The 2001 birth year in New England is one of the best in recent memory for hockey prospects.
Thirteen players from the region’s ’01 class already have NHL logos next to their name by way of the 2019 or 2020 draft. A few of the top ’01s from New England have played a season of college hockey, and several more will do so this winter.
There are others, however, who have yet to receive a college commitment. A few ’01s remain in prep while others playing junior hockey have two years of eligibility remaining, including this one.
Back in May, I published a list of the top uncommitted ’01s in New England. Two players from the top 10 of that ranking have made commitments since then. Tyler Gaulin, now playing for the NAHL’s Maine Nordiques, recently committed to play college hockey for the Maine Black Bears. New Jersey Titans winger and Trinity-Pawling alum Stephen Willey is now committed to Army West Point.
The top of my list is unchanged. David Jacobs is still the top uncommitted ’01 in New England. With Gaulin now committed, there is a new second-ranked player among uncommitted ’01s. Below is my latest edition of the top uncommitted ’01s in New England. Keep in mind that only the top three are players I see as sure-fire Division 1 prospects. The rest are tweeners who could be walk-ons at Division 1 or play Division 3.
1. David Jacobs
Nobles, 9/26/01, RW/LW, right shot, 5-10/170
I’ve yet to see Jacobs play this fall as he’s too old to play on the 18-U circuit and hasn’t made the jump to junior hockey. The Needham, Mass., native is a stellar two-sport athlete at Nobles, also excelling on the lacrosse field. His unwillingness to jump to junior hockey is a concern to some college programs. However, his skill-set is good enough to play for most Division 1 programs in Hockey East and ECAC Hockey. He’s quick, skilled, plays between the dots, and thinks the game at a high level offensively. If he wants to play both hockey and lacrosse at the college level, Cornell, Princeton or Yale could be ideal landing spots.
2. Kevin MacKay
Aberdeen Wings, 4/25/01, D, left shot, 6-1/190
MacKay is a good-sized defenseman who skates well. He’s strong and can jump into the rush. His speed allows him to recover when he gets caught up ice. The one area of his game that I’ve always questioned is his hockey sense. He’s off to a solid start in the NAHL with a goal and three assists through six games. I project MacKay as a sixth or seventh defenseman at a lesser Hockey East program or maybe a three or four in Atlantic Hockey.
3. Eamon Doheny
Odessa Jackalopes, 1/6/01, D, left shot, 6-1/195
Doheny, from Lunenburg, Mass., has transitioned from prep at Deerfield to the North American Hockey League. I had always liked his game, but he took a significant step last year with the Junior Eagles 18-U. He has good size, his skating is above average, and he has solid offensive instincts. A good student, I could see Doheny fitting in well at Colgate, St. Lawrence or Holy Cross.
4. Cade Destefani
Janesville Jets, 6/21/01, RW, right shot, 6-2/174
Destefani is off to a hot start with Janesville in the NAHL. In two games, he has four goals and three assists. His seven points already are five more than he scored in 12 games for Northeast all of last season. There’s no doubting the skill and skating of the Bedford, N.H., native. If he can produce in the NAHL in a bigger and older brand of hockey, that bodes well for his ability to play between the dots and in traffic. I think Destefani could land a spot as a walk-on for a few schools in Hockey East or Atlantic Hockey.
5. Reese Farrell
Maine Nordiques, 2/21/01, RW, right shot, 6-0/185
Farrell is a workhorse who gives it his all each shift. The Auburn, Maine, native is in his first season of junior hockey. In eight games in the NAHL, he has four goals and three assists. Farrell, who played prep hockey at North Yarmouth and Northfield Mount Hermon, never will be the fastest or most skilled guy on a team. However, his compete level can add an element to the bottom of a lineup and in practice. I see him being a player who squeaks into Atlantic Hockey, or he could end up being successful in the NESCAC.
6. Matt Connor
Maine Nordiques, 5/31/01, D, right shot, 6-2/200
The Amherst, N.H., native has two assists in his first eight games in the NAHL. The Lawrence Academy product is a big, strong defender. He shows some flashes every once in a while, but for him to make it to Division 1, he’s going to have to show he can defend and be smart and simple with his puck touches.
7. Frank Ireland
Junior Bruins, 2/6/01, LW, left shot, 5-10/180
Ireland, from Longmeadow, Mass., probably should have left the NCDC to challenge himself in the NAHL. He might run into college programs being concerned about his unwillingness to leave. That being said, I think Ireland has an outside shot at being on a Division 1 roster and fighting for playing time in a bottom-six role. He brings energy and can play even strength and penalty kill. In nine games with the Junior Bruins this season, he has five goals and three assists.
8. Tristan Fasig
Maine Nordiques, 10/9/01, C, left shot, 6-2/185
Fasig, from Sherman, Conn., always has intrigued me due to his size. He has the potential to be a power forward, but he’s never quite put it all together. I’m not willing to completely write him off. There’s something there if he ages out of junior after next season. In nine games with the Nordiques, he has two goals and three assists. The Taft alum is a home run for most NESCAC programs.
9. Matt Cormier
Junior Bruins, 2/20/01, RW, right shot, 5-10/165
Cormier is quick and has above-average skill. The Waltham, Mass., native played prep hockey at Rivers and finished in the top five in scoring during the 2018 USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp. His hockey sense, compete and size are issues holding him back from being more of a productive player in junior hockey. He has a goal and two assists in nine games so far this season in the NCDC. I see Cormier landing at a top Division 3 program such as Babson, Middlebury or Wesleyan.
