With the 2018 NHL Draft this weekend in Dallas, there's plenty of hype surrounding top young prospects. However, many college teams across the country have had success with undrafted and under-the-radar players who stay four years and constantly improve over that timespan.
So, who could fall into that path, especially those from New England?
Here are five undrafted underclassmen from New England to keep an eye out for during the 2018-19 college hockey season. They've stood out so far, but could become more of a household name in the coming months.
1. Spenser Young
• Providence, Defense, Right Shot, Brentwood, N.H.
Young came to Providence after playing for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Prior to that, he was skated for Dana Barbin at Exeter. After being utilized as a sixth or seventh defenseman for most of his freshman season, Young had a strong sophomore campaign in 2017-18, but still flew largely under the radar.
Young’s best attribute is his skating. He’s able to side-step oncoming forecheckers and break the puck out of his own zone with his feet. He’s still a work in progress, makes some errors in judgment and is prone to the occasional turnover. He should get even more playing time as a junior and will continue to be recognized as he plays a pivotal role for one of the top teams in Hockey East.
2. Dominic Franco
• Army, Right Wing, Right Shot, Scituate, R.I.
Franco played prep school hockey at Pomfret before moving onto powerhouse Kimball Union. He’s an imposing, 6-foot-5 wing who can drive the net and use his size and strength to protect pucks. After posting nine goals and 13 assists as a freshman, he scored 12 goals and added 18 helpers as a sophomore.
The Black Knights have been revitalized with improved recruiting over the past few years. While Brian Riley’s team has fallen short of a NCAA Tournament bid, Army should once again be in contention to win an Atlantic Hockey championship.
3. Austin Goldstein
• Northeastern, Right Wing, Right Shot, Saugus, Mass.
Goldstein never enjoyed the notoriety of many of his former Malden Catholic teammates, but he earned an opportunity to vie for playing time at Northeastern following a season with the Islanders Hockey Club in the USPHL.
Despite an upper-body injury sidelining him for a few games, he played some of the best hockey of his career down the stretch. He scored a goal and four assists over the last nine games, including a helper on the game-winning goal in the Beanpot and his first career goal in the Hockey East semifinals. Even when he wasn’t scoring, he was excelling on the forecheck and giving the Huskies energy in a bottom-six role.
4. Ryan Ferland
• Princeton, Goaltender, Catches Left, Franklin, Mass.
Ferland was always one of the better goaltenders among peers in this region and age group, making several USA Hockey Player Development Camps and leading St. Mark’s to a prep school championship. After a year in the NAHL, Ferland arrived at Princeton and seized the starting job.
He went 18-11-4 with a .912 save percentage, helping the Tigers to their first ECAC Hockey Tournament title since 2008 and a NCAA Tournament bid. Ron Fogarty’s team should be even better in 2018-19, which will allow Ferland to elevate his save percentage and stock nationally.
5. Ben Freeman
• UConn, Center/Right Wing, Right Shot, Falmouth, Maine
Freeman’s path to UConn was a little unconventional. He went from prep at Northfield Mount Hermon to the USPHL’s Connecticut Jr. Rangers, before ultimately landing in Storrs.
His skating isn’t the best, but he’s a big body and posted 21 points as a sophomore. He went from three goals as a freshman to eight as a sophomore. With first-line center Max Letunov moving onto the pros, Freeman might get more ice time as a junior.
