On Tuesday, lots of players around New England will wait to see if a USHL team selects them in the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Sixteen teams will select players from the 2007 birth year over 10 rounds. The draft begins at 5 p.m. ET.
Last season, the highest-selected defenseman from New England was Kaden Muir (Manchester, N.H.), who was the first pick of the second round and went to Tri-City. Milton Academy's Chris Romaine (Boston, Mass.) was selected six picks later by Omaha.
There will definitely be defensemen picked from New England this season. As I did looking at the forwards to watch for this draft, I've listed players below in a high-chance and sleepers section.
Let's dive in.
High chance
Anthony Bongo
Mid Fairfield 15O, 5/16/2007, D, right shot, 5-8/148Â
The Mid Fairfield product is a sure thing to be drafted on Tuesday. He was one of four New Englanders invited to USA Hockey NTDP Evaluation Camp. The Ridgefield, Conn., native didn't make the team, but that doesn't take away from his elite abilities as an offensive defenseman. He's a great skater with impressive puck-moving ability. Bongo is likely to go off the board in the first round.
SELECT 17S: 16 standouts from the '06s at New England District Select Festival
Tyler Russo
Cushing, 3/19/2007, D, left shot, 6-0/172Â
Russo played on a star-studded Cushing team this winter and still found a way to post 18 assists in 30 games. He's a great skater and moves the puck well, especially on breakouts. His two-way game grew this season, as he showcased his ability to defend, too. Prior to Cushing, Russo played at Hamilton-Wenham high school and the Islanders Hockey Club.
Everett Baldwin
St. George's, 1/17/2007, D, right shot, 5-11/165Â
Like Russo, Baldwin was a standout '07 on defense in the NEPSAC. The East Providence, R.I., native showed great at the New England District Select 16 Festival, making the team that will head to Amherst, N.Y., in July. Baldwin's skating and plays in transition are impressive. He'll be one of the catalysts for St. George's next season.
Shayne Gould
BK Selects 15O, 4/7/2007, D, left shot, 5-7/126Â
While Gould is undersized, he makes up for it with his fleet feet to evade forecheckers and make strong plays under pressure. He's an offensive defenseman who quarterbacks a power play well.
Sleepers
Nick Evans
Malden Catholic, 3/13/2007, D, right shot, 5-10/141
Evans is not a flashy defenseman like some of the others on this list. But his good hockey sense and skating allow him to be a great two-way defender. He's reliable, which is key. He played his Bantam with the Islanders Hockey Club and played for the Boston Jr. Eagles in the fall.
Anthony Pellitteri
Catholic Memorial, 5/2/2007, D, right shotÂ
Pellitteri was one of CM head coach Larry Rooney's go-to defensemen last season. Posting five goals and 12 points, Pellitteri is terrific at making the simple play. He's not flashy, but he's strong on the breakout and effective in transition. He's also poised on puck retrievals. He's not definite to be drafted, but he has a case.
Kirby Perler
Mid Fairfield 15O, 3/28/2007, D, left shot, 5-8/162Â
Perler was one of the best defensemen at the recent New England District Select 16 Festival, as he made July's Select 16 camp. He's a great skater with terrific hockey sense. Bongo is the big-name defenseman on the Mid Fairfield 15O squad, but Perler is right there and has proven his worth. He's a good sleeper pick for Tuesday's draft.
Collin Rowe
Pingree, 4/1/2007, D, right shot, 5-9/150Â
The Andover, Mass., native posted one goal and 10 points in 19 games for Pingree this winter. That came after time with the River Rats 15O team in the fall. Rowe is known as a solid two-way defenseman who's a good skater and can defend well, especially in front of the net. His good hockey sense helps put him in good positions on the ice.
UP FRONT: 11 New England forwards to watch for the 2023 USHL Phase 1 DraftÂ
Marco Senerchia
New Hampton, 7/4/2007, D, left shot, 5-7/137Â
The Greenville, R.I., native was recently chosen to attend the USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp along with Baldwin and Perler for the New England District. Despite his small size, Senerchia is a smooth skater and moves the puck well. With Senerchia headed to St. George's, he will have played for three different teams over three seasons (Mount Saint Charles and New Hampton were the other two).
