We've already taken a look at the forwards. Now it's time to look at the defensemen and the goalies to watch for Aug. 1.
The NCAA came down on college hockey recruiting with two ground-breaking rules in 2019. The first was colleges couldn’t begin recruiting players until Jan. 1 of their sophomore year in high school. The second was players couldn’t receive verbal offers (and give out verbal commitments) until Aug. 1 of that same year.
The defensemen in this story are all definite Division 1 prospects. All have an upside that could one day propel them to success at the Division 1 level. They are all getting attention.
As for the goalies, it's still very early. One, however, is an exception.
Let's dive in.
MORE: 12 forwards to watch when college recruiting offer window opens on Aug. 1
Luke Schairer
U.S. NTDP U-17, 1/30/2008, D, right shot, 6-3/174 

Hometown: Milwaukee
Schairer is from Milwaukee but spent this past season with Mount St. Charles, so we’ll consider him for this story. He’s a high-end, two-way defenseman who got rave reviews at the NTDP Evaluation Camp. So it was no surprise he made the team. He does everything really well. He tallied six goals and 41 points for Mount St. Charles this past winter. An interesting school to watch here is Boston University.
Jacoby Weiner
Kent, 6/19/2008, G, catches right, 6-4/240
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.Â
It's still very early for goalies ... but that doesn't apply for Weiner. The former Mid Fairfield standout has all the tools to project as a high-end Division 1 goalie. He has the size and he has the athleticism. He hardly has to move and readjust on passes across the zone that produce shots, but he still does it with ease. He was invited to NTDP Evaluation Camp in the spring and will play for Kent this season. He could commit sometime in August.
Kaiden Donia
Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/183
Hometown: Townsend, Mass.Â
Donia has one of the most important elements for a defenseman: size. His 6-foot-5 frame had the U.S. National Team Development Program interested. It's also a big reason why he was selected in the second round (19th overall) in this year's USHL Phase 1 Draft. What makes Donia so intriguing, however, is his ability to skate. The big man can flat-out move, getting up and down the ice with ease. Not only can he stay on quick forwards in his own zone, but he can rush the puck for offense, too. He projects to be a steady shutdown defender in college.
Ryan Poirier
Kent, 6/27/2008, D, left shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Salem, N.H.
The big thing that separates Poirier from his peers — and makes him so good — is his skating. I especially love his edge work and ability to react quickly to any moves made by opposing forwards in his own zone. He’s a strong puck-mover and never shies away from the physical side of the game. The two-way force posted 13 points in 28 games for Kent over the winter. He has interest from various Hockey East and ECAC schools.
Gavin Callahan
Mount St. Charles, 4/12/2008, D, left shot, 6-1/174
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.Â
I continue to be thoroughly impressed with Callahan's game. He's a good skater who is a puck-moving machine. He avoids pressure well in his own zone and can skate the puck or make a strong outlet pass with ease. He's also capable of quarterbacking a power play. And at 6-foot-1, he has intriguing size. He has received a fair amount of Division 1 interest.
Evan Jones
Belmont Hill, 2/9/2007, D, left shot, 5-11/175 

Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
It always seems like no matter how chaotic a forecheck is, Jones has ice in his veins. The Arlington High product was dominant for the school over the last two years, lighting up the MIAA with productivity at the blue line. He was outstanding at Select 17 Camp with one goal and six points in six games. He’s one of the best ’07 defensemen in the region, and his stock should only rise at Belmont Hill this winter. While he would be a great get for a Hockey East or an ECAC school, his older brother plays baseball for Holy Cross.
Tommy Bleyl
Albany Academy, 12/1/2007, D, right shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y.Â
There's a reason Bleyl was selected for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup Camp. Bleyl has been a two-way force for some time. His great skating helps with that. He's a potent puck-mover no matter where he is on the ice. He showcases patience on breakouts after clean retrievals. In the offensive zone, he's able to sift shots through and facilitate, earning chances for his team. He's been a longtime member of Mid Fairfield and played for Albany Academy last winter, tallying nine goals and 20 points in 27 games.
Oskar Drabczynski
Mid Fairfield, 2/13/2008, D, left shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Easton, Conn.
I've always been high on Drabczynski. His poise stands out the most. It doesn't matter how hectic things get around him when he has the puck. He's able to calmly get to open space and make an outlet pass or skate it himself. I like his work in his own zone, too, when it comes to defending the rush and taking smart angles to cut off lanes to the net.
Carson Mertz
Mount St. Charles, 2/19/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/165
Hometown: Coventry, R.I.Â
Mertz first caught my attention at the Foxboro Summer League last season when, as an '08, he was stealing games for his team and holding up great against older, stiffer competition. He is consistently square to shooters and never seems to be out of position. He had an outstanding year with the Mount St. Charles 15O team, posting a 1.97 goals-against average and a .972 save percentage.
JJ Thibodeau
Belmont Hill, 2/20/2007, G, catches left, 6-0/161 

Hometown: Waltham, Mass.
It’s still very early for goalies to commit, but it’s worth keeping an eye on Thibodeau and a Division 1 school locking up the Belmont Hill product early. He was solid at Select 17 Camp, posting a 3.00 goals-against average and an .871 save percentage. He will need a standout season at Belmont Hill this winter to become a definite for Division 1. And, again, it’s still so early for netminders.
Anthony Palmer
Avon Old Farms, 10/28/2007, G, catches left, 5-10/160
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
Palmer has long been regarded as one of the better ’07 goalies in the region despite not being at Select 17 Camp. He doesn’t have the size that most colleges are looking for in goalies, but he certainly has the ability. He was tied for the region lead in save percentage among all goalies in prep last season at .939. His 1.60 GAA ranked third.
COMMITS TRACKER: Stay updated on all the recruitment news over the first week of August
Jack Fichthorn
Westminster, 5/10/2007, G, catches left, 5-11/170
Hometown: Darien, Conn.
Two months ago, I probably wouldn’t have had Fichthorn on this list since he didn’t see too much time at Westminster last winter. But he had a breakout performance at Select 17 Camp. He ranked third in save percentage (.933) and was tied for third in GAA (2.00), helping the New England District earn third place at the event. He probably needs a strong year at Westminster before getting serious with commitments, but he certainly proved himself to be someone to track.
