The top ’04 in prep school hockey, Kimball Union forward Adam Fantilli, is one of the most coveted prospects in all of hockey.
The Toronto, Ontario, native headlines prep hockey’s 2004 birth year for the 2019-20 season. He’s likely to be a top three pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, but he’ll generate huge NCAA interest if he shows interest in that route.
With the onset of new NCAA recruiting legislation, there are fewer college commits among the ’04 birth year as opposed to the ’03 birth year at this point last season.
Having previously released the top ‘00s, top ‘01s, top ‘02s, and top ‘03s in prep hockey, here’s a look at the top ‘04s:
Forwards
1. Adam Fantilli
Kimball Union, 10/12/04, C, left shot, 6-2/180
There’s not much else to say about Fantilli. The Toronto Jr. Canadians alum has all the tools to indicate he’ll one day be in the NHL. He’s big, he skates well, and he has the skill set to match. He’ll likely be on the top line with Edmonton Oilers draft pick and Providence commit Tomas Mazura.
2. Michael Stenberg
Thayer, 9/22/04, RW, right shot, 5-10.75/174
NCAA commit: Penn State
Stenberg, who played as an eighth grader last winter, is one of the top ‘04s in the region. The Needham, Mass., native had five goals and 11 assists in 2018-19. This fall while playing for the Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, he showed why he’s committed to the Nittany Lions, with his ability to be a power forward and be heavy on pucks.
3. William Hughes
Phillips Andover, 1/4/04, C, right shot, 6-2/200
Hughes is a big power forward who can skate well. Combined, his size and skating have a few within USA Hockey thinking he’s a candidate for the NTDP. The Andover, Mass., native had eight goals and 12 assists last winter for the Big Blue. This fall was his second year with the River Rats organization.
4. Andon Cerbone
Brunswick, 4/13/04, C, left shot, 5-7/137
Cerbone keeps growing on me. While he still needs to play harder and be more of a complete player, his skill and ability to come off the wall, especially on the power play, are hard to discredit. The Stamford, Conn., native was good all fall for Mid Fairfield and will look to make a jump in his second season of prep.
5. Michael Callow
St. Sebastian’s, 1/15/04, RW, right shot, 6-1.5/169
Callow, a Boston Jr. Eagles product, is a tall, lanky winger with a ton of upside. He’s always shown flashes of potential, but the South Boston, Mass., native was more consistent down the stretch of the fall season.
6. Cameron Lund
Cushing, 6/7/04, C, right shot, 6-1/165
Lund is a repeat freshman for the Penguins after playing for the South Shore Kings in the past. If the preseason is any indication, he could be on the top line for Steve Jacobs’ team. He skates well and can make plays in the zone. He played for the Eastern Mass Senators 16-U this fall.
7. Ben MacDonald
Nobles, 2/24/04, C, left shot, 5-9.25/146
MacDonald, who played for the East Coast Wizards 15-U this fall, is a 200-foot center with more skill and skating ability than sometimes given credit for. He’ll be a rookie at Nobles.
8. Connor Welsh
Brunswick, 1/2/04, C, right shot, 5-9/145
Welsh is a skilled forward with the ability to play away from the puck, as well. He has that extra gear in his skating and could blossom into a solid offensive prospect as he fills out. The Greenwich, Conn., native played on Mid Fairfield 16-U this fall.
9. Bobby Landry
Dexter, 3/22/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/155
Landry, a Boston Advantage product, played the fall season with Cape Cod Whalers 15-U. The Hingham, Mass., native has good size, controls pucks below the dots and along the walls, and can facilitate offense. He’s heavy on pucks and will get continually better as his skating improves.
10. Shane Taddia
Thayer, 1/20/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-10/155
Taddia transferred to Thayer from BB&N where he was a solid player as an eighth grader. A power forward, he played the fall season with the Cape Cod Whalers 15-U.
11. James Fisher
Belmont Hill, 4/28/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-11.5/155
Fisher played last season with the Boston Jr. Bruins 16-U before making the move to prep. He’s able to drive the net and protect pucks as a power forward. Fisher spent the fall with East Coast Wizards 15-U.
12. Michael Murtagh
Albany Academy, 9/11/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/148
Murtagh, who played the fall for the River Rats 15-U, is a really good skater. He’ll be the clear standout for the Cadets.
13. Donovan Frias
St. George’s, 11/9/04, LW, left shot, 6-3/165
Frias caught my attention numerous times this fall with his ability to drive the net and cash in on rebounds and other loose pucks around the goal mouth. He and his twin brother, Julian, will be newcomers to the Dragons. Both spent the fall on the River Rats 15-U.
14. Mason Kesselring
New Hampton, 3/15/04, LW, left shot, 6-1/160
Kesselring showed signs of popping this fall with the Northern Cyclones Prep 15-U. He’s gotten bigger and more explosive which has allowed him to be harder to knock off pucks.
15. James Shannon
Brunswick, 8/12/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Shannon, a Mid-Fairfield product, is a hard-working forward who likes to throw his weight around. He scores quite a few garbage goals and does a lot of the dirty work for his teammates.
16. Beanie Richter
Brunswick, 8/20/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/160
Richter had a solid fall with Mid Fairfield 16-U and should see plenty of ice time this winter for the Bruins.
17. Nick Capasso
Avon Old Farms, 1/22/04, C, left shot, 5-9/160
Capasso, yet another Mid Fairfield product, is a smaller forward with plenty of skill. He’ll fight for top six minutes on a loaded AOF squad.
18. Kurt Gurkan
Phillips Exeter, 2/13/04, C/LW, left shot, 5-7.5/162
Gurkan is in his second season at the prep level and is coming off a solid fall with River Rats 15-U. He’s quick and skilled, but needs to play more between the dots.
19. Andrew Garzone
Deerfield, 5/30/04, C, right shot, 5-10/155
Garzone is an athletic, two-way center who quietly goes about his business and produces. A South Shore Kings and Cape Cod Whalers 15-U product, he’ll be a player to watch at Deerfield this winter.
20. Joe Dable
Roxbury Latin, 4/13/04, RW, right shot, 5-7.75/158
Dable is a sleeper who will be playing prep school hockey at Roxbury Latin under Dave Cataruzolo, one of the more underrated coaches in the circuit.
21. Jack Brandt
Tabor, 6/14/04, LW, left shot, 5-9/150
Brandt comes to Tabor from Ohio. He showed some flashes this fall while skating for the River Rats 15-U.
22. Matthew Kursonis
St. George’s, 3/5/04, LW, left shot, 5-11/155
Kursonis has a solid showing at Massachusetts CCM High Performance Festival last May. He’ll be another young player to watch on St. George’s.
23. Brock James
Berwick, 6/1/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/150
James is a smaller forward to keep an eye on at Berwick this winter after showing some signs over the last year or so, including this fall with the River Rats 15-U.
24. Ben Muthersbaugh
Tilton, 2/15/04, LW, left shot, 5-10.75/171
Muthersbaugh skates a little hunched over, but he’s an intriguing prospect out of the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs youth organization. He played for Northern Cyclones Prep 15-U this fall.
Defensemen
1. Jackson Dorrington
Cushing, 4/13/04, D, left shot, 6-0.75/171
Dorrington is a poised, puck-moving defenseman. He skates well and has the puck on his stick a lot. If he can become even more assertive and shoot the puck more, he’ll continue to rise up the prospect charts. He’s played up with Eastern Mass Senators 18-U the last two falls.
2. Charlie Leddy
Avon Old Farms, 1/11/04, D, right shot, 6-0.25/173
NCAA commit: Boston College
Leddy is a physically mature, two-way defenseman. He likes to play physically, but he can jump into the offense with his feet or passing and can shoot it. Leddy played for Mid Fairfield 16-U this fall.
3. Chris Romaine
Milton, 2/21/04, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Romaine is an elite skater who saw limited action at BC High last winter. He was terrific moving pucks with the Cape Cod Whalers 15-U this fall. He’ll make mistakes, but his reward is too high to reel in yet.
4. Owen Paskowski
Cushing, 2/4/04, D, left shot, 6-4/180
NCAA commit: Colorado College
Paskowski has jumped all over the place, including playing last season with Buffalo Jr. Sabres. The Plymouth, Mass., native is a big defenseman with upside. He missed some time with Eastern Mass Senators this fall due to health, but should be back for the prep season.
5. Michael Fisher
St. Mark’s, 5/2/04, D, right shot, 5-11/155
Fisher is a good-sized defender with some tools. His hockey sense is a work in progress, but he’s big and can shoot it. He can make plays and bring it physically when he wants. Fisher spent the fall with River Rats 15-U.
6. Sean Keohane
Dexter, 11/4/04, D, left shot, 5-10/145
Keohane is a solid, two-way defenseman who skates well. He’s mostly offensive-minded, but he has a good stick and plays smart. Keohane played for the Cape Cod Whalers 15-U this fall.
7. Matt Biotti
Belmont Hill, 8/27/04, D, right shot, 6-2.25/170
Biotti is a tall, lanky, raw defenseman with upside. He had a good viewing in the preseason and could be ready to take the next step in his development. Biotti spent the fall with East Coast Wizards 15-U.
8. CJ Foley
Thayer, 2/11/04, D, right shot, 5-10/155
Foley is a versatile prospect who has played both forward and defense. He skates well and is hard to play against. He will be in his second year under Tony Amonte. This fall, Foley skated for the Cape Cod Whalers 15-U.
9. Ryan Buckley
St. George’s, 1/6/04, D, right shot, 5-11/150
Buckley is a solid defenseman with a year of prep hockey under his belt. He played for the Cape Cod Whalers 15-U this fall.
10. Olivier Chessler
Rivers, 7/9/04, D, left shot, 5-7.75/133
Chessler, who played for East Coast Wizards 15-U this fall, is a puck-moving defenseman with good feet. He’ll be thrown into game action right away at Rivers as the Red Wings look to fill some holes left by graduation and departures to junior hockey.
11. Tyler Messier
Tabor, 5/17/04, D, right shot, 6-3/205
Messier is a physical defender with a mean streak. He played for River Rats 15-U this fall.
12. Brian Grant
Deerfield, 3/18/04, D, right shot, 5-11/156
Grand, a South Shore Kings product who played fall hockey for Cape Cod Whalers 15-U, is a newcomer to Deerfield.
13. Liam Bard
Berkshire, 1/4/04, D, right shot, 5-9/152
Bard previously played for the Boston Jr. Bruins 16-U, but is making the step to prep. Bard, who is a very good skater, played fall hockey for Yale Jr. Bulldogs 15-U.
14. CJ Beals
Brooks, 1/31/04, D, right shot, 5-5/135
Beals is an undersized, puck-moving defender who is transferring from BB&N to Brooks. He spent the fall playing for the River Rats 15-U.
Goaltenders
1. Dylan Silverstein
Dexter, 2/7/04, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Silverstein, originally from California, played up on the Islanders HC 16-U last winter. This fall, he was spectacular for River Rats 16-U. He’ll be a key to Dexter’s success after the graduation of Harvard commit Derek Mullahy. Don’t be surprised if Silverstein makes the NTDP for next year.
2. Jackson Irving
Cushing, 2/3/04, G, catches left, 5-10/155
Irving is a very underrated goaltender in this age group, partly due to not being as big as some of the others at the top of the class. He earned his way into a starting role last winter at St. John’s Prep and will likely do so again this winter with the Penguins. The Newbury, Mass., native spent the fall with Eastern Mass Senators 16-U.
3. Brendan Holahan
Brunswick, 6/15/04, G, catches left, 6-2/180
Holahan, a Mid Fairfield product, might not get a majority of the starts with a veteran in front of him, but he’s a solid prospect for years to come. He was one of the two goalies for Mid Fairfield 16-U this fall.
