Top 25 Southern Hockey Prospects | Southern States 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

Top 25 Southern Hockey Prospects

A regional board of forwards, defensemen and goalies, ranked for present impact and future upside. Filter by state, age group or position; overall and position ranks stay fixed.

Positions: F = forward · D = defense · G = goaltender. Skater ranks include forwards and defensemen; position ranks follow the overall order.

Rankings draw on game results, available scouting observations and an assessment of each player’s skills, role and projection. Age division and tier provide context; neither automatically determines a player’s place.

#01TN18U AAA · F

Draydon Larson

#1 among skaters · #1 among forwards

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.

Team statistics ↗

#02NC16U AAA · F

Maximilian Parker

#2 among skaters · #2 among forwards

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Twenty points in 22 T1EHL games put his offense on a strong 16U AAA footing. Next look: repeatable chance creation against top opponents.

Team statistics ↗

#03TN16U AA · G

Nolan Nilsson

#1 among goalies

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 against Montana. Goaltending evaluations highlight efficient movement and strong tracking.

Full player profile ↗

#04NC16U AA · F

Colton Cobb

#3 among skaters · #3 among forwards

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes Black

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.

Team statistics ↗

#05SC16U AA · F

Thomas Fleming

#4 among skaters · #4 among forwards

Greenville Rage · Greenville Road Warriors

Twenty-three points in 21 16U AA games, alongside 26 in 15 school games, suggest consistent offense across settings. Next look: translation against deeper AAA competition.

Player record ↗

#06SC18U AAA · F

Pierce Sucansky

#5 among skaters · #5 among forwards

North Shore Academy · Charleston connection

Twenty-eight points in 60 16U AAA games and a current 18U AAA roster spot give him a demanding development path. Next look: impact as the pace rises.

Player record ↗

#07GA16U AA · F

Zev Goldschmidt

#6 among skaters · #6 among forwards

Atlanta Phoenix

Twenty-three points in 19 SESCL games make him one of the more productive forwards in this group. Next look: how he generates chances against stronger opponents.

Team statistics ↗

#08GA16U AA · G

Garth Carlson

#2 among goalies

Atlanta Phoenix

A .943 save percentage and three shutouts in 10 SESCL games stand out. Next look: a larger sample against faster, heavier shot volume.

Team statistics ↗

#09TN18U AAA · F

Harrington Walker

#7 among skaters · #7 among forwards

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.

Team statistics ↗

#10FL16U AAA · D

Mitchell Lai

#8 among skaters · #1 among defensemen

Florida Alliance

Nine points in 15 T1EHL games from defense point to offensive involvement. Next look: retrievals, exits and defensive reads against pressure.

Team statistics ↗

#11TN18U AAA · F

Kirby Koenig

#9 among skaters · #8 among forwards

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.

Team statistics ↗

#12TN18U AA · F

Isaiah Holte

#10 among skaters · #9 among forwards

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.

Team statistics ↗

#13FL16U AAA · F

Naseem Benabess

#11 among skaters · #10 among forwards

Florida Alliance

Eleven points in 16 T1EHL games give him a productive stretch at 16U AAA. Next look: consistency when the game tightens and time with the puck shrinks.

Team statistics ↗

#14FL16U AAA · F

Artem Simavskii

#12 among skaters · #11 among forwards

Florida Alliance · formerly South Florida Golden Wolves

Twenty points in 28 16U AA games precede his move to Florida Alliance 16U AAA. Next look: whether his offense translates at the higher pace.

Team statistics ↗

#15GA16U AA · D

Jordan Hiam

#13 among skaters · #2 among defensemen

Atlanta Phoenix

Nine goals and 11 points from defense in 20 SESCL games show unusual finishing involvement from the blue line. Next look: defensive reliability and transition play.

Team statistics ↗

#16TN18U AAA · G

JT Apedaile

#3 among goalies

Nashville Jr. Predators

A .904 save percentage across 30 games at 16U AAA gives him a substantial workload. Next look: tracking through traffic and recovery after first saves.

Team statistics ↗

#17TN18U AAA · D

Gregory Smith

#14 among skaters · #3 among defensemen

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.

Team statistics ↗

#18NC16U AA · G

Tate Wilkinson

#4 among goalies

Carolina Jr. Hurricanes Black

A 29-game workload and 797 saves show sustained time in the crease. Next look: save quality, rebound placement and performance against better chances.

Team statistics ↗

#19AL16U AA · G

Bryce Godfrey

#5 among goalies

Alabama Thunder

A .913 save percentage in eight SESCL games gives him a promising opening sample. Next look: more starts and a fuller picture of shot difficulty.

Team statistics ↗

#20AR18U AA · F

Max Saunders

#15 among skaters · #12 among forwards

Central Storm · NW Arkansas Icehogs

Eight points in 12 NAPHL games place him on the regional 18U watchlist. Next look: sustained production and his role across a full schedule.

Showcase roster ↗

#21AL16U AA · F

Mael Gendron

#16 among skaters · #13 among forwards

Alabama Thunder

Eleven points in 20 SESCL games show regular offensive involvement. Next look: how he creates space and supports possession against stronger teams.

Team statistics ↗

#22TN16U AAA · F

Mikey Peterson

#17 among skaters · #14 among forwards

Nashville Jr. Predators

His 16U AAA roster spot brings him into a strong comparison group. Next look: game impact and individual production across a meaningful sample.

Club roster ↗

#23AR18U AA · F

Chance Freed

#18 among skaters · #15 among forwards

Central Storm · NW Arkansas Icehogs

His showcase roster identifies a connection to the NW Arkansas Icehogs. Next look: individual game production and repeat viewings before a firm projection.

Showcase roster ↗

#24KY16U AA · F

Miles Heilman

#19 among skaters · #16 among forwards

Team Kentucky / Ice Cardinals

A returning Louisville 16U player now on the Team Kentucky 16U AA roster. Next look: his role, pace and impact across current games.

Club roster ↗

#25KY16U AA · F

Jett Hollister

#20 among skaters · #17 among forwards

Team Kentucky / Ice Cardinals

A returning Louisville 16U player now on the Team Kentucky 16U AA roster. Next look: his role, puck decisions and impact across current games.

Club roster ↗

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

States in scope

The current board includes players from eight states. Louisiana and Mississippi remain in the scouting area as candidates emerge.

TNTennesseeView ranked players ↗FLFloridaView ranked players ↗GAGeorgiaView ranked players ↗NCNorth CarolinaView ranked players ↗SCSouth CarolinaView ranked players ↗ALAlabamaView ranked players ↗ARArkansasView ranked players ↗KYKentuckyView ranked players ↗

LALouisianaVerification in progress

MSMississippiVerification in progress

Players who move or travel are considered through their team and a meaningful connection to the states above.