Projection: Middle Six Upside

Tools: Quickness, Playmaking, Handling

Development Opportunities: Persistent Forechecking, Strength

Carroll is the final member of the Hill Academy group, falling right in line with their theme of energetic and shifty forwards. Xavier plays with tons of pace, bursting up the ice and combining quick skating with clever handling to beat defenders with his offensive creativity. The puck skills are commendable, using them to shift defenders out of position and open lanes, slipping pucks through and letting his playmaking game flourish. The energy is often a constant theme, and there are enough skill moments throughout the year to get you excited.

Carroll can easily develop into a middle of the lineup spark plug who brings pace, energy, and enough offensive tools to contribute. The speed and shifty game should set him up well at the next level, and if he adds some strength and continues to get more explosive there is a real chance he develops into a fun, impactful winger. Like many players at this stage it isn't a sure thing, but the makings are there for a player who can bolster the middle of a lineup.

Xavier Carroll is a player who has a strong motor that he uses in tandem with his great speed to jump on loose pucks and attack the offensive zone. He forechecks very hard, using his skill on special teams to create turnovers and attempt to steal pucks. He has solid offensive skills on top of this, making good passes to his teammates and attempting to score goals himself. In this game he is able to get himself on the score sheet with an assist but was noticeable even aside from his lone point.

Carroll showcased excellent passing ability throughout the tournament, consistently demonstrating strong vision and awareness with the puck. He had a great sense of where his teammates were on the ice, which allowed him to find open passing lanes and create scoring opportunities. His patience with the puck stood out, as he rarely rushed plays and instead waited for the right moment to deliver a crisp, accurate pass. One of the most entertaining aspects of his game came on the power play, where he was constantly searching for creative ways to generate offense. He frequently attempted slap passes and hard, low passes toward the net, giving his teammates opportunities to get their sticks on the puck for deflections. These plays created chaos in front of the net and made it difficult for opposing goalies to track the puck, highlighting his offensive awareness and playmaking instincts.

Combining a powerful stride with a non-stop motor, Carroll proved to be an effective forward below the dots. His ability to withstand contact was a big part of his success both as a forechecker, where he attacked loose pucks and pressured opposing defenders with force to retrieve pucks, and as a puck carrier, where he took bumps in stride without losing too much of his speed up the ice allowing him to force his way into the middle of the offensive zone at times. He broke the ice with the opening goal just 30 seconds into this game after he followed up on his initial shot attempt from the slot and deposited the rebound past a sprawling goaltender.

Carroll’s pace and shiftiness were what stood out. He was always going, playing an up-tempo game up and down the ice, flying through the neutral zone shift after shift. He successfully carried the puck with control and used his evasive footwork and handling to dodge defenders, win zone entries and attack the center lane. This combination of quickness and hands allowed him to create separation with ease, dictate the pace of play at times, and generate a good chunk of Hill’s scoring chances. Carroll has always been in the mix whenever I’ve seen Hill, but I felt he started to emerge as a more notable player to keep an eye on after a few good games over the Silver Stick.