There are some hidden gems and late bloomers in the 2001 birth year in New England who remain uncommitted when it comes to where they will play college hockey.
While players such as Matt Boldy, Spencer Knight, Henry Thrun, Jayden Struble and Patrick Moynihan have played a year of college hockey already, others are still finishing prep school or playing junior hockey.
With college coaches unable to watch live games, visit recruits or host official visits, I figured this was a good time to start looking at the top uncommitted players in each birth year in New England.
Starting with the '01s, a few things popped out to me. Three of my top 13 uncommitted '01s in New England have a late birthday, meaning they’re born after Sept. 15. Specially, my top two uncommitted '01s, David Jacobs and Tyler Gaulin, both were born late in the year. I’d classify both as late bloomers. I’ll avoid going into the science of it, but it’s an observation.
Of the 13 players I mention below, I believe the first four are definitely Division 1 players. After that, the picture becomes a little murkier. Each player on this list has at least one strong skill-set or asset that I value. However, they also have a trait or two that might prevent them from getting to Division 1. Each of the bottom nine players on this list would make very good Division 3 players, if Division 1 does not work out.
1. David Jacobs
Nobles, 9/26/01, LW, right shot, 5-9/165
Jacobs is a classic example of a player who finally hit his stride once he gained some muscle and physical maturity. The Needham, Mass., native always was a smart hockey player who knew where to go to find pucks and be in the scoring areas. However, he lacked the lower-body strength to explode out of the gate and get to those areas before opposing defenders. He had a monster fall with the Junior Eagles and followed that with a terrific prep season at Nobles. In 27 games, he had 15 goals and 30 assists. He’d probably be better off heading to the BCHL for his senior season, but he’s reportedly staying at Nobles for 2020-21. My guess is he ends up at Cornell, Princeton or Yale.
2. Tyler Gaulin
Berwick, 11/9/01, C, right shot, 6-0/163
Gaulin’s production improved in each of his four seasons playing for Jeoff Jarnot’s team at Berwick. In 2019-20, he had 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points in 29 games. After the end of the prep season, he scored two goals in two games with the NAHL’s Maine Nordiques. Gaulin never will be the type of player to stickhandle in and out of traffic and make highlight-reel toe drags. What he does have is a hard shot, a pension for playing hard, good size and strong north-south skating. The Kingston, N.H., native should find a home in Hockey East at a program looking for a “low-money,” bottom-six player who competes hard and brings a little bit of versatility.
3. Kevin MacKay
Aberdeen Wings, 4/25/01, D, left shot, 6-1/190
MacKay, hailing from Franklin, Mass., continues to fly under the radar, but he’s going to be a Division 1 defenseman. There always were numerous bigger name players at Dexter Southfield, and he split time this winter between the South Shore Kings in the USPHL NCDC and Aberdeen in the NAHL. MacKay’s skating and ability to play with jam will get him a Division 1 opportunity. His hockey sense is an area of concern, but he’s fast enough that he can recover. I think with a couple more seasons with the right organization in junior hockey, MacKay becomes more reliable.
4. Eamon Doheny
Deerfield, 6/1/01, D, left shot, 6-0/181
I really like Doheny and I believe a season or two in the BCHL will help him land a Division 1 commit. The Lunenburg, Mass., native already has garnered some interest from Hockey East, ECAC Hockey and Atlantic Hockey schools. In the end, I think he ends up at a strong academic school such as Holy Cross, St. Lawrence or Colgate. Doheny always has been a strong defender, but he’s gained more confidence and has higher potential offensively than some give him credit for. In 26 games this past winter, he had five goals and 15 assists, career highs in all three scoring categories.
5. Matt Connor
Lawrence Academy, 5/31/01, D, right shot, 6-2/220
Connor is a good-sized defenseman who is moving on to play in the BCHL after spending the past three seasons at Lawrence Academy under Rob Barker. The Amherst, N.H., native had a career-high 13 points on a goal and 12 assists this past winter. Realistically, Connor is never going to be an offensive producer from the blue line. His bread and butter is using his size to his advantage, being physical and being hard to play against. He’s strong enough to get off the occasional hard shot, but he’s a fifth or sixth defenseman who can play with a mean streak. His skating and hockey sense will keep him from being more than a bottom-pairing, shutdown guy. That’s a rare commodity in today’s day and age where defensemen are getting smaller and more mobile. There will be a spot in Division 1 for Connor, if he keeps things simple, plays with jam, and ages out of junior.
6. Cade DeStefani
Northern Cyclones, 6/61/01, C, right shot, 6-1/165
DeStefani has the skating and skill to play in Atlantic Hockey but needs to play more within the circles and be heavier on pucks. The Bedford, N.H., native already has two full seasons of junior hockey under his belt and probably will need two more in order to get to Division 1. In 2019-20, he had 14 goal and 29 assists in 40 games with the Cyclones. He started the season with the Northeast Generals in the NAHL, registering a goal and an assist in 12 games.
7. Franky Ireland
Junior Bruins, 2/6/01, LW, left shot, 5-10/165
In 2019-20, Ireland doubled his production in his second season playing in the USPHL NCDC from his first. The Easton, Mass., native had 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 48 games. That came on the heels of a 18-point campaign in 2018-19. Ireland has the ability to play hard, compete for loose pucks and kill penalties at the Division 1 level. I firmly believe he needs to get out of his comfort zone in the NCDC and try his hand at playing in the NAHL. To me, he’s better than quite a few committed `01s, but playing in the NCDC hurts him in the minds of college recruiters.
8. Matt Cormier
Rivers, 2/20/01, RW, right shot, 5-10/161
Cormier led the Red Wings in scoring with 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points in 29 games played. He had a career-high 42 points as a junior in 2018-19. From Waltham, Mass., Cormier has quickness and speed to create on the rush down the wing. He has some skill, but he needs to prove to Division 1 coaches that he can play between the dots and think the game at a high level. I could see him at an Atlantic Hockey school or a lower-tier ECAC Hockey program.
9. Stephen Willey
Trinity-Pawling, 3/26/01, RW, right shot, 6-0/190
Willey always has been a player on my radar who I’ve looked for to take that next step and become an even better prospect. The Shelton, Conn., native has good size and has shown flashes of ability. He can protect pucks and drive the net, but his hockey sense and first few steps are holding him back for now. His goal totals increased in each of his three seasons playing for Bobby Ferraris at T-P. He went from 10 goals as a sophomore to 11 as a junior and 15 this past winter as a senior. He’ll likely never occupy a top-six role in Division 1, but I still believe there is the potential he gets there as a bottom-six winger, if he ages out of junior hockey.
10. Jacob Banks
Cushing, 3/27/01, LW, left shot, 5-11/185
Banks came to Cushing after playing Midget hockey for the Junior Bruins. He’s a player I always had on my radar due to his strength and ability to play hard, especially in his own zone. I saw him excel on the penalty kill quite a few times over the years, whether it be blocking shots, getting clears or scoring the occasional shorthanded goal. His skating and offensive skill likely will keep him from getting a shot at Division 1. His compete, ability to be heavy on pucks and play in shorthanded situations will make him a coveted commodity on the Division 3 recruiting trail. If he played two years of junior hockey, I could see a Division 1 program offering the Westminster, Mass., native a spot as a walk-on.
11. Jake Cady
Tabor, 7/4/01, C, right shot, 5-9/185
Cady played three seasons for the Seawolves. His best came as a junior in 2018-19 when he potted 16 goals and added 15 assists. This past season, he lighted the lamp 10 times and dished out nine helpers. The Raynham, Mass., native is on the smaller side, but he has a high compete level. His hockey sense, especially in terms of offensive instincts, likely will prevent him from playing Division 1. However, he’s a kid who will block shots, hunt pucks and play with a chip on his shoulder. If I’m a Division 3 program looking for a bottom-six forward to play on the penalty kill, Cady is high on my list.
12. Connor Blanchard
Dexter Southfield, 4/1/01, RW, right shot, 5-9/180
Blanchard has a good amount of skill that doesn’t always get noticed, due to the fact that he plays on the third line for a very talented squad at Dexter Southfield. In 30 games this season, he had nine goals and 11 assists. The Waltham, Mass., native is a player who could have a breakout campaign in 2020-21, as he’ll likely be in the top six. He’s on the smaller side and he’s not overly dynamic, but there’s the potential for him to squeak into an Atlantic Hockey school, if things break his way. Otherwise, he’ll be a skilled, top-six forward for a good Division 3 program.
13. Tristan Fasig
Taft, 10/9/01, C, left shot, 6-0/185
Fasig never has quite blossomed into the player I thought he could become. In 2019-20, he had eight goals and 11 assists in 25 games for the Rhinos. He has intriguing physical tools and good size. Another player with a late birthday, he’ll have two years of junior hockey eligibility to figure things out, if he so chooses. I could see him ending up at an Atlantic Hockey school or as a solid contributor in Division 3.
