NHL scouts will converge on the Canton Ice House and various other rinks across the region over the coming months to watch split-season teams play in showcases and tournaments before the prep season starts in November.
The River Rats Jamboree kicks off the split-season schedule Monday and Tuesday. The annual event hosts teams from all over the northeast. In addition to NHL scouts, there will be plenty of college coaches rummaging through the rinks to find uncommitted players and check in on recruits already in their stable.
Heading into the fall, there are five players who have raised their profile to the point where scouts will be circling their games on the calendar.
Below is a preview and quick summary of the top five prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL draft who will be skating for split-season teams this fall.
Sean Keohane
Cape Cod Whalers, 11/4/04, D, left shot, 6-4/190
NCAA commit: Harvard
Keohane has the size and skating ability to be the first prep school player taken in the 2023 draft. The rangy defender from Milton, Mass., is a prospect who will jump out immediately when watching his team play. Due to him playing at Dexter Southfield for a few seasons now, he’s had plenty of eyes on him and most scouts who’ve done their job diligently will already have a book on him. Keohane’s Whalers will have a significantly different look this fall, as many of the '04s he’s played with in the past are off to the USHL. Keohane will be questioned for not following them to junior hockey, so he’ll have to play with a chip on his shoulder and prove to scouts he’s worthy, despite not playing at the highest level.
Ethan Gardula
Central Mass Penguins, 2/28/05, LW, left shot, 6-1/178
Gardula is the only player of this group who has yet to commit to a college. When the Princeton, Mass., native is on top of his game, he’s shown the tools of a potential second- or third-round pick. Consistency and asserting himself as the go-to guy all the time will help him become an even better NHL prospect. There are plenty of colleges on him and he’ll have a commitment before long. Gardula won’t be in action at the Rats Jamboree as the Penguins don’t start as early as the top traditional split-season teams.
Joe Connor
Yale Junior Bulldogs, 3/11/05, C, left shot, 5-9/172
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Connor had a monster summer, between USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp and the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. It culminated in him committing to Northeastern shortly after the August 1 signing period began. From Amherst, N.H., his size will scare some scouts away. However, no player in this grouping has a better motor and a more consistent compete than Connor. He’s heavy on pucks, can shoot it, and will be hunting pucks all game long.
Eli Friedman
Mid Fairfield, 4/29/05, C, right shot, 5-10/173
NCAA commit: Yale
Friedman, from Rye, N.Y., has been a longtime member of the '05 Mid Fairfield group. He had an impressive showing in front of a large number of NHL scouts at the Beantown Summer Classic earlier this month. There’s never doubting Friedman, in terms of making plays and seeing the ice well. The one thing he’ll have to prove to scouts is his footwork and ability to play at pace.
Cam Russo
Little Bruins, 1/3/05, RW, right shot, 6-1/187
NCAA commit: Brown
Russo is making the jump to the Little Bruins for this fall. From Middleton, Mass., his frame and stick skills are sure to dazzle scouts. There isn’t a player left in prep hockey among this draft class that has the stick he does. The recent Brown commit undeniably has the tools to be an NHL pick. For Russo, it will be proving to scouts that he wants to compete away from the puck and be heavy in the hard areas of the ice.
