A pair of Denver recruits who are projected to join the program in 2023 are on the NHL Central Scouting 2022-23 Preliminary Players to Watch List, which was released Oct. 25.

Both left wing Sam Harris and center Alexander Weiermair were given a C rating, meaning they’re slotted to be selected from the fourth through sixth rounds. Keep in mind the early season projections often shift before the following summer’s draft.

Harris is 5-foot-11, 190-pounder who is in his second season of junior hockey with Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League. He’s off to an excellent start with eight points, including five goals, in seven games for the Stampede. He is a late 2003 birth year and in his second year of eligibility.

“Obviously this is important and good to have,” Harris said. “But it’s business as usual. I still have a job to do here, and I’m trying to take that next step in my game.”

He has worked on a couple of areas in particular with an eye toward this junior season, as well as next season at DU.

“My skating is a big contributor to how I play,” Harris said. “I like to use my edges. I’m also working on my hockey sense. The game is slowing down for me this season.”

Last season, Harris had 35 points, including 16 goals, in 60 games. He grew up in San Diego and is close friends with current DU defenseman Shai Buium, whose younger brother Zeev (also a defenseman) also is among those projected to join the Pioneers in 2023.

Weiermair is a 6-foot, 190-pound center for the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 team. He, too, is from Southern California, having grown up in Los Angeles.

The 2005 birth year has nine points (two goals) in 14 games thus far this season after posting 35 points (23 goals) in 87 games for the Under-17 team a season ago.

Two other recruits in the 2023 incoming class already have been drafted – defenseman Garrett Brown and right wing Miko Matikka.

Matikka, who originally was slated to join DU this season, was a third-round pick (67th overall) by the Arizona Coyotes

He is playing for Madison of the USHL and is off to an excellent start with 10 points (four goals) through seven games. The 6-3, 187-pound native of Finland had 33 points (19 goals) in 30 games for Jokerit’s Under-20 team last season. He also represented his country in the World Junior Championships.

Brown, who goes 6-3 and 192, was picked in the fourth round (99th overall) by the Winnipeg Jets. He has three assists through seven games for Sioux City of the USHL after putting up 17 points (four goals) in 72 combined regular season and playoff games last season. The Northern California native is a son of longtime NHL player Curtis Brown.

In addition to Harris, Weiermair, Brown, Matikka and Zeev Buium (who also is at the USNTDP), there are as many as eight other prospects who possibly will land in DU’s 2023 class.

They include goaltender Paxton Geisel (Dubuque/USHL), defensemen Cale Ashcroft (Sherwood Park/Alberta Junior Hockey League) and Carson Brisson (Canmore/AJHL), and forwards Kieran Cebrian (Tri City/USHL), Griffin Jurecki (Lincoln/USHL), Peter Lajoy (Danbury/North American Hockey League), Kai Matthew (Blackfalds/AJHL) and Camron Van Sickle (Waterloo/USHL).

©First Line Editorial 2022