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.
Samu Alalauri (D, R, 6’2, 203, Pelicans, 05/31/2008, UMass)
Committed to play at UMass in 2027, Alalauri will play junior hockey in his native Finland this season. He has represented Finland in many youth tournaments.
The big defenseman will gain good experience and be able to shape his game.
“After a strong U18 World Championships there is no doubt that this big, strong, right-shot defender will be watched closely this season. Alalauri’s size, strength, skating base and physical presence are all in the wheelhouse for National League scouting staffs. Overall he showed maturity in his game at the Hlinka despite Finland’s uneven results. Defensively, Alalauri excelled with tight gaps, backward mobility / fluidity and a physical presence in all three zones. He consistently stood up opponents in the neutral zone, played with a stick-on-puck mentality and used his leg drive to box out around the net and pin players along the wall. He was one of Finland’s most effective shutdown defenders, forcing attackers into poor decisions and limiting Grade “A” looks from inside of the house. Offensively, Alalauri produced 1 goal and 3 assists, leading Finland’s blueline in points. His game is built around high percentage simple plays: making a clean first pass, jumping into the rush in the second wave and pinching while the puck is moving to disrupt possession. He is not an offensive driver, but his physical play, retrievals and transitional reads allow him to start offensive transition. Alalauri projects as a defense-first blueliner with pro size, strength and skating ability. He will be tracked closely in the 2026 class as he continues to develop his game against older competition in Finland’s Liiga.”
Davis Borozinskis (F, R, 6’0, 183, Omaha Lancers, 10/26/2004, Alaska Fairbanks)
The Latvian native will leave the USHL after three seasons and go play at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Borozinskis had 11 goals and 35 points with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Omaha Lancers last season.
Kaiden Donia (D, R, 6’5, 192, East Coast Militia 18U AAA, 01/16/2008, Quinnipiac)
Donia was drafted by the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix but will play AAA again this year. His commitment to Quinnipiac is for 2027, so Donia still has a few years to get his game polished.
Donia is potentially set to be a top prospect for the 2026 NHL draft.
“Kaiden Donia is a 6’5″, 190-pound right-shot defenseman from Groton School who showed flashes of high-end athleticism and two-way potential at the U17 National Camp, though he remains a raw prospect still growing into his frame. His physical tools stand out immediately as he closes gaps quickly, takes away time and space with his long reach, and is a disruptive presence defensively, using body positioning, leverage, and a good hard stick with detail to win battles and eliminate second chances around the net. He showed a willingness to play through contact, block shots, and deliver hits, particularly as the week progressed. Offensively, Donia flashed confidence carrying pucks up ice and was active at the offensive blue line, keeping pucks in and jumping into the high slot to get shots through. However, the pace of play challenged him at times; he rushed decisions under pressure, misread line rushes, and had trouble with retrievals, often defaulting to low-percentage clears when pressured. His footwork and pivoting remain inconsistent due to him still growing into himself, and his stride, while fluid in space is still gaining explosiveness and strength. In the 2025/26 season, Donia will need to focus on strengthening his core and lower body to better handle pressure and physicality, improving his puck management under heavy forechecking pressure, and finding consistency in his skating mechanics to become more efficient and agile in small-area situations. He has clear long-term upside as a mobile, physical shutdown defenseman with the tools to be impactful at higher levels if he continues to progress in his development path.”
Francesco Iasenza (D, L, 6’1, 208, Victoriaville Tigres, 07/11/2004, Mercyhurst)
A third-round pick to Moncton back in 2020, Iasenza has aged out after five seasons in the ‘Q’. He will head stateside to play at Mercyhurst.
Iasenza will bring loads of experience to the NCAA.
“There is little doubt that Iasenza is a leader on the ice as he naturally does little things that coaches love. He is an excellent penalty killer who plays in straight lines and is more than willing to get big low to block shots. He easily clears shooting lanes and wins wall battles in all three zones, basically Iasenza plays dramatically larger than his listed 5’11” 179lbs and even as a 2004 his opponents treat him with fear and respect. Offensively he consistently makes the the easy read to release pressure in the defensive zone or makes a hard flat pass to his forwards. He has a hard snap shot from the point and is more than willing to one-time any type of bouncing puck that comes his way, but as his game develops Iasenza will need to continue working on his shot from the point and the ability to open shooting lanes so his shot get through to the net.”
Matthew Koch (D, L, 6’0, 183, Avon Old Farms School, 01/30/2009, Yale)
The big – but young – defenseman was drafted by the Tri-City Storm in the eighth round of the USHL Futures Draft. Next year, he will play with the Northern CT Nor’Easters 18U AAA team and head to Yale in 2028.
NZ scouts evaluated Koch at a USA 16U camp.
“Koch is a good-sized, athletic, left-handed defenseman from Avon Old Farms, where he made an immediate impact as a first-year player. While he was not highly offensive, he played a solid two-way game here, making efficient puck plays, following his passes up ice, and snapping his passes on the target. He was quick in transition, able to beat forecheckers to the puck and had just enough wiggle to shake off pressure and skate pucks to safety. Koch started the week a little passively, but as the week went on, he began trusting his feet, carrying pucks out of trouble areas, and making a few plays up ice, head-manning the puck to create odd-man rushes for his forwards. He was smart in regroup situations and knew his passing or shooting options in the offensive zone. His best attribute here was his feet; his pivots were effortless. He was able to maintain tight gaps and defend both power and speed, keeping forwards to the edge. A real athlete who moves well laterally for his size and strength, he understands his gaps and positioning, gets his stick in lanes, and proved he can contribute on both special teams units. He should be primed for a breakout season this winter at the prep level.”
Samuel Meloche (G, L, 6’2, 194, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, 07/22/2007, Northeastern)
In his first full season in the QMJHL last year, Meloche had a .900 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against average. A Buffalo Sabres prospect, he will play with the Huskies for one more season before heading to play at Northeastern.
Meloche was one of the most relied upon starters in the QMJHL.
“Meloche is a technically sound, athletic goaltender who stays competitive on second and third opportunities. His movement is clean in the crease, with good east-west coverage and controlled pad recovery mechanics. He tracks the puck well through screens and consistently squares up to the initial shot. His ability to maintain net coverage while staying low gives him a solid base to limit rebound chaos. Meloche has also shown the mental resilience to bounce back from soft goals or poor sequences, which is a necessary trait in long-term development. He’s not afraid to handle the puck outside his crease and looks to initiate transition when controlled, which is becoming increasingly valuable in modern pro systems.”
Malte Vass (D, L, 6’2, 185, Farjestad BK U20, 03/28/2007, Boston University)
Vass, a third-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, just committed to play at Boston University this upcoming season. Vass has won many medals with Sweden, including a silver at the U18s.
Vass demonstrates a high hockey IQ.
“Malte Vass is a strong, mobile, and physical defenseman who plays a defensively sound, old-school game while also contributing effectively to offensive transitions. With his size, skating mechanics, and elite defensive game processing, Vass is a reliable two-way presence who can play both sides of the blue line. While he brings significant value on the penalty kill and excels in defensive-zone coverage, continued improvements in his skating speed and offensive creativity will further solidify his NHL potential.”
Mason West (G, L, 5’11, 155, Peoria Mustangs, 10/18/2004, Ferris State)
After not playing any hockey at all last season, Mason West will play at Ferris State this fall. Having last played for the Peoria Mustangs in the NA3HL, West posted a 4.66 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage in six outings. He also captained Traverse City West High’s squad in 2022-23, appearing in 19 games with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.
by Sebastian Zucchet
Sebastian Zucchet is a freelance sports reporter from Toronto and someone who deeply enjoys hockey.