Road to the Frozen Four and the 2023-2024 Hobey Baker Award

The NCAA has become a go-to place for players to become high-drafted prospects, and has been a different go-to league to play in instead of the CHL. In a mock draft of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 10 of the 32 top players are either committed or playing at an NCAA program. There are also nine players in the second round. Here are the Top 10 Best College Hockey Players currently playing NCAA D1 hockey.

Honorable Mention

Carter King

School: Denver 

Carter King is currently in his junior year with Denver and was a member of the NCAA Championship team they had a few years ago. In 14 games this season, he has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points.

He was not drafted in his eligible years and can choose to go pro at the end of the season. I am leaning towards him sticking around one more year.

Top 10 Best College Hockey Players

10. Seamus Casey

School: Michigan 

Casey is currently in his sophomore year with Michigan and is a B1G Champion. He was drafted second overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, 46^th overall, by the New Jersey Devils, and they can’t wait to get this puck mover in their system.

In 16 games this season, the defender has four goals and a whopping 18 assists for 22 points. He is second in the NCAA for assists. 

9. Rutger McGroarty

School: Michigan 

Another Michigan sophomore, McGroarty, was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets 14^th overall in the 2022 draft. After putting up 39 points last season, McGroarty is looking to eclipse that this year. 

In just 13 games this season, he has six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. He has also represented the USA a few times, winning silver, and gold at the WJC. 

8. Aiden Fink

School: Penn State 

The former Brooks Bandit is currently in his first season with the Nittany Lions and is off to a hot start. In his last season with the Bandits, he scored 41 goals and 56 assists for 97 points in 54 games.

This season, in just 15 games, Fink has found the back of the net nine times and has 12 assists for 21 points. Fink was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. 

7. Gabe Perreault

School: Boston College 

Gabe Perreault is one of the leading forwards on this insane Boston College team this season. Drafted 23^rd overall by the Rangers last draft, he has three goals and 17 assists for 20 points in 14 games.

His draft pedigree came from his 132-point season on the UNDP U18 team, scoring 53 goals and 79 assists. He is the top winger on the right side for Boston, all of this as a freshman. 

6. Jared Westcott

School: Lake Superior State 

Jared Westcott is in his senior year with Lake Superior State and is getting one of his first real cracks at a complete season. Previously playing 17 games with PSU before transferring, he played 32 games with Lake Superior last season, scoring 13 points.

So far this season, he has 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points in 14 games. He will enter free agency at the end of the season, as he was never drafted. 

5. Dylan Wendt

School: Western Michigan 

Starting the Top 5 of the Best College Hockey Players Rankings list is Dylan Wendt. Wendt is in his junior season with Western Michigan and has never been drafted, he can choose to go pro at the end of the season if he wants to do so.

The right-handed forward had 22 points last season and is clearly going to surpass that effort this season. In 12 games this season, he has 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points. 

4. Luke Grainger

School: Western Michigan 

Another Western Michigan forward, who is also undrafted, has been playing fantastic this season for the Broncos. Last season, in 38 games, he scored 12 goals and 20 assists for 38 points. 

Looking to exceed his points from last season, he has six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 12 games. The senior will surely look to continue his hockey career in free agency come the end of the season. 

3. Macklin Celebrini

School: Boston University  

The projected first overall pick in this year’s draft, Celebrini is on fire this season. After scoring 141 points in one season and 117 the next with Shattuck, Celebrini joined the Chicago Steel.

In 50 games with the Steel, he scored 46 goals and 40 assists for 86 points. With the Terriers this season, the winger has scored nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 19 games. 

2. Jack Devine

School: Denver 

Devine is in his junior year with the Pioneers and was a member of their NCAA Championship team a few seasons ago. Drafted 7^th overall by the Panthers in 2022, Devine has exceeded his point totals season after season.

So far this year, he has 13 goals and 11 assists in 14 games for 24 points. Being a 7^th round pick, he will probably return to Denver for his senior season. 

1. Massimo Rizzo

School: Denver 

Now at #1 on the Top 10 Best College Hockey Players Rankings list is Massimo Rizzo. Rizzo is one of the biggest surprises not only in the NCAA season but also in hockey as a whole. Rizzo was drafted by the Hurricanes in the 7^th round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but his rights were later traded to the Flyers.

His former teammate, Bobby Brink, is currently with the Flyers. Rizzo won the BCHL Championship and then the NCAA the next year, he is also a two-time NCHC Champion.

In 14 games, he has scored six goals and 19 assists for 25 points, leading all of the NCAA. The Flyers will probably do everything they can to get him to sign at the end of the season.

How would you rank these players in the Best College Ice Hockey Player Rankings? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Hockey Power Rankings

Related Links:

• Top 10 Best College Hockey Teams 2023-2024 Rankings
• Top 10 Best College Hockey Players 2023-2024 Rankings