When the ball drops in Times Square on New Year's Eve on late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning, Division 1 college hockey coaches will think of one thing: recruiting.
Coaches can contact rising high school sophomores to show interest on Jan. 1. They can't make formal offers until Aug. 1.
Whether it be via text or phone call, it can be an exciting day for prospects to know that there is interest. Still, it's no guarantee.
Coaches reach out to plenty of prospects on or around Jan. 1. But come Aug. 1, that list dwindles quite a bit.
Things change over time. Some of the high-end players on this list may not be high-end in a year or two. Other prospects who are low in this story or not in here entirely will likely surpass others higher up. It's always fun to look back on these kinds of stories years later.
This story will focus on forwards, while a separate one will highlight defensemen and goalies.
Let's dive in.
Rocco Pelosi, Mount St. Charles 15O
It's bold to put Pelosi just above someone currently with the U.S. National Team Development Program. But at this rate, Pelosi should be a lock for the U17 team next season — and a potential star. The Sewell, N.J., native is on an absurd pace with 42 goals and 84 points in his first 33 games. That comes after posting 87 goals and 170 points in 64 games with the Mount St. Charles 14U team last year. Even at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, he checks almost every box for what a team wants in a forward. Pelosi will have his pick of wherever he wants to go.
Jamie Glance, USNTDP U17
Glance is currently with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The '08 had eight goals and 12 points in his first 26 games in Plymouth, Mich. While those numbers aren't flashy, most players struggle in their U17 season with the program before breaking out and starring in their U18 year. He posted 54 goals and 112 points in 58 games with Mount St. Charles' 15O team last season. He will have heavy interest from Hockey East and Big Ten schools.
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David Bosco, Belmont Hill
Bosco tried out for the NTDP team in the spring and followed that up by being drafted in the third round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft and averaged a point per game at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp. He's a crafty, highly offensive forward who can play the wing or center and has 10 points in 10 games so far this season for Belmont Hill.
Braiden Scuderi, Mount St. Charles 15O
Scuderi is an '09 who should be a candidate for the NTDP next season. His numbers are staggering this season with 30 goals and 84 points in 34 games. He had 137 points in 64 games with Mount's 14U team last year. Even at 5-foot-8 and 154 pounds, his high-end skill, skating and offensive IQ make him someone colleges will be going after hard.
Noah Survilas, Dexter Southfield
It was surprising when Survilas didn't at least receive an invite to try out for the NTDP squad earlier this year. Like Bosco, he was also a third-round pick in this year's USHL Phase 1 Draft. As a freshman at Dexter, Survilas had 30 points in 31 games. He's already off to a fast start this winter with seven goals in seven games. Survilas has a tendency to let the game come to him and take over whenever he wants to.
Caiden Pellegrino, St. Mark's
Pellegrino is an '09 in his first year of prep hockey. So far, he's made an impact with two goals and 10 points in nine games. He's got phenomenal vision and is an ideal set-up man for any winger. The 5-foot-8, 155-pound center was a longtime member of the Providence Hockey Club. He notched an incredible 177 points in 70 games for the 14U team last season. Pellegrino followed that up with five points in four games at Select 15 Camp.
Ryan Kaczynski, Mid Fairfield 15O
I wouldn't be shocked if Kaczynski got an invite to the NTDP Evaluation Camp in March. The 6-foot, 163-pound wing has high skill and is very creative in the offensive zone. He plays with boatloads of confidence, starring for the Mid Fairfield 15O team. He also notched five points in four games at Select 15 Camp this past summer.
Stephen Cover, Mount St. Charles 15O
Cover posted great numbers last season (45 goals and 105 points in 64 games) for the Mount 14U team. But the 5-foot-10, 170-pound right wing has been even better this season. He has 26 goals and 70 points in 34 games. Cover plays the game at such an intelligent level. He anticipates better than almost all players his age.
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Will Schlechtweg, Kent
At 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, Schlechtweg certainly has the size to attract recruiters. He was a standout with the New Jersey Rockets' 15O team and Bergen Catholic (N.J.) last season. He followed that by being one of the highest producers at Select 16 Camp with six goals and eight points in five games. He was outstanding for the Yale Jr. Bulldogs' 16U team in the fall and has five goals and 10 points in 10 games for Kent so far.
Spencer Thornborough, Governor's Academy
Thornborough has a big reputation, as he was one of the best '08s in his 13U and 14U years. The 6-foot, 174-pound wing posted 15 points in 18 games for Governor's Academy last season, but followed that up with a strong showing at Select 16 Camp with five points in five games. He was invited to the NTDP Evaluation Camp and a fifth-round pick in the USHL Phase 1 Draft. This season, he's off to a great start with Governor's with six points in five games.
Paulo Gualberto Jr., Mount St. Charles 15O
An '09, Gualberto has been a standout for Mount St. Charles the last two seasons. He put up 106 points in 64 games as a 14U and has 29 goals and 69 points in 34 games so far for the 15O team this season. At 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, Gualberto plays a tough game. While he doesn't regularly play against older players, he always stood out and thrived in the Foxboro Summer Prep League.
Declan Wotton, Seacoast Performance Academy 15O
Wotton, who's from Windsor, Maine, has been a star for SPA the last two seasons. As a 14U, he posted 58 goals and 109 points in 67 games. He's continued to be a high-end player among the '09s as a 15O with 28 tallies and 54 points in 38 games. He registered a goal in four games at Select 15 Camp this past summer. It certainly helps his stock that he's 6-foot-1 and 181 pounds.
Joseph Covelluzzi, Cushing
Since starting at Cushing this season as a sophomore, Covelluzzi has been a hit with five goals and nine points in nine games. He has great vision and protects pucks extremely well on the cycle. Those facets have translated well to the prep level, which should help the 5-foot-8, 160-pound forward in the eyes of Division 1 college coaches.
JP Messuri, Arlington High (MIAA)
The famous goes something like big guys have to prove they can't play, while smaller guys have to prove they can. Messuri is 5-foot-5, so it's clear he's a smaller guy. But boy, can he play. He had over 40 points as a freshman in the MIAA last year. He posted five points in five games at Select 16 Camp. His dogged compete and edge matched with his high IQ and elite vision makes him one of the most fun '08s to watch in the region.
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Chase Warsofsky, Cushing
Warsofsky has been hurt for most of the prep season so far. Still, the 5-foot-8, 154-pound forward plays at high speeds and has great skill. He was a star for the Neponset Valley River Rats' 15O team in the fall and was great at St. John's Shrewsbury (MIAA) last season.
Will Manchuso, St. Mark's
Manchuso is off to a phenomenal start in prep with six goals and 12 points in nine games. At 6 feet and 175 pounds, Manchuso has good size on the wing, which pairs great with his powerful skating ability. He notched two assists at Select 16 Camp this past summer and was outstanding with the River Rats' 16U team in the fall.
Michael Federico, Thayer
Among the '08s, Federico has always been one of the top players in the region. He was a standout at both Select 15 Camp and Select 16 Camp the last two summers. He's off to a great start to his sophomore season with Thayer, as he has three goals and seven points in eight games.
Keegan Kazan, Brunswick
Brunswick is off to a roaring start this season and Kazan can say the same. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound forward has seven goals and 18 points in 13 games, which should get him some attention. He's from Wilton, Conn.
Cam MacPherson, St. Mark's
Since arriving at St. Mark's, MacPherson has done nothing but produce. He had 30 points in 29 games last season as a freshman in a secondary scoring role. Through nine games this season, he has five goals and 14 points. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound wing stood out with the River Rats' 16U team this fall and put up 40 points for Hopkinton (Mass.) High in 2022-23.
Ty Hymovitz, Thayer
Hymovitz doesn't have flashy numbers in his first year with Thayer, as he has two goals and three points in eight games. But the longtime Boston Junior Eagles forward plays a responsible, two-way game down the middle. The 5-foot-11, 163-pounder can play in any situation and has a high Hockey IQ.
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Nick Sumner, Brooks
Sumner has the size and production to get Division 1 attention. The Hingham, Mass., native leads Brooks with eight goals and 13 points in nine games. He's also 6-foot-1 and 154 pounds.
