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.
Paul Bloomer (F, R, 5’11, 183, Tri-City Storm, 04/10/2005, Alaska-Anchorage)
In his final season of junior eligibility with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm, Bloomer has eight goals and 21 points this year. The Chicago native will play for Alaska-Anchorage next season.
Bloomer is great on the defensive side of the puck and is always trying to help his team win.
“Bloomer competes hard in all three zones, battling for pucks and doing whatever he can to help his team. He’s physical and leans on opponents, playing the hard way. He isn’t overly dangerous offensively, but he can create opportunities.”
Eli Heinze (F, R, 6’3, 200, South Shore Kings, 08/03/2005, Harvard)
An impactful player for the NCDC’s South Shore Kings, Heinze has 26 goals and 53 points in 54 games this season. He will play at Harvard next season.
Heinze is a well-rounded player.
“Heinze was the most impactful player on the ice, dominating shifts with his puck protection, vision, and decision-making. On his first assist, he used his body well below the goal line before finding an open defenseman at the point for a clean finish. His second assist came off a strong read, as he collected a puck along the left wall, transitioned from backhand to forehand, and found a teammate driving the net for a tip. Heinze’s goal showcased his skill and compete level-he attacked through the middle, beat a defender with his hands, stayed with the puck after slightly losing control, and finished through persistence. On the power play, he showed excellent patience, delivering a backhand saucer pass to the point for a tipped goal, and later kept things simple by moving the puck quickly to create a rebound scoring chance. An elite performance driven by awareness, poise, and consistency.”
Ethan McCallum (G, L, 6’4, 198, Penticton Vees, 04/11/2006, RPI)
A 2021 second-round pick of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, McCallum is currently suiting up for the Penticton Vees, where he’s posted a 2.21 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage this season. He will play at RPI in the fall.
McCallum posted a shutout against Kelowna earlier in the season, and NZ scouts took note of his performance.
“McCallum is a prototypical big netminder who consistently makes difficult saves look routine; his size and positional play allow him to cover large portions of the net with minimal, controlled movement. He handles side-to-side, point-of-attack transitions calmly and doesn’t come apart when doing so, routinely presenting sound angles on wing-based attacks and making those chances look easy. In close-quarters play he shows composed puck management—few panic moments on loose pucks and a quick, efficient tendency to smother rebounds or cover the puck. Overall, a steady 26-save shutout performance that highlights his reliability and positional strengths.”
Ethan Mittelsteadt (D, L, 6’0, 186, Vancouver Giants, 12/18/2006, Princeton)
A product of Victoria, B.C., Mittelsteadt has four goals and 14 points through 61 games this season. Princeton awaits him in the fall.
Mittelsteadt is a reliable, hard-working player.
“Ethan Mittelsteadt’s game is built around his mobility, smart playmaking, and situational awareness, allowing him to effectively contribute to both offense and defense. As a skilled player, he excels at quick exits from the defensive zone, using his puck skills and vision to move the play up ice while maintaining an awareness of teammates and opponents. Mittelsteadt’s ability to read plays and make intelligent decisions with his stick and body position is notable, allowing him to break up chances and win a significant number of puck battles. His physical presence may not be imposing, but he makes up for it with his toughness and grit, battling hard in front of his own net.”
Konner Powell (F, R, 5’8, 170, Rochester Jr. Americans, 05/12/2007, Mercyhurst)
A rookie with the NAHL’s Rochester Jr. Americans, Powell has 15 goals and 24 points this season. Although Powell announced his commitment to play at Mercyhurst next year, the school announced it would be discontinuing their Div. I program, so this will be a situation to monitor.
Powell is effective on the power play.
“He plays with a lot of pace. He is a smooth skater with speed, acceleration, and strong edges. His offensive instincts are very good, as he makes it look easy in the offensive zone. He can create time and space and does not get rattled by pressure. Impressive performance by Konner. A really nice-looking prospect.”
Misha Volotovskii (F, L, 6’2, 184, Vancouver Giants, 06/23/2005, UMass-Lowell)
Having split time between the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers and Vancouver Giants this year, Volotovskii has collected 17 goals and 34 points in 61 games. He will join UMass-Lowell next season.
by Sebastian Zucchet
Sebastian Zucchet is a freelance sports reporter from Toronto and someone who deeply enjoys hockey.