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.
Blake Barnes (D, L, 6’1, 183, Niagara Ice Dogs, 07/31/2006, Boston University)
Having made the move to the OHL this past season, Barnes collected a goal and 10 points in 46 games with the Niagara IceDogs. He also had three points in five playoff games. Next season, he will suit up for Boston University.
Brody Berard (D, R, 6’0, 194, Youngstown Phantoms, 09/02/2009, Northeastern)
A rookie for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, Berard recorded a goal and seven points this season. He is committed to Northeastern for 2028.
Berard is a reliable force on the backend.
“Berard is a sturdy, 6’0″, 194-pound right-shot defenseman who plays with bite and consistently impacts games with his physicality and abrasiveness in all three zones. He is a reliable, physical presence in the defensive zone, led by in-your-face gap control, an active stick, and a strong lower half that makes him challenging to play against around the net and in puck battles. He steps up and makes big hits to stop the rush before the blue line. Brody protects his teammates and the goalie, and his base is well-balanced.”
Connor Brown (F, R, 5’9, 192, Tri-City Storm, 05/03/2005, Alaska-Anchorage)
Brown played for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm this season, having put up seven goals and 19 points in 60 games. He’ll play for Alaska-Anchorage in the fall.
Brown has an impressive two-way game.
“Brown is a true two-way forward who consistently prioritizes defense before jumping into the offensive game. He’s quick and relentless on the backcheck, hustling hard to disrupt plays in the defensive zone and then quickly transition the puck the other way. In the offensive zone, he’s not hesitant to pull up and attack off the rush, whether by making a quick pass or taking the puck to the net himself.”
Kieren Dervin (F, L, 6’1, 186, Kingston Frontenacs, 03/31/2007, Michigan)
A 2025 third-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks, Dervin had 17 goals and 42 points for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs this season. He will play for Michigan in the fall.
Dervin makes highly skilled plays with the puck.
“Kieren handles the puck well and can make plays entering the neutral zone. He sees the far side of the ice on zone entries and gets passes across the royal road for chances. He plays an important role on the powerplay for his team where he makes dangerous passes from the flank into the slot and to the weakside. He is also a penalty-killer because of his good speed and footwork. He is able to get to pucks quickly and take away the powerplay’s time and space.”
Stanley Hubbard (F, L, 6’6, 201, New Mexico Ice Wolves, 06/04/2005, Robert Morris)
In his second full NAHL season with the New Mexico Ice Wolves, Hubbard had 11 goals and 23 points in 57 games. He will play at Robert Morris next season.
Hubbard’s size and strength help him be a force on the ice.
“Stanley has amazing size and strength to make him a strong power forward that can adjust to the top line. He plays a gritty style battling hard for position and the puck. He has swift skating agility on the forecheck with the reach to force the defender to move the puck.”
Luken Huff (D, R, 6’3, 201, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 01/30/2006, St. Thomas)
Having suited up for the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders this past season, Huff put up three goals and 39 points in 61 regular-season games. He will play for St. Thomas next season.
Huff brings a physical presence to the ice.
“Luken Huff brings a solid defensive presence to the back end, utilizing his size and strength to maintain control of space. He excels at reading attackers’ movements, holding a tight gap and denying scoring chances. With the puck, he is poised and smart, capable of making effective outlet passes or playing it safe to maintain possession.”
Nicholas Wellenreiter (F, R, 5’11, 178, North Bay Battalion, 02/17/2006, UMass-Lowell)
Having recently wrapped up his first full OHL season with the North Bay Battalion, Wellenreiter scored 23 goals and tallied 56 points in 68 games. Next season, he will suit up for UMass-Lowell.
Wellenreiter has an ability to generate speed and uses it to create scoring chances.
“Wellenreiter is a skilled winger with a strong ability to generate speed and create scoring chances through his quick-release shot. He excels at driving plays through the neutral zone, using his straight-line speed to outmaneuver defenders. When in control of the puck, he consistently moves his feet and creates angles to get past opponents. He demonstrated versatility in his playmaking, recognizing opportunities for passes to the backdoor and making effective decisions with the puck. His shot is notable, but he also showed poise when taking shots from various angles, including on his backhand. Overall, Wellenreiter’s skills are a significant asset to his team.”
by Sebastian Zucchet
Sebastian Zucchet is a freelance sports reporter from Toronto and someone who deeply enjoys hockey.