With only two weeks to go in the New England Prep School Ice Hockey Association (NEPSIHA) 2018-19 regular season, prospects have only a few opportunities left this year to impress college recruiters.
Several prep school players have committed to playing college hockey since the start of the season, including a big commitment last week. St. Mark’s ’02 defenseman Ian Moore chose Princeton after bringing his game to a whole new level over the past year.
Prep rookie ('00) Robert Cronin’s speed and skating ability has allowed him to be a play-making center for Gunnery. On Sunday, the Plymouth, Mass., native chose University of New Hampshire over several other Hockey East and ECAC Hockey programs.
Earlier in the season, Salisbury ’02 center Michael Cameron committed to play college hockey at the University of Massachusetts over some big name schools in Big Ten, NCHC and Hockey East.
Other notable commitments have been Kimball Union center Tomas Mazura (Providence), Tabor center Morgan Winters (New Hampshire), Avon Old Farms left wing Stef Miklakos (Army), Northfield Mount Hermon defenseman Mike Kennedy (Princeton), Loomis Chaffee defenseman Ben Ritter (Dartmouth), and Loomis Chaffee left wing Alexander Krause (Dartmouth).
While the onslaught of early recruiting has meant a lot of prep school hockey’s most notable players are already off the board, there remains plenty of viable talent for college recruiters, especially at the ’02 and ’03 levels.
Below is a look at top prospects in prep school hockey, by birth year:
2000s
Gabe Blanchard
Trinity-Pawling, 9/15/00, D, Left Shot, 6-0/185
Blanchard has caught the eye of college coaches over the past two years with his toughness and ability to break pucks out of his own zone. When he keeps things simple and doesn’t look to force the issue, he can be solid. Unlike a lot of offensive-minded defensemen, the East Aurora, N.Y., native likes to bring it physically.
Jagger Benson
Tilton, 10/23/00, D, Right Shot, 6-1/160
The Lynnfield, Mass., native has always been a swift-skating defenseman who has intrigued scouts and college coaches with his potential upside. While his hockey sense has been questioned, that area of his game has improved a little. There’s still some raw upside, but the clock is ticking obviously. After joining the prep ranks from Malden Catholic, he’s been a major key to Tilton’s success this season.
Charles Shaffer
Brunswick, 7/20/00, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/180
From Greenwich, Conn., Shaffer is most likely a top NESCAC recruit, but he just keeps producing. His skating and size are often questioned, but he’s able to get to the scoring areas and have a profound impact on the Bruins’ offense.
Nolan Fitzpatrick
Thayer, 6/25/00, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/174
Fitzpatrick has quietly put up a good senior season for Tony Amonte’s Tigers. From Norwood, Mass., Fitzpatrick is a nice complimentary player on his line. He’ll hunt pucks and go to the dirty areas. He’ll do what it takes to win hockey games for a top NESCAC program or an Atlantic Hockey team.
2001s
Cooper Moore
Brunswick, 2/16/01, D, Left Shot, 6-1/180
Moore began to impress college coaches down the stretch last season, but his play at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp wasn’t enough to put him over the top in that regard. His feet and ability to get shots through from the point are undeniable. He’s had some huge games on the score sheet this prep season. His hockey sense and ability to defend are issues that he’ll have to address in order to effectively make the jump to college hockey.
Jake Flynn
Thayer, 5/26/01, D, Right Shot, 5-11/180
Flynn, from Milton, Mass., has good feet and can move pucks out of his own zone. He can escape oncoming forecheckers and he is capable of jumping into the offense. His hockey sense without the puck is sometimes a problem, but his skill set is better than several area players who are committed. It might come soon and it might take a while, but Flynn will play Division I college hockey someday.
Henry Wilder
Hotchkiss, 3/19/01, G, Catches Left, 6-1/185
Wilder has always been one of the region’s top ’01 goaltenders, but he’s been under the radar due to playing at Hotchkiss. A stellar start to the season, including a shutout in the first game of the Flood Marr and a herculean performance against Salisbury a week or two earlier, got the attention of many college coaches and some NHL scouts. Wilder, from Needham, Mass., is drawing interest from schools in Hockey East, ECAC Hockey and Big Ten.
Tabor Heaslip
Avon Old Farms, 12/17/01, C, Left Shot, 5-9/160
Heaslip played previously for the Dallas Stars youth organization. He’s played a top six role for the Winged Beavers, which he likely won’t going forward. His compete and energy level are off the charts and something college programs want on their side. His stride is a little funky, but he gets the job done and can fly all over the ice. He hunts pucks and plays with an edge.
Eamon Doheny
Deerfield, 1/6/01, D, Left Shot, 6-0/180
Doheny’s offensive production has increased this season as he’s made a more focused attempt on joining the attack. His bread and butter as he moves forward will be his steady and physical presence in the defensive zone.
Stephen Willey
Trinity-Pawling, 3/26/01, RW, Right Shot, 6-1/200
Willey is the leading scorer for Bobby Ferraris’ club. While his offensive skill set won’t be in high demand among college coaches, his ability to play a solid, two way north-south game will be. He can bring it physically and he’s a bottom six winger who can kill penalties.
2002s
Lukas Gustafsson
Cushing, 12/16/02, D, Left Shot, 5-9/165
Gustafsson, from Alpharetta, Ga., quietly impressed some college coaches at last summer’s USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp before his first season in Ashburnham. While the Penguins have struggled of late, Gustafsson’s stock has risen this winter with his skating, hockey sense, and ability to impact the possession game for Steve Jacobs’ team. His game still needs some refinement, but he’s a Hockey East player. His father, Marcus Gustafsson, scored the overtime game-winning goal for Maine in the 1999 NCAA Championship game.
Jake Hewitt
Cushing, 7/5/02, RW, Right Shot, 5-9/155
Hewitt is a two-way forward who can play all situations for the Penguins. He’s bounced between the first and second line, but he’s consistently produced offense. Hewitt will also block shots and kill penalties. His vision and skating allow him to be an impact offensive player.
Tucker Hartmann
St. Mark’s, 4/4//02, D, Right Shot, 5-10/180
Hartmann is a competitor. He’ll make mistakes, but he’ll scrap for everything he has on the ice. He has a good stick and can certainly join the offensive attack. He skates well and has the feet to escape trouble. His play in his defensive end and away from the puck in general still is a work in progress, but at the end of the day, an ECAC Hockey program will be fortunate to have him in their lineup.
Ryan McGuire
Belmont Hill, 7/27/02, C, Right Shot, 6-1/180
McGuire is a smart, cerebral, 200-foot center. While his offensive skill set and skating aren’t elite, there are plenty of aspects of his game that college coaches covet. He wins face-offs, he plays responsibly in all three zones, and he’s always on the right side of the puck. He reads plays well and sees the ice well, which allows him to be a setup guy at the prep level. He’d be a nice bottom six center for an ECAC Hockey program. His father, Pierre McGuire, is an NHL analyst on NBC.
Gavin Fitzpatrick
Thayer, 1/9/02, G, Catches Left, 5-11/155
Playing in front of a very young team, that includes many ‘02s, ‘03s and ‘04s, Fitzpatrick has seen his ups and downs for Thayer this winter. However, he’s still proven he’s one of the top ’02 goaltenders in this region outside of Drew Commesso with his play on the ice. Fitzpatrick has decent size, good athleticism and is technically sound.
Timur Alishlalov
Avon Old Farms, 11/8/02, RW, Right Shot 5-9/160
After a huge season playing up in the USPHL 18U, expectations were high for the Moscow, Russia, native. Several schools, including BC, had interest early on in the season. Jerry York even made the trip out to Deerfield to watch the Winged Beavers. Alishlalov has plenty of skill with the puck on his stick whether it’s dangling around defenders or unleashing hard wrist shots, but he hasn’t been able to put up the numbers in prep yet.
2003s
Matt McGroarty
Brunswick, 1/30/03, C, Right Shot, 5-10/150
Simply put, McGroarty is a hockey player. He skates well and he plays the game the right way, centering Brunswick’s second line and also jumping up to the top unit on the power play. He has a good stick, hunts pucks, and competes hard each shift.
Culin Wilson
Dexter, 3/12/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-11/180
Wilson’s play has elevated as the season has gone along, as he’s gained the trust of Dexter coach Dan Donato. He’s moved up to the second line left wing spot in most recent viewings. He’s heavy on pucks, reads plays well, and knows where to go to find offensive chances.
Nick Roukounakis
Thayer, 9/8/03, LW, Left Shot, 6-0/200
Roukounakis has played on the first line left wing in most recent viewings, but has been a top six forward for a young squad at Thayer. He’s heavy on pucks and does a good job of playing well below the dots, especially for such a young player in prep. He has a hard shot and isn’t afraid to drive the net.
Patrick Morrissey
Dexter, 1/7/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11/165
Morrissey’s hockey sense with the puck on his stick is what stands out immediately. He makes a very good first pass more times than not. He skates with his head up and can quarterback a power play. His feet and defensive zone play still are a work in progress at the prep level, but he should get an opportunity to commit to a Beanpot school in the future.
Will Elias
St. Sebastian’s, 1/28/03, D, Right Shot, 5-10/150
Elias’ stock is rising significantly as he enjoys a second pairing role for the Arrows. He’s not flashy, but he skates well, makes smart decisions, and can be reliable in his own zone for a young player in prep.
Aidan Lyons
Nobles, 2/26/03, D, Left Shot, 5-9/155
Lyons has gotten a lot of minutes for Nobles this winter and has proven he can handle it in his first year of prep. He skates well, moves the puck well, and can play on the power play. His hockey sense away from the puck is improving. There should be significant Division I interest coming his way, if there hasn’t been already.
Conor Callaghan
Avon Old Farms, 3/2/03, G, Catches Left, 6-0/160
Callaghan has played extremely well in his limited action this winter, serving as the backup to ’01 Providence commit Alex Aslanidis. His last viewing was the best yet. He came on in relief at Gunnery last week and shut the door. He has decent size, moves well and eats pucks.
2004s
Jackson Dorrington
Cushing, 4/13/04, D, Left Shot, 6-0/170
Dorrington has shown immense poise while skating significant minutes this winter. He skates well, makes a good first touch, and can jump into the offense. He’s always shown that offensive ability, but he’s stood out in other ways for the Penguins. What’s been most impressive is his ability to defend and play well and responsibly away from the puck.
Michael Stenberg
Thayer, 9/22/04, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/175
As an eighth grader, Stenberg has bounced around the lineup some, but he’s gotten a chance on the top line a few times. He can really fire a puck and he works well below the dots and along the wall with his size and strength for his age.
William Hughes
Phillips Andover, 1/14/04, RW, Right Shot, 6-2/185
Hughes has played top six minutes for Phillips Andover this winter. He has good size, skates well and can shoot the puck. His size jumps out to college coaches right away. He’s already being watched by some marque Hockey East programs.
Ryan Buckley
St. George’s, 1/6/04, D, Right Shot, 5-11/150
Buckley is the son of former BC player and current NHLPA agent Jerry Buckley and the nephew of of former BC and pro player and current BC assistant coach Brendan Buckley. He has all the makings of a college defenseman someday. In the one viewing at Dexter, Buckley didn’t look out of place at all, considering his team was seriously outmanned.
