The 2023 USHL Phase 1 Draft is set to take place Tuesday, May 2 at 5 p.m. EST.
Over the course of 10 rounds, 16 teams will select players from the 2007 birth year, who will be U-17 players during next year's season.
Many players from New England will eagerly await their name called.
In this story, we'll take a look at some of the forwards in New England/who play for New England-based teams who have a shot at being picked. Some of the players on this list are guarantees, while others at least have a case to be selected. A separate story will be done on defensemen.
There are two categories: high chance and sleepers.
Let's dive in.
High chance
Teddy Mutryn
St. Sebastian's, 2/16/2007, C/RW, right shot, 6-0/196Â
Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) is a lock to be selected and a strong candidate to be taken in the first round. He was recently invited to try out for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program but didn't make the cut. Mutryn has the pro build that scouts look for and can play center or right wing. He's a strong skater with good hockey sense and great hands. In 26 games for St. Sebastian's this season, he had eight goals and 34 points.
Cam Caron
New Hampton, 6/21/2007, C, left shot, 6-2/185Â
Caron (Dracut, Mass.) was the best freshman in New England prep school hockey and it wasn't very close. At 6-foot-2, he posted 18 goals and 47 points skating for New Hampton this winter. The big thing that helped Caron thrive was his strong hockey sense. He's a two-way center with a great frame — two things USHL teams will be impressed with.
Michael Munroe
Avon Old Farms, 7/6/2007, LW, left shot, 5-9/165Â
Munroe (Hanover, Mass.) had seven goals and 14 points for the Elite 8-winning Avon Old Farms Winged Beavers this winter, but he projects to be a huge breakout candidate next season. What really elevated his stock was posting 27 goals and 47 points in 33 games for the River Rats 15O team in the fall. He's a good skater and plays with an edge.
Michael Mardula
Mid Fairfield 15O, 2/21/2007, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/160Â
Mardula just elevated his stock even more at the New England District Select 16 Festival, making the team headed to Amherst, N.Y., in July. the Lemont, Ill., native had another strong season with Mid Fairfield. Before arriving at Mid Fairfield, he was with HoneyBaked. He has great hands and good vision but needs to improve at gaining inside ice.
Egan Beveridge
Chicago Mission 15O, 1/11/07, C/RW, right shot, 5-7/160Â
Beveridge (East Kingston, N.H.) is fresh off making the New England District Select 16 team and a good showing at the festival earlier this month. Even though he's not the biggest guy on the ice, he's strong and isn't afraid of the high-danger areas. A good area of his game is puck protection. In Tuesday's NCDC Entry Draft, Beveridge was taken No. 1 overall by the Islanders Hockey Club.
Sleepers
Dylan Krayer
Mount Saint Charles, 3/12/2007, RW, right shot, 5-8/145Â
Standing out at Mount Saint Charles is no easy task, but Krayer found a way to this season with the 15O squad. In 63 games, the Concord, Mass., native had 29 goals and 78 points. He plays with a high compete level and has great hockey sense. That comes through in his nose for the net, as he never shies away from physical play.
Billy MacAusland
Nobles, 8/4/2007, LW, left shot, 5-10/160
MacAusland (Westwood, Mass.) posted eight goals and nine points in 27 games for Nobles this winter. The freshman's game grew with Nobles and with the Boston Jr. Eagles in the fall. He's crafty with the puck on his stick and projects to improve even more next season.
Joe Marchi
Catholic Memorial, 10/30/2007, RW, right shot, 5-7/154Â
Marchi (Foxborough, Mass.) impressed in his freshman year for Catholic Memorial, posting eight goals and 20 points. His speed and hands allowed him to thrive against older, stronger players in the MIAA this past winter. I was impressed with his ability to drive play in the offensive zone. Will it be enough to get drafted to the USHL on Tuesday? I'm not sure. But he's a promising prospect who has a shot.
Jack McDonough
Boston Advantage, 2/2/2007, LW, left shot, 5-11/169Â
The McDonough family knows a thing or two about the USHL Phase 1 draft. In 2021, Jack's brother, Will, was picked second overall by the Sioux Falls Stampede. As for Jack, his skating is a strong suit and he's likely to get selected. The Duxbury, Mass., native is far from an unknown, as he was at national camp last July.
Jake Tavares
Belmont Hill, 1/27/2007, RW, right shotÂ
The Winthrop, Mass., native was one of the forwards who went to USA Hockey's Select 15 Player Development Camp last summer. He played for Belmont Hill in the winter, scoring four goals and adding seven points as a freshman deep on the depth chart. He also played for the Boston Jr. Eagles 15O team. This feels like a bit of a long shot, but a sleeper nonetheless.
CJ Watroba
Pope Francis, 2/2/2007, LW, left shot, 5-11/168Â
Watroba (West Springfield, Mass.) is fresh off winning an MIAA Division 1 hockey title with Pope Francis. Watroba was a top forward for head coach Brian Foley's team, posting 22 goals and 37 points. He was an effective play-driver this season, creating lots of offense with a high level of confidence. He also worked on his two-way game this season, blocking lots of shots in the MIAA state tournament, according to Foley. It's not a guarantee that he'll be selected, but he has a strong case.
