Almost a month of the split-season schedule has passed on the hockey calendar. Most teams have participated in three events while some have already skated in four. That’s given players on each local team plenty of opportunities to showcase their skills in front of college coaches and other scouts.
It’s always fun to look at who has progressed the most from one season to the next. Some players already started showing their improvement over the summer at various showcases, including the USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp in Amherst, N.Y.
In this story, I wanted to focus on six players who are entering their second in the NEPSAC.
Here are three forwards and three defensemen, all uncommitted, who have displayed their improvement in the first month of fall hockey and could be on pace for breakout seasons this winter with their respective prep school squads.
Forwards
Nate Porter
Dexter Southfield/Junior Eagles, 3/10/06, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/162
Porter has been on fire with the puck on his stick. He’s scored a ton of goals, including two hat tricks in games I’ve been at. He leads the Junior Eagles in goals. The Hingham, Mass., native started on the JV team on a loaded Dexter Southfield team in 2021-22. He quickly proved he was better than a number of players who started on varsity. Porter has always been a well-known player in his birth year, but he’s taken a step this fall. His shot and skating both stand out. As a sophomore in 2022-23, he’ll get more ice time and play a greater role for Danny Donato’s (Dedham, Mass.) squad. Come January 1, he’ll have a handful of big-time area college programs calling him.
Ryan Lucarelli
Canterbury/River Rats, 7/10/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/150
Lucarelli, from Westport, Conn., could be one of the most improved players in the region. He’s almost equaled his point total from last fall in about a third of the games. Lucarelli, a sophomore at Canterbury, showed some skill last fall. His stick and skating have gotten more dynamic, but most importantly, he’s become harder and played more between the dots. As he continues trending in the right direction in that regard, his point total will continue to go up. He’s second on the River Rats in scoring, only behind Loomis Chaffee center and Yale commit Ryan Staples (Middletown, R.I.).
Oliver Morris
Northfield Mount Hermon/Cape Cod Whalers, 12/27/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/165
Morris had a solid summer, playing in the Foxboro Prep Summer League, and training in New England. From Redondo Beach, Calif., he scored nine points in prep last winter for Kevin Czepiel’s (Holyoke, Mass.) Hoggers. He’s shown off his skill in the fall, scoring at over two points per game. He’s got a good stick and can create on the rush.
Defensemen
Dylan Hunt
Milton/Junior Eagles, 2/9/06, D, left shot, 6-1/174
Hunt missed the Eagles’ game against Mount Saint Charles, but I liked his play during the first two showcases. The Marlboro, Mass., native is a throwback. He’s not wheeling and dealing up and down the ice like many modern defensemen. He skates extremely well and looks to defend first. He’s physical and kills a lot of plays. He isn’t inept with the puck on his stick. Rather, he keeps it simple and makes smart, efficient puck touches. He’s one of the best defensemen in the region and deserves more attention than he gets. He should have a monster sophomore campaign for Paul Cannata’s (West Roxbury, Mass.) Milton squad.
Cooper Cleaves
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield, 1/5/06, D, right shot, 6-1/175
Cleaves has clearly been the go-to defenseman on this Mid Fairfield team. He’s always been a solid player, but he’s gotten bigger, leaner and stronger. As a result, his skating has improved and he’s been able to contribute more offensively and in the transition game. He was solid in a recent game against the River Rats and has looked solid all fall. He saw limited ice time as a sophomore in 2021-22. Expect the Riverside, Conn., native to get more ice time for Mike Kennedy’s Bruins this upcoming winter.
Conrado Calderini
Berkshire/River Rats, 3/7/06, D, left shot, 5-10/155
Calderini made it to the All-Star game of the New England District tryout camp after a pedestrian first season of prep at Berkshire. He’s shown skill and skating ability so far this fall for the River Rats. He scored one of the highlight reel plays of the fall in the jamboree. He’s not afraid to jump into the rush and he’s shown more of a physical side than previously displayed. He should receive more ice time in his second year of prep playing for Dan Driscoll’s (Lynn, Mass.) Bears.
