17 defenders who are candidates to be taken in 2026 USHL Phase 1 Draft

First, we looked at the forwards. Now it's time to evaluate the defensemen and goalies.

The USHL Phase 1 Draft is on Monday, as USHL teams will draft 2010-born players. Some will go right to the USHL, while others will return to prep, high school or 16U hockey.

This is the second Phase 1 Draft since the CHL ruling, which allows prospects to play in the CHL and still be eligible to play NCAA Division 1 hockey. It will be interesting to see how USHL teams draft players. They aren't going to draft players high who they think may head to the CHL now or in the future.

That definitely makes things harder.

The local drop of '10 defensemen is really good. There's a healthy mix of offensive and shutdown guys in here. For goalies, this is a tough age. It's still very early, so I only included a few netminders in this story.

Players are not listed alphabetically. Instead, I ranked them as if I were a USHL general manager. This is how I'd order them on my draft board.

Let's dive in.

Logan Cotter

St. Mark's, 8/10/2010, D, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass. 

There's a good chance that two years from now, Cotter will be seen as someone who was snubbed from this year's U.S. National Team Development Program team. He's an elite skater who has high confidence with the puck. When he retrieves pucks, he's just as likely to rush it end to end as he is to make an intelligent first pass. He's also an underrated defender who can be extremely physical. He had 22 points in 30 games with St. Mark's this winter as a dynamic defenseman. Cotter was a standout at the recent QMJHL Cup.

Mason Stonacek

Mount St. Charles, 12/26/2010, D, left shot, 5-10/161
Hometown: Stamford, Conn. 

Stonacek is a fantastic two-way defenseman. He put up 12 goals and 42 points in 59 games for Mount's 15O team this winter. He's mobile with the puck and is especially good on offensive zone entries. He's able to navigate the opposing blue line well to open up new shooting and passing lanes. In his own zone, he defends with a great stick and has no issue stepping up to be physical.

READ MORE: 9 takeaways from the latest in men’s college hockey recruiting

Brendan Martin

St. Sebastian's, 1/20/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Dedham, Mass. 

Another two-way defender, Martin is reliable in all situations, and proved to be as a freshman at St. Sebastian's this winter with 13 points in 27 games. He's a good skater who gets shots through from the point in the offensive zone and can run a power play. He's hard to play against defensively with a very good stick, and he maintains great gap control when defending the rush. He's a relatively safe pick for someone who should be in a top four at higher levels.

Jake Donatelli

St. George's, 1/4/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Barrington, R.I. 

If you're a team in the market for a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman, Donatelli is your guy. He scored twice this winter and added 19 assists in 26 games for St. George's. He's an elusive skater who does a good job of identifying forechecking pressure and finding ways around it. His vision is superb in transition and on offensive zone sequences.

Mason Wohlers

BK Selects, 5/20/2010, D, right shot, 6-0/165
Hometown: Somers, Conn. 

While Wohlers is a good puck-mover and can pitch in offensively, he's a force in his own zone. He has a great stick, and he's a fantastic hitter, never hesitating to take the body. In board battles, his ability to get stick-on-puck and follow through with shoulder checks to separate the opposing player from the puck is impressive and should serve him well, especially in a league like the USHL.

Sam Fishbone

St. Sebastian's, 4/5/2010, D, right shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Needham, Mass. 

Size be damned — that's how Fishbone plays. His shoulder checks when going back for pucks are really good, which helps protect him. But what puts Fishbone above most is his skating and his vision. He's such a good skater, always keeping his head up with the puck and using his edgework to skirt forecheckers. And his passing, especially in the offensive zone, is elite. He ranked second on St. Sebastian's in points with 29 points.

READ MORE: 10 biggest takeaways from men’s college hockey transfer portal

Kasen Walsh

Nobles, 4/24/2010, D, left shot, 5-11/155
Hometown: Warwick, R.I. 

Walsh isn't known for his offense. Instead, it's his defense that makes him so effective. He is physical and makes smart reads in his own zone. He has a fantastic stick, getting up on guys to break up plays and taking away passing lanes when covering the front of his own net.

Nick Ware

Belmont Hill, 1/5/2010, D, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Weymouth, Mass. 

Ware played a big role for Belmont Hill this season, notching 23 assists in 31 games. The best part of his game is his puck-moving ability. He makes smart, simple passes off of breakouts and can jumpstart the rush with a great first pass when leaving his own zone. His puck-moving is also why he was on Belmont Hill's top power play unit this winter.

Tyler Poti

Winchendon, 5/20/10, D, left shot, 6-3/179
Hometown: Sandwich, Mass. 

With Poti, it's about potential. Already 6-foot-3, the tools should be there as he gets older and begins to fill out. He had a nice winter for Winchendon with a goal and 17 points in 33 games. That size is likely why USHL teams will have him on their draft boards.

Brodie Anderson

Cushing, 5/7/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/150
Hometown: Wayland, Mass. 

When I think of Anderson, the one word that comes to mind is responsible. He's not flashy. He's not going to dangle through five players and snipe a goal that you see on an Instagram reel. But time and again, he's going to do the right thing. Whether that's in the offensive zone, a pass or breaking up a play in the defensive zone, Anderson can be relied on. He had three goals and 11 points in 31 games for Cushing this winter.

READ MORE: 30 boys ’10s to watch for the Top 50 

AJ Foyt

Mount St. Charles, 9/18/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/141
Home state: Indiana 

Foyt is a very good skater who moves pucks well. His elusiveness allows him to avoid pressure, and in the offensive zone, he uses his great hands and edges to get around defenders. He had seven goals and 51 points in 62 games for Mount's 15O team this winter.

Alex Guo

Belmont Hill, 5/5/2010, D, left shot, 5-11/176
Hometown: Weston, Mass. 

Guo had a nice season as a sophomore at Belmont Hill with two goals and 10 points in 31 games. He's a good skater who transports pucks nicely. He will need some more time in prep, but could become a very effective puck mover at higher levels.

Colten Kelly

Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 11/1/2010, D, right shot, 5-10/154
Hometown: Coventry, R.I. 

Kelly is fresh off making USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp from the New England District. He's a good puck-mover who put up four goals and 24 points in 57 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite's 15O team.

Jorden Marzi

Rivers, 3/4/2010, D, left shot, 5-10/158
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass. 

Marzi mainly played forward at Rivers this winter and only put up three points. But his skating is dynamic and his compete is high, meaning he's an intriguing prospect to track over the next two years.

Jaxson Fleming

Catholic Memorial, 5/14/2010, G, catches left, 6-1/256
Hometown: Waltham, Mass. 

It's still very early with goalies, but Fleming has two things that would make me want to take him as a USHL team: his size and the number of shots he's faced over the last two seasons. He's big, which certainly will give him an advantage at higher levels. And for shots faced, he's been Catholic Memorial's full-time starter for the last two seasons.

READ MORE: 24 forwards who are candidates to be taken in USHL Phase 1 Draft

Senji Kimura

Phillips Andover, 3/16/2010, G, catches left, 6-1/165
Hometown: Brattleboro, Vt. 

While Kimura didn't play much at Andover this winter, he had a strong fall for the Neponset Valley River Rats. He's extremely athletic and will be headed to his second straight USA Hockey Select Camp this summer.

Will Torres

Rivers, 4/21/2010, G, catches left, 5-10/140
Hometown: Framingham, Mass. 

Torres had a strong winter for Rivers, getting just under half the games. He posted a 2.39 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He's very good under pressure and can handle a high shot volume.