College hockey recruiting: Top uncommitted ’03s

Greg Spitznagel has two state titles with Summit High and is a standout right wing for the New Jersey Rockets. (Catalina Fragoso)

New York and New Jersey have quite a few talented 2003-born players, including center Jeremy Wilmer (Rockville Center, N.Y.), who made the 2019-20 USA Hockey NTDP U-17 Team.

The region boasts two players, defensemen Dylan Gratton and Ryan Ufko, who are committed to NCAA programs and tendered to play the 2019-20 season in the USHL.

While those three, and a few others, are committed, there are still quite a few promising, uncommitted prospects from New York and Jersey in this age group.

Here’s a look at the top uncommitted, 2003-born prospects from New York and New Jersey:

College hockey recruiting: Top uncommitted ’03s

1. Tyler Procious
Buffalo Junior Sabres 16-U, 5/29/03, D, Right Shot, 5-9/155

Procious is one of the top uncommitted defensemen in the country. While the Pittsford, N.Y., native doesn’t have great size, his hockey sense and puck-moving abilities are elite. He skates with his head up and rarely tries to force plays. He’ll make the smart breakout decision and can quarterback a power play. In 87 games this past winter, he had 17 goals and 30 assists. He has a solid stick, body positioning and feet when it comes to defending the rush and in his own zone.

2. Jak Vaarwerk
Buffalo Junior Sabres 15-O, 6/13/03, C, Left Shot, 5-9/150

Vaarwerk is a smart, two-way center from East Amherst, N.Y. He’ll kill penalties, backcheck and be responsible in all three zones. He sees the ice well, which allows him to make plays and set up his teammates. He averaged over a point per game in 15 Pure action this winter.

3. Anthony Agostinelli
Buffalo Junior Sabres 16-U, 1/7/03, C, Right Shot, 5-10/156

Agostinelli has been one of the more skilled forwards in this age group for a few years now. Whether it was excelling at World Selects or other showcases, he always seemingly was making highlight-reel plays. The Rochester, N.Y., native is a goal scorer with slick hands. He’s hard to knock off the puck and is strong on his skates. If he can use his teammates a little more, he’ll generate even more buzz.

4. Aidan Ballotin
Buffalo Junior Sabres 16-U, 3/21/03, D, Left Shot, 5-10/150

Ballotin has decent size, is a smooth skater and can be a two-way defender moving forward. He has fairly good positioning in the defensive zone and is able to retrieve pucks and get them going north. From Tonawanda, N.Y., Ballotin had four goals and 18 assists in 87 games this past season.

5. Liam Lesakowski
Buffalo Junior Sabres 15-O, 12/12/03, D, Left Shot, 6-3/175

Lesakowski is extremely raw, but there’s a lot of potential in his physical tools, especially for a late ’03. He has the size and his feet are coming along. He has reach to defend and close on opposing forwards. He had a goal and 12 assists in 20 games this past winter.

6. Thomas Heaney
New Jersey Rockets 16-U, 2/2/03, G, Catches Left, 6-1/165

Heaney had a solid 2018-19 campaign, splitting time between Christian Brothers Academy and New Jersey Rockets 16-U. His athleticism, skating and compete are all top-notch. If he was a couple of inches taller, he’d be committed. The Oceanport, N.J., native is not small by any means and should be considered a coveted goaltending prospect for college programs in the region.

7. Nicky Wallace
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 5/7/03, D, Left Shot, 5-9/161

In addition to the Avalanche, Wallace played for Christian Brothers Academy. He’s a skilled, slick, puck-moving defenseman who put up five goals and 15 assists in 44 games for Vinny Smith’s team. His hockey sense is the one area of his game that needs improvement. Skill-wise and skating, he’s already got Division 1 tools.

8. Conor Callaghan
Avon Old Farms, 3/2/03, G, Catches Left, 5-11/160

Callaghan is a very good goaltender who some teams might shy away from due to his being under 6-feet tall. He had a .940 save percentage in seven games at the prep school level. The Upper Saddle River, N.J., native has good fundamentals, skates well and sees pucks in traffic.

9. Joseph Blackley
Buffalo Regals 16-U, 9/8/03, D, Left Shot, 5-9/160

Blackley is an athletic, offensive defenseman with good mobility. He projects as a smaller defenseman with the potential to be a power-play quarterback. From Lockport, N.Y., Blackley has a good shot from the point. He scored five goals and added 10 helpers during the 2018-19 season.

10. Joseph Sciabarra
P.A.L. Junior Islanders 16-U, 10/11/03, D, Left Shot, 5-7/155

Sciabarra is a small, offensive, puck-moving defenseman who loves to jump into the rush. He averaged a point per game in high school action with Portledge and had six goals and five assists in 22 games with the P.A.L. Junior Islanders 16-U. From Plainview, N.Y., if he can shore up his defensive end and learn to pick his spots wisely, he should earn a college commit down the road.

11. Greg Spitznagel
New Jersey Rockets 16-U, 3/10/03, RW, Right Shot, 6-2/201

Spitznagel is a big winger who can finish with a hard shot and by using his size and reach to protect pucks below the circles. He had 20 goals and 16 assists in 30 games this past season. If he can be more consistent with his compete level and learn to drive the net with more authority, he has a lot of upside. On the high school circuit in March, had two goals to help Summit High repeat as Public C state champions.

12. Mason LaCivita
Buffalo Junior Sabres 15-O, 4/3/03, C/RW, 5-11/170

LaCivita was one of the more skilled offensive players on the Junior Sabres 15-O team this past winter. He sees the ice well and can play center or wing. He has some skill, size and is heavy on pucks.

13. Chase Ramsay
Avon Old Farms, 6/10/03, D, Right Shot, 6-0/180

Ramsay has decent size and is a solid two-way defender. While he’s not the flashiest, he can make a good outlet pass as well as defend with his stick. The Granite Springs, N.Y., native had a goal and five assists for the Winged Beavers this past winter.

14. Jake Geraci
Jersey Hitmen 16-U, 4/9/03, D, Right Shot, 5-9/170

Geraci is a smooth defenseman who can use his feet to defend on the rush. He’s not flashy, but he’ll step into the offense and make smart outlet passes. He split time between Don Bosco and the Jersey Hitmen.

15. Landon Brdey
Long Island Gulls 15-O, 5/13/03, G, Catches Left, 5-11/135

Brdey put up really strong numbers for the Gulls this past winter, posting a .934 save percentage. The Oakdale, N.Y., native has decent size and advanced to USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp out of New York District.

16. David Posma
North Jersey Avalanche 15-O, D, Left Shot, 5-10/160

Posma is a rugged, physically mature defenseman who can play both ways. He can contribute offensively, but his strength allows him to play with a mean streak in his own end. The Pomona, N.Y., native had 22 goals and 24 assists in 44 games this season. His older brother, Michael Posma, is committed to Air Force.

17. Michael Emerson
North Jersey Avalanche 15-O, 12/1/03, C, Right Shot, 5-7/135

Emerson led the North Jersey Avalanche in scoring this past winter. From Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Emerson had 31 goals and 36 assists in 45 games.

18. Alexey Yarmulnik
North Jersey Avalanche 15-O, 6/27/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/170

Yarmulnik is a goal scorer who is able to use his size and strength to drive the net and be around all the greasy areas. The Old Bridge, N.J., native had a good nationals, putting a bow on a season where he scored 37 goals and 28 assists in 45 games.

19. Vitaly Levyy
Long Island Gulls 15-O, 5/9/03, C, Right Shot, 5-10/161

Levyy is a creative, playmaking center from Old Brookville, N.Y. In addition to playing for the Gulls, he spent time at the high school level with Portledge. Levyy had 62 assists in 30 games at the AYHL level while adding 36 goals.

20. Brett Cleaves
Delbarton, 1/4/03, G, Catches Left, 5-10/150

Cleaves is a solid goaltending prospect who has somewhat flown under the radar due to playing AA hockey with the New Jersey Devils youth program. He had another strong season at Delbarton, posting a .933 save percentage. His size hurts him in terms of college attention, but he has strong technique.

Honorable Mention

Ben Boren
Mid Fairfield Rangers, 7/17/03, RW, Right Shot, 6-2/200

Paul DeSaro
Selects Academy 15-O, 9/16/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-9/160

Logan Heroux
Christian Brothers Academy, 5/30/03, D, Left Shot, 6-0/183

Eric Kaczynski
Long Island Gulls, 10/1/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-10/150

Dante Palombo
North Jersey Avalanche 15-O, 12/23/03, C/LW, Left Shot, 5-8/145

Michael Rubin
New Jersey Rockets 15-O, 5/5/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11/185

DJ Walsh
Long Island Gulls 15-O, 1/27/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-8/146

Nick Zocco
North Jersey Avalanche 15-O, 9/19/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/165