Merrimack's recruiting class ranked No. 9 in the nation

Merrimack’s 2024 recruiting class is ranked No. 9 in the nation by Neutral Zone, the leading provider of prospect scouting reports and rankings.

The Warriors are among four Hockey East teams in the top 10, along with Boston College, Boston University, and Providence. Merrimack’s 2024 class ranks ahead of powerhouses Minnesota, Michigan, and Quinnipiac.

This year’s class is Scott Borek’s second top-10 recruiting class since he became Merrimack’s head coach in 2018. They are the only top-10 recruiting classes in the program’s history.

Borek’s 2019 class was also top-10 (ranked No. 7 in the nation) and included Declan Carlile and Zach Uens, who signed NHL contracts, as well as Filip Forsmark, Liam Walsh, Zach Vinnell, Liam Dennison, Ben Brar, and Mac Welsher.

Neutral Zone began ranking recruiting classes in 2016.

This year’s class features a record-tying number of 4.0-star players.

Neutral Zone’s rankings for Merrimack’s 2024 class include:

• 1. Caden Cranston (F), 4.0

• 2. Seamus Powell (D), 4.0

• 3. Nick Pierre (F), 4.0

• 4. Michael Emerson (F), 4.0

• 5. Nathan King (D), 3.75

• 6. Caelan Fitzpatrick (F), 3.75

• 7. Vann Yuhas (F), 3.75

• 8. Hunter Wallace (F), 3.75

• 9. Ryan O’Connell (F), 3.75

• 10. Jordan Hughesman (F), 3.5

Merrimack’s previous 4.0-star players have been can’t-miss prospects, including Ty Daneault, Max Lundgren, Zach Bookman, Mark Hillier, Matt Copponi, Zach Borgiel, and Alex Jefferies (4.25).

Four players rated 4.0 stars in the 2019 class were Carlile (4.25), Forsmark, Uens, and Walsh.