NY & NJ Prospects: Top 35 2000-born players

Shane Pinto (Franklin Square, N.Y.) is committed to North Dakota. (Lincoln Stars)

There are several elite hockey players born in 2000 from New York and New Jersey. While first round pick Joel Farabee and a few others such as Buffalo Sabres second round pick Mattias Samuelsson have moved on to college hockey, many very good players from the region are still playing junior hockey, midget hockey, or prep school hockey.

In the first installment of top players from New York and New Jersey, we take a look at the top ‘00s from this region who have yet to begin their college hockey careers. Over the next few days, New York Hockey Journal will take a look at the top ‘01s and ‘02s from within the region.

Lincoln Stars center Shane Pinto, a late ’00, headlines the group of players from this region born in 2000. The Franklin Square, N.Y., native has 12 goals and 11 assists in 20 games played in the USHL so far this season.

Twenty-five of the top 35 players in the following rankings are committed to a Division I college while there are still several good players looking to find a home at the next level. Sioux City Musketeers defenseman Jack Babbage of Tully, N.Y. is the top uncommitted player among New York and New Jersey’s ‘00s.