In mid-October, Northeastern added another talented forward to their growing pipeline. Eli Sebastian, a 2004 birth year from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, gave his verbal to play his collegiate hockey on Huntington Avenue. According the the New England Hockey Journal, the Huskies beat out a Beanpot rival for Sebastian’s commitment, showing that Jerry Keefe and his assistants continue to win top recruiting battles for elite talent.
Sebastian is a left shot center who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs in at 180 pounds, per his Elite Prospects profile. He currently attends St. Andrews College, one of the leading private institutions in Canada. Despite their name, they are the equivalent of a private high school in the United States. Previously, he played for the Toronto Marlboros U16 and U15 teams. He was a 7th round pick in the 2020 OHL Draft by Peterborough Petes. He is eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft and was a C-rated skater by NHL Central Scouting, indicating potential to be picked in rounds 4-7.
Sebastian already has committed to playing his 2022-23 season with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League, arguably the top junior hockey league in Canada and one with a reputation for promoting goals and offense, which will do well to develop Sebastian’s offensive game. After committing to the Vees, Penticton General Manager Steve Cawley said of Sebastian “Eli is a player that competes very hard and is someone we can see playing in all situations for us. He is quick to pucks and also has a fair bit of offensive prowess to his game that we are excited to see.”
Another coach describes Sebastian as a “skilled playmaker with good compete. High IQ.” Other terms to describe him include “high motor, quick feet, top-end speed,” and “plays a complete game.” He is also heralded by St. Andrews College as a top student-athlete, and commented about SAC’s academic prowess when he was introduced as a new player for the program. A skilled player who is also a top academic performer is exactly the mold of athlete that Northeastern University is made for.
Eli Sebastian is expected to matriculate to Northeastern in the Fall of 2023, after his year in Penticton. We look forward to watching his progress as he works his way to Matthews Arena.
Congratulations to Eli on his commitment! As always, go Huskies!