Developing junior prospect

Austen Gearhart

Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 18U

Unranked Watch-List Prospect2008 Birth Year
2025–26 season teamJunior prospect evaluation

What he brings to juniors

Gearhart is a candidate for a club prepared to assess a youth goalie with recurring responsibility. His movement and rebound background offers a concrete development starting point, with his completed season giving context for that opportunity.

What translates

The current opinion describes mobility, stopping response and handling after contact. Junior recruitment should examine whether those pieces remain coordinated when a rebound is immediately contested rather than cleared by the defense.

Watch-list assessment

Why he is on the radar

He is on the watch list because the available case warrants attention without establishing a clear ranking separation. A staff could make a more useful judgment through direct tests of his coverage and recovery under older-player pressure.

Next development step

The development target is controlling the end of his movement. A balanced arrival should allow him to manage the shot without creating a difficult recovery, especially when the attack reverses across the crease.

Competitive context

His 2025–26 record with Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 18U lists 32 appearances, with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.