Prospect Spotlight: Corson Ceulemans

Prospect Spotlight is a feature highlighting NHL Draft eligibles and giving a peek into what makes them an intriguing prospect ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft. This edition features Brooks Bandits’ Corson Ceulemans.

• Date of Birth: May 5, 2003
• Position: RD
• Team: Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
• Height: six-foot-two
• Weight: 196 pounds
• Shoots: R

Ceulemans is playing in Junior A with the Brooks Bandits

Ceulemans kicked off his sophomore campaign with two goals and five points in two games with the Brooks Bandits. Last year, the majority of his points were assists – 30 of his 35 points were helpers – and Ceulemans likely would have been poised to produce heavily for the Bandits had the postseason not been cancelled last year. It’s very encouraging to see the goals coming quickly for him to start this season and hopefully that trend can continue if the season can get rolling again.

He’s committed to the University of Wisconsin in 2022

Instead of taking the typical Canadian major junior route, Ceulemans announced his commitment to the NCAA’s Wisconsin Badgers back in 2018, which was just recently confirmed by the program in December. Ceulemans won’t join the Badgers program until after he’s drafted by an NHL team this spring. While Minnesota-Duluth and Notre Dame were also schools he considered pursuing, it was Wisconsin’s history of producing NHL players and providing quality education that ultimately led to Ceulemans choosing the Badgers. 

Ceulemans is drawing comparisons to Avalanche’s Makar

Ceulemans has drawn comparisons to Cale Makar, the most recent Calder Trophy winner, in large part due to playing with Brooks and choosing to pursue NCAA hockey – like Makar. However, stylistically, both defensemen also share many similar qualities on the ice. Ceulemans is a dominant offensive defenseman whose confident puck-handling abilities allow him to take over games, though his defensive game needs improvement. While Ceulemans isn’t the most highly-touted defenseman available in 2021 (the top of the draft is filled with talented blueliners), Ceulemans brings a uniquely offensive dynamic presence to the table.

What the experts say

“Ceulemans has a skillset that shouts and has exceptional potential with how he plays the game in a forward manner. Bold would be putting his brand of hockey lightly and often he is either controlling play on the breakout or in the offensive zone and often finds space in unconventional spots for where defenders are often tactically positioned. He’s got a cerebral eye for the offensive game and can control flow of play and takes free ice with his ability to combine high-end vision, deception, skating ability and puck skill.” – FCHockey’s Western Canada head scout Justin Froese

“Ceulemans is a big-bodied player and despite being the youngest player on his team, he was one of the best players on his lineup. He’s been referred to as an offensive defenseman, but his defensive game is very good… Ceulemans is also a very good puckhandler, showing that off in both zones. In his own end, he uses it to lead a breakout – either a pass or carrying it out himself – and offensively, he uses it to walk the blue line and get the inside step on defenders.” – FCHockey’s crossover scout Josh Bell