The Rockets Hockey Club, currently ranked 14th among Tier-1 AAA 16U teams in the nation (according to MYHockeyrankings.com), continues to produce future NCAA Division 1 talent. 

Most recently, on Thanksgiving Day, second-year 16U defenseman Michael Rubin announced his commitment to Merrimack College. Rubin is expected to arrive at the North Andover, Mass.-based campus in the Fall of 2022. 

Rubin, an ‘03 from Blauvelt, N.Y., had originally started out with the Rockets’ 15U team, but it was clear early on that there was nothing holding him back from excelling at the 16U level. He proved that by scoring 38 points in 30 USPHL 16U games alone last year, in addition to many more points in non-league games. 

“Playing for the Rockets helped me develop my game and get stronger off the ice,” said Rubin. 

“Michael is a very smart hockey player. He is solid at his defensive position and knows when to join the rush,” added Steve Brown, the Rockets 16U team’s Assistant Coach, focusing on the defensemen. “Michael has continuously improved over the past few years, but there has been a noticeable difference in his work ethic and commitment in the current year. He is a perfect example of a kid willing to work through adversity to achieve his goals.”

Rubin continues to be a key contributor both defensively and offensively for the Rockets. This year, he had 12 points through his first eight USPHL contests. With a few more years of high-level play, Merrimack College will be getting a straight-ahead, two-way defenseman. 

“The thing I liked most at Merrimack was the coaching staff and their confidence in me as a player,” Rubin said. 

“The Warriors are getting a great kid with a lot of upside potential,” added Brown. 

Rubin now joins teammates Gleb Veremyev (Penn State) and Matthew Brille (Brown University) as Rockets 16U players with NCAA Division 1 commitments. 

The USPHL congratulates Michael Rubin and his family, and Merrimack College.