NHL prospects to watch out for against Robert Morris this season

Jonathan Hanna, Contributor

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team will be taking on 18 NHL prospects this season. Here is a list of RMU opponents that may see NHL ice time someday.

 

Conference players

Matthew Berkovitz – Defense – Army

Drafted: 2014 – Round 5 – 123rd overall – Anaheim Ducks

Matthew Berkovitz is a 6’1”, 190 lb defenceman from Green Bay, Wisconsin. In high school, as a member of Ashwaubenon High, Berkovitz had 112 points in 93 career games.

 

Garrett Metcalf – Goalie – Mercyhurst University

Drafted: 2015 – Round 6 – 179th overall – Anaheim Ducks

Garrett Metcalf is a 6’2”, 185 lb goalie from Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2014-15, Metcalf had a 3.26 GAA, and a .911 save percentage in 33 games with the USHL’s Madison Capitols.

 

Jakov Novak – Left Wing / Center – Bentley University

Drafted: 2018 – Round 7 – 188th overall – Ottawa Senators

Jakov Novak is a 6’3”, 201 lb forward from Riverside, Ontario, Canada. In his career, Novak scored 101 points in 108 games in the North American Hockey League.

 

Non-conference players to know

Ryan Poehling – Center – St. Cloud State University

Drafted: 2017 – Round 1 – 25th overall – Montreal Canadiens

Ryan Poehling is a 6’2”, 183 lb forward from Lakeville, Minnesota. Last year, in seven games with the United States U-20 national team at the World Junior Championships, Poehling added three points. Futureconsiderations.ca says that Poehling “makes up for foot speed with great hockey sense, and his strong worth ethic…controls the puck well”

 

Evan Barratt – Center – Penn State University

Drafted: 2017 – Round 3 – 90th overall – Chicago Blackhawks

Evan Barratt is a 6’0”, 187 lb forward from Bristol, Pennsylvania. In 32 games with the Nittany Lions last year, Barratt had 18 points, 11 goals and seven assists.

 

Nikita Pavlychev – Center – Penn State University

Drafted: 2015 – Round 7 – 197th overall – Pittsburgh Penguins

Nikita Pavlychev is a 6’7”, 201 lb forward from Yaroslavl, Russia. Pavlychev currently has 27 goals in 71 career NCAA games with the Nittany Lions.

 

The rest

Parker Foo – Left Wing – Union College

Drafted: 2017 – Round 5 – 144th overall – Chicago Blackhawks

 

Dávid Hrenák – Goalie – St. Cloud State University

Drafted: 2018 – Round 5 – 144th overall – Los Angeles Kings

 

Cole Hults – Defense – Penn State University

Drafted: 2017 – Round 5 – 134th overall – Los Angeles Kings

 

John Adams – Right Wing – Union College

Drafted: 2017 – Round 6 – 162nd overall – Detroit Red Wings

 

Nick Perbix – Defense – St. Cloud State University

Drafted: 2017 – Round 6 – 169th overall – Tampa Bay Lightning

 

Denis Smirnov – Left Wing / Right Wing – Penn State University

Drafted: 2017 – Round 6 – 156th overall – Colorado Avalanche

 

Aarne Talvitie – Center – Penn State University

Drafted: 2016 – Round 6 – 160th overall – New Jersey Devils

 

Ryan Bednard – Goalie – Bowling Green State University

Drafted: 2015 – Round 7 – 206th overall – Florida Panthers

 

Sam Hentges – Center – St. Cloud State University

Drafted: 2018 – Round 7 – 210th overall – Minnesota Wild

 

Jake Kupsky – Goalie – Union College

Drafted: 2015 – Round 7 – 193rd overall – San Jose Sharks

 

Adam Smith – Defense – Bowling Green State University

Drafted: 2016 – Round 7 – 198th overall – Nashville Predators