Recruiting verbally-committed players

FELDY: Here is an interesting article from today's Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald, which is about college hockey coaches contiuing to recruit players who have already verbally committed.

Gophers coach Don Lucia is one who has pushed heavily for this to be allowed to happen. As of now, college hockey coaches have a "gentlemen's agreement" in place, that they will not go after players who have already verballed (weird that that's become a commonly-used non-word, eh?). So, it's well within the NCAA's rules that Lucia -- or any other college coach -- could right now make phone calls and send letters to someone like, say, former St. Thomas Academy goalie Aaron Crandall, who has verbally committed to Wisconsin (Crandall is playing with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL).

What do you think, Faceoff rubes? Phersy, how about your thoughts?

My initial reaction to this is that it's kind of cheap for coaches to target players who have already verbally committed to other schools.

But, on the same hand, perhaps a rule like this would curb the number of 14, 15- and 16-year-olds who are committing to Division I programs a full three or four years before they're ready to play at that level. Think of how often you changed your minds about things when you were a teenager. These young kids who commit should have a right to change their minds up until they actually sign a letter of intent.

If getting rid of this "gentlemen's agreement" would help stop or limit the verbals coming from 14-year-olds, I'm all for it.