The NCAA is still in a dead period for recruiting, which means college hockey coaches can’t be on the road scouting or have any in-person contact.
It runs through at least July 31, but the dead period doesn’t prevent college coaches from contacting prospective recruits via phone calls, text messages, emails, direct messages and other forms of electronic communication.
There are several players with ties to the New England region who are being pursued vigorously at the moment. Rising juniors in high school have to wait until Aug. 1 for an offer, due to NCAA legislation passed last May, while older recruits already might have an offer on the table.
Here’s a look at a few of those players generating buzz on the recruiting trail and where they might end up.
Andon Cerbone
Cerbone, a 2004 birth-year center from Stamford, Conn., is a gifted playmaker coming off a big sophomore season at Brunswick. In 31 games, Cerbone tallied 11 goals and 36 assists. He was invited to the NTDP Evaluation Camp, but it was canceled and he didn’t make the squad. A first-round pick of the Chicago Steel in the USHL draft, he’s been on a visit to Michigan and has plenty of interest from top schools in Hockey East and ECAC Hockey.
Brendan Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald is a puck-moving, offensive defenseman out of North Reading, Mass. The ’03 just finished his first season of prep hockey as a repeat sophomore at Governor’s. While his two older brothers both played at BC and his dad played at Providence, there are other Hockey East schools that could be in the mix to land the youngest Fitzgerald. Connecticut is one school reportedly with interest, and there’s a connection. Head coach Mike Cavanaugh recruited both older brothers to the Eagles when he was an associate head coach there under Jerry York.
Declan Loughnane
Loughnane had a terrific first prep season at Thayer after starring as a freshman at BC High. The late ’03 is generating interest from numerous schools in Hockey East, ECAC Hockey and the Big Ten, according to a source with knowledge of his recruitment process. In my opinion, he’s the best uncommitted defenseman in New England.
Lucas Mercuri
Mercuri, an ’02 center from Lasalle, Quebec, just concluded his prep school career at Salisbury. Since decommitting from Vermont, he’s had interest from numerous schools. However, multiple reports indicate he’s down to two finalists: UMass and Wisconsin. Whichever school lands him will receive a talented center with a tremendous hockey IQ, an ability to be heavy on pucks and excel below the dots. Mercuri is expected to play for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL this upcoming season before matriculating to college in 2021-22.
Jack Musa
Musa, who just finished his second season at Trinity-Pawling, is being pursued by several programs from across Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, the Big Ten and NCHC. He’s already been on a visit to Boston University, and a few other programs are looking to get him on campus in August. From Orange Park, Fla., Musa is on the smaller side, but he has a bulldog mentality to go along with his skill-set. He had nine goals and 21 assists in 24 games as a sophomore. The ’03 will be a junior in the fall, which means schools officially can offer him a commit come Aug. 1.
