MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Several 2021 NHL draft prospects and some notable uncommitted players showcased their skill-sets at the recently completed USA Hockey 18-U National Championship at Centene Community Ice Center just outside of St. Louis.
Rochester Coalition didn’t necessarily have any NHL prospects on its roster, but several players on the national championship team helped raise their stock prior to leaving Missouri. Other top teams at the event included Boston Junior Eagles, Maine Nordiques, Mount Saint Charles, North Jersey Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins Elite.
At the 18-U level, the discrepancy between the top teams and the also-rans is more prominent than any other age division that competes for a national championship. There just aren’t quite as many good 18-U teams with players leaving for the NTDP, USHL, NAHL and college in some instances.
My prospect evaluations are broken down into two groupings. First, I’ll break down the performances of the 2021 NHL draft prospects who are on NHL Central Scouting. Secondly, I will feature the uncommitted players who caught my eye during my viewings at this tournament.
While I want to focus on the draft prospects and uncommitted players, I do want to quickly mention some committed guys who showed well. For Rochester Coalition, a pair of Salisbury forwards led the charge for much of the week. St. Lawrence commit Samuel Deckhut showed off his skating and skill, while Brown commit Dean Bauchiero proved he’s a capable power forward. North Jersey Avalanche center Michael Emerson, a UMass commit, likely made a few NHL scouts scribble down notes in anticipation of the late ’03 being eligible in 2022. Another UMass commit, Timofey Spitserov, a San Jose Sharks pick, is a goal scorer who played well for Culver Military Academy. Dartmouth commit Jackson Morehouse, who will be playing in the BCHL next season, had a very good tournament for Pittsburgh Penguins Elite.
2021 NHL draft prospects
1. Scott Morrow
Shattuck, 11/1/02, D, right shot, 6-2/195
NCAA commit: UMass
Morrow had an outstanding tournament offensively. He had two goals and six assists and scored a highlight-reel tally during a shootout. From Darien, Conn., Morrow has the size, stick and offensive instincts that will make NHL scouts excited. His skating is just slightly above average. His feet are a little heavy, but he can make plays with the puck on his stick. Whether it’s breaking the puck out, gaining zone entry, or walking the blue line on the power play, Morrow can do it. He recently decommitted from North Dakota in favor of UMass. Some prognosticators have Morrow as a second- or third-round pick. I’d guess he’ll end up as more of a third- or fourth-round pick.
2. Nate Benoit
Mount Saint Charles, 11/26/02, D, left shot, 6-1/185
NCAA commit: North Dakota
Benoit had a solid, if not spectacular showing at nationals. He plays a strong two-way game. From Bow, N.H., Benoit showed some glimpses here with his physical play and puck-moving ability. I’ve seen him play better, but he’s still a fourth- or fifth-round pick.
3. Tim Delay
Junior Eagles, 6/16/03, C, right shot, 6-1/183
NCAA commit: Boston College
This was my best viewing of Delay in quite a while. The Hingham, Mass., native never leaves you with any doubt as to his skating ability. He’s an elite skater with skill and above-average size. There are times where you question his compete level. I thought that was a little better here. It’s never going to be a strength. With the physical tools, if would be a surpise if an NHL team doesn’t give him a chance by selecting him in the later rounds.
4. Owen McLaughlin
Mount Saint Charles, 3/25/03, C, left shot, 6-0/160
NCAA commit: Penn State
McLaughlin had three goals and an assist here while showing his skating, length and skill. There’s still room for him to grow and become a more dynamic offensive threat. He can be a little perimeter at times, but I think he’s worth taking a shot on in the sixth or seventh round of the draft.
5. Tyler Rubin
Junior Eagles, 1/10/03, D, left shot, 5-10/155
NCAA commit: Princeton
Rubin’s feet are elite. The Wayland, Mass., native has the skating ability to break pucks out of his own zone and jump into the offensive rush. His stick isn’t as good as his skating, but it’s another positive attribute. While I think Rubin is going to be a good, puck-moving defenseman at the collegiate level, I’m a little weary of endorsing him for a draft pick, due to his size and hockey sense.
6. Nick Roukounakis
Junior Eagles, 9/8/03, LW, left shot, 6-3/220
NCAA commit: Boston University
I’ve liked Roukounakis’ game in the past. He’s big, rugged and plays heavy. The Pembroke, Mass., native is a physical winger who hangs around the scoring areas. This wasn’t his best viewing.
Top uncommitted prospects
Forwards
William Whitelaw
Shattuck, 2/5/05, LW, right shot, 5-8/155
Whitelaw has good speed, quickness and hands to display, even as an ’05 playing against mostly ’02s and ’03s. He’s able to make some highlight-reel plays with his stickhandling and passing ability. He also showed a finishing touch here. The Rosemount, Minn., native can play center or wing. Whitelaw will be at this week’s USA Hockey NTDP Evaluation Camp in Plymouth, Mich.
Evan Brown
North Jersey Avalanche, 10/14/03, C, right shot, 5-10/150
I really like Brown’s motor. He competes and keeps his feet moving. The Little Silver, N.J., native hunts pucks, plays a tenacious brand of hockey, and gets to the scoring areas. In small areas, he can be elusive and shifty.
Jordan Brisson
Shattuck, 12/1/03, RW, left shot, 6-1/170
Brisson doesn’t appear to be as high end of a prospect as his older brother, Brendan Brisson, a late first-round pick in 2020. The Manhattan Beach, Calif., native is a late ’03 who could be a late bloomer, similarly to Brendan. He’s a little bigger, gets to the scoring areas, and has above-average speed. He just doesn’t have that elite separation speed or second gear. The younger Brisson is a Division 1 player.
Jared Mangan
Rochester Coalition, 4/8/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/150
Mangan had a goal and three assists. The Lancaster, N.Y., native and Trinity-Pawling winger has a very good stick. He’s improving, and if he can become less one-dimensional, there certainly will be a spot for him on a college roster.
Niko Rexine
Rochester Coalition, 6/20/02, RW, right shot, 6-2/170
I’ve liked Rexine for a while because of his size and north-south ability as a power forward. He’s certainly made great strides in his game and that showed here. He scored five goals while using his size, strength and net drive to his advantage. From Syracuse, N.Y., Rexine is slated to play for the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL.
Michael Cataldo
Junior Eagles, 5/4/04, RW, right shot, 6-1/195
Cataldo had a good tournament as a power forward who can go up and down the wing and impact the game. The Norfolk, Mass., native has a wide frame, provides a physical element, and can shoot it. His skating is still not great, but it’s gotten better. Cataldo brings a lot of intangibles, including a tremendous work ethic. His skating might be a deterrent for pro potential, but he’s good enough to get to the Division 1 level.
Arvega Hovsepyan
Shattuck, 4/2/03, C, right shot, 5-8/166
This was the most offensive production I’ve seen from Hovsepyan. He’s always shown a gritty side where he’ll hunt pucks and be the first one in on the forecheck. Here he found the back of the net and made some plays. Still, the hallmarks of his game were his quickness and compete level.
Zachary Aben
Mount Saint Charles, 12/12/03, C, left shot, 5-10/180
Going back to last season at 16-U, Aben consistently scored goals during my viewings. I kind of wrote it off, but I can’t any longer. From Shavertown, Pa., Aben scored three times here. He has a good shot and he plays hard. He keeps his feet moving, he hunts pucks, and he works hard away from the puck to get into good positions.
Justin Mexico
Maine Nordiques, 12/5/03, C/LW, left shot, 5-9/165
Mexico has good hands and can fly around the offensive zone. His stickhandling and passing ability are both notable. From Royal Oak, Mich., there’s a lot to like about his offensive game. I think he should adapt well to the NAHL for next season.
Shawn O’Donnell
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 6/21/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/165
Other players on his team out-produced O’Donnell, but I like his compete and big-game energy. He always seems to play hard and save his best hockey for key moments. His footwork and skating are still a work in progress and likely will make his transition to junior hockey a little more challenging. I think he’ll get to Division 1, but it will take a while.
Defensemen
Michael Quinn
Shattuck, 3/25/03, D, right shot, 5-10/170
Quinn didn’t put up the gaudy offensive numbers that some of his teammates did, but I like his steady game. He’s a player who keeps getting better with each viewing. From University City, Mo., he does a good job of retrieving pucks and making smart, yet simple, outlet passes. He has a mean streak and plays a consistent and reliable game in his own zone.
Nolan Joyce
Junior Eagles, 9/25/03, D, right shot, 6-1/175
Joyce was always well regarded in the ’03 birth year while coming up the ranks, but there was a time when some other players might have passed him by. The Dedham, Mass., native has caught back up and skated past many of his peers in the ’03 class. He has good size, skates well and has a good stick. There’s a lot to like from the sophomore at St. Sebastian’s.
Bauer Morrissey
Rochester Coalition, 1/19/02, D, left shot, 5-10/165
Morrissey was credited with just three assists on the week, but he was involved in the play and made a huge impact. The Leesburg, Va., native has mobility and a good stick. He pushes the pace in transition and can quarterback a power play. He’s not the biggest defender, but his offensive ability is certainly good enough to land a Division 1 commit.
Liam Lesakowski
Rochester Coalition, 12/12/03, D, left shot, 6-3/190
Lesakowski had a big week here. He’s always shown signs and been a player who I’ve pegged as having potential. He’s certainly blossoming into a capable defender at both ends of the ice. With his size, he’ll need to just make the simple, smart play and not try to force it. He showed he’s capable of playing with an edge and bringing it physically. The Buffalo native should have already been on the radar for college coaches, but he improved his stock here.
Austin Oravetz
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 9/26/03, D, right shot, 5-9/170
I’ve liked Oravetz for a few years now, due to his compete level and toughness. He’s always shown that gritty side, whether it be in battles for loose pucks or clearing out his own net front. He jumped into the offense with his hard shot and crisp, on-the-tape breakout passes here. The late ’03 from Canonsburg, Pa., showed very well.
Luke Amell
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 9/2/03, D, right shot, 6-4/185
Amell, from Mars, Pa., doesn’t have great stick skills, but his skating has gotten better. He’s kept the physical element to his game. He’s one of the more improved players on the Pittsburgh team. I think he has the mean streak and size that will eventually land him a Division 1 opportunity, as a bottom-pairing, shutdown guy.
Goaltenders
Tommy Heaney
Mount Saint Charles, 2/2/03, G, catches left, 6-1/170
Heaney and his team fell short of winning a championship here, but the Oceanport, N.J., native was solid. His compete is what I like most. He might not be the most technically sound goaltender and his size is just slightly above average, but he makes the saves. This wasn’t his best viewing, but he showed that he’s capable of being a backup in the NAHL next season. I think he’ll work his way up the ranks in junior hockey and eventually land a Division 1 roster spot.
Samuel Livecchi
Rochester Coalition, 8/9/02, G, catches left, 5-9/145
I’m not sure Livecchi will ever be a Division 1 goaltender, but he shined here. He took the starting role from the more well-known goaltender in Austin McNicholas. In the game Friday against Maine Nordiques, he made some key, point-blank saves. While I didn’t see the games later in the week, he appeared to play well and earned the call in the championship game. He’s a little undersized and flops around some, but NCDC programs should give him a chance as a possible second-string goaltender for the 2021-22 season.
