More spots will be up for grabs for 2009-born players at the Mass. Hockey boys festival this season.
With Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) and Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) on the U.S. National Team Development Program, they will not participate in the festival this season or be at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp.
This should open the door for more players to punch tickets to Buffalo.
The '09 forward group is fairly strong. Some players are already receiving interest from Division 1 programs, while many others will get it when they become eligible next Jan. 1.
The festival, which begins this weekend at New England Sports Center, will help with that. Players will compete for spots in the Final 40, held the following weekend at Lovell Arena. From there, the goal is to make Select 16 Camp.
Click or tap here for the full rosters for the Mass. Hockey boys festival
Here are a slew of forwards to keep an eye on this weekend. As always, there aren't the only forwards to watch. A separate story will be done on defensemen and goalies.
Let's dive in.
Joseph Covelluzzi
Cushing, 1/15/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/160
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.Â
Covelluzzi went early in Monday's USHL Phase 1 Draft, going in the fourth round (51st overall) to the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and it's easy to understand why. Until an injury knocked him out late in the prep season, he was a primary driver of offense for Cushing and still finished with the second-most goals (18) and points (31). He had two goals and four points in four games at Select 15 Camp last summer.
Isaac Davis
Northstar Christian Academy, 1/27/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/161
Hometown: Rockland, Mass.Â
Davis was selected just 10 picks before Covelluzzi on Monday, going to the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL Phase 1 Draft. Davis posted 21 goals and 57 points in 46 games playing up at the 16U level with Northstar Christian Academy. He has size, and he's a phenomenal skater with a great stride. He was at Select 15 Camp last season.
Ryan Elrick
Canton High, 5/31/2009, F, right shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Canton, Mass.Â
Elrick has been a standout with the Boston Junior Eagles for the past two years. He was also a primary driver of offense for Canton, who came oh-so-close to winning the MIAA Division 2 title. Elrick takes smart routes to find soft spots in defensive zone coverages around the net and has a great shot. He protects pucks extremely well and always has his head up looking for teammates to pass to. He didn't make Select 15 Camp last season.
Paulo Gualberto Jr.
Mount St. Charles, 4/9/2009, F, left shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Barnstable, Mass.Â
Gualberto has long been one of the top local '09s, so it was far from a shock when Sioux City selected him in the fifth round (68th overall) on Monday. He's notched two straight 100+ point seasons at the 14U and 15O levels for Mount St. Charles. He has fantastic hands and knows how to get to high-danger scoring areas to unleash his strong shot. He had four points in four games at Select 15 Camp last summer.
Liam Guilderson
Belmont High, 3/30/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/160
Hometown: Belmont, Mass.Â
I was surprised when Guilderson wasn't picked in Monday's 15-round USHL Phase 1 Draft. The Belmont sophomore put up 51 points in the MIAA, which is no small feat. He's a great skater who has nice hands and an underrated shot. He showcased all of those attributes against older, stronger players this season, and he has good size. He was at Select 15 Camp last summer.
MASS. HOCKEY FESTIVAL: 13 uncommitted '08 forwards to watch | 12 uncommitted '08 defenders to watch
Troy Hamelin
Pope Francis, 6/8/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/163
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.Â
Sioux City got a steal late in Monday's draft, taking Hamelin in the 13th round (188th overall). The '09 posted eight goals and 22 points for a deep Pope Francis team that entered the MIAA Division 1 tournament as the No. 1 seed. He had three assists in four games at Select 15 Camp last summer.
Owen Kailher
Mount St. Charles, 4/7/2009, F, right shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Plymouth, Mass.Â
Kailher has been a valuable piece for the Mount St. Charles '09s for the last two seasons. He had 44 points in 64 games for the 14U team last season and 23 points in 57 games this year at the 15O level. Kailher has good skill and can play anywhere in a lineup. With much of the Mount St. Charles '09s leaving for the NTDP or juniors, I'd expect Kailher's role to increase next season if he returns for the 16U team. He had three assists in four games at Select 15 Camp last season.
Cade Noonan
St. Sebastian's, 8/21/2009, F, left shot, 5-11/167
Hometown: Needham, Mass.Â
Noonan played in an elevated role for a very young St. Sebastian's team this winter. He had three goals and 10 points in 25 games for the Arrows. While those numbers don't jump off the page, his skill developed throughout the season, along with his ability to generate offense against older talent. This weekend, I'm curious to see how his game translates to playing against his own age. He wasn't at Select 15 Camp last season.
Danny Patch
Pingree, 6/2/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/181
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.Â
Patch was picked by the Omaha Lancers in the 12th round (166th overall). He had a fantastic season at Pingree this winter, ranking second on the team in goals (12) and points (31). He has nice size and moved from Top Gun to the Boston Junior Eagles for 15O hockey. Patch wasn't at Select 15 Camp last season.
Caiden Pellegrino
St. Mark's, 12/4/2009, F, left shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.Â
Pellegrino might be the best playmaker among the '09s at the festival this weekend. He was a fixture for St. Mark's this season, scoring 11 goals and amassing 41 points in 30 games, helping the Lions to the No. 2 seed in the Elite 8. He was taken in the seventh round (102nd overall) of Monday's draft by Sioux Falls. Pellegrino had two goals and five points in four games at Select 15 Camp last summer.
USHL DRAFTS: 21 locals picked in Phase 1 | 32 locals picked in Phase 2
Chase Warsofsky
Cushing, 6/19/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Northboro, Mass.Â
In the eighth round of Monday's draft, Omaha snagged Warsofsky with the 117th overall pick. The Neponset Valley River Rats forward missed some time for Cushing this season, but was vital as a top-six center for the Penguins down the stretch, helping his team win the Elite 8 title. He's a fantastic skater who can drive play. He had three goals in four games at Select 15 Camp last summer.
