One common thread among the six teams battling for championships on Sunday was having an abundance of older players.
A large majority of the players in this story are '06s. There's even one '05.
The NEPSAC boys playoffs give those older players one last prep showcase before graduation, which is why we often see so many at their best.
Some younger players showed well, too.
Here are 10 uncommitted players who boosted their stock over the last week.
Myles Brosnan
Dexter Southfield, 10/19/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Across all three tournaments and all 24 teams, no uncommitted prospect did more for their stock than Brosnan. The trusty, two-way defenseman was in command of games. He led breakouts and knew when to hop into the rush, generating (and getting) multiple scoring chances. His fingerprints were all over Dexter's two-goal comeback in the third period to beat Salisbury, 3-2, as he put up a goal and two assists. He was vital in shutting down Rivers in a 6-2 win. Even in the final, his poise with the puck, especially at the point, was extremely impressive. He will be eligible to commit to a Division 1 program come Aug. 1.
Maksim Corovic
Cushing, 5/28/2008, G, catches left, 6-2/180
Hometown: Stony Creek, OntarioÂ
Corovic was at his best when the lights were brightest. Dexter Southfield got multiple Grade-A looks and Corovic stood tall. His athleticism stood out the most, extending to make some outstanding saves off passes that took him from post to post. His save on Dexter forward Joe Marchi (Foxboro, Mass.) stands out the most. His tournament up to that point was strong — 27 saves against Brunswick and 14 in the win over Deerfield — but what took him up a notch was how good he was in the final.
LARGE SCHOOL: All-tournament team and MVP after Andover's win
Max Dineen
Cushing, 7/5/2006, F, left shot, 5-10/155
Hometown: Brentwood, N.H.Â
Dineen was our Elite 8 MVP, and for good reason. The senior finished the tournament with six points. Three of those came against Brunswick and two of those goals were against Dexter. One was the eventual winner in the Elite 8 final. On that goal, Dineen drove the net hard and beat the defender to knock in the rebound. He led Cushing offensively this season with 26 goals and 58 points.
Chase Anderson
Phillips Andover, 3/30/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/200
Hometown: Marblehead, Mass.Â
As I wrote in my All-tournament team for the Large School, "making 108 saves on 109 shots over three games will [win you Large School MVP]." Anderson was nails in all three games, pitching shutouts against Trinity-Pawling and Avon Old Farms, and still making 34 saves to beat Westminster, 4-1. He didn't allow many rebounds, and the only shot to beat him was tipped. His size matched his ability to square up to any shot, making him an intriguing '06 goalie prospect.
Peyton Militello
Phillips Andover, 10/16/2005, F, left shot, 5-11/175
Hometown: Dallas, TexasÂ
Militello certainly earned his first-line minutes. The senior had seven points in three games and was a driver of play next to Dartmouth commit Grayden Robertson-Palmer. He was effective in the championship hemming Westminster in its own zone for long stretches and facilitating play. He had a goal and two helpers in a 6-0 win against Trinity-Pawling and a goal and an assist to beat Avon Old Farms, 7-0.
ELITE 8: All-tournament team and MVP after Cushing's win
Blake Burke
Westminster, 5/18/2006, F, left shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn.Â
While Burke and his team couldn't quite finish the job, the Trumbull, Conn., native capped off a terrific senior year. He scored twice to upset Governor's Academy, 6-4, in the quarterfinals. At Belmont Hill, the top seed, on Saturday, Burke tallied the winner shorthanded with 11 seconds left in the game. That was on top of already posting two assists. He finished the season with a team-high 22 goals and 42 points.
Iain Olsen
Kimball Union, 3/7/2006, F, left shot, 6-1/180
Hometown: Vergennes, Vt.Â
Olsen sealed the deal for Kimball Union in the Small School championship, wiring a snipe past Berkshire goalie Kyle Bolduc. It was Olsen's third point of the game after he previously notched two assists. Kimball Union outscored its quarterfinal and semifinal opponents 19-1 and Olsen was a big reason why. He had two goals and two assists against Frederick Gunn and a goal and four more helpers against St. George's, bringing him to 40 points on the season.
Corwith Simmers
Kimball Union, 4/13/2006, F, right shot, 5-9/180
Hometown: Hailey, IdahoÂ
Simmers missed a good amount of the season due to injury. He made his presence felt the most during the playoffs. He notched two goals and an assist in the win over Frederick Gunn and two goals and two helpers against St. George's. In the championship, he scored a goal and posted another assist. His chemistry with linemates CJ Watroba (West Springfield, Mass.) and Olsen was outstanding, which resulted in his goal. That's two-straight strong postseasons for Simmers.
Nick Evans
Kimball Union, 3/13/2007, D, right shot, 6-2/175
Hometown: Malden, Mass.Â
Evans isn't on here for his contributions on the scoresheet. In the championship, Evans was a shutdown machine, halting Berkshire's rushes and using his physicality to limit what Bears forwards could do. His reliable puck movement led to clean breakouts and play going the other way. He's always been one of the most underrated defensemen in prep.
BOYS CHAMPS: Cushing wins the Elite 8 | Phillips Andover wins the Large School | Kimball Union wins the Small School
Evan Regan
Berkshire, 6/23/2006, F, right shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Acton, Mass.Â
Regan was a big reason why Berkshire advanced to the Small School championship game. The senior factored into every goal (one goal, two assists) in his team's 3-0 win over Groton in the quarterfinals. Then, against Holderness, his two third period goals propelled Berkshire to a 3-1 win. He finished the week with an assist on Jonah Rainisch's goal in the championship. Regan finished the season with 41 points.
