With the 2018-19 hockey season in the rearview and junior camps in full swing, now is a good time to look at the top uncommitted, 2002-born prospects in New England.
As most readers know, college hockey recruiting is its own unique beast. Players can play college hockey as true freshmen or as 20-21 year old freshmen after a few years of junior hockey. Some ‘02s could be just a year away from college while many are more likely to be two to four years away.
Many of the top ‘02s in New England are already committed to a Division I college hockey program, but the region boasts one of the top uncommitted prospects in the country, regardless of age.
Here’s a look at the top uncommitted, 2002-born college hockey prospects in New England:
2002s
1. Matt Beniers
U.S. NTDP U-18, 11/5/02, LW/C, Left Shot, 6-0/163
The Hingham, Mass., native played up with the USA Hockey NTDP U-18 team for the IIHF U18 World Championship in April. Beniers is a smart, two-way center who hunts pucks and competes hard in all three zones. In addition, he skates well and has skill. He averaged nearly a point per game in USHL games and had a point per game clip with the U18s prior to the World Championships. Without a doubt, Beniers is one of the top two or three uncommitted players in the nation, regardless of birth year.
2. Tucker Hartmann
St. Mark’s, 4/4/02, D, Right Shot, 5-11/170
Hartmann is an athletic, offensive defenseman who plays hard and has a good stick. In 31 prep school games, the Southborough, Mass., native posted five goals and 32 assists. While his hockey sense on the defensive side of the puck could use some improvement, there’s a ton to like in his game. He’s absolutely a player who will improve many ECAC Hockey programs and could compete for ice time at many Hockey East programs.
3. Ryan McGuire
Belmont Hill, 7/27/02, C, Right Shot, 5-10/160
McGuire projects as a bottom six center who can play responsibly in his own end as well as bring intangibles that are necessary for the team’s success. At Belmont Hill, he plays as the top center. He had 11 goals and 18 assists in 30 prep school games before potting a goal in four games for the USHL’s Madison Capitols. McGuire wins face-offs, kills penalties, and backchecks well. His offensive skill and skating could both use some improvement, but he still should be a solid bottom six center for the right Division I program.
4. Ryan Corcoran
Boston Advantage 16U, 4/4/02, C, Left Shot, 5-10/146
From Duxbury, Mass., Corcoran missed significant time this past season due to injury. Regardless, if he can regain his past form, he should be considered a solid uncommitted prospect within this age group.
5. James Tepper
Proctor, 2/20/02, RW, Right Shot, 6-0/165
Tepper, from Shrewsbury, Mass., took some time to adjust to a higher level this past season after playing high school hockey in his hometown. Tepper projects as a solid, physical winger who can shoot it and finish. He had 18 goals in 31 prep games. Going forward, Tepper could be a third or fourth line right wing who brings it physically and can chip in offensively from time to time.
6. Gavin Fitzpatrick
Thayer, 1/9/02, G, Catches Left, 6-1/161
Fitzpatrick was one of two goaltenders to make the U.S. roster for the Five Nations Tournament that was held last summer. He doesn’t have great size, but he’s above six-feet tall. There are parts to his game that show his potential. He’ll likely have one more season of prep hockey before taking his game to junior.
7. Nate Benoit
Northern Cyclones 16U, 11/26/02, D, Left Shot, 5-9/140
Benoit, hailing from Bow, N.H., proved he can be a high-skilled, puck-moving defenseman this season while with the Northern Cyclones 16U. His impressive play earned him a call-up for four games with the organization’s NCDC team. He also had a strong showing at the New England District Select 17 Festival back in March.
8. Dhillon Wilde
St. John’s Shrewsbury, 7/10/02, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/160
Wilde’s St. John’s Shrewsbury team was a disappointment this season after lofty preseason expectations, but he still shined in a few games. He’s a speedy winger who can make plays. He’s taking his game to the Islanders Hockey Club in the USPHL NCDC.
9. Thomas Messineo
St. Sebastian’s, 5/2/02, D, Left Shot, 5-10/175
Messineo has been in a tough spot while with the Arrows due to playing behind some upperclassmen who had more clout, especially when it came to power play time and the ability to jump into the rush. There’s still upside for Messineo, who has fared well with the Boston Junior Eagles during the split season.
10. Nolan Hayes
Thayer, 8/14/02, D, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Hayes is a puck-moving defenseman with upside, but he has to minimize his mistakes. He has skill with the puck and can skate fairly well. He needs to keep it simple and not try to force plays. When he was at the top of his game, he was very impactful for Tony Amonte’s team.
11. Ryan MacDermott
St. Sebastian’s, 1/27/02, D, Right Shot, 6-1/172
MacDermott received top two pairing minutes this season at St. Sebastian’s. Similarly to Messineo, he’s not gotten a lot of power play time. He’s still one of the better uncommitted defensemen in this region for his age group.
12. Connor Bradford
Boston Advantage, 8/23/02, G, Catches Left, 6-1/190
Bradford’s style of goaltending is somewhat unorthodox, but he’s an elite competitor between the pipes. He battles to cover up loose pucks and to see pucks coming through traffic. Plain and simply, he just stops pucks.
13. Scott Morrow
Shattuck St. Mary’s, 11/1/02, D, Right Shot, 6-2/160
Morrow’s skating remains the one issue holding him back, but he has the pedigree and size to intrigue college recruiters. If he can improve his footwork and play his game, he has the potential to blossom into a serviceable bottom pairing defender at the collegiate level.
14. Kyle Furey
Lawrence, 2/5/02, D, Right Shot, 5-10/145
The Marblehead, Mass., native is an above average skater and has adequate puck skills for a puck-moving defender. There are still parts of his game, namely in the defensive end, that he needs to shore up.
15. Cam Grillo
Trinity-Pawling, 2/6/02, D, Left Shot, 6-1/154
Grillo missed some time during the prep season after suffering an injury around the holidays. However, during the fall split season and prep action, he showed he’s capable of being a solid, two-way defender. He has decent size, skates well, and can play with a little bit of jam.
Honorable Mention
Colin Graf
Junior Bruins 18U, 9/21/02, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/150
Brennan Horn
Northwest Catholic, 1/7/02, LW, Left Shot, 6-0/150
Jonathan Horn
Elite Hockey Academy 16U, 2/16/02, LW, Left Shot, 5-11/165
Matty Myers
St. John’s Shrewsbury, 2/19/02, C, Left Shot, 5-11/165
Patrick Sommerville
Islanders HC 16U, 10/25/02, C, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Jake Waterman
Holderness, 2/9/02, LW, Left Shot, 6-0/141
CJ Zezima
Trinity-Pawling, 3/10/02, LW, Left Shot, 5-7/145
