There has been considerable movement among the top uncommitted ’02s in New England since my last rendition in May.
Since May, my fourth-rated uncommitted ’02, St. Mark’s alum Tucker Hartmann, has committed to playing college hockey at Yale. Other players from that May list have taken a jump up the rankings based on their play at summer showcases and games so far this fall.
While it’s been challenging to see games over the past seven months, I’ve been able to check in on all the notable uncommitted ’02s in the New England region. Below is a look at my updated list of the top uncommitted ’02s in New England.
1. Nate Benoit
Mount Saint Charles 18-U, 11/26/02, D, left shot, 6-0/164
Benoit’s stock continues to rise. The Bow, N.H., native is an average-sized defenseman who plays well at both ends of the ice. A product of the Northern Cyclones youth program, Benoit has taken his game to the next level under head coach Matt Plante at Mount Saint Charles. He skates well, plays with jam and can smartly move pucks north and activate into the offense. In 70 games last season, he had 16 goals and 40 assists while racking up 131 penalty minutes. Top programs from all over the country, including NCHC power North Dakota, are showing interest in Benoit. A late ’02, he’s listed as a ‘C’ prospect by NHL Central Scouting in the organization’s Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2021 draft.
2. Ryan Corcoran
Boston Advantage, 4/2/02, C, left shot, 5-11/175
Corcoran is off to a somewhat slow start in the USPHL NCDC, potting just one goal and adding four assists in his first seven games. However, I’m still a believer in the 200-foot center from Duxbury, Mass. He’s a cerebral two-way forward who can play five-on-five and penalty kill at the collegiate level. His skating is strong and continuing to get better with a lower-body injury now in the rearview mirror. While he lacks an elite skill-set, Corcoran could be a very effective bottom-six center for any of the Ivy League programs. At least five such schools have shown significant improvement in Corcoran.
3. Nick Marciano
Kent/River Rats 18-U, 5/19/02, D, left shot, 6-2/190
Marciano has been the top defenseman for the River Rats 18-U this fall. As I’ve said several times over the past 12 months, his improvement has been dramatic. He continues to develop into a solid two-way defenseman with size. His skating and mobility are both strong assets, while his hockey sense allows him to make smart outlet passes to facilitate offense. In 26 games with Kent last winter, he had three goals and 20 assists. Similarly to Corcoran, I see Marciano fitting in well at an Ivy League school. Yale would seem to be the front-runner with family history at the school.
4. Kyle Furey
Youngstown Phantoms, 2/5/02, D, right shot, 6-0/160
Furey has taken the leap to the USHL after playing the past two seasons at Lawrence Academy. The Marblehead, Mass., native appeared in one preseason game for Youngstown, registering an assist. In 27 prep games last season, he had three goals and 19 assists. Furey’s mobility and skill are both pluses. He has the ability to jumpstart the offense from the bac end. The one concern I’ve had in the past is his propensity to force plays. Kudos to Furey for leaving the region to challenge himself in the USHL. I project Furey as a bottom-pairing defender with the potential to play on the second power-play unit at the right program in Hockey East or ECAC Hockey.
5. James Tepper
Proctor/Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, 2/20/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/175
Tepper has had an interesting fall while being locked down at Proctor. He appeared in a couple of games for the Cape Cod Whalers to start the season but hasn’t been seen again except for a Lakes Region scrimmage. In 2019-20, Tepper led the Hornets in scoring with 13 goals and 21 assists in 27 games. The Shrewsbury, Mass., native is a north-south winger who can score goals and bring a physical element. I believe he’s the type of player who would benefit from a couple of seasons in junior hockey before heading to college. It would help him become a more complete player while honing his top attributes.
6. Nolan Hayes
South Shore Kings, 8/14/02, D, right shot, 5-11/166
Hayes is an interesting prospect, as his feet and skill are certainly worthy of Hockey East attention. However, his hockey sense and defensive zone play are reasons for skepticism among college coaches. He’ll need to prove to college recruiters that his defensive play can be at least serviceable while overhandling the puck less often. If he can do that, Hayes has the offensive upside to be a power-play specialist and a seventh defenseman at the college level. In five games this season with the South Shore Kings in the USPHL NCDC, the Milton, Mass., native has two goals and three assists. Hayes was supposed to be a senior at Cushing this winter but looks to be in Tier 3 junior hockey due to the uncertainty of the prep season. In 2019-20 with the Penguins, he had 10 goals and 20 assists. He played the three prior seasons at Thayer.
7. Colin Oppelt
Janesville Jets, 6/21/02, D, left shot, 6-2/185
Oppelt is entering his first full season of junior hockey with the Janesville Jets in the NAHL. A product of the Boston Advantage youth organization, he played two games with Topeka in the NAHL to conclude 2019-20. Oppelt checks boxes for his size and physical presence. The Franklin, Mass., native has length and uses his stick and body positioning to defend. His skating has gotten better over the past year. While his offensive upside is limited, I think there will be room for him as a bottom-pairing defender on several Division 1 hockey teams.
8. Connor Bradford
Boston Advantage, 8/23/02, G, catches left, 6-1/190
Bradford, from Kingston, Mass., is in his first full season of junior hockey. He struggled in eight appearances with the Northeast Generals in the NAHL last season, but things have been better so far this fall. In four games in the USPHL NCDC, Bradford has a .977 save percentage. While those numbers almost certainly will come down to earth, it’s a good sign. Bradford has good size, competes hard and has above-average athleticism. He’s not the most technically sound goaltender, but I believe he’s the best uncommitted ’02 at his position in New England. I’m not sure he’ll ever be a bonafide starter in Hockey East, but he certainly could be a capable backup in that league or a potential starter in Atlantic Hockey.
9. Ryan MacDermott
TBD, 1/27/02, D, right shot, 6-1/185
MacDermott was cut by the New Jersey Titans last month after being picked by that organization in the 2020 NAHL draft. It’s unclear where the Norwell, Mass., native will wind up next, but it should be noted that he’s ahead of many of his peers in graduating from prep school and being ready for junior hockey. MacDermott, who scored two goals and 11 assists in 28 games at St. Sebastian’s last winter, is a defensive defenseman with jam to his game. I think he’ll have to age out of junior hockey, but I could see there being a spot for him in Atlantic Hockey or as a walk-on in ECAC Hockey or Hockey East.
10. Brendan Gibbons
St. Mark’s/Junior Bruins, 7/18/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/211
Gibbons has played in seven games this fall for the Junior Bruins in the USPHL NCDC. In those contests, the Wakefield, R.I., native has a goal and three assists. That’s coming on the heels of a 21-goal, 33-assist campaign in 2019-20 at St. Mark’s. Gibbons can shoot the puck hard and will go to the net for those garbage goals on the doorstep. However, his hockey sense and ability to be heavy on pucks allow for him to make plays below the dots. His skating is an issue, but there are a lot of intangibles that he brings to the table. A program like Holy Cross should be keeping a close eye on him. If it doesn’t work out with Division 1, Gibbons would be a steal for any NESCAC program.
11. Brendan Dumas
St. Sebastian’s/Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, 8/28/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/180
Dumas had a breakout campaign for St. Sebastian’s last winter. In 28 games, he had 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points. That marked a 23-point uptick from the previous season. From North Attleboro, Mass., Dumas competes hard and is a junkyard dog when it comes to hunting pucks and being in scoring areas. He’s not overly skilled, but he plays between the dots and cycles pucks. He’s had a solid fall for the Cape Cod Whalers, leading the team in goals with eight.
12. Jakub Teply
Amarillo Bulls, 6/19/02, LW, left shot, 6-0/185
Teply, from Stamford, Conn., was supposed to play in the BCHL this season after graduating from Brunswick. With uncertainty in terms of crossing the border, Teply has opted to play in the NAHL with the Amarillo Bulls. He’s scoreless in his first two games of junior hockey. A power forward, he’ll have to adjust to the increased pace. His size, strength, ability to protect pucks, and score goals could come to the forefront if he can adapt and continue working on his skating. Last season at Brunswick, he found the back of the net 22 times while adding 10 assists in 31 games.
13. Charlie Spence
Junior Bruins/Little Bruins 18-U, 3/18/02, D, right shot, 6-0/175
Spence has shined in games I’ve seen him play for the Little Bruins 18-U this fall. I’ve always liked his mobility, puck-moving capabilities and toughness on the back end. The Medfield, Mass., native has taken another step and seems a little more dynamic this fall. In addition to his time in split-season Midget, he’s appeared in three games for the Junior Bruins in the USPHL NCDC. With Phillips Andover likely sidelined, he’ll get more action at the Tier 3 junior level. In 2019-20, Spence had three goals and eight assists in 24 games at Andover. I could see Spence landing at a program like Holy Cross. If not, he could be a home-run commit for a NESCAC program.
14. Tony Achille
Boston Advantage, 1/8/02, LW, left shot, 5-11/165
Achille has three goals and two assists in seven games for the Advantage in his first season of junior hockey. The Hingham, Mass., native impressed me in my viewings with his compete, how he hunted pucks, and his penalty killing. He’s on the smaller side, but he was fearless on the forecheck and was around the puck a lot. A product of the Boston Advantage youth program, Achille always has been noticeable. However, I think he’s taken a step in the right direction. If he ages out of junior hockey, I could see him finding a spot in Division 1 as a walk-on who could fit a role as a penalty killer and fourth-line energy guy.
15. Jake Black
Winchendon/Northern Cyclones Prep 18-U, 3/5/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/150
Black, from Pomfret, Conn., has played several games for Northern Cyclones Prep 18-U this fall. He’s a goal scorer with speed. His top attribute is his skating, especially straight line. In 27 games at Winchendon last winter, he had 17 goals and 24 assists. Black will either be a fringe player in Atlantic Hockey or a top-six forward at a top-tier Division 3 program in New England.
