Prep hockey preview: Top ’02s

Many of the top ‘02s in prep school hockey are in their first year of eligibility for the NHL Draft.

Leading the way is St. Mark’s junior defenseman Ian Moore, who recently switched his college commitment from Princeton to Harvard. The Concord, Mass., native is rated as a ‘C’ prospect by NHL Central Scouting. Six other prep school ‘02s are rated as ‘C’ prospects by NHL Central Scouting. 

While many of the top ‘02s in prep are committed, one of the more coveted prospects is Kimball Union newcomer Luca Fantilli, a defenseman from Toronto, Ontario.

I’ve already covered the top ‘00s and top ‘01s in prep hockey. Now it’s time to unveil the top 64 prep school hockey players born in 2002.

Forwards

1. Lucas Mercuri

Salisbury, 3/7/02, C, right shot, 6-3/191
NCAA commit: Vermont

Mercuri put up big numbers in 2018-19, his first season in prep hockey. The LaSalle, Quebec, native had 20 goals and 25 assists in 30 games. Mercuri, who played fall hockey for Rochester Selects 18-U, is a big power forward who excels below the dots.

2. Jake Quillan

Salisbury, 2/2/02, C, left shot, 5-9/150
NCAA commit: Quinnipiac

Quillan is another second year prep player from Salisbury. The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native lit the lamp 15 times and added 18 helpers last season. He’s an elite skater who sees the ice well. Quillan played for the Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18-U in the fall.

3. Sasha Teleguine

Thayer, 9/17/02, C, left shot, 5-9.25/178
NCAA commit: Northeastern

Teleguine, from North Attleboro, Mass., is a dynamic skater who creates a lot of chances. He had a very productive fall for the Boston Jr. Eagles 18-U, looking to build upon his first two prep seasons.

4. Riley Duran

Lawrence Academy, 1/25/02, C/RW, right shot, 6-2/174
NCAA commit: Providence

Duran is a tall, athletic forward who can play center or wing. In 2018-19, the Woburn, Mass., native had nine goals and 17 assists. He’s at his best when he keeps his game simple and goes hard north and south.

5. Phil Tresca 

Rivers, 4/10/02, C, right shot, 5-10.5/170
NCAA commit: Yale

Tresca is one of the most improved players in New England. The Newton, Mass., native has always had skill, but he’s gotten better about playing between the circles. He’s also added some explosiveness to his skating. After scoring 16 points in each of his first two prep seasons, he had 17 goals and 33 assists in 2018-19. Tresca was dynamite all fall for the Boston Jr. Eagles.

6. Peter Kramer

Thayer, 8/8/02, LW, left shot, 5-10.75/172
NCAA commit: Providence

After helping BC High to a second straight MIAA Super 8 championship, Kramer is taking his talents to the ISL. He’s a versatile forward who can be productive while also killing penalties. He’s been an effective player for the Cape Cod Whalers 18-U.

7. David Sacco

Lawrence Academy, 1/3/02, C/RW, right shot, 5-11.5/178
NCAA commit: New Hampshire

Sacco, from Middleton, Mass., is a power forward who should eventually be a terrific second or third line at the college level. He’s physical and can change the tone of a game, but he also has a hard shot with the ability to drive the net. Sacco, who played this fall for Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, had 14 goals and 15 assists last season.

8. Owen Fowler

Governor’s, 6/4/02, LW, left shot, 5-9/196
NCAA commit: UMass Lowell

After a solid campaign with Central Catholic, Fowler joined the prep ranks for 2018-19. The Tewksbury, Mass., native had 15 goals and 21 assists for Brian McGuirk’s team. Fowler is a human bowling ball on the ice. He goes hard, hunting pucks and throwing his weight around. In addition to playing for the River Rats 18-U, he had a goal in two games with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers.

9. Aidan Thompson

Berkshire, 2/18/02, C/LW, left shot, 5-10.5/157
NCAA commit: Denver

Thompson joined the Bears at the holiday break last season. In 20 games, he had nine goals and 11 assists. The speedster from Fort Collins, Colo., played split season for the River Rats 18-U.

10. Isaac MacLeod

New Hampton, 4/4/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/165
NCAA commit: Dartmouth

MacLeod has great hands and can finish. The Caledonia, Ontario, native had 23 goals in 35 games last winter. He had a good fall on the Northern Cyclones Prep 18-U and will likely put up big numbers once again.

11. Blake Humphrey

Lawrence Academy, 1/18/02, C, right shot, 5-8.25/153
NCAA commit: Providence

Humphrey, from Rochester, N.Y., has good hands and can finish. He’s flashy and can be more effective when keeping things simple below the dots. After spending the past couple of seasons with Rochester Coalition, he spent the fall with the River Rats 18-U.

12. Aidan Cobb

Kent, 5/3/02, C/LW, left shot, 5-8.5/156
NCAA commit: Cornell

Cobb had 11 goals and 13 assists in 27 games as the Lions captured the NEPSAC Martin/Earl Large School championship last season. The Ridgefield, Conn., native is quick, skilled and can get to the dirty areas.

13. Jake Hewitt

Cushing, 5/31/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/175
NCAA commit: Army West Point

The Ashburnham, Mass., native increased his production by 10 points from 2017-18 to 2018-19. He’ll look to take another step this season after committing to Army over the summer. He works hard and can play in all situations.

14. Matt DeBoer

Salisbury, 9/1/02, RW, right shot, 6-0/165
NCAA commit: Holy Cross

DeBoer scored 18 points last winter after putting up just nine in his first prep season. The Madison, N.J., native will likely put up even more points this season as he’s one of the most improved players in the region. DeBoer, who played for Rochester Selects 18-U this fall, is heavy on pucks and can be an effective two-way forward.

15. Joseph Kramer

Thayer, 8/8/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/165
NCAA commit: Providence

Like his twin brother, Peter Kramer, he’ll be making the jump from BC High to prep hockey. The Bridgewater, Mass., native was solid this fall for Cape Cod Whalers 18-U.

16. Timur Alishlalov

Avon Old Farms, 11/8/02, RW, right shot, 5-9/160

Alishlalov, from Moscow, Russia, is a skilled winger who can finish with his above average hands. To be more productive, he’ll need to play more in the dirty areas.

17. Ryan McGuire

Belmont Hill, 7/27/02, C, right shot, 5-10/165
NCAA commit: Colgate

McGuire split the fall between East Coast Wizards 18-U and Madison Capitols in the USHL. The New Canaan, Conn., native is a two-way center who scored 11 goals and 18 assists in 30 games last winter.

18. James Tepper

Proctor, 2/20/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/172

Tepper, who played the fall with Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, scored 18 goals and added 19 assists last winter. A physical winger, he has good hands and can shoot it hard.

19. Zack Tonelli

Taft, 2/14/02, RW, right shot, 5-8/160
NCAA commit: Brown

Tonelli is back for his third season at Taft after scoring seven goals and adding 12 assists in 2018-19. He spent the fall with Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18-U.

20. Anthony Cipollone

Loomis Chaffee, 5/14/02, C, left shot, 5-7/161
NCAA commit: Vermont

The Purchase, N.Y., native posted 10 goals and 12 assists in 25 games last winter for the Pelicans. Cipollone, who played for Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18-U this fall, is expected to be the first line center for Loomis.

21. Ronan Walsh

Proctor, 5/3/02, RW, right shot, 6-2.5/192
NCAA commit: Vermont

Walsh took a big jump last season, scoring 22 goals and 21 assists in 32 games for the Hornets. The Andover, N.H., native has a hard shot and is heavy on pucks.

22. Jake Black

Winchendon, 3/5/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/150

Black, who had six goals and five assists last season, is poised for a breakout year after having a solid summer and fall with the Eastern Mass Senators 18-U.

23. Brendan Gibbons

St. Mark’s, 7/18/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/211

Gibbons is a goal scorer who is around the puck a lot and can finish with a hard shot. In his third season, he should play a key role for the Lions. In 2018-19, Gibbons scored 15 goals and added 19 assists. From South Kingstown, R.I., he was with the Little Bruins 18-U this fall.

24. Karsen Dorwart

Hotchkiss, 9/17/02, C, left shot, 6-0.25/178

Dorwart comes to Hotchkiss from the San Jose Sharks youth program. He had a solid showing at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp.

25. Paul Dore

Kimball Union, 4/26/02, LW, left shot, 6-1/195

Dore returns to Meriden after scoring the game-winning goal in the Elite 8 championship game against Salisbury. He’s a big winger with a cannon of a shot. Dore spent the fall with the GBL Bruins 18-U.

26. Cole Vallese

Salisbury, 2/15/02, LW, left shot, 5-7.75/134
NCAA commit: Providence

Vallese, who played this fall for Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18-U, uses his speed to make an impact on the game.

27. Joe Schubert

St. Paul’s, 6/24/02, LW, left shot, 6-1/180

Schubert, hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, had seven goals and 14 assists in 27 games last winter. He spent the fall playing for the Cape Cod Whalers 18-U.

28. Jason Siedem

Avon Old Farms, 10/17/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/168

Siedem bounced around with four teams last season as he battled some health concerns. The Madison, N.J., native is back with AOF this winter as he looks to regain a college commit.

29. Doug Grimes

Dexter, 4/18/02, RW, right shot, 6-3/185

Grimes, from Brookline, Mass., had six goals and 10 assists last season. The big winger looks to take another step in his game this winter.

30. Dean Bauchiero

Salisbury, 3/4/02, LW, left shot, 6-3/190

Bauchiero is a big winger who will look to add some secondary scoring punch for the Crimson Knights. He had nine points in his first year with Salisbury last winter.

31. Hayden Riva

Berkshire, 4/26/02, LW, left shot, 5-11/165
NCAA commit: Union

Riva spent the fall with Mid Fairfield Rangers 18-U and will look to build upon his first two seasons at Berkshire where he had five and six points, respectively.

32. Bobby Luca

Roxbury Latin, 4/20/02, RW, right shot, 5-11/180

Luca had a really strong fall for Cape Cod Whalers 18-U. The Milton, Mass., native will be the offensive catalyst for Roxbury Latin. He had nine goals and 11 assists last winter.

33. Brendan Dumas

St. Sebastian’s, 8/28/02, C, right shot, 5-10/180

Dumas made a nice improvement in his game last winter, posting 16 points after scoring nine the previous season. Dumas, who plays with Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, is a solid forward who works hard.

34. Kyle Neudorf

Millbrook, 4/18/02, RW, right shot, 6-2/203

Neudorf is a power forward with a hard shot. He had 10 goals and 13 assists at Millbrook last winter.

35. Samuel Deckhut

Salisbury, 4/2/02, C/LW, left shot, 5-10.5/171

Deckhut comes to Salisbury after spending the last two seasons with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes youth program. He’s a good skater who had a goal and an assist at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp in June.

36. Niko Rexine

Millbrook, 6/20/02, C/LW, left shot, 5-11/161

Rexine is at his best when he’s going north-south and keeping things simple. His bread and butter is as a grinder on the bottom six. He played previously with Rochester Coalition.

37. Benjamin Jenkinson

St. George’s, 11/29/02, C, left shot, 6-1/185

Jenkinson had 21 goals and 27 assists in 30 games last season. Expect Jenkinson to be a leader for a St. George’s team that should surprise people this winter.

38. Will Halecki

Tabor, 4/19/02, C, right shot, 5-8/165

Halecki left Pingree after two seasons to join the Seawolves. He spent the fall with the New England Generals 18-U. Halecki is a 200-foot player who sees the ice well.

39. Jeffrey Lee

Milton, 5/15/02, LW, left shot, 5-10/175

Lee came to Milton for last winter after playing for the San Jose Jr. Sharks. He’s a versatile player who has skated up front or back on defense. After a 23 point season last year, he’ll be counted upon once again.

40. Jack Gorton

Trinity-Pawling, 2/13/02, RW, right shot, 6-2/185

The Granite Springs, N.Y., native joins the prep school circuit after playing the past two seasons at South Kent Selects Academy.

41. Nick Rheaume

Cushing, 5/2/02, LW, left shot, 6-1/180

Rheaume, who impressed a few times with Eastern Mass Senators this fall, comes to Cushing after playing in his native Quebec. He has a hard shot, but his skating needs improvement.

Defensemen

1. Ian Moore

St. Mark’s, 1/4/02, D, right shot, 6-2.25/171
NCAA commit: Harvard

Moore is a big, offensive defenseman who skates well and has a hard shot. The Concord, Mass., native had 16 goals and 10 assists last season. He spent this fall with Little Bruins 18-U.

2. Luca Fantilli

Kimball Union, 12/30/02, D, left shot, 6-0/175

Fantilli comes to KUA after a couple seasons with Toronto Titans in the GTHL. A good student and junior, he’s being courted by some Ivies. An offensive defenseman, his younger brother, Adam, is the most coveted prospect in prep hockey.

3. Bayard Hall

Salisbury, 8/16/02, D, right shot, 6-1/176
NCAA commit: Yale

The Oldwick, N.J., native had a solid first campaign with Salisbury and will look to continue that this winter. His solid play this fall with Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18-U gave him the opportunity to switch his commitment from Brown to Yale.

4. Jason Marsella

Avon Old Farms, 11/20/02, D, left shot, 5-10.5/181
NCAA commit: Yale

Marsella, who spent the past three seasons and fall with North Jersey Avalanche, will be in his first prep season. The Greenwich, Conn., native is an offensive-minded defenseman with strong skating ability.

5. Cole Teleki

Lawrence Academy, 3/13/02, D, right shot, 5-11.5/189
NCAA commit: Providence

Teleki comes to Lawrence from the Dallas Stars Elite youth program. His strong showing in the first few weeks of the fall with the River Rats 18-U earned him a commit to Providence. He’s a strong skater who closes quickly on opposing players.

6. Lukas Gustafsson

Cushing, 12/16/02, D, left shot, 5-10/175
NCAA commit: Boston College

Gustafsson, from Alpharetta, Ga., is an offensive defenseman who can break pucks out of his own zone with stretch passes. He has good feet and will look to jumpstart the Penguins’ offense in his second season in Ashburnham.

7. Damien Carfagna

Lawrence Academy, 12/12/02, D, left shot 5-9.5/153

Carfagna comes to LA from Don Bosco and Mercer Chiefs. He had a strong fall with River Rats 18-U. The Wood Ridge, N.J., native has good vision and can facilitate offense from the backend and can man the point on the power play.

8. Mack Oliphant

Lawrence Academy, 12/28/02, D, right shot, 6-3/190

Oliphant caught some eyes this fall while playing for the Little Bruins 18-U. He’s a good skater, especially for his big frame. The Northbrook, Ill., native played previously with Chicago Young Americans and Team Illinois.

9. Frank Djurasevic

Trinity-Pawling, 3/9/02, D, right shot, 6-2/190

Djurasevic played for Selects Academy previously and spent the fall with the North Jersey Avalanche. He’s a solid, two-way defenseman who can be a shutdown threat while also pitching in offensively with some good instincts.

10. Zach Bookman

Millbrook, 3/29/02, D, right shot, 5-9/170
NCAA commit: Merrimack

Bookman earned a commit to Merrimack following a strong first week of the fall season with Rochester Selects. He’s a good skater who can contribute offensively from the blue line. The Buffalo Jr. Sabres product is in his first year of prep hockey.

11. Tucker Hartmann

St. Mark’s, 4/4/02, D, right shot, 5-9.5/168

Hartmann is an athletic, offensive defenseman who can produce. His decision-making and play in his own end needs some work, but he plays hard. The Southboro, Mass., native had five goals and 32 assists last winter. He spent the fall with Little Bruins 18-U.

12. Nolan Hayes

Cushing, 8/14/02, D, right shot, 5-11.5/166

Hayes transferred from Thayer to Cushing. He’s an offensive defenseman with above average feet and stick. Hayes played for the Boston Jr. Eagles this fall.

13. Jarod Crespo

Salisbury, 4/30/02, D, right shot, 5-11.25/210
NCAA commit: Penn State

Crespo has been on the radar for a long time since committing to the Nittany Lions as a bantam. In three games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers this fall, he registered an assist.

14. Kyle Furey

Lawrence Academy, 2/5/02, D, right shot, 6-0/160

Furey, who played fall hockey for Cape Cod Whalers, is an offensive defenseman with a good stick. He should be on the radar for Division III coaches or BCHL and NCDC junior teams for next year.

15. Ben Ritter

Loomis Chaffee, 1/31/02, D, left shot, 5-10/165
NCAA commit: Dartmouth

Ritter is in his second season with Loomis after playing for the Syracuse Nationals and Rochester Coalition. His skating is the first thing that stands out.

16. Ryan MacDermott

St. Sebastian’s, 1/27/02, D, right shot, 6-0.25/185

MacDermott will have more of a chance to showcase his skill this winter with Jayden Struble and James Davenport moving on to college and junior hockey. He had a goal and three assists last winter.

17. Thomas Messineo

St. Sebastian’s, 5/2/02, D, left shot, 5-10.75/192

Messineo had a goal and five assists last winter. Like MacDermott, he’ll get more ice time this winter with the key departures ahead of him.

18. Jack Hepp

St. Paul’s, 4/12/02, D, right shot, 6-4.25/202

Hepp missed all of last season after suffering a gruesome lower body injury in the state tournament with the River Rats. He’s a big defenseman with some potential upside.

19. Bauer Swift

Choate, 6/17/02, D, right shot, 6-1/165

Swift is a smooth-skating defenseman who will be in his second season with Choate.

20. Zander Lizotte

Gunnery, 2/20/02, D, left shot, 5-9/160

This will be Lizotte’s fourth prep season. He spent the first two at Berwick. He had a goal and three assists last winter, his first with Gunnery.

Goaltenders

1. Tristan Mecenas

Governor’s, 11/18/02, G, catches left, 6-3/185

Mecenas transferred from Groton to Governor’s and had a strong fall for NEFPHL/Top Gun 18-U. He has good size and is drawing some serious attention.

2. Gavin Fitzpatrick

Thayer, 1/9/02, G, catches left, 6-0/157

Fitzpatrick, who has played fall hockey for the Boston Jr. Eagles, has always been one of the top ’02 goaltenders in the region, after the NTDP’s Drew Commesso. He needs to be more consistent, but he has the ability to be strong between the pipes.

3. Mason Kucenski

Vermont Academy, 4/8/02, G, catches left, 6-0/145

Kucenski is a decent size goaltender who joins the prep circuit after playing for Junior Bruins 16-U the past two winters. He spent the fall on the Little Bruins 18-U.