Over the past 10 years, just three players have made the Hockey East All-Rookie Team after coming to college hockey straight from prep school.
When the 2020-21 Hockey East All-Rookie Team was announced, Merrimack left wing Alex Jefferies joined Boston University alums Patrick Harper and Danny O’Regan to hold that distinction. Jefferies, from Lunenburg, Mass., starred at The Gunnery from 2018-20 before heading to the Warriors.
All three share one thing in common. Jefferies was a draft pick of the New York Islanders, while Harper and O’Regan were scooped up by the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks, respectively, in the NHL draft.
Jefferies proved it can be done, but there are many more examples of cautionary tales showing that players should not rush into the college game. Jefferies, Harper and O’Regan certainly are the outliers. The trio being well-regarded by NHL scouts should tell prep players that it’s not wise to follow suit, unless you’re an NHL draft pick.
Players of lesser caliber likely need to play a year or two of junior hockey in between prep and college to learn the ropes and adapt to the faster pace and bigger, stronger opposition. Just being picked in the draft doesn’t guarantee success straight from prep. 2018 first-rounder Jay O’Brien had a subpar freshman season at Providence, prompting him to return to junior hockey and transfer to Boston University. O’Brien is a good player, but it was clear he wasn’t ready for the rigors of college hockey.
I researched all of the Hockey East All-Rookie Team selections since the 2011-12 season. There are a couple of notable takeaways from the data I came up with.
Junior hockey experience
Over the course of the past 10 seasons, players making the Hockey East All-Rookie Team averaged 88.19 games of junior hockey experience. Even Jefferies, Harper and O’Regan all spent time playing in the USHL. Jefferies played two games for Dubuque, Harper skated in nine games for Omaha, and O’Regan appeared in seven for the NTDP.
Fifty-nine of the 67 selections over the past 10 years played in the USHL prior to making their mark in Hockey East. Of the eight players who did not play in the USHL prior to making the All-Rookie Team, two each came from the BCHL, AJHL and NAHL. One each came from the EJHL and OJHL.
Translating to the NHL
Of the 52 Hockey East All-Rookie selections who have graduated or turned pro early, 34 of them have made the NHL. From last season, Trevor Zegras already is earning minutes on the sport’s biggest stage with the Anaheim Ducks. From the season before, Joel Farabee is now with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Every member of the All-Rookie teams from 2014-15 and 2012-13 have made it to the NHL, including big names such as Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Connor Hellebuyck and Matt Grzelcyk. While those were banner years for producing NHL talent, success in college doesn’t always translate to the next level.
I’ve gone on record stating that college hockey is the best development model for a myriad of reasons. On the ice, it’s good competition and players get to test themselves against older players than in Canadian major junior. There is ample time for practice, video and working out. College hockey also sets up players for life after hockey significantly better than Canadian major junior.
That being said, the pace of the NHL is so much faster than college hockey. Players can have success at the college level by having good hockey sense, a good stick, or both, even if their skating is lacking. There are quite a few All-Rookie selections over the past 10 years who were good college players but couldn’t cut it at the next level.
Lack of New Englanders
Just 15 of the 67 All-Rookie Selections since 2011-12 hailed from New England. Fourteen of those 15 played prep school hockey for at least two years. Eichel, the Buffalo Sabres star and 2015 Hobey Baker Award winner, is the only local to not have played prep hockey.
It’s up for debate whether the lack of locals is an indictment on the development model in New England or if it’s due to the expansion of hockey. Most likely, it’s some of both. Hockey development in the region could be better, but All-Rookie selections from Europe and California show the increased geographical diversity of the college game.
