University of Michigan freshman center Matt Beniers highlighted the locals on the NHL Central Scouting final rankings for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Beniers, from Hingham, Mass., was the sixth-rated North American skater, per NHL Central Scouting. In 24 games for the Wolverines this winter, Beniers posted 10 goals and 14 assists. Prior to heading to Ann Arbor, Beniers played for USA Hockey NTDP and Milton Academy.
Beniers was one of 15 New England natives to make the NHL Central Scouting final rankings. The second-highest-ranked player was Chicago Steel right wing Mackie Samoskevich, a Newtown, Conn., native committed to Michigan. He came in at No. 26.
Among local colleges, Boston University was the most represented school. The Terriers had nine recruits make the cut. Boston College (7), UMass (6) and Harvard (4) were next in line.
NHL Central Scouting breaks its rankings down into four categories: North American skaters, North American goaltenders, international skaters and international goaltenders. One of Beniers’ teammates, defenseman Owen Power, was the No. 1-rated North American skater and is projected to be the first overall pick in July’s NHL draft.
North American skaters
6. Matt Beniers, C, Hingham, Mass./Michigan
9. Matt Coronato, C, Chicago Steel (Harvard)
25. Tyler Boucher, RW, U.S. NTDP U-18 (Boston University)
26. Mackie Samoskevich, RW, Newtown, Conn./Chicago Steel (Michigan)
32. Guillaume Richard, D, Tri-City Storm (Maine)
39. Scott Morrow, D, Darien, Conn./Shattuck-St. Mary’s (UMass)
41. Jack Bar, D, Chicago Steel (Harvard)
42. Aidan Hreschuk, D, U.S. NTDP U-18 (Boston College)
43. Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago Steel (UMass)
58. Roman Schmidt, D, U.S. NTDP U-18 (Boston University)
84. Dovar Tinling, C, Vermont
91. Jack Harvey, LW, Chicago Steel (Boston University)
97. Matt Fusco, D, Westwood, Mass./Dexter Southfield (Harvard)
100. Austen May, D, Youngstown Phantoms (Providence)
106. Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque Fighting Saints (Vermont)
110. Shane Lachance, LW, Andover, Mass./Junior Bruins (Boston University)
116. Andre Gasseau, C, U.S. NTDP U-18 (Boston College)
119. Owen McLaughlin, C, Mount St. Charles 18-U (Penn State)
121. Bennett Schimek, C, Sioux City Musketeers (Providence)
123. Charles Alexis-Legault, D, Muskegon Lumberjacks (Boston University)
125. Ryan St. Louis, LW, Riverside, Conn./U.S. NTDP U-18 (Northeastern)
134. Sasha Teleguine, LW, North Attleboro, Mass./Chilliwack Chiefs (Northeastern)
139. Joshua Lopina, C, UMass
173. Matthew Argentina, C, Waterloo Black Hawks (Boston College)
177. Quinn Hutson, RW, Muskegon Lumberjacks (Boston University)
179. Nate Benoit, D, Bow, N.H./Mount St. Charles 18-U (North Dakota)
184. Nick Roukounakis, LW, Pembroke, Mass./Thayer (Boston University)
185. Paul Davey, LW, Greenwich, Conn./Des Moines Buccaneers (Boston College)
186. Lukas Gustafsson, D, Chicago Steel/Cushing (Boston College)
187. Tim Delay, C, St. Sebastian’s (Boston College)
189. Matt Copponi, C, Dexter Southfield (Merrimack)
194. Jeremy Wilmer, LW, U.S. NTDP U-18 (Boston University)
196. Tyler Rubin, D, Wayland, Mass./Belmont Hill (Princeton)
205. Matt McGroarty, C, Westport, Conn./Brunswick (Quinnipiac)
207. Billy Norcross, C, Lynn, Mass./Connecticut Junior Rangers/Cushing (Boston College)
210. Owen Murray, D, Green Bay Gamblers (UMass)
216. Andrew King, LW, Lawrence Academy
LV. Logan Morrell, C, Islanders HC
North American goaltenders
14. Anton Castro, Northeast Generals (Boston University)
16. Luke Pavicich, Kenai River Brown Bears (UMass)
24. Jed Baliotti, New Canaan, Conn./Northern Cyclones (New Hampshire)
25. Logan Terness, Trail Smoke Eaters (UConn)
26. Colin Purcell, Youngstown Phantoms (UMass)
International skaters
Stiven Sardarian, RW, CSKA 2 (New Hampshire)
International goaltenders
Aku Koskenvuo, HIFK Jr. (Harvard)
