2000 F Luke Mountain to Vermont for 2021
Mountain is off to a fast start for the Maryland Black Bears in the NAHL this season, scoring 6 goals and adding 4 assists in 12 games. Mountain had 25 points in 52 games last season for the Black Bears and he had 28 points for Maryland as an NAHL rookie in 2018.
Mountain is from Minnesota and played at Shattuck before entering the NAHL.
NZ Scouts: “Mountain is a big, strong, two-way forward who can make plays at both ends and has a detailed approach. His skating ability and stickhandling are underrated as he gets up and down the ice well and has good skill. His best attributes here were his strength, particularly down low in the offensive zone, and his shot. He plays a physical brand of hockey in his own end and away from the puck and he’s tough to knock off his line or take the puck away from.”
2000 F Thomas Manty to Brown for 2021
Manty played two seasons at Phillips Andover after three seasons at Central Catholic. Last season he joined the Merritt Centennials in the BCHL and scored 34 points in 56 games.
This season Manty is off to a hot start with the Aberdeen Wings in the NAHL, where he has 8 goals and 10 assists in 14 games.
NZ Scouts: “Manty is a dynamic forward that is dangerous every shift. He does a great job of creating offense off of turnovers with his forchecking ability. Multiple times this weekend he was able use his speed to take time and space away from defenders, and excelled at having his stick in a position to intercept passes. He is able to see the ice well and puts himself in a good position to support his teammates in all scenarios.”
2001 F TJ Hughes to Robert Morris for 2021
Originally from Hamilton, Ont., Hughes is in his second season with the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL. He has two goals and an assist in a pair of games this season after a 36-point season in 58 games last year.
Hughes had 64 points in 46 games his final season in the GOJHL before jumping to the AJHL in 2019.
NZ Scouts: “TJ scored a nice goal to take the lead back towards the end of the game. He attacked the zone with a 2 on 1 and looked multiple times at the passing option to his teammate, this froze the defenseman and he didn’t know which player to move towards. Once the defender had backed up so far, he cut from his forehand over to his backhand to score a pretty goal.”
2004 D Tait Ross to Dartmouth for 2023
Ross will turn 17 years old in March. He’s already measured at 6-foot-1 and will be a rookie in the BCHL for the Surrey Eagles this season.
Prior to jumping to the BCHL, Ross played for the Delta Hockey Academy last season, scoring 3 goals and 17 assists in 36 games for the U16 team and he also appeared in 3 games for the U18 team as a 15-year-old.
2001 D Cole McWard to Ohio State for 2021
The Buckeyes landed McWard, a Missouri defenseman, out of the USHL with the Tri-City Storm. McWard has been with the Storm since 2018 and is currently in his fourth season with the team, appearing in one game in 2017-18 and then playing all of 2018-19 and last season with teh Storm.
In six games this season, McWard has five points from the blue line in six games.
NZ Scouts: “The big right shot D-man had a productive outing against the U-18s. He fired home the game’s first goal on a nice shot from the point on a puck coming around the half-wall, where he was good all game at keeping pucks in. He showed some poise with the puck, but impressed most with the power he put behind pucks moving them up the ice—making several plays to teammates eventually leading to scoring chances and goals for.”
2001 F Drew Malatesta to Middlebury for 2021
Malatesta is an Arlington, Mass. native who is playing prep hockey for Phillips Andover this season. In his debut with Andover last year, he had 7 goals and 8 assists in 28 games.
Prior to joining Phillips Malatesta played split-season with the Boston Bulldogs and Arlington High School.
NZ Scouts: “Malatesta is a well-rounded prospect who is a dog on the bone on the forecheck, finishes checks and stops on pucks but he can also wheel on the rush and in the offensive zone and shoots to score. He scored a quick release catch and shoot in the slot from a standstill which was a nice play and he was able to gain position around the net with his balance and edges. He works the corners staying low and balanced, makes crisp passes through traffic and can maintain possession through contact. “
