When at New England prep hockey games throughout the winter, I'll often overhear conversations about how locals are faring out in the USHL.
This player is killing it. Can you believe it? This player isn't, and left way too early. Can you believe that?
The USHL season is roughly a month and a half old, so we have a pretty good sample size to go off of in terms of success so far.
Lots can change between now and the end of the season. But these former prep players and locals have gotten off to great starts.
Names are in alphabetical order. Let's dive in.
Brody Berard, Youngstown Phantoms
Berard, the former Mount St. Charles standout, has two assists in 10 games. He's on this list for his fight on Oct. 18 against Green Bay Gamblers defenseman and Calgary Flames third-round pick from this past June, Mace'o Phillips. Berard, a 6-foot, 190-pound '09 one-punched Phillips, who is 6-foot-6, 234 pounds and an '07. The Cumberland, R.I., native went pretty hard on the celebration, and to anyone saying "Act like you've been there before," I'd politely ask, "Has anyone been there before?"
WOW!! Brody Berard and Mace’o Phillips square off and all it took was one punch for Berard!!!😤💪
Green Bay - 1
Phantoms - 1
12:05 - 2nd pic.twitter.com/Xf0vQXLae8— Youngstown Phantoms (@YtownPhantoms) October 18, 2025
David Bosco, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Bosco left Belmont Hill after last season, foregoing his junior and senior years. He's left no question about whether it was the right move, starting with six goals and 12 points in 13 games. He's cooled off the last three games, but that's because he had four goals in his first five games, and then kept notching assists almost every game. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I have to imagine NHL Central Scouting includes him on its midterm rankings.
Cam Caron, Omaha Lancers
The New Hampton product had a slow start to his second junior hockey season, but has been hotter of late with four goals and seven points in his last 10 games. He's committed to Northeastern.
Connor Davis, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Davis graduated from Salisbury last spring after a nice senior year. That's continued into his first full season in junior hockey, as he has seven points in 11 games. The Northeastern commit is an '06.
PREP PREVIEWS: St. George's | Brunswick | Winchendon | Salisbury | Choate | Nobles | Kent | Holderness | Dexter Southfield
Luke Goukler, Chicago Steel
Goukler left Cushing after his junior year before last season. He had a solid first year with 12 goals and 27 points in 61 games. He got off to a scorching start in Year 2, however, with two assists against Sioux Falls before notching a hat trick against Omaha — and that was just the first two games. The Merrimack commit missed some time in October, but still has seven points in eight games.
Shayne Gould, Sioux City Musketeers
The former BK Selects product challenged himself last season with Sioux City, notching 10 points in 50 games. The undersized, offensive dynamo from Princeton, Mass., has been a force so far this season, scoring four goals and tallying eight points in 14 games. The '07 is committed to UConn.
Justin Graf, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Graf had a great junior season with Rivers last winter, but in mostly second-line matchups. He's proven his early move to the USHL to be the right one, with six goals and 12 points in 13 games. He already has a pair of two-goal games. The Lincoln, Mass., native is committed to Merrimack.
Kole Hyles, Omaha Lancers
Hyles left Cushing after his junior season in 2023-24 and struggled in his first junior hockey season last winter, tallying 15 points in 59 games for Omaha. The UNH commit is well on his way to topping those totals this year, with five goals and nine points in 15 games. He's from Newfields, N.H.
J.J. Monteiro, Sioux Falls Stampede
Monteiro, an '06, was a standout for Mount St. Charles from his 14U year through his 16U year. He spent all of 2023-24 with the BCHL's Salmon Arm Silverbacks before going to the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks last season. He was traded midseason from Waterloo to Sioux Falls, where he notched 20 points in 30 games. The Providence College commit has been consistent this season with four goals and 10 points in 14 games.
READ MORE: 12 standout forwards from Beantown Fall Classic 15O Invite | 9 standout defenders from Beantown Fall Classic 15O InviteÂ
Jason Musa, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Musa spent two seasons at Trinity-Pawling from 2022-24. The '07 had a nice first year with Cedar Rapids last season, posting six goals and 25 points in 59 games. He's been even better this year, with five goals and 13 points in 13 games. The 5-foot-6, 146-pound forward is committed to UMass.
Andrew O'Sullivan, Green Bay Gamblers
This isn't a huge surprise. With Kimball Union, O'Sullivan was a dynamic, offensive defenseman. That's continued into the USHL. He had 18 points in 54 games last season for the Gamblers, which is nice. But he's been even better this season, leading all defensemen in points with 12 in 15 games. The Sciutate, Mass., native is committed to Colgate.
Alex Pelletier, Lincoln Stars
Pelletier, an '05, probably could've left Avon Old Farms a year early for junior hockey after the 2022-23 season, but opted to return for 2023-24. He had 16 goals and 37 points in 60 games last season, but is already leading the league in goals (13) so far and is tied for the lead in points (18). The Granby, Conn., native was once committed to Cornell, but committed to Boston College on Monday.
Braiden Scuderi, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Life for a tender can be rough to start. Scuderi, who was tendered by Cedar Rapids in the spring, hit the ground running with eight points in his first 13 games. He's been on a scoring tear of late with four goals in his last seven games. The '09 was a star for Mount St. Charles, winning national championships at the 14U and 15O levels.
Marco Senerchia, Chicago Steel
Senerchia's puck-moving prowess and abilities as an offensive defenseman have translated well to the USHL. The '07 Providence College commit has two goals and nine points through 11 games. The Greenville, R.I., native has a laundry list of teams played for in New England: St. George's, Mid Fairfield, New Hampton, Neponset Valley River Rats and Mount St. Charles.
Kolin Sisson, Chicago Steel
The Lincoln, R.I., native split time with South Kent and Mount St. Charles during his 16U year in 2022-23. He opted to challenge himself by going to Chicago for 2023-24, so this is his third season with the Steel. It's shaping out to be his best, as the Providence College commit leads his team in goals (6) and ranks second in points (11). The experience is paying off for the '06.
Will Prowse, Lincoln Stars
Prowse is such a fun story. He was Holderness' backup netminder in 2023-24, but jumped to Lincoln last season and posted a strong season with a 2.77 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage in 25 games. This year, Prowse has taken on the majority of starts with 11. He has two shutouts, a 2.26 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He's committed to Princeton, too. Sometimes, when it comes to goalie paths, you just throw your hands up.
READ MORE:Â Prep players leaving early for juniors, part 1Â |Â Prep players leaving early for juniors, part 2Â |Â Prep players leaving early for juniors, part 3
Ryland Randle, Des Moines Buccaneers
The '06 was one of the most dynamic defensemen over the last two seasons with Cushing. It's not a shock that he has a goal and 10 points in 14 games to begin his USHL career. He's committed to Arizona State.
