With Neutral Zone being the go-to place to stay up to date with commitments around the hockey world, here is the latest installment of players who have committed to the NCAA and CHL. Players who commit after 12pm EDT on September 22nd will be included in next week’s report.
NCAA
Mikey Berchild (C, L, 5’9″, 162, USA NTDP U17, 02/16/2008, Denver)
Committed to Denver, Berchild is considered one of the top prospects in his age group. Having played for Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep in 2023-24, he collected 60 points in 49 games.
Given a star rating of 4.5, Berchild stood out thanks to his great puck control:
“Berchild was the youngest player competing at the Under 18 National Championships, in fact, he was the only 2008 DOB in the tournament. The left-shot forward didn’t look out of place despite his age as he played well, helping Shattuck take home the Championship. Mikey possesses great puck control and the ability to make plays in high-traffic areas, shedding stick checks and displaying strong stickhandling skills. His passing was leading and he was able to locate his linemates without telegraphing his intentions.”
Cooper Bordeaux (F, R, 5’8″, 158, Detroit Little Caesars U16, 08/30/2007, Western Michigan)
Committed to Western Michigan, Bordeaux is scheduled to suit up for St. Andrew’s College this season. Bordeaux played for Little Caesars U16 last season, scoring 0 goals and adding 19 assists for 29 points in 60 games.
Bordeaux impressed NZ scouts with his ability to make things happen in the offensive zone:
“Cooper is a solid stocky forward who can play wing or center. He scored their go-ahead goal early in the 3rd period vs Compuware finding the puck in the low right circle after it came hard off the back wall from the point shot that missed the net and quickly one-timed it hard over the sprawling goalie.”
Michal Capos (D, R, 6’4″, 209, 07/16/2007, Western Michigan)
Scheduled to suit up for AIK J18 in Sweden this season, Capos committed to Western Michigan this past week. Having played for AIK J18 last year, he collected eight points in 18 games from the backend.
Pavel Martinu (F, L, 6’5″, 209, Seacoast Performance Academy U18, 12/20/2007, New Hampshire)
Committed to the University of New Hampshire, Martinu suited up for Seacoast Performance Academy 16U last season where he scored 30 goals and added 25 assists for 55 points in 56 regular season games.
Ranked a 3 star prospect, Martinu was described as a physically solid power forward:
“Martinu is a big, physically solid power forward with smooth hands and a hunger for the puck. Pavel is a freight train with hands when he gets going up ice as he doesn’t have the acceleration, but his top speed makes him a significant threat when he is blazing downhill with a head of steam. He has excellent stick skills with his hands and can corral pucks from any position as he catches bouncers and gets them flat in a flash. Martinu is a strong winger who can be effective on both sides of the ice, as he is able to make plays with defenders all over him.”
Matthew Portz (F, R, 5’7″, 150, Long Island Gulls U16, 08/24/2008, Sacred Heart)
A product of Massapeque, N.Y., Portz committed to Sacred Heart earlier this week. While playing for the Long Islands Gulls 15U in 2023-24, Portz had 69 points in 77 regular season games.
Given a star rating of 3.75, Portz impressed with his quick hands and feet:
“He is very shifty and nimble with quick hands and feet. In a game against PAL Isles, the speed was on display as he zipped around the net and sent a pass to #88 Leonard out front for the goal. In one game, he was hunting on pucks, creating a turnover at the offensive blue line, then quickly setting up a teammate for a scoring opportunity at the net.”
OHL
Joey Wassilyn (D, L, 6’0″, 258, Niagara Icedogs, 01/12/2006)
Acquired from the Guelph Storm, Wassilyn has signed with the Niagara IceDogs after playing in the OJHL last year. In 49 games played with the North York Rangers, Wassilyn scored three goals and added two assists for five points.
WHL
Brodie Hankel (F, L, 6’2″, 169, Leduc Oil Kings U18, 01/26/2006)
Hankel, a native of Red Deer, Alta., signed with the Portland Winterhawks after attending training camp on a tryout. Having played for the majority of last season with the Leduc Oil Kings U18, Hankel had 17 points in 26 games.
Hankel stood out to scouts thanks to his size and mobility:
“Brodie played wing on the top-line and 2nd-unit PP/PK. Solid first viewings of Brodie, a prototypical forward with size and mobility who can make plays for the team off rush or down-low in the attacking zone. Contributed to the stat line in both games, with one being the 3rd-place contest, but lacked consistency from shift to shift.”
Dylan Hurren (D, R, 6’0″, 157, Delta Hockey Academy U17 Prep, 06/17/2009)
Drafted by the Vancouver Giants in the fourth round of this year’s draft, Hurren played for Delta Hockey Academy U15 Prep in 2023-24 where he scored three goals and added 22 assists for 25 points in 27 regular season games.
Ranked a 3.75 star prospect, Hurren impressed with a good first pass:
“He makes a good first pass and can transition quickly his secondary assist was produced by starting a two-on-one after a turnover in the neutral zone. Even though it was this player’s first call-up he played a regular shift and even took turns on the penalty kill.”
Shaun Rios (C, L, 5’11”, 193, Tri-City Americans, 11/12/2005)
Drafted second overall by the Tri-City Americans in the 2020 WHL US Prospect Draft, Rios has joined the team for the upcoming season. Having played for Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 Prep last year, he scored 32 goals and added 46 assists for 78 points in 57 games.
Ranked a 3.5 star prospect, Rios stood out to scouts with his play in the offensive zone:
“Shaun is a stout forward who stood out in the offensive zone throughout the U18 Nationals. He made a lot of clean movements with the puck keeping the flow and energy going in the offensive zone. Rios has a heavy shot and can unload it in a hurry. Shaun scored a snipe goal from a sharp angle against Victory Honda.”
Nolan Saunderson (D, L, 5’10”, 150, Brandon Wheat Kings U15, 01/31/2008)
Drafted by the Spokane Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft, Saunderson collected 16 points in 41 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings U18 last season.
Given a star rating of 3.75, Saunderson ranked 77th on NZ’s Top 300 for the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft.
Hudson Sayers (D, R, 5’3″, 110, Moose Jaw Warriors U18, 04/14/2009)
Drafted by the Portland Winterhawks in the eighth round of the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, Sayers played for the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 in 2023-24. In 26 games, he scored six goals and added 26 assists for 32 points.
Ranked a 3.25 star prospect, Sayers was ranked 298th on NZ’s Top 300 for the WHL Draft.
Owen Sejna (F, Lafayette Locomotive 14U, 01/01/2009)
Sejna, who hails from Colorado, signed with the Regina Pats as undrafted free agent. While playing AA with the Lafayette Locomotives 14U, he scored 59 goals and added 178 assists for 237 points in 61 regular season games.
Sejna impressed with his constant pace and skating ability:
“Owen Sejna’s strong presence on the wing is a key asset for OHA Colorado. He has a powerful long stride that allows him to outmaneuver defenders by drawing them in and using his size to push them off while maintaining control of the puck. He keeps his feet moving constantly, creating space for himself and disrupting the opposing team’s transition attack. He is highly skilled at deceiving defenders with his footwork and is confident with the puck on his stick, even playing the point on the powerplay.”
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling