We had the opportunity to speak with Ryan Sikes, the Lead National College Hockey writer at PuckPreps, about the eleven Northeastern recruits who played in the United States Hockey League. Ryan started off as an independent evaluator and scout, writing on his personal Substack about USHL players and recruits and covering their development ahead of enrolling to the NCAA. Earlier this summer, he started his role at PuckPreps, the fastest-growing scouting service for college and major junior hockey players. You can follow Ryan’s content via his personal Twitter account, @rms_hockey. For anyone looking to learn more about the players at the junior hockey level, Ryan is an incredible follow. We are extremely grateful for Ryan’s time and insight about Northeastern’s recruits.
We broke down the eleven players into two groups, those enrolling in 2025 and those projected to enroll in 2026. All comments after the players names are Ryan’s evaluation of the player. At the end we were able to ask a handful of questions which Ryan graciously responded to with thoughtfulness.
2025 Recruits
Giacomo Martino– Giacomo Martino had a breakout season with the Sioux City Musketeers, becoming a dominant force in the USHL. He led the league with 74 points, including 32 goals, while playing significant minutes in a top-six role. Though not the biggest forward at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, his elite skill, strong skating, and deadly one-timer made him a standout—so much that the Sioux City Twitter account would use the phrase “Martino Dartino” whenever he scored. Martino’s vision and timing allowed him to consistently create scoring chances, especially on the power play. He was equally effective as a shooter and a passer, making him a versatile offensive threat. As he heads to Northeastern, he may start in a secondary role, but his talent suggests he won’t stay there for long.
Jack Pechar– Pechar nearly doubled his point total from the previous year, finishing the 2024–25 season with 27 goals and 34 assists for 61 points. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-shot center anchored Lincoln’s top line and played in all situations, earning his coaches’ trust. He won 53% of his faceoffs, consistently helping the Stars control possession. His relentless forechecking created turnovers, and he was just as committed defensively, often breaking up plays and killing penalties. Offensively, Pechar carried the puck with confidence, attacked high-danger areas, and used his vision to exploit defensive gaps. His well-rounded game, including faceoff skill and defensive awareness, draws comparisons to Justin Hryckowian, though Pechar may offer even greater offensive upside. That’s not a knock on Justin.
Amine Hajibi– Hajibi enters Northeastern as a 20-year-old freshman, looking well-prepared for the college game after two strong seasons in the USHL. He most recently led Cedar Rapids with 54 points, including 20 goals, showcasing his offensive consistency. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Hajibi combines good size with strong skating and puck protection. His relentless motor and aggressive forechecking make him a factor at both ends of the ice. He plays with energy and purpose, often forcing turnovers and creating chances off the rush. Given his experience and playing style, Hajibi should make a smooth transition to the NCAA level.
Matthew Maltais– Maltais brings strong leadership to Northeastern, having captained the Lincoln Stars during the 2024–25 season. He recorded 16 goals and 39 points in 59 regular-season games, adding two goals and four points in the playoffs. A reliable power-play contributor, Maltais scored nearly half of his goals (7) on the man advantage. At 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, he’s a big, two-way center who excels in net-front battles and does much of the gritty work down low. His responsible play and experience make him a good fit for an immediate bottom-six role. With time, he has the tools to earn more minutes and climb the lineup.
Dylan Compton– I can’t say enough good things about Compton’s game. Another 20-year-old, he had a breakout season with the Waterloo Black Hawks, emerging as a mature, two-way defenseman. A bit of a late bloomer, he posted five goals and 40 assists for 45 points, then added 13 points (2-11-13) in 15 postseason games to cap off a strong year. He’s a master puck facilitator, especially on the power play, with excellent vision and decision-making. Compton also showed the confidence to jump into the offense and shoot when lanes opened up. His blend of poise, skill, and offensive instincts makes him a high-upside addition to Northeastern’s blue line. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see an NHL logo next to his name on NU’s Opening Night linechart.
Noah Jones– There’s something about Noah Jones’ loyalty, sticking with an Omaha squad that finished at the bottom of the USHL standings the past two seasons, that can’t be underscored enough. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he’s a big-bodied defenseman known for his physical presence on the blueline. Jones isn’t afraid to throw big hits in open ice or pin opponents against the boards to free the puck. Offensively, he skates moderately well for his size and has a quick wrist shot from the point, one that scored five goals during the 2024-25 season. While he will likely play more of a bruising role in college, there’s offensive upside if he continues to put pucks on net.
2026 Recruits
Eero Butella– Known for his defensive prowess, Butella made major strides offensively this past season with the Fargo Force. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound forward posted career highs with 13 goals, 31 points, and 138 shots on goal. He looked more confident carrying the puck and showed a greater willingness to shoot rather than trying to set up his teammates. His large frame makes him a force (pun intended) in front of the net, where he excels at screening goalies and battling for position. He continues to work hard on puck retrievals, often turning those efforts into scoring chances. Another year in the USHL will only help him become a more well-rounded player before joining Northeastern in Fall 2026.
Trey Jefferis– Jefferis had a strong first full USHL season, recording 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 47 games. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound left-shot forward spent much of the year in a top-six role, often playing on a line with incoming Northeastern freshman Giacomo Martino. He makes excellent defensive reads, making him a relentless forechecker who frequently turns pressure into scoring chances. Jefferis also has quick hands, which make him a dangerous threat in transition. With his well-rounded game and experience, he has a real chance to be “The Guy” for Sioux City this coming season. If that happens, a monster year could be on the horizon.
Tanner Morgan– Morgan had a solid first USHL season with a struggling Omaha Lancers team, recording nine goals and 14 points in 51 games. Despite his 5-foot-10, 181-pound frame, he plays a highly physical game, consistently winning puck battles and delivering big hits. Offensively, he’s a strong skater with a knack for slipping into soft areas, doing most of his damage below the dots. His hockey IQ stands out, allowing him to be effective on both special teams, establishing net-front presence on the power play and killing penalties. Morgan finished with just 62 shots on goal, suggesting there’s untapped offensive potential if he increases his shot volume in 2025-26.
Sean Barnhill– At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Barnhill has the size and mobility that scouts drool over. Known primarily as a defensive defenseman, the right-shot blueliner began adding offense to his game last season. He plays a physically punishing style of defense, delivering big hits to disrupt the rush and dominate in his own zone. His long reach and strong skating make him tough to beat one-on-one. Barnhill also showed a greater willingness to shoot, with most of his attempts coming from above the dots. With another year in the USHL, he has the potential to grow his offensive game while remaining a shutdown presence on the back end.
Owen Keefe– I thought Owen Keefe might make the jump to college hockey this year, but it looks like he’ll take another year to develop in the QMJHL (Editor’s note: about 5 days after we made contact with Ryan, it was announced by Drumondville of the QMJHL that Keefe will play 2025-26 with them ahead of his enrollment to Northeastern). It’s not a bad move at just 19 years of age. He didn’t take the step forward he likely hoped for, finishing with one goal and 10 points in 57 games for Sioux City this past season. His shot volume was also down from the previous season, so another year of junior could help him regain confidence. Offensively, he has the tools to contribute at the college level, including good vision, smart passing, and solid skating. I’d like to see him more engaged in the offensive zone, especially with taking shots when lanes open. There’s potential, but he’ll need to assert himself more to unlock it.
NU Hockey Blog: For the recruits enrolling in 2025, who do you see making an immediate impact at the Hockey East level?
Ryan Sikes: For me, it’s Dylan Compton. I think he has the potential to be a high-impact college player right away and could step in and play big minutes as a freshman at Northeastern. He has terrific vision and moves the puck smartly, consistently getting his teammates involved, which only makes everyone around him better. While he scored just five goals last season, he showed the tendency to jump into the rush more as the year unfolded, which I expect to continue with the Huskies. His hockey sense and poise with the puck are well beyond his age. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a key piece on the back end for Northeastern early on.
NUHB: Many of these players took a second year in the USHL or another junior hockey league before enrolling. As a scout, how beneficial do you see these extra years for players in terms of development and in terms of assimilating into college hockey quicker?
RS: I think those extra years are huge for a player’s development. I think too often, players are rushed into the college game before they’re truly ready, which can hurt their confidence and slow their growth. We’ve seen a recent trend, especially with NTDP players, opting for a third year in junior hockey, and many of them have gone on to post big numbers and enter college with real momentum. That added confidence and maturity can make a major difference in how quickly they adjust to the speed and demands of the NCAA level. So I think the fact that Northeastern has several guys coming in for their age 20 season is a great path for development.
NUHB: Out of the 2025 enrollees, are there any individual skills that fans should be looking forward to? For example, someone’s skating, someone’s shot, someone’s physicality, etc?
RS: I think Northeastern fans should be really excited about Giacomo Martino’s shot. He has a wicked one-timer and is especially dangerous from his off-side. On the power play, he’s the kind of player who only needs one clean look to make it count. When a teammate slides the puck across and he winds up, it’s often a highlight-reel moment. His release is quick, heavy, and hard to defend. It’s a skill that could make him a game-changer right away.
NUHB: With CHL players now enrolling into colleges, and most for 2025 being over-agers who have exhausted their eligibility, how do you see these USHL graduates stacking up against them in terms of comparing production? For example, the USHL seems to have a reputation of better defense and goaltending than the CHL teams- does that mean that higher point production in the USHL is more relatively more impressive than the CHL, or are they not as similar as people may think?
RS: For me, it’s kind of a non-answer at the moment. It’s an interesting question and might be more of a wait-and-see situation. There’s a case to be made that CHL players could bring more offensive firepower. However, they might struggle against USHL players who tend to be more polished defensively and go up against stronger goaltending. On the flip side, the USHL-developed players’ defensive skills might not quite match the offensive upside of CHL players. Both sides have compelling arguments. It’s definitely one of the underrated storylines to watch in the upcoming NCAA season.
NUHB: Out of the 2026 names: Sean Barnhill gets the headlines because of his 2025 NHL Draft stock (Editor’s note: Barnhill is a projected top 100 pick, likely around Round 3). Which of those five players would you look forward to taking a bigger leap next season ahead of enrolling in college?
RS: I think Trey Jefferis is primed for a special season with Sioux City. He was already earning top-six minutes last year and opened camp on the top line, which shows the trust the staff has in him. His anticipation and ability to read plays make him a constant threat to take the puck the other way. He’s got quick hands, a strong motor, and the offensive instincts to take a big step forward. With more opportunity and confidence, I think he’ll be one of the more productive forwards in the league. He’s definitely a player to watch heading into 2025-26.
Thank you once again to Ryan for taking the time to work with us and provide incredible insight to the players that will one day be donning the black and red and playing for Northeastern. We are grateful for the time he took to answer our inquiries. A reminder for all who follow USHL players and recruiting to make sure you are following Ryan on Twitter as linked above, and consider dropping a subscription to PuckPreps to continue following his excellent work.
As the summer months go on, be on the lookout for another project or two from Northeastern Hockey Blog, as well as our usual NHL Development Camp coverage and eventually our New To Northeastern series where we look at all the incoming players ahead of our season preview. Less than four months until the season opener against Holy Cross on October 4th!
As always, go Huskies!