While I was chatting with a college coach last month around Aug. 1, he mentioned that his school had its local sights set on next Aug. 1.
It's easy to see why.
Even 11 months out, there are a good number of high-end, local prospects who will be highly sought after by Division 1 programs. Colleges can begin to contact this next batch on Jan. 1, 2025. It isn't until Aug. 1, however, that they can verbally offer rising juniors.
These players are mostly Beanpot-caliber players, and should also draw interest from top-tier colleges outside of the northeast.
That doesn't even include potential U.S. National Team Development Program prospects Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) and Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.). The '09 trio from Rivers were eighth graders last year and ninth graders this season. They could accelerate but haven't yet, so they're left off this list.
More names will certainly be in our story that typically comes out around Jan. 1 of rising sophomores who should field calls. They will boost their stock throughout the fall and winter.
But this batch of players already has college coaches talking.
Jake Boguniecki
Mid Fairfield, 4/22/09, D, right shot, 6-2/161
Hometown: Orange, Conn.Â
What makes Boguniecki such a high-end prospect isn't his ability to go end to end on rushes every shift and dangle every opposing player. It's the ability to project what he will be at the college level. That's in large part due to his combination of size and puck-moving abilities. He's also a strong presence in the defensive zone. Boguniecki has the potential to be a stout, top-four defenseman at the college level. Don't sleep on his shot either.
EASTERN ALLIANCE KICKOFF: 9 standout 15O defenders | 15 standout 15O forwards
David Bosco
Belmont Hill, 2/8/08, F, right shot, 5-11/159
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Bosco was an NTDP invite earlier this year and was a third-round pick by Cedar Rapids in the USHL Phase 1 Draft. He was also a force at Select 16 Camp, ranking fourth with three goals and nine points in six games. His skill, skating and IQ make him such an effective generator of offense. As a freshman at Belmont Hill last season, he had 18 goals and 37 points in 31 games. He's a Beanpot school-caliber recruit for sure.
Jamie Glance
U.S. National Team Development Program, 9/23/08, F, right shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Stratham, N.H.Â
As of now, Glance will be a sophomore this season, although NTDP players often accelerate to the next grade. Glance made the NTDP earlier this year after a scorching season with Mount St. Charles 15O team, potting 54 goals and totaling 112 points in 58 games. Glance's high-end offensive skills should suit him well on a stacked U17 team this season. No matter where he fits in the lineup, he will be a top priority for Division 1 schools.
Paulo Gualberto Jr.
Mount St. Charles 15O, 4/9/09, F, left shot, 5-9/174
Hometown: Barnstable, Mass.Â
Gualberto is able to drive play as a center. He has good hands and great vision when creating offense. Last season, he had 46 goals and 106 points in 64 games for Mount St. Charles 14U team and followed that up with one goal and four points at Select 15 Camp. It's unclear how he projects yet, but he's definitely a high-end '09 in the region.
Ryan Kaczynski
Mid Fairfield 15O, 7/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/163
Kaczynski's poise with the puck, hands and shot help separate him from his peers. Anytime he gets the puck on his stick, he seems to always be able to create offense. His patience helps him wait for passing lanes and routes to the net to open up. Any time a player at this age has those qualities, it typically bodes well for projecting.
NATIONAL TEAM: 7 USNTDP prospects from Mount St. Charles-Boston Jr. Eagles clash
Caiden Pellegrino
St. Mark's, 2/10/09, F, left shot, 5-8/146
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.Â
Pellegrino starts at St. Mark's this season as a sophomore. A longtime member of the Providence Hockey Club, he torched the competition last season with 69 goals and 177 points in 70 games at the 14U level. He was strong at USA Hockey's Select 15 Camp this summer, too, with five points in four games. He is so intelligent with the puck on his stick, making his vision and ability to create offense as potent as it is.
Rocco Pelosi
Mount St. Charles 15O, 1/28/09, F, left shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Sewell, N.J.Â
There's a reason Pelosi is the No. 1 ranked 2009-born player in the United States, according to Puck Preps. Actually, there are many. He's a phenomenal skater, he has a pro shot, his IQ is high, he can drive play...need I go on? He posted 87 goals and 170 points in 64 games for Mount St. Charles 14U team last season. I would be floored if he wasn't playing for the NTDP's U17 team this time next year, making him a slam-dunk for any college who gets his commitment.
Braiden Scuderi
Mount St. Charles 15O, 3/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/150
Hometown: Haddon Heights, N.J.Â
Scuderi's shiftiness, skating and hands make him dangerous anytime the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone. There is no hesitation on his part in driving hard to the net whether he has the puck or not. He had 59 goals and 137 points in 64 games with Mount St. Charles 14U team last season. At Select 15 Camp, he had two goals and four points. For Division 1 programs looking for a winger with potential for high offensive output, Scuderi makes a whole lot of sense. I'd also pencil him in as a candidate for NTDP Evaluation Camp next spring.
Noah Survilas
Dexter Southfield, 12/27/08, F, right shot, 5-10/161
Hometown: Winthrop, Mass.Â
One of the big questions facing many of the players on this list is how they would fare against older, stronger competition. For Survilas, that's not an issue. As a freshman at Dexter Southfield last season, the Boston Jr. Eagles forward scored 12 goals and totaled 30 points in 31 games. Despite not being picked for NTDP Evaluation Camp, he was a third-round pick by Muskegon in the USHL Phase 1 Draft. Survilas is dynamic and can take over a game.
Spencer Thornborough
Governor's Academy, 6/22/08, F, left shot, 6-0/174
Hometown: Boxford, Mass.Â
Thornborough has long been one of the high-end '08 forwards. He was invited to NTDP Evaluation Camp and then was taken in the fifth round by Lincoln in the USHL Phase 1 Draft. He's a power forward with speed and an ability to get to high-danger areas. He had 15 points in 18 games for Governor's Academy last season.
YEARS AWAY: What should recruiting prospects be doing one and two years before their Aug. 1?Â
Maksim Yakub
Mount St. Charles 150, 7/16/09, D, left shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: Manalapan, N.J.Â
Yakub has been a great, two-way force on Mount St. Charles' blue line over the last two seasons. His impacts in his own zone are strong, as he plays physical, can break the puck out with poise and has no issue blocking shots. In the offensive zone, he facilitates well and knows when to join the rush.
