Fri. 5/20/16
‘99s and ‘00s at the Pre-Draft Showcase
The Pre-Draft Showcase was held late last week – and through the weekend – at numerous venues in Eastern Mass, specifically, Foxboro, Walpole, Canton, Bridgewater, and Rockland.
There was nearly a hundred teams on hand. To make things somewhat manageable, we approached the tournament with a simple mission: to see how the ‘99s and ‘00s would fare against older, stronger players, i.e. the ‘96s, ‘97s, and ‘98s.
There was a huge variance in skill among participating teams. Some were very good, and some were poor. There wasn’t much in the middle. There were a lot of blowouts on Day 1 at Walpole. The better games were at Foxboro. Overall, there wasn’t a lot of high-end talent, particularly at the older age levels.
We were on hand Thursday, Friday, and part of Saturday. As a result, we didn’t see that much of the prep players, as the bulk of them began arriving Friday, filling out some barebones rosters. As a result, some prep players may have gotten the short end of the stick in these rankings. However, as they get plenty of attention during the winter things even out in the long run. As for the tournament, we could only go by what we saw, and we were pleased to find some good young players from outside the region.
We have grouped the players we liked into “A” and “B” groups. There are sixty in all – thirty-two ‘99s and twenty-eight ‘00s. Within each group players are placed in alphabetical order. We have listed the teams players will be calling home in the regular season, as well as the teams they played for here. We also included the names of the coaches, if anyone wishes to contact them and learn more. Most coaches were in charge of multiple teams.
Our apologies for the brevity of the player comments. There was a lot to sort through here!
Note:
One more thing. In tournaments this large there are often mismatches between uniform numbers and what is listed on the rosters, which can be a mess. If you see any mistakes, let us know. Thanks.
** '99s **
“A” Players (alphabetically arranged)
Joey Cipollone, F, 6'0"/157 lbs., Loomis Chaffee (Top Shelf Yellow/ Coach: Steve Novodor) -- Good skills, strong shot, and is committed to UVM for fall ‘18.
Corey Clifton, F, 5'9"/165lbs., North Jersey Avalanche U18 (Hockey Essentials Light Blue/Coach: Mark Lotito) -- Very good skills -- skates well and is good off the rush. Quinnipiac recruit for fall ’18.
Jeremy Cote, F, 5'7", 145 lbs., Tabor Academy (Canada West Elite Prospects Red C: Rob Dumas) -- Very quick. Excellent skater. Makes plays with the puck and drives the net well. UVM ’18.
Jayson Dobay, LD, 6'0"/170 lbs., Undecided (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Mobile d-man with a good shot. Makes strong passes. Heading for prep school, likely Thayer.
Timmy Kent, F, 5'5", 160 lbs., Lawrence Academy (PHDG Blue/Coach: Nick Martino) -- Good skills -- quick, with very good hands.
Sean Keohan, RD, 6'0"/180 lbs., Dexter (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coaches: Vinnie Montalbano) --Strong, crisp passes. Good hands. Sound player. Dartmouth ’17.
Joe Mancuso, F, 6'2"/185 lbs., Valley Forge AAA (Canada West Elite Prospects Cream/Coach: John MacDonald) -- Has good size, makes plays, and skates well.
John Mulera, F, 5'8"/140 lbs., Winchendon (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Highly skilled. Skates very well and drives the net on rushes. Providence College, fall ’18.
Danny Petrick, RD, 5'10"/175 lbs., Undecided (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Positioning is good and moves the puck well. Northeastern, fall ’18.
Ben Pirko, LD, Selects Academy 16U (East Coast Militia Elite/Coach: Nik Tasiopoulos) -- Skills are excellent. Great feet and mobile. Made plays every shift. Committed to Union for fall ’18.
Riley Prattson, F, 5'8"/170 lbs., Selects Academy (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/ Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Excellent hands. Scores goals. Passes well and has good hands. Providence College, fall ’18.
Sam Timonen, F, 5'11"/185 lbs., Avon Old Farms (Hockey Essentials Black/Coach: Mark Lotito) -- Solid skill set. Great hands. Sees the ice very well.
Ben Thomas, F, 5'10"/170 lbs., Winchendon (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Excellent skater with good hands. Works hard every shift.
Everett Wardle, F, 5'9"/155 lbs., Elite Hockey Academy (Boston Generals Prospects/Coach: Brett Riley) -- Made plays. Very good hands and can skate. Good on rush plays.
“B” Players – ’99 Birthdates (alphabetically arranged)
Matthew Amante, F, PAL Islanders U18 (EHG Black/ Coach: Bob Thornton) -- Skates well. Drives the net.
Andranik Armstrong, F, 5'9"/175 lbs., Kimball Union (PHDG Blue/Coach: Nick Martino) -- Skates well and can move the puck. Good stick.
Thomas Finck, F, 5'5"/130 lbs., NJ Avalanche U18 (Hockey Essentials Light Blue/Coach: Mark Lotito) -- Very quick. Skates well and has very good speed.
Chris Garbe, F, 5'10" 167lb T. Selects Academy 16U (Hockey Essentials Light Blue/Coach: Mark Lotito) -- Passes the puck well and has good hands. Committed to Brown for fall ‘17.
Jack Hannan, F, 5'11"/165 lbs., Selects Academy 16U (Drummond South/Coach: Geoff Marottolo) -- Liked his skills. Good hands.
Brendon Jones, Boston Bandits (Core Hockey/Coach: Garrett Peters) -- A good skater, with skill and physicality.
Mario Kellner, LD, 6'1"/198 lbs., Gulf Coast U18 (Canada West Elite Prospects Cream/Coach: John MacDonald) – Kellner skates well. His feet are good. And he made some plays.
Jacob Lane, LD, 6'4"/200 lbs., Buffalo Regals AAA (Canada West Elite Prospects Black/Coach: Randy Rook) -- Has good size, good feet, and makes a good first pass out of the zone.
Brendan Manning, F, 5'9"/165 lbs., Rochester Monarchs (Boston Generals Prospects/Coach: Brett Riley) -- Reads plays well. A good skater who makes plays.
Jake Mendeszoon, RD, 6'3"/185 lbs., Boston Jr. Rangers 18U (High End Hockey/Coach: Jon Hutcheon) -- Passes the puck well, has good feet for his size.
Matthew Minerva, F, PAL Islanders U18 (EHG Black/Coach: Bob Thornton) -- Good hands. Passes well. Scored a nice goal.
Ian Murphy, F, 6'0"/175 lbs., BC High (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Skates very well, works hard, and has good energy to his game.
Craig Needham, F, 5'10"/165 lbs., Lawrence Academy (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) – Makes plays. Has excellent hands. Maine ’18 commit.
Danny Overcash, RD, 6'2"/190 lbs., Compuware (Canada West Elite Prospects Red/ Coach: Rob Dumas) -- Passes well. And he’s a very good skater.
Luke Pepin, LD, 5'10"/165 lbs., Northern Cyclones U18 (NE Nordiques Blue/Coach: Tom O'Connor) -- Skates well, is mobile, and can move the puck.
Michael Sacco, F, PAL Islanders U18 (EHG Black/Coach: Bob Thornton) -- Good all-around skills. Passes well and has good hands.
Neil Shea, F, 6'2"/188 lbs., Lawrence Academy (East Coast Kings 2017 Draft/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Has good size and good hands. Played at Marshfield High last season. Committed to Maine for fall ’18.
Avi Sytner, F, 5'10"/150 lbs., Elite Hockey Academy (Boston Generals Prospects/ Coach: Brett Riley) -- Skates well, has good hands, and makes plays.
James Zegel, LD, South Shore Kings (Core Hockey/Coach: Garrett Peters) -- Has good skills. Rushes the puck well. And he’s huge, with a big wingspan.
***
** ‘00s **
“A” Players (alphabetically arranged)
Powell Connor, RD, 6'0"/165 lbs., Okanagan Rockets Midget (PHDG Blue/Coach: Nick Martino) -- Makes crisp passes. Does a good job moving the puck.
Paul Couture, F, 5'6"/145 lbs., U16 ‘95 Giants (New England Nordiques Black/Coach: Tom O'Conner) -- Has good skills. On the small side with his body frame. Skates well.
Jordan Harris, LD, 5'10"/165 lbs., Kimball Union (PHDG Blue/Coach: Nick Martino) -- Played very well. Strong skill set. Very good feet and sees the ice well.
Michael Kesselring, RD, 6'3"/160 lbs., New Hampton (East Coast Kings Futures/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Has good size and handles the puck well. Has good upside.
Paddy Mangan, RD, 5'11"/175 lbs., Brooks (East Coast Kings Futures/ Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Passes well. Does a good job moving the puck.
Darian Purcell, F, 6'0"/180 lbs., Westminster (N.E Leafs/Coach: Will McNally) -- Skates well and has a good shot. Was consistent in both games viewed.
Andrew Remer, F, 5'10"/171 lbs., Detroit Honeybaked U16 (East Coast Kings Futures/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Good skater. Worked hard every shift.
Ryan Roth, F, 5'9"/155 lbs., St. Louis Blues U16 (East Coast Kings Futures/Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- Skates very well. Has speed. Can make plays in traffic.
“B” Players – ’00 Birthdates (alphabetically arranged)
Cedrick Andree, G, 5'9"/155 lbs., Ottawa Senators Midget (PHDG Blue/Coach: Nick Martino) -- Good reaction goalie. Positioning is solid. Moves well.
Bruno Balkcom, LD, 5'10"/160 lbs., Proctor (Boston Jr. Whalers Futures/Coach: Rob Liberatore) -- Passes are crisp. Angles well on his 1v1 plays.
Drew Bavaro, RD, 6'1"/170 lbs., Lawrence Academy (Boston Jr. Whalers Futures/Coach: Rob Liberatore) -- Has good skills and skates well. Some size to his frame.
Tyler Bodette, F, 6'2"/180 lbs., Undecided (Boston Jr. Whalers Futures/ Coach: Rob Liberatore) -- Has good size and mad a few plays.
Hunter Brackett, F, 5'11"/172 lbs., Tabor (East Coast Kings Futures/ Coach: Vinnie Montalbano) -- His hands are good, as his his speed.
Liam Donelan, RD, PAL Islanders U18 (EHG Orange/Coach: Bob Thornton) -- Has good hands and size. Passed the puck well.
Mike Higgins, RD, 5'10"/190 lbs., Boston Advantage (Tropics Orange/Coach: Joe Lovell) -- Skates very well. Jumped up into the rush with ease.
Jeppe Meyer, RD, 5'10"/160 lbs., Mississauga Senators (Boston Jr. Whalers Futures/ Coach: Rob Liberatore) -- Has a good skill level. Strong skater.
Shane Miller, LD, 5'8"/155 lbs., N.J. Titans NAPHL (Boston Jr. Whalers Futures/Coach: Rob Liberatore) -- Moves the puck well.
TJ Pratt, D, PAL Islanders U16 (EHG Black/Coaach: Bob Thornton) -- Made good passes, and showed a good shot.
Wed. 5/25/16
‘01s at the World Selects Invitational: The Top 50
Once again this year, USHR traveled down to Voorhees, New Jersey to take in the World Selects ’01 Invitational, which features an international 24-team field from the United States, Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. Last year’s tournament featured players such as defenseman Ryan Merkley, the #1 overall pick in this spring’s OHL draft, and no less than 13 players on the 2016-17 NTDP roster (Oliver Wahlstrom, Bode Wilde, Mattias Samuelsson, et al). Unfortunately, this year the tournament coincided with the New York USA Hockey Festival tryouts, so the top ‘01s from the Empire State – Marshall Warren, Trevor Zegras, and other -- were missing. That said, there was certainly no lack of talent in this year's tournament. If we wanted to write up every player here, we probably could have, given the time. The floor was pretty high.
We watched every team multiple times, with a slightly heavier emphasis on the North American teams, given the slant of this publication. Still, it was a treat to see some of the stars from across the pond.
Thirty players were given an “A” ranking, while another twenty have a “B” ranking.
The ‘02s who played up – and stood out -- are denoted with an asterisk below.
For stats, we only included the preliminary round games, of which each team played five.
Here’s a link to the tournament’s web site:
'01 World Selects
***
USHR’s MVPs:
Our top forward at the tournament was Jamieson Rees (East Coast Selects Ontario). Our top defenseman was Lucas Peric (East Coast Selects Ontario). Our top goalie was a toss-up between Mack Guzda (DHI Octane) and Derek Mullahy (Oshawa Generals).
***
“A” Forwards (Alphabetical):
Lynden Breen, Northeast Elite, 5-8/152 -- A dynamic offensive weapon from Saint John, New Brunswick, Breen has elite speed and puckhandling ability. Has the ability to blow wide past defenders and create offense on the rush as well as create time and space for his linemates by possessing the puck around the perimeter of the offensive zone. Needs to improve on his 200-foot game, but his hockey sense in the offensive zone is very strong. Played for the Saint John Vitos. Going to New Hampton School in the fall. (1-1-2)
Graeme Clarke, East Coast Selects Quebec, 5-9/125 -- Top scorer on ECS-Q team at this event. A highly-skilled player who, when given time and space, was the most potent scorer on his team as evidenced by him scoring not one, but two, goals using the lacrosse move – i.e. picking up the puck on his stick like a lacrosse ball and throwing it under the crossbar – that Michigan’s Mike Legg made famous in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Needs to add weight but projects as a first round OHL pick. Played for the Marlies Minor Midgets. (9-3-12)
John Farinacci, East Coast Selects Ontario, 6-0/170 – Two-way centerman with good size. Does an excellent job protecting the puck and distributing on the rush. Was used as the anchor to ECS-O shootout lineup Wednesday night, scoring a five-hole goal to win it over Sweden. Played for the New Jersey Colonials Bantams and Delbarton School. Going to Shattuck-St. Mary’s in the fall. (3-7-10)
Robby Griffin, East Coast Selects Quebec, 5-10/155 -- Northeastern commit is a powerful skater with good skill and playmaking ability. Wins battles along the wall, and creates havoc on the forecheck. Projects to be a very good power forward on the wing as he fills out. Returning to U-16 Junior Bruins next year. (2-4-6)
Jacob Grönhagen, Sweden Selects, 6-5/180 – If you’re thinking ahead to the 2019 NHL draft, this 6’5” Swedish centerman could be your guy. A good skater for his size, Grönhagen is still a bit awkward, but will certainly add speed as he adds lower body strength. From Varmdo HC J18. (3-1-4)
Jacob Hale, DHI Octane, 5-9/175 -- Top scorer on a very balanced DHI Octane team. The Minneapolis, Minn. native netted four goals in a lopsided game but it was his consistent competitiveness in all three zones that held our attention. It is obvious he has played a year of varsity hockey as he supports the puck well and did not have many poor ‘youth hockey habits.’ Hale is an excellent NCAA prospect. (6-2-8)
Arthur Kaliyev, East Coast Selects Quebec, 6-1/165 – Very talented offensive player from Little Caesar’s. Did not have the same speed as his linemates here but did a good job getting out ahead of the play and changing speeds on the rush to create space. Inconsistent compete level, which he will need to change going forward. (5-2-7)
Michael Mancinelli, West Coast Selects, 5-6/135 -- The North Dakota commit is a quick, undersized, yet highly skilled forward. While currently smaller than the pack he is a very good skater with terrific offensive ability. His long-term upside will depend on how much he can grow but we feel confident in saying he will be a top player for Brad Berry in Grand Forks. Played for Compuware Bantams last winter. (3-3-6)
Robert Mastrosimone, East Coast Selects Ontario, 5-9/155 -- The Boston University commit showed up late as he was finishing up his final exams at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and was only able to play two preliminary games. Mastrosimone is a highly-skilled player who competes hard. If given any time and space he can score or set up a teammate from anywhere in the offensive zone. It should be noted that he put up a 3-2-5 line in his three playoff games. (1-0-1)
Tyler Paquette, Hockey Essentials, 6-1/180 - The Hill School (PA) forward was one of the lone bright spots on a depleted Hockey Essentials roster. (They were badly affected by the NY District tryouts.) Paquette is a big forward who has an excellent shot and good hockey sense. When his feet catch up to his body he will be a highly sought after NCAA prospect. (2-0-2)
Cole Perfetti*, Pro Hockey Pearson, 5-6/130 -- The final 2002-born forward, albeit by a day, who stood out for us. Perfetti, who played for the Whitby (Ont.) Wildcats Bantams, had a very good week, putting up a point per game as an underager. He’s a shifty offensive player who does not quite have blow away speed but does an excellent job changing speeds on the rush to create space. We expect he will be dominant at this event next year. (2-4-6)
Nicholas Porco, Pro Hockey Pearson, 5-11/158 -- Lanky forward from the Vaughan Kings is an intriguing prospect. He skates well, has a rocket of a shot, and a knack for being around the puck. As he fills out he will likely transform himself into more of a power forward. Has a lot of potential for either the OHL or NCAA. (5-2-7)
Jamieson Rees, East Coast Selects Ontario, 5-10/150 – Probably the most skilled forward in the tournament. Seemed to have the puck on a string as he weaved his way up ice. His hockey sense and creativity in the offensive zone are as good as anyone we’ve seen in his age group. His quick release caught a few goalies sleeping. Played for the Mississauga Reps Bantams this past winter; projects to be a top ten OHL pick. (6-5-11)
Massimo Rizzo, DHI Octane, 5-10/165 -- Burnaby Winter Club (Burnaby, BC) forward has a nice frame, and pairs a strong stride with an explosive first step. The first round Western Hockey League Bantam Draft pick put on a show as a playmaker, putting up five assists (had an assist on all four of Jacob Hale’s goals). Dangerous offensive player who we feel will have more than his fair share of points in the WHL over the next few years.
Ty Smilanic*, All-American Prospects, 5-10/155 -- One of a handful of 02’s in the tournament, Smilanic has exceptional speed, a heavy shot and very good hockey sense. Played on one of the weaker teams in the event but, given that he’s an underager, he may turn out to be the top prospect in the tournament. A Winnipeg native, he played for the Belle Tire Bantams last winter. (2-2-4)
Antonio Stranges*, Bauer Selects, 5-8/148 -- Another underage player who really shined, Stranges has game-breaking speed on the rush and the ability to beat defenders one-on-one while keeping them on their heels. While we feel that Smilanic (see above) may have more pro upside, Stranges is an excellent college prospect we feel has the potential to be an All-American wherever he chooses to go. Played for Little Caesar’s last winter. (5-1-6)
Keean Washkurak, Oshawa Generals, 5-11/155 – Hard-nosed forward excelled on the top team here. A very good skater who competed hard in all three zones, Washkurak made simple yet effective plays consistently. Has a quick, accurate shot that can be deceptive to goalies. Ontario native played for the Waterloo Wolves Minor Midget squad. (3-3-6)
Danil Zinovyev, Ural Selects, 6-1/160 -- One of the more intriguing players here, Zinovyev, who’s from Chelyabinsk, Russia, has good speed yet also one of the choppiest strides this observer has seen in a while. Even so, he is always around the puck, powers through opponents and gets scoring chances consistently. If he is able to improve his stride he will become a very intriguing prospect long term.
“B” Forwards (Alphabetical):
Sam Colangelo, Northeast Elite 5-9/150 (0-1-1)
Danny Colon, East Coast Selects Quebec, 5-7/165 (2-3-5)
Aidan Connolly, Northeast Elite, 5-10/150 (2-1-3)
Aeden Drossos, East Coast Militia, 5-11/178 (3-2-5)
Thomas Munro, Power One Capitals, 5-11/180 (6-2-8)
Mason Primeau, DHI Octane, 6-1/161 (1-5-6)
Aaron Shaw, Pro Hockey Conacher, 5-10/154 (3-3-6)
Ryan Suzuki, West Coast Selects 5-5/120 (0-0-0)
Dylan Wendt, TPH Hockey, 5-11/175 (2-4-6)
Nicholas Wong, East Coast Selects Quebec, 5-8/145 (3-4-7)
Michael Woodell, DHI Octane, 5-10/165 (4-4-8)
***
“A” Defensemen (Alphabetical):
Jaxon Bellamy, Hockey Essentials, 6-3/167 – A raw defender, Bellamy was the top blueliner for Hockey Essentials. A good skater for his size, he gets up and down the ice well, uses his size to flush opponents wide, and has an active stick to prevent passes from reaching their targets in the offensive zone. 6’3” right shot defenders are difficult to come by so we expect the Hampton, New Brunswick native to be a top prospect for the QMJHL draft.
Jayden (Jack) Jensen, East Coast Militia, 6-4/190 -- Jensen, who played last winter for Team Illinois, stood out here with his 6’4” frame. A simple meat-and-potatoes defender, he was a physical presence all weekend. Offensively, he is a smart first pass guy who does a good job getting his shot off from the blue line. Was used as a net front presence on the Militia’s power play. Needs to improve his footwork over the next couple of years; if he can do that he will be a very good NCAA defender. (0-0-0)
Evan Orr, West Coast Selects, 5-7/130 -- Confident defender from Little Caesar’s is a strong skater with end-to-end rushing ability. However, his skating ability is ahead of his thought process right now, and he struggled at times finding the right time to move the puck. Played a physical game in the corners and was a force in front of his net. Decision-making needs some work but we feel confident that he will be a top NCAA/OHL prospect. From Little Caesar’s Bantams. (2-2-4)
Lucas Peric, East Coast Selects Ontario, 5-11/155 – A cerebral defenseman who transports the puck up ice effortlessly, Peric was perhaps the best skater in the tournament. He doesn’t play the high-risk, high-reward type game you tend to see from equally-talented skaters at his age, something that bodes well for the long term. After this weekend we would assume Peric has plenty of NCAA suitors, but if the OHL is the route he wishes to take he will go high. Played for the Halton Hurricanes minor midget squad. (3-0-3)
Nathan Staios, Oshawa Generals, 5-8/147 -- The son of Steve Staios, President and GM of the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) was the top blueliner for the Oshawa Generals here. While undersized, he is a good skater, distributes the puck smartly and efficiently and has very good hockey sense. Nathan is a dual citizen, which makes him eligible for the NTDP. Played for Vaughan Kings Bantams. (0-2-2)
Jayden Struble, Northeast Elite, 5-11/170 -- Rhode Island native who played last winter for the Boston Junior Eagles backboned the Northeast Elite blue line here. Struble is a very athletic player who gets up and down the ice effortlessly, can play a physical game, and has a rocket of a shot. Has a tendency to force some plays that are not there but almost always is able to use his speed to recover from his mistakes. Arguably the best athlete in the field. The physical act of playing hockey seems easy for him. An excellent NCAA prospect, Struble is heading to Nobles in the fall. (1-0-1)
Hunter Weiss, West Coast Selects, 6-2/175 - Big defender from the Chicago Mission was a physical presence on the West Coast Selects blue line. A good skater for his size, Weiss has pro upside. Could be the best of any defender here when all is said and done. (0-4-4)
“B” Defensemen (Alphabetical):
Spencer Cox, Hockey Essentials, 6-0/165 (1-1-2)
Connor Guyette, Northeast Elite, 5-11/200 (0-0-0)
Alexandre Hogue, East Coast Selects Quebec, 5-8/165 (0-2-2)
Kevin McKay, Northeast Elite, 6-0/185 (1-1-2)
Ethan Szmagaj, East Coast Militia, 5-9/155 (0-0-0)
Caleb Woodin, Hockey Concepts, 6-3/175 (0-0-0)
***
“A” Goaltenders (Alphabetical):
Mack Guzda, DHI Octane, 6-3/187 -- Massive goalie from the TPH Thunder had a flawless sheet going through the preliminary round. Plays deep in his crease, which gives him that extra second to react. A good skater, he gets out of his net to play the puck well. Some tracking issues hindered his rebound control, which hurt him in the final game vs. Oshawa. The tools are there, though. Guzda’s father, Brad, was a minor pro goalie in the ‘90s.
Tristan Lennox*, Pro Hockey Pearson, 6-1/160 -- Late '02 was the number two goalie on Pro Hockey this weekend but showed very well in his appearances. As the youngest player in the tournament he displayed good puck-tracking ability, a solid glove, and strong positioning. (2.00/.875)
Derek Mullahy, Oshawa Generals, 6-0/167 – Shattuck-St. Mary’s goaltender was voted the top goaltender in the tournament. Very athletic, the Scituate, Mass. native challenges shooters from the top of the crease and has an excellent glove hand. One of top goalies in the country. (0.94/.926)
Joe Sharib, Northeast Elite, 5-11/175 -- Talented goalie played this past winter for Natick (Mass.) HS, where he had a 1.34 GAA and a .945 save percentage in 23 games played. Unlike Skorpik and Mullahy, he sits a bit deeper in the net and allows his technique to take care of opposing shots. Has a good glove hand, controls his rebounds well, and is excellent on breakaways. Heading to Cushing Academy where he will likely challenge Joey Halstrom for playing time. (1.67 /.907)
Jan Skorpik, Czech Selects, 5-11/135 – The only goalie here who played every minute for his team, Skorpik is a technically sound backstop who uses his size in the butterfly to remain upright and block shots with his shoulders. He also recovers well to take away the bottom of the net.
“B” Goaltenders (Alphabetical):
Luke Pearson, Pro Hockey Pearson, 5-11/160 (1.50 - .941)
Ryan Polidori, Oshawa Generals, 5-10/165 (0.67 - .961)
Owen Porter, East Coast Militia, 5-10/140 (1.00 - .935)
Thurs. 5/12/16
Atlantic District Tryouts Schedule & Rosters
This weekend, the Atlantic District will be holding tryouts to pick the players who will be representing the district at the summer's USA Hockey Select 15, 16, and 17 Player Development Camps.
The action gets underway Friday evening at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ.
Here's what you need:
Schedule & Rosters for 2016 Atlantic District Tryouts
-- In addition, as part of the tryout, the district will be hosting a USA Hockey Player Development Presentation/Seminar with a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session.
The lead speaker will be Ryan Hardy, from the NTDP. He will be assisted by Rich Hansen, the NY/Atlantic ADM director. The panel, which is mandatory for players and optional (though encouraged) for parents, will also include coaches and evaluators from the camp.
A list of topics and participants can be found here:
USA Hockey Player Development Seminar
Mon. 5/9/16
Russo Takes Over at BB&N
Buckingham, Browne & Nichols, under new AD Carolyn Polley, has hired Peter Russo, an assistant at Brooks School for the last two seasons, as its new head coach.
Russo replaces Terrence Butt, a BB&N alum and former Holy Cross forward and assistant coach, who had been the Knights' head coach for the last 12 years.
Russo, though young at 25, has gotten off to a quick start in his coaching career. In his first season at Brooks, working under head coach Dave Ries, Brooks won the Large School Championship with players like goaltender Max Prawdzik, defenseman Connor Moore, and forward Vito Bavaro. This past season, Brooks was the #3 seed in the small school tournament, but bowed out in a 1-0 loss to New Hampton in the quarterfinals.
"I learned composure from Dave Ries," says Russo. "He always did the right thing. He was really good at handling situations. I learned so many intangibles from him."
Russo, who was a member of Burlington (Mass.) High School's 2009 Super 8 squad and played a PG year at Canterbury, is very plugged in to the local player pool, primarily through his business, PRS Hockey, in which he's worked with everyone from the Boston-area's top youth players up through NHL draft picks. Russo, who has also served as a USHL scout, will be at the St. Louis Blues Rookie Development Camp this July, working as a skills/skating instructor. In the fall he will coach the South Shore Kings U14s. Russo will be keeping PRS Hockey going while he coaches BB&N, as he is being brought in solely to coach the hockey team.
"Since I was 15, I've kept a coaching notebook," says Russo, who started PRS Hockey in his junior year at Salem State. "I knew since I was a kid that this was what I wanted to do."
Ries, his mentor at Brooks, says Russo "has charisma and connects with people well. He'll build strong bonds with players right away."
"Also," adds Ries, "he can look at teams and players and quickly figure out their strengths and weaknesses, which will improve his own team and allow them to attack opponents better. His reputation as a skills coach is very well earned. As his own players get better, others will follow them to BB&N. He will find players that are a good fit for BB&N, players who can contribute to the school in many other areas."
Russo says, "If you genuinely care about each individual, invest in their development and communicate effectively, consistently and frequently, the team game will start to take care of itself. These are teenage boys, not pawns on a chess board. My main job is at practice. Game Day is for the players. Too many coaches want to directly affect the outcome of the game. I want to directly affect the players and then let them affect the game."
"It's about helping kids find the best version of themselves. Our goal is to have the most passionate hockey team in the ISL. My job is to inspire them to fall in love with the sport and to fall in love with the journey. The hockey culture in New England has become so "end goal" based that I'm constantly seeing kids forget why they're in the rink. That won't be us. There will be purpose and meaning inside of our program each day."
"This won't be a hockey team that happens to attend BB&N. This will be BB&N's hockey team. We will be heavily involved in the community, focused in the classroom, and looking for well-rounded, disciplined student-athletes, not just good hockey players. I want to create something that the alumni are proud to come back to and something that young athletes in the area aspire to reach."
Sun. 5/8/16
'01 World Selects Invitational Schedule
The '01 World Selects Invitational will be held in Philadelphia -- at the Flyers' Skate Zones in Voorhees and Pennsauken, NJ -- Wed. May 18th through Sun. May 22nd.
We're talking about just one birth year but, if past is prologue, you will see a lot of players who will be at Select 15s next month in Buffalo, NY. What's more, you'll have the opportunity to see them go up against some of the top '01s from Europe. That gives this tournament a different flavor.
The 22 confirmed teams include: East Coast Selects O, East Coast Selects Q, West Coast Selects, Finland Selects, Sweden Selects, Czech Selects, Finland Warrior Stars, Ural Selects, Hockey Essentials, Pro Hockey Conacher, Pro Hockey Moyer / Pearson, DHI, All American Prospects, Hockey Concepts, Northeast Elite, East Coast Militia, Bauer Selects, Team Colorado, Power One Capitals, Jr. Lions, THP Hockey, and the Oshawa Generals.
There will be an all-star game Saturday May 21st at 2:15 pm.
Here's the schedule:
'01 World Selects Invitational Schedule
And the tournament website:
'01 World Selects Invitational
Thurs. 5/5/16
Elite Hockey Coaches Seminar
The Elite Hockey Coaches Seminar, which was brought back last spring after a ten-year absence, will take place on Saturday May 15th in the Blue Line Club at Merrimack College's Lawler Arena.
The seminar, which runs from 10 am to 2 pm and is geared toward prep and high school coaches, features a strong group of presenters that include Norm Bazin, Billy Gilligan, Mike Souza, Ryan Soderquist, and Toot Cahoon. Also included is a panel discussion and, of course, lunch.
The seminar is run by Brendan Sheehy, Sr., now retired from his dual positions at Bauer and as Hockey East's Supervisor of Officials, and his son Mike, who is with TSR Sports.
The seminar's web site has details on the topics that will be covered, along with registration details.
Elite Hockey Coaches Seminar
Tues. 5/3/16
2016 USHL Drafts
The USHL held its Phase I Draft -- for '00 birthdates only -- last night in Plymouth, Michigan.
The results of the draft, which ran for ten rounds, were posted live on the USHL website, but only players selected in the first five rounds had the teams they played for this past season listed next to their names.
This strikes us as unfair, almost as if players in the lower half of the draft, and the teams that produced them, were afterthoughts.
No problem, though. We did the work, digging through whatever we had to dig through, and added in teams for the 80 players selected in rounds 6-10. We also made corrections where needed and now feel this is the most complete draft list available. It will remain on USHR in perpetuity. If we made any mistakes please let us know.
Of interest this year was the large amount of players selected from Canadian (24) and European teams (5). A handful of these players are either American or dual citizens, but the vast majority are Canadian and subject to import limits. Most were taken in late rounds as fliers, though a significant number would have been take in the top half of the draft were they born below the 49th parallel.
2016 USHL Phase I Draft
Round 1:
1. Sioux Falls -- Gavin Hain, C, Grand Rapids HS
2. Des Moines -- Braden Costello, F, Grand Forks Red River HS
3. Omaha -- No Pick, Used Tender - Emilio Pettersen, Selects Academy U16
4. Madison -- Ryan O'Reilly, RW, Dallas Stars U16
5. Waterloo -- Ben Brinkman, LD, Edina HS
6. Chicago -- Blake McLaughlin, C, Grand Rapids HS
7. Fargo -- Ryan Savage, C, EC Red Bull Salzburg
8. Youngstown -- No Pick, Used Tender - Curtis Hall, Cleveland Barons
9. Sioux Falls -- No Pick, Used Tender - Jaxon Nelson, Luverne HS
10. Waterloo -- Colin Schmidt, C, Wayzata HS
11. Lincoln -- No Pick, Used Tender - Christian Krygier, Compuware
12. Tri-City -- Jace Foskey, RD, Dallas Stars U16
13. Bloomington -- No Pick, Used Tender - Calen Kiefiuk, Honeybaked
14. Dubuque -- Jacob Semik, LD, Honeybaked
15. Green Bay -- Jackson Perbix, C, Elk River HS
16. Cedar Rapids -- No Pick, Used Tender - TJ Walsh, Cushing Academy
Round 2:
1. Sioux City -- No Pick, Used Tender - Sampo Ranta, EC Red Bull Salzburg
2. Des Moines -- Stanislav Demin, LD, Anaheim Jr. Ducks
3. Omaha -- No Pick, Used Tender - Jack Randl, Chicago Mission
4. Madison -- Devlin McCabe, C, St. Paul Academy (Minn.)
5. Muskegon -- No Pick, Used Tender - Andrei Svechnikov, Ak Bars Kazan
6. Chicago -- Alec Regula, RD, Cranbrook Kingswood School (Mich.)
7. Muskegon -- Caleb Everett, RD, Honeybaked
8. Youngstown -- No Pick, Used Tender - Max Ellis, Honeybaked
9. Sioux Falls -- Matt Gould, LW, Boston Jr. Bruins
10. Waterloo -- Ben Helgeson, C, Hill-Murray HS
11. Lincoln -- Chase McLane, C, Little Caesar’s
12. Waterloo -- Jack Drury, C, Chicago Mission
13. Bloomington -- Brady Smith, RD, Chicago Mission
14. Dubuque -- Aiden Fulp, C, Chicago Fury
15. Green Bay -- Demetrios Koumontzis, C, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes
16. Chicago -- Adam Robins, C, North Jersey Avalanche
Round 3:
1. Sioux City -- Todd Scott, G, Omaha AAA Lancers
2. Des Moines -- Christian Stoever, G, Honeybaked
3. Omaha -- Dawson Klein, RD, Lakeville South HS
4. Madison -- Landon Langenbrunner, F, Cloquet HS
5. Chicago -- Brandon Tabakin, LD, North Jersey Avalanche
6. Chicago -- Samuel Stevens, C, Shattuck-St. Mary's
7. Chicago -- Jeremie Bucheler, RD, Lac St-Louis Lions
8. Youngstown -- Jordan Harris, LD, Kimball Union Academy
9. Sioux Falls -- John Murray, D, Noble & Greenough School
10. Madison -- Kevin Wall, RW, Buffalo Jr. Sabres
11. Lincoln -- Phillippe Lapointe, RW, Chicago Mission
12. Tri-City -- Wyllum Deveaux, LW, Don Mills Flyers
13. Bloomington -- Drew Elser, LW, Selects Academy U16
14. Dubuque -- Benjamin Sanderson, LW, NWCAA Stampeders
15. Green Bay -- Ethan Frisch, RD, Moorhead HS
16. Cedar Rapids -- Drew DeRidder, G, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies
Round 4:
1. Sioux City -- Mathieu De St. Phalle, RW, Chicago Mission
2. Des Moines -- Brady Ziemer, RD, Holy Family Catholic
3. Omaha -- Jimmy Dowd, RD, New Jersey Jr. Titan
4. Madison -- Luke Loheit, F, Minnetonka
5. Chicago -- Xan Gurney, LD, Compuware U16
6. Muskegon -- Bryan Lockner, RW, Colorado Thunderbirds
7. Fargo -- Sammy Steele, C, WBS Knights U16
8. Youngstown -- Cameron Hillis, C, York-Simcoe Express
9. Cedar Rapids -- Jacques Bouquot, C, Salisbury School
10. Waterloo -- Ryan Drkulec, C, Shattuck-St. Mary's
11. Lincoln -- Wyatt Schlaht, F, St. Sebastian's School
12. Tri-City -- Jack Jensen, LW, Eden Prairie HS
13. Sioux Falls -- MacIntyre Wiseman, LD, Skipjacks Hockey Club
14. Green Bay -- Ben Schultheis, RD, Minnetonka HS
15. Green Bay -- Chase Pletzke, C, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies
16. Cedar Rapids -- Harrison Roy, C, Boston Jr. Bandits
Round 5:
1. Sioux City -- Jackson Wozniak, RD, LA Jr. Kings
2. Tri-City -- Jack Lagerstrom, F, Shattuck-St. Mary's U16
3. Omaha -- Dylan Schneider, G, Hermantown HS
4. Madison -- Isaiah Saville, G, West Anchorage HS
5. Muskegon -- Matt Staudacher, LD, Shattuck-St. Mary's
6. Muskegon -- Owen Farris, C, Dallas Stars U16
7. Fargo -- Conner Hutchison, LD, Selects Hockey Academy U16
8. Youngstown -- Cade Murnan-Mechor, RD, Buffalo Jr. Sabres
9. Sioux Falls -- Mike Vorlicky, RD, Edina HS
10. Waterloo -- Michael Ferrandino, RD, Chicago Young Americans U16
11. Lincoln -- Cole Krygier, LW, Little Caesar’s
12. Tri-City -- Ryan Roth, C, St. Louis AAA Blues U16
13. Bloomington -- Jeremy Davidson, RW, Shattuck-St. Mary's
14. Dubuque -- Logan Pietila, C, Compuware
15. Green Bay -- Tyler Spott, LD, Toronto Marlboros
16. Cedar Rapids -- Cannon Green, F, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies
Round 6:
1. Sioux City -- Jack Babbage, LD, Don Mills Flyers Minor Midget AAA
2. Des Moines -- Cam Knuble, RW, Fox Motors U16
3. Omaha -- Tyler Carpenter, C, Chicago Mission 16U
4. Madison -- Hunter Carrick, LD, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies
5. Chicago -- Marek Wazny, C, Toronto Jr. Canadiens Minor Midget AAA
6. Cedar Rapids -- Alex Nordstrom, F, Hancock Central HS (Mich.)
7. Fargo -- Coltan Wilkie, LD, Omaha AAA Lancers U16
8. Youngstown -- Andrew Coxhead, C, Dartmouth (NS) Major Midget
9. Sioux Falls -- Riley Hughes, RW, St. Sebastian’s School
10. Waterloo -- Ian Mageau, RW, Duluth East HS
11. Lincoln -- Trevor Peca, RW, Buffalo Jr. Sabres U16
12. Lincoln -- Zach Dubinsky, LW, Chicago Mission 16U
13. Bloomington -- Jake Murray, C, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget AAA
14. Fargo -- Mason Salquist, C, Grand Forks Red River HS
15. Green Bay -- Noah Prokop, C, Shattuck-St. Mary’s U16
16. Cedar Rapids – PJ Garrett, LD, Thayer Academy
Round 7:
1. Sioux City -- Will Brown, RD, Colorado Thunderbirds U16
2. Des Moines -- Justin Engelkes, LW, Team Wisconsin U16/Middleton HS
3. Omaha -- Mike Higgins, RD, Boston Advantage U18
4. Madison -- Christian Felton, RD, Cleveland Barons U16
5. Muskegon -- Connor Sweeney, F, Pingree School (Mass.)
6. Chicago -- Braydon Leeking, C, Central Ontario Wolves Minor Midget AAA
7. Fargo -- Valentino Passarelli, RW, Detroit Honeybaked U16
8. Youngstown -- Thomas Kramer, F, BC High
9. Sioux Falls -- Brehdan Engum, LD, Burnsville HS
10. Bloomington -- Tommy Lyons, C, St. Sebastian’s School
11. Lincoln -- Jack McBain, C, Don Mills Flyers Minor Midget
12. Tri-City -- Matthew Falls, C, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
13. Bloomington -- Bradley Marek, LW, Fox Motors U16
14. Dubuque -- Noah Kim, RD, Cushing Academy
15. Green Bay -- Christian Berger, LD, St. Louis AAA Blues U16
16. Cedar Rapids -- Ethan Manderville, RW, Gloucester Rangers Midget AAA
Round 8:
1. Sioux City -- Jake Seitz, RW, Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl HS
2. Des Moines -- Tony Andreozzi, LD, Rivers School
3. Omaha -- Adam Steinwold, LD, Victory Honda U16
4. Madison -- Dane Stoyanoff, RD, Cloquet Bantams (Minn.)
5. Muskegon -- Donny Borgula, RW, Little Caesar’s U16
6. Chicago -- Anderson MacDonald, LW, Saint John (N.B.) Vito’s Midget AAA
7. Fargo -- Brady Hinz, C, Huron Perth Minor Midget AAA
8. Youngstown -- Peter Muzyka, LD, Toronto Titans Minor Midget AAA
9. Sioux Falls -- Jack Bayless, F, Minnetonka Bantams (Minn.)
10. Waterloo -- Andy Stoneman, C, Shattuck-St. Mary’s U16
11. Lincoln -- Noah Dobson, LD, EC Red Bull Salzburg U18
12. Tri-City -- Connor Hopkins, G, Belmont Hill School
13. Bloomington -- Hunter Brackett, C, Boston Junior Bruins 16U
14. Dubuque -- Ryder Donovan, F, Duluth East HS
15. Green Bay -- Kacper Ryba, LW, Chicago Young Americans U16
16. Cedar Rapids -- Jordan Tonelli, C, Taft School
Round 9:
1. Sioux City -- Zach Zemlak, RD, Lakeville South HS
2. Des Moines -- Luke Robinson, RD, San Jose Jr. Sharks 16U
3. Omaha -- Luke Mountain, RW, Shattuck-St. Mary’s U16
4. Madison -- Parker Storck, F, Madison Capitols U16
5. Muskegon -- Zachary Borgiel, G, Honeybaked
6. Chicago -- Nicholas Seitz, LW, North Jersey Avalanche U16
7. Fargo -- Jonathan Tychonick, LD, Calgary Flames Midget AAA
8. Youngstown -- Jack Malone, RW, Delbarton School
9. Sioux Falls -- Kyler Grundy, C, Milwaukee Jr. Admirals U16
10. Waterloo -- Tyler Borsch, LD, Maple Grove HS
11. Lincoln -- Max Johnson, RD, Osseo HS
12. Tri-City -- Logan Cash, C, Halifax (NS) Jr. Macs
13. Bloomington -- Patrick Keegan, LD, Billerica HS
14. Dubuque -- Nick Azarovitz, RD, Detroit Little Caesar’s
15. Green Bay -- Luke Moncada, LW, Toronto Red Wings Minor Midget AAA
16. Cedar Rapids -- Brendan Budy, C, Delta Hockey Academy
Round 10:
1. Sioux City -- Drew Bavaro, D, Lawrence Academy
2. Des Moines -- Mathias Laferriere, RW, Lac St-Louis Lions
3. Omaha -- Reed Stark, LW, New Jersey Colonials 16U
4. Madison -- Jack Michels, F, Madison Capitols 16U
5. Muskegon -- Ryan Stevens, F, Duxbury HS
6. Chicago -- Jared McIsaac, LD, Cole Harbour (NS) Major Midget
7. Fargo -- Ross Mitton, RW, North Jersey Avalanche U16
8. Youngstown -- Nolan Barrett, RD, New Jersey Hitmen 16U
9. Sioux Falls -- Peter Deliberatore, LD, Dartmouth (NS) Midget Major
10. Waterloo -- Evan MacKinnon, C/LW, Dartmouth (NS) Midget Major
11. Lincoln -- Beck Moore, LW, Colorado Thunderbirds U16
12. Tri-City -- Hunter Nofs, C/RW, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 15U
13. Bloomington -- Arttu Nevasaari, RW, Karpat U18 (Finland)
14. Dubuque -- Nick Castro, C, LA Jr. Kings U16
15. Green Bay -- McKade Webster, F, Shattuck-St. Mary’s U16
16. Cedar Rapids -- Calvin Dybicz, LD, Milwaukee Jr. Admirals U16
***
2016 USHL Phase II Draft
Phase II of the USHL Draft was held this morning, and the results are here:
Phase II Results; 2016 USHL Draft
Mon. 5/2/16
Phase I of USHL Draft Tonight
Phase I of the 2016 USHL Draft -- '00 birthdates -- gets underway tonight (Mon. May. 2) at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
Tonight's draft, formerly known as the Futures Draft, will run for ten rounds and can be followed live starting at 7:00 pm EST on the USHL's Draft Tracker.
Phase II of the USHL draft will be tomorrow, Tues. May 3, and will get underway at 9:00 am EST and is open to players of all ages who are eligible to play junior hockey and are not already protected by another USHL team.
