There are several quality uncommitted ’04s in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
In December, I wrote about the top uncommitted ’04s in Massachusetts. With the 2020-21 hockey season being disrupted by the coronavirus, I thought it was only fair to separate Massachusetts from the other New England states. With hockey games picking back up in Connecticut, it seemed like a good time to revisit the list of top uncommitted ’04s for the New England district.
The other five New England states don’t have anywhere near the high-end talent that Massachusetts does at the ’04 age group. There are still players from those other states who likely will work their way onto a Division 1 college hockey roster. Below is a look at the top uncommitted ’04s from the New England District, as I see it currently.
1. Peter Lukas Klemm
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 4/20/04, D, right shot, 6-0/194
Klemm is a good-sized defenseman whose game has taken off the past two seasons. He’s become a more assertive player and is out there in all situations. His skating is strong and he’s hard to knock off pucks. The Ridgefield, Conn., native should never be a defenseman who is flying up and down the ice, but when he keeps it simple, he’s effective.
2. Jordin Palmer
Avon Old Farms, 1/6/04, D, left shot, 6-0/160
Palmer has long been a player who has intrigued me. I think his raw ability has started to blossom a little at Avon Old Farms, if tape of the team’s game is any indication. The Auburn, N.H., native skates well, has good edges and certainly has size. As long as he keeps developing and getting better, he’ll play Division 1 hockey.
3. Arthur Smith
Selects Academy 16-U, 4/30/04, G, catches left, 6-3/190
Smith always has gotten accolades, deservingly, as one of the top ’04 goaltenders in the country. He’s big, athletic and looks the part in the crease. There’s certainly some upside here, which is why he’s played for USA Hockey at the Youth Olympic Games last year. He was invited to the NTDP Evaluation Camp, but missed out to Dylan Silverstein and Tyler Muszelik.
4. Liam Chapman
Seacoast Academy 16-U, 3/11/04, D, left shot, 6-2/200
Chapman is a steadying presence on the blue line for Seacoast. He’s physically mature, strong and has an ability to impact the game at both ends of the ice. He’s not afraid to jump into the rush and he has a hard shot when he rips one from the blue line. In his own zone, he can possess a mean streak in front of his own net and while defending down low.
5. Brendan Holahan
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield 16-U, 6/15/04, G, catches left, 6-2/180
Holahan is a goaltender with good size and a combination of athleticism and fundamentals. He squares to shooters and takes away angles. I haven’t seen him as much as I would have liked over the past year, but he’s shown me enough in limited viewings and past experience to rank him this high.
6. James Shannon
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield 16-U, 8/12/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Shannon is a physically mature power forward whose compete level is very high. He hunts pucks, drives the net and gets to scoring areas. He’s one of those players who often finds a way to get on the scoresheet. He’s in his second season at Brunswick and is still playing split season for Mid Fairfield.
7. Jackson Kyrkostas
Islanders HC 16-U, 8/19/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/150
Krykostas has added some muscle and size over the offseason and his game has gotten better as a result. The Islanders HC 16-U doesn’t have the depth of many of the other Midget teams in the region, but Kyrkostas’ line with Aaron Schwartz (Margate, Fla.) has stood out. Kyrkostas, from Windham, N.H., is a skilled forward with above-average skating and speed. He can create on the rush by beating defenders wide. I’d like to see him become even more of a threat on in-zone plays and in the middle of the ice, but he’s trending in the right direction.
8. Ryan Buckley
St. George’s/CC Whalers 16-U, 1/6/04, D, right shot, 6-0/175
Buckley is starting to come into his own as a player. Unfortunately, his prep season at St. George’s was canceled, but he’s gotten into same games this winter with the Junior Bruins in the NCDC. The Warwick, R.I., native has good size and has added strength, which has allowed him to become more of a physical presence. He’s one of those leaders and team-first players who should find a way onto a Division 1 roster, even if it’s as a walk-on.
9. Austin Tasca
Nobles/CC Whalers 16-U, 3/14/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/145
Tasca always has been a player whose upside I questioned due to his lack of size. However, he continues to produce. He’s skilled, can make plays, and has the skating and agility to dart around traffic. From Hope, R.I., Tasca has played in some scrimmages for Nobles this winter after transferring over from La Salle, a Catholic high school in Providence.
10. Ollie Genest
Seacoast Academy 16-U, 3/19/04, RW, right shot, 6-0/172
Genest, from Sanford, Maine, has taken a big leap this season. I saw a lot more of him in August and September than I have recently, but he’s a player who I liked. His game stood out to me at the Yale Jamboree. He’s a good-sized winger with a knack for scoring goals and making plays.
11. Ben Muthersbaugh
Tilton/Cyclones Prep 16-U, 2/15/04, LW, left shot, 5-11/180
Muthersbaugh has good size and an ability to drive the net and protect pucks. His skating is a little hunched over, but he gets around. I like his shot and there’s some upside in his game. He’s in his second season at Tilton under head coach Brooks McQuade. It’s been hard to get eyes on the Gilford, N.H., native this winter with the Lakes Region shutting out spectators at games.
