ATTLEBORO, Mass. — The New England District boys hockey camp is over. Top prospects born in 2007 and 2008 descended upon New England Sports Village to fight for spots at USA Hockey's Select 17 and 16 Camps.
We've already covered the best 2007-born players and the 2008-born defenders. Now, let's look at the '08 forwards.
These forwards were an interesting group. I watched a good amount of the '08s, and I didn't feel there was an overwhelming best player among the forwards.
I ranked the '07s. With the '08 forwards, I'll list the players who showed the best in alphabetical order instead. I know, I know — it's not as fun. But there wasn't much that separated players from one another in this list.
At this time, it's unknown how many spots USA Hockey will give to the New England District to send players.
Also, here's our usual friendly reminder that the New England District includes all states except Massachusetts. In the eyes of USA Hockey, Massachusetts is a separate district.
Let's dive in.
Owen Burke
Mid Fairfield 15O, 4/22/2008, F, left shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn.Â
Burke's speed and hockey sense served him well. He scored on a breakaway against Team White. Later in the game, he picked up a puck right below his own blue line, used his speed to leave two forecheckers in the dust and create a 2-on-1. He eventually passed it across to Zack Gilroy for a goal. Burke's speed helped him get to open space on other occasions, too.
Blake Cash
Seacoast Performance Academy 15O, 5/9/2008, F, left shot
Hometown: Hampton Falls, N.H.Â
Cash's biggest asset is his straight-ahead speed. His speed helped him keep a play alive against Team White on Saturday, leading to Kazan scoring. Cash also has a good release, which was on display when he scored on a shot from the high slot over the goalie's blocker. His hands also helped him while he was navigating through the neutral zone and driving play.
Nico Ciardiello
Mount St. Charles 15O, 11/10/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Guilford, Conn.Â
Ciardiello drove play quite a bit in my viewings of him. The Mount St. Charles product carried the puck with confidence and took smart routes into the offensive zone. Against Team Black, he hustled to a loose puck, fired it and had the shot tipped by Garrit Turcotte. He scored in the All-Star game when he drove the net and knocked in a rebound.
'07 FORWARDS: 11 standout '07 forwards from New England District Camp
Nolan Duskocy
BK Selects 15O, 1/26/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: Ellington, Conn.Â
Duskocy had one of the bigger frames of any player in his age group and he used it to his advantage. He showcased a high compete when forechecking opposing teams and used his good stick to take away passing lanes and force bad passes. In his team's matchup with Team Blue, he went so hard on one forecheck that he stole the puck from a defender and got two straight scoring chances. He only didn't score because goalie Ryan Galaski robbed him with his glove.
Jude Herron
South Kent 15O, 4/29/2008, F, right shot
Hometown: Duxbury, Mass.Â
Herron wasn't the best skater on the ice, but his compete made him stand out. He was always around the puck and had good hands with the puck on his stick. He protected the puck well on offensive zone entries. I saw him score two goals against Team Gold. One was off the rush, while the other was him intelligently going to the net after a long offensive zone sequence and tipping in a shot.
Keegan Kazan
Mid Fairfield 15U, 11/15/2008, F, right shot, 5-7/150
Hometown: Wilton, Conn.Â
Kazan was dominant against Team White, notching a hat trick. His first two goals featured him getting to the right place around the net, while the third was all about finding a soft spot in the neutral zone to receive a pass from defenseman Oskar Drabczynski and take it for a breakaway. Kazan showcasing smart hockey sense was prevalent in the All-Star game, too. Along with hitting the post on a net-drive, he also read the opposing team's breakout to force turnovers.
'07 DEFENDERS: 9 standout '07 defenders from New England District Camp
Cole Sabourin
Mount St. Charles 15O, 1/23/2008, F, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.Â
Sabourin was one of the top '08 forwards in attendance. The Mount St. Charles product showcased a lot of speed, carrying the puck with confidence and finding routes to the net. Never was that more true than in the All-Star game when he dangled a defender, took on the goalie 1-on-1 and backhanded a shot into the top corner. Good hands are very much a part of his game, too.
Jackson Smail
Seacoast Performance Academy 15O, 5/31/2008, F, right shot
Hometown: Milton, Vt.Â
In my viewings of Smail, he showcased different elements of his game. All of them made him effective. He showed good hockey sense by anticipating and intercepting passes in the neutral zone. There was his high compete, such as when he would go below the dots in his own zone to aid his defensemen, which is not a popular move by higher-end players at a showcase. Then, in the All-Star game, he showed off his quick release when he scored on a nice shot early.
Danick St. Pierre
Seacoast Performance Academy 15O, 5/13/2008, F, left shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: North Hampton, N.H.Â
St. Pierre's best asset, in my opinion, are his hands. They help him slow the game down quite a bit. When he had puck possession in the offensive zone, he was able to take it up the wall and effortlessly cut to the middle of the ice and then continue to stick handle through defenders in pursuit of higher-danger ice. He scored a goal in the All-Star game as well.
Nick Sumner
Brooks, 2/13/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/154
Hometown: Hanover, N.H.Â
Sumner uses his size to his advantage. He has big, powerful strides that help him speed past defenders. This weekend, he used that along with his frame to protect the puck, especially off the rush. That power in his game also causes defenders to turn the puck over. There was one instance of that in the All-Star game when he forced a turnover in the neutral zone, sped past the defender and got a breakaway.
'08 DEFENDERS: 9 standout '08 defenders from New England District Camp
Garrit Turcotte
Seacoast Performance Academy 15O, 2/3/2008, F, right shot
Hometown: South Berwick, Maine
In my notes is this sentence: "Turcotte can fly." That pretty much sums it up. Turcotte's speed was a huge asset, along with his vision. He was able to find open teammates both off the rush and on sustained offensive zone sequences. Late in the All-Star game, he sniped a goal over the netminder's glove. In his own zone, he showcased a good stick, limiting opposing puck carrier's options.
