Wrapping up New England Hockey Journal's series on area natives playing in the USHL, we take a look at five young defensemen who could see breakout years in the league during the 2021-22 campaign.
The list starts at the top with pair of 2004 birth-year players who are tracking solidly as 2022 NHL draft prospects in Ryan Healey and Jackson Dorrington.
We also look at three 2002 birth-year players who are candidates to raise their profiles this season.
This is an alibi for the series, as we ranked all three outside of the top-5 of the 01/02 listing of USHL defenders published earlier this week, but believe they possess the attributes to have success this season.
1. Ryan Healey, Sioux Falls, Hull, Mass. (Harvard University)
5/19/04, right shot, 6-1/170
Lanky former Boston Advantage defender plays with length and has some real jump in his stride. With good hands, Healey is an asset in the possession game. He saw late-season action with the Stampede, a team with little to play for in the final month, but stood out with his mobility and energy. The seventh overall selection in the 2020 futures draft is going to see prime minutes and a big role in 2021-22. Head coach Marty Murray will have a lot to prove in his second USHL season, and Healey is a thoroughbred. Having just been selected to play for the U.S. national under-18 select team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup next month, Healey’s size/physical gifts and natural two-way game are going to attract a lot of interest from NHL scouts. He’s got a lot of filling out to do, and he’ll have to refine his defensive game, but the talent is clearly there.
NHL scout’s take: “You notice him when he’s on the ice because he moves well and handles the puck with a lot of confidence. It was a tough situation to be in at the end of the season because that team basically mailed it in, but they’ll reload and I suspect he’s going to have a lot of success if they use him the right way.” — NHL scout, Western Conference
4/13/04, left shot, 6-1/185
This Cushing Academy product made the jump to the USPHL NCDC this past season with the Junior Bruins and will take it to the next level Iowa’s capital with the USHL Buccaneers. He’s big, polished and the modern prototype defender with good wheels, vision and the ability to make hard plays in his own end. The speed and physicality of T1 junior hockey will be an adjustment for him, but he keeps things simple and is more than the sum of his parts. We’re looking at a player who might be more impressive to NHL clubs as the 2022 draft approaches because he’s more simple and effective than some of his flashier peers. Like Healey and his Cushing/Junior Bruins teammate Cam Lund, Dorrington was named to the Hlinka Gretzky squad.
NHL scout’s take: “You win with guys like Dorrington. I was impressed with him at the Select 17s because he brought his strong defensive play, but there was an offensive dimension I didn’t appreciate before. I’ve always liked the way he defends and competes. As he gets stronger and more experienced, he's going to be one to watch.” — NHL scout, Eastern Conference
2/5/02, right shot, 6-0/165
Prior to the USHL this past season, Furey played at Lawrence Academy and Malden Catholic, plus the Cape Cod Whalers organization. He had his hands full playing for a bad team but showed flashes of being able to step up more offensively in a second campaign with the Phantoms before he’s off to St. Botolph Street in 2022. He plays with pace and moves pucks quickly, but learned some hard lessons about just how fast and physical the USHL is. Expect him to add strength and mass to his frame this offseason, and watch for him to take steps forward as a returning player.
4. Jack Pascucci, Des Moines, North Andover, Mass. (University of Connecticut)
2/15/02, right shot, 6-2/194
Sixth-round USHL draft pick played prep hockey at Governor’s Academy and the Junior Bruins of the NCDC. He’s big, can skate and moves pucks effectively. While not a high-end two-way defender expected to make a huge impact in the USHL, he plays the right way and should be able to contribute more offense to the equation in the second half. He was on a lot of USHL teams' radar for the draft, but veteran GM Scott Owens took him off the board in a good spot. He has the tools to be a solid contributor before he moves on to the NCAA in 2022.
5. Nolan Hayes, Omaha, Milton, Mass. (Sacred Heart University)
8/14/02, right shot, 6-0/181
Another Cushing Academy (and former Thayer Academy) defender who played in the USPHL NCDC because of no season in 2020-21 due to COVID, the South Shore Kings standout was selected by the Lancers in the 13th round in May. He previously was drafted by Sioux City a round later in 2020, but stayed home. He is expected to go to Nebraska, and with his speed and power-play acumen, is on track to find success. He will get an opportunity to see minutes on the right side with the departure of TJ Schweighardt back to Cedar Rapids. His decisions under pressure and defensive instincts will be tested in the USHL, but he’s got the feet and hands to get himself out of jams as he makes the adjustment. For more on Hayes, you can read this analysis from his commitment to Sacred Heart back in Feb.
