ECAC Hockey: Top freshmen to watch for in 2018-19

Christian O'Neill joins Princeton. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)

With the 2018-19 ECAC Hockey season quickly approaching, fans eagerly anticipate the drop of the puck. With each new season comes freshmen who can impact a program immediately and others who will become standouts over the course of a four-year career.

Such is the case in ECAC Hockey, as the league welcomes a crop of new players, including several high-profile ones. Seven NHL draft picks are counted among rookies in the league, with Harvard and Yale both boasting two each. Clarkson, Quinnipiac and Cornell are responsible for the other three.

Among locals, Princeton forward Christian O’Neill (Westwood, Mass.) and Harvard defenseman Jack Rathbone (West Roxbury, Mass.) will likely play the most significant roles in 2018-19.

Below is a look at the top freshmen in ECAC Hockey, broken down by position. The forwards are ranked first, then defensemen and finally the goaltenders.