New England Hockey Journal is unveiling a new series: Our top 50 prospects for the '07, '08 and '09 birth years. We ranked the '07s on Monday. On Wednesday, it was the '08s. Now, it's time to look at the '09s. Before the rankings, we must look at the ground rules. New England natives and...
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Before the rankings, we must look at the ground rules. New England natives and prospects who played in New England this past winter were included. Players born in 2009 who didn't play here this past winter and aren't from here but played a season or more in New England weren't eligible. An example is Ryan Kaczynski. Despite him being a longtime Mid Fairfield standout, he's from Syosset, N.Y., and played for the OHL's Soo Greyhounds this winter. I'd love to have included him, but rules are rules.
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Every player was ranked based on their current performance and how I project them.
I've watched the '09s quite a bit for the last three seasons, as they've gone from 14Us to 16Us. It's still early, but the birth year is fairly deep and has the most high-end talent of recent birth years.
Many of these players are uncommitted. Some won't become eligible to receive offers until Aug. 1, while others are part of a changing landscape in which colleges wait until they've proven themselves as they get older (likely in juniors) before extending an offer.
Let's dive in with the '09s.
1. Carter Meyer
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program U17/U18
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-0/176
NCAA: Boston University
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
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2. Finn Sears
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program U17
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-0/187
NCAA: Boston College
Hometown: Medford, Mass.
3. Sam Pandolfo
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program U17
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-4/205
NCAA: Boston University
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
4. Jake Boguniecki
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program U17
Position: D
Height/weight: 6-2/176
NCAA: Boston College
Hometown: Orange, Conn.
5. Caiden Pellegrino
Team: St. Mark's (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-9/161
NCAA: Providence College
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.
Top 10 notes: There is no debate about No. 1. Meyer has been so good this season that he's likely a top-five pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Sears is a clear No. 2 as his production has translated to the NTDP. Pandolfo's size and what he could be during his U18 season without injury keep him at No. 3, while Boguniecki is right there at No. 4. The BC commit's reliable, two-way game at that size makes it possible for him to move up as high as No. 2 sometime this season or next. Pellegrino rounds out the top five. He notched 75 points in prep and proved to be a playmaking wizard.
Wotton is a lethal power forward who should be an even bigger force in juniors next season. Minella, Anello and Berard are fascinating defensive prospects. Minella is a pure puck-mover, Anello is a two-way threat and Berard is a mean shutdown defenseman. Jackson was almost unbeatable this winter in prep.
Nos. 11-20
11. Joe Covelluzzi
Team: Dubuque Fighting Saints
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-10/174
NCAA: Maine
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
12. Kurt Beck
Team: Dexter Southfield (prep)
Position: D
Height/weight: 6-2/181
NCAA: Providence College
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
11-20 notes: The story of this section is the defensemen. Beck has the physical tools to be the top defenseman from this group. The production should come next. Yakub is a two-way defender with a winning pedigree, while Palmer has great size for an offensive defenseman. O'Dell is criminally underrated and looks like a 2027 NHL Draft pick. Costello plays a hard-nosed game. Koch has great size for a puck-moving, high-IQ defenseman.
As for the forwards, Covelluzzi has had a wild year, leaving Cushing midway through the season for Dubuque, while also playing five games with the NTDP's U17 team. His skill and shot give him high offensive upside. Despite his size, Gualberto is still highly effective with his skill and compete. Davis' speed and skill put him near the top of his birth year. Epsenshade is dynamic with high-end goal-scoring potential.
Nos. 21-30
21. Ethan Gingeleskie
Team: Avon Old Farms (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-11/165
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn.
22. Caine Bickel
Team: Seacoast Performance Academy 16U
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-0/170
NCAA: UNH
Hometown: Philadelphia, Penn.
Team: Frederick Gunn (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-8/146
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Milton, Ontario
29. Cade Noonan
Team: St. Sebastian's (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 6-1/181
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
30. Keith Olympia
Team: St. Mark's (prep)
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-8/155
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Sudbury, Mass.
21-30 notes: The forwards in this group have skill. Gingeleskie was plagued with injuries all season, but when he was on the ice, his ability to get to high-danger areas with his hands and vision was outstanding. Bickel exploded for 150 points in 61 games this winter. Kailher and Desjardins are crafty forwards with outstanding hands. The same is true for Taylor, who has a ton of speed, too, and finished with 21 points in 31 prep games. Olympia's vision and passing were on display all winter. Noonan is a bit different from the group, as it's his doggedness, compete and grit that lead to him scoring so much. His passing is underrated and allows him to be effective with high-skill players.
Yandle proved to be a do-it-all defender in prep this winter. Mazzola popped for 17 goals and 94 points in 61 games this winter. With his size, his upside is intriguing. Lee has long been a top '09 goalie from New England and has already faced a heavy workload in his freshman and sophomore seasons in prep, which should bode well for his development the next few years.
Nos. 31-40
31. Grady Rowley
Team: Mount St. Charles 16U
Position: F
Height/weight: 5-10/174
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.
32. Ryder Bisson
Team: St. John's Shrewsbury (MIAA)
Position: D
Height/weight: 6-1/176
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Holden, Mass.
Team: St. George's (prep)
Position: G
Height/weight: 6-3/195
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
40. Aaron Alves-Thomas
Team: St. Mark's (prep)
Position: G
Height/weight: 5-11/170
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.
31-40 notes: Rowley had a terrific season for Mount. Bisson, who is headed to Dexter, is dynamic and has Division 1 upside. Warsofsky has the speed and hands to be a productive, potential Division 1 center, and that was on display through the second half of Cushing's season. Raycroft proved himself to be a reliable, athletic netminder — and he still has more room to grow and get bigger. Bibeau-Rivard was a big-time producer with Salisbury this season, notching 34 points in 30 games, while White had similar numbers at Williston (30 in 26).
Guilderson was buried on a deep Dexter roster, but the ability is there. In an expanded role next winter, he should be a high-end producer. Patch sometimes gets overlooked, being at Pingree, but the Melrose, Mass., native is one of the better '09s and has produced like it, with 17 points as a freshman, 31 as a sophomore and 39 as the top dog this season. Wang was under siege this season, so the 3.83 goals-against average isn't incredible. But his size and the shot volume he's faced make him intriguing. Alves-Thomas is right there as well, proving to be a stout, athletic netminder.
Nos. 41-50
41. Preston Abbott
Team: New Hampton (prep)
Position: D
Height/weight: 6-1/185
NCAA: Uncommitted
Hometown: Middleton, Mass.
41-50 notes: This group has really high upside. It wouldn't shock me if some of these players fly up the rankings over the next 12 months. Abbott has the physical tools to continue growing as a two-way defender. Funk is an electrifying left wing with a high compete. Buchan is a do-it-all force on defense for St. Paul's. Chartier is a fantastic puck-mover. Hamelin is someone I've liked even back with Pope Francis, as he has a lot of skill and is a good skater.
As Hung evolves in a shutdown role, he will get more attention. At 5-foot-9, Watson is extremely dynamic and unafraid to do anything. Cleaves has a high level of confidence with the puck and should flourish even more next winter at Brunswick. Mogielnicki had a massive winter with 29 goals and 48 points. Strug had a productive winter, too, with 16 points and had three points in five games at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp last summer.
Teams with the most players: Williston Northampton and Salisbury have the most players on here, with four each. Cushing and St. Mark's are next up with three. Dexter Southfield, Mount St. Charles and Frederick Gunn have two. For non-prep schools, no shocker here: the USNTDP leads the crowd with the top four players.
Watch: The Top 50 boys in New England
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8. Easton Anello
12. Kurt Beck
20. Greyson Espenshade
