A lot of attention is drawn to prep hockey’s top teams and the players who make those teams successful.
While the majority of the top players in prep hockey play on a dozen or so teams, there are some hidden gems scattered across the rest of the circuit.
I wanted to recognize 10 notable prep players who were on teams that didn’t make the playoffs. These 10 players all have slid somewhat under the radar. I picked the 10 best players without a college commit and without ever having made a USA Hockey national camp.
I believe all 10 of these players are worthy of being recruited by college hockey programs, whether it be Division 1, Division 2 or Division 3.
1. Tyler Gaulin
Berwick, 11/9/01, C, left shot, 6-0/160
Gaulin is one of the most underrated players in New England. The late ’01 is a hard-nosed center who can play in all situations at the prep level. In 29 games, he had 21 goals and 27 assists. He joined the NAHL’s Maine Nordiques for two games after the season and picked up two goals. The Kingston, N.H., native has always played hard, but he’s added some skill. He has a sneaky release and a good stick.
2. Will Killoran
Belmont Hill, 1/30/03, D, right shot, 6-3/194
Killoran is one of the more underrated defensemen in New England. He’s not flashy, but he’s a physical, hard-nosed defender. He rarely gets beat by opposing forwards and makes life miserable for them in front of the net. His skating is getting a little better and he earned top-four minutes and some power-play time in his third year of prep. While he’ll never be an offensive defenseman, I think there’s considerable Division 1 upside as a bottom-pairing guy who can bring it physically.
3. Jake Black
Winchendon, 3/5/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Black’s production took a huge leap in his second season of prep hockey. The Pomfret, Conn., native had 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 27 games. That marked a 30-point increase from his sophomore season. Black is a speedster, and that’s his best asset. He’s a player a couple of local Atlantic Hockey schools should seriously be considering.
4. Tristan Mecenas
Governor’s, 11/18/02, G, catches left, 6-4/190
Mecenas is a big goaltender who had an .892 save percentage in his first season playing for Brian McGuirk’s program. The Mount Airy, Md., native previously played for Groton and Team Maryland. His size and the way he moves in the net are very intriguing. He has to gain more consistency, but there is Division 1 potential.
5. Ian Driscoll
Pingree, 9/12/02, C, left shot, 5-11/170
Driscoll put up back-to-back monster years for the Highlanders with his older brother, Brendan, a Providence College lacrosse commit. The younger Driscoll has the potential to play Division 1 but is a sure thing for Division 3 hockey schools. The Middleton, Mass., native scored 23 goals and chipped in 30 assists this winter and had a solid showing at the Beantown Spring Classic in March.
6. Bobby Luca
Roxbury Latin, 4/20/02, RW, right shot, 5-11/180
Luca quietly has gotten a lot better. The Milton, Mass., native had nine goals and 17 assists this past winter after a very productive fall split season with the Cape Cod Whalers. He sees the ice well and should be one of the more coveted seniors for NESCAC coaches in 2020-21.
7. John Gelatt
Trinity-Pawling, 4/29/01, LW, left shot, 5-11/200
Gelatt, from Middletown, N.J., enjoyed a terrific season for the Pride. After scoring just 16 points as a junior in 2018-19, he recorded 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 25 games this winter. It helped being on the top line with a couple of Division 1 prospects, but his compete level is notable. He’s a player who is probably headed towards Division 3, or Atlantic Hockey if he ages out of junior.
8. Joe Solimine
Northfield Mount Hermon, 3/3/02, LW/C, left shot, 5-7/155
Solimine is a smaller, skilled forward who exceeded my expectations in his first year of prep. Coming over from Austin Prep, Solimine led the Hoggers in scoring with 21 goals and 21 assists in 28 games. The Middleton, Mass., native plays in all situations, can make plays, and he’s always hunting pucks. I’m not sure if he’s a Division 1 player, but at the very least, he could be a quality Division 3 forward.
9. Charlie Spence
Andover, 3/18/02, D, right shot, 6-0/175
Spence didn’t have as productive of a year in 2019-20 as he did the previous in his first year of prep, but he’s still a solid prospect. The Medfield, Mass., native is a smooth, mobile defenseman. He can move pucks north, but he also can defend with a little bit of jam. NESCAC schools should be all over Spence as he enters his senior season.
10. Henry Cohen
Middlesex, 3/7/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/181
Cohen doesn’t jump out at you right away, but he’s a forward who has a knack for the puck and finding the back of the net. The Sudbury, Mass., native scored 17 goals in 25 games this winter for the Zebras.
