Thanksgiving Weekend: Aberdeen, Austin, Maryland, Amarillo, Johnstown
The NAHL might not feature the high round prospects, but the hard nosed style of play and competitive nature of the players always makes Neutral Zone watch for potential late round steals and college free agents.
| Natan Vertes | Aberdeen Wings | NAHL | L | F | 5’11” | 172 | Alaska Fairbanks | 2021 | Budapest | 2000 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Vertes showed his offensive skill this weekend grabbing a nice goal, but easily could have had a few more. He is an offensive minded player that thrives when he has possession of the puck. His shot accuracy is good as well and he forces goalies to have to make good saves on almost every shot he takes. He also excels at supporting the puck well in the offensive zone and is able to find open areas of the ice with his movement. He is a dangerous player when on the attack. Grade: B
NAHL: NTDP U18 vs. St. Cloud and Aberdeen vs. Austin, October 2020: Vertes played a solid game this weekend and found himself on the score-sheet as well collecting a couple goals and an assist. Friday night he did a good job contributing defensively for his team in a close game. He did a great job blocking shots and sacrificing the body to preserve their lead. Saturday night Vertes showed his offensive ability scoring on the powerplay and grabbing an assist off a nice pass on a 2 on 1 play. He is a smart player that excels at doing his job well and contributing in all scenarios. His greatest strength this weekend was in the transition game where he looked to use his speed on breakouts to beat defenders and establish an aggressive forecheck on dump ins. It was a very solid preseason weekend for Vertes. Grade: B+
NAHL Showcase Part One, December 2019: The Hungarian hit the ice prepared for his first games in a North American league. He picked up six points in the four games at the Showcase. He is a bit stiff when he skated but looked balanced and skated through contact with ease. He is not a giant but very strong. He used leverage to his advantage and his balanced skating. He showed poise with the puck even through stick checks and traffic. He scored a hattrick against Lone Star in a loss on the first day. One from the slot where he was poised, outwaited the goalie and ripped one home. The other two were a result of a strong net front presence and heavy stick to bury rebounds. Natan worked hard on the forecheck as he pinned defensemen and got off checks. He can grind shifts out and was on the puck a lot. He is not explosive but has great edges and thus terrific balance. He may need to add that extra step for DI hockey but his play here was excellent and he stood out while also producing. Grade: A-
| Nicolas DeVita | Aberdeen Wings | NAHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 195 | Ferris State | 2021 | Bellevue, WA | 2001 | College F/A |
DeVita only played in Saturday’s game, but had a good showing and has the ability to be a dominant defenseman for his team. He makes plays quickly and decisively with good execution as well. He excels at identifying his options before he retrieves the puck, and is able to move the puck accurately to his teammates regardless of the pressure he is facing. He did a good job on the powerplay as well using his feet and skating ability to open up passing lanes from the point, and get the occasional shot on goal as well. Grade: B-
| Sutter Muzzatti | Austin Bruins | NAHL | L | F | 6’5″ | 210 | RPI | 2022 | Okemos, MI | 2003 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Muzzatti is a big forward who plays a hard-nosed style game, and thrives in hard areas of the ice. He did a good job of using his size to win puck battles along the half-wall on the breakout. He also excelled at consistently driving the net and making a habit of stopping in front of the crease every net drive. As he adjusts to junior hockey in his first year it will be fun to watch his development as he possesses the tools to become a good player in this league. Grade: B
U18 Michigan States, April 2020: Sutter is a tall, strong player with skill. He is a smart player with slick hands and will protect the puck using his size and reach. He has good vision and will set up his teammates in the offensive zone. He has a hard, accurate shot as he scored a goal coming down the wing. He had other opportunities to score but failed to score but he’s creating chances by being in the right position. He does a great job on the faceoffs as he uses his quickness and strength to create scoring chances.
Honeybaked U18 Showcase, January 2020: Sutter is a young player playing against the older kids but that doesn’t faze him as he uses his size to his advantage. He has a long reach and is strong on the puck as he will use his size to protect the puck. He will drive to the net to screen the goalie and look for rebounds. He scored a rebound goal as he fought off the opponent to knock in the loose rebound. He is effective off the cycle as he moves his feet and has his head up and will find the open player.
MAHA U16 Showcase (Troy, MI), September 2019: Sutter is a big man with a long reach and he uses his body to protect the puck. He has smooth hands with great vision and the ability to find the open player. He has a quick release as he scored a top shelf goal as he sat back door. He will drive to the net as he scored a rebound goal. He uses his size to his advantage as he protects the puck with his long reach and patience with the puck.
Select 16’s USA Hockey National Camp, July 2019: Sutter is an interesting player. There were some stretches over the week where he chased the game a bit and ran around. He had some very good moments as well as he was involved and showed soft hands. He hit along the wall, used his strength and fired shots, including backhanders on goal. His passes were accurate and with proper pace. He flashed some quick stickhandling below the dots and made some people miss. His net front was very good and he proved tough to move. He is mature physically but still raw. He must learn to use his body better. He protected the puck OK, but he should have been better with his frame. He looked better on the wing as he was a bull along the wall. The fact that he is still raw yet over 200lbs means he still has his best hockey ahead. Many players his size are already formed. His game is not. He has some nice tools and is a player to watch in Midget hockey next year. Grade: B-
Michigan (MAHA) Festival 2003s, March 2019: Sutter has the size and reach to be a great player with his high I.Q. in this game. But we didn’t really see it here this weekend. He has the ability to beat defenders 1 vs 1 using reach and quick hands as he almost scored a goal using these assets.
NAPHL U16 Championship, February 2019: Sutter is a big player with a high skill level. He is a strong skater who uses his size and reach to protect the puck. He has a hard, quick release with the ability to score goals. He has slick hands and will find the open player using his vision and to anticipate the play. He had plenty of opportunities to put more points on the board with a little more luck. He has tremendous upside to his future.
Compuware/HoneyBaked Invitational U14, October 2017: Sutter has good size and he uses it to his advantage. He has slick hands and can beat defenders. He scored a nice goal by beating two defenders and scoring top shelf.
| Thomas Jarman | Maryland Black Bears | NAHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 200 | Boston University | 2021 | Gibsonia, PA | 2001 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Jarman is a big defenceman who has a great shot and was able to score the game winning goal for his team on Saturday. It is impressive how he is able to contribute offensively and still be a physical force defensively and dominate the corners in his own defensive zone. His shot is effortless and quick as he is able to get the puck off his stick before opposing players are able to adjust to the shooting lane. Jarman’s shot is heavy as well and forces goalies to be quick even when shooting from the point. Grade: A-
NAHL: Opening Week Series Johnstown Tomahawks vs. Maryland Blackbears , October 2020: Big two way defender. Defends well in his own zone bullying guys in front of the net and pinning players along the boards. Showed good offensive instincts. Can skate to make plays happen or use his passing. Has a one timer from inside the blue line that has to be as lethal as they come in the league. Grade: A
NAHL/USHL: Maryland vs Youngstown and NTDP 17s vs Johnstown, October 2020: Another player that brought a ton of physicality to his game. He is a body first type of defenceman and likes to eliminate the player to take him out of the play. He skates well for his size, not afraid to jump into the play but where he excels is keeping his game simple and the play in front of him. Grade: B+
NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, March 2019: Thomas is a skilled, mobile defender. He has good four-way mobility and keeps solid gaps through the neutral zone. Closes well and uses a good, active stick. He is a fluid skater and handles the puck well at speed. He has strong edges and can escape pressure easily. He anticipates well and made a few good reads to jump routes and start the offense the other way. He scored a nice goal on a shot from the point through traffic. Grade: B+
USA Hockey Select 17 National Development Camp, July 2018: Jarman returned for his second straight national camp after a promising year with the Omaha Lancers AAA U16 squad. He had a good week here and shown improvement from last year, in particular, his stride and his puck handling ability. He was more confident rushing the puck up ice and had touch on his passes. His mobility is more agile, a step quicker and it shows when he’s gapping up and able to get closer coverage and stay with his man instead of getting beat outside with speed. He is still on the light side but he can play a physical game and likes to jump up and take the body on zone entries when he has a good angle on his opponent. He also showed some bite behind his net finishing checks and getting his nose dirty to win puck battles. He did struggle at times when pressured on the forecheck and went high off the glass when he had more time or there was a better pass to be made, but he’ll improve in that area as he gets stronger and can absorb hits better. Intriguing prospect who went undrafted in the USHL but has obvious upside with his size and athleticism.
| Jordan Venegoni | Amarillo Bulls | NAHL | R | F | 6’0″ | 183 | Lake Superior | 2021 | Livonia, MI | 2000 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Venegoni had a strong weekend for his team picking up three assists and helping their powerplay as well. He is a decent sized forward that sees the ice well and is able to make some elite passes by disguising what he is doing with the puck. He had several nice plays faking a shot on the power play that froze almost every defender, and was able to quickly make a nice pass to open teammates for scoring chances. He is a skilled player that becomes even more dangerous on the powerplay. Grade: B+
NAHL Showcase Part One, December 2019: Jordan plays smaller than his 6’ 183lbs. We mean that as a compliment as he can really skate. He flew to loose pucks, won races and was tough to cover as he stayed moving. The 200 was on the puck a lot and thus around a lot of positive plays. He scored a goal on a bad angle shot and added an assist against Johnstown. He was able to maintain his vision and awareness with the puck at top speed. We didn’t notice him a lot in his end but his transition game and play in space was very good. He is poised for a solid year. Grade: B
| Jere Vaisanen | Amarillo Bulls | NAHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 185 | Uncom. | Espoo, FIN | 2000 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Vaisanen is a skilled player that shows good poise on the ice and patience as well. He is a player that is able to find soft areas in the offensive zone without defenders noticing, and once there is able to get pucks on net with one-timers and quick shots effectively. He showed his shooting ability on a very nice quick shot goal on the power play where he was able to catch the pass on his backhand, and without stickhandling get a hard shot over the goalie’s shoulder. He is a player that if given the chances will make opposing teams pay. Grade: B
| DJ Hart | Odessa Jackalopes | NAHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 190 | Ohio State | 2021 | Stamford, CT | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Hart is a big player that has some decent skill and a good ability to put the puck in the net when he has the chance. He plays with his head up and does a good job of reading the ice when he has possession of the puck. He scored a nice goal on Saturday by seeing the goalie wasn’t set, and instead of taking time he had to shoot he was able to get a quick shot off that the goalie wasn’t set for. His size and skill set give him the potential to be a dominant force as he showed at times this weekend, especially in Saturday’s game. Grade: B+
2020 Senior Battle of Boston, August 2020: Hart is a tall defenseman who plays an aggressive up-tempo game. He snaps pucks around effortlessly and has a long reach with his 6’1” frame. He used his body to protect the puck and had the athleticism to separate from opposing players. He was noted for a few big hits where he pushed guys over along the boards and at the center of the ice. At times he seemed to be a bit too confident as he had a bad turnover that nearly resulted in a goal against.. Nevertheless, he plays a steady style rather than a flashy one so when he’s not standing out he’s actually playing his game. He recorded a nice assist after moving by a defenseman to the outside and protecting the puck then dishing a centering feed. One note we had with DJ is that his game doesn’t change given the level of competition whereas other players here it changes dramatically. College: Ohio State Grade: B
U16 USA Hockey Nationals, May 2019: Hart is a tall, athletic defenseman who is both long and raw. He has a heavy wrist shot and can make plays along the offensive blue line to generate scoring chances with his shot or his pass. He is the type of defender who makes a firm first pass but follows the rush up ice to become a fourth forward. He showed swift stick skills which is rare for a player of his build and he was able to side step forecheckers under pressure, keep his composure and deliver passes on the tape for zone exits. He didn’t panic or throw blind pucks up the wall when pressured. He will only get better and better as he grows into his frame and rounds out his overall game. College: Ohio State
U15/U16: HPHL Illinois Showcase, November 2018: DJ played an up down game as he was aggressive in getting involved in the offense. He snapped off passes as well as shooting the puck with velocity. His aggressive play got him caught on the wrong side of the puck a couple times which hurt him defensively. He was better when defending and making the first pass on the tape. A strong player who looked to still be honing in his all-around game. COLLEGE: OHIO STATE
USHL Fall Classic U16, October 2018: DJ made the first pass well and took care of his own end by being difficult to play against. He leaned in on attackers and laid the body on them. His stick was strong in the corners as he got stick on puck then finished his checks. Offensively he showed the ability to fire the puck from the blue line and be a threat to score. College: Ohio State
HPHL/Beast Showcase U16, October 2018: Good straight line speed. Long frame and stride. Long reach and plays angles well. Takes ice when given to him. Activated and snuck backdoor to the net for a nice goal. Active in his own zone but does not run around. Makes a strong tape to tape pass on the breakout. Grade: B College: Ohio State
USA Hockey Select 16 National Development Camp, July 2018: Hart played a steady, strong game at over 6’1”. Used his reach well to deflect and defend and also to gather loose pucks. Made some big hits and did well to defend the corners. He wants to hit and initiated contact and won space. Tough to play against and he protected his crease. Gaps were good and he worked hard. Puck play was fine, not fancy but steady. Got pucks to the net from the point. Versatile player with upside, especially on the offensive end. College: Ohio State
HPHL U16 Plymouth, MI Showcase, February 2018: He had a presence on the ice with his thick frame and strength. He kept the game simple as he made the easy play up ice or used his partner to regroup. His gaps were solid on the rush and left opposing players with little or no space to gain the blue line. Not an enormous offensive threat, but a minute eater that played in every situation.
AYHL Oaks Showcase U15, U16, U18, October 2017: DJ plays a strong pro-style, heavy game. On defense he is great 1v1 and can really set the man up to stand him up at the blue line. His defensive zone coverage is good, he engages on the porch and wins battles. His feet are not great but are effective, they could get quicker. On the attack, he moves the puck with confidence.
Oaks Labor Day U16/U18, September 2017: DJ is a strong skater with good size and puck skills. He played a very solid, confident two-way game this weekend but we expected a bit more form him. His puck protection is good and defensive game is sound. .Just left us wanting more as he is capable.
| Nicholas Niemo | Lone Star Brahmas | NAHL | R | F | 5’8″ | 155 | Bentley | 2021 | Middlebury, VT | 2001 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Niemo possesses great speed and used that in both games to create offense and was rewarded with two assists on the weekend. He has a knack for playmaking and is able to create chances in all three zones by using his speed and passing ability to make odd man rush situations. He excels on transition and is able to catch opposing players flat-footed as he gets to his top speed quickly. Niemo’s “North-South” style paired with his speed caused issues for the opposing team in both games. Grade: B+
NCDC: Double Header. NJ Hitmen at Islanders HC, October 2019: Game #1 Nick has the lone goal for IHC, came on the PK and caught the goalie off guard coming out do the net. Good skill and ability to make plays attacking the O-zone. Grade: B Game #2 Nick found his way on the scoresheet again in game 2, had an assist on the power play to start off the game then found LeClerc streaming in the zone that lead to a goal. 0-2-2 line and 1-2-3 on the weekend. Grade: A-
New England Select 16 and 17 Camp, April 2018: Nick is a cunning hockey player. Just when you think you have him cornered, he wiggles free and creates a scoring chance. Probably the smallest player in camp, but he is very smart and reads the zone quickly. His quick feet are great in space but he is able to read plays one step ahead and adjust his route to the net accordingly to force you into a bad defensive position. He gives each shift his all and made a handful of great plays to set up his linemates across the zone. Made his presence felt here – not easy to do at his size. Grade: B+
NHL Youth Cup U16, February 2018: In limited viewing, Nicky showed a slick stick and great vision. He is small but able to wheel with his head up both on the line rush and in zone. Worked hard and dished some backhand sauce. We will need more but he showed well when we watched. Was around the puck a lot.
| Brent Keefer | Shreveport Mudbugs | NAHL | R | F | 6’0″ | 161 | Uncom. | Oklahoma City, OK | 2001 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Keefer is a solid forward who executes small details well that lead to good outcomes for his team. He was an absolute force on the forecheck in the offensive zone and neutral zone causing multiple turnovers by using his feet and a good stick to force mistakes by opposing players. He excels at playing aggressive and jumping plays, but also showed great control and never seemed to be taking himself out of plays when doing so. He also had some great zone entries this weekend on the attack and does a good job of creating confusion with his movement to create offense on zone entry. Grade: B+
NAHL: NHL Prospects and Potential College Free Agents, June 2020: Keefer is a tall, athletic prospect with raw tools but hasn’t quite put it together yet. He has a hard snap shot, swift hands in tight areas and can get off checks and get shots off in traffic. A fairly fluid skater with deceptive speed. His game is lacking an identity at this point; he plays a hybrid skill and energy style but hasn’t found one to hang his hat on. Underrated prospect to keep tabs on.
| Kyle Kukkonen | Minot Minotauros | NAHL | R | F | 5’10” | 165 | Michigan Tech | 2021 | Maple Grove, MN | 2002 | 2020-2021: B |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Fast, smaller player who is flying all over the ice all game. Scored a goal in this game where he picked up the puck in full stride just inside the blue line then flew past the one defender and got a nice low near side shot off to score. Had a zone entry where he took off from his defensive zone and carried this speed all the way into the offensive zone where he quickly put on the brakes, all the backcheckers skated right past him, he took his time and found one of his late players for a nice scoring chance. Grade: B-
MN Elite League Invitational, November 2020: Pure skill and speed in a winger. Someone you want on the ice in all situations. What sets him apart is his ability to finish. Whether it is an assist or a goal, off the rush or in a battle area, Kukkonen comes out with the puck and usually ends it with a point. Grade: A-
Minnesota Elite League: 2021 NHL Draft Watch List, November 2020: Kukkonen is a skilled, puck possession style forward out of Maple Grove HS with slippery stick and creativity. He can breakdown defenders 1v1 and get around them and he does a nice job delaying, drawing the pressure and then moving the puck to his teammates with time and space. He is having a highly productive season with 13 goals and 16 assists in just 13 games and the late ‘02 is not only setting table but finishing in the tight areas which is an areas he’s steadily improved. He can sauce the puck effortlessly while at full speed, he can dangle in tight areas to create space for himself and he makes split second decisions when pressured and they almost always the right play. Smart and nifty with the puck he also showed some bite in scrums to come out with the puck and looks a bit stronger and more balanced allowing him to get to the front and get shots off with defenders on him. His hands are not just elusive but they are also quick and the puck seems to stick to his blade on the rush making it difficult for defenders to take it from him. A Michigan Tech commit who is poised for a breakout season after getting injured this past year with Maple Grove. A potential NHL Draft prospect down the line.
2019 Minnesota High School All Star- Prospects Game, November 2019: Kyle has one of the quietest games around because he is so efficient with his puck touches and knows the game very well. He never tried to beat anyone one on one but moved the puck quickly and got open. When the puck touched his stick, you just knew it was going onto another teammate stick accurately. He was smart in trying to find two on one situations and exploit them. The better the players he plays with, the better his game is.
USA Hockey Select 16 National Development Camp Rankings, July 2018: Kukkonen is a puck possession forward out of Maple Grove Bantams last year who competed hard all week, carried the puck skillfully into the scoring areas and created a lot of offense for himself and his teammates with a 1-2-3 line. The late ‘02 needs to get stronger but he goes hard after pucks, he battles in the corners, finishes checks and has an array of quick moves and spins to come out with possession and attack the net. His best attribute here was his acceleration, speed and slippery stick skill but his best play was a top corner snipe in tight on the goalie against Team Forest. He’ll make the jump to high school this season with Maple Grove and should be an immediate impact player at that level with his skill and energy. College: Michigan Tech
| Jacob Thomas | Minot Minotauros | NAHL | R | D | 6’4″ | 190 | Uncom. | Clarkston, MI | 2002 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Bigger defender who does really well keeping pucks in at the blue line. He uses all his tools to keep these in. He will use his hands to knock pucks down, he steps on the wingers quickly to break up any thought of a breakout, and will use his nice reach to poke pucks away all game. Breakouts on his side are difficult. He protects pucks really well when they are on his stick and likes to draw more than one player to himself. When he does he likes using his partner to change the side of the ice and create numbers up ice. If he doesn’t see a good passing option on the breakout he isn’t afraid to open it up and carry the pucks out himself. Grade: B-
Honeybaked Showcase U18, October 2019: Jacob is a big, powerful forward who likes to get in on the forecheck to cause turnovers. He uses his long reach and big body to protect the puck in which gives him time to make good plays with the puck. He is active on the blue line to become an option on offense. He has his head up to make outlet and offensive passes and he can shoot the puck and get it on net.
| Braden Costello | Bismarck Bobcats | NAHL | L | F | 6’3″ | 196 | North Dakota | 2021 | Grand Forks, ND | 2000 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Moves his feet really well and gets himself to loose pucks quickly. Loves to finish his checks when he gets in first on the forecheck. Very hard player to play against below the offensive goal line. He uses his body really well to protect the puck and loves to find plays he can make from behind the net. Scored a nice goal where he attacked the offensive zone with speed, dished the pass out wide and continued to move towards the net. His winger found his stick just before the blue paint for a tip in goal. Grade: B+ College: North Dakota
USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, January 2018: Braden has a simple, effective offensive game. Showed flashes below the dots where he found the puck and attacked the net. Put a couple pucks on the net and protected it well. Soft or strong hands depending on the stuation, Tough to handle in zone. Like to see more of his game in transition but he has some tools to be an effective scorer over the long haul. College: North Dakota Grade: B
USA Select 17 Player Development Camp, July 2017: The former second overall pick in the USHL Futures Draft is a big bodied power forward who can score. He does a lot of the less appreciated things to help his teammates like digging out pucks from the corners, coming down low in the zone for breakout passes and presents a big target, staying tight on his points and blocking shots or taking the body in his own end. He’s improved his skating stride and is very difficult to take the puck away from with his reach and puck protection skill. He isn’t flashy with the puck but he’s purposeful and direct. He finds the soft spots in the defense, goes hard to the net front and scored a great slap goal hitting the puck almost out of mid-air when driving the net. As we’ve noted before, the loose, back and forth nature of play at these events don’t play to his strengths but if his 4 points in 6 USHL games this season is any indication of what he can do next year with Des Moines then it could be a breakout year for him. He’ll have some NHL attention given his size, style of play and upside. Grade: B (5gp, 1-3-4) College: North Dakota
Upper Midwest HS Elite League Week 2, September 2016: Has impressive size, strength and potential. Skating is solid but still coming around. Protects pucks well and can make a lot of plays below the dots in traffic. Long reach and good touch on the puck makes him hard to handle. Has ability to score goals and finish. Look for him to gain a lot of Division 1 interest after going #2 overall in the USHL Phase 1 Draft in May.
Select 16 USA Development Camp, July 2016: There was a lot of talk about Braden Costello at the tournament. A lot of it, to be frank, lacked perspective. Scouts, coaches and parents were commenting that he was not playing well or living up to the no. 2 USHL pick pedigree. First off, Costello is still very much a project and his best hockey is years ahead not months. Second of all, just like we noted during our USHL Futures Draft Rankings, he never should have been drafted as high as he was. You don’t draft the #2 pick based on what he could be. You leave that style pick for later rounds. Braden led his high school team in North Dakota in scoring and played really well in a few tournaments this past year. He put himself on the map very quickly. However, those that had seen his body of work over a longer period of time knew he’s still very raw. So with all that being said, in our minds, Costello played well here despite not making the All Star team or being noticed as top echelon player in the tournament. He has great size at 6-0/200lbs. He’s powerful with the puck and opposing defenseman bounced off him when trying to play the body. He isn’t fast or agile but he lowers his shoulder and drives the net, using his strength and reach to get through opponents and create chances. He has a hard wrist shot and snap shot and doesn’t quit on the play, even when he loses the puck, which is a great quality for a raw prospect. He also works to get open away from the puck, is always ready for the shot and puts himself in good spots in the offensive zone. However, his skating needs work, in particular his stride, his speed and his lateral mobility. He also needs to improve his stick skills as he had several passes bounce of his stick and struggled to handle in tight areas when being pressured. Overall, he’s a real project but one that could develop into a high end hockey talent with time. The former #2 overall pick in USHL Futures Draft by Des Moines had a 2-1-3 line in 5 games. Uncommitted.
| James Doyle | Bismarck Bobcats | NAHL | R | F | 6’1″ | 170 | St. Lawrence | 2021 | Plainfield, IL | 2002 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Keeps his feet moving at all times which allows him time, space, and scoring opportunities. Had one shift where he entered the zone wide and wasn’t able to get himself closer to the net so he put a low shot near side to avoid creating a breakout for the opposing team. This shot didn’t create any sort of danger but Doyle was able to keep his feet moving and pick up the rebound as he circled the net, got into open space in the slot and put a great scoring chance on net. Grade: C+
NAHL: NHL Prospects and Potential College Free Agents, June 2020: Doyle is a crafty player who uses his balance, edges and reach to his advantage. He consistently got to the net with and without the puck. Showed he could dip and drive as he scored with a nice cross crease deke. He picked pucks off and knows where to be away from the puck both to make plays defensively and also to get in spots to score in the offensive zone. Not a burner but uses leverage very well and can get off checks and protect the puck down low. His edges are strong and when he wheeled in the zone, his head was always up. Thus, he was able to make passes to good spots. He put his teammates in spots to succeed and showed a mature overall game for an ’02. He had a lot of NCAA eyes on him as one of the best uncommitted prospects in the tournament. His feet will need to improve especially his first few steps to get NHL traction, but his edges are solid and he plays a complete game.
HPHL 16U Showcase, December 2018: Doyle plays a power-forward type game but has a nice level of skill and plays with a lot of smarts. Excellent hockey sense and awareness. Good puck skills and can create chances in the offensive with his hands, size, and explosive acceleration. He uses his body well to shield the puck and create space. Equally strong defensive game and effort. Grade: B+
HPHL Illinois Showcase, November 2018: James is coming into his own as he played a north and south game with the ability to score. He was aggressive and looked to snap the puck off coming down the ice. His size and straight line skating ability were hard to stop. He showed soft touch on the puck and was able to create his own shot. Hard to get the puck away from with his size and puck protection. Teams are most likely not happy to see him with the confidence of a goal scorer.
USHL Fall Classic U16, October 2018: James has the size and skating ability to be a constant threat. A nice release and ability to shoot the puck with his feet moving on the rush. In open ice, he glided by player with ease and gained the zone. When he was using his size to roll off checks down low, he became a threat there. If he can keep his consistent hard work up, he will have a big year.
T1EHL U16: Chicago Mission vs. Little Caesars, October 2018: Doyle’s foot speed has improved from last season where he struggled with the pace of play. He now has the ability to beat defenders to the edge which he demonstrated several times over the course of the game. He was anticipating the play extremely well and showed nice finish by scoring. Doyle won several puck battles as he was able to use his frame to his advantage. He does tend to take shifts off by not moving his feet at all times and getting out of position in all three zones. He is still a work in progress but he is another intriguing prospect for college and junior coaches.
USA Hockey Select 16 National Development Camp, July 2018: Doyle is a tall goal scorer. He played a north/south style with jam around the cage. His skating is smooth and his stride should allow for more speed as he matures. He did a good job of moving to scoring spots in the zone and in transition, Stretched the D out some. Scored a goal on an excellent shot as the right wing on the rush. Felt the pressure and got the puck off his stick. Can fire the puck. Played through contact with possession and showed he would drive the net without the puck. He does play too much one on one at times when he would be better suited to move it and get to a better spot. He has good sense without the puck and can use that more. Big goal scorers are tough to come by and he is that. Should have a good year in midget hockey.
HPHL U16 Plymouth, MI Showcase, February 2018: His size and athleticism was on display as he got up and down the ice with good pace. He showed separation speed through the neutral zone as he cruised by defenders. He attacked defenders on the rush and took them wide or put pucks through them. His compete level was impressive as he used his body to his advantage with the puck.
Battle of the Border, December 2017: James was able to get away from checks in the neutral zone with his strong skating ability. He separated as he attacked defenders wide and got pucks to the net. A quick release and accuracy made him a threat to score in given time and space.
CCM World Hockey Invite U16 and U14, December 2017: A north-and-south skating ability gave James the time and space to make plays off the rush. He played fast and put a lot of pressure on defenders. Mix in his quick stick with the ability to get pucks to the net quickly with accuracy, and you have a dangerous player.
U14 USA Tier 1 Nationals, April 2017: We have the word “dominant” next to his name four times. His speed, size and sense were too much to handle for opponents all week. They tried to key on him, especially as the week moved on but to no avail. He scored on tips in front. He made crisp passes and showed an ability to process all his options quickly. He finished checks and got out to his point in his end. One play that showed off his quick processing was on a wrap around breakout. He was about to receive a puck that had been rimmed hard up the wall to him. He knew the pace was too much to handle. Instead of trying to receive it (right shot, right wing), he intentionally let the puck go the opposing D. He jumped him quickly,forced a turnover and headed up ice.
HPHL Bantam Championships, February 2017: James has great combination of size and skill and he uses it to his advantage by taking the puck to the net. He is not a selfish player and he sees the ice well while making great passes. He’s a real asset on the PP on the wall or he can go to front of net to use his size for screens. He has great confidence and poise with the puck.
STX Elite Hockey Shootout, October 2016: Mission’s top forward this weekend. He has great size and skill. His hockey sense may be his best quality as he has the ability to feel pressure and get free to make the next play. He makes it look easy. He is not selfish and sees the ice well. Passes well and not afraid to drive the net. He can be the setup man on the PP on the wall and he can go to front of net to use his size for screens. Confident player with the puck. Grade: A+
| Anthony Mastromonica | Johnstown Tomahawks | NAHL | L | F | 6’3″ | 210 | Uncom. | Kings Park, NY | 2000 | College F/A |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: Has a big frame and uses this to his advantage better than most players in the NAHL. He doesn’t lose battles down low and is a bull along the walls. Had one offensive zone battle where he had three opposing players on him and he still came out of the pile with the puck on his stick. There isn’t a shift where you don’t notice he is out there in some capacity. I also really enjoy watching his ability to handle all passes. It doesn’t matter if the puck is too far in front of him, behind him, or in his feet he seems to always capture it and continue the play. Grade: B+
NAHL: Johnstown Tomahawks vs New Jersey Titans, November 2020: The most dominant player along the boards was Anthony Mastromonica. In the first period alone, Anthony controlled the puck along the boards, drawing in 2 to 3 opposing players at a time. Resulting in open space for his teammates. In addition to using his size to control the game along the boards, he did use it to set up screens. You could see Anthony drifting towards the net to utilize his body to block out the goalie’s vision. Moreover, Anthony had a moment in the second period where he took a hit on the powerplay to break a teammate on the rush. The only knock on him was his skating speed. He looked sluggish and slow in the second period, which could be from fatigue (third out of three games on the weekend). However, if he could improve his speed, with his size he could be a dangerous player all around. Grade B+
NAHL: Johnstown Tomahawks vs Northeast Generals, October 2020: Very strong player, uses his size and strength to protect the puck well. Because of his ability to protect the puck he likes to control the pace of the game, slows things down and waits for pressure to come to him. By doing this he gets a lot of players out of position. Being a bigger body, he works the net front area on the powerplay, but I like that he doesn’t just stay net front as a screen but moves around and pops up as a bumper man. Had a great chance where he popped up and created a high tip opportunity. B+
NAHL: Johnstown Tomahawks vs. Maryland Blackbears, October 2020: A shooter that has the accuracy from tops of the circles to pick corners. Big frame that uses his size to gain position and puts all his momentum behind his shots. With three goals in the weekend, Mastromonica is a threat at any time in the offensive zone. Grade: A-
U18 USA Hockey Nationals, April 2018: Mastromonica is an intriguing prospect as he stands out immediately with his size and ability to cover the whole sheet. He has a long stride, underrated athleticism and soft hands and touch on the puck. He’s raw and isn’t as effective once the pace picks up and he’s under pressure but he showed glimpses in space of skill and sense. He has an up and down the wall power game and is able to protect the puck down low and along the boards. His physical game was inconsistent but when he brought it, it was impressive and he uses his length and reach very well. His best hockey is ahead of him and with his size and skill there is an exciting upside but he’ll need more time to develop his game and learn to play with his feet moving and making quicker decisions. (1-1-2, GP)
Beantown Fall Classic U18, November 2017: 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.
USA Select 17 Player Development Camp, July 2017: Mastromonica is a late bloomer who has come a long way in the past year. He’s big, strong power forward with a much-improved stride and the ability to make plays. He did a little bit of everything here; he took the body and laid some big hits in open ice and along the boards, he used his long reach and soft hands to get around defenders and competed in all three zones. He protects the puck really well along the wall and on the rush where he drives wide on defenders and holds the puck outside beyond their reach. He did a nice job using his strength and power in his own zone to break pucks out along the wall and create odd man rushes for his linemates. He has added more dimensions to his game this year instead of just playing a north-south power game; he made nice centering passes off the rush, improved his play off the cycle cutting to the net to get his shot off and has deceptive puck control. He’s still pretty raw but he certainly caught the eye of some NHL scouts in attendance and they’ll be watching him next season at Selects Academy U18. Grade: B (5gp, 0-1-1)
U16 USA Tier 1 Nationals, April 2017: This may have been the best we have seen Mastromonica. A big, skilled power forward with soft hands and deceptive athleticism. He made countless plays with the puck, set up his teammates all week for scoring chances and has improved his puck possession game. He always had the size but now he’s using it by playing big in the corners and around the net, drawing defenders towards him and having the awareness to find the open guy. His footwork is still on the raw side but his stride is improved and he did a better job of keeping his feet moving away from the puck. Grade: B (3gp, 2-4-6)
| Levente Keresztes | NJ Titans | NAHL | L | F | 6’5″ | 190 | Long Island University | 2021 | Budapest, HUN | 2002 | 2020-2021: C |
NAHL: Thanksgiving Weekend, December 2020: This is a player that likes to shoot. He isn’t afraid to shoot from a little further out, does well shooting through screens when entering the zone, and has a great presence in the slot getting tons of shots off. He likes to handle the puck and controls a lot of the play for his line, most of the plays are going through him at some point each shift. Had a great toe drag around a defender and created a scoring chance off the pass to the backdoor. Grade: B+
NAHL: Johnstown Tomahawks vs New Jersey Titans, November 2020: This was a fast paced game which included numerous players with exceptional skating speed. One in particular was Levente Keresztes. Levente utilized his skating speed to draw the opposition towards him and to generate offensive chances for his teammates. By either skating wide or pulling up along the half-wall on the rush, Levente was able to create lanes for his teammates who he found on multiple occasions. Also, he was able to use a stretch pass for a breakout pass in the second period which ended up leading to his team’s first goal. In addition to setting up his teammates, Keresztes could create scoring chances himself with his shot. In one instance in the first period, Keresztes used his teammate as a screen on the rush, and just missed the net. Another time on the PP in the second period, he created a rebound with a shot on net. Grade B+
NCDC Showcase, March 2020: The Hungarian has international experience for his home country. His size is overwhelming for opponents at times. He goes to tough areas and the net front. He is athletic but still raw. He showed decent speed in open ice and made a pretty cross-crease to Murnieks for a goal. He is still tough to read as there were moments, we noted his skating was very good and others where it appeared sloppy. Why? Because he is 6’5” and still young. He will take some time but he played tough, showed vision and has a high ceiling. Point a game kid at this level who has real size makes him really intriguing.
NCDC: Winter Showcase, January 2020: Neutral Zone’s first viewing of the Hungarian and made good impression over two games. Big frame, still a little on the lean side, but should fill out only being a 2002. Went to high traffic areas and did not shy away from the physical play. Played with an edge which created a little more space for him. Played the point on the power play and displayed poise, skill and vision. Worth watching down the road. Grade: B