The 2020 USPHL NCDC Entry Draft took place Wednesday with all 11 teams making selections.
Keeping in brand, the USPHL NCDC does things differently. Unlike every other junior and professional draft that I can think of, the USPHL NCDC refuses to release the order of picks. The league reveals each organization’s draft picks in alphabetical order.
League teams face challenges when it comes to attracting high-end players. As such, league teams have to draft accordingly. Unsurprisingly, the Jersey Hitmen and Junior Bruins had the best drafts on paper.
My biggest concern with the current state of the USPHL NCDC is there are the haves and the have nots. This year’s draft results did nothing in the way of making me think that will change anytime soon.
With the limitations in terms of not knowing what round a player was selected and the uncertainty of whether or not players will even show up, here’s my analysis and breakdown of each team’s draft.
Boston Advantage
This was the first USPHL NCDC Entry Draft for the Boston Advantage as the organization was just welcomed into the league last week. There were a couple of picks I really liked. Scooping up 2002 birth-year center Robert Cronin was a solid idea. The UNH commit played in the USHL last season, but there might not be a spot for him in that league with the limits on 20-year-olds. Northwood ’02 puck-moving defenseman Nate Boak and Chicago Mission 18-U goaltender Nicholas Addante were two other picks worth mentioning.
Junior Bruins
The Junior Bruins have been a mainstay atop the league standings for years now. The organization did a good job of stockpiling some talent that could help keep the team at the top of the perch in the future. My favorite pick for the Junior Bruins is ’02 right wing Brendan Gibbons of St. Mark’s. His skating likely will keep him out of the USHL, but he’s a big-time goal scorer who likely will have to age out of junior hockey to get a Division 1 opportunity. Army commit Jacob Hewitt, an ’02 right wing from Cushing, could play in the NAHL, but if the Junior Bruins can keep him, that’d be a big get. ’03s Coleman Jenkins and Brendan Gorman are prep school kids who could play in the BCHL or maybe even the USHL. ’02 Joe Solimine is a nice pick as he had a good first year of prep at Northfield Mount Hermon. He’s the type of player NCDC teams have to keep from leaving for the BCHL, if the league is to make a comeback. ’03 Riley Fitzgerald of Wilmington High School is a couple of years away, but he took a nice step in his game this past winter with the Wildcats.
Connecticut Junior Rangers
I don’t know a lot of the players selected by the Junior Rangers. On paper, I’m not sure this was a good draft. One player I do like is ’03 Honeybaked 16-U defenseman Griffin Zaske. I’m not sure he’ll ever come play in the NCDC, but he’s a good player.
Islanders HC
I like where the Islanders are going. The organization is making a concerted effort to go younger and get some good players. The best player the Islanders HC drafted was ’03 Evan Werner. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s slick and skilled. ’02 Ian Driscoll had a huge year for Pingree and ’03 Brandon Spaulding is a very good skater who centered the top line for Pope Francis.
Jersey Hitmen
No one in the league is doing a better job at acquiring Division 1 players than Toby Harris’ Jersey Hitmen. There are quite a few players drafted by the Hitmen who I like. My favorite is ’03 forward Shawn O’Donnell from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16-U. He competes and gets the most out of his ability. He’s probably a USHL player, but the Hitmen plucked teammate and Dartmouth commit Jackson Morehouse. The Big Green have had a good relationship with the Hitmen the past couple of seasons. ’02 defenseman Nick Marciano was one of the most improved players in prep hockey. ’02 Jake Percival led Millbrook in scoring. Milton Academy teammates Ethan Mistry, a Brown commit, and Jeffrey Lee are solid additions, if they report. I also like Frank Tafelski, an ’03 out of Honeybaked 16-U. Other good players drafted by the Hitmen include Bauer Swift, junior hockey journeyman and Miami commit Alex Murray, and Phillips Exeter forward Michael Young.
New Hampshire Junior Monarchs
The Monarchs added a couple of notable local players. ’03 defenseman Conner Chalmers of Kimball Union has great feet. While he’s a work in progress, he has college upside with his skating and puck-moving abilities. Also drafted were a pair of Vermont commits, ’02 forward Ronan Walsh of Proctor and ’03 defenseman Joseph Calvarino of Westchester Express 16-U.
Northern Cyclones
The best player drafted by the Cyclones was ’01 forward Tabor Heaslip out of Avon Old Farms. He’ll likely end up in the USHL or BCHL, but he’s a solid player and worth the flyer. ’01 defenseman Matthew Perryman of Kent is intriguing due to his size. He’s probably destined for the BCHL or USHL some day, but Wenatchee Wild 16-U winger Rylan Yates has a ton of skill. The organization also added former Junior Bruin Shea Courtmanche, an ’00 committed to Dartmouth who played in the NAHL this past season.
P.A.L. Junior Islanders
I liked the draft for the P.A.L. Junior Islanders. My favorite player is ’03 Vitaly Levyy, who competes hard and has produced in Midget hockey. ’01 William Kormanik always has shown some flashes of potential. The same could be said for ’00 Anthony Mastromonica, who played previously for South Kent Selects Academy. ’03 Kimball Union defenseman and Brown commit Nick Bernardo is a solid addition, if he doesn’t go to the BCHL. ’01 John Riggins of Lawrence Academy has solid bottom-six potential.
Philadelphia Hockey Club
After moving from Bridgewater, the Philadelphia Hockey Club went off the map with a lot of its picks. I’ve only seen a couple of the players in action, but don’t know much about a lot of the draft picks. There aren’t any players who immediately stick out as able to make an impact in junior hockey.
New Jersey Rockets
The Rockets did a good job, adding some notable prep players. ’01 Jake Cady, a Tabor alum, works hard and can kill penalties. ’01 Michael Fairfax out of Salisbury was the MVP of the Flood-Marr. Teammate Jake Lammens is a defenseman committed to St. Lawrence. I’m not sure if he’ll ever show up, but Hotchkiss ’02 Karsen Dorwart is a very good player who will get Hockey East interest. I also like Robert Hyde out of Mount Saint Charles. Vermont commit Trevor Smith and former UMass Lowell recruit Clark Kerner have a lot of junior experience, if they report.
South Shore Kings
The South Shore Kings aren’t what they once were, when the likes of Jimmy Vesey, Charlie Coyle, Chris Wagner and John Marino were lacing up the skates for Scott Harlow. I’m not sure this draft will do anything to help get the Kings back. One notable player selected was RPI commit Xander Babich, a gritty bottom-six forward.
Twin City Thunder
I don’t recognize a lot of the players on the draft list for the Twin City Thunder. One notable local player selected was St. John’s Prep senior defenseman Andrew Cole, who had a solid season for Kristian Hanson’s Eagles.
Utica Junior Comets
Utica went off the board quite a bit, but I like two younger defensemen that the organization selected. I think both are good and potentially could report to the Comets. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 18-U defenseman Tyler Kennedy always has shown some signs of becoming a player. He plays hard. ’03 Logan Heroux of the Oakland Junior Grizzlies 16-U is another player who could pop, due to his size.
