2020 Beanpot Preview
Steve Kournianos | 2/2/2020 | Nashville | [hupso]
NASHVILLE (The Draft Analyst) — What better way for an undrafted college hockey player to boost his stock than to shine in front of a nationally-televised audience. And there are few better places to do it than the 68th annual Beanpot Tournament, which begins Monday night in Boston.
Boston’s four Division I college hockey programs — Northeastern, Harvard, Boston College, and Boston University — are not only geographically separated by a few miles, but also feature some of the top draft prospects in the NCAA. While over 40 participants were already drafted into the NHL, there are several others who are still looking to impress the scouting community and earn a contract once their college days are over.
Below is a breakdown of each team and a few notes on some of the NCAA’s notable undrafted free agents to keep an eye on.
Happy #Beanpot Monday.
No. 12 N’eastern (14-7-2) vs Harvard (10-6-4)
5pm ET/ 4pm CTBU (10-8-6) vs No. 3 BC (16-7-0)
8pm ET/ 7pm CTTSN2/NESN/ NHL Network
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) February 3, 2020
No. 12 Northeastern (14-7-2)
Top Scorers
C Tyler Madden (VAN 3rd/2018) 17g-16a-33pts
C/RW Zach Solow (1998) 10g-15a-25pts
LHD Ryan Shea (CHI 4th/2015) 3g-19a-22pts
Projected Lines
Forwards
25 Aidan McDonough (VAN) – 9 Tyler Madden (VAN) – 15 Grant Jozefek (1997)
17 Matt Filipe (CAR) – 28 Zach Solow (1998) – 21 Matt Demelis (1999)
39 Brendan van Riemsdyk (1996) – 7 John Picking (1995) – 27 Neil Shea (1999)
16 Matt Thomson (1998) – 26 Biagio Lerario (1995) – 19 Riley Hughes (NYR)
Defense
5 Ryan Shea (CHI) – 23 Mike Kesselring (EDM)
2 Jordan Harris (MTL) – 4 Jeremie Bucheler (2000)
3 Jayden Struble (MTL) – 8 Julian Kislin
Goalies
29 Craig Pantano (1995)
30 Curtis Frye (1995)
Top UDFA
C/RW Zach Solow
5’9, 175 | 11/6/1998 | Shoots Right | Naples, Fla.
A slippery playmaker with excellent vision and an accurate shot, Solow was the USHL’s top scorer in 2017 as a draft overager. Solow plays a lot bigger than his size and is willing to battle in the trenches. He can run the power play from the half wall or kills penalties while being a threat to score shorthanded.
Zach Solow just tied the record for GWGs in a season with his BIGGEST of the year
We’re goin’ to the ‘ship! | #HowlinHuskies pic.twitter.com/paHg6kdlCp
— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) March 22, 2019
RW/C Matt Demelis
6’0, 185 | 6/2/1999 | Shoots Left | Hingham, Mass.
A hard-shooting forward with soft hands and impressive skating, DeMelis has seen time on each of Northeastern’s first three lines and has even played center. He’s dangerous from the circles and is a target for one-timers on the power play. Demelis has battled with inconsistency the last few seasons but can be next to unstoppable when he’s locked in and playing with intensity.
🚨ANOTHER ONE 🚨
DeMelis tallies another for the #HowlinHuskies just SECONDS after Struble! The #HowlinHuskies are off to a 2-0 start here in Belfast! pic.twitter.com/S5Bn7pFwmX
— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) November 30, 2019
Boston University (10-8-6)
Top Scorers
LHD David Farrance (NSH 3rd/2017) 11g-17a-28pts
LW/C Patrick Harper (NSH 5th/2016) 11g-16a-27pts
C Trevor Zegras (ANA 1st/2019) 7g-18a-25pts
Projected Lines
Forwards
21 Patrick Harper (NSH) – 13 Trevor Zegras (ANA) – 19 Jack DeBoer (2000)
9 Logan Cockerill (NYI) – 17 Jake Wise (CHI) – 11 Patrick Curry (1996)
16 Robert Mastrosimone (DET) – 32 Wilmer Skoog (1999) – 28 Ethan Phillips (DET)
20 Matt Quercia (1999) – 25 Sam Stevens (2000) – 18 Alex Brink (1994)
10 Gabriel Chabot (1995)
Defense
4 David Farrance (NSH) – 5 Cam Crotty (ARI)
23 Domenick Fensore (CAR) – 2 Case McCarthy (NJD)
7 Alex Vlasic (CHI) – 26 Kasper Kotkansalo (DET)
Goalies
30 Ashton Abel (1999)
31 Sam Tucker (1996)
Top UDFA
RW Patrick Curry
6’0, 185 | 1/9/1996 | Shoots Left | Schaumberg, Ill.
A soft-mitted scorer with leadership qualities and a high compete level, Curry was a Beanpot hero for the Terriers in 2018 when he scored the overtime winner to beat Boston College. He plays on the top line, first power-play unit and also kills penalties. You’ll see him on the ice for all key situations. Curry scores most of his goals off rebounds, tip-ins, and loose-puck battles, but he also has a hard, accurate shot.
Patrick Curry matches Logan Hutsko with two goals on the night, unloading this shot to beat Knight high-glove and tie the game once again. #BUvsBC (via @NESN) pic.twitter.com/nn9SziDu21
— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) January 19, 2020
No. 3 Boston College (16-7-0)
Top Scorers
C Julius Mattila (1997) 7g-24a-31pts
LW David Cotton (CAR 6th/2015) 10g-19a-29pts
RW Logan Hutsko (FLA 3rd/2018) 15g-8a-23pts
Projected Lines
Forwards
17 David Cotton (CAR) – 26 Julius Mattila (1997) – 9 Logan Hutsko (FLA)
12 Matt Boldy (MIN) – 11 Jack McBain (MIN) – 27 Graham McPhee (EDM)
19 Mike Hardman (1999) – 18 Alex Newhook (COL) – 22 Aapeli Rasanen (EDM)
28 Ron Greco (1995) – 25 Marc McLaughlin (1999) – 24 Patrick Giles (2000)
10 Gabriel Chabot (1995)
Defense
8 Jesper Mattila (1997) – 6 Ben Finkelstein (FLA)
3 Luke McInnis (1998) – 4 Drew Helleson (COL)
5 Marshall Warren (MIN) – 7 Connor Moore (1997)
2 Michael Karow (ARI)
Goalies
30 Spencer Knight (FLA)
31 Jack Moffatt (2001)
Top UDFA
LW Mike Hardman
6’3, 205 | 2/5/1999 | Shoots Left | Hanover, Mass.
Hardman is a Boston-area native who shredded the British Columbia Hockey League a season ago to a tune of 39 goals — second in the league only to current linemate Alex Newhook. He’s a big, physical winger who can score goals in a variety of ways, but he also stays within himself and understands his role as a slot or net-front presence. Hardman has decent speed, footwork, and edges for his size. He was invited to the Boston Bruins’ prospect camp last summer, so you know he’s on the NHL scouting community’s radar.
Mike Hardman’s first career goal! #WeAreBC pic.twitter.com/QgjFjqQaeK
— BC Hockey (@BCHockey) October 20, 2019
Harvard (10-6-4)
Top Scorers
RW Casey Dornbach (1997) 10g-19a-29pts
LW Nick Abruzzese (TOR 4th/2019) 10g-17a-27pts
C Jack Drury (CAR 2nd/2018) 13g-13a-26pts
Projected Lines
Forwards
16 Nick Abruzzese (TOR) – 18 Jack Drury (CAR) – 47 Casey Dornbach (1997)
28 Henry Bowlby (1997) – 33 Jack Badini (ANA) – 13 Nathan Krusko (1996)
7 R.J. Murphy (1998) – 17 John Farinacci (ARI) – 27 Austin Wong (WIN)
10 Jack Donato (1997) – 23 Baker Shore (1999) – 6 Colton Kerfoot (1996)
10 Gabriel Chabot (1995)
Defense
3 Jack Rathbone (VAN) – 22 Ryan Siedem (FLA)
77 Henry Thrun (ANA) – 2 Reilly Walsh (NJD)
46 Marshall Rifai (1998) – 14 Jace Foskey (2000)
5 Nick Azar (1997)
Goalies
44 Mitchell Gibson (1999)
9 Cameron Gornet (1995)
Top UDFA
RW Casey Dornbach
5’11, 180 | 7/7/1997 | Shoots Left | Edina, Minn.
This former Edina Hornet and Bruins’ prospect camp invitee is one of the top scorers in the nation. Don’t think for one second that Dornbach’s production is due to drafted linemates Nick Abruzzese and Jack Drury. He definitely is his own player; one with escapability, excellent hand-eye coordination, acute vision, and an impressive shot-release combination that can offset any scheme designed to slow him down. It’s not easy being a skill forward surrounded by multiple drafted playmakers up front and on the back end, but Dornbach finds a way to stand out while playing unselfish hockey.
Casey Dornbach takes advantage of the Clarkson turnover. 1-0 Harvard early on! #GoCrimson
WATCH: https://t.co/IAOe8BeF7D pic.twitter.com/BmsAW5V61B
— Harvard Men’s Hockey (@HarvardMHockey) January 19, 2020
LW R.J. Murphy
6’2, 190 | 10/2/1998 | Shoots Left | Needham, Mass.
A former standout for St. Sebastian’s and West Kelowna in the BCHL, Murphy is power winger with agility and a hard wrist shot. Always considered more of a long-term project than a sure thing, Murphy has impressed this season and looks to be refining his game beyond storming the net or overpowering opponents in puck battles. He can string together a handful of impressive and hard-working shifts that are sprinkled with some flash and sound decision making. He also is used on special teams.
