18 breakout defensemen candidates in 2024-25 boys prep hockey

Being a breakout defenseman in boys prep hockey can mean a couple of different things.

Some defensemen break out for a lot of points. They become power play stalwarts who set up goals. They jump into the rush and provide the occasional goal. They're certainly reliable puck movers.

And then others become high-end, shutdown defensemen. While they have no issue moving the puck, their focus is on making life difficult for opposing forwards.

Multiple defensemen are on the cusp of breaking out in boys prep hockey this season.

Let's dive in. A separate story will be done on goalies.

Chris Baird-Gajdos

Salisbury, 1/25/2008, D, left shot, 6-2/181
Hometown: Clarence, N.Y. 

Baird-Gajdos comes to Salisbury via Little Caesars. His skating combined with his skill and size makes him someone who should be producing legitimate offensive numbers this winter. He was a second-round (24th overall) pick by the Madison Capitols in the USHL Phase 1 Draft earlier this year.

Quinn Brandell

St. Paul's, 1/4/2007, D, left shot, 6-2/170
Hometown: Plattsburgh, N.Y. 

Brandell's numbers didn't pop off the page last season (eight points in 29 games), but new head coach Scott Harff believes he's going to step into a big role this winter. And with his size and puck-moving abilities, he should post strong numbers for St. Paul's.

Nathan Di Chiara

Kent, 4/12/2007, D, right shot, 6-2/181
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn. 

Di Chiara is on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary watch list, but I still think he's a bit under the radar. He's uncommitted and his numbers won't turn heads. But he will have a huge role for a good Kent team playing hard, shutdown minutes. And, of course, an increase in points from the eight he put up last season is expected.

Kaiden Donia

Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/183
Hometown: Townsend, Mass. 

Donia was invited to U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp earlier this year. Still, Donia flew under most people's radars last season with three goals and 13 points in 26 games. Interestingly enough, he's not just a good skater for his size — he's legitimately a good skater. He had a nice fall with the East Coast Militia's 16U team. A strong two-way game should be the goal.

Nick Evans

Kimball Union, 3/13/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: Malden, Mass. 

Kimball Union was deep on defense last winter, pushing Evans down the depth chart. Now, it's his time to thrive as the Wildcats had a slew of important graduations, especially on defense. Evans will have a tough job this season, having to be impactful in all three zones. But the former Malden Catholic standout looks ready to face top talent, shut them down and contribute offensively.

Will Henderson

Choate, 4/3/2006, D, right shot, 6-0/150
Hometown: Branford, Conn. 

Choate has a new head coach in Mike Pereira. It will be fascinating to watch how Pereira utilizes and unlocks potential in Henderson. He ranked second on his team in points (16) last season. He's a phenomenal skater, which should allow him to be someone Pereira leans on.

Phin Howard

St. Mark's, 1/30/2008, D, right shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Newton, Mass. 

St. Mark's always seems to have a dynamic, offensive defenseman on the roster. With Calvin Beard graduated, Howard looks to be next up. His skating and his ability to find passing lanes in transition should lead to more offense. Howard posted two goals and nine points last season.

Darren Iversen

Rivers, 9/28/2007, D, left shot, 5-9/165
Hometown: Framingham, Mass. 

Iversen was one of the players who impressed me most in the fall. His steady, puck-moving style was impactful for the 18U Boston Junior Eagles. He's shown more confidence in joining the rush and being creative in the offensive zone, too. With a star-studded cast of forwards at Rivers, Iversen should be able to improve on his 10 assists last season.

Matthew Koch

Avon Old Farms, 1/30/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/187
Hometown: New York, N.Y. 

I have high expectations for Koch. The '09 played up on the 16U Northern Connecticut Nor'Easter team. He didn't just hold his own — he stood out and consistently dictated play with the puck. Avon Old Farms will have a whole bunch of new players, but Koch should be someone head coach John Gardner can consistently rely on to jumpstart the offense.

Pete Luecke

Thayer, 1/10/2006, D, right shot, 6-0/176
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii 

Luecke mulled moving on to juniors over the offseason but made the right call in returning to Thayer for his senior year. He posted one goal and 16 points last season. Over the summer and fall, he's shown a willingness to rush the puck and make smart puck decisions at the opposing blue line. He will be a leader for Thayer.

Aiden MacIsaac

Lawrence Academy, 1/11/2007, D, left shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Andover, Mass. 

MacIsaac is known for his shutdown defending. Still, he had two goals and 18 points for Lawrence Academy last season. Last season, we saw Dylan Hunt (Marlboro, Mass.), who was a shutdown defenseman, post 40 points. By no means am I saying MacIsaac will, or even has to, put up similar numbers. But he's a good puck-mover and he will be a big piece for the Spartans. A jump in production wouldn't be surprising.

Brian McFadden

Thayer, 1/8/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/181
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass. 

McFadden has such a high ceiling. At 6-foot-5, he's able to shut down opponents with a great stick and physicality. But he can also contribute offensively and move pucks well. McFadden comes to Thayer from Catholic Memorial in the MIAA. He was at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp this summer where he notched three assists in five games. This was a strong get for Thayer boss David Hymovitz.

Freddy Meyer

Rivers, 10/16/2007, D, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Winchester, Mass. 

It's a big year of development for Meyer, as he acclimates to defense after previously being a forward. His instincts with the puck mixed with his physicality make him such an intriguing defenseman. He showed a lot of improvement as the fall went on, which should be a nice lead-in to the prep season.

Cam Minella

Brunswick, 8/29/2009, D, left shot, 5-10/154
Hometown: Darien, Conn. 

Minella isn't going to play every game for Brunswick this season, as he's with Mid Fairfield's full-season 15O squad. Still, Minella wants to get some service time in prep, and head coach Mike Kennedy is eager to give it to him. Minella is a puck-moving machine whose game should translate well to facing older, stronger players.

James Odyniec

Avon Old Farms, 1/2/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Wilton, Conn. 

It's no secret that Avon Old Farms lost a lot of talent over the offseason. Odyniec plays a responsible, two-way game that should have him as a top choice for Gardner in any situation. Odyniec plays a physical brand of hockey and moves pucks safely. That will be vital for a younger-than-usual Winged Beavers squad.

Ian Sherman

Pomfret, 5/13/2008, D, left shot, 6-0/190
Hometown: Brooklyn, Conn. 

Sherman is a steady, puck-moving defenseman. He put up one goal and 10 points last season as a sophomore '08. Since then, he's shown much improvement in his game, standing out at New England Districts before making Select 16 Camp. He was a consistent force for the Neponset Valley Rivers' 16U team in the fall.

Brady Sloper

Belmont Hill, 5/21/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/198
Hometown: North Andover, Mass. 

Sloper has been bigger than most players his age for quite a while. It's taken time to adjust to his frame, but the Boston Junior Eagles product has shown lots of improvement since last season. He plays more comfortably at 6-foot-2 and it shows in his skating, poise with the puck and physicality. When Sloper wants to, he can rock opposing forwards. Belmont Hill is full of veterans on defense, but Sloper, a sophomore, should take a big step forward.

Josh Williams

Berkshire, 7/31/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Boxford, Mass. 

Williams scored five goals and posted 17 points for Berkshire last season. He will certainly step into a bigger role for head coach Kevin Czepiel's team after it lost Jack Turowsky to graduation. Williams is aggressive with the puck, never shying away from a rush or leading the charge offensively. That will equate to more points in his senior season.