By Mike Gurnis
Nick Vantassell got the call that every hockey player dreams of on Thursday afternoon.
The Morristown-Beard alumnus was drafted 215th overall in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators.
He became the first former MCSSIHL player to be drafted since Chatham’s Alex Laferriere was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the third round of the 2020 draft. He also is just the second player in Morristown-Beard program history to go on to be drafted, with David Kolomatis being the last in 2009 when he was drafted in the fifth round by the Kings.
“I am so happy to see Nick Vantassell get drafted by the Ottawa Senators,” Morristown-Beard coach Scott Greene, who coached Vantassell from 2018-21, said. “Most importantly, Nick is a fantastic, high character young man and also a heck of a hockey player. He was a valuable member of our team from 2018 to 2021. He was beloved by his coaches and teammates alike for his positive attitude, unselfish play, and deep passion for hockey. He was a low maintenance player who was extremely coachable and did everything we asked of him during his time here.”
Vantassell played at Morristown-Beard for his freshman and sophomore years, and was slated to suit up for the Crimson again during the 2021 COVID-shortened season before being sidelined with a knee injury. He posted 11 goals and 17 assists as a freshman in 2018-19, before tallying 16 goals and 19 assists as a sophomore. During his sophomore year, he helped lead Morristown-Beard to a Mennen Cup title, as the Crimson finished 20-5-1 and reached the Non-Public quarterfinals.
He was then drafted into the USHL and played for the Green Bay Gamblers for the past two seasons. He had 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) in 2021-22, before improving to 37 points (19 goals, 18 assists) this past season. He has a big 6’4, 196 pound frame, making him an enticing power forward prospect. Despite that, he was ranked 164th among North American skaters in the NHL’s Central Scouting rankings, so it was unclear if he would even get the call on Thursday.
But the long wait proved to be fruitful, and now he has much to look forward to beginning with his freshman season for Division I UMass this winter, as he continues his development as a now-prospect of an NHL club.
It is welcome news which has a major impact on the Morristown-Beard program, says Greene.
“To have a player drafted in the NHL means so much for our program and our school,” Greene added. “I think it gives belief to our current and future players that anything is possible. At the beginning of every season I show our players a video about the runner Roger Bannister. Before Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile, it was thought to be physiologically impossible to run a mile in under four-minutes. After he broke it, the belief became a reality.
“Obviously, Nick had other stops along the way with Green Bay in the USHL, club hockey, etc., but I think Nick getting drafted from our program and school is similar to that Roger Bannister effect. It provides belief and it shows that you don’t have to play at the top program in the state or country in order to make your dreams a reality.”
Vantassell got the opportunity to play an impact role right away at Morristown-Beard, which Greene thinks helped him in his development.
“I think it may have helped Nick to be counted on as a top player from day one his freshman year at our school,” Greene said. “He was put in situations like playing top minutes versus bigger and stronger opponents, first power play, first penalty kill that he may not have had the opportunity to do elsewhere.”
“Overall, I couldn’t be happier for Nick and his family. I am excited to watch Nick next year at UMass and I know he’s ready to keep working hard to make his dreams a reality.”
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 