The United States Hockey League, which has quickly become the premier junior hockey in the country, began its regular season this week. On Sept. 22, the British Columbia Hockey League opens its regular season action.
Both leagues host many future Division 1 college hockey players, especially from New England.
There's been a growing trend in the last bunch of years where the best prospects leave prep school early to start their junior hockey careers. This season is no different.
At least 10 skaters who were expected to be impact players in prep hockey left their schools to join junior teams. That excludes players like Sean Keohane (Milton, Mass.), Ethan Gardula (Princeton, Mass.), Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.) and Jackson Kyrkostas (Windham, N.H.), since all four were seniors.
There will still be a lot of talent in prep hockey this season. But let's examine some of the top prospects who will be playing elsewhere.
Alex Bales
Tri-City Storm, 7/6/2006, D, left shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: East Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA: ProvidenceÂ
Bales is fresh off a solid performance at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, notching one goal and one assist in five games. After developing with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, he embarked on a strong career at Kent. Even though last season was shortened by injury, Bales was still impactful in the 14 games he played in, scoring four goals and totaling 13 points. At 17 years old, Bales should make an impact with Tri-City in his first full USHL season.
Thatcher Bernstein
Dubuque Fighting Saints, 7/17/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/209
Hometown: Brookline, Mass.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
One year after receiving an invite to the United States National Team Development Program and opting to stay at Nobles, Bernstein is with the Fighting Saints, who selected him in the fifth round (72nd overall) of the 2022 Futures Draft. Goalies usually take a little bit to adjust to the USHL, but Bernstein has the tools to potentially combat that. Like Bales, he was on the Hlinka-Gretzky team after a standout career at Nobles. Bernstein will be remembered most for winning Flood-Marr MVP as a freshman in 2021 and always providing a stable force in net for head coach Brian Day's team.
Drew DellaSalla
Youngstown Phantoms, 5/8/2006, F, left shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
This is a big year for DellaSalla, and he will spend it in the USHL with Youngstown. He's a strong prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft and he's produced everywhere. With Brunswick, he posted 76 points in 61 games over two years. He was big for the New York district at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp this summer, too, posting three goals and five points over six games. The next step will be to show more compete and produce at an even higher level.
Cullen Emery
Victoria Grizzlies, 8/2/2005, F, right shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.Â
This one surprised me a bit, but Emery opted to forego his senior season at Dexter Southfield and pursue junior hockey with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL. Emery centered one of Dexter's top two lines last season, scoring 11 goals and totaling 22 points in 25 games. He plays with a high compete, especially on the forecheck. I'm very interested in how his game translates to the next level.
Richard Gallant
NTDP U17, 6/12/2007, F, left shot, 5-8/161
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
NCAA: HarvardÂ
No surprise here. Gallant made the NTDP U17 team after lighting it up with St. Mark's over the past two seasons. The Harvard commit came close to averaging two points per game over two seasons at St. Mark's, notching 76 points in 41 games. His game could have him slot anywhere in the four lines at the national program. He has the skill and hockey sense to play in the top six, while his compete could have him making an impact in the bottom six, too.
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Hudson Gorski
Chicago Steel, 9/5/2005, D, right shot, 6-5/179
Hometown: Scotch Plains, N.J.
NCAA: CornellÂ
Gorski spent one season at Salisbury last season as a junior, posting six goals and 14 points in 28 games. The big righty is strong in his own zone and with his size, should be someone who makes an impact with the Chicago Steel this winter.
Jonathan Lanza
Cowichan Valley Capitals, 3/10/2005, D, right shot, 6-0/174
Hometown: Winthrop, Mass.
NCAA: YaleÂ
Lanza quietly had a strong year with Dexter last season, scoring four goals and adding 17 assists in 32 games. He was a stabilizing, puck-moving presence inside head coach Danny Donato's top six. His skating and puck-moving abilities will serve him well in the BCHL.
Nate Porter
Omaha Lancers, 3/10/2006, F, right shot, 5-10/174
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
With Emery and Porter off to junior hockey, Dexter Southfield lost its top two centers a year earlier than expected. Porter generated a ton of buzz last fall when he averaged a point per game with the 16U Boston Jr. Eagles team. He followed that up by scoring 10 goals and totaling 27 points in 32 games with Dexter as a sophomore. He's a crafty, right-shot center who has the skill to be effective at the next level.
Landan Resendes
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 12/10/2005, F, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Marlborough, Mass.
NCAA: Boston CollegeÂ
Many of these prospects will be on NHL Draft boards throughout the fall and winter and Resendes is no different. The BC commit was a star for Cushing last season, putting up 27 goals and 54 points in 32 games for head coach Paul Pearl. That came after his first season with the Penguins when he averaged one point per game. Resendes is dynamic and plays hard, which should help his transition to the USHL. In four games with Cedar Rapids at the end of last year, he potted a goal.
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Ryan Shaw
Nanaimo Clippers, 1/29/2005, F, left shot, 5-9/165
Hometown: East Longmeadow, Mass.
NCAA: RPIÂ
Shaw was a force for Westminster last season, scoring 18 goals and finishing with 45 points in 26 games. That was an uptick in production from eight goals and 18 points in 26 games during his first prep season in 2021-22. The smaller wing plays a fast game and will be out with something to prove in the BCHL.
