Jonathan Morello is a fifth-round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins who was committed to Clarkson University for this season but decided to remain with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League and not join Clarkson this fall. Morello attended the Bruins rookie development camp in July and showed good skating ability and some promise as a late-round pick at center. On Friday, Morello announced a new commitment to Boston University, where he will suit up during the 2025-26 season.
The 6-foot-3, 192-pound center spent two seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with the St. Michael’s Buzzers and 41 goals with 56 assists in 101 total games. This past season, Morello was a stellar playoff performer with 21 points in 11 games. The Toronto native was the 97th pick in the USHL Draft by the Fighting Saints but elected to stay in Ontario and became a Clarkson commit. Now, Morello has decided to play in the USHL for this season, and with word that he will play for Boston University next season, he will be close by for the Bruins organization to watch his progress.
The 98th-ranked North American skater by Central Scouting in 2024, Morello was described as “An open ice threat who is easily one of the fastest skaters at the Tier 2 level in Canada. His edges and how he powers out of his turns are elite for this level and project well for future levels. When pucks are chipped to open space, he rarely arrives second. His speed and length create turnovers on the forecheck and extend plays along the wall”. (Cap Friendly)
Morello was one of two centers selected by Boston after the Bruins chose 6-foot-7 pivot Dean Letourneau in the first round with the 25th overall pick. Letourneau will attend Boston College and begin his freshman year with the Eagles. The Bruins also have forwards Oskar Jellvik and Andre Gasseau at BC, forward Dans Locmelis at UMass-Amherst, and goaltender Philip Svedeback at Providence College. Morello will join a Hockey East power for the 2025-26 season, which is a significant upgrade and could catapult him to the top of the Bruins prospect list soon.
