Sunday is the first day college coaches can contact high school sophomores, according to NCAA rules.
The legislation that went into effect in 2019 made it illegal for colleges to contact prospective student-athletes prior to Jan. 1 of their sophomore year of high school. Similarly, recruits cannot receive offers or commit to colleges prior to Aug. 1 heading into their junior year of high school.
There are quite a few sophomores around the country whose phones will light up with text messages and phone calls early Sunday morning. There are a number of high-priority targets that local and national college programs will be checking off their “to-call” list.
There’s perhaps not a sophomore in the entire country who is more coveted than NTDP U17 center James Hagens, who spent two seasons at Mount Saint Charles. It is expected that Hagens will be contacted by Harvard, among other programs. Most college coaches and those in hockey circles expect him to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Michael, an '05 defenseman with the Chicago Steel, who committed to Harvard in September 2021.
Below is a look at 13 New England prospects and nine additional non-locals skating in the region this year who will undoubtedly be contacted by college coaches on Jan. 1.
Teddy Mutryn
St. Sebastian’s/Jr. Eagles 16U, 2/16/07, RW/C, right shot, 6-1/196
Mutryn, of Norwell, Mass., has long been one of the most coveted players in this class. Through eight games of his sophomore year at St. Sebastian’s, he has two goals and 11 assists. Mutryn posted 10 goals and 15 assists in 30 games with the Junior Eagles 16U this fall. Mutryn’s size, athleticism and overall physical tools are intriguing for all scouts watching him play. His father, Scott, was a quarterback on the Boston College football team from 1994 through 1998 and currently serves as the school’s color commentator on radio broadcasts. A handful of schools are likely to reach out to Mutryn, but the odds-on favorite for landing his services is Boston College.
Richard Gallant
St. Mark’s/Islanders HC 18U, 6/12/07, C, left shot, 5-7/160
Gallant leads the NEPSAC in scoring in terms of points per game through the first month of the season. The Concord, Mass., native has three goals and 10 assists in six games. It comes on the heels of a productive freshman campaign where he scored 16 goals and had 27 assists in 24 games. Gallant is on the smaller side, but his compete, stick and hockey sense are all elite for his age group. He’s been on the radar for quite a while, due to the fame of the Islanders Hockey Club '07 team coming up through the ranks. Expect Gallant to receive texts and calls from Hockey East and ECAC schools, but Michigan and Notre Dame of the Big Ten could also be beckoning.
Will Felicio
Madison Capitols, 5/19/06, D, left shot, 5-9/160
Felicio has stepped right into the USHL as a tender with Madison and contributed immediately. The Holden, Mass., native has two goals and nine assists through 22 games while playing on the power play as one of the youngest players in the top junior league in North America. Felicio, who spent the previous two seasons at Mount Saint Charles, is a dynamic, puck-moving defenseman who excels due to his hockey sense and skating. His compete level is an underrated part of his game. There are Hockey East, Big Ten and National Collegiate Hockey Conference schools on Felicio. Northeastern seems like the most likely destination.
Thatcher Bernstein
Nobles/Jr. Eagles 16U, 7/17/06, G, catches left, 6-3/209
Bernstein is one of the top sophomore goaltenders in the country, but the rest of the upper echelon resides in Michigan, Illinois and Colorado. Bernstein, the MVP of the 2021 Flood-Marr Tournament as a freshman, was invited to the NTDP Evaluation Camp in March 2022. He’s big, athletic and capable of stealing games for Nobles. He has a .940 save percentage through six games for the Bulldogs. His parents both went to Harvard and it’s expected the Crimson and Boston College are the two schools whose calls will be received with the most interest.
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Anthony Bongo
Mid Fairfield 15O, 5/16/07, D, right shot, 5-8/148
Bongo, from Ridgefield, Conn., has a goal and two assists in seven games, according to Elite Prospects. Based on my numerous viewings of Mid Fairfield, I think those stats may be a little skewed. Bongo might get knocked for his height from time to time, but his hockey sense as an offensive defenseman is elite. He can quarterback a power play while finding open teammates or getting shots through from the point. His father, Bob, played at UConn and his older brother, '03 Jake, is committed to Sacred Heart. It’s expected UConn and a number of other local schools could come calling on Sunday. Michigan is also thought to be interested in the slick blue liner.
Michael Munroe
Avon Old Farms/River Rats 15O, 7/6/07, LW, left shot, 5-7/155
Munroe has two goals and two assists through his first nine prep school games. From Hanover, Mass., he’s been on the radar of college coaches for a while, but his monster fall with the River Rats 15 Only team helped further his notoriety. He scored 27 goals and had 20 assists in 33 games. He excelled last summer at USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp and at the Chicago Steel Main Camp. While Munroe is undersized, he’s got a good stick, skates well, and hunts pucks. Munroe will receive calls from at least four prominent Hockey East programs.
Andrew O’Sullivan
Kimball Union/Top Gun 16U, 8/15/06, D, right shot, 5-10/170
O’Sullivan is originally from California but has called Norwell, Mass. home for a few years now. After skating for Boston Advantage last year, he jumped up to the prep level this season. Now getting top pairing minutes for Kimball Union, O’Sullivan has shined. He has a goal and two assists in 11 games for the Wildcats. Not a flashy player, O’Sullivan is smart with his puck touches and reliable at both ends of the ice. His uncle, Chris O’Sullivan, played at Boston University, so the Terriers are a potential destination. There will be a few other schools looking to persuade the younger O’Sullivan to come to their campus.
Dylan Hunt
Milton/Jr. Eagles 16U, 2/9/06, D, left shot, 6-0/174
Hunt has college and NHL upside as a bottom-pairing, shutdown defender. His skating and ability to close on opposing forwards are reasons for colleges to be excited about the second-year player at Milton. From Marlboro, Mass., he’s got three assists through eight games for the Mustangs. While he doesn’t find the score sheet often, his impact was felt in a positive way as his team won the Flood-Marr Tournament.
Tyler Russo
Cushing/Central Mass. Penguins 18U, 3/19/07, D, left shot, 6-0/170
Russo, from Hamilton, Mass., is a two-way defenseman with elite skating ability. The first-year player for the Penguins has two assists in seven games. He defends well, has strong positioning, and uses his stick well to take away shooting and passing lanes. He was a longtime standout with the Islanders Hockey Club '07 group.
Nate Porter
Dexter Southfield/Jr. Eagles 16U, 3/10/06, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/162
Porter is a goal scorer whose stock has soared throughout the past six months. From Hingham, Mass., he had a big fall for the Junior Eagles 16U, scoring 22 goals in 34 games. He has three goals and three assists through eight games of the prep season. His skating and shot are both reasons college coaches will call him on Sunday. Expect a handful of Hockey East schools to reach out.
Teddy MacAusland
Nobles/Little Bruins 15O, 1/13/06, C/RW, right shot, 5-7/160
MacAusland, from Westwood, Mass., is the leading scorer for Nobles with four goals and seven assists. He’s an undersized forward, but he buzzes around. He’s quick, accelerates well, and is tenacious on puck pursuit. His stellar showing at the USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp led to him making USA Hockey’s roster for the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament.
Collin Rowe
Pingree/River Rats 15O, 4/1/07, D, right shot, 5-9/150
Rowe was a top-pairing defenseman for the River Rats 15 Only this fall after coming over from the Islanders Hockey Club. After a standout freshman campaign for his hometown high school, the Andover, Mass., native has transferred to Pingree. In 10 games, he’s notched a goal and four assists. A two-way defenseman, his defensive positioning and ability to defend the net front are impressive for his age.
Tyler Hamilton
Catholic Memorial/Jr. Eagles 16U, 12/7/06, C, right shot, 5-11/160
Hamilton is in his second season skating as the first-line center at Catholic Memorial. A relative unknown prior to the end of last season, he previously played for the Assabet Patriots. A late birthday, he scored nine goals and had 12 assists in 35 games for the Junior Eagles 16U this fall. He’s the one MIAA sophomore who will undoubtedly get calls from Hockey East schools on January 1.
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Sam Caulfield
Milton/Little Bruins 16U, 8/29/06, G, catches left, 6-1/180
Caulfield has been thought of as a solid goaltender in the '07 birth year for a few years, but his stock soared at the Flood-Marr Tournament earlier this month where he was named MVP after guiding Milton to the championship. The Needham, Mass., native’s .971 save percentage stands as the second-best in prep hockey at the holiday break. While he’ll have to keep this level up for a longer stretch, his recent hot play is reason enough for a few colleges to potentially call on Sunday.
Liam Kilfoil
Salisbury/Buffalo Regals 15O, 3/21/07, C, left shot, 5-10/157
Kilfoil, from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, went the prep route after a monster bantam season with Mount Saint Charles. He scored 49 goals and had 84 assists in 62 games with the Mounties in 2021-22. After a terrific fall with the Buffalo Regals 16U, he’s going at a point-per-game clip with Salisbury. A two-way, smart center, Kilfoil has major junior and NCAA interest. A number of top college programs will state their case beginning on Sunday.
Conrad Fondrk
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 6/1/07, C, left shot, 5-11/170
Fondrk is an elite goal scorer who is destined to make USA Hockey’s NTDP. From St. Paul, Minn., he’s in his second year with the Woonsocket, R.I., based program. Through 26 games, he has 27 goals and 24 assists for 51 points. In 58 games as a bantam, he scored 58 goals and added 50 assists to top the century mark for points. Boston University is the one local school believed to be in the mix to land Fondrk. Count on NCHC and Big Ten schools to also come calling Sunday.
Nick Whitehead
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 2/11/07, C, left shot, 5-8/147
Whitehead, originally from Orlando, Fla., has bounced around the hockey landscape. He came to the Long Island Gulls before moving over to the Mid Fairfield Junior Rangers for his minor midget season. Now in his second year with Mount Saint Charles, there’s no denying his skating and stick skills. He has 15 goals and 21 assists in 26 games. That comes a year after scoring 88 points as a bantam. His 11 points was tops among all skaters at July’s USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp. Boston College seems like a potential landing spot for Whitehead.
Julian Brown
Junior Bruins, 4/10/06, D, left shot, 6-3/211
Brown has the size, athleticism and physical nature to be a shutdown defender at the collegiate level. The Montclair, N.J., native has transitioned from 16U with the North Jersey Avalanche to playing in the NCDC with the Junior Bruins this season. Going up against players as much as four years older, he’s scored a goal and seven assists in 27 games. His college stock soared by making the U.S. roster for the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in August. Michigan and a couple of other Big Ten schools appear to be the leader in the clubhouse for Brown’s commitment come August.
Grayden Robertson-Palmer
Phillips Andover/Northern Cyclones Split 16U, 8/29/07, C, left shot, 5-10/180
Robertson-Palmer first hit my radar at the Crimson Combine in August. He had a strong fall for the Northern Cyclones split season team. The Kanata, Ontario, native has three goals and three assists in 10 games for the Big Blue. Nearly a late birthday, he’s one of the youngest players in prep hockey this winter. His skating and 200-foot game are reasons colleges will contact the two-way center on Sunday.
Matthew Grimes
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 5/19/07, D, left shot, 5-10/159
Grimes, from Locust Valley, N.Y., has intriguing physical tools. His skating and stick are both elite attributes, especially for blue-liners in this age group. He has six goals and 21 assists in 26 games for the Mounties. His hockey sense is a work in progress, but his athleticism and skill set will be reason enough for colleges to contact him on January 1.
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Michael Mardula
Mid Fairfield 15O, 2/21/07, C, right shot, 5-9/160
Mardula is a skilled forward with the production to match. Originally from Lemont, Ill., Mardula has spent the past two seasons with Mid Fairfield after previously skating for Detroit Honeybaked. The leading scorer for Mid Fairfield 15 Only has three goals and five assists in seven games.
Rocco Marinucci
Mid Fairfield 15O, 2/18/07, D, left shot, 5-10/160
Marinucci, from Troy, N.Y., has been a mainstay with Mid Fairfield for a few years now. He’s got the size and skating ability to elicit interest from some college programs. While he’s not on Bongo’s level, he’s the second most desirable defenseman on Mid Fairfield’s blue line.
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Tyson Goguen
South Kent 15O, 1/28/07, C, right shot, 5-7/150
Goguen, from Moncton, New Brunswick, has elite skating ability and has proven to be a goal scorer over the course of his first few months at South Kent. In 37 games, he’s found the twine 31 times and chipped in 23 assists for 54 points.
