Neutral Zone headed to Marlboro, MA for the Fall Beantown Classic October 26-29, 2017. This report is on the U18 Division only. The Guelph Gryphons from Ontario beat the Cape Cod Whalers and Selects Academy on route to the championship. Guelph had the youngest squad in this division and played a smart team game with great goaltending to get the job done.
Below are 105 players that we thought stood out at this event. They range from 1999-2001. We did not see every team and only reported on players that did something noteworthy. We did not simply report on “good” players. They had to play well. Players below did well to make this report. Grades are for this weekend and relative to others on this report. Click on a player’s name for his profile, stats, additional reports and at star ratings.
Forwards
A
Phillip Vanderlaat #19 (F, L, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Phillip pushed pace and can make plays at top speed. His stride, straight line speed, first step, balance and agility are all very good. He was able to use his skill in space and also in traffic. Good cycle game as he always looked to the net. His hands are slick and he showed he could manage the puck, make smart/simple decisions and also break defenders down and create. One of the best players in the U18 Division.
Stepan Pokorny #18 (F, L, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-High skilled player who made something positive happen each shift. Had the puck a lot and controlled the tempo of the game. Played the point on the power play and scored a nice goal on a catch and shoot; depositing the puck quickly in the top corner. He is smart, instinctive, slick and athletic. Lots of upside as a top six forward in junior hockey and beyond.
Jay O’Brien #9 (F, R, CC Whalers, late 1999, Thayer)-Lots of eyes on O’Brien this summer and fall as he enters his draft year. He was the best player here by a lot. His creativity has been documented on our site. What we liked was that he looked strong, played tough and took a professional approach. He scored on a rebound, on a drag and shoot. He moved the puck to smart spots with both short, drop passes and long, cross ice feeds. His skating is excellent and he carried his added strength well. The Whalers played a lot of pond hockey when we watched but his approach remained focused. College: Providence
John Kaljian #17 (F, L, Belle Tire, late 1999)-John was quite simply one of the best players at Beantown. He has great size and strength at 6’2” and 201lbs. His skating is good as he showed a long stride that allowed him to separate from opponents. He finished his checks, worked in all three zones and showed why he wears the “C” for Belle Tire. Good below the dots and willing to take the eyes of the goalie away, Kaljian also worked the cycle well. He has excellent hands and scored a goal on a one-time on the rush in the first contest we watched. Against the CC Whalers as a left shot on the left wing, he walked the D, separated quickly and scored on a pretty deke and backhand bury. Lots of skill at top speed. He was excellent here and did it all.
Anthony Mastromonica #24 (F, L, Selects Academy, 2000)-At 6’3” and 200lbs, Anthony was a factor all over the ice here. He was very willing to go to scoring areas and took the goalies’ eyes away. Worked to gain position first as he was near impossible to move once there. His skating is better than he gets credit for but he is not a burner. Power forward who managed the puck very well and pushed opponents around to gain possession. His puck touches were consistent. Strong on the puck and can fire it. His effort was the most impressive part of his game was that he played hard every moment of every shift. Tough to play against and his approach was unmatched.
Kyle Haskins #9 (F, L, Selects Academy, 2000)-Kyle is smart in all three zones. The 2000 settled into great spots to catch and shoot on several occasions. He was relentless in his puck pursuit and we noted several times that he was slick/slippery in traffic and through seams. He processes his options with the puck quickly and can execute his plan. His stride is strong but he did not show elite speed. Net front was good. His effort in all three zones was excellent. Played behind the puck and only took care of his end. Came back hard to create back pressure towards his end. College: Michigan St.
Gunnar Fontaine #6 (F, L, Little Bruins, late 2000, Lawrence)-Gunnar gets better and better each time we watch. He never got outworked here and the fact that he has high-end skill as well, makes him unique. He is undersized and will have to maintain his strength and weight to play as hard as he does over time, however. He scored a goal where Colangelo had the puck wide. Fontaine beat two defenders up ice and to the net, caught the pass, waited for the goalie to slide by and buried the puck far side. Showed effort and skill in one play and it sums up his abilities.
Zachary Russell #14 (F, L, Jr. Gryphons, 2001)-The 2001 was one of the best players here. Zachary has a nice stride, acceleration, balance and vision on his skates. Played in all situations, took great angles in puck pursuit. He made an important play in the neutral zone against the CC Whalers at the end of the semi-final win for Guelph by working to get back and stopping a dangerous looking line rush. He made plays on the rush, below the dots and in his end. In two wins against highly ranked Selects and Cape Cod Whalers, Russell may not have been the best player on the ice, but the 2001 played better than anyone else.
Eric Maltby #9 (F, L, Jr. Gryphons, 2001)-Eric passes the eye test, He has a strong stride with an upright style that allows for balance and vision. He separated quickly when he found space with the puck and can play through contact. Good height at 6’ with room to add weight, the 2001 played in every situation, played tough in his end and rounded out the first line for Guelph with Krieger and Russell. Was out at the end of both close semi-final and final games.
Brayden Krieger #71 (F, L, Jr. Gryphons, 2001)-Played on the top line for Guelph. Long, lanky forward with a good glide. Swooped in to gather pucks on the forecheck, found pucks and started offense quickly. He attacked the net and went to tough areas. Brayden worked hard to get back to his end and showed a smart, defensive stick. All situations, two-way center who can do a little bit of everything and did that here. Played in key spots against older competition and with success. Did whatever it took to help his team win. Must add weight.
A-
Ian Carpentier #91 (F, L, Jr. Bruins, 2000)-Ian was the Bruins’ most productive player. Tall and thin, he is light on his feet, showed he could hunt down pucks and change direction. He played with a long reach and smart stick. Won races to loose pucks, finished checks, had enough skill to make plays and worked hard. Good on the penalty kill because of his skating and reach. Nice release and velocity on his shot and moved to good shooting spots without possession. Scored a goal on an outside/in dangle followed by a great shot bar-down. Also set up another goal on a quick lateral move and backhand pass. He must add weight/strength. The 2000 is smart and skilled with upside as an all situations type.
Jay Dziegelewski #98 (F, R, Honeybaked, 1999)-Jay was very quick to pucks and scored a couple goals when we watched. One, he intercepted a pass, separated and buried the puck under the bar on a nice fake. Showed poise and skill. He knew exactly what he wanted to do and executed it. Scored another goal on a forehand bury on the rush. He worked hard on the forecheck, showed quick hands a good first step. He is small but size didn’t limit. Moved constantly so was tough to cover. Started in the NA3HL and looked like a player that should be at the junior level.
Samuel Myers #23 (F, L, Skipjacks, 2000)-The 2000 is still raw and we thought he was inconsistent without the puck when we watched. However, Sam is big and tough. Tough to handle on the rush and seems to have nice an ability to start transition in the middle zone. His hands are good and his stride is productive. As he adds more strength, he should be able to add more speed. Took good angles to pucks. He has a lot of upside and signed a tender to play in the NCDC for the Jersey Hitmen soon after this event.
Drew Lorinchak #14 (F, R, Skipjacks, late 1999)-Drew started the season in the NAHL. He is long, strong and still raw. The late 1999 put a lot of pucks at the net. He was willing to go to dirty areas and we liked that he showed the ability to slip through seams, separate and create shooting space. He is very good below the dots and a player to keep an eye on. Upside as a power forward with touch around the goal.
Cameron Trejchel #19 (F, R, Skipjacks, 2000)-We first noticed Cameron at the NA3HL Top Prospects last spring. We noted then that he was a bit inconsistent against older players. Even though there was some of that here (mostly in the neutral zone), his game has come along nicely. He looked stronger and played with an edge. Can really snap the puck on the goal. Worked hard with energy and smart angles to create turnovers on the forecheck. Interesting player who was tough to play against here. Upside as someone who can play up and down a roster in junior hockey and beyond.
John Doyle #8 (F, L, Honeybaked, 1999)-Joh showed good mobility in every direction coupled with a quick first step and very good straight-line speed. Played fast each shift. The puck does not slow him and he showed touch around the net with a rebound goal. He is a smart player who did well in all three zones by combining puck management with the ability to create. Went to dirty areas and worked hard, he is a recent addition from the WSHL.
Aidan McDonough #20 (F, CC Whalers, late 1999, Thayer)-Aidan is another player who has NHL eyes upon him. He was perhaps the strongest player in the U18 division. His skating is solid and he easily skated through sticks and contact. His game is a bit understated as he is more of a puck manager than creator. He dominated the corners most shifts and extended possession with his size/protection and reach. The Whalers lost both games we watched partly because they failed to create much below the dots and that’s where he would excel. He plays a pro style, can catch and shoot and is very tough to play against at this level. Lots of tools and as much upside as anyone here. College: Northeastern
Reilly Moran #6 (F, R, CC Whalers, 2000, Thayer)-Moran is fast. That is clear. Here, he used his speed very well. He is electric on the rush and in transition. On the forecheck up the ice, he pressed opponents into bad spots with pace and a good stick. That allowed his teammates behind him to react, step and intercept pucks. Reilly’s effort was excellent and his approach is smart. College: Army
Ryan Stevens #19 (F, L, CC Whalers, 2000, Nobles)-Stevens can skate and make plays on the rush. Good edges allow him to work to the net from the edge. Here, he showed a physical side that was excellent. Finished checks, won pucks along the wall and emerged from scrums with the puck consistently. He was still a bit inconsistent, specifically against Belle Tire but the last game, he was one of CC’s best players. Overall, he is trending in the right direction, looks confident and should be very good at Nobles this winter. College: Yale
Nash Hatcher #2 (F, Belle Tire, 2000)-Hatcher has a burst that allows him to get quickly to top speed either from a stop or from his glide. Tenacious in pursuit and unafraid at 135lbs. He can fly with the puck. His better game was against the 1999 heavy Whalers where he was a factor in a nice win. He took hits to make plays, was around the puck all game, won key faceoffs, had good first touches on pucks and played in every situation. Lots of upside as he adds strength, Tough and smart.
Tyler Williams #3 (F, L, Belle Tire, 2000)-Tyler is strong on his skates and can stop and start quickly. He used his agility to create all over the ice. Worked well with Hatcher and showed ability to camouflage his shot as a left shot on the right wing. Touches on pucks were consistently good and he showed he can break down defenders. Looked like he has added some weight and strength without losing any speed. Involved every shift and has upside.
Shane Pinto #12 (F, R, Selects Academy, late 2000)-We liked Shane at Beantown where we noted his play below the dots. Here, he showed another side of his game. He played more of the F3 role and also showed he can score. Played with pace in the middle zone at 6’2” and made smart decisions with the puck. Showed he could thread pucks through traffic. His first touches were nearly perfect. Scored a goal on the PP as he settled into the middle of the PK, caught and buried the puck. On the last day, he scored when he found a loose puck and quickly gathered and put it home. His hands are strong and quick, he anticipates well and he worked hard. Smart and consistent, he showed more versatility here than we had seen. Player that can play all three forward positions, up and down a roster.
Michael Colella #66 (F, L, Virtua, 1999)-Collella is tough and fast. He was all over the ice forcing the play in all three zones. His first step from a glide or a stop is elite. His transition game was electric at times. He rolled with contact in the corners and was very tough to defend. He is small at 5’7” and that could be a factor going forward. He checks all the other boxes. Smart, athletic, skilled and speedy. Lots of upside.
Kyle Peters #12 (F, L, Virtua, 2000)-Kyle is a hard-nosed, poised 200 foot centerman. His game is predicated on detail. He stayed on the correct side of the puck, won 1v1 battles, made simple passes and managed the puck. He played with an edge and caught several opponents with their heads down. Went to the net and played in every situation. Has some grit which made him tough to play against. Peters is the type of player coaches would want on their team and not as an opponent.
B+
Brian Adams #57 (F, L, Chicago Fury, late 1999)-Brian played with a nice combination of skill and energy. Hi team didn’t play well in the game we watched but he stood out. He wants the puck and works to get to good space without it. Played the point on the power play, showed a good first step and the ability to separate from scrums. There were a couple of times, he rushed and didn’t see open men up ice. He has a good skill set and looked like a player that can help a team win in a number of ways.
Trent Harsma #17 (F, R, Skipjacks, 2000)-A fast twitch player, Trent was all over the ice. Speed and agility allowed him to get in quickly on the forecheck and back quickly on the backcheck. He worked very hard and as a result was tough to play against. Around the puck and showed he could make plays. There were some times he skated himself into trouble. More changes in pace to put opponents’ D into bad gaps will help him as he grows his game.
Bryan Vandelinder #4 (F, R, Honeybaked, 1999)-Bryan is raw. Good size and strength. He can use his reach to extend possession and create as well as play through contact. Showed decent vision which seemed to get better as he got closer to the net. Good below the dots on the cycle. He moved well to shooting spots without the puck and got rubber on the goal. Showed a good stick in his end and worked. Upside as a three-zone power forward.
Peter Morgan #15 (F, R, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Peter made the Scorpions go. Undersized but tough and involved, he has an excellent first step and can change direction quickly to avoid contact. His edges are sharp and he was elusive in space on the rush and in zone on the cycle. He is tough to defend and is the captain of his team. He is light but unafraid and involved. Player to watch as he adds more strength and size.
Colton Sipperley #11 (F, L, Scorpions, late 2000)-Sipperley is quick, balanced and skilled. Played on the first group with Vanderlaat and Pokorny and showed he can play fast. His stick is quick, shot seemed to give goalies trouble and he was around the puck. Must add weight but he has a lot of upside.
Evan Googins #13 (F, R, CC Whalers, 1999, Thayer)-Googins was one of the older players here and it showed. He is a hard worker who can score but is willing/able to chip in numerous ways. Has a quick, hard shot that he gets to the net consistently. He worked hard on the forecheck and is excellent at hunting pucks in all three zones. His skating is decent and perhaps a bit underrated. Above average size, willing to take hits to make plays and will finish his checks. Versatile, smart and consistent. Should have a good year at Thayer. Tough to play against with offensive upside.
Jack Luca #8 (F, L, CC Whalers, 2000, Roxbury Latin)-If the rest of the Whalers played like Luca, they would have won every game. He is not particularly fast or skilled but he is very smart and worked hard all weekend. He managed the puck very well and used his teammates, putting them in spots so succeed. He took what defenders gave him when he had the puck and worked to get it back when he didn’t. Angles in pursuit were very good and his cycle game is productive below the dots. Smart and simple, we liked him here. Prep player to watch at Roxbury Latin.
Drew Galea #15 (F, R, Jersey Shore Whalers, 2000)-Galea is a new addition to our profiles. Scored a goal on the rush where he dipped inside, then outside, got to the net, deked and buried on a forehand shot. Showed a high level of skill and balance but also was clear he had a plan and executed it. Interesting player we want to watch more.
Jack Therrien #6 (D, L, Belle Tire, late 2000)-Therrien is an excellent skater and used his acceleration and speed to start transition and separate in the neutral zone. Let the puck do the work and made quick decisions in distribution and breakout passes. Used his backhand, played an unselfish style and made his forwards better. Picked pucks off the wall with ease. He must add some weight as he did look light along the wall but his overall tools are solid. He is athletic and versatile.
Luke Burke #19 (F, R, Belle Tire, 2000)-We had mixed feelings on his stride and skating. Looked a bit ugly at times but overall, he never had an issue getting to the point of attack. Luke was excellent in Belle Tire’s win against the Whalers. He scored a goal on the rush where he settled in a soft spot, prepared his blade and one-timed a puck home with authority on a pass from Armstrong. He worked hard in both games we watched. Used his core to protect the puck and managed it well. Smart and consistent, the 2000 was tough to play against.
EJ Miller #86 (F, L, Jr. Bruins, 1999)-EJ is a dangerous offensive player. He has lots of speed and lateral mobility. Very good on the rush as he is elusive and unpredictable. He showed a quick, hard shot that he hid well off his blade. Shot low to create rebounds. He is opportunistic but we would have liked to see him more involved without the puck. He seemed to conserve energy to play offense. He has some nice tools and upside as a 1999.
Ryan Sullivan #17 (F, R, Selects Academy, 2000)-Ryan showed up several times in our notes and mostly because he made smart, accurate and creative passes. He has excellent vision and slick hands to get pucks through sticks and on sticks with proper pace. Had puck possession time where he swiveled his hips to add an elusive element, create and protect the puck. He won races to pucks and accelerated well from his glide. Moved well, especially in the neutral zone, to get open without the puck. Interesting player who played in all situations. Upside and a new addition to our profiles.
Blake Tosto #27 (F, R, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, 1999)-Blake was strong on his skates and played a steady and consistent game. Decent size and upper body strength, he got pucks to the net. Touches were good. His cycle game was smart and he looked to get to the net. He is smart, understands situations and moved well without the puck. We had the words “smart” and “steady” next to his name in our notes a few times. Interesting and polished player wo would be a great compliment to a highly skilled center.
Max Kouznetsov #85 (F, L, Virtua, late 2000)-Max has a strong stride and made a lot of plays in different areas of the ice when we watched. He didn’t jump out at us every shift but he has a way of being at the right place at the right time. His hands are neat. He doesn’t use a wide stick handle but can slip pucks into opponents’ feet and between sticks to create shooting or passing space. Scored a goal on a breakaway as he snuck in behind the D. Really like to see him in junior hockey against older players as we think he would do well.
B
Lukas Radina #21 (F, L, Honeybaked, 1999)-Lukas has strong hands and he combined those with relentless puck pursuit to create turnovers and quick transition. Gathered pucks quickly. Made a nice pass to Vandelinder wo created a rebound for a goal. Radina processes his options quickly and can make plays before defenses have time to react. He has decent speed and excellent lateral movement with the puck.
Eric Thompson #22 (F, R, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Eric is a balanced skater. He finished his checks, worked hard to find pucks and showed a good stick in his own end. On your face type who created pressure on the forecheck and on the backcheck. He played the role of irritant and was not always pretty but he was effective. He can clean up his stride a bit and must add strength to play his style. However, he is smart, gritty and tough to play against. Helped his team find success.
Tristan Amonte #3 (F, R, CC Whalers, 2000, Thayer)-No one outworks Tristan. He never really got a lot going offensively but the 2000 hunted pucks, finished checks and went to tough areas. His long stickhandle allowed him to create some on the rush end on the cycle. Tough to play against in all three zones.
Ian Murphy #12 (F, R, CC Whalers, 1999, Dexter)-Ian went to scoring spots. Constant net-front presence, can catch and shoot or attack off the edge. We liked his defensive zone play as well. His stick was active and he took away passing and shooting lanes. He was effective in all three zones and looks poised for a great prep season. College: Williams
Zach Frescura #15 (F, L, Belle Tire, 2000)-Zach has a good glide and moved to smart spots before accelerating towards pucks. Played with pace on the rush and can distribute or skate the puck quickly in either direction. Used by his coaches in key spots and did well in those situations. Speed and smarts made him tough to play against. New addition to our profiles.
Tyler Reynolds #87 (F, R, Jr. Bruins, late 1999)-Tyler has an excellent offensive stick. Can create his shot and was willing to go to tough areas. Scored on a tap-in from Carpentier and another goal as a right shot on the right wing where he snapped a puck short side, high. It was an elite shot. He disguises his release well and has lots of velocity. We noticed him a lot as he was around the puck most shifts. Interesting with upside.
Ethan Bastien #10 (F, L, Little Bruins, late 2000, Lawrence)-Ethan scored a pretty goal off a faceoff win as he used a quick release to bury a shot off the bar and in the net. Showed upper body strength as he was able to play through contact and shoot through sticks. He is quick, fast and very strong. Played a north/south game with some wiggle. Tough to play against and should have a productive prep year. Nice thing about his game is that he can help his team win even when he does not score. Tough to play against and the late 2000 has upside.
Carson Nichols #9 (F, R, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, 1999)-Carson is a solid skater with slick hands. Made some creative plays at tops speed. Can keep his balance as he enters traffic. Showed well on the PP as he was patient and poised. Excellent vision and made quick decisions with the puck. Quick and fast to loose pucks.
Dayten Lylyk #8 (F, L, Jr. Gryphons, late 2001)-Dayten was one of the youngest players in the U18 Division. We liked his awareness. He made smart, short passes, didn’t force the puck to bad spots and worked hard in his end. He looked balanced on his skates at 6’ 170lbs. Lots of upside as we liked his approach. Smart and unselfish player as a late 2001.
Jared Fisher #43 (F, L, Jersey Shore Whalers, late 2000)-Jared stuck out on a weak Whalers team. He worked very hard and used a long reach and smart stick to find pucks. Got on defenders on the forecheck quickly and took smart angles. He didn’t look overly skilled but didn’t have much around him to help. Can add weight which will help his play in traffic. Balanced and around the puck a lot. Interesting player with upside.
B-
Connor Reed #13 (F, L, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Connor worked hard and was around the puck a lot. He went to tough areas and appears to have put on some weight since we say him last. He is slick in space and can change direction with the puck quickly. Can drag and shoot and create lanes to pass. He is trending in the right direction and his best hockey is ahead of him.
Jack Nisbet #18 (F, R, CC Whalers, 1999, Dexter)-Nisbet has both skill and size/strength. He is not, however, overly skilled or overly big/strong. As one of the older players here, there were times he simply should have dipped/driven to the net but instead he tried to dangle his way to the cage. Other times, he fired pucks when he could have waited and created. He is lucky in that he has the ability to play a few different ways but he must figure out when to do what to get to the net more. Lots of upside.
Nathan Hodges #9 (F, R, Belle Tire, 1999)-He made most of his plays below the goal line and off the cycle. He has good speed but his skating strength is in his balance. Strong core allowed him to play through contact and protect the puck. He managed the puck well and had a direct approach. Nathan has quick hands to collect pucks and shoot on net.
Ty Mathews #81 (F, R, Jr. Bruins, 2000)-Ty is rangy and raw. He caught our attention against Belle Tire with a nice shot that he snapped under the crossbar for a goal. He is opportunistic but must tighten his game up in traffic and around the puck. He gets overextended and appeared to be still growing into his body. Upside in his game.
Jake Veilleux #19 (F, R, Selects Academy, 2000)-Fired a puck top corner on the last day on a turnover as a right shot on the right wing. Showed off an accurate and hard shot. Quick release. He looked more like a shooter here as he moved well to scoring spots. Blocked shots and played all 200 feet. A player that is on an upswing and has lots of upside.
Zach Schrock #91 (F, L, Selects Academy, 2000)-Schrock played fast, through contact and hustled all over the ice. We didn’t notice him make any creative puck plays but he was still a factor. He is very tough and knocked opponents down with force. Relentless on the forecheck, he set the tone and made life difficult for opposing D. Tough to play against.
Colin Shea #82 (F, L, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, 2000)-Shea is very small right now but also very tough. H showed a quick stick to create, dispossess opponents and quick feet to match. Got in quickly on the forecheck and worked hard. Tough to play against at 5’6” and 140lbs. He is athletic with upside.
Domenic Garozzo #58 (F, L, Virtua, late 2000)-Domenic has lots of speed and lots of skill. Seemed to be around the puck a lot but more importantly, he was around a lot of positive plays for Virtua. Scored on a breakaway where he separated and buried. We liked his lateral movement as he could avoid checks and wiggle away from traffic. Excellent first step which allowed him to win races and force turnovers. Fast twitch athlete with upside as he is a late 2001.
Jacob Fries #89 (F, R, Jr. Gryphons, 2000)-Fries was all over the flew to free pucks and worked to create turnovers. Had enough skill to make plays and worked all 200 feet. Good on the PK and smart in his role as a second line center.
C+
Jacob Schnapp #8 (F, R, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Jacob is slippery and strong. Played through contact and remained aware of his offensive options. Wandered some in his own end but overall is a player that showed ability to make positive plays. Strong at 6’ 215lbs with a decent first step.
Andrew Remer #13 (F, Belle Tire, 2000)-Andrew made a huge block with the CC Whaler goalie out to help secure a win for his team. Not flashy, has decent size and made smart plays with the puck. Made others around him better and worked every shift.
Cole Murphy #61 (F, R, Jr. Bruins, late 2000)-Cole played power play, scored a goal as his net front presence was good. The late 1999 buzzed in all three zones, stayed mostly below the puck in his end and has good straight-line speed. Worked and was aggressive.
Trevor Lawler #27 (F, R, Jr. Bruins, 1999)-Trevor is strong and fast on his skates. He can shoot it in stride with authority. He has quick hands and is strong on the puck. Was a bit in and out here shift to shift and must add consistency, especially away from the puck. Has a gritty side to his gam that will help him as he moves up in levels.
Chris Miller #16 (F, R, Jr. Bruins, 1999)-He showed he can create with speed and had lots of puck possession time. He was excellent on the power play where he stood out. Skill to match his speed, we would like to see him again at a higher level. Has some nice tools. One of the oldest players in this division.
Christian Powers #77 (F, R, Little Bruins, 2000, Phillips Andover)-Powers is small but buzzed the puck all over the ice. His hands are clever and he made some slick passes. He won faceoffs, played hard and was tough to play against. Energy player with plenty of skill to make plays.
Hunter Brackett #68 (F, L, Little Bruins, late 2000, Tabor)-Brackett played fast, was around the puck and took hits to make plays. Used space well as he is a good passer. Puts others in spots to ma plays. His approach is focused and he worked very hard.
Braeden Trussler #23 (F, R, Jr. Gryphons, 2001)-Trussler is strong and showed a wide handle with the pucks. Used reach and strength to extend possession and make offensive plays. His skating is just average and he had to work hard to get to top speed. His effort and approach to the balanced that as he never really had trouble getting to good spots. Worked hard to create back pressure. He looked to be still figuring out his body and should smooth out his skating as he matures more.
C
Charley Hanewall #6 (F, L, Chicago Fury, late 1999-Hanewall has good size at 6’2” and room to add weight. Used his reach and strength to protect the puck and extend possession. Can play in all situations. Took a bad offensive zone penalty. New addition to our profiles, he has some tools to build on. Upside.
John Tsouroullis #7 (F, R, Honeybaked, late 2000)-John is small but very quick. Buzzed opponents to limit space and created transition. He was direct around the goal and willing to go to the cage. Hands looked decent and he worked hard. The late 2000 is a new addition to our profiles.
Banks Burkhart #23 (F, L, Honeybaked, 1999)-Big 1999 with reach, strength and lots of upside. He took goalies’ eyes away and limited space with decent angles in pursuit. His skating still needs some work. New addition to our profiles who is someone to keep an eye on.
Grant Michaels #17 (F, L, Honeybaked, 1999)-Grant is tough and strong on his skates. His straight-line speed is below average but he was excellent on the forecheck. His anticipation is good and he knew when to chase and when to wait. He did not have a lot of puck possession time but he made some things happen by creating chaos. His stride needs some work but he was a factor at times and did enough to make our profiles and this report.
Cameron Armstrong #16 (F, R, Belle Tire, late 1999)-Armstrong made a well-placed and paced pass to Burke on the rush. He didn’t overhandle the puck and generally moved it quickly to productive spots. Quick release on his shot and good feet allowed him to create offense. Player to watch.
Carson Grainer #7 (F, R, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, 2000)-Carson is a a new addition to our profiles. He caught our eye a few times. Great size and strength coupled with a decent stride allowed him to hunt pucks and win wall battles. He made crisp passes and finished his checks. Upside and a player to track as a 2000 birth year.
Dylan Feoli #95 (F, R, Virtua, 2000)-Feoli is a strong skater but not overly fast. Thick core allowed him to deflect most contact and create in space. Has clever hands to weave with the puck to space and find pucks in scrums. Mostly simple game overall with minimal flash. Played all 200 feet.
Defense
A
Jack Rathbone #5 (D, L, CC Whalers, 1999, Dexter)-It felt like Jack has the puck the entire time he was on the ice. He was easily the most talented defender here. He has added some strength/weight and still appeared quick on his skates. He s silky smooth in every aspect of his game. High risk/reward for sure st the midget level but he has the tools to recover from mistakes. In a semi-final loss, he wheeled through the neutral zone, gained the blue line, wheeled some more around the zone and turned quickly to fire a shot top corner for a goal. Lots of skill and lots of fun to watch. College: Harvard
Conner Hutchison #14 (D, L, Selects Academy, 2000)-Conner looked real slick with the puck and had it a lot. His skating is elite as he is quick, fast and balanced. Four-way mobility allowed him to defend with his feet and start transition quickly. Got sticks on pucks. He went back for pucks well and picked them off the wall with ease. His hands are quick and his outlets were accurate when we watched. Offensively, he pushed pace, took his ice and wheeled in zone to create seams. Lots of tools and a high level of athletic intelligence point to lots of upside in his game. College: Vermont
Zac Jones #39 (D, L, Selects Academy, late 2000)-Jones is fun to watch. He has electric feet and a stick to match. When he is in the offensive zone, he is like a running QB with no line of scrimmage. He will take his space and if wingers come out to defend him, he will distribute or create. Missed the net intentionally to facilitate play down low and shot to tips. His defending is equally as athletic as he was nearly impossible for puck carriers to lose. Gaps were tight and his stick was active. Tons of upside for the late 2000. College: UMass-Amherst
A-
Alec Freyberger #22 (D, R, Skipjacks, 1999)-Entering his second year with the Skipjacks, Alec showed off his poise, maturity and strength here. Good size at 6’1”, he has room to add weight/strength. He moved well laterally to defend and also to create passing and shooting lanes with the puck. Soft hands to receive and strong hands to protect the puck or dispossess opponents. He made the simple safe outlet but also saw plays up the ice. Nice quick, hard shot from the point, Can play in all situations and has a lot of upside. He did well here.
Tyler Lyewski #3 (D, L, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Tyler played a lot of key minutes and got better as the games went on. At 6’1” and 180lbs, he has an excellent stride that will allow him to add speed and strength over time. He gets around just fine now and closed space quickly in his end with an edge. His shot is excellent and he is relaxed/poised with the puck. His passes were effortless and his touches were good on the puck. He is raw with tons of tools. All situations type with lots of upside.
Drew Cooper #4 (D, L, Belle Tire, 2000)-Drew is strong on his skates. Poised with average first touches on pucks. Scored a goal after moving in from the blue line. He fanned on his initial shot attempt but remained calm, recovered and fired his mistake home. Against the CC Whalers, he played a smart, “stay at home” style. Good size and was able to push forwards away from his goal. He played an understated, effective, physical game in key situations. Can fill a lot of different roles and has upside, particularly on the offensive end.
Jake Frankenfield #53 (D, L, Virtua, 2000)-Jake is an athletic puck mover with great four-way mobility, acceleration and edges. He is very athletic and excellent on the power play. Avoided the forecheck with give and go, simple outlets and by changing direction with the puck. Made several long passes on the tape and put his forwards in great spots. Defended with his feet but his game is willing to bang when he has to and is tough. Fun to watch with tons of upside.
B+
Joshua Corrow #66 (D, R, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Josh has decent size and good four-way mobility, His gaps were very good here and that allowed him to defend well as well as start transition. His passes were smart and he put his forwards in good spots to make plays. Moved well to create along the offensive blue line. His stride is a bit wide and while that allows him to be balanced, if he can get his feet back under him, he can add another gear. Overall, he was solid, productive and has upside.
Vinny Prospal #21 (D, L, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Prospal played a heavy, defensive style. Great size and strength at 6’1” and 198lbs, he won every wall battle. Strong hands to gather loose pucks and snap passes up ice. There were some times he chased below the goal line and his skating is still raw, but overall, he is a player to watch as he is talented. Shut down type now with offensive upside.
Connor Lind #18 (D, R, Jr. Bruins, 1999)-Lind is a decent puck mover. Outlets had good pace and intent and he used the wall when he had to. His gaps were good and he pinched off the rush along the wall and also made some hits in space. He is compact and balanced and can explode to contact opponents. He was very good along the offensive blue line as he is athletic and can move laterally quickly with the puck. Played well on the PP as he was quick with the puck and can play in all situations. Good showing for the 1999.
Brian Scoville #11 (D, L, Jr. Bruins, 1999)-Scoville stuck out like a sore thumb at 6’3” and 205lbs. His skating is average but he is strong both on his skates and in his upper body. He consistently bullied his way to success around his net and in the corners. Still a bit raw and not a true puck mover, the 1999 projects as a shut-down/depth type at the next level. He should be playing junior as he seemed bored here.
Braden Doyle #9 (D, L, Little Bruins, 2001, Lawrence)-Doyle is very comfortable with the puck. Here he made mostly positive plays with the puck and certainly was willing to use his backhand, lure forecheckers in and handle the puck in all three zones. He has a short memory and recover both physically and mentally quickly. Confident and athletic, the 2001 looked good against older players. College: BU
B
Benjamin Goguen #55 (D, L, Honeybaked, 2000)-Goguen worked hard and is a solid all-around type. Played generally on the correct side of the puck, made basic plays with it on his stick and was quick to defend. Played a lot and in all situations and seemed to get better with more minutes. Must keep it simple to have success but he is athletic and has upside as a three-zone guy.
John Murphy #24 (D, L, CC Whalers, 2000, Thayer)-Murphy will be at Thayer and is a prep player with a lot of upside. He has good size and strength at 6’ and 185lbs. Played a role here as he was very good on the PK, made smart outlets and took care of his crease. Used leverage, hard work and smart angles to win corner battles. His puck play was basic and there were times he needed to quicken up with possession. He is still raw and interesting.
Trevor Spence #17 (D, R, CC Whalers, 2000, Nobles)-Spence has a good movement laterally and showed above average straight-line speed. His anticipation was very good here and is a real strength in his game. He is able to see opportunity to step, intercept a puck and start transition or create on his own. Moved well along the offensive blue. He defended fine and although that has been a criticism of ours, we didn’t see any issues in his end. Solid puck mover who can play in all situations with toughness.
Ryan Dineen #17 (D, L, Jersey Shore Whalers, 2000)-He has nice size at 6’2”. He showed a nice first step to defend and an accurate first pass from the zone. Skated well and the puck didn’t slow him down. Played in all situations and a lot for the JS Whalers. He looked long and raw, must add weight but has upside as a versatile defender the junior level.
Nick Dineen #16 (D, L, Selects Academy, late 2000)-Dineen played a physical game and showed he could pinch off the rush, defend the corners and take care of his crease. Started transition with quick passes up ice. His passes were crisp and on the tape. Strength, smarts and upside for the late 2000.
Anthony Tropea #48 (D, L, Virtua, late 2000)-Anthony has good size at 6’2” and played in all situations here for Virtua. The late 2000 defended well and we liked how he showed confidence skating backwards as he stood tall, prepared and poised. He hid his long reach well and got sticks on pucks. Used leverage and strength in the corners to puck forwards away from his net. Protected the puck well and made simple outlets. Showed decent ability to carry the puck. Shut down type who led by example as a late 2000.
Alex Coverdale #27 (D, R, Jr. Gryphons, 2000)-Alex is strong and thick and he used that to his advantage to defend his end. His outlets were very good, he is smart and balanced on his skates. Really played well in the final game where he did a little bit of everything. New addition to our profiles and a player to watch.
B-
Nicholas Chiocca #2 (D, R, Skipjacks, late 2000)-Nick showed a nice ability to put his forwards in good spots up ice. He can thread pucks through sticks and put proper pace on his passes. He went beck well for pucks and was at his best with the puck on his stick We didn’t get a great sense of his ability to carry or defend in his end but he has some tools that should allow him to evolve into a puck mover. Good size at 6’ and obvious upside as a late 2000.
Nicholas Rittenhouse #76 (D, R, Tampa Scorpions, 2000)-Rittenhouse started transition well and has a clever stick to defend and get pucks to his teammates. Worked hard in is end and got to the paint before opponents. Decent size at 6’ and skated well. Must be careful to not skate to his backhand. Good prospect with upside as a two-way defenseman.
Joey Borthwick #14 (D, R, Belle Tire, 2000)-Borthwick played a smart, steady game and we noted him most in a win against the CC Whalers. Clogged up shooting and passing lanes with calculated gaps and a good stick. In the case of younger defensemen, it is often good that we don’t notice them a lot. We felt that way about Joey. He just did the right things, played to the situation and was one of the best players on the ice for the Whalers win. Does a lot well.
Tom McFarlane #16 (D, L, Jr. Gryphons, 2000)-Tom s a smaller, athletic, smart defenseman. He looked comfortable with the puck but didn’t try to do too much. Picked pucks off the wall and went blade to sick easily. Surrounded the puck and managed it well. Worked hard and dove for pucks. The 2000 was active and productive.
C+
Jayson Dobay #7 (D, L, CC Whalers, 1999, Thayer)-Dobay is talented and should be an excellent college player. Upside at the highest level. Here, he was inconsistent. Flashes of his ability to skate the puck from his end and eliminate time and space showed up but not often enough. He played entitled at times. Took a penalty for a hot after the whistle in the semi-finals and then slashed a player after the final buzzer. He must clean those things up as he is far too good a player. College: UMass-Amherst
C
Brandon Engtow #9 (D, L, Skipjacks, 1999)-The captain of the Skipjacks, Brandon is an undersized defender who did some decent things here. He worked and fought for pucks. Played in all situations. He is agile but lacks recovery/straight line speed. He got in trouble when he wandered in his end as he lacks the strength to regain defensive position. He is poised and will improve. He must stay behind the puck and simplify his game some to become more consistent.
Gijs De Schepper #33 (D, R, Jr. Bruins, 2000)-The big D from Belgium is raw and interesting. He only played in one game we watched. He is a stay at home type at 6’1: with room to add weight. Got to corners quickly to defend. When he was physical he was effective as he is strong, tough and tough to play against at this level. When he tried to reach, he was not as effective. Upside as a shut-down type.
John Copeland #15 (D/F, Little Bruins, 1999, Belmont Hill)-Copeland played D here when we watched. He seemed to be able to see the second level up ice when he had possession and his height at 6’7” allowed him to see the whole zone from the offensive point. His reach is obvious but there are some subtle things he will have to improve if he makes this move permanently. He must hide his stick better while skating backwards. Gain position in front before opponents and take better angles going back for pucks. Certainly, an interesting move that could propel him to another level. He has lots of upside.
Frank Errig #5 (D, R, Virtua, late 1999)-Frank is strong, pinched off the rush well and played a physical style at 6’ and 180lbs. Gaps were good. Can see the second level on the breakout and hit the stretch man.Played an understated yet effective game.
Donavin McClellan #4 (D, L, Virtua, 2000)-Donavin is a stay at home type defenseman. He looked and played bigger than his listed 5’10” and 150lbs. Quick to defend with a smart sick and good reach. Strong in the crease. One to watch as we didn’t get a great sense of his puck play here.
Goalie
A
Matthew Dunsmoor #35 (G, Jr. Gryphons, 2001)-We didn’t have our goalie scout here but Dunsmoor stood out enough that we included him here. He was nearly unbeatable on the last day as the 2001 scrapped and fought his way to a win against a CC Whalers team with several NHL picks/prospects. In the final game, he stopped a bunch to earn a shutout, championship and a win against another highly regarded U18 squad in Selects. His glove s quick and he caught everything. Decent size, athletic and quick. Anticipated well and fought in his crease. He was excellent.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images