There aren’t any elite prospects among the new ’00s and ’99s in prep hockey, as most of the high-end players in these age groups are already playing junior hockey or in college.
However, a ’00 or ‘99 newcomer could make a splash in prep school hockey this season due to having the physical and mental maturity that some of the younger players might not have.
Some of the ’00 and ‘99 prep rookies that could have an impact this season are post-grad students, while others are seniors or repeat juniors.
Last season, ’99 PG Ryan Black had the third most points of any player in prep while skating in his first season in the circuit for Pomfret. The Pomfret, Conn., native, who played high school hockey in Connecticut, has moved onto Babson, where he’s off to a hot start. In 10 games for the Beavers, he has three goals and five assists.
Who’s this year’s Ryan Black?
Jagger Benson
Tilton, Jr., D, Right Shot, 6-1/150
The Lynnfield, Mass., native comes to the prep circuit after playing previously at Malden Catholic and Lynnfield High School. Benson comes from an athletic family, including his father, Bob Benson, who played college hockey at Merrimack. Benson is a very good skater and has skill carrying the puck up ice. His hockey sense needs work, but if he could ever learn to keep it simple and just make good, smart plays with the puck, he could be a Division I player.
Sean Brown
Governor’s, Jr., C, Right Shot, 6-0/175
Brown is a repeat junior after playing three seasons at Central Catholic. He received a lot of notoriety as a freshman playing alongside Boston University freshman Jake Wise. While his production slipped following that season, he was always a top two or three player for the Raiders, a top eight team in the MIAA over the past decade. Brown can be on the perimeter at times, but he has an above average offensive skill set and his skating will hold up in prep.
Robert Cronin
Gunnery, Sr., RW, Right Shot, 5-10/185
The Plymouth, Mass., native spent the 2015-16 season with the Boston Bandits 16-U before making the move to the Boston Advantage for the past two winters. Cronin never put up monster offensive numbers, but he had a very good fall season while playing for Yale Midget Hockey 18-U. He joins a deep roster at Gunnery, but he should be able to put up decent offensive numbers and get a look from Division III colleges for the 2019-20 season.
Andrew Ebersol
Taft, PG, D, Right Shot, 6-6/210
Ebersol played high school hockey in New York at Penfield High School. He’s a huge, rangy defenseman with some upside. His skating isn’t great, but it’s not horrible for a big guy. His presence keeps plays to the outside. He’ll have to play a year of junior hockey after this one if he’s going to be a walk-on for an Atlantic Hockey or ECAC program, but he should be looked at by all the major players in Division III.
Ray Galasso
Phillips Andover, Jr., D, Left Shot, 5-11/165
The Windham, N.H., native is another repeat junior who comes to prep from Central Catholic. He’s a three-year varsity player who was an above average player in the MIAA. He has decent size and can skate well enough to be a solid prep player under Paul Tortorella.
Jake Lachance
Berkshire, PG, D, Left Shot, 5-11/165
Lachance joins Dan Driscoll’s program after wearing a letter as a senior for Chris Kuchar’s Super 8 team at Andover High School. Lachance will get top four minutes for the Bears. Jake’s father, Scott Lachance, played collegiately at BU and is now an amateur scout with the New Jersey Devils.
Henry Molson
Taft, Jr., C, Left Shot, 6-1/201
Coming down to play for the Rhinos from his native Quebec, Molson will likely center the second or third line for Ryan Shannon’s club. He’ll provide an older, veteran presence to a lineup that will be fairly solid up. He’s the son of Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson.
Alex Mozian
Hotchkiss, PG, RW, Right Shot, 6-0/160
Mozian comes to the Bearcats after playing for Greenwich High School. He had a fairly good fall split season with Yale Midget Hockey’s ‘Showcase’ team, it’s second tier team. He has decent size and can shoot it. He should get top six minutes for Mike Traggio’s club.
Brendan Nehmer
Williston, PG, C, Left Shot, 5-11/165
Nehmer was a star at Western Mass. powerhouse Pope Francis before jumping to the prep ranks for a PG year. He has a nifty offensive skill set and can make plays, even in tight areas. He should be able to contribute offensively right from the get go for Derek Cunha’s team.
Zach Taylor
Kimball Union, PG, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/185
Taylor quietly put up huge numbers for MIAA Division 3 power Hanover High School. He’ll obviously be facing tougher competition and won’t have as significant of a role at KUA, but he could provide some secondary offense from the second or third line.
