opole coaches reached out to Black and Spaniol after discovering their EliteProspects.com pages and researching the two Rochester-born players. The Opole University hockey program is part of a new league in Poland and is comparable to Division III college hockey here, the coaches said. The team's roster is being constructed fully with North American players and will play a 40-game season.
The players will be housed in a new dorm-like building and classes will be taught in English, the players were told.
The distance will be different for Spaniol, but being away from home will not. He moved to Faribault at 13 years old to play at Shattuck St. Mary's. He found his niche as a hard-nosed 200-foot forward who was defensively responsible. Injuries took their toll, though, and he missed nearly a full season at Shattuck.
He moved on to play U18 AAA hockey for the Windy City Storm near Chicago and the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Power, before spending the past two seasons with the Texas Brahmas in the North American 3 Hockey League, where he had 54 points in 49 total games.
"When I got to juniors it was a wake-up call," said Spaniol, the son of former Lourdes boys hockey head coach and current Rochester Bantam AA coach Josh Spaniol. "I had to find my game and a style I can play. I started becoming more offensive and really wanted to make things happen with the puck on my stick.
"I think that helped me (in Texas). I had all the opportunity in the world there, with great linemates who I was able to make plays for."
Black, meanwhile, is a strong two-way defenseman who mixes size (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) with solid offensive skill (25 points in 45 games this season for the Grizzlies). He has a high Hockey IQ, too; he was an alternate captain for the Grizzlies and was an assistant coach for the Mayo High School girls hockey team this winter.
He'll head to Opole — approximately 335 miles south of the Baltic Sea and 70 miles north of the Czechian border — in mid-August.
"The coaches said most people there speak some English, but I'm working on some Polish," Black said with a laugh. "I'll try to learn some so it's not completely new when I get there."
Neither Black nor Spaniol were promised a specific role on the team, but both are ready to go earn their ice time.
"The coaches just said they liked me and my style of play will fit with them and I hope I can be a big part of the team," Spaniol said. "Nothing is given, though. I know I have to work for it and earn it."
And, both players said, their new European adventure will be a good excuse for their families to visit.
"I think my mom has warmed up to it now," Black said.
Continue reading...
First, the Rochester natives had some frustration over the lack of opportunities available with Division III programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Then came a phone call and an offer from an unexpected suitor.
That was followed by the same reaction from both of their mothers: Absolutely not.
"My dad joined the Marines right out of high school and moved around a lot," said Black, a 2023 Mayo High School graduate, who completed his junior hockey eligibility last month when the Rochester Grizzlies season ended. "He was super happy and excited for me. My mom, at first, was like 'no way.'"
Spaniol received a similar response: "My dad was like 'dude, this is a no-brainer, go take it. I'm not letting you say no.' ... Mom was like 'I don't know, that's really far away.'"
In the end — after some conversations and convincing their mothers — Black and Spaniol came to the same conclusion: the chance to play college hockey, for a brand new program, in a European country more than 4,500 miles away, was too good to pass up.
Within two days of one another last week, Black and Spaniol both committed to play for the University of Opole, in Poland.
"It's a brand new program; we'll be guinea pigs," Black said with a laugh. "I was the first commitment to the team. It was kind of a blind leap of faith, but it's a once in a lifetime thing."
The Opole coaches reached out to Black and Spaniol after discovering their EliteProspects.com pages and researching the two Rochester-born players. The Opole University hockey program is part of a new league in Poland and is comparable to Division III college hockey here, the coaches said. The team's roster is being constructed fully with North American players and will play a 40-game season.
The players will be housed in a new dorm-like building and classes will be taught in English, the players were told.
The distance will be different for Spaniol, but being away from home will not. He moved to Faribault at 13 years old to play at Shattuck St. Mary's. He found his niche as a hard-nosed 200-foot forward who was defensively responsible. Injuries took their toll, though, and he missed nearly a full season at Shattuck.
He moved on to play U18 AAA hockey for the Windy City Storm near Chicago and the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Power, before spending the past two seasons with the Texas Brahmas in the North American 3 Hockey League, where he had 54 points in 49 total games.
"When I got to juniors it was a wake-up call," said Spaniol, the son of former Lourdes boys hockey head coach and current Rochester Bantam AA coach Josh Spaniol. "I had to find my game and a style I can play. I started becoming more offensive and really wanted to make things happen with the puck on my stick.
"I think that helped me (in Texas). I had all the opportunity in the world there, with great linemates who I was able to make plays for."
Black, meanwhile, is a strong two-way defenseman who mixes size (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) with solid offensive skill (25 points in 45 games this season for the Grizzlies). He has a high Hockey IQ, too; he was an alternate captain for the Grizzlies and was an assistant coach for the Mayo High School girls hockey team this winter.
He'll head to Opole — approximately 335 miles south of the Baltic Sea and 70 miles north of the Czechian border — in mid-August.
"The coaches said most people there speak some English, but I'm working on some Polish," Black said with a laugh. "I'll try to learn some so it's not completely new when I get there."
Neither Black nor Spaniol were promised a specific role on the team, but both are ready to go earn their ice time.
"The coaches just said they liked me and my style of play will fit with them and I hope I can be a big part of the team," Spaniol said. "Nothing is given, though. I know I have to work for it and earn it."
And, both players said, their new European adventure will be a good excuse for their families to visit.
"I think my mom has warmed up to it now," Black said.
Continue reading...
