Tuesday, October 31, 2023

UNH Commits Update 10-31-2023: NHL Draft Players to Watch

Connor MacPherson (F)
2024 UNH Commit
Jack Sadowski (F)
2024 or '25 UNH Commit
Niko Tournas (F)
2025 UNH Commit

Price Grimes (D)
2025 UNH Commit
Kole Hyles (F)
2025 or '26 UNH Commit

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
NOTE
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.

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