Kimball Union junior defenseman Luca Fantilli committed to play college hockey at the University of Michigan, it was announced late last week.
Fantilli, a late '02 from Kleinburg, Ontario, has seven goals and 14 assists in 17 games during his first season of prep school hockey. Prior to heading to Meriden to play for Tim Whitehead's Wildcats, Fantilli spent the prior two seasons playing midget hockey for the Toronto Titans.
Fantilli is a puck-moving defenseman. While he's not flashy, he does a good job of using his feet and stick to make good breakout passes and keep pucks moving north. He's an adequate defender who uses his mobility to be in position and get in shooting and passing lanes.
Fantilli's younger brother, Adam, is an '04 who is projected to be the top pick in the 2020 OHL Draft. In addition, Adam is receiving plenty of NCAA interest and will have his pick between top college programs and the OHL.
Holy Cross lands Gale
Holy Cross received a key commitment from Boston Junior Bruins goaltender Thomas Gale, a Deerfield alum. The Kirkland, Quebec, native has a .940 save percentage in 29 USPHL NCDC games this season. Gale, who was previously committed to Dartmouth, should be a terrific goaltender for the Crusaders. If he was a little taller, he likely would have been a NHL draft pick and committed to a Hockey East school.
Garrett chooses Colgate
In what can only be described as truly a feel good story, Duxbury, Mass., native PJ Garrett has committed to play college hockey at Colgate. Garrett's perseverance and will to improve and succeed is a testament to the type of player the Raiders will be getting.
Garrett played three seasons at Thayer before a post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter in 2018-19. Garrett has proven himself this season while playing junior hockey with Powell River Kings in the BCHL. He has three goals and eight assists in 42 games.
Bentley snags Galata
Bentley received a commitment from St. Andrew's College right wing Cole Galata. The '02 from Newmarket, Ontario, is the second leading scorer for the Saints, a prep team from Aurora, Ontario, that won the St. Sebastian's Christmas Tournament and were the runner-up at the recent True Hockey Prep Cup.
Galata has 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 34 games. Galata is a smaller, quick winger with exceptional vision. He is an elite playmaker who makes numerous great passes in all my viewings.
Galata's commitment continues a recent trend of solid additions to the Falcons' stable. Just recently, Ryan Soderquist and his staff, assistants Jon Coleman and Steve Needham, landed commitments from Omaha Lancers forward Cole Kodsi and Topeka Pilots defenseman Matt Clark.
