BU recruit Ethan Phillips glides into USHL, future Badger Dylan Holloway and others shine at WJAC

This edition of Prospect Currents looks at the World Junior A Challenge and prospects around the country

This edition will be a little more scattered. I’ve watched a lot of different games and leagues, everything from the VIJHL to girl’s high school hockey, boy’s prep school hockey, USHL, college… here are some of my take-aways.

USHL: Des Moines x Sioux Falls last week. A solid tilt, and it ended with an empty-net goal by Des Moines goaltender Roman Durny (‘98).

• 99 F Matt Brown (UMass Lowell) has a feel for where to position himself in the zone and should be a great offensive piece for the Riverhawks. 17 goals on the year in 23 games.

• 00 D Michael Kesselring (Northeastern) was notable. The big, right shot defender showcased flashes of offensive upside, has a real solid frame and has taken strides in his development over the last three seasons.

• The Bucs have a number of players I want to see more of, including Kaden Bohlsen, TJ Walsh (Northeastern), Scooter Brickey (WMU), Sam Renlund (CC) and Luke Manning (Air Force). You just can’t see everyone in one game, even on video, or else you catch yourself watching one viewing for hours. They also had a few ‘02 birthyears I didn’t get a great read on.

• For Sioux Falls, I thought 01 F Ethan Phillips (BU) was a star. The draft-eligible Canadian forward stepped into the USHL from Selects Academy this season and didn’t skip a beat. He’s nice with the puck, great on the powerplay and plays with a lot of pace.

• Another 17-year-old forward in 01 F Austen Swankler (Michigan) grew on me. Definitely someone to keep tabs on. I felt he had some so-so efficacy, but he could really emerge as an offensive force. Since joining Sioux Falls this year he has 7 points in 9 games.

• 00 D Brandon Tabakin (Yale) looked the part he has for years: he’s mobile, creative, quick at the point, lacks size but makes up for it with his capacity to do things with the puck.

• 99 F Marko Reifenberger (UMass) — the Stampede’s captain has zero points this year and hasn’t cracked 20 in a career of well over 100 games through three seasons. I don’t really get it. When I last saw Reifenberger he was about 15-16 and coming into his game. I wanted to watch him this game in part to understand why his scoring could be down, as Reifenberger produced decently in high school and seems to have the facility to get the puck in the net. There wasn’t anything glaring that I could point to for his lack of production, though. I thought he looked good on the penalty kill.

• 00 F Andre Lee (UMass-Lowell) was noticeable, but he took a two and ten at some point so he missed a lot of ice time. Intriguing, big-bodied forward who needs some time to put it together for my money. Not sure how much is there, though.

• 00 D Max Crozier (Providence) is someone I want to watch more of. The Friars have a big right-shot who looks the part on the point.

World Junior A Challenge Notes

• The player who really impressed me was 01 F Dylan Holloway, a Wisconsin recruit. He has 53 points in 32 games for Okotoks of the Alberta league this season. His combination of tenacity and skill on the puck make him noticeable and very offensively involved. He’s a late-2001, which means he won’t be eligible until 2020, but he will be selected, and I think it’s very likely they bring him to campus as a draft-eligible. He’s that good.

• 01 F Vasily Podkolzin (SKA-St. Petersburg) was a stand-out for me through the first few games. In one viewing he had two goals and was noticeable basically every time he hit the ice. He’s just a presence. Gets involved, really opportunistic offensively, has all the tools to punish you and he’s tough to play against. I like his draft prospects quite a bit.

• 02 G Yaroslav Askarov (SKA), he played pro hockey this year after just turning 16, you wouldn’t believe this kid played U16 hockey last season if someone told you that. He really looked the part of a young phenom stopper who came to this junior tournament after playing against men. I’m no goalie expert but he’s clearly going to be a big name for the 2020 draft. Catches right, great size for his age.

• Lowell-bound scorer 99 F Matt Brown, who I highlighted earlier in the Des Moines game, was great at the WJAC as well. He didn’t score a goal but he made some great plays. In OT he stopped Alex Newhook from walking him and pickpocketed the BC recruit.

• Newhook, from Newfoundland, played for Canada West because he’s in the BCHL this season. Rangers 7th-rd pick 00 F Riley Hughes (Northeastern), who apparently has dual citizenship, also skated for that squad. Both had good showings, but Newhook, a year younger and draft-eligible, was a bit more impressive. His speed and playmaking are the calling card, but I was expecting to be really wowed by a player who has been cited in the top ten for the NHL draft. He may very well be in that upper echelon, but I wasn’t blown away.

• TJ Lloyd and Austin Wong were very, very noticeable for Canada West. Alexander Campbell and Mason Snell grew on me as the tournament went on. I’d like to review some of these games and watch some of those players again.

• 01 F Robert Mastrosimone was as opportunistic and dangerous as ever. He is so fun to watch. There are few players who play the game equally hard, fast and skilled. The East Islip native and BU recruit is one of them. He takes pride in his game and you can tell.

• 01 F Bobby Brink (Denver) was great. Offensively, he’s very creative, competent and a threat to score.

• Late-00 D Ethan Frisch is someone whose game I have appreciated since I first saw him. The North Dakota recruit is an athletic, well-framed right shot defender who brings some sandpaper to his own end but can get involved at the other side of the ice. He has a lot of room to grow, and I think pro potential. There is a comparison to fellow Moorhead defense prospect Will Borgen, where I’d say Borgen fares favorably at the pro level but Frisch may bring more offensive upside.

• 99 F Griffin Ness was a revelation for me. He scored a great goal in the shootout, but it was in the actual game that I was so impressed. I remember this player being a really intriguing, kind of secondary guy in a very deep-1999 group of Minnesotans, but I never remembered this kind of offensive confidence and for him to come into his game the way he has. He was quite good for the Americans, at both ends of the sheet.

• Late-00 F Trevor Janicke, who celebrated his birthday yesterday (Dec 25), was another star for the Americans from Minnesota. The Notre Dame recruit is playing a year in the USHL after two in the NTDP and I think he could step right into the top six for Notre Dame next year. I just love his upside. He scored a nice goal curling around the net.

• 00 F Ryan O’Reilly (Denver) really embodied the ‘everything is bigger in Texas’ sentiment, he’s got a massive frame and he’s not afraid to barrel in on the other team, impose himself offensively. The 4th-rd Detroit pick was very useful for the Americans in this tournament.

• 99 D Ronnie Attard (WMU) - one of the only rightys for USA, felt like he was out there the whole game. He was aggressive and made some nice looks with the puck. Big part of this team. Should be a great piece of the puzzle in college.

• 00 D Zac Jones (UMass) is really coming along, his first year in the USHL as a late-2000 and his offensive game is maturing. He looks sharp on the point in possession.

• 99 D Luke Johnson (Providence) is a quality get for the Friars. Another 1999-birthyear player who lurked under the radar for me when he was fifteen but has curved as well as one would hope. He’s a reliable defender who can move, and move the puck.

• 01 D Ryan Johnson (Minnesota) didn’t look his (young) age, but I didn’t spend a ton of time paying attention to the Californian draft-eligible here.

• Those are some of my notes on the World Junior A Challenge. There were many more players of note, including Czech forward Michal Teply but I’d like to get more viewings of these games, focusing on different players, before I write again on them. The last few prospects will be relatively random.

01 D Jayden Struble (Northeastern) - 2019 NHL Draft

• Exeter vs. St. Sebs: For my money, he has always appeared decisively a step ahead of his peers. One of the more intriguing defense prospects to come out of New England preps recently: an athletic, left shot who likes to play an engaged, offensive style. His skating and movements betray an athletic ceiling; he plays a relatively ‘in-control’ style even when exerting pressure on a body check or stepping up into the play. He isn’t massive but his frame is imposing at this level. Has a good stick, healthy compete level in the defensive end. Takes powerful strides, showcases his potential when he carries the puck on the rush which he did on multiple occasions with velocity and control. There was a goal where a teammate got pickpocketed, and in the ensuing play he was standing still by the net as they got scored on. Not the end of the world, or really his fault, but not a good look either. On the whole, I was impressed. I think a ‘B’ rating from Central Scouting is about right, but he has the tools to be a fringe ‘A’-type prospect. Link to video of a solid d-zone keep and scoring chance.

01 D Michael Brown (Merrimack) - 2019 NHL Draft

• NCDC: Jr. Bruins vs NJ Rockets

• I watched this game to get a better look at Sasha Peresunko, a prolific-scoring Ukrainian-born 2000 for the Jr. B’s, but mostly noticed Brown. Good size, heavy shot. In this game he was pretty effective in the offensive zone, poised, confident with nice shot selection. He’s got a frame that scouts will have time for, and he moves the puck with a purpose. I think he needs to keep smoothening it all out and add a bit more of a dynamic element, but the ceiling is there.

Other prospects of note

• Long-time Providence recruit 99 F Matt Allen has started to put it together in the NCDC, he’s making strong plays for a kid with his frame. Bigger bodied presence who is great around the net, I think he is most effective when he’s playing in straight lines.

• 01 F Robby Griffin (Northeastern) was impressive for a young gun in junior. Skilled, creates.

• 00 F Sasha Peresunko remains uncommitted despite putting together quite a season in the NCDC this year. Through 40+ games Peresunko has 47 points, and posted 42 in 26 games in the USPHL Premier last season. He’s a nice skater who can forecheck decently well, but obviously he’s most noticeable with the puck on his stick. He’s dangerous on the powerplay, I think they had Matt Allen by the net and Peresunko as the ‘operator’ in the slot who presents his stick and always gives the passer an option. He’s skilled and fun to watch. I’ll definitely catch some more games of his this year.

• Jonny Mulera (Providence) and uncommitted ‘01 Frankie Ireland were very noticeable. I’d like to see more of them as well.

• Ryan Sorkin, Luke House and Ilya Fedorov were some names for the Rockets I’d like to check on again.

• Took in some random Jr. A hockey, but the most random has to be the Vancouver Island league — the VIJHL — primarily to get a look at centerman Josh Zary, a late-2001. It’s hard to watch a junior hockey league you aren’t familiar with, especially if it isn’t a particularly high level, and the VIJHL is no different. Zary was relatively good, though. Everything is in question due to the level of play, but for a just-turned-17-year-old he did well in the face-off dot, got around the ice well and was a presence on the forecheck. Scored a goal early on with a decent shot, then later he made himself scarce on the powerplay before maneuvering to cut in and score. Later on, he made a nice play to pressure the net-front with the puck and then quickly re-established himself on the left side of the net, dragging the defender with him and creating a vacant shooting lane on the right side for an open teammate to land on the puck and score. There’s definitely something there, but it all has to be pushed up two or three notches to be considered a big college prospect I’d say. If he played prep school this year, he’d easily be one of the better centers. The thing that kept me watching his play is that I think he could emerge, the potential is there. Takes a lot of shots, but his shot selection could improve.

• Late-2002 born forward Riley Gannon and 2001-born Jory Swanson both caught my eye offensively while watching Zary’s team. Neither are particularly big, but Gannon is fairly small.

• Keagan Abbott, a 2002-born defender from Powell River, caught my eye as well — for the other team, the Campbell River Storm. Again, hard to gauge the level of play, but he’s new to the league and looked the part on the back-end. Decent right shot with alright size.

• That’s all for this time, World Juniors start tomorrow.