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You’d be hard-pressed to find a freshman that was more productive at the varsity level than Tuck Gilbane was last year, particularly when you factor in quality of competition.
Starting as a freshman for defending ISL champion Noble & Greenough was a coup in itself. That accomplishment pales in comparison to exactly how much the Laxachusetts standout performed. He finished third in the entire ISL in scoring with a ridiculous 57-goal, 33-assist, 90-point stat line behind then-teammate and now Penn freshman Grayson McClements and eventual Penn junior commit Owen Crann. Gilbane helped the Bulldogs defend that ISL title and left no doubt that he was one of the top attackmen in the class of 2026.
And he did all of it as a righty playing at lefty attack.
“As a freshman Tuck was the third leading scorer in league littered with high D1 talent at the attack position,” Nobles coach Matt Rowley said. “What’s most incredible about his scoring accomplishments is that they came with Tuck playing on his off-hand side the entire season. The keen overseer would note that all of scoring came within the flow of the offense, as Tuck doesn’t force much, if ever. As a coach, the things you appreciate about his game are his intelligence, his work ethic and just how hard he rides. He’s a hell of a competitor and great teammate.”
X Marks the Spot
Gilbane’s Laxachusetts coach, Sean Morris, echoed those thoughts. Morris, an excellent former X attackman in his own right, knows that there’s something special about Gilbane. He’s the focal point of a dynamic Laxachusetts offense that ranks with the program’s 2025 group at the top of the best attack lines in program history. When you’ve got someone running the show the way Gilbane does, it makes the offense so difficult for defenses to prepare for.
“Tuck is a true X attackman that can push both corners, has multiple moves at the island and always has his head up finding an open man,” Morris said. “He’s got the ability to be a gamebreaker at the next level as he continues to develop.”
Also a high-end hockey player who’s helped Nobles win a pair of ISL titles on the ice, Gilbane has the athleticism and IQ to assimilate himself into any role. His production, potential, and talent is why he’s the first player in the class of 2026 to earn five-star honors.
“I think that kid’s really freaking good,” one Division I assistant coach said. “He’s really smart and you don’t see that many guys who are that two-handed as a sophomore, and his production as a freshman for Nobles was really impressive.”
Despite juggling hockey commitments this fall for a Boston Junior Eagles team that’s headed to USA Hockey Nationals this week, Gilbane excelled on the field for Laxachusetts. He was very good in helping Laxachusetts to a 2-1 day at the NLF Fall Invitational, showcasing many of those traits that have helped him set himself apart from many in the class.
And now, he’ll be one of the first names on the board in the NLF’s first class of 2026 rankings.
Scouting Report
Ninety freaking points in 21 games. Those would be incredible numbers for anyone, but a freshman righty playing lefty attack? Completely absurd. Gilbane has a really nice touch around the cage and places his shots well. When he’s at X, he’s able to go to either hand as both a feeder and scorer, and it makes him so tough to defend. Gilbane’s high IQ allows him to diagnose plays quickly, and he does an excellent job of getting his teammates involved.
He doesn’t lack for confidence, is deceptively shifty and able to make guys miss, and he doesn’t lack for toughness. For an X guy, Gilbane’s very comfortable operating up top and is very effective as a lefty shooter on the topside sweep. He also does a great job of finding holes in coverage when working off-ball, and he’s got the hands to quickly catch and finish in traffic with either hand. At this point, he’s probably the most balanced attackman in the class in terms of how he can beat defenses in so many different ways.
