The 2003s: Next Year’s NTDP Candidates

With the 2018 USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) Evaluation Camp concluded, scouts with the organization will turn their attention towards the 2003-born prospects who will eventually make up the 2019-2020 USA Hockey NTDP U-17 Team.

Listed below are 13 New York and New Jersey natives who are strong candidates to be invited to next year’s NTDP Evaluation Camp. Please note players from outside of the New York and New Jersey region who compete on one of the midget teams in New York or New Jersey are not included in this list.

Anthony Agostinelli

Forward, Shoots Left, Rochester Monarchs/Rochester, N.Y.

Agostinelli is a physically gifted and incredibly skilled finisher. His skating and shot are very good. He gets a lot of shots off from his strong skating and ability to create time and space. His agility is good to separate from defenders which allows him to draw penalties. If nitpicking his weaknesses, it’s that he needs to learn to use his teammates better and become more of a well-rounded player. Nonetheless, he’s an elite forward with high-end skill.

Aidan Ballotin

Defense, Shoots Left, Buffalo Jr. Sabres/Tonawanda, N.Y.

Ballotin is a silky-smooth defender who quickly transitions plays from defense to offense. His puck-transporting abilities are above average. He makes a strong first pass. He’s tall and lanky and could be an even better player once he fills out into his frame.

Michael Bevilacqua

Defense, Shoots Left, Buffalo Jr. Sabres/Hamburg, N.Y.

Bevilacqua comes from a hockey family. He has good size and a heavy shot from the point. His skating and ability to move pucks north are above average for a player his size and age. His pro frame is what scouts find most intriguing at this point.

Tyler Boucher

Forward, Shoots Right, Virtua/Haddonfield, N.J.

Boucher is a power forward who is heavy on pucks. He has an explosive stride that allows him to get to pucks and separate from defenders. He’s the type of player who can dominate below the dots. He can force turnovers and he can drive the net. He’s the son of former NHLer Brian Boucher.

Connor Callaghan

Goaltender, Catches Left, Mid-Fairfield, Upper Saddle, N.J.

Callaghan is the best ’03 goaltender in the country from several viewings of the age group that have included the USHL Fall Classic. He has good size, competes, squares up to and challenges shooters, and covers up rebounds.

Brett Cleaves

Goaltender, Catches Left, NJ Devils/Summit, N.J.

Cleaves moves very well in the crease and has good size. In addition to his bantam team, he also played for Delbarton as a freshman.

Thomas Heaney

Goaltender, Catches Left, NJ Colonials/Middletown, N.J.

Heaney has always been another top-notch goaltender in the region. He absolutely stole the show over the final two days of the ’03 SuperSeries AAA NJ Cup. He has good size, moves, competes, and tracks pucks well.

Tyler Procious

Defense, Shoots Right, Rochester Monarchs/Pittsford, N.Y.

Procious is a really good defender who skates well and has a good stick. He’s strong in all three zones, makes a good lead pass and has the ability to control possession. He’ll jump up into the rush, but he’s almost always back in his own to defend.

Chase Ramsay

Defense, Shoots Right, Mid-Fairfield/Granite Springs, N.Y.

Ramsay is a solid, two-way defender who has stood out at every viewing, dating back to last March at Scott Fitzgerald’s Total Pro Evaluation Spring Platform. He’s smooth, makes a good outlet pass and has vision. He has a good stick defensively and defends well on the rush.

Michael Rubin

Defense, Shoots Right, NJ Colonials/Stockholm, N.J.

Rubin has intriguing size and skates well. He has good reach and length to defend and closes quickly on opposing forwards. He has a good first step and makes a nice first pass with his head up.

Ryan Ufko

Defense, Shoots Right, Mid-Fairfield/Long Island, N.Y.

Ufko has a high compete on the backend for Mid-Fairfield. He plays a steady and effective game. He’s poised and strong on his feet. He can slow the game down so he can make the right decisions, including on good first passes.

Nick Wallace

Defense, Shoots Left, NJ Colonials/Atlantic Highlands, N.J.

Wallace is another legit prospect on the NJ Colonials blue line. He’s a tad undersized, but he’s smooth and can skate pucks out of trouble or make a nice first pass. He’s not as dynamic as some other high-end defenders in this age group, but he’s a little more reliable and keeps things simple.

Jeremy Wilmer

Forward, Shoots Left, LI Gulls, Rockville Center, N.Y. (NCAA: Boston University)

Wilmer is undersized, but his hockey sense and craftiness are assets that will allow him to be a very good college player. He sees the ice well and has a knack for finding pucks and being in the right place at the right time. Several other Hockey East and ECAC Hockey schools were pursuing Wilmer before he committed to the Terriers.

Honorable Mention: Forwards Matt Brille (NJ Colonials), Samuel Lipkin (NJ Colonials), Gregory Spitznagel (NJ Colonials), Nicholas Zocco (NJ Avalanche); Defensemen Jake Geraci (Mid-Fairfield), Joseph Sciabarra (LI Gulls)