Each year, many players from outside of the region come to New England to continue their hockey journey. Despite concerns with COVID limiting the action on the ice, that stood true during the 2020-21 hockey season.
A number of uncommitted `04s hailing from other locales shined while playing for a team inside the borders of the six New England states. Likely a mere coincidence, a lot of the top 2004-born players in this category have late birthdays, meaning they aren’t eligible for the NHL draft until 2023.
Below is a look at the top 15 players born in 2004 who came to play in New England and are earning college and NHL buzz as a result:
1. Tomas Trunda
Mount Saint Charles 16-U, 10/15/04, LW, left shot, 5-7/143
Trunda was one of the more dynamic offensive skill players to lace up the skates this past winter in the New England region. The Prague, Czech Republic native has a great stick, compete level and hockey sense. The only thing he’s currently lacking is bulk to his frame. The moves he was able to pull off were electric. Despite his smaller stature, he backchecked with a purpose and was able to protect pucks from opposing defenders. In 18 games for Devin Rask’s team, he produced 15 goals and 19 assists. He’s a player that every college team in the country should be pursuing.
2. Seth Constance
Mount Saint Charles 16-U, 10/26/04, D, right shot, 6-2/174
The second player on this list is another late birthday from Mount Saint Charles. In his first season playing for the Mounties, Constance impressed with a solid and steady and two-way game. From St. Louis, he played the previous two seasons for Oakland Junior Grizzlies and Compuware. Constance has good size, above average skating, and can jump into the play. He’s able to bring a physical element to the defensive side of the puck. The one thing that he’ll need to do to increase his college interest is develop an elite skill set. He had seven goals and 11 assists in 26 games.
3. Jack Brandt
Tabor/River Rats 16-U, 6/14/04, C, left shot, 5-11/165
Brandt, an Ohio Junior Blue Jackets product, didn’t see much ice time in 2020-21 between the Coronavirus implications at prep and an injury. He skated in seven NCDC games with South Shore, scoring a goal and an assist. The Columbus, Ohio, native sees the ice well and has notable skill and skating ability. He visited a Beanpot school this summer and should continue to see his game grow in his upcoming third season for Tabor.
4. Cam O’Neill
Mount Saint Charles 16-U, 1/24/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/174
O’Neill led Mount Saint Charles in scoring this winter, potting 24 goals and adding 33 helpers in 26 games. He had an assist in four games at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp. O’Neill certainly benefited from playing with Trunda and needs to become more consistent. However, he has a hard shot and is heavy on pucks. There were times, such as New England District playoffs, where he took over games. The Odenton, Md., native has spent two seasons skating in Woonsocket after coming up through the ranks with Team Maryland. His two older brothers played in Hockey east at UMass Lowell and Providence. He’ll likely follow suit in a few years.
5. Jack Fowler
Selects Academy 18-U, 11/24/04, G, catches left, 6-3/200
Fowler’s stock has soared over the past 12 months. Undrafted in the USHL, he was added to the affiliate list out of the Youngstown Phantoms after the organization’s main camp. The Florida Alliance product moved to South Kent to play up for the 18-U team. He has the requisite size, athleticism and fundamentals. The Melbourne, Fla., native had a .945 save percentage in 22 games. He was solid at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, despite falling short of earning a bid to the all-star games and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster.
6. Austin McNicholas
Salisbury/Rochester Coalition 18-U, 5/24/04, G, catches left, 6-2/165
McNicholas is a Buffalo Junior Sabres product who came to Salisbury for this past season. Andrew Will’s team only played a limited amount of scrimmages, but McNicholas shined while skating for Kyle Quick’s split season team. He was one of the two goaltenders on the Rochester Coalition team that won the USA Hockey 18-U National Championship this May in St. Louis. He went 16-1-1 with a .927 save percentage for that team. More recently, he earned a spot on the U.S. U-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this August.
7. Frankie D’Ancona
Mount Saint Charles 16-U, 6/2/04, C, left shot, 5-10/161
D’Ancona is often knocked for his smaller stature, but he produces and plays bigger than he’s listed on the line chart. The St. James, N.Y., native is quick, crafty and willing to hunt and cycle pucks below the goal line. In 25 games, he had 15 goals and 16 assists. He’s had a solid summer, standing out at a few showcases in the New England region. More recently, D’Ancona put up a goal and four assists in four games at the USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp.
8. Zion Green
Maine Nordiques 16-U, 4/12/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/181
Green has bounced around from team to team over the past few years, but hopefully he can find a consistent home with the Maine Nordiques. The Birmingham, Mich., native exudes skill, creativity and confidence with the puck on his stick. He led the Nordiques 16-U in scoring with 33 goals and 35 assists in 39 games. His play earned him a callup for two games with the organization’s NAHL team.
9. Dan Harkimo
Selects Academy 16-U, 11/9/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/145
Harkimo impressed me with his improvement from the beginning of the season to the end when he stood out at the New England District playoffs. The Sipoo, Finland, native has always had a good stick and been able to score goals. However, he became heavier on pucks and less one-dimensional while honing his craft under the tutelage of Mark Naclerio and Andrey Uryadov. In 37 games he had 27 goals and 28 assists.
10. Clarence Beltz
Lawrence/River Rats 16-U, 2/22/04, RW, right shot, 6-3/179
Beltz is another prospect who has taken a step in his game over the past year. He’s a skilled winger who wants to get better. The Missoula, Mont., native is tall and has length. With Lawrence not playing this winter, he spent time with the River Rats 16-U and 18-U showcase teams. In 34 combined games, Beltz had 19 goals and 12 assists. There’s upside here, especially if Beltz continues playing harder and more in the middle of the ice. Beltz earned a spot at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, his first invite to such an event.
11. James Shannon
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield 16-U, 8/12/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/170
From New York City, Shannon played more games for Mid Fairfield this winter, but skated in scrimmages for his prep school team. The rugged winger plays a heavy brand, hunting and being heavy on pucks. He’s a bowling ball, bullying his way to the scoring areas and being around the play. In 11 games with Chris Gragnano’s Mid Fairfield club, he had six goals and six assists.
12. Kim Hilmersson
Seacoast 16-U, 6/24/04, C, left shot, 6-0/205
Hilmersson has drawn some interest from Hockey East schools, due to his athleticism. He shoots it well and he is strong on his skates. The Uppsala, Sweden, native has spent the past two seasons in Exeter, playing for Seacoast. In 2020-21, he led the organization’s 16-U team in scoring with 24 goals and 27 assists in 40 games.
13. Peter Sterling
Mount Saint Charles 16-U, 11/16/04, G, catches left, 6-5/159
Many big goaltenders take a while to develop. That could be the case for Sterling as he’s still a work in progress. The Washington, D.C., native came to Woonsocket after tending the net for Team Maryland and Washington Little Caps. Sterling, an invitee to the NTDP Evaluation Camp in 2020, had his ups and downs with Mount Saint Charles. Still, with his size and technique, he’s a goaltender to keep on the radar.
14. Gabriel Fillion
Maine Nordiques 16-U, 9/29/04, C, left shot, 5-10/174
From Montreal, Fillion came to Lewiston after playing for Mount Academy in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Fillion’s best attribute is his stick. He has quite a bit of skill and can shoot the puck with accuracy and stickhandle to avoid opposing defenders. In his first year on this side of the border, Fillion scored 20 goals and 30 assists in 39 games for the Maine Nordiques.
15. Aaron Schwartz
Islanders HC 16-U, 3/22/04, Rw, right shot, 5-11/159
Schwartz, hailing from Parkland, Fla., is well traveled in his hockey adventure. This was his first season in New England, playing for Tim Kyrkostas’ team. He previously skated for Florida Alliance and Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Schwartz is a playmaker who skates well and has above average skill. In 11 games, he posted seven goals and 13 assists. Schwartz earned a bid to USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp, but was held scoreless.
