| Jason Gallucci | New Jersey Rockets | NCDC | L | D | 5’11” | 165 | Penn State | 2023 | Robbinsville, NJ | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
NCDC: Beantown Fall Classic, November 6, 2021: Gallucci is in his first season in the NCDC after having played for both the NJ Avalanche and NJ Rockets at various youth levels. He is already contributing offensively, largely because of how difficult it is to keep him under wraps for a full game. He is shifty and difficult to anticipate on zone exits and he is able to crank it up from his own end in just a couple of strides to get to top speed. Unsurprisingly, he also is the point man on the Rockets’ top power play unit. He utilizes his frame well using inside ice to dislodge the puck and take it in the other direction. He still has more strength yet to add onto his frame and that will make him even tougher to deal with in future seasons. It’s also worth noting that he is one of the youngest players (2004) that we saw playing at this level against players who are three years his senior. Definitely good preparation for college hockey as he is a Penn State commit. Grade: B+
NCDC: NJ Rockets vs Junior Bruins, October 31, 2021: In the 4-1 Rockets win Gallucci earned a New Jersey game high of 22:59 in total ice time, including 0:26 while on the power play and 4:14 while short handed. Statistically he finished with 1 assist (1PP), was plus 1, 1 shot on net (1PP), 1 hit , 2 blocked shots and he did not have a giveaway or takeaway*.
NCDC: NJ Rockets vs Islanders HC, October 30, 2021: In the 3-1 Rockets win Gallucci earned 22:02 in total ice time, including 3:33 while on the power play and 2:43 while short handed. Statistically he finished with zero points, an even plus / minus rating, 3 shots on goal (2PP), 1 grade “A” scoring opportunity (1PP), 2 blocked shots and he did not have a giveaway or takeaway*.
NCDC: South Shore vs. NJ Rockets, October 9, 2021: In the 4-3 Rockets win Gallucci earned 28:32 in total ice time, including 1:45 while on the power play and 5:15 while short handed. Statistically he finished with 2 assists (2PP), an even plus / minus, 1 power play scoring opportunity, 2 hits and he did not have a giveaway or takeaway*. Jason is an undersized, strong skating right shot defenseman. In his own end, he plays with a lot of grit and toughness while playing hard on the opposition. He threw a couple nice hits behind the net and in the corners but really leverages his body and stick to keep pucks away from his net. He makes tight moves to evade forecheckers and can zip passes to his outlets creating simple, easy breakouts. Jason has exceptional feet with good edgework. He’s extremely agile and has great lateral mobility. Ran the top PP unit which buried twice in today’s game, assisting on both goals. Grade: B+
Morandom Thoughts, October 5, 2021: Gallucci is a poised and confident right shot defenseman, excellent body positioning and angling allow him to defend larger heavier players, passes hit the stretch man in stride, smooth feet and body control, uses the net to lose forecheckers and start transition.
U16: USA Hockey Nationals, May 12, 2006: Smaller, puck-moving defender that just made plays all weekend. He is smart with the puck and doesn’t hold it too long. Threads passes to open teammates. Plays a direct game and gets puck deep. Chips to space when he is in trouble. Defends with his feet and will need to get stronger and bigger as he moves to the next level to sure-up his defensive zone. Overall had a productive weekend on the Power Play and facilitating the breakout. Grade: B
U16: Seacoast Spartans vs Rockets HC, March 22, 2021: Gallucci was easily the best defenseman on the ice for both sides. He is a mid-sized, mobile, athletic skating defenseman that cuts through the opposition with possession easily. He is tough to handle and contend with when he is rolling up ice with the puck. Gallucci can lead a rush and thread pucks through traffic creating easy breakouts and then can flash up ice to create odd man rushes. Jason is calm in all situations and can play a finesse style but has ability to get rough and tough when he needs to. Gallucci keeps players in front of him and doesn’t let anything up easy around him at all. His shots have eyes from the blue line and find ways to get through and on net. His passes rocket off his stick and are highly accurate. GRADE: A
U16: Super Series Youngstown, February 24, 2021: Gallucci is a strong, mobile, athletic defenseman that can run the powerplay and carry the puck up ice to lead a rush. He slices through the neutral zone almost untouchable and gets easy zone entries for his team. He is able to absorb checks when players do make contact with him and still move the puck up ice, or draw in an attacker and slip the puck around him for an easy pass. Gallucci is dangerous on the opposing blue line as he can make players miss and freeze them with misdirection to get a shot off or find a passing lane. His athleticism and foot work made it easy to keep the puck carrier in front of him and steer them to the outside. GRADE: B+
Ivy Shootout: Princeton, August 13, 2020: Gallucci was the second best prospect at this event. He is explosive and 4v4 hockey was like Christmas Day for him. He showed great acceleration and exploded into open seams and by opponents. His straight line speed and mobility was impressive as well and he is tough to track as his skating allowed him to change direction with pace in every direction. He made some slick moves off the wall and evaded the forecheck with ease. Defensively, he is a puck mover but also showed he could squeeze off the rush, used the hip check and anticipated well in the middle zone. He is a player that is well known but should become even more of a household name this year. He must defend with vigor to get to that next level as his tools up ice are extraordinary. Grade A
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Jason is smooth and explosive. He maintains tight gaps and his superior agility enables him to jump on opposing forwards who bobble the puck in the neutral or defensive zones. He quickly starts transition with his feet and has the puck poise to put forecheckers into vulnerable positions. Jason is a true puck moving defenseman who has the lateral ability to walk the blue and the edge control to make spino-rammas look easy. His skating makes him an asset on special teams. Maturity will help him eliminate the cycle more quickly, but we must add that he was not easily beaten out of the corner and he maintained defensive side positioning along the wall. Grade: B-
Liberty Bell Games 2019, June 29, 2019: Gallucci was another 04’ who stood out, but got better and better as the games meant more. You could tell he gained more confidence every time he touched the puck and seemed to always make something happen whenever he had it. He has very good pick up speed which defenders underestimated as he was able to burn by the D a few times, accelerating with the puck and driving it to the net. He’s also a very smart player, often picking off pucks as the third man high and even backchecking and stealing pucks right off the blade of the opposing team several times. He’s a smaller, leaner player who will only continue to get better as he gets bigger and stronger.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Stats provided by InStat
*Giveaways and Takeaways are not always accurate in NCDC Games*