We're just over three months since June 15, which marks the first day college coaches can begin making verbal offers to rising juniors.
As a result, plenty of high-profile 2007 and 2008-born prospects have steadily begun to make college commitments, be it local players committing or others from outside New England choosing schools in the area.
That's on top of the 2007-born players eligible to commit since Aug. 1, 2023, and have now found a landing spot.
There's been plenty of activity to track, especially over the last few weeks, as there's been a flurry of notable commitments, so it's a perfect time to take stock of things.
Let’s dive into the latest news and takeaways from the last month on the recruiting trail.
Yale lands several key locals
The Bulldogs have been busy.
Between Dexter's Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.), Loomis Chaffee's Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) and Nobles' Gretta Hulbig (Foxboro, Mass.), Yale picked up three of the region's best prospects down the middle. All three play strong 200-foot games.
Hulbig is coming off a breakout sophomore season at Nobles, where she was an integral part of their run to an Elite 8 championship. She posted 25 points (11 goals) in 31 games, playing in all situations. The junior is excellent at the face-off dot and plays a strong game deep in the offensive zone. Her strength makes her effective at shielding pucks and working the cycle, as well as gaining position around the net. Hulbig, an '07, made USA Hockey's Under-18 Select Camp this summer.
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Doyle, an '07, also enjoyed a career season last winter, posting 14 goals and 26 points in 27 games, leading Dexter in scoring as a sophomore as her team made a run to the Large School title game. The junior is smart and plays a detailed game in all three zones. She had an excellent summer and impressed at U18 Selects enough to make the U18 series roster against Canada.
Dexter coach Maggie Taverna feels the "sky's the limit" for Doyle, who she calls the "smartest defensive center" she's ever coached.
Meanwhile, Schwarz posted a career-high 14 points in 27 games as a sophomore last season, leading Loomis in goals with 10. She's an excellent skater with long, efficient strides, who creates a ton of offense constantly, thanks in part to a good shot. The '08 is creative in the offensive zone and does a good job of finding open space in the attacking zone.
Carly Dann commits to Cornell
Dann (Hanover, NH) figures to be one of the best defenders in the NEPSAC this season (she's also one of three blue-liners at Loomis you could say the same for, along with Catie Collins and Megan Hosman).
The 5-foot-9, left-shot Dann has the strength, size and hockey IQ to impact the game both offensively and defensively. She's a stout defender who excels in transition with strong stick positioning, gapping and physicality. She forces puck-carriers to the outside and knows when to cut them off or step up to hold the defensive blue line. As a puck-mover, Dann makes a good first pass and typically makes good decisions on when to skate it herself on exits.
The '08 was really impressive at the New England District camp and Wizards Showcase earlier in the offseason, which could bode well for another step as a junior.
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She has a ton of potential, which makes her commitment a great get for Cornell.
Tina Scalese commits to Princeton
Princeton got a good one in the '08-born Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.), who has been one of the most productive players in prep hockey the last two seasons.
She's a cerebral center, who does a good job in all three zones. Her patience and vision are what I've found most impressive. She's always looking for the best play to make and is never one to force or rush passes and plays that aren't there. Even when the offensive chances aren't coming, she's making an impact defensively, just as she did at U18 Selects in August.
It's all helped her become one of the most productive skaters in prep. The junior has led Groton in scoring in each of her first three seasons. Last year, she finished third for points in the NEPSAC with 51 (25 goals) in 26 games.
Several NEPSAC coaches buy into the hype as well. Many highlighted her quickness and instincts in our anonymous coaches survey from August.
“She’s the best that I saw and coached against,” one coach said. “She not only possesses superb offensive ability but is a factor at both ends of the ice. She is a complete player."
Another added, “She is already among the top all-around players as a sophomore. She is undersized but the real deal.”
A pair of NAHA prospects land commitments
Two 2007 forwards for the NAHA White U19s recently found landing spots. Cassidy Lobisser (Bellingham, Mass.) recently committed to Quinnipiac, while Quinn Taylor (Centerville, Mass.) chose Boston University.
Lobisser, an '08, brings great skating and a lot of speed to the table. She generates speed quickly, and it helps her start plenty of offense. Her speed also makes her an effective penalty killer, closing down lanes and taking away space quickly. She's coming off a 78-point, 50-goal season with the NAHA Red U16s last year. The 5-foot-3, left-shot forward had strong showings at U18 Selects and the NAHA Labor Day tournament.
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Taylor, who stands at 5-foot-7, has been a consistent producer for NAHA. She posted 35 goals and 70 points in 97 total games last season. The right-shot forward is a powerful presence in the offensive zone. She effectively uses her frame to protect the puck, fend off defenders and win battles. She also does a good job of hunting pucks on the back check, disrupting zone exits and forcing turnovers. Taylor, an '07, also had a good showing at the NAHA Labor Day tournament. She skated in the U18 Select camp for the second straight season and made the U18 Women's World Championship roster last season.
Sarah Powers commits to Boston College
Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) plays such a fun brand of hockey.
The 5-foot-5 left-winger has impressed and made an impact every time I've watched her play. She does everything at a million miles an hour. Her feet are always moving, and she's hard to contain in the offensive zone. She's an effective forechecker and plays with a ton of emotion. Powers also has plenty of speed and skill, typically earning her fair share of dangerous chances around the net.
An '07, she led Phillips Andover in goals last season with a career-high 15 goals (and 24 points) in 25 games, Powers had a solid week at U18 Selects. She could be in line for a bigger output this season on a once-again deep Andover squad.
Victoria Hausberger commits to Merrimack
Hausberger (Nashua, NH), an '08, is an intriguing blue-liner for a lot of the same reasons as Dann.
She was very good at the New England District camp in May after captaining the Lovell Academy U16s last season. She's a difficult matchup along the boards because of her strength. The 5-foot-6, left-shot defender has good gap control and a strong stick, making her effective in forcing forwards toward the boards and defending the rush. She makes good reads, knows when to be aggressive and clogs up shooting lanes.
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Hausberger could turn into a strong do-it-all defender for Merrimack if she continues her trajectory.
Emma Cerruti commits to Wisconsin
Cerruti, who plays at Shattuck-St. Mary's, is a dynamic presence on the blue line, and it's not surprising to see her commit to a perennial powerhouse. Like Powers, she can sometimes be a bull in a China shop in the best way possible.
She creates a lot of offense from the blue line and constantly pushes the pace. Defensively, she's physical and hard to play against. She also dishes out her fair share of punishment around the net and in board battles.
The 5-foot-8, right-haded blue-liner has quick strides and generates a lot of speed, which helps her easily start transition. Cerruti, a 2008, makes good first passes on breakouts and uses her legs effectively to lead the rush. She often gains the attacking blue line with possession.
She had excellent showings at Mass. Final 40, U18 Selects and the Wizards Showcase, making the U18 series roster. Wisconsin gets an exciting prospect who we're sure to hear plenty from in the future.
Other commitments
- Caroline Doherty to Holy Cross: Doherty, an '06, has been an MIAA star for Hingham as one of the most prolific forwards in the state. The 5-foot-6 forward enters her senior season at 109 career goals and a shot at 200 career points. She scored 27 goals as a junior, following a 47-goal sophomore year.
- Nina Coffee to Holy Cross: The Crusaders landed one of the biggest recruits (literally) in the NEPSAC. Coffee (Old Lyme, Conn.), a 6-foot left-shot defender, brings an exciting package of size, mobility and offensive instincts. Her long reach is effective, and she has a hard shot. The '07 is entering her junior year at Williston Northampton.
- Keira Austen to Brown: Austen (Darien, Conn.), an '07, will be a key piece as a junior on Deerfield's blue line this season, following a 20-point campaign. A smart, effective puck-mover, Austen impressed at the New England District camp in May.
- Megan Hosman to Penn State: Hosman, a right-shot blue-liner standing at 5-foot-9, brings another good blend of size and skill to the blue line. She plays in all situations and can log a ton of minutes. A junior at Loomis Chaffee, Hosman showcases a quick, powerful release and typically maintains strong stick positioning while defending the rush.
- Campbell Krotee to Holy Cross: Holy Cross landed a solid prospect in net with Krotee (Darien, Conn.). She's one of the top returning goaltenders in the NEPSAC this season, and Deerfield will lean on her a lot. She posted a .930 save percentage last season, helping the Big Green to the Elite 8 while facing heavy pressure all season (528 total shots).
