ESPN

Former Malden Catholic and Kimball Union Academy hockey standout Nick Roberto has switched his commitment to Boston University, after de-committing from Maine in the recent weeks. He will join the Terriers for the 2013-14 season.

Roberto, a Wakefield, Mass. resident, tallied 23 goals and 48 points in 29 games for the Wildcats last season.

"Nick has worked very hard to attain this goal," KUA head coach Mike Levine said Monday. "The KUA community is very happy for both him and his family."

Roberto played the previous three seasons with Malden Catholic, where he was a part of the Lancers' Super 8 championship team in 2010-11, before enrolling at Kimball Union. He also was part of the Wildcats' Piatelli/Simmons Tournament victory in 2011-12 and was named Flood-Marr Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2012.

He joins former KUA teammates Doyle Somerby and John Macleod as BU commits and becomes the seventh player with Massachusetts roots joining the Terriers next year, including Robbie Baillargeon, Brendan Collier (former MC teammate), Tommy Kelley, Dalton MacAfee, T.J. Ryan and Somerby.

Roberto's change in commitment was first reported by Jasper Kozak-Miller of the "Over the Boards" hockey blog.

Recently named ESPN Boston's Mr. Hockey, Malden Catholic sophomore center Ara Nazarian has given a verbal commitment to the University of New Hampshire.

Nazarian, a Boxford resident, helped the Lancers to their third straight Super 8 title, after a dazzling run with nine goals and five assists in tournament play, including four short-handed goals. He tallied 26 goals and 22 assists for 48 points during the regular season.

"I am thrilled for Ara," Lancers head coach John McLean said. "He really came into his own this season and showed everyone his outstanding on-ice ability.

"We are proud and honored to add Ara to a long list of many who have achieved both academically and athletically here at Malden Catholic."

The date of Nazarian's arrival in Durham was unknown, but last year was selected by the Des Moines Buccaneers in the sixth round of the United States Hockey League Futures Draft.

Nazarian becomes the fourth Hockey East commit on the Lancers' roster last year, joining linemates Mike Iovanna (UMass-Amherst) and Tyler Sifferlen (UMass-Lowell) and defenseman Casey Fitzgerald (Boston College).

Malden Catholic hockey junior forward Tyler Sifferlen has committed to UMass-Lowell he announced on Thursday.

Sifferlen, a winger, posted 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points last season as MC ran to its second straight Super 8 title victory. The North Andover resident will join the River Hawks for either the 2014 or '15 season.

"Visiting ULowell an attending their camp, I really liked it and they have a good criminal justice program since that's what I want to do," Sifferlen said. "And Coach [Norm] Bazin has done a really good job with the program and I would like to be a part of it."

Sifferlen marks the third Lancer player projected to be on their 2012-13 roster who has committed to a Hockey East school, joining linemate Mike Iovanna (UMass-Amherst, 2013) and defenseman Casey Fitzgerald (Boston College, '15).

He also dispelled rumors that he would transfer for Cushing and will lace them up with the Lancers for his junior year.

He is also the second MIAA player in a year to give a commitment to UMass-Lowell, joining 2012 Woburn grad Casey Shea.

Former Woburn High hockey standout Alex Holland has committed to Merrimack College, The Eagle-Tribune's Mike McMahon reported on Thursday.

Holland will join the Warriors for the 2013-14 season and played last season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League, where he posted 17-17-34 totals.

The forward helped lead the Tanners to a Super 8 appearance as as senior and is the second member of that team to gain a Hockey East offer, along with Casey Shea (UMass-Lowell). Holland scored 43 points during his senior season at Woburn, playing alongside his younger brother Danny.