It’s typically been a relatively quiet summer for the birth year recently through the NTDP selection and USHL draft process. 2021 hasn’t been an exception for the 2005 birth-year players.
For the 2023 draft, players born between Sept. 16, 2004, and Sept. 15, 2005, will be in the first year of eligibility. Most of the top 2023 New England prospects are from the ’05 birth year.
Outside of a few meaningless scrimmages in summer leagues, the top prospects are all ’05s headed to the NTDP who haven’t skated in front of scouts much since May’s evaluation camp in Plymouth, Mich.
1. Will Smith
U.S. NTDP U-17, 3/17/05, C, right shot, 5-11/150, NCAA commit: Northeastern
Smith has been at the top of my 2023 New England draft ranking for quite some time. Nothing has happened over the past few months to change that and nothing likely will in the near future. The Lexington, Mass., native has all the physical tools to sit at the top of the perch. He has good size, skates well, shoots it hard, and has the hands to thread the needle on passes below the dots. The Junior Eagles product almost certainly will be in a top-six role and see power-play time when the NTDP hits the ice this fall.
2. Ryan Leonard
U.S. NTDP U-17, 1/21/05, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/165, NCAA commit: Boston College
Leonard solidified his rankings with a dominant sophomore season at Pope Francis and an impressive showing at NTDP Evaluation Camp. The Amherst, Mass., native has a great shot, and his offensive instincts are elite. He sees the ice well and plays a hard, heavy game. There’s a little maturing to do in terms of body language and consistent compete away from the puck. That will come as he develops and grows at the NTDP. Despite UMass family ties (brother John), Leonard has committed to Boston College.
3. Will McDonough
Boston Advantage 18-U, 6/18/05, C/RW, right shot, 6-1/181
McDonough had a rough go of things at the USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp, between sickness and going scoreless once he returned. That doesn’t change things for me in terms of believing in his upside as a player. He’s big, can come off the wall with authority, and finish around the net. His skating is a question, but it’s not poor enough to believe it can’t be improved. McDonough should have a monster start to the season, playing up for Boston Advantage. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him head away and join the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.
4. Sean Keohane
Dexter Southfield/Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, 11/4/04, D, left shot, 6-3/165
There’s a lot of room for improvement in Keohane’s game, but his physical tools show me a lot of upside. He’s big, rangy and can be a two-way threat. He’s never going to be overly offensive, but if he can make quick and simple breakout passes and shoot it hard from the point, he’ll be effective. Defensively, he shows some ability to take away time and space. He’ll have to keep putting more jam into his game on that side of the puck. I haven’t seen Keohane since the Mass. Festival, but I still have him pegged in this spot.
5. Will Vote
U.S. NTDP U-17, 2/1/05, C/RW, right shot, 5-7/145, NCAA commit: Boston College
The only true knock on Vote is his size. The Arlington, Mass., native is one of the smartest players in this birth year. He sees the ice extremely well, makes players around him better, and has good habits away from the puck. He’s been on a line with Smith for the past few years and he’s been a playmaker who can also score goals. His compete in terms of hunting pucks and not backing down also is unmatched. With the NTDP, he could slide up and down the lineup and play center or wing. It’s a foregone conclusion that a ton of big-name schools will offer him a college commit on Aug. 1.
6. Donovan Frias
St. George’s/Boston Imperials 18-U, 11/9/04, LW, left shot, 6-3/194
I got a chance to see Frias recently at the Bulldog Hockey Experience. Granted the competition wasn’t what it would have been had he made the Mass. Festival or national camp, but he dominated the game physically. The Hudson, Mass., native is a physical presence who can play the game as a power forward. He protects pucks and can finish or dish it out as he drives the net. His skating has gotten better, but there’s still room for improvement. It’s a bit of a wildcard to put him here, but I have a hunch that he might just prove me right.
7. Cam Russo
Governor’s/River Rats 16-U, 1/3/05, RW, right shot, 6-1/181
Russo finished in a tie for second-most points at July’s USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp. The Middleton, Mass., native tallied five goals and five assists in five games. There’s never been a doubt as to the skill, length and overall offensive abilities that Russo possesses. To take that next step in his game, he needs to play harder away from the puck, be heavier on pucks, and drive to the scoring areas on a consistent basis. The physical tools are there for him to get drafted in 2023, but he’ll need to improve on the other areas to solidify that honor.
8. Michael Stenberg
Des Moines Buccaneers, 9/22/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/185, NCAA commit: Penn State
Stenberg had a solid performance at June’s USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp in Buffalo. The Needham, Mass., native is a big winger who can impact the play below the dots. He brings a physical element to the forecheck and uses his size to gain positioning out front. He’s physically mature, which is a worry among scouts, once his peers catch up to him in that regard. For now, he’s worthy of being in the discussion to hear his name called when the 2023 proceedings roll around.
This article appeared in the print edition of the July/August 2021 New England Hockey Journal magazine.
