With a good sampling of views now under our belts for the 2010 birth year, we're releasing the preliminary top 100 American skater rankings. It's still very early for a complete evaluation of this class and plenty is sure to change over the course of this season and beyond as some of the most important hockey of the season has yet to be played.
Below is a brief overview of this class, where a majority of skaters will be eligible for the USHL and CHL Drafts in 2026, save for the WHL region players, who are eligible this year. More importantly, they can start making their college commitments as of August 1, 2026.
Top of the Mountain
Debuting at number one is forward William LoSauro who hails from Ridegwood, New Jersey and plays for the North Jersey Avalanche. He put himself in the conversation for the top spot after a fantastic performance in our first viewing of him at the CCM 68 back in August. LoSauro is currently playing up two birth years with the Avs 16U team where he leads them in scoring with 25 through 14 games. He showed us a very complete skill set that stood out against some high end competition, like his ability to control the puck and dictate the pace of play by patrolling the perimeter and scanning the offensive zone as he looks to break down opposing defenses. His edgework and ability to stop on a dime and accelerate away in the opposite direction make him nearly impossible to contain at this level.
Shattuck St. Mary’s Drew Daley is the first defenseman to appear in our rankings, slotting in at #5. He has been exceptional offensively for Shattuck as he’s tallied 68 points through 41 games so far this season. His offense doesn't come at the expense of his defensive game where he's proven to be an effective defender in all areas. He can be a game-changer from the point, is capable of unlocking defenses with his playmaking ability both as a distributor or as a puck carrier, and his shooting ability tests goalies and generates plenty of second chance opportunities as well. As things currently stand, it's a two-horse race between he and Little Caesar's Jack Hair, ranked at #7, for the top defenseman in this American class. It will be an exciting story line to follow as these two are likely to go head to head several times this season and during USA Hockey Select camps in the off-season.
State of Hockey
There are a number of states heavily represented in the top-100, with a handful even reaching double digits. Michigan has 14 players in the rankings with Little Caesars’ Aiden Kelly holding the highest position at #4. Massachusetts has 13 players in the top-100, which includes Neponset Valley River Rats’ Drew Short who checks in at #23. Illinois is represented by 11 skaters, highlighted by North Jersey Avalanche forward Milan Kutsevich at #3. To the surprise of no one, the State of Hockey leads the way with a whopping 18 players who call Minnesota home. Henry Meier is the highest positioned Minnesotan as the Shattuck forward slots in at #6, followed closely by Jack Hair at 7, Landon Sampair at 11, and Ayven Hontvet at 20.
Team Spirit
There is plenty of diversity in the teams represented in the top-100, ranging from the west coast with Chase Gill of the California Goldrush at #89, all the way to the east coast where Deverin Warner of the Woodbridge Wolfpack comes in at #15.
There are a few teams more heavily represented than others with a pair of Michigan based programs leading the way. Detroit Honeybaked has seven players in the rankings with five of those inside the Top 50 - Dylan Delgado, Max Lappan, Blake Stephen, Wyatt Shunk, and Marek Zimmerman. Little Caesars shares the seven player mark with the aforementioned Aiden Kelly and Jack Hair, as well as Benjamin Slavick, Griffin Carver, Jack Trupiano, RJ Thompson and Gabriel Belanger.
However, perennial powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary’s stands above the rest with nine players who cracked the initial top-100. Drew Daley and Henry Meier lead the way with Parker Colmer, Cameron Evans, Carter Morris and several others rounding out another loaded Shattuck roster.
Check out the entire 2010-born top-100 American skater rankings.