Friday, January 12, 2024

UNH Commits Update 1-12-2024: MacPherson, Sadowski & Hyles Make NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings

Connor MacPherson
Ranked #179
Jack Sadowski
Ranked #193
Kole Hyles
Ranked #222

In the last 4 years, 9 UNH Commits were drafted by NHL teams:
~ Tim Stützle** 2020, Ottawa Senators, 1st Round, 3rd Pick.
~ Luke Reid 2020, Nashville Predators, 6th Round, 166th Pick.
~ Filip Engarås 2020, Edmonton Oilers, 6th Round, 169th Pick.
~ Alex Gagne 2021, Tampa Bay Lightening, 6th Round, 192nd Pick.
~ Stiven Sardarian 2021, Buffalo Sabres, 3rd Round, 88th Pick.
~ Tyler Muszelik 2022, Florida Panthers, 6th Round, 189th Pick.
~ Ryan Conmy 2023, Los Angeles, 6th Round, 182nd Pick.
~ Ryan MacPherson 2023, Philadelphia Flyers, 6th Round, 172nd Pick.
~ Sebastian Bradshaw 2023, Dallas Stars, 7th Round, 221st Pick.
** On the day Stützle was drafted, he was a "former" UNH Commit.

2024 NHL CSS Midterm Rankings

Will the UNH men's hockey program continue this streak on 2024 NHL Draft day next June? Obviously too early to tell but three (3) UNH Commits have taken another step in that direction. NHL's Central Scouting Service has just announced their "Midterm Rankings of North American Skaters" and these UNH Commits are on it:
~ Connor MacPherson Ranked 179th
~ Jack Sadowski Ranked 193rd
~ Kole Hyles Ranked 222nd

In October, NHL CSS identified five (5) players, committed to UNH men's hockey in future seasons, in their Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 Draft (see "UNH Commits Update 10-31-2023: NHL Draft Players to Watch"). They were Connor MacPherson, Jack Sadowski, Niko Tournas, Price Grimes, and Kole Hyles. Each was identified as candidates for selection in the 6th or 7th Rounds (i.e.,'W'). The grouping of 'W' prospects also includes "first-time draft eligible "work in progress" players with a limited scouting history and games played".

Of the three that made the cut, Connor MacPherson is projected as a candidate for the 6th Round of the 2024 NHL Draft, while Jack Sadowski and Kole Hyles project as 7th Round candidates.

Midseason Performance Review

Let's take a look at how these 3 NHL prospects have performed in the first half of the 2023-24 season.

Connor MacPherson
~ Connor MacPherson (DOB: 3/2/05) the 18-year-old, 6'0", 176 lbs., right-shot, right-winger from Tecumseh, Ontario, is in his first season of Canadian Junior 'A' hockey with the Penticton Vees (BCHL). Playing right wing on a line centered by twin brother Ryan MacPherson (2023 Philadelphia Flyers draft pick), Connor has scored 6 goals and 21 assists in 32 games. 4 of his goals were game-winners which is the second most in the BCHL (see video highlight). Connor is scheduled to play in the
2024 BCHL Top Prospects Game on January 19th. Last season, Central Scouting ranked Connor MacPherson #128 in their Final Rankings. Although not drafted, he (along with brother Ryan) participated in the Philadelphia Flyers' 2023 Development Camp.
Neutral Zone Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Neutral Zone Scouting Report, December 19, 2023
"Tonight MacPherson showed that he was able to get plenty of high-quality chances because he is great at carving out space in the slot and shows very quick hands under pressure. A couple of times tonight he would make a move right into a shot. This would catch both the defender and goalie off balance a little bit he was quick with his movement. One of the more underrated parts of his game tonight was how deep he came back into his own zone to contribute defensively."

Jack Sadowski
~ Jack Sadowski (DOB: 7/29/06) the 17-year-old, 6'0", 179 lbs., left-shot, left-winger from Arlington, Massachusetts chose to return to Kimball Union Academy (New England Prep School) for his senior year. After his first 16 games, Sadowski is the leading goal scorer in the NE Prep School League with 19 goals (see video highlight). Along with 16 assists, his 35 points puts him in a tie for leading scorer in the league. He's averaged 2.19 points per game. Named MVP of Flood Marr, scored 4 goals, 7 assists in 4 games, including 2 goals, 3 assists in championship game. Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars.

Kole Hyles
~Kole Hyles (DOB: 1/16/06), the 6'0", 189 lbs., right-shot center from Exeter, New Hampshire, is a junior at Cushing Academy for his first season in New England Prep School hockey. He turns 18 in 4 days. He's played in all 14 Cushing games scoring 5 goals, 3 assists for 0.57 points per game. In the last Cushing game, a 3-1 win over Salisbury School, Hyles centered the 1st line on some shifts, scored a goal, and played on the power play and penalty kill. Neutral Zone Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars

A Lookback at 2023 NHL CSS Midterm Rankings

Last year, the 2023 Midterm Rankings were presented on January 13th and 3 players committed to the University of New Hampshire were included. Current UNH freshman star Ryan Conmy was ranked #211 among North American skater prospects. Twin brothers Connor MacPherson and Ryan MacPherson were ranked #134 and #223 respectively.

The 2023 NHL Draft on June 29th saw Conmy drafted in the 6th Round (182nd Overall) by the Los Angeles Kings and Ryan MacPherson also selected in the 6th Round (172nd Overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers. Connor MacPherson was not drafted. UNH commit Sebastian Bradshaw, who was not identified in the 2023 Midterm Rankings, was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 7th Round (221st Overall).

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 27 2 3 5 54 -12
Connor DeTurris 10/8/04 (F) 3.75 Nanaimo Clipper BCHL 21 9 9 18 4 -
Lars Petter Eckholm* 3/7/04 (F) 3.25 Cowichan Valley Capitals BCHL 28 5 7 12 8 -
Connor MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F) 4.0 Penticton Vees BCHL 32 6 21 27 12 -
Ryan MacPherson* 3/2/05 (F) 4.0 Penticton Vees BCHL 32 13 18 31 6 -
Ryan Philbrick* 6/20/04 (D) 3.75 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 29 2 5 7 14 +5
2024 or '25 Commit
Sebastian Bradshaw 5/26/05 (F) 3.75 Coquitlam Express BCHL 19 3 4 7 20 -
Brooks Bandits AJHL 3 0 1 1 8 -
Conner de Haro* 10/17/05 (D) 3.75 Youngstown Phantoms USHL 22 1 1 2 6 +5
Josh Player* 5/13/05 (D) 3.75 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 29 4 2 6 22 +5
Luca Primerano* 3/17/05 (F) 3.5 Prince George Spruce Kings BCHL 31 5 8 13 4 -
Jack Sadowski* 7/29/06 (F) 3.75 Kimball Union Academy NE Prep 16 19 16 35 - -
Wildcats 19U NEFPHL 19U 17 11 15 26 0 -
Massachusetts District USA Selects 17 6 1 2 3 4 -
2025 Commits
Nikita Konevych 6/3/06 (D) NR Austin Bruins NAHL 6 0 0 0 0 -4
Price Grimes* 1/28/06 (D) 3.5 Chicago Steel USHL 23 1 3 4 32 -7
Niko Tournas 2/17/06 (F) 4.0 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 22 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 14 5 3 8 - -
Central Mass Peguins EHF 18U 23 8 10 18 - -
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 8 1 1 2 - -
MidFairfield Rangers 15U NE Pack 10 3 4 7 0 -
Team White USA Selects 16 5 3 1 4 0 -
Jayden Connors 2/26/07 (D) 3.75 St. Michaels Buzzers OJHL 32 2 11 13 20 -
* = 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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