The 2020-21 hockey season has been challenging for local players in terms of consistent development, competition and exposure.
Limited and disrupted practices and inconsistent roster availability has made development challenging. Massachusetts’ ban on tournaments and the region’s prohibition on interstate games has meant less competition.
Some teams have done a good job of adapting and playing through challenging times. It’s been easier for the big-name players to continue getting attention. However, a handful of less-heralded players have stepped up and started to garner attention over the past few months. College coaches might not be in the rinks, but these players already have started generating buzz or will shortly.
Below is a look at several players who don’t have commits and aren’t household names but who are playing well and demonstrating improvement in their skill-set. All the players mentioned below are 2002s through ’04s and of recruiting age.
Jake Black
Winchendon/Islanders Hockey Club, 3/5/02, RW, right shot, 5-11/181
With the prep school hockey season on hold, Black opted to move on from Winchendon and play for the Islanders Hockey Club in the NCDC. In 26 games so far, he has 11 goals and 12 assists. The Pomfret, Conn., native is a very good skater with speed that makes him dangerous. He does a good job creating on the rush and has exceeded my expectations in junior hockey. Black is a player who has generated some Atlantic Hockey interest in the past. That is likely his ceiling, unless he’s a walk-on in ECAC Hockey or Hockey East.
Tyler Chenevert
Hill School/River Rats 18-U, 2/14/03, C, right shot, 6-1/185
Chenevert, from Shrewsbury, Mass., transitioned from playing defense to center prior to the start of the 2020-21 season. He’s a player who I had seen multiple times previously, but never thought much of at the defensive position. As a center, he’s piqued my interest. With Hill canceling its season, Chenevert joined the River Rats full-season team. In 16 games, he has 10 goals and 10 assists. He skates well, goes to the dirty areas, and is on the right side of the puck more often than not. His offensive instincts are a work in progress, but he’s a player who has started to get some interest from programs in all three Eastern conferences.
James Fisher
Belmont Hill/East Coast Wizards 16-U, 4/28/04, C/RW, right shot, 6-2/170
Fisher started to show signs of improvement as a freshman at Belmont Hill last season. As I’ve written previously, he always was an intriguing prospect due to his size. He took a big leap over the offseason and had a monster fall for East Coast Wizards. A power forward, the Wilmington, Mass., native skates well and is getting interest from a few big-time Hockey East programs.
Donovan Frias
St. George’s/Junior Bruins 16-U, 11/9/04, C/LW, left shot, 6-3/194
Frias played the fall season for Boston Imperials 16-U but has appeared in several games for the Junior Bruins 16-U this winter with St. George’s on pause. He had a strong season at the 15-U level last season but has elevated his game this winter. He’s big, can drive the net, and protect pucks. The Hudson, Mass., also has the ability to play a physical game. He’s a player who could get to Hockey East, if he keeps trending in this upward direction.
Drew Garzone
Deerfield/Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 5/30/04, C, right shot, 6-0/150
Garzone was a solid player coming up with the South Shore Kings ’04 team. He was solid in the first part of the fall, but his game really started to show signs of improvement in November and December. He’s gotten bigger and has a solid base. He skates well and is athletic. Projecting forward, Garzone should be a reliable two-way center at the college level. These past few months he’s shown some more offensive upside, but his calling card will always be as a big, physical defensive forward. I’d expect him to land at an ECAC Hockey school such as Colgate, St. Lawrence or Union.
Kurt Gurkan
Phillips Exeter/River Rats 18-U, 2/13/04, C/LW, left shot, 5-10/170
The 2020-21 season has been a roller-coaster ride for Gurkan. The Darien, Conn., native has played for five different teams while trying to get on the ice with Phillips Exeter on hold. Most recently, he’s been a standout for the River Rats full-season team, with six goals and 10 assists in nine games. Gurkan has good speed, skill and is becoming harder on pucks. He practiced with the Jersey Hitmen for much of the fall and it shows in his improvement. A good student, Ivy League schools such as Brown, Dartmouth, Yale and Princeton should be in pursuit.
Drew Haxton
Nobles/South Shore Kings 18-U, 1/12/03, RW, right shot, 5-10/165
Haxton, from Wakefield, R.I., is a player who has steadily improved over the past 18 months or so. He’s still a little raw and in need of becoming more of a complete player. However, his speed has been a major factor in almost every viewing. He put up more than a point per game this fall in split-season action with the South Shore Kings. Haxton is a player who should be watched closely by Atlantic Hockey and NESCAC programs.
Mason Kucenski
Vermont Academy/River Rats 18-U, 4/8/02, G, catches left, 6-3/165
Kucenski has been a good goaltender for many years now, but he’s been a game-changer for the teams he has been with this season. He held down the fort and kept Springfield Rifles in many games this fall and the beginning of the winter. He then jumped over to the River Rats full-season team and has not lost a game. Many longtime observers might remember Kucenski as a former Junior Bruins 16-U goaltender. He left for Vermont Academy prior to the 2019-20 season. He has good size, is quiet in net, and makes key saves. A bonus to his game is he does a good job of playing the puck and helping jumpstart the breakout. There isn’t a team in the NAHL that shouldn’t be scouting him and at least considering him for 2021-22. Goaltending is a hard position to project, but he’s a Division 1-caliber player. Whether he’s a starter or backup probably depends on what program he ends up at in college.
Donovan O’Neil
Dexter Southfield/Junior Eagles 18-U, 6/7/02, LW, left shot, 6-0/185
O’Neil was never a go-to player for the Boston Advantage, Junior Eagles and Dexter Southfield, but his role has increased this winter. Danny Donato’s team is one of the few prep teams that has shown a willingness to play anyone, anywhere. Dexter Southfield has played MIAA and Midget teams, even traveling to West Springfield to play Pope Francis. O’Neil has gotten plenty of opportunities, thanks in part to that. He’s been the left wing on the first line with Merrimack commit Matt Copponi at center and Harvard commit Will Hughes at right wing. O’Neil has scored quite a few goals in my viewings. He hangs around the net, is heavy on pucks, and shows a willingness to engage physically. His college projection is still up in the air. He’d be a very good commit for a top Division 3 program or a fringe player in Atlantic Hockey or ECAC Hockey.
Jordin Palmer
Avon Old Farms, 1/6/04, D, left shot, 6-1/175
Palmer came up through the Seacoast Performance Academy but transitioned to prep at Avon Old Farms prior to the start of this season. Unfortunately, I haven’t been allowed in at any of the Connecticut prep school games. But, from watching online, his skating has gotten even better. He has good edges and has the size to show promise. He can be dependable at both ends as a big, strong blueliner. He shoots it hard and he has the ability to be a physical, shutdown defender. The Auburn, N.H., native has the ability to play in Hockey East, likely as a third-pairing defenseman.
Brandon Spaulding
Pope Francis/Springfield Rifles 18-U, 8/8/03, C/LW, left shot, 5-11/165
Spaulding is a good skater who has played left wing this winter on the top line with ’05 Ryan Leonard at center. Spaulding’s skill-set is above average and he plays a mature game for the high school level. He might not blow coaches away with his style of play, but he’s a prospect who continues to get better. He’s starting to generate interest from a couple of Atlantic Hockey and ECAC Hockey schools. His likely college destination will be in Atlantic Hockey or at a top Division 3 program.
Connor Sutherland
Dexter Southfield/River Rats 16-U, 1/19/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/160
Sutherland has been on Dexter Southfield’s most consistent line this winter with center Will Vote and right wing Grayson Badger. Sutherland scored just one goal for Dexter Southfield last winter but has potted a bunch more in fewer games in 2020-21. He’s heavy on pucks, plays hard and shoots it with some zip. His skating has gotten a little better and can continue to improve. However, he’s a player who has come a long way. He certainly has a chance to play Division 1.
