It only took Nolan Hayes a day to find a new college commitment. The Omaha Lancers defenseman announced his intention to play college hockey at Northeastern just about 24 hours after decommitting from Sacred Heart.
The '02 from Milton, Mass., is a mobile, skilled, offensive defenseman who has jam to his game. He’s played in all three games for the USHL franchise this season. Prior to heading to the midwest, Hayes played prep hockey at Thayer and Cushing and junior hockey in the NCDC for the South Shore Kings.
In 2020-21, Hayes registered eight goals and 12 assists while racking up 78 penalty minutes in 38 games for the South Shore Kings. He put up close to a point per game with Cushing in 2019-20. In addition to his time in the prep school circuit, Hayes also played split season for the Neponset Valley River Rats and Boston Junior Eagles.
Hayes will follow in the footsteps of his father, Adam, in playing college hockey at Northeastern. The elder Hayes played for the Huskies from 1991-1993. He spent his first two college seasons at New Hampshire. Nolan’s older brother, '99 Christian Hayes, plays at Trinity College in the NESCAC.
Bruins draft pick commits to Providence
Dubuque Fighting Saints goaltender Philip Svedeback, a 2021 fourth-round pick of the Boston Bruins, has committed to Providence. The '02 from Stockholm, Sweden, is in his first season playing on this side of the pond.
Svedeback is 1-0-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average and .942 save percentage through two starts for Dubuque in the USHL. He spent the past three seasons playing in his native country for Vaxjo Lakers. A number of prominent programs, including Boston College, were in on Svedeback, per sources.
NAHL forward for Brown
Ryan Bottrill, an '02 from Scottsdale, Ariz., has committed to Brown. Bottrill is in his third season of playing junior hockey. This year, he’s with the Maryland Black Bears in the NAHL. Through 10 games, Bottrill has three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. The Phoenix Junior Coyotes and Colorado Thunderbird product is a smart, heavy forward who relies on his instincts to offset his lack of skating prowess.
Bottrill was a teammate of Hayes while skating for South Shore in the NCDC last season. He potted 15 goals and added 25 helpers in 36 games. In his first season of junior hockey in 2019-20, Bottrill scored just six assists in 33 games for Janesville in the NAHL.
Quinnipiac grabs Canadian forward
Lincoln Stars forward Mason Marcellus has committed to playing college hockey for Rand Pecknold’s program at Quinnipiac. The '02 from Greely, Ontario, has skated in three games for the Stars to start this season. He previously played for the Drayton Valley Thunder in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
