| Austen May | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | R | D | 5’10” | 161 | Providence | 2022 | Woodhaven, MI | 2003 | 2020-2021: C |
USHL: Weekend #4, October 27, 2021: A very averaged-size defensemen that is a phenomenal skater. He is so efficient with every stride that it makes his skating seem effortless. This also allowed him to play big minutes all night in a really close hockey game. For not being the biggest guy, he gets a ton of power in every push and does such a good job staying on top of the ice when skating. This allows him to maintain his speed in all areas of his skating. He wasn’t the most offensive defensemen on the ice but he is still able to help the offensive game by moving pucks up ice. He also picked a nice assist in the game by using the strength in his feet again. He was able to stand his ground and hold the blueline on a 50-50 puck. He did this a lot because his ability to skate allows him to turn and get back immediately if a puck did get out of the zone. This indirectly created more offense because it extended zone time for his forwards on the ice against a line that got more and more tired each time he held the puck in. After holding the puck in, he was able to move laterally and make the forward miss before making a nice pass to the corner. Where the play developed into a goal. This was a great example of his offense ability. He didn’t and most times will not be the direct driving force on the goal but will have a big impact on many goals with a nice first pass or a smart play that creates room for others. Defensively, he is extremely sound. He uses his strengths again in his skating and footwork to defend so well. It helps him stay extremely tight on his gap coming through the neutral zone. He also is able to close on forwards really quickly which seems to surprise them at times. Forwards think they have more time than they do and it caused a lot of turnovers in the game both down low in the d-zone and on the rushes in the neutral zone. Grade: B+
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, February 2021: I like how active Austen is. He is involved in the game. Whether he’s jumping up in the rush, leading an odd man attack or making a slick out let pass Austen is involved. It doesn’t matter who he’s playing against because he is going to command their attention. The other team’s coaching staff is going to have to account for Austen and how he plays. When I was playing we used to refer to guys as “passengers”. All this meant was that the player might have been playing in the game, but he might as well have been sitting in the front row because he had zero impact on what was happening on the ice. Well, Austen is not a passenger. He plays like a leader and he makes things happen each shift.
USHL: Youngstown Phantoms vs Madison Capitols, March 2020: In all situations May was a reliable presence at both ends of the ice, but the thing we liked most was his willingness to move his feet to open up the transition game. He wheeled the net with his head up accelerating through the Capitol’s forecheckers often times catching their F1 and F2 below the face-off dots. From there he would attack the middle drawing the defenders to him before he would make an easy pass to the wing allowing for uncontested zone entries. May was also very poised on the power play. Again, he moved his feet along the blueline with his head up looking for open passing or shooting lanes. He played like a USHL veteran in this one.
USHL: Youngstown Phantoms vs Chicago Steel, December 2019: In a nine to five losing effort May had a beautiful assist in the first period that summed up his ability to impact a game in five on five situations. After defending a three on two with a back-checker, May pulls a 50/50 puck off the mid-wall showing puck poise and excellent feet as he retreats towards his net. The entire time keeping his head up while sucking two Steel forecheckers to him, allowing for an easy reverse. After the reverse May moves his feet to activate as weakside breakout option where he used to initiate a clean zone exit. He then passes to a streaking forward (Matt Cassidy) through center ice who goes in on a breakaway for a goal. The goal looks like an easy play, but every aspect of it showed his game awareness and solid two-way potential.
USHL: Youngstown Phantoms vs Muskegon Lumberjacks, November, 2019: This was May’s ninth USHL game and he looked very comfortable. His footwork was highlighted in his defensive gap control and his ability to force dump-ins from the redline. He worked very well with his defensive partners to be a reliable close outlet below the goal line and he naturally fell into a hinge for neutral zone support. We were impressed with his puck poise along the offensive blue line, but we were almost shocked with the young defender’s confidence when looking off forecheckers in the defensive zone. As we’ve seen before, his first touch was very smooth and he did not need to dust the puck off before making a highly skilled play.
MAHA U16 Showcase. Troy, MI, May 2019: Austin is a very skilled defenseman with good size and vision to play the game. He will lead the rush and create scoring opportunities in the offensive zone. He is very effective on the power play as he controls the puck to set up his teammates or to hold on to the puck and use his quick release to get the puck on net. He scored a nice top shelf goal as he has the patience to hold on to the puck and skate it in the top slot. He has slick hands and has the ability to beat defenders 1 vs 1 as he uses hands and quick feet.
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: May is a talented two-way defenseman with smooth hands and puck touch. He’s elusive carrying the puck through the neutral zone and can stretch the ice with skilled precision passing. He worked the top of the umbrella power play with his soft hands, vision and rocket snap shot and kept pucks low to generate rebounds. May is poised with the puck and has the skill to side step forecheckers and maneuver through traffic and make plays. He’s a smooth skating, swift handed, offensive minded defenseman who may not have produced as much as he’d like on the stat sheet but he controlled the play and made passes all over the ice to his teammates to start rushes and headstart odd man rushes from the backend. He has an effective toe drag pull wrister from the point that changes the angle and gets him enough distance between himself and the opponent to get the shot on net. May used his defensive partner well and made quick outlets when pressured but also found himself overhandling at times and trying to do too much which showed its head when skating into odd man situations. He’ll need to continue to get stronger on his stick and on his skates and play a more physical, balanced game as he’s not too hard to play against at this point and relies too much on his stick to defend. A second round pick in the USHL Draft by Youngstown and a tenth round pick by Oshawa in the OHL Draft. Grade: B+ College: Providence
Michigan (MAHA) Festival 2003s, May 2019: Austen is a strong skater who plays a physical game by stepping up on the opposition. He is a smart player who has the patience with the puck to make the right play. He has a hard shot from the point or to look for the back door player. He will join the rush to be an offensive threat. College: Providence
U16: USA Hockey Nationals, May 2019: While May is more known for his offensive abilities and footwork, it was his hockey sense and defensive instincts that stood out here. He is quick and agile which allows him to play aggressive defensively and cut off passing lanes. He has great anticipation and can read plays as they develop both with the puck and in defense. He didn’t have as much possession time as we are used to seeing but he moved the puck quicker and played a more mature overall game. He has great zip and touch on his passes and had a few rushes that displayed his speed and puck skill. He didn’t generate much in the way of scoring chances on the power play at this tournament but he showed he can get shots off quickly and make passes under duress. He’s a talented and smart prospect with intriguing upside. College: Providence
U16: HPHL 16U Showcase, December 2018: May has an impressive offensive skill set to go along with his speed and agility. He is very intelligent and sees the ice exceptionally well. Very good anticipation and reads. End-to-end skating and puck skills, he rushes the puck often and does so very well. Very confident with the puck on his stick and makes things happen in the offensive zone. Equal effort and ability in his own zone and has a physical side to him. Fine two-way play. Grade: A-
U15/U16: HPHL Illinois Showcase, November 2018: Austen is still a bit undersized and will need to put on some strength as he goes along. What he does have now is a great head for the game along with hockey sense. He read the ice well and found the open man. Poised and relaxed with the puck under pressure. He was one step ahead in his reads which allowed him to anticipate and distribute the puck up ice. As he gets stronger and more explosive, he will continue to become even better down the road. COLLEGE: PROVIDENCE
MAHA Festival 2003s, July 2018: Austen is a smart player who makes good decisions with the puck and has a strong shot from the point. He is a very strong skater, who likes to join the rush and makes things happen. He plays a sound defensive game by taking the body and stick angling the opponent.
U14 Nationals, April 2018: Austen showed a strong stride and strength to defend. Smart defensive stick that he hides well. Finished his checks and played a heavy game down low. Has good feet and anticipated plays well. Was able to step up and also go back to front quickly and easily. May also has an interesting offensive flair. He can create passing lanes as he is poised with possession. Also showed off a heavy shot from the point. Solid two-way defender who was tough to play against.
U14: Compuware/HoneyBaked Invitational, October 2017: Austen is a very strong skater, who likes to join the rush and makes things happen. He makes great passes and is available to teammates by constantly moving his feet.
2003 Michigan Bantam Fest, July 2017: Austen is a very strong skater, who likes to join the rush and makes things happen. He makes great passes all over the ice and he makes himself available for his teammates by constantly moving his feet.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images