College notebook: Coaching hires, recruiting commitments

Northeastern assistant coach Jason Smith (far right) is on the move to Brown. (Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

Brown University has hired former Northeastern assistant coach Jason Smith to serve in the same capacity for the Bears under head coach Brendan Whittet, as first reported by veteran hockey writer Mark Divver.

Smith had served as an assistant under Jim Madigan at Northeastern for the past five seasons after being in the position of director of hockey operations at the school for the previous season.

Prior to joining the Northeastern staff, Smith had been an assistant coach at Holy Cross, Babson and Salem State, his alma mater. Smith, a West Yarmouth, Mass., native, played for the Vikings from 1995-98. He was the team’s captain during his junior and senior seasons.

Smith was named director of hockey operations at Northeastern earlier this offseason after the Huskies promoted Mike McLaughlin to the role of assistant coach. At Brown, Smith fills the void left by James Marcou, who took a similar post at Harvard.

In other coaching news around New England, Bentley has filled its opening on the staff. Look for an announcement to come shortly.

Local commit for UConn

Loomis Chaffee center Oliver Flynn has committed to UConn, it was announced on Friday. The Wolcott, Conn., native plays split season hockey for the Junior Bulldogs 16-U and previously played for the Connecticut Chiefs.

An ’03, Flynn was a relatively unknown prospect before putting on a dominating performance at last March’s New England District Festival in Attleboro. He continued his strong offseason with a seven-point effort at July’s USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp. He had a strong showing at the River Rats Jamboree immediately prior to committing to the Huskies.

Warriors add offensive defenseman

Over the weekend, Merrimack College received a verbal commitment from Millbrook defenseman Zachary Bookman, who is playing the fall split season with Rochester Coalition 18-U.

An ’02 from western New York, Bookman played previously with the Buffalo Junior Sabres. Merrimack head coach Scott Borek and his staff acted quickly following his strong showing at the River Rats Jamboree. They got him on campus and offered him a scholarship prior to a few other Hockey East and Atlantic Hockey programs attempting to get in the mix.