Photo: Brandon Anderson/USHL, Article, USCHO

USCHO published an article on a DU recruit from Arizona, Michael Boyle. The article, Rapid Rise for Denver Recruit Boyle Hasn’t Come Without Stumbling Points, calls Boyle a potential 2016 NHL draft pick and in a class, perhaps, just after superstar Austin Mathews.

Many DU fans have called for more size on the defensive end. Well, Boyles stands 6’2″ and 210 pounds. The article states, Boyle’s size, athleticism and potential have caught the attention of the NHL scouts over the last year. He played for the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, a AAA team, last season and is playing for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL this season.

Boyle’s draft stock has dropped since he moved up – he’s still adapting to playing at a higher level of hockey. NHL interest in Boyle at this point is based on his upside. He recently took part in the USHL Top Prospects Game in front of a number of NHL scouts.

“It was all overwhelming because I never talked to a college,” Boyle said. “I didn’t even know what juniors was by the time I switched over to playing AAA. I had no idea. It all kind of hit me at once. First a junior team talks to you, you don’t know what’s going on. There was that. Then, I never talked to a college in my life until I went to main camp in Sioux City. It all pretty hit me pretty quick.”

Boyle said he was impressed by the coaches, players and the campus at Denver and committed there in August. He thought he could remain in the USHL for another year before enrolling at DU.

Read the article in USCHO for more on recruit Michael Boyle.