Farabee, from Cicero, New York, took part in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at KeyBank Center in Buffalo in September. He is committed to Boston University and plans to join the Terriers for the 2018-19 season. Getting to play at the Buffalo Sabres home rink, where former BU standout Jack Eichel now competes, was special for him.
"He's definitely a guy I look up to," Farabee said. "He's one of the best in the NHL right now and he's gone through the same exact process that I am. He's definitely someone to look up to and definitely someone I'd aspire to be like."
Appert compared Farabee to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel.
"Joel has a skill set that is very good, he can break you down 1-on-1, his skating is good," Appert said. "He can shoot the puck extremely well.
"The best thing about Joel is that he competes so hard, and he goes to the areas most people don't want to go to, and he scores tons of goals at the front of the net. He's talented enough to score nice goals, but he adds so many goals because of his willingness to go to the hard areas, and he's comfortable in those areas because he's legitimately tough."
Farabee is off to a good start this season with 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in 12 games. He also had four points (three goals, assist) in two games in the United States Hockey League and is looking to take it to the next level, at the same time staying focused on the present.
"I'm not even really thinking about the draft, I'm just focusing on what I need to do," Farabee said. "I just try to focus on myself and what the team needs to do to win, and how I can get better each day.