August 1 has become a huge day on the men’s college hockey recruiting calendar, as rising juniors in high school become eligible to accept offers from Division 1 programs.
Last year was the first Aug. 1 since the CHL ruling, and there was still plenty of action. Schools didn’t recruit as many players as the year before, but there were still many ‘08s and ‘09s who went off the board.
This year could be different. It may be much quieter.
With teams becoming more used to picking older players from the CHL and top talent committing to college later, schools may not be as inclined to project on 16- and 17-year-olds.
That doesn’t mean players won’t be committing on or around Aug. 1. They certainly will this time around. But knowing that schools may be a lot pickier, I kept this list for forwards relatively short. A separate story will be done on defensemen and goalies.
These are my own rankings of how I’d look at the top ‘09 and ‘10 forwards who are now eligible to commit. I took into account how they are right now, mixed with my projections for them.
It’s never been harder to play Division 1 hockey. Let’s dive in.
1. Thomas Boisvert
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, 1/14/2010, F, left shot, 5-10/152
Hometown: Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Boisvert arrived at Mount St. Charles this past winter and exploded onto the scene with 55 goals and 134 points in 62 games at the 15O level. It helped him go first overall in the QMJHL Draft to the Huskies. What makes Boisvert such a standout is his high-end hands and skating. He’s not the biggest player on the ice, but he can rip through defensemen into high-danger areas and finish at a high level. He projects well through the QMJHL and into being a top player in Division 1 someday.
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2. Wilson Boumedienne
Fargo Force, 6/29/2010, F, left shot, 6-0/172
Hometown: Södertalje, Sweden
Boumedienne’s best asset is his skill. He has fantastic hands and can sift through defensive zone coverages with ease. He missed a lot of this past season with injury, but still notched 44 points in 22 games at the 15O level with Mount St. Charles. He tendered with Fargo in the USHL, and projects as a skilled, top-six forward at the D1 level. His brother, Sascha, was at Boston University and just transferred to Ohio State.
3. Jack Queally
U.S. National Team Development Program U17, 7/27/2010, F, left shot, 5-11/181
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
It’s rare to say anyone is “projectable” because that’s a dangerous thing to say about a 16-year-old. But Queally’s reliability down the middle and high-IQ game lend him to be a fairly safe projection as a very-good, top-six center in Division 1 someday. His offensive game grew this past winter with St. Sebastian’s (37 points in 27 games), and it should continue to do so at the NTDP. This is not inside information and is merely an observation: His all-around, do-it-all game looks a lot like that of a future Providence Friar.
4. Zaac Charbonneau
Muskegon Lumberjacks, 1/18/2010, F, left shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Gatineau, Quebec
Charbonneau has long been one of the top ‘10s in North America. Muskegon pounced on him in December, tendering him for this coming season. He had 168 points as a 14U and followed it up with 102 points this past season at the 15O level — both with Mount St. Charles. Charbonneau’s size has consistently set him apart the last two seasons, as he’s a bull getting into high-danger areas. He will need to prove that in the USHL, which should be a good place to do it. He will have heavy interest from college hockey’s top programs. He’s also the nephew of Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere.
5. Ethan Gingeleskie
Avon Old Farms, 6/2/2009, F, right shot, 6-0/174
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn.
Sure, Gingeleskie dealt with injury this season. But he still scored 11 times and posted 18 points in 14 games en route to an Elite 8 championship. His offensive skills are dynamic; His high-end shot allows him to score from anywhere. He projects as a strong middle-six winger in Division 1 someday.
6. Cade Noonan
St. Sebastian’s, 8/21/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/190
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
When I watch Noonan, I see a four-year college player — and I mean that as the highest compliment. Noonan is the kind of player who should work his way up a lineup in college. And given his play style, he’s the kind of player you win with. He’s a pest who hits everything that moves, has a fantastic shot and an ability to find soft spots in coverage. He’s a menace in the offensive zone.
7. MJ Campbell
Chicago Steel, 4/3/2010, F, 5-10/170
Hometown: Frankfort, Ill.
Campbell has been a force for Mount St. Charles over the past two seasons, most recently putting up 45 goals and 101 points in 51 games at the 15O level. Chicago tendered him, and he will play for the Steel next season.
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8. Colton Cleaves
Brunswick, 8/31/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/161
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.
I was shocked when Cleaves didn’t go in the QMJHL Draft or USHL Phase 2 Draft earlier this year. He got better as Brunswick’s season went along, with 20 points in 32 games. His best assets are his playmaking and ability to slow the game down to hit teammates that opposing teams don’t know are open. His older brothers, Hank and Cooper, both play at Dartmouth. And his older sister, Chloe, will soon be playing at Yale.
9. Colin Walsh
Rivers, 8/18/2010, F, left shot, 6-1/201
Hometown: Framingham, Mass.
Walsh is fresh off a big showing at USA Hockey’s Select 16 Camp where he had three goals and six points in four games, making the All-Star game. He has been a standout with Framingham High (MIAA) and the Neponset Valley River Rats over the last two seasons. Easily, his most projectable trait is his ability to slow the game down and find soft spots in coverage.
10. Michael Barrett
Phillips Andover, 5/17/2010, F, left shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
Barrett had a nice sophomore year at Andover with 10 goals and 23 points in 30 games. His biggest ticket to thriving in junior hockey and Division 1 will be becoming more consistent as a power forward. He’s at his best when the physicality is there.
11. Dylan Rothstein
Taft, 7/6/2010, F, right shot, 5-9/154
Hometown: New City, N.Y.
In his first season at Taft, Rothstein put up an impressive 21 points in 24 games. His best asset is his two-way ability. He can do everything and play anywhere, and his IQ is off the charts. His older brother, J.T., is committed to Harvard. While Rothstein isn’t the biggest player, he will be intriguing to watch develop as he gets stronger and rounds out his offensive side.
12. Brayden Hekle
Shattuck-St. Mary’s, 6/8/2010, F, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Wilton, Conn.
Hekle is a speedy skater in the offensive zone who left Mid Fairfield after his 14U year to play at Shattuck-St. Mary’s for his 15O season, scoring 15 goals and posting 41 points in 52 games.
13. Cam Daigle
St. George’s, 2/5/2010, F, right shot, 5-7/155
Hometown: East Greenwich, R.I.
I was stunned that Daigle went undrafted in both the QMJHL and USHL Phase 1 Drafts. He posted 33 points in 25 games for St. George’s this past winter and is fresh off four points in four Select 16 Camp games. He’s a shifty, skilled winger who has great speed and easily sifts through defenders to get to scoring chances.
14. Drew Short
Belmont Hill, 3/14/2010, F, left shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Lunenburg, Mass.
Short is a very interesting prospect. On a stacked Winchendon team, he carved out a role at center and notched 26 points in 35 games. With the move to Belmont Hill, he should be a prominent player for the Sextants. His older brother, Ben, is committed to Merrimack.
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15. Robert Dekleine
Belmont Hill, 3/21/2010, F, left shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Bethlehem, Penn.
Dekleine was picked high in both the USHL Phase 1 and QMJHL Drafts. He has great hands and an ability to get into high-danger areas with the puck. He’s also key on long cycles and has no issue with being physical. I’d expect him to pop this winter after putting up 20 points in 31 games last season.
