With the 2021-22 United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) season in the rearview mirror, it’s a good time to reflect on the top NHL draft prospects who skated in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) this past winter.
For a second consecutive year, the Jersey Hitmen, coached by former Boston College forward Toby Harris, won the Dineen Cup as champions of the NCDC. The Wayne, N.J., organization has certainly become the standard bearer for success in the league. Harris’ team was built largely on veterans with a limited number of first year draft eligible prospects.
The league has admittedly declined in terms of producing Division 1 players, but there are still a handful or so that could play college hockey at the highest level. While most NHL scouts in the region have deservedly become discouraged with the product on the ice, there are still a handful of players who merit consideration for the upcoming two drafts. Below are the players I believe were worthy of having reports written on them when NHL scouts watched NCDC games in 2021-22.
2022 NHL draft
Colin Winn
Junior Bruins, 8/5/04, G, catches left, 6-1/170
Winn, from Westford, Mass., has bounced around the hockey landscape the past few years. He went from playing for Westford Academy in the MIAA in 2018-19 to spending a year each at South Kent Selects Academy and Bishop Kearney before finding a home in the NCDC this winter. Winn has just average size for a modern era goaltender, but his skating, movements, and the way he plays the position technically all stand out. In 44 regular season games, he went 25-12-5 with a 2.58 goals against average and .919 save percentage. Both statistical categories improved slightly in the postseason. Winn will be sought after in higher junior leagues for the 2022-23 season, meaning he’ll likely be moving onto a fifth program in five years when September rolls around.
Grade: Goaltenders are tricky and he’s not the size most NHL scouts are looking for when evaluating the position. It’s possible a team could take a flier on him in the seventh round, but he’s not a draft pick for me. He is a good goaltender who I expect to earn a college commitment after moving onto the NAHL or USHL.
Ben Muthersbaugh
NH Jr. Monarchs, 2/15/04, LW, left shot, 6-2/181
Muthersbaugh took the unique path of leaving prep school to play in the NCDC as a youngster. Coming off a Covid-shortened season at Tilton where he scored 20 goals in 12 games, he transitioned to junior hockey. His game continued to evolve as the season went along. In 48 regular season games, the Gilford, N.H., native scored 21 goals and added 13 helpers. He checks boxes for his size, stick, and compete. He’s not afraid to mix it up and he’ll fight for loose pucks in greasy areas. Muthersbaugh has a hard shot and he’ll shoot it from anywhere. He used to skate hunched over. It’s gotten a little better, but it’s still an area of concern, at least in terms of NHL upside. His hockey sense is just average when evaluating for the game’s highest level.
Grade: Muthersbaugh isn’t a pick for me, but he’s the best draft eligible prospect among NCDC forwards.
Henry Wilson
Junior Bruins, 5/13/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/161
Wilson, hailing from Winchester, Mass., is a winger that might attract some initial attention from NHL scouts when going to view the Junior Bruins. He has good size, plays hard, and can get around the sheet, north-south wise. His agility is a little suspect, but when just going up and down the wing, he can get to where he needs to get to. In 53 games between the regular season and playoffs, he scored seven goals and eight assists.
Grade: Not a draft pick. His hockey sense is lacking, which is his achilles heel in terms of being drafted.
Jason Galucci
NJ Rockets, 4/22/04, D, left shot, 5-9/140
NCAA commit: Penn State
Gallucci is on the smaller side, but his skating will jump off the page at you when watching him skate at this level. In his first season of junior hockey, the Robbinsville, N.J., native scored eight goals and 24 assists in 48 regular season games. His skating is his elite attribute, but his stick and vision are both above average. Getting drafted might be a reach, but he’s a good college prospect who will move on to the USHL in 2022-23.
Grade: Not a draft pick because of his size and lack of dynamic ability for that diminutive stature.
2023 NHL draft
Kevin Fitzgerald
NJ Rockets, 10/11/04, D, left shot, 5-11/150
NCAA commit: UConn
Fitzgerald was the best NHL draft prospect I saw in the NCDC during the 2021-22 season. It wasn’t even close. The Bath, Ontario, native joined the Rockets midway through the campaign after starting the year in the CCHL with the Brockville Braves. With the Rockets, he had five goals and 13 assists in 21 regular season games. The future Husky skates well and exudes poise and confidence when moving pucks up ice. He skates with his head up and makes quick, smart and effective decisions each time he touches the puck. He defends well with tight gaps, a good stick, and mobility.
Grade: He’ll almost certainly spend his draft year in the USHL in 2022-23. Depending on how he transitions to the toughest junior league on the continent, he’ll likely hear his name called at the 2023 draft. As of now, I’d venture that he’s a fifth or sixth round pick.
Will Elger
Jersey Hitmen, 12/29/04, RW, right shot, 6-1/152
NCAA commit: Providence
Elger is a little vanilla in terms of offensive upside, but he’s a smart, good-sized, two-way forward who can play center or wing. The Westerville, Ohio, native scored four goals and 11 assists in 42 regular season games. He picked up the points per game pace in the playoffs, notching seven assists in as many games. Another player who is likely going to move on from the NCDC for his draft season, Elger was worthy of writing a report on in 2021-22.
Grade: Not a pick, but he’s a player to watch in terms of being a potential bottom six forward as a free agent down the road, barring significant improvement to his offensive skill set.
