College hockey recruiting roundup: voids filled

Hingham's Jake Higgins has verbally committed to play college hockey in Atlantic Hockey for Holy Cross. (Dave Arnold/NEHJ)

The college hockey recruiting season is a 12-months-a-year endeavor for the coaches of the 60 Division I men’s hockey programs.

While the Boston Bruins continue their quest for the Stanley Cup, the rest of the area teams have shut down for the off-season. However, there’s no shortage of showcases and festivals to occupy the time for college hockey coaches.

That, along with programs needing to fill voids to replace early departures, has led to several area players as well as local programs making moves on the recruiting trail over the last couple of weeks.

The most notable local recruit to commit to a college since our last update on May 6 is Hingham, Mass., native Jake Higgins. After a stellar four-year varsity career for Tony Messina at Hingham High School, Higgins has verbally committed to play college hockey in Atlantic Hockey for Holy Cross.