Each winter, NHL scouts scour prep school hockey rinks across New England in hopes of finding talent for the upcoming draft.
This year is no exception. It is a down year for American prospects across the board, and that includes the prep school circuit. Nonetheless, players such as St. Mark’s defenseman Ian Moore (Concord, Mass.), Gunnery right wing Alex Jefferies (Lunenburg, Mass.), Salisbury center Lucas Mercuri and Lawrence Academy right wing Riley Duran (Woburn, Mass.) have received plenty of attention from NHL scouts.
While this year’s crop still deserves attention and viewings, it’s an interesting time to look at who might be the prep players on NHL scouts’ radars ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft. Last week, New England Hockey Journal profiled the top 68 American players who will be first year eligible prospects for the 2021 NHL Draft. Now, we take a more in depth look at the skill sets, strengths, and weaknesses of prep hockey’s 2021 draft class. Every player on this list is a good prep school hockey player with strengths and weaknesses.
Prep hockey’s top 2021 NHL Draft Prospects
1. Shane Lachance
Tabor, 8/30/03, LW, left shot, 6-3/180
Lachance is a huge left wing with the potential to blossom into a big time power forward. He’s raw, but he keeps getting better. The Andover, Mass., native is currently on a five-game goal scoring streak. He’s still growing into his big body, so there’s some growing pains, but he got better at Andover High and now he’s showing improvement at Tabor. Lachance has great length and can protect pucks as he comes off the wall and penetrates the slot. There’s enormous potential here.
2. JP Turner
Avon Old Farms, 1/31/03, C, right shot, 5-10.25/186
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Turner is a player who has stood out to me for a few years now. He had a terrific freshman season at Falmouth High School before moving on to the prep level at AOF. Turner’s skating was once an issue, but it continues to get better and better. His biggest strengths are his shot, his physical play, and ability to be heavy on pucks and control possession below the dots. Turner brings some intangibles that I really like. He’s skilled, but he works hard and does what it takes to win hockey games.
3. Cully Wilson
Dexter, 3/12/03, LW, left shot, 5-11/180
Wilson is a smart, cerebral winger who sees the ice very well. The Hingham, Mass., native makes a lot of good plays from the wall and has that innate ability to slow the game down. Tied for the team lead in scoring, Wilson’s game continues to take off at the prep level. He plays in all situations - even strength, power play and penalty kill. Wilson is heavy on pucks and can shoot it hard. He’s a good skater, and once he learns to keep his feet moving on a more consistent basis, there is even greater potential.
4. Tim Delay
St. Sebastian’s, 6/16/02, C, right shot, 6-0.25/162
NCAA commit: Boston College
Delay has already doubled his freshman year point total in slightly more than half the games. The Hingham, Mass., native is the best skater in the ’03 age group. He also has the ability to snap off a puck and his hands are good. With his size, skating and skill, there is a ton of potential. He just needs to continue working on playing harder between the dots and improving his sense.
5. Sasha Teleguine
Thayer, 9/17/02, C, left shot, 5-9.25/178
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Teleguine, from Attleboro, Mass., is another elite skater. He’s a late ’02 who can be absolutely dynamic at times. Teleguine has changed the tone of numerous games this fall and winter with his skating and skill. He’s a little undersized, but he has the ability to drive the net and be a power forward. I’ve seen him score highlight reel goals, but also seen him try to execute a between the legs goal without it working. I’d like to see him cut down on some of the fancy moves and just power his way to the net all the time because I think he has that capability. His hockey sense and play away from the puck are two areas of his game that need to improve in order for his stock to rise further.
6. Drew Tsakounis
Avon Old Farms, 7/15/03, D, left shot, 5-9/159
NCAA commit: Penn State
Tsakounis is undersized, but he’s a puck-moving, possession machine each and every time I see Avon Old Farms and Mid Fairfield during the fall. He has touch on his passes and he can break pucks out and jump into the rush. Tsakounis can quarterback a power play and he’s able to see the ice well in front of him. He’s gotten better defensively, but there is still room to improve there. I like that he’s confident, gaps well, and has a good stick when defending the rush.
7. Luca Fantilli
Kimball Union, 12/30/02, D, left shot, 6-0/175
NCAA commit: Michigan
Fantilli is a late ’02 who will be eligible in 2021. In his first year of prep hockey, he’s averaging over a point per game. There’s no question Fantilli skates well enough and has the stick to merit consideration for the draft. He’s not flashy, but he makes smart and efficient outlet passes. If he can bulk up and play a harder game, his stock will improve further.
8. Brendan Fitzgerald
Governor’s, 3/6/03, D, left shot, 5-10.5/147
Fitzgerald is the leading scorer for Governor’s in his first season of prep school hockey. The North Reading, Mass., native has skill and vision to make plays. What I really like about his game is he’s hard to play against. He’s not one of those skilled defensemen who is soft defensively. Fitzgerald throws his weight around and is hard to beat. He’s tough and does a good job defending the rush. Limiting turnovers, which will come in time, and not getting caught up ice are two areas of his game that could use improvement.
9. Paul Davey
Avon Old Farms, 1/11/03, LW, left shot, 6-1/164
NCAA commit: Boston College
Davey is a tall, lanky skilled winger who could blossom into more of a power forward. While Davey has good hands and can make some highlight reel plays, I’d like to see him be even more assertive, drive the net and play harder between the dots. I believe has the size to do so.
10. Matt Copponi
Dexter Southfield, 6/4/03, C, right shot, 5-10/140
Copponi is tied for the team lead in scoring in his first season of prep school hockey. Centering the top line, the Mansfield, Mass., native hunts pucks and has an edge to his game. He’s more skilled than sometimes given credit for. Copponi can play in all situations at this level. I think he still has room to grow physically and become an even better prospect than he is currently.
11. Damien Carfagna
Lawrence, 12/12/02, D, left shot, 5-10/153
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Carfagna is an average to slightly above average sized defender with mobility and puck skills. He’s terrific moving pucks up ice, can quarterback a power play, and get shots on net from the point. Offensively, he thinks the game well. Areas of his game that need improvement are defensive reads and not trying to force plays.
12. Will Killoran
Belmont Hill, 1/30/03, D, right shot, 6-2/180
Killoran, from Charlestown, Mass., is a hard-nosed defender who gets better and better with each viewing. His puck handling and skating could use some improvement, but both areas are improved. What I like most about Killoran is he rarely gets beat by opposing forwards. He’s strong, tough, physical and has a lot of will. Killoran can deliver some big hits, but he also uses his strength to win battles along the boards and prevent plays from developing.
13. Brendan Gorman
St. Sebastian’s, 2/17/03, C/RW, right shot, 5-10/134
Gorman is close to tripling his freshman year point total. More ice time is certainly part of that, but credit goes to the Arlington, Mass., native for getting more explosive and showing more skill. Gorman will continue to grow into a good sized power forward with some skill. He hunts pucks in the corners and isn’t afraid to go to the net.
14. Cooper Flinton
St. Paul’s, 8/16/03, C/LW, left shot, 6-2/205
Flinton is a little bit of a project, but there’s plenty to like in his game. He’s a big power forward who has played wing previously, but moved to center during this season. I think moving forward, especially projecting to the pro game, he’d be back at wing. He has good size, can shoot it hard, and he has the ability to play a heavy, north-south game. His skating needs to get better, but his physical tools are intriguing.
15. Oliver Flynn
Loomis Chaffee, 6/13/03, LW, left shot, 6-0/164
NCAA commit: UConn
Flynn is a power forward whose game has taken off over the last 12 months. He went from a relative unknown to making national camp and earning a commit to UConn. He’s hard on pucks and has a good shot. Flynn is still a little raw, but there’s some potential here.
16. Matt McGroarty
Brunswick, 1/30/03, C/LW, right shot, 5-10/159
NCAA commit: Quinnipiac
McGroarty is one of those hockey players who you win with. He’s not overly skilled and his offensive instincts aren’t elite. However, he hunts pucks, skates well, and plays hard. He’ll go to the net to finish off plays or he’ll win a puck battle in the corner and get it out to an open teammate. I really like how he plays and think he’ll be a tremendous college player, if nothing else.
17. Tristan Mecenas
Governor’s, 11/18/02, G, catches left, 6-4/185
His numbers might scare some observers off, but take a closer look at this big goaltender from Mount Airy, Md. His consistency needs to get better, but he’s played well in several viewings this fall and winter for teams that are typically getting outshot. When he’s on top of his game, Mecenas eats pucks and makes saves look easy by being square to shooters and challenging them at the top of the crease.
18. Mack Oliphant
Lawrence, 12/28/02, D, right shot, 6-3/190
Oliphant is the wildcard here as he has tremendous size and there’s something there. His skating has improved drastically from last year when he was with the Chicago Young Americans. You can’t teach his size and his upward trajectory is something to be intrigued by.
