Top 25 Southern Hockey Prospects

Regional ranking

The board weighs production in context, role, level of competition and traits that can carry forward. Rankings may change as more games and player evaluations are completed.

TOP 25 RANKING

A regional board of forwards, defensemen and goalies, ranked for present impact and future upside. Filter by state, age group or position. Each view shows the relevant rank and retains the player’s overall place.

Positions: F = forward · D = defense · G = goaltender. Skater ranks include forwards and defensemen. Skater age ranks include forwards and defensemen in the selected age group. Age and position ranks follow the overall Top 25 order within each group.

#01#01#01#01#01#01TN18U AAA · F

Ocean McGill

Skater rank: #1Forward rank: #1

Overall rank: #1Skater rank: #1

Overall rank: #1Skater rank: #1Forward rank: #1

Overall rank: #1Forward rank: #1

Overall rank: #1Skater rank: #1Forward rank: #1

Nashville Jr. Predators

Sixty points in 50 18U AAA games, including 30 goals, lead a strong full-season record. He also appeared in three NAHL games and returns to Nashville’s 18U AAA roster.

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#02#02#02#02#02#02NC18U AAA · F

Colin Kenney

Skater rank: #2Forward rank: #2

Overall rank: #2Skater rank: #2

Overall rank: #2Skater rank: #2Forward rank: #2

Overall rank: #2Forward rank: #2

Overall rank: #2Skater rank: #2Forward rank: #2

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Thirty goals and 62 points in 51 games with Queen City preceded 13 points in his first eight Carolina 18U AAA games.

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#03#01#01#01TN16U AA · G

Nolan Nilsson

Goalie rank: #1

Overall rank: #3

Overall rank: #3Goalie rank: #1

Nashville Jr. Predators

A .921 save percentage over 22 appearances and four tournament championship wins show his consistency. At Nationals, he won all three starts, including a 4–0 quarterfinal shutout. Goaltending evaluations highlight efficient movement and strong tracking.

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#04#03#03#03#03#03NC18U AAA · F

Nevin Graff

Skater rank: #3Forward rank: #3

Overall rank: #4Skater rank: #3

Overall rank: #4Skater rank: #3Forward rank: #3

Overall rank: #4Forward rank: #3

Overall rank: #4Skater rank: #3Forward rank: #3

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Seventy-eight points in 65 16U AAA games last season establish a strong scoring base. He has seven points in eight early 18U AAA games.

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#05#04#04#04#04#04FL18U AAA · F

Luke Strom

Skater rank: #4Forward rank: #4

Overall rank: #5Skater rank: #4

Overall rank: #5Skater rank: #4Forward rank: #4

Overall rank: #5Forward rank: #4

Overall rank: #5Skater rank: #4Forward rank: #4

Nest Hockey Academy

Sixty-five points in 32 16U AAA games and 11 points in five school nationals games last season. He has five points through four reported games on Nest’s current 18U AAA team.

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#06#05#05#05#05#05TN18U AAA · F

Draydon Larson

Skater rank: #5Forward rank: #5

Overall rank: #6Skater rank: #5

Overall rank: #6Skater rank: #5Forward rank: #5

Overall rank: #6Forward rank: #5

Overall rank: #6Skater rank: #5Forward rank: #5

Nashville Jr. Predators

Twenty-four goals and 47 points at 16U AAA give him a strong scoring profile. Next look: whether his chance creation carries into 18U AAA.

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#07#06#06#06#06#06NC18U AAA · F

William Buchanan

Skater rank: #6Forward rank: #6

Overall rank: #7Skater rank: #6

Overall rank: #7Skater rank: #6Forward rank: #6

Overall rank: #7Forward rank: #6

Overall rank: #7Skater rank: #6Forward rank: #6

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Forty-two points in 50 Nashville 18U AAA games last season, followed by seven assists in six early Carolina games.

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#08#07#07#07#07#07FL18U AAA · F

Reid Cole

Skater rank: #7Forward rank: #7

Overall rank: #8Skater rank: #7

Overall rank: #8Skater rank: #7Forward rank: #7

Overall rank: #8Forward rank: #7

Overall rank: #8Skater rank: #7Forward rank: #7

Nest Hockey Academy

Forty-four points in 32 16U AAA games last season, followed by ten points in four reported 18U AAA games with Nest.

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#09#08#08#08#08#08FL18U AA · F

Derek Ruoff

Skater rank: #8Forward rank: #8

Overall rank: #9Skater rank: #8

Overall rank: #9Skater rank: #8Forward rank: #8

Overall rank: #9Forward rank: #8

Overall rank: #9Skater rank: #8Forward rank: #8

Pines Golden Wolves

Forty-nine points in 45 16U AA games last season, followed by nine points in seven early 18U AA games.

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#10#09#09#09#09#09NC18U AAA · F

Samuel Huffine

Skater rank: #9Forward rank: #9

Overall rank: #10Skater rank: #9

Overall rank: #10Skater rank: #9Forward rank: #9

Overall rank: #10Forward rank: #9

Overall rank: #10Skater rank: #9Forward rank: #9

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Twenty-four points in 33 18U AAA games last season; ten goals and 12 points in his first eight games this season.

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#11#01#02#01#10#01FL16U AAA · D

Leonidas Gill

Skater rank: #10Defenseman rank: #1

Overall rank: #11Skater rank: #10

Overall rank: #11Skater rank: #10Defenseman rank: #1

Overall rank: #11Defenseman rank: #1

Overall rank: #11Skater rank: #10Defenseman rank: #1

Florida Alliance

Forty-four points in 52 16U AA games last season and four points in seven early Florida Alliance 16U AAA games.

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#12#02#10#01TN18U AAA · G

JT Apedaile

Goalie rank: #2

Overall rank: #12

Overall rank: #12Goalie rank: #2

Nashville Jr. Predators

Twenty wins and five shutouts in 30 16U AAA games include a 32-save shutout in the Southeastern District championship game. His .904 save percentage adds full-season context to that title-winning performance.

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#13#03#11#02NC18U AAA · G

Noah Mason

Goalie rank: #3

Overall rank: #13

Overall rank: #13Goalie rank: #3

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

A .933 save percentage and 2.04 goals-against average in 21 18U AAA games anchor Mason’s record. He joins Carolina’s current 18U AAA roster.

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#14#10#12#10#11#10NC18U AAA · F

Carson Zajicek

Skater rank: #11Forward rank: #10

Overall rank: #14Skater rank: #11

Overall rank: #14Skater rank: #11Forward rank: #10

Overall rank: #14Forward rank: #10

Overall rank: #14Skater rank: #11Forward rank: #10

Queen City Royals

Twenty-nine points in 45 16U AAA games last season establish a scoring base for his current 18U AAA roster place.

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#15#11#13#11#12#11NC18U AA · F

Colton Cobb

Skater rank: #12Forward rank: #11

Overall rank: #15Skater rank: #12

Overall rank: #15Skater rank: #12Forward rank: #11

Overall rank: #15Forward rank: #11

Overall rank: #15Skater rank: #12Forward rank: #11

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Forty-seven points in 47 16U AA games, plus AAA appearances, give him a clear offensive baseline. Next look: playmaking and pace against AAA opponents.

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#16#12#14#12#13#12TN18U AAA · F

Harrington Walker

Skater rank: #13Forward rank: #12

Overall rank: #16Skater rank: #13

Overall rank: #16Skater rank: #13Forward rank: #12

Overall rank: #16Forward rank: #12

Overall rank: #16Skater rank: #13Forward rank: #12

Nashville Jr. Predators

Thirty-eight points in 53 games at 16U AAA show steady involvement over a full schedule. Next look: pace of decisions and impact away from the puck.

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#17#13#15#13#14#13TN18U AAA · F

Kirby Koenig

Skater rank: #14Forward rank: #13

Overall rank: #17Skater rank: #14

Overall rank: #17Skater rank: #14Forward rank: #13

Overall rank: #17Forward rank: #13

Overall rank: #17Skater rank: #14Forward rank: #13

Nashville Jr. Predators

Thirty-three points in 46 games at 16U AAA suggest reliable offensive contribution. Next look: how often he creates chances rather than finishing them.

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#18#14#16#14#15#14TN18U AA · F

Isaiah Holte

Skater rank: #15Forward rank: #14

Overall rank: #18Skater rank: #15

Overall rank: #18Skater rank: #15Forward rank: #14

Overall rank: #18Forward rank: #14

Overall rank: #18Skater rank: #15Forward rank: #14

Nashville Jr. Predators

His 49 points in 47 games at 16U AAA establish a productive scoring baseline. Next look: how he drives play against older 18U competition.

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#19#15#17#15#16#15FL18U AAA · F

Hawk Henderson

Skater rank: #16Forward rank: #15

Overall rank: #19Skater rank: #16

Overall rank: #19Skater rank: #16Forward rank: #15

Overall rank: #19Forward rank: #15

Overall rank: #19Skater rank: #16Forward rank: #15

Nest Hockey Academy

Fifty-two points in 37 15U AAA games last season, followed by six points in four reported 18U AAA games with Nest.

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#20#02#18#01#17#16NC18U AAA · D

Grant Weaver

Skater rank: #17Defenseman rank: #2

Overall rank: #20Skater rank: #17

Overall rank: #20Skater rank: #17Defenseman rank: #2

Overall rank: #20Defenseman rank: #2

Overall rank: #20Skater rank: #17Defenseman rank: #2

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Twenty-two points in 42 18U AAA games last season. He has four points in eight games in the early current schedule.

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#21#04#19#03TN18U AA · G

Zachary Fonnesbeck

Goalie rank: #4

Overall rank: #21

Overall rank: #21Goalie rank: #4

Nashville Jr. Predators

Twenty-three 16U AA club games and a state championship underpin his ranking. All-Midstate recognition and a .931 Music City Winter Classic save percentage add to the evaluation.

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#22#03#20#02#18#17TN18U AAA · D

Gregory Smith

Skater rank: #18Defenseman rank: #3

Overall rank: #22Skater rank: #18

Overall rank: #22Skater rank: #18Defenseman rank: #3

Overall rank: #22Defenseman rank: #3

Overall rank: #22Skater rank: #18Defenseman rank: #3

Nashville Jr. Predators

Twenty-one points from the blue line at 16U AAA put his offensive involvement on the board. Next look: gap control and decisions under forecheck pressure.

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#23#05#03#02TN16U AA · G

Jack Karpynec

Goalie rank: #5

Overall rank: #23

Overall rank: #23Goalie rank: #5

Nashville Flyers

A .941 save percentage and three shutouts in ten league games last season. He has opened this season with a .968 save percentage and a 38-save shutout in two Flyers games.

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#24#16#21#16#19#18KY18U AA · F

Griffen Hoover

Skater rank: #19Forward rank: #16

Overall rank: #24Skater rank: #19

Overall rank: #24Skater rank: #19Forward rank: #16

Overall rank: #24Forward rank: #16

Overall rank: #24Skater rank: #19Forward rank: #16

Louisville Ice Cardinals

Eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 17 games on Louisville’s current 18U AA record.

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#25#17#04#01#20#02TN16U AAA · F

Mikey Peterson

Skater rank: #20Forward rank: #17

Overall rank: #25Skater rank: #20

Overall rank: #25Skater rank: #20Forward rank: #17

Overall rank: #25Forward rank: #17

Overall rank: #25Skater rank: #20Forward rank: #17

Nashville Jr. Predators

An injury shortened his 15U club season after 58 points in 53 14U AAA games. Two OHL Cup goals, USA Select camp appearances and a second-round NAHL Futures Draft selection support his projection entering 16U AAA.

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Eligibility: current 16U or 18U AA/AAA team in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana or Mississippi. Rankings consider results, scouting observations, role and projection; age and tier do not automatically set a player’s place. Rankings may change as further evaluations occur.

EVALUATION

How we build
the board.

Game results and available scouting observations guide the board. We consider impact within a player’s role, skating or crease movement, decisions under pressure and skills likely to translate to a higher level.

Read production against the level of opposition and the player’s role.

Identify the habits and tools that may carry to the next level.

Revisit each projection as the competition changes.

Age division and tier set the context; neither automatically confers a higher rank. A player at 16U or Tier 2 can rank above an 18U or Tier 1 player when the complete evaluation supports it.

COVERAGE

Regional Coverage

Evaluating 16U and 18U AA/AAA prospects across ten southern states. Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida and Kentucky are represented on the current Top 25 board.

TNTennesseeView ranked players ↗FLFloridaView ranked players ↗GAGeorgiaNo players in current Top 25 NCNorth CarolinaView ranked players ↗SCSouth CarolinaNo players in current Top 25 ALAlabamaNo players in current Top 25 ARArkansasNo players in current Top 25 KYKentuckyView ranked players ↗LALouisianaNo players in current Top 25 MSMississippiNo players in current Top 25

Eligibility follows the current team: players must be on a 16U or 18U AA or AAA team based in one of the ten states listed here. A former regional team or hometown alone does not qualify.

Southern StatesProspects