While many of prep hockey’s top seniors have a commitment, there are quite a few players in this class still looking to secure a future in college hockey.
Several of this year’s top uncommitted seniors in prep hockey have made considerable steps in their development over the past year. As many college coaches like to say, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
It’s far more important to be highly regarded as a 18 to 20 year old than it is to be the best player at a younger age. These uncommitted seniors have started to peak at the right time. Please note, this isn’t meant to be a list of the best uncommitted seniors. It’s a list of those who have improved a lot, many of whom would be in the top list regardless.
Prep hockey: Improved uncommitted seniors
Sullivan Mack
Kimball Union, 7/5/00, LW, left shot, 6-0/180
Mack is an interesting player as he’s a 19 year old in prep. The Anchorage, Alaska, native leads the Wildcats in scoring. He skates well, plays with pace, and competes hard. He’s a bottom six forward in college, but there’s a lot of interest. Denver, Michigan, Harvard, and a couple of Hockey East schools are believed to be the leaders in the clubhouse for landing his commitment.
Eamon Doheny
Deerfield, 1/6/01, D, left shot, 6-1/190
Doheny had a very good fall with the Jr. Eagles and had some solid performances at the Flood Marr Tournament. His offensive instincts are above average, but he’s a good-sized defender who can play hard. He’s a Division I player and the interest is starting to pick up.
Conor Lovett
Lawrence Academy, 4/7/01, C, right shot, 5-11/185
Lovett is averaging over a point per game, but he also brings a physical element. He plays hard and his compete level is very high. Lovett has gotten, and is on pace to double his production from a year ago. He’s a Division I player and his versatility should be valued by college programs.
Danny Ciccarello
St. Mark’s, 3/23/01, C, right shot, 6-0/201
Ciccarello is averaging almost three points per game. Sure, people will knock the schedule that St. Mark’s plays. But, he puts the puck in the net. He has a great shot with velocity and also has hands to maneuver around defenders and finish with finesse. His skating needs a little work, but it’s gotten better. He’s gotten a lot of eyes on him with the attention teammate Ian Moore gets.
Jack Dempsey
Dexter Southfield, 5/17/01, LW, left shot, 6-3/215
Dempsey is a big power forward that showed off his hands, length and ability to go north-south at the Groton/Lawrence Tournament. He makes plays from the wall and can control possession. His skating needs some improvement, but he’s a player that should be credited for getting markedly better.
Niko Rexine
Millbrook, 6/20/02, RW, right shot, 6-0/161
I’ve always liked Rexine, going back to his days with Chris Collins’ Rochester Coalition 15s. He’s a hard-nosed, north-south winger. He projects as a bottom six player going up to the college level, but he’s thrived this season on the first line. He has 13 goals in 17 games.
Tyler Gaulin
Berwick, 11/9/01, C, left shot, 6-0/163
Gaulin is a four-year prep player who has continued to get better. His production has taken off as a result. He’s a good sized forward who plays hard and brings it physically. A late ’01, he could become a Division I player with some seasoning in junior hockey.
Taylor Ewing
Trinity-Pawling, 1/29/01, RW, right shot, 5-8/175
Ewing came to T-P with a lot of fanfare, but didn’t have a great first season point-wise in 2018-19. This year he’s taken off, thanks to playing more of a role. He’s quick and hunts pucks. He also had two goals and two assists in two NAHL games with New Mexico prior to the season.
Jacob Banks
Cushing, 3/27/01, C/LW, left shot, 5-10/185
Banks hasn’t produced on a consistent basis, but he brings a ton of intangibles. He’s a hard working forward who blocks shots, kills penalties, and hunts pucks. While it wasn’t technically in the prep season, he had a hat trick against Mount Saint Charles in the Cushing Academy Invitational.
Michael Fairfax
Salisbury, 3/4/01, C/LW, left shot, 6-2/195
Fairfax had a couple of goals in the final of the Flood Marr Tournament on his way to earning MVP honors. His production has been a little disappointing on paper, but it’s important to remember he’s not on the loaded top line. He’s big and has the potential to blossom into a power forward.
Tristan Fasig
Taft, 10/9/01, C, left shot, 6-0/190
Fasig, from Sherman, Conn., has always shown flashes of potential, but he’s improved his production this winter. He’s a player that could end up in Division I if he plays a couple of years of junior hockey. At the very least, he’d be a nice recruit for many Division III programs.
Tyler Bourque
Pomfret, 11/16/00, C, right shot, 5-11/175
Bourque has steadily increased his production in each of his three seasons at Pomfret. He sees the ice well and has good vision. The North Scituate, R.I., native had a good fall for the Rhode Island Hitmen, a showcase team skating in the Beast Series.
Jason Kleinhans
Kent, 10/4/00, RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Kleinhans is another player whose production has gone up in each of his three seasons of prep hockey. The Herndon, Va., native has good speed and flies all over the ice. He could be a good top six winger at the Division III level, but he has some versatility in that regard.
Jude Brower
Brunswick, 6/11/01, D, left shot, 5-11/155
Brower didn’t stand out in any viewings during the 2018-19 season, his first in prep hockey after coming over from Harvey and Westchester Express. He’s been noticeable a few times so far this winter, including good performances at the Exeter Invitational, St. Sebastian’s Christmas Tournament and Belmont Hill/Nichols Tournament.
