As some 2002s begin to play college hockey in 2020-21, others in the birth year are still competing in prep school, Midget or junior hockey with the hopes of landing that coveted commitment.
In my list of top ’02s in New England, the top 13 are all committed to a Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, Big Ten or NCHC school. By my count, there are 34 New England ’02s committed to a Division 1 college hockey program.
I don’t necessarily think any of the uncommitted ’02s in New England are potential stars at the college level, but there are a few who I believe could have a positive impact on their team.
There are some Division 1 players, some Division 3 players, and some fringe players who could go either way. I think a common misconception is that all good players end up in Division 1 and all lesser players end up in Division 3. It’s impossible to know who would prefer to play at an academically inclined Division 3 school such as a NESCAC or Babson over being a walk-on at a Division 1 school. There also are lesser players willing or able to pay full tuition to be a walk-on at the Division 1 level. Neither option is wrong, but it’s not as cut and dried as saying these players are good enough for Division 1 and these players are likely to play Division 3. There are plenty of factors that go into it.
The top 20 uncommitted ’02s in New England:
1. Ryan Corcoran
Boston Advantage 18-U, 4/2/02, C, left shot, 5-11/175
Corcoran is the best uncommitted ’02 in New England because he fills a need that every team has. The Duxbury, Mass., native is a great skating, 200-foot center. He’s always on the right side of the puck and he thinks the game at a high level in all three zones. He averaged more than a point per game for the Advantage this past winter and is now fully recovered from a lower-body injury suffered during the 2018-19 season. Looking ahead to college hockey, he’ll likely be a terrific third-line center and penalty killer for a good program. Hockey East and ECAC Hockey programs are interested. I’d expect Corcoran to land at an Ivy League school.
2. James Tepper
Proctor, 2/20/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/175
Tepper led the Hornets in scoring this past winter with 13 goals and 21 assists in 27 games. The Shrewsbury, Mass., native is a hard, north-south power forward. He plays the game with an edge and makes his presence felt with big hits. He has some skill and can shoot it hard. I’d project him as a second- or third-line wing, depending on the program he commits to, when he gets to college. His hockey sense is an area of his game that could use improvement, but he’s worth locking up. I think he’ll be a good player in Hockey East.
3. Tucker Hartmann
St. Mark’s, 4/4/02, D, right shot, 5-10/180
In 23 games for St. Mark’s, Hartmann had six goals and 30 assists while playing in all situations. I’ve been advocating for Hartmann for a while. Some might think I’m overrating him, but I think there’s a lot of value in the Southboro, Mass., native. He skates well, has a good stick, and he competes. He also brings intangibles, such as high character and good grades, which a lot of schools are looking for. His puck decisions and defensive awareness have to get better, but hopefully a year or two of junior hockey will help in that regard. He projects as a fifth or sixth defenseman at a place like Colgate, Brown, St. Lawrence or Holy Cross.
4. Nate Benoit
Mount Saint Charles 18-U, 11/26/02, D, left shot, 6-0/164
Benoit is a player who has risen up the ranks over the past two years. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about him the 2018-19 season. He’s growing into a good-sized defender with above-average mobility. He plays with bit of jam and can contribute offensively. The Bow, N.H., native is getting some interest from a few Hockey East and Atlantic Hockey schools. I expect that to continue until he gets a commit.
5. Kyle Furey
Lawrence Academy, 2/5/02, D, right shot, 6-0/160
Furey is another player who is climbing up my list of ’02s in New England. The Marblehead, Mass., native had a very good 2019-20 season with the Cape Cod Whalers and Lawrence Academy. In 27 games with the Spartans, he had three goals and 19 assists. His skating and skill always has been evident, but he’s improved his puck decisions. He’s seeing the ice better and not trying to force plays as much. All of that is translating into an efficient puck-moving defenseman. I believe he’s turned himself into a sure thing for eventually being a Division 1 college hockey player.
6. Nick Marciano
Kent, 5/19/02, D, left shot, 6-2/190
Marciano is a prospect who just started to show on coaches’ and scouts’ radars during this past season, his second at the prep level. A good-sized defender, he went from five points in 2018-19 to 23 points in 2019-20. The New Canaan, Conn., native skates well for his size and keeps things relatively simple. He’s not a high-risk, high-reward type of puck-mover. I think he’ll continue to get better over the coming years.
7. Nolan HayesÂ
Cushing, 8/14/02, D, right shot, 5-11/166
Hayes made the jump to Cushing after spending three seasons at Thayer. No one, myself included, ever has questioned his skating and skill. The Milton, Mass., native can make some highlight-reel plays as he breaks pucks out of his own zone. Decision-making and play in his own zone have at times been issues. I think it got a little better this season and there is room to improve. I think he gets to Division 1, but it will take a couple of years of seasoning in junior hockey.
8. Ryan MacDermott
St. Sebastian’s, 1/27/02, D, right shot, 6-1/185
I probably have MacDermott rated higher than others, but I like certain parts of his game. While he’s limited in the skill department, MacDermott plays a rugged defensive style and competes hard. Having said that, he had his best offensive year in prep as a senior. The Norwell, Mass., native registered two goals and 11 assists. He’s a player who will go to junior hockey and establish himself as a bottom-pairing guy who can play the penalty kill and eat up minutes in a shutdown role.
9. Brendan Gibbons
St. Mark’s, 7/18/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/211
Gibbons is a power forward who can score goals. The South Kingston, R.I., native had 21 goals and 33 assists in 29 prep games this past winter for the Lions. His goal-scoring touch and ability to be heavy on pucks are good enough for Division 1. As of right now, his skating limits him. Could it get better? The answer is yes. I think he’s a fringe player who will either get to Division 1 or be an extremely productive player at the Division 3 level.
10. Brendan Dumas
St. Sebastian’s, 8/28/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/180
Dumas had a breakout season this past winter for the Arrows. In 28 games, he had 18 goals and 21 assists. The North Attleboro, Mass., native competes hard every shift. He gets the most out of his ability by hunting pucks and going to dirty areas. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. Those are all great traits. His skill and hockey sense are areas that will need to get better for a Division 1 program to commit him. Too often, he’ll skate into trouble with his head down. Still, he’s one of my favorite players to watch on St. Sebastian’s because of his compete level.
11. Jakub Teply
Brunswick, 6/19/02, LW, left shot, 6-0/185
Teply has bounced around a lot, which hasn’t helped his cause when it comes to solidifying a college hockey destination. He’s a power forward who can protect pucks, shoot it hard and get time and space for linemates. He had 22 goals in 31 prep games for the Bruins this past winter. He’s off to Powell River in the BCHL for 2020-21. His skating and hockey sense are areas that will need to get better. He’s a fringe Division 1 player at this point but would be a home run for a Division 3 school.
12. Colin Oppelt
Boston Advantage 18-U, 6/21/02, D, left shot, 6-2/185
Oppelt has some throwback in his game. He’s a big, shutdown defender who can use his size and range to close on opposing forwards and force the play to the perimeter. His skating and skill won’t be the reasons he’s a college hockey player. However, I think there’s some potential as a bottom-pairing guy who plays with a mean streak.
13. Jake Black
Winchendon, 3/5/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/150
Black took a big step in his game this season. The Pomfret, Conn., native went from 11 points in 2018-19 to 41 in 2019-20. He had 17 goals and 24 assists for the Wapitis this winter. His speed is his biggest asset. He certainly skates well enough for Division 1 and received some interest from an Atlantic Hockey school after his showing at the Kings of East Coast Showcase last August.
14. Gavin Fitzpatrick
Thayer, 1/9/02, G, catches left, 6-1/161
Fitzpatrick had a .917 save percentage this past winter for Thayer. The Norwell, Mass., native always has been one of the most well-regarded goaltenders in this age group. He’s got decent size, athleticism and fundamentals. He’ll have to be more consistent as he makes the jump to junior hockey in 2020-21. He’ll likely find a home as a backup goaltender at the Division 1 level.
15. Trevor O’Brien
St. Mark’s, 4/29/02, C, right shot, 5-10/165
O’Brien had 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 29 games for the Lions in 2019-20. It was his first season of prep after playing for his hometown Hingham Harbormen for his first few years of high school. He’s a center with some skill and skating ability. He’ll likely be a walk-on at the Division 1 level or a high-end Division 3 recruit.
16. Connor Bradford
Boston Advantage 18-U, 8/23/02, G, catches left, 6-1/190
Bradford is a goaltender who competes hard and has somewhat of an unorthodox style. He’s come up through the Boston Advantage system and likely will have a chance to be a backup in Atlantic Hockey after a couple of seasons of junior hockey.
17. Carson Whitman
Boston Advantage 18-U, 6/4/02, C, right shot, 5-10/165
Whitman is on the smaller side, but he shows some flashes with his agility and skill. He needs to be more consistently dynamic in order to take that next step in his game. I often say that there are some very good players in Division 3 who are just lacking one thing in their game. He might be that player, or he might prove me and others wrong.
18. Ian Driscoll
Pingree, 9/12/02, C, left shot, 5-11/170
Driscoll put up nearly two points per game at Pingree this past winter. The Middleton, Mass., native had 23 goals and 30 assists in 27 games for the Highlanders. He’s an athletic, skilled forward who started to generate some buzz from a couple of colleges and Tier 3 junior programs in the area as the season was winding down.
19. Joe Solimine
Northfield Mount Hermon, 3/3/02, LW, left shot, 5-8/155
Solimine exceeded my expectations in his first year of prep hockey. I thought he was a good player at Austin Prep and certainly knew he could transition to prep. I didn’t foresee this kind of production. The Middleton, Mass., native had 21 goals and 21 assists in 28 games for the Hoggers. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s quick and skilled.
20. Thomas Messineo
St. Sebastian’s, 5/5/02, D, left shot, 5-10/175
Messineo had two goals and 11 assists in 28 games for the Arrows this past season. He’s been a solid four-year contributor at the prep level. He matured physically at an early age and was able to have an impact even as a youngster in prep. The Westwood, Mass., native will be a highly coveted Division 3 recruit or a fringe player at the Division 1 level.
21. Mason Kucenski
Vermont Academy, 4/8/02, G, catches left, 6-1/150
Kucenski could have or should have been a few spots higher on my list. I think he’s a really good goalie who has been stuck on some bad teams. He had an .891 save percentage for Vermont Academy this past winter. His team was outmatched in just about every game and he had a couple of heroic performances. The Gill, Mass., native has good size and should be kept on the radar as a potential backup in Division 1.
22. Charlie Spence
Phillips Andover, 3/18/02, D, right shot, 6-0/175
If I’m a coach in the NESCAC, Spence is one of my top targets for the 2021-22 school year. He quietly had a really good season for the Big Blue. The Medfield, Mass., native has good mobility and can move pucks north. He had three goals and eight assists as a junior for PA.
23. Bobby Luca
Roxbury Latin, 4/20/02, RW, right shot, 5-11/180
Luca, in his third season playing for the Foxes, had nine goals and 17 assists in 23 games. The Milton, Mass., native also had a good showing in fall hockey. I’m not saying Luca couldn’t be a walk-on at an Ivy League school, but he should be another player high on the priority list of NESCAC coaches.
24. Cody Sealey
Cushing, 2/23/02, D, right shot, 5-11/165
Sealey, from Worcester, Mass., always has flown a little under the radar. He’s a good skater who took more of a role with the Penguins this past winter. In 34 games, he had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. He’d be a good offensive defenseman at the Division 3 level.
25. Jake PercivalÂ
Millbrook, 2/11/02, C, left shot, 5-10/165
Percival had a breakout year in 2019-20. This ranking could be a little low for him. The Avon, Conn., native had 21 goals and 25 assists in 30 games. His 46 points marked a 37-point uptick from a year ago. He benefited from playing with a couple of good linemates, but he’s quick and makes plays.
