New England Hockey Journal's NCAA preview series continues with a quick look at some sophomore and junior players in Hockey East who are prime candidates to have breakout campaigns in 2021-22.
Sophomore and junior players at every position who are expected to be impact performers with their respective Hockey East teams are the focus. At least one with D-1 playing experience from every club in the conference is featured on this watch list.
Forwards like Jay O’Brien (Boston University) and Parker Ford (Providence College) are two New England natives with the experience and pedigree to emerge as top all-around contributors in Hockey East.
Defenseman Drew Helleson (Boston College) has the tools to breakthrough in his junior season, while Merrimack has a pair of intriguing defenders in Declan Carlile and Zach Uens. There is no dearth of quality returning talent in the conference this season.
Key freshmen/newcomers will be profiled in a future post to complete the series. Previously, NEHJ profiled the most compelling seniors in Hockey East for 2021-22.Â
Forwards
Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.)
Boston University, 11/4/99, 6-0/184Â
 First-rounder of the Flyers in 2018 left Providence College and had a dominant season in the BCHL with Penticton before coming back to Hockey East with BU and putting up a point per game. He can score at this level with his pace and skill game, and will put up a lot of points for the Terriers.
Parker Ford (Wakefield, R.I.)
Providence College, 7/20/00, 6-0/180
Undrafted forward is always a gamer. Ford can skate, has a non-stop motor, and underrated puck skills. He was sensational at the Bruins development camp, showing off his speed, breakneck pace and ability to get to the net. The former Sioux City standout will be in demand with NHL teams when he is ready to turn pro.
Sam Colangelo (Stoneham, Mass.)
Northeastern, 12/26/01, 6-2/208
Anaheim Ducks second-round selection in 2020 battled injuries and never really got out of second gear in his freshman season, but is one of the more talented power forwards in Hockey East. He has all of the speed, hands and offensive acumen you want in a player, and if he can stay healthy and fully engaged, a big season awaits.
Josh Lopina
UMass; 2/16/01, 6-2/194
Another Ducks prospect, the fourth-rounder in 2021 made bank on a terrific 23-point freshman year, which culminated in the national championship. He’s big, can skate, and appears to be a late-bloomer after going undrafted in two seasons with the Lincoln Stars before UMass.
Colby Ambrosio
Boston College, 8/7/02, 5-9/174
After being a dangerous scoring center for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm, the Colorado Avalanche made a fine value pick in the fourth round in 2020. His speed, skill and natural offensive instincts translated well in his freshman campaign with the Eagles. He’s maturing as a player on- and off the ice, and when he turns the wheel, he’s a pure game-breaker.
Andre Lee
UMass Lowell, 7/26/00, 6-4/205
Power forward and Sioux Falls USHL champion from Sweden led the team in scoring last year and should take things to another level in his third year. The Los Angeles Kings prospect has tremendous height and size; he can get to the net with ease, but also moves well and is surprisingly nimble for his size. He can fire off bullet shots in stride- could flirt with 20 goals this season.
Trevor Kuntar
Boston College, 6/20/01, 6-0/196
Looked faster and confident at Boston Bruins development camp in Aug. after the team selected him in the third round of the 2020 draft. He didn’t contribute a lot offensively in his first season, but with departures of key forwards in Alex Newhook, Matt Boldy and Mike Hardman, the former Youngstown Phantom and son of former pro goalie Les Kuntar will get one of the first cracks at taking an expanded role.
Matt Brown
Boston University, 8/9/99, 5-9/190
Transfer from UMass-Lowell has real skill and plays with a burr under his saddle. With almost 40 points over two seasons in Hockey East, he will get the opportunities to break through as a junior. He can skate and has dynamic puckhandling skills to back it up.
Aidan McDonough (Milton, Mass.)
Northeastern, 11/6/99 6-2/200
Big-bodied winger and Vancouver Canucks prospect has nearly 50 points in two seasons with the Huskies and should be a big-time point producer for them in his third year.
Hudson Schandor
UConn, 9/29/00, 5-8/165
Although not big, the Vancouver native has always been a slick, slippery forward who can bring a nice balance to the attack as both table-setter and finisher. He will be counted on to generate consistent offense for UConn.
Alex Jefferies (Lunenberg, Mass.)
Merrimack College, 11/8/01, 6-0/195
NY Islanders prospect (fourth round- 2020) made an instant splash with 10 points in 12 games. Former Gunnery standout has the skating and puck skills to impact the game positively and doesn’t lack confidence. Details and rounding out his game will be key for him, but he’ll get every opportunity to do that at Merrimack.
Lynden Breen
University of Maine, 5/31/01, 5-9/170
New Brunswick product finished second in scoring as a freshman after putting up 48 points for the Fargo Force the season before. Although not big, the former prep star at New Hampton School plays with jam and has some nifty hands and offensive hockey sense.
Sleepers
Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Northeastern (East Greenwich, R.I.)-Â Two-way forward who made a big impression in the USHL with the Chicago Steel had a very good freshman season for the Huskies. He brings energy, smarts and a sneaky upside.
Dylan Peterson, Boston University- Big, skilled forward and St. Louis Blues third-round pick in 2020 has all the talent- will he turn it into production as a sophomore?
Brett Berard, Providence College (East Greenwich, R.I.)- Small but blazing-fast forward is a little engine that could who earned a draft call from the NY Rangers. Don’t be surprised if he shoots the lights out at PC this season as a sophomore, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll contribute with his relentless, disruptive style.
Dylan & Ty Jackson, Northeastern University- Canadian twins are a dynamic offensive duo who terrorize defenses with their speed and ability to create instant scoring off of turnovers. They don’t always get to the dirty areas, but there is no shortage of skill and IQ here- they could put up big-time numbers.
Liam Walsh, Merrimack College- Former Cedar Rapids Roughrider stayed patient, honed his skills in the USHL and put up nearly a point-per-game last season. He’ll be one of the key cogs in Scott Borek’s machine this season.
Nick Capone, University of Connecticut (East Haven, Conn.)- Big, rugged forward isn’t going to point a lot, but he’s mean and tough to play against, prompting the Lightning to take him in the 2020 draft’s sixth round.
Raimonds Vitolins, Vermont- Best returning scorer and Latvia native will be asked to take that next step as Vermont’s offensive catalyst.
Defensemen
Drew Helleson
Boston College, 3/26/01, 6-2/195
Another top Colorado prospect on the blue line, Helleson has always been a top player in his birth year after being with the U.S. National Team. With 15 points in 22 games a year ago, the sky is the limit, and he’ll be a workhorse for this Eagles team with high expectations.
Alex Vlasic
Boston University, 6/5/01, 6-6/199
Chicago native was drafted in 2019’s second round by his hometown Blackhawks and is a massive, athletic specimen who can skate and move pucks. With his condor-like wingspan, puck carriers have a tough time getting around him.
Max Crozier
Providence College, 4/19/00, 6-1/185
2019 Clark Cup-winner with Sioux Falls and Tampa Bay 2019 draft choice has always been a point producer in junior and going back to his minor hockey days. With Providence, he has consistently put up a half-point per game for the Friars in his two seasons, so with his ability to see the ice and get pucks up the ice and find soft spots in the offensive zone, watch for a career year in 2022.
Jayden Struble (Cumberland, R.I.)
Northeastern, 9/8/01, 6-0/205
The athletic two-way defender and second-round pick of Montreal in 2019 has always had the talent. After an injury-laden, up-and-down season, he could emerge as a consistent threat.
Declan Carlile
Merrimack, 5/18/00, 6-2/190
Michigan native has been as consistent as they come since he first arrived. Similar in style and substance to Uens, only has put up better numbers with Merrimack entering his junior season. Should have been drafted in the NHL…now, teams that want to sign him will have to pay up when it's time for him to turn pro.
Zach Uens
Merrimack, 5/13/01, 6-1/175
Smooth skating/feet and moves pucks with ease. He was a fourth-round pick by Florida in 2020 after being passed over once, and looks like he is ready to emerge as one of the top two-way defenders in the conference.
Kalle Eriksson
University of New Hampshire, 9/15/99, 5-10/175
Although he is undersized for the position, the Swedish native who played in the USHL for Omaha and Madison can skate and is a superb puck-moving rearguard. He’s especially effective on the power play, where he is able to distribute pucks effectively.
Eamon Powell
Boston College, 5/10/02, 5-11/165
While not big, Powell is a very good skater who is intelligent and industrious. The New Yorker and Team USA product put up 14 points as a freshman and as a fourth-round pick of the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, is more than the sum of his parts.
Sleepers
Marshall Warren, Boston College-Â Minnesota Wild sixth-rounder in 2019 is a fine athlete who is a smooth skater but keeps things relatively safe and steady. There might be more upside for him in his junior season.
Matt Kessel, University of Massachusetts-Â Winner of championships in the USHL and NCAA, the Michigander has the two-way skills to take a step up to fill the void left by departures after the title run.
Ben Meehan, University of Massachusetts Lowell (Walpole, Mass.)-Â The Kings prospect has it in him to generate offense from the blue line as evidenced from his last junior season in Cedar Rapids. The breakout campaign could happen right now.
Luke Reid, University of New Hampshire- Smart two-way defender played for a top club in Chicago as a USHL player and should develop into one of the Wildcats’ top minute-getters and key performers as a sophomore.
Kabore Dunn, University of Maine- Raw BC native who played in the USPHL NCDC and Alberta Junior Hockey League before Orono can skate and has the skill set to be a good two-way defender in the conference. Viewing was limited on him, but having seen him in the AJHL with Fort McMurray, he could surprise in his second year.
Goaltenders
Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.)
Boston University, 7/19/02, 6-2/180
Blackhawks second-rounder in 2020 is a superb NHL prospect with his ideal NHL size, agility, ability to track pucks and competitiveness. He’s technically sound, athletic and has long been one of the region’s top goaltenders. After joining the Terriers from the NTDP, he posted a respectable 6-3-1 record and .915 save percentage.
Jaxson Stauber
Providence College, 4/27/99, 6-3/185
2019 USHL playoff MVP and son of former Hobey Baker-winning goalie Robb Stauber knows how to win. Originally at Minnesota St. in 2019-20, he returned to the USHL. As a freshman, he did not disappoint for PC, playing 23 games and winning 11 games, with a strong 2.24 goals against.
Gabriel Carriere
University of Vermont, 11/6/00, 6-2/185
Accomplished junior goalie gave the Catamounts a chance as a freshman and should get the opportunity to rack up quality starts this year. He has the size, experience and vision to keep pucks out of the net as the Vermont program steadily builds momentum in the conference.
Sleepers
Victor Ostman, University of Maine-Â Big Swede won 25 games with the Chicago Steel and gave a respectable showing for the Black Bears in 11 games as a freshman, sharing the net with Vancouver prospect Matthew Thiessen.
Evan Fear, Northeastern-Â Illinois native transferred from Quinnipiac and has impressed the coaching staff in the early practices. He has size and will form a strong tandem with Devon Levi.
