We've looked at the forwards. Now it's time to look at the defensemen and goalies to watch for Aug. 1.
Come Aug. 1, Division 1 college hockey programs can extend scholarship offers to players entering their junior year in high school. It's become a big date, as schools use that first month to try and bring in future stars.
It will be an Aug. 1 unlike any in previous years since the CHL ruling is now in effect. Schools are bringing in current CHL players. Programs will also likely recruit more players from Canada who are destined for the CHL. Neither would've been in the cards last season.
Still, New England has several strong defenders who should be watched for Aug. 1.
Let's dive in.
Jake Boguniecki
U.S. NTDP U17, 4/22/2009, D, right shot, 6-2/161
Hometown: Orange, Conn.
Boguniecki is undoubtedly the top defenseman in this class. At 6-foot-2 and 161 pounds, he projects as a shutdown, right-shot defenseman at higher levels. He’s rangy and physical, and many hockey minds think that once he fully commits to hockey, the sky is the limit. He’s from Orange, Conn. He would make a lot of sense for a Beanpot school, but he has made multiple visits to Big Ten programs.
READ MORE: How a tryout with Mid Fairfield changed Jake Boguniecki's life
Brian McFadden
Thayer, 1/8/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/181
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass.
Defensemen standing at 6-foot-5 with good hands and offensive instincts don’t come available often. That’s what McFadden is. He’s also stout in his own zone and skates well for someone at that size. His upside is high enough that he’d make sense for almost any program. I'd expect a Beanpot school for McFadden.
Easton Anello
Williston Northampton, 1/19/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/170
Hometown: Windsor, Mass.
I’ll do a story on this later in the fall, but Anello is a big-time breakout watch candidate this winter. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, Anello is a phenomenal puck-moving defenseman who is a breakout machine. He’s also a smooth skater, which is vital at his size. The Windsor, Mass., native also has a nice stick.
Kurt Beck
Arlington High, 4/2/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/181
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
Beck’s stock has risen quite a bit over the last year. He’s always been a top ‘09 defenseman for New England, but it really feels like he hit a new level. At 6-foot-2 and 181 pounds, the Arlington, Mass., native is at his best when he’s shutting down opposing players, making smart breakout passes and picking his spots to help out offensively. He was a third-round pick in the QMJHL Draft.
SELECT 15 CAMP: 21 standout forwards | 11 standout defenders | NTDP prospects
Jacoby Palmer
Long Island Gulls, 8/9/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: Holden, Mass.
At 6-foot-1 and 176 pounds, Palmer is an aggressive, chance-taking, puck-moving defenseman. He scored 18 goals and tallied 51 points in 57 games for the Long Island Gulls 15O team. The Holden, Mass., native has a nice combination of size and puck skills.
Brady Sloper
Belmont Hill, 5/21/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/198
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.
At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, Sloper projects as a shutdown defenseman who kills penalties, plays hard minutes and makes life difficult on opposing players. He’s become a lot stronger over the last year and should make an even bigger impact at Belmont Hill next season if he goes back. He was a fourth-round pick by Lincoln in the USHL Phase 2 Draft earlier this year. He followed that up by being picked early in the third round by Charlottetown in the QMJHL Draft.
Tyler Roccas
Salisbury, 8/7/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/181
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
Roccas missed last season due to injury, but the 6-foot-2, 181-pound defenseman has potential. The right-shot defender is switching from Hotchkiss to Salisbury this coming winter, where he should make quite the impact. He’s from Fairfield, Conn.
READ MORE: 23 forwards to watch when college recruiting offer window opens on Aug. 1
Nathaniel Chizik
U.S. NTDP U17, 2/15/2009, G, catches left, 6-3/201
Hometown: Warrington, Penn.
It’s very hard for goalies to commit as soon as they become eligible. Typically, only the highest-end netminders are announcing commitments on or after Aug. 1. Chizik fits that “high-end” mold, as he made the NTDP squad for next season. The Warrington, Penn., native is 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds. He’s a safe bet to be a strong Division 1 netminder someday. He's taken multiple Big Ten visits already.
