NHL
In complete, 4 gamers initially hailing from Massachusetts have been taken within the 2023 NHL Draft.
The Bruins chosen 5 gamers within the 2023 NHL Draft, however the seven-round occasion at Bridgestone Enviornment additionally featured quite a lot of hometown merchandise taking the following step of their hockey careers.
In complete, 4 prospects from Massachusetts have been chosen in Nashville on Wednesday and Thursday, headlined by Lexington’s Will Smith (San Jose Sharks) and Amherst’s Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) going fourth and eighth total, respectively, within the first spherical.
Right here’s a have a look at the entire Massachusetts locals who heard their title known as on the 2023 NHL Draft.
C Will Smith — Lexington, MA
Drafted: 1st Spherical, 4th total
Group: San Jose Sharks
2022-23 Group: U.S. Nationwide Group Improvement Program
One of the crucial expert forwards to return out of the U.S. NTDP, Smith can refill a spotlight reel because of his artful passing and performs on the push.
Together with posting 127 factors in simply 60 video games with the NTDP, Smith earned event MVP honors on the U-18 Males’s World Championship after scoring 20 factors (9 targets, 11 assists) in simply seven video games.
Earlier than elevating his inventory with the NTDP, Smith performed with each the Boston Junior Eagles and St. Sebastian’s College in Needham.
It received’t be lengthy earlier than Smith makes the leap to the NHL as one of many faces of a rebuilding Sharks squad. However Smith’s subsequent cease will take him to Boston Faculty this fall in what’s wanting like a stacked freshman class.
RW Ryan Leonard — Amherst, MA
Drafted: 1st Spherical, eighth total
Group: Washington Capitals
2022-23 Group: U.S. Nationwide Group Improvement Program
Leonard and Smith helped kind some of the dominant traces in NTDP historical past, with Leonard’s pro-ready launch resulting in 51 targets in simply 57 video games this previous yr.
Leonard performed for each the Springfield Rifles and Pope Francis Excessive College earlier than becoming a member of the NTDP over in Plymouth, Michigan. Leonard’s older brother, John, performed three seasons at UMass Amherst and is presently within the Nashville Predators group.
Leonard will be a part of Smith at Boston Faculty this fall.
D Sean Keohane — Milton, MA
Drafted: sixth Spherical, 173rd total
Group: Buffalo Sabres
2022-23 Group: Dexter Southfield College
The Milton-born Keohane was a pressure throughout his time at Dexter Southfield, profitable the 2023 John Carlton Memorial Award earlier this spring for his achievements each on and off the ice.
Keohane, a 6-foot-4 blueliner, helped Dexter advance to the NEPSAC Elite 8 twice over 4 years. He scored 4 targets and added 12 assists in 32 video games this season to earn All-NEPSAC honors.
Over 85 video games, the previous Dexter captain posted 39 factors.
Right here’s what EliteProspects.com’s 2023 NHL Draft Information stated of Keohane:
“At 6-foot-4, the Milton-born defender towers over his competitors. What makes Keohane notably fascinating is how he blends his skating together with his body. A succesful mover who rapidly will get in movement on the push, Keohane additionally flashes nuanced defensive skating, permitting him to push an absurd quantity of aggression defending the push. He’s bodily, leaping off the web entrance to punish attackers on the tip boards and tries to clog lanes with anticipation-based reads, pushing nastiness after the whistle.”
Keohane is predicted to play for the Tri-Metropolis Storm within the USHL subsequent season earlier than becoming a member of the collegiate ranks at Harvard.
F Matt Copponi — Mansfield, MA
Drafted: seventh Spherical, 216th total
Group: Edmonton Oilers
2022-23 Group: Merrimack (NCAA)
Copponi heard his title known as on Thursday after taking part in a key position in Merrimack’s spectacular 2022-23 marketing campaign.
As a sophomore, Copponi ranked second on the Warriors with 29 factors (14 targets, 15 assists) over 37 video games. Merrimack posted a 23-14-1 report final season, advancing to the Hockey East Championship Closing and incomes a spot within the NCAA event.
Copponi’s double-overtime aim over UMass Lowell secured Merrimack’s spot within the Hockey East title recreation at TD Backyard.
Very similar to Keohane, Coppini is a product of Dexter Southfield — serving because the group’s captain in the course of the 2020-21 season.
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