The midterm draft rankings from NHL Central Scouting are out for 2014, and a Philly-area kid is listed as the top American-born skater.
Sarnia Sting defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, as you could perhaps deduce from the Italian name, has South Philadelphia roots. He was raised in the South Jersey burb of Sewell, and he played his youth hockey in Central Jersey with the Mercer Chiefs. At age 15, the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders came calling, and shortly thereafter he made a verbal commitment to play at Boston University.
In 2011, however, DeAngelo was selected in the second-round of the OHL Draft by Sarnia. DeAngelo decided to go the junior route and made the jump to Canada, as opposed to sticking in the USHL and playing college hockey. It’s worked out so far. In three years with the Sting, DeAngelo, now 18 years old, has cracked the top 20 in OHL scoring this year (as a defenseman, no less) with 11 goals and 42 assists.
He was one of the final cuts from the USA World Junior team last month, but he’s likely to make the 2015 team. He’s a tiny guy at the 5’11 and just 165 pounds, but he’s expected to be a first-round pick in front of the hometown crowd at Wells Fargo Center come June 27. He might even be on the board when the Flyers make their first-round choice.
Below, see the full rankings from NHL Central Scouting, broken into four categories: North American skaters, North American goaltenders, European skaters and European goaltenders.
North American skaters
European skaters
North American goalies
European goalies
