Dexter's Rathbone Verbally Commits to Harvard

Harvard's hockey program can now lay claim to having two of the best 1999-born defensemen in the country in its pipeline. The Crimson coaching staff received a verbal commitment from Dexter School sophomore defenseman Jack Rathbone.

Rathbone, a left shot, is an elite skater who moves the puck with precision. His footwork, ability to push the pace in transition and quarterback a power play is phenomenal. He joins Proctor Academy junior Reilly Walsh, another elite '99 defenseman, as players waiting in the wings to throw on the Crimson jersey.

The West Roxbury, Mass. native has sometimes been critiqued for his lack of size and decision making in the defensive zone, but his positives far outweigh the negatives. Rathbone is part of an elite class of '99s at Dexter that includes Providence recruit Jay O'Brien, Dartmouth commit Sean Keohan and uncommitted Jack Nisbet.

Rathbone's father Jason, a former forward for Boston College, coaches his split-season midget team, the Cape Cod Whalers. The team won the Midget Minor Tier 1 Massachusetts State Championship over the weekend in Marlboro. The Whalers will advance to play in USA Hockey Nationals in San Jose March 31-April 4.