The USHL has long been a key stepping stone for top New England-born players on their way to the NCAA, and that hasn’t changed even with the CHL now a viable route to college hockey.
Some top names have jumped to the CHL, most notably Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), who left the U.S. National Team Development Program for the QMJHL. Still, the USHL is full of New England-born players putting up strong numbers.
Here are 10 New England-born players off to fast starts in the USHL this season. Notably, the NTDP doesn’t dominate the list, as the talent pool is more widely spread than in years past.
Let’s dive in.
Anthony Bongo
Sioux Falls Stampede, 5/16/2007, D, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
NCAA: Union
In his third season with the Stampede, Bongo is donning the “C.” He’s seen an uptick in production from the blue line in each of his first two seasons, and that trend has continued this season. Bongo has three goals and eight assists in 15 games for Sioux Falls.
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David Bosco
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2/8/2008, RW, right shot, 5-11/172
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
NCAA: Harvard
The Harvard-bound winger is averaging more than a point per game for the RoughRiders, with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 14 games. Bosco is second on Cedar Rapids in goals and fourth in points.
Joe Covelluzzi
Dubuque Fighting Saints, 1/30/2009, RW, right shot, 5-10/185
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
NCAA: Maine
In his first full junior season, the former Cushing product has six points and five goals in 13 games for the Fighting Saints. At 17 years old, Covelluzzi is on pace for more than 20 goals.
Matas Janulis
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 11/19/2008, D, left shot, 6-1/179
Hometown: Lincoln, Mass.
NCAA: Northeastern
Janulis is getting his first taste of junior hockey with the RoughRiders, and through 14 games, the Lincoln, Mass. native has two goals and nine assists from the blue line. The former Lawrence Academy standout is exceeding expectations as Cedar Rapids’ top defensive scorer. NHL Central Scouting gave him a 'B' rating on their first watch list, signifying a potential second- or third-round candidate.
Evan Jones
Sioux City Musketeers, 2/9/2007, D, left shot, 5-11/181
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
NCAA: Dartmouth
Jones proved he could drive play at the prep level for Belmont Hill with two excellent seasons, and in his first season in the USHL, the Arlington, Mass. native hasn’t skipped a beat. In 14 games for the Musketeers, the Dartmouth-bound Jones has 11 points (two goals, nine assists).
READ MORE: 13 takeaways from NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary watch list
Dylan Krayer
Tri-City Storm, 3/12/2007, RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
NCAA: Arizona State
After a cup of tea with the Storm during the 2023-24 season, Krayer has tallied 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 13 games for Tri-City in his first full USHL season. The Concord, Mass. born winger plays in all situations for the Storm. He spent last season with the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors, posting 23 goals and 63 points in 54 games.
Matthew Krayer
Tri-City Storm, 10/22/2008, LW, left shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
The younger Krayer brother has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 13 games for the Storm in his first USHL season. After an up-and-down season with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs last year, Krayer has found a home in Tri-City, where he plays on the same line as his older brother.
Billy MacAusland
Muskegon Lumberjacks, 8/4/2007, LW, left shot, 5-11/190
Hometown: Westwood, Mass.
NCAA: Brown
After racking up 137 career points for Nobles, MacAusland has fit right into the USHL as a 19-year-old. In 13 games for the Lumberjacks, who sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, the Brown-bound winger has two goals and six assists with a plus-eight rating.
Dallas Potter
Sioux City Musketeers, 6/9/2007, C, right shot, 5-11/174
Hometown: Madison, Conn.
NCAA: Sacred Heart
In 31 games for the Musketeers last season, Potter tallied just six points. He’s already surpassed that total through 14 games this season, racking up a goal and eight assists. The Madison, Conn. native plans to make the jump to the NCAA next season and play for Sacred Heart.
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Finn Sears
U.S. NTDP, 5/4/2009, LW, left shot, 6-0/201
Hometown: Medford, Mass.
NCAA: Boston College
The lone NTDP player on this list, Sears, is second on the Under-18s with 14 points in 14 games and has nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games against USHL competition. The Boston College-bound Sears is a bright spot on a 5-9-0 U18 team.
