Some of the region’s aspiring prep hockey players, born in 2005 and 2006, showcased their talent this summer in front of prep coaches at the 2019 NEFPHL Prep Prospects League.
The league had four teams and games were held Tuesday night at the ICenter in Salem, N.H. Governor’s Academy coach Brian McGuirk, a former player at Boston University, ran the league with different prep coaches getting behind the bench each week.
The NEFPHL Prep Prospects League had a few players who will undoubtedly go on to make a splash at the prep level and potentially make it to college hockey in the future.
Here’s a look at 32 players who stood out at the NEFPHL Prep Prospects League in three separate viewings this summer:
‘05 Forwards
Cam Russo
St. John’s Prep, Right Shot
Russo has been one of the leading scorers all summer. He has good size and is dynamic with the puck on his stick. He has good hands and can stickhandle well to protect pucks before getting off a hard shot. He’s making the move from the Jr. Eagles over to St. John’s Prep.
Jonathan Lynch
Islanders HC, Right Shot
Lynch is a goal scorer who sees the ice well. He is strong and has a hard shot. He also blocked a couple of shots in games viewed.
Kaden Freelove
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Freelove has a really good shot and handles the puck well. He’s a good skater and able to create time and space for him to operate.
Connor Jalbert
Top Gun, Left Shot
Jalbert has good hands, making a nice sauce pass for an assist and also being able to finish.
Jimmy O’Keefe
New England Stars, Left Shot
O’Keefe scored a snipe on a breakaway in one game. He does a good job using his frame to protect pucks.
Paul Santosuosso
Top Gun, Left Shot
Santosuosso was a noticeable force in each game viewed and found the back of the net.
Ryan Ehrgott
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Ehrgott kept his feet moving, was hard to defend, and found the back of the net.
Jake Vana
Boston Jr. Rangers, Right Shot
Vana is a really good skater who sees the ice well and made some nice passes.
Jackson Burke
Northern Cyclones, Right Shot
Burke skates well and has talent with the puck on his stick.
Sean Gray
Greater Lowell, Left Shot
Gray is a good skater who has a hard one-timer.
Tommy Workman
Top Gun, Left Shot
Workman was quick and crafty.
Joe Connor
Northern Cyclones, Left Shot
Connor is a goal scorer who has always been one of the top forwards in this age group.
Ted McLaughlin
Boston Jr. Rangers, Left Shot
McLaughlin had good net drive and scored two goals in one game.
Michael Nigro
Boston Jr. Rangers, Left Shot
Nigro has speed and skill.
‘05 Defensemen
Jake Freelove
Northern Cyclones, Right Shot
Freelove is a puck-moving, offensive defenseman who skates well.
Jackson Powers
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Powers was listed on the roster as a forward, but plays defense, as he has in the past. He competes really hard and skates well, using his edges to help him escape trouble. He has plenty of skill and is versatile.
Austin Abbott
Islanders HC, Right Shot
Abbott has size and length, which allows him to defend well.
Joey O’Keefe
Top Gun, Right Shot
O’Keefe made a couple of good looks from the point and played solid defensively.
Evan Vaillancourt
Seacoast Spartans, Right Shot
Vaillancourt is a big two-way defender who joins the rush and makes good outlet passes.
Max Owens
Top Gun, Right Shot
Owens has skill and makes a good first pass.
Andrew Toomey
Islanders HC, Right Shot
Toomey skates well and was noticeably strong in the few viewings.
Ethan Abram-Hale
Middlesex Black Bears, Right Shot
Abram-Hale is a big, physically mature defenseman.
‘05 Goaltenders
Michael Pelletier
Islanders HC, Catches Left
Pelletier has size, takes up net, and has strong fundamentals.
‘06 Forwards
Cole Eiserman
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Eiserman is a big, strong forward who can blow by opposing defenders and protect pucks with his size and powerful stride. He has a hard shot and has been one of the best players in this age group for a while.
Cameron Cooke
Minuteman Flames, Right Shot
Cooke plays with pace, made some really good low to high passes, and can rip a shot.
Brady Gravell
Top Gun, Left Shot
Gravell has good hockey sense and was heavy on pucks.
Troy Hayes
Top Gun, Left Shot
Hayes has been one of the more productive playmakers.
Brady Rickenbach
Top Gun, Right Shot
Rickenbach had a goal and an assist in one game.
Joseph Monteiro
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Monteiro uses his size and strength to drive the net and be hard to defend, especially below the dots.
‘06 Defensemen
Maxim Kirianov
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Kirianov skates well and has skill and poise with the puck on his stick. He plays a mature game, despite being smaller than a lot of the other players in the league.
Fischer Niehaus
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Niehaus is a small, puck-moving defenseman who skates well and uses his edges.
Caden Eiserman
Islanders HC, Left Shot
Eiserman is a physically mature defender and the brother of Cole.
