There’s been no shortage of NHL scouts watching Jordan Harris’ every move this season.
That was again the case at the Flood-Marr Tournament, the prestigious holiday tournament hosted every year by Milton Academy and Noble & Greenough. And once again, scouts left with a positive impression of the Kimball Union Academy senior defenseman.
"He is a fabulous player. He was clearly the best player on the ice. He really seemed above the level, and it was a very high level out there. He was exceptional," boasted KUA bench boss Tim Whitehead, who coached in Hockey East for more than two decades at Maine and UMass-Lowell.
Playing in front of numerous NHL scouts who are there to watch your every move can be difficult for a 17-year-old, but Harris takes it in stride.
"There’s a little pressure, but I’m mostly focused on the game. You try not to think about it and just focus on you and the team," said the Haverhill, Mass., native. Harris was a driving force behind the team’s championship at the Flood-Marr as he was last March when the Wildcats captured the Elite 8 tournament title.
A left-shot defenseman, Harris has elite skating ability. It allows him to retrieve pucks, side-step oncoming forecheckers and break pucks out of his own zone. He does a terrific job of transitioning from defense to offense.
"I’m a puck-moving, two-way defenseman. I like to jump up into the play quickly," said Harris of his style of play.
‘He’s trained extremely hard in the weight room. He’s an animal in the weight room. He’s very tough to knock off his feet. You can see it on the ice.’
"He keeps getting better and better. He’s a phenomenal skater. He’s very patient. He’s an explosive puck carrier. There are few guys who have all those traits. He always has his head up and sees the ice very well. He’s a fun player to coach," Whitehead complimented.
While his passing and puck-moving skills are second to none at this level, Harris is working on his shot and looking for ways to create more offense from the point.
"I’m trying to become more of an offensive threat. I want to get more pucks on net," said Harris of the part of his game he’s looking to develop.
When most fans think of smooth-skating defenders, they think of offensive defensemen. However, Whitehead is quick to emphasize that Harris plays a complete game and can defend well when he doesn’t have the puck.
"He’s a complete player. He catches the eye with his skating and skill, but he’s a hard-nosed competitor," said Whitehead. "He’s a tremendous defender, an exceptional penalty killer. He’s great against the rush. He doesn’t get beat because he’s so mobile and pivots well."
Harris might not appear to be the biggest player physically on the ice, but Whitehead said looks can be deceiving.
"He’s trained extremely hard in the weight room. He’s an animal in the weight room. He’s very tough to knock off his feet. You can see it on the ice," Whitehead said.
The biggest benefit to Harris’s weight room regimen is his skating ability through his lower-body strength.
"When you think someone might beat him on the outside, he takes two strides and muscles them into the corner without taking a penalty," said Whitehead.
Harris’ hockey sense also comes into play, especially at this level. He always has his head up and seemingly makes the right play with the puck. He also interprets what is going on his own zone, allowing him to be on the right side of the puck to interfere with shooting and passing lanes.
"His stick is fantastic. There were several times this weekend on the penalty kill where he read the pass and deflected the seam pass out of the slot," Whitehead explained.
Harris has had the luxury of playing for Whitehead the past three seasons. Learning from a former college coach who knows what it takes to push his players to the next level is something that has greatly benefited Harris and countless teammates.
"He’s definitely the best coach I’ve had. He’s the most intelligent coach I’ve been around," Harris said.
"It’s been fun to work with Jordan and his family and to watch his development over the past three years. He’s a hardworking and honest player," Whitehead added.
Harris, who said he tries to model his game after Chicago Blackhawks star Duncan Keith, has gained poise as he’s matured physically and mentally at KUA.
"His poise," said Whitehead of Harris’ biggest improvement. "His skating has always caught the eye, but his added strength and increased patience with the puck has made a difference."
Whitehead was equally complimentary of how Harris conducts himself off the ice.
"He’s a great student. He has a wonderful and humble personality to go with his talents," Whitehead began.
"Jordan is a fabulous leader. He leads by example in everything he does — on and off the ice. All his teammates look up to him in how he carries himself. Everything is genuine. He treats everyone the same. He’s wonderfully compassionate and very supportive of his teammates. He’s the exact type of leader you want on the ice, in the locker room and on campus," Whitehead continued.
Harris is committed to play college hockey for Northeastern University, where he will further develop his game before embarking on a pro career. He made the decision to join the Huskies following a recruiting trip to the Boston campus a little over a year ago.
"When we went on my visit, I felt really comfortable there. The coaching staff has been tremendous and really personable. Being in Boston is a major point. It’s a good school. I can see myself fitting into their playing style," said Harris.
While the competition in prep hockey isn’t as stiff as it would be if he were playing for Youngstown in the USHL, Harris had the opportunity to showcase his ability on a grand stage back in September when he competed in the CCM USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo.
"It was a very unique experience — playing in the Buffalo Sabres’ rink, playing with players like that, learning from the different coaches. I just tried to take everything in," Harris said.
In terms of his NHL draft stock, Harris is behind only Thayer Academy’s Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.) among players in New England prep school hockey this winter. He’s talked with six NHL teams already and there are plans to meet with more down the road. He’ll likely land somewhere in the fourth or fifth round.
"He can skate all day. He has that natural deep stride and strength in his legs that allows him to recover when he makes mistakes," said Whitehead, who compared him to a current Boston Bruins blueliner.
"He’s Torey Krug, but he’s a better skater. I watched Krug in college with Michigan State, and Jordan is a better skater," said Whitehead.
That’s high praise, but it’s nothing he hasn’t earned with his play on the ice.
