Last year was an odd one in terms of players competing at New England prep schools or fall split-season hockey teams getting picked for the NHL Draft.
Rudy Guimond of the Yale Jr. Bulldogs and Taft was picked by the Detroit Red Wings in the sixth round. A few picks later, Sean Keohane (Milton, Mass.), who played his fall hockey with the Cape Cod Whalers and prep with Dexter Southfield, was taken.
And that was it.
That's all to say that I'm not predicting these next 10 players are sure-fire picks to get drafted. It's a definite that all 10 won't given how far the NHL Draft talent pool reaches.
However, these 10 prospects are playing U18 fall split-season (or full season) hockey in the region and have cases to pitch for the draft. NHL scouts have already been monitoring these players throughout the fall.
This list excludes players not playing fall hockey in the region. So those like Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.), Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass.), Landan Resendes (Marlboro, Mass.) and Owen Keefe (Saugus, Mass.) aren't on this list.
Let's dive in.
Ben Merrill
Cape Cod Whalers, 11/4/2005, F, right shot, 6-4/190
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
Over the past 12 months, Merrill has catapulted himself into being a legitimate NHL Draft prospect from this region. He was a go-to producer with 11 goals and 24 points in 27 games for St. Sebastian's last winter, using his size to earn scoring chances and make an impact. He had a great summer, standing out at the USHL's Chicago Steel camp in June and was added to their roster despite not being drafted by them. Still, he will be back with the Arrows for his junior year. In my viewings of the Whalers, he's been the best player on the ice. A strong finish with the Whalers and a jump in production and play-driving will put him in a good spot for June's draft.
Caeden Herrington
Islanders Hockey Club Prep, 1/26/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Manchester, Vt.
NCAA: VermontÂ
Herrington has the size and skating to put himself on NHL radars. He also has a ton of skill with the puck on his stick. He had five goals and 21 points in 29 games for Holderness last year as a junior. Herrington has the kind of point-producing potential to be one of the top offensive defensemen in the region this winter, which will help his draft stock. The big thing will be intelligently picking his spots and also keeping a focus on his own zone.
Gio DiGiulian
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 9/25/2005, F, right shot, 6-1/161
Hometown: South Burlington, Vt.
NCAA: CornellÂ
A strong prep campaign with Kent last season did wonders for DiGiulian's stock, as he led his team in goals (17) and points (29). In my viewing of the Jr. Bulldogs this fall, DiGiulian showed off good skating and hockey sense. He's got the size and skill to attract attention from NHL scouts. DiGiulian was picked in the 12th round by the Lincoln Stars in the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Kole Hyles
Central Mass. Penguins, 1/16/2006, F, right shot, 6-0/181
Hometown: Exeter, N.H.
NCAA: New Hampshire
Hyles has a bunch of skill, especially off the rush, which is the big reason he finds himself in contention for the draft. He was a force for the New England District at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp this past summer, scoring four goals and totaling seven points. He will play for head coach Paul Pearl's Cushing Penguins this winter, where NHL scouts will be heading often given the roster. Hyles played last year with Seacoast Performance Academy's 16U team where he scored 21 goals and 54 points in 65 games.
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Luke Goukler
Central Mass. Penguins, 8/11/2006, F, left shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Cumming, Ga.
NCAA: MerrimackÂ
While Hyles brings the skill, Goukler has a ton of speed, which is why he's on this list. Skating is one of the biggest things NHL scouts look for, and Goukler is certainly good at it. He can also finish and find the back of the net, as was evident last year when he scored 55 goals in 57 games for the Nashville Jr. Predators 16U team. This fall, that's continued with the Central Mass. Penguins.
Marko Bilic
Central Mass. Penguins, 3/3/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/179
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Bilic is an outstanding netminder. He has the kind of size that catch the eye of NHL scouts. On top of that, he has a great glove and is extremely athletic. His poise between the pipes allows him to track pucks well and in my viewings of him, he's rarely out of position.
Andrew O'Sullivan
NEFPHL Wildcats, 8/15/2006, D, right shot, 5-11/180
Hometown: Boston, Mass.Â
O'Sullivan is a terrific puck-moving defenseman. His ability to execute clean breakouts and rush the puck himself are impressive. He's a strong two-way defender with a high hockey IQ. While he's not the tallest player on the ice, he's strong and can move the opposition off the puck. He had five goals and 21 assists in 34 games for Kimball Union last season as a sophomore. If those numbers rise and his skating and two-way game improve even more, he's a candidate to be selected.
Jack Sadowski
NEFPHL Wildcats, 7/29/2006, F, left shot, 6-0/179
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
NCAA: New Hampshire Â
The big knock on Sadowski is his skating and lack of foot speed. What the UNH commit has going for him, however, are his hockey IQ and ability to flat-out produce. In his first season of prep hockey, he posted a team-high 24 goals and 42 points for Kimball Union. He's constantly in the right spot in the offensive zone, which helps him produce as much as he does. Sadowski has had three-straight strong showings at USA Hockey Select camps over the last three summers.
Dylan Hunt
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2/9/2006, D, left shot, 6-1/174
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.
NCAA: YaleÂ
Hunt isn't flashy, but he's one of the best shutdown defensemen in the region. He gets the job done and makes smart plays with the puck. It's telling that he's gotten invites to Select 16 and 17 camps over the last two summers. It's a bit of a long-shot, but if Hunt experiences a big jump in production during the fall and winter, it would help his standing among NHL teams.
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James Marshall
South Kent, 4/5/2006, F, left shot, 5-11/154
Hometown: Weymouth, Mass.
South Kent is a full-season team, but Marshall is a great, smooth skater with high-end offensive abilities. In 18 games for South Kent's 18U squad, he has six goals and 17 points after notching 56 points in 52 games for the 16U team last year. He thinks the game really well in the opposing zone and caught invitations to the last two USA Hockey select camps.
