UNH Commits Update 10-31-2023: NHL Draft Players to Watch
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NHL Central Scouting Names 5 UNH Commits
The NHL's Central Scouting Service:"ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the National Hockey League"Early in the NHL season, Central Scouting identifies several hundred prospects with potential to be drafted in the NHL Entry Draft when the season ends. The Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 Draft, announced on October 25th, categorizes 472 North American and European players as candidates for the 1st Round of the draft ('A' players), 2nd/3rd Rounds ('B'), 4th/5th Rounds ('C'), or 6th/7th Rounds ('W'). The final grouping of 'W' prospects also includes "first-time draft eligible "work in progress" players with a limited scouting history and games played".
Five players committed to UNH men's hockey in future seasons - Connor MacPherson, Jack Sadowski, Niko Tournas, Price Grimes, and Kole Hyles - were identified by NHL Central Scouting as 'W' candidates. Here is some background information on each of these UNH Commits (updated statistics shown in the table below):
Connor MacPherson
Right Winger, 6'0", 177 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Windsor, Ontario DOB: March 2, 2005; 18 years, 7 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2023-24 Team: Penticton Vees (British Columbia Hockey League) Committed to UNH on February 17, 2022 at Age 16 years, 11 months |
Jack Sadowski
Forward, 6'0", 179 lbs. Shoots Left Hometown: Arlington, Massachusetts DOB: July 29, 2006; 17 years, 3 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2023-24 Teams: Kimball Union Academy (New England Prep)/Wildcats 19U (NEFPHL) Committed to UNH on August 9, 2022 at Age 16 years. |
Niko Tournas
Forward, 6'2", 190 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Redding, Connecticut DOB: February 17, 2006; 17 years, 8 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2023-24 Team: Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (United States Hockey League) Committed to UNH on September 6, 2022 at Age 16 years, 7 months. |
Price Grimes
Defense, 6'1.75", 186 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina DOB: January 26, 2006; 17 years, 9 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars 2023-24 Team: Chicago Steel (United States Hockey League) Committed to UNH on October 3, 2022 at Age 16 years, 10 months. |
Kole Hyles
Center, 6'0", 189 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Exeter, New Hampshire DOB: January 16, 2006; 17 years, 9 months Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars 2023-24 Teams: Cushing Academy (New England Prep)/Central Mass Penguins 18U (EHF) Committed to UNH on August 2, 2023 at Age 17 years, 7 months. |
2023-24 Statistics
Player | NZ Stars** | Team | League | GP | Goals | Asst | Pts | PIM | +/- |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 Commits | |||||||||
Reid Conn 2/2/04 (D) | 3.75 | Chicago Steel | USHL | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 23 | -1 |
Connor DeTurris 10/8/04 (F) | 3.75 | Nanaimo Clipper | BCHL | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - |
Lars Petter Eckholm 3/7/04 (F) | NR | Cowichan Valley Capitals | BCHL | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | - |
Connor MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F) | 3.75 | Penticton Vees | BCHL | 13 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 4 | - |
Ryan MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F) | 3.75 | Penticton Vees | BCHL | 13 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 0 | - |
Ryan Philbrick* 6/20/04 (D) | 3.5 | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | USHL | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | +4 |
2024 or '25 Commit | |||||||||
Sebastian Bradshaw 5/26/05 (F) | 3.5 | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - |
Brooks Bandits | AJHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | - | ||
Conner de Haro 10/17/05 (D) | 3.75 | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 |
Josh Player* 5/13/05 (D) | 3.5 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | -4 |
Luca Primerano 3/17/05 (F) | 3.75 | Prince George Spruce Kings | BCHL | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | - |
Jack Sadowski 7/29/06 (F) | 3.75 | Kimball Union Academy | NE Prep | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Wildcats 19U | NEFPHL 19U | 11 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 0 | - | ||
Massachusetts District | USA Selects 17 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | - | ||
2025 Commits | |||||||||
Nikita Konevych 6/3/06 (D) | NR | Austin Bruins | NAHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
Price Grimes 1/28/06 (D) | 3.5 | Chicago Steel | USHL | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | -1 |
Niko Tournas 2/17/06 (F) | 4.0 | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | USHL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | +1 |
New England District | USA Selects 17 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1 | - | ||
2025 or '26 Commits | |||||||||
Kole Hyles 1/16/06 (F) | 3.75 | Cushing Academy | NE Prep | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Central Mass Peguins | EHF 18U | 16 | 4 | 9 | 13 | - | - | ||
New England District | USA Selects 17 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | - | ||
2026 Commits | |||||||||
George McCaffrey 1/2/07 (F) | 3.5 | Westminster School | NE Prep | - | - | - | - | - | - |
MidFairfield Rangers 15U | NE Pack | 10 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 2 | - | ||
Team White | USA Selects 16 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | ||
* = Signed National Letter of Intent | |||||||||
** = Neutral Zone 5-Star Rating |
The statistics for the commits, presented in the above table, are categorized by the projected year they will enroll in UNH. For example, the "2024 Commits" are projected to begin playing for UNH in the Fall of 2024. I have based these projections on the following factors:
~ Number of UNH players leaving the team at the end of the previous season and the position they played.
~ Number of incoming transfer players and the position they play.
~ If a National Letter of Intent has been signed.
~ The year the commit and UNH coaches originally targeted for enrollment in UNH.
~ How old the commit would be upon admission.
~ Number of years in junior hockey prior to admission.
~ The commit's performance in recent seasons as well as injuries.
~ Anticipated date of high school graduation.