5-Star Adam Fantilli Makes Memorable Prep Debut

In what was a shocking series of events this fall, Adam Fantilli, the most decorated prospect in this years OHL Draft left the GTHL and headed south to the states to play New England Prep School hockey with his older brother Luca (who is a talented player in his own right).

In the modern OHL Draft (since 2000), there have only been two players drafted first overall playing outside of Ontario in their draft year and they were Alex Galchenyuk (2010), Rob Schremp (2002) and Patrick O’Sullivan (2001). However, all three of those players were Americans; so what 5-star prospect Adam Fantilli is doing has not been done being an Ontario native and leaving the province in his draft year.

Once it became official he was leaving the talented Toronto Jr. Canadians minor midget squad, for a prep school most people in Toronto have never even heard of, it set of a series of rumors and speculation until he held a press conference in and said he missed his older brother and wanted to play with him this season.

Fast forward from that press conference in September to December 7th at Phillips Exeter Academy where Adam Fantilli made his New England Prep debut for Kimball Union in a 15-0 win over Vermont Academy.

The next day the rink was packed, almost exclusively with US based scouts from the NHL, NCAA and Junior programs who were seeing Adam for the first time. As all scouts hear year after year that this next prospect is a “generational” talent and usually leave disappointed; that was not the case with Adam Fantilli. He impressed even the hardest line scouts in the stands and showed what he could do against 16, 17, 18 and even 19 year old players. He was the best player on the ice most shifts he was out there and showed the size, the speed, the stick handling, puck protection, shooting ability and two-way game that make him among the highest ranked ’04s in the world according to Neutral Zone.

“Not many people in Ontario know about New England Prep School hockey as it’s a bit of a hidden gem but the best players in Eastern US come out of that league,” said Neutral Zone Founder Steve Wilk. “You hear about Minnesota High School and the Midget programs throughout the Midwest and the only prep team that gets national attention is Shattuck St. Mary’s but there is a whole league in New England/New York area which churns out high level players every year.”

Fantilli joins a very selective class of 5 star prospects who have played prep hockey in the past 5 years since Neutral Zone began ranking the best players in North America. The difference with Adam is that he has been a 5-star on Neutral Zone since he was 14 years old whereas the other prep players earned their 5-star during their prep career and not before. There have only been three players who have earned the 5-star designation out of Prep in the five years NZ has covered the league which are Ryan Donato (2014-Dexter) who now plays in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild; Trevor Zegras (2017-Avon) who was drafted 9th overall by Anaheim in this years NHL Draft; and Spencer Knight (2017-Avon) who was drafted 13th overall by Florida in this years NHL Draft.

“Not to put anymore pressure on this kid than he’s already had for the past two years; but in scouting New England Prep the past 8 seasons he’s the best prospect I have seen since Noah Hanafin played at St. Sebastians School,” said Director of Scouting Brendan Collins. “We have three 5-star 2004’s in North America right now and they are Shane Wright (Kingston-OHL), Matthew Savoie (Winnipeg-WHL) and Adam Fantilli (KUA). Not to say Adam is better than Shane or Matthew, who are playing in the CHL this season at 15 years old; but he belongs in the same category. He is also a late birth year so his NHL Draft year is 3 years away whereas Savoie and Wright were born early January and will be drafted in 2 years.”

Kimball Union has won the last three New England Prep Championships and will look to add a fourth straight with the Fantilli brothers leading the way.

Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images