The latest college hockey watch list series focuses on freshmen or academic sophomores in the ECAC for the 2021-22 season. These are individuals who have not played any D-1 games yet, but are expected to be immediate contributors because of a combination of talent, experience and projected roles.
Once again, Harvard has some high-end talent up front, with three top junior scorers arriving in Mass. native Sean Farrell, Matt Coronato and Alex Laferriere, prospects for the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings respectively. Clarkson is also bringing in a potent scorer in Ayrton Martino (Dallas Stars).
This concludes the ECAC player previews and watch lists for the upcoming season. Next, we’ll see how these newcomers fare and if the projections are in line with their contributions.
Forwards
Sean Farrell (Hopkinton, Mass.)
Harvard, 11/02/01, 5-9/175
A fourth-round pick by Montreal in 2020, Farrell exploded for 101 points in the USHL and led the Chicago Steel to the league championship. Farrell is the first USHL player to hit the century mark since Kevin Roy (Northeastern) did it for the Lincoln Stars with 104 in 2011-12. He’s highly intelligent, skilled and going to immediately drive plays up front in Cambridge.
Matt Coronato
Harvard, 11/14/02, 5-10/185
Led all 2021 NHL draft prospects with 48 goals in a COVID-shortened USHL season, and was a part of the high-flying Steel team that went wire-to-wire with top regular-season record and playoff champions. Calgary’s first-round pick in July is a dangerous scorer who also plays with an elite work ethic and turned himself into a top NHL prospect last season after entering the year with a middle-round projection. With his pinpoint release and ability to shoot from anywhere, the New York native will present a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Ayrton Martino
Clarkson, 9/28/02, 5-10/160
The 73rd overall selection by the Dallas Stars in July is a dynamic, playmaking left wing who is expected to immediately help power the Golden Knights offense. What he lacks in natural size/strength, he makes up for in vision, pure creativity and a slick set of hands. He will be a dangerous PKer with his ability to anticipate. He joined the Omaha Lancers after Christmas and ended up finishing in the top-10 for league scoring (56 points in 38 contests) despite missing the season’s first 14 games.
Justin Ertel
Cornell, 5/27/03, 6-2/187
Dallas third-rounder in 2021 (taken six spots after Martino) is a skilled power forward out of St. Andrew’s College and has the size/intelligence to make a seamless transition to the ECAC.
Alex Laferriere
Harvard, 10/28/01, 6-0/178
Yet another Crimson player who should have played college hockey last year, but returned to the USHL and Des Moines because of COVID-19. The L.A. Kings 2020 third-rounder has good size, speed and terrific offensive skills and creativity. He plays with some jam and along with Farrell and Coronato, gives Harvard a real rookie power punch up front.
Jack O’Leary
Cornell, 3/28/00, 5-7/160
Fast, gritty winger returned to the USHL with Lincoln last season when Cedar Rapids had to sit out the year and was the Stars’ best all-around forward. He plays with a relentless pace, forces turnovers and has enough speed and skill to make opposing teams pay for mistakes. Size prevents him from being a top pro hockey prospect, but he’ll be a reliable, versatile newcomer for the Big Red.
Brendan Clark
Brown, 1/16/02, 6-1/190
New Jersey native comes to Brown after a superb season in the NAHL with the Johnstown Tomahawks (55 points). He’s a late-blooming, cerebral center who has grown considerably in the past several years and will provide the Bears with talent and upside at the forward position. He isn’t going to wow you on every shift, but plays hard and makes nifty, subtle plays on both sides of the puck.
Jake Quillan
Quinnipiac, 2/2/02, 6-0,201
Nova Scotian who played prep with Salisbury School and then in the BCHL last season with the Penticton Vees brings a lot of skill and hockey sense to the table. He can push the pace and has a strong north-south attacking mindset with some east-west agility and a quick shot.
Sean Chisholm
Dartmouth, 1/26/01, 6-1/186
Another Brooks Bandits product has the size, skills and sense to be an early contributor. He plays with creativity and pace, giving the Big Green a forward who can slot in near the top of the lineup out of the gate.
Will Dineen
Yale, 11/17/00, 6-1/191
Son of former NHLer and new Utica Comets head coach Kevin Dineen, the power winger spent the last two seasons in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede. He’s a bright, hard-working forward who is heavy on pucks and disruptive presence in front of the net and on the forecheck. With the significant turnover on the Bulldogs roster, watch for Dineen to earn opportunities given his experience and maturity.
Christophe Tellier
Quinnipiac, 5/23/00, 5-10/175
Seasoned junior player in multiple leagues finished aged out with Muskegon last season and brings offensive talent and a creative mindset to the Bobcats. He’s bounced around a bit, but will has a natural knack for scoring that should manifest itself pretty early in his college career.
John Beaton
RPI, 10/30/00, 6-1/190
Accomplished scorer in the OJHL proved himself with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms in 2019-20. With his size and a sneaky knack for the net, he’s a versatile forward who can play a variety of roles and should be able to use his age and experience to make a quick impact.
Caden Villegas
Union, 2/19/01, 5-8/162
High-energy Texan is a forward who competes hard and will be able to play up and down in the lineup for Union. While smaller in stature, he can break wide with his wheels and goes hard to the net. He’s not going to put up a lot of points at this level, but is one of those players who finds ways to score at the important times.
Ryan McGuire (New Canaan, Conn.)
Colgate, 7/27/02, 6-1/177
Former Belmont Hill forward and 2020 MVP went out to BCHL with Penticton last season after a handful of affiliate games in previous seasons with the Madison Capitols. The right shot two-way center plays a responsible style and isn’t flashy. He can win draws and has the details to earn playing time as a freshman with the Red Raiders.
Ty Naakens
St. Lawrence, 1/27/01, 6-1/190
Winnipeg native put up the points for the Steinbach Pistons, a good team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, then took up another level to Fairbanks of the NAHL where he posted 25 points in 37 games. He has the size, is a rangy skater and enough offensive hockey sense and skill to be a first-year forward who transitions to the ECAC quickly.
Jack Cronin (South Hamilton, Mass.)
Princeton, 3/31/01, 5-11/185
Former Nobles forward played one year of junior hockey in Minnesota for the Magicians of the NAHL. He’s a smart, crafty center who can pass the puck and posted 29 points in 35 games last year. While not overly dynamic in his playing style, he’s shifty, elusive and can find seams in opposing defenses.
Defensemen
Ian Moore (Concord, Mass.)
Harvard, 1/4/02, 6-3/185
Another member of the 2021 USHL champion Chicago Steel, Moore was a third-round pick by Anaheim in 2020 after finishing up an outstanding prep career at St. Mark’s School.
Tim Rego (Mansfield, Mass.)
Cornell, 1/31/00, 6-0/175
Late-bloomer from the Bay State and Williston Northampton School erupted for 61 points on the back end for the Brooks Bandits, a top team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League two years ago. Although limited a year ago back at Brooks with no Ivy League season, he’s tall, rangy and create offense. With his age and upside, he should evolve into a good two-way defender with pro potential down the road.
Jack Bar
Harvard, 10/7/02, 6-2/195
Ontario native won a USHL championship and is a top offensive defender and power play weapon. With his size, skating and hands, he looks good getting up and down the ice, walking the blue line and getting shots through from the point. The biggest area of emphasis for the Dallas Stars fifth-rounder in 2021 is rounding out his defensive game.
David Ma
Princeton, 6/22/02, 5-11/180
Yonkers native went out to Minnesota for his midget/prep years at Shattuck-St. Mary’s an impressed with his tremendous wheels, smarts and compete. Though not all that big, he’s able to get back on pucks and turn the play up the ice quickly. He’s battled injuries but should be a nice plug-and-play option for the Tigers.
Kyle Aucoin
Harvard, 7/2/02, 6-0/175
Detroit Red Wings prospect and son of longtime NHL defenseman (and Boston University product) Adrian Aucoin is a smart two-way defender with tremendous vision and instincts. He isn’t a dynamic skater, but plays fast and makes good decisions with and without the puck.
Goaltenders
Mathieu Caron
Brown, 3/29/00, 6-0/190
British Columbia native and experienced BCHL grad brings an interesting situation with Gabriel Vinal and James Durham in net for Brown. Because Caron played last year while Vinal and Durham did not, with his many games for Chilliwack, he might be able to carve out some playing despite being the newest face in net on the roster. Given the talent of all three, the Bears have quality and quantity in net.
Derek Mullahy (Scituate, Mass.)
Harvard, 3/20/01, 6-0/175
Dexter Southfield graduate spent the last two seasons in the USHL with Cedar Rapids and Des Moines and while his numbers weren’t at the upper echelon of the league, he’s athletic and brings a solid pedigree with him to Harvard. Mitchell Gibson is the established starter, and Derek Schaedig has just one game of experience, so it will be an interesting dynamic.
Jack Watson
RPI, 3/14/00, 6-3/195
Size and quickness helped him post a top (if truncated) season in net for the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express going a sterling 13-4 record. Coaches like winning goalies, so he’ll get a chance to post some wins for the Engineers.
