When the Mass. Hockey Festival begins this Friday, it will be a big time for the 2007-born prospects from Massachusetts.
They will fight for spots at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp from June 25-July 1. There, they will play for the Massachusetts District in hopes of winning a title and standing out to college coaches and NHL scouts.
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But first, they must get past this weekend. The best players from each birth year (2007, 2008, 2009) will move on to the Final 40, which takes place May 18-19. It all goes down at New England Sports Center in Marlborough.
Here are 11 uncommitted '07 defensemen and goalies to keep an eye on this weekend.
Myles Brosnan
Dexter Southfield, 10/19/2007, D, right shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Brosnan was a force for Dexter this season, scoring three goals and tallying 18 assists in 31 games. He makes very smart plays with the puck, whether it's leaving his own zone or in the other team's end. He has a great stick to shut down opposing players. He plays with a lot of confidence and is trending upward fast.
Nick Evans
Kimball Union, 3/13/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: Malden, Mass.Â
Even on a veteran-heavy Kimball Union team this winter, Evans still played a big role. His size certainly helps him, as he's extremely responsible in his own zone and can be tasked with tough minutes. He had one goal and 15 points in 37 games in his first year as a Wildcat.
Evan Handler
Rivers, 3/19/2007, D, right shot, 5-9/155
Hometown: Walpole, Mass.Â
Handler's best asset is his puck-moving ability. He can execute clean breakouts no matter the coverage. If nothing is open, he can skate the puck well on his own. In the offensive zone, he's creative and good at finding open passing lanes. He had two goals and 17 points with Rivers this winter.
Evan Jones
Arlington High, 2/9/2007, D, left shot, 5-8/165
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Â
Jones might be the most dynamic offensive defenseman in this story. He makes smart puck decisions and is a terrific skater. An underrated quality is his ability to get hard, quick shots through traffic from the point, which is how he scored a good number of goals this winter for Arlington.
Aiden MacIsaac
Lawrence Academy, 1/11/2007, D, left shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Andover, Mass.Â
MacIsaac took a big jump in his third season at Lawrence Academy this winter, scoring two goals and tallying 18 points. He's reliable at both ends of the ice and made Select 16 Camp last season.
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Blake McMeniman
Kimball Union, 2/28/2007, G, catches left, 5-8/150
Hometown: Revere, Mass.Â
Undersized? Yes. An Elite 8 champion? Also, yes. It was very much a coming-out party for McMeniman in the Elite 8 playoffs, culminating in him taking down Cushing in the final game. He's calm, knows how to be effective at his size and lets pucks come to him.
Freddy Meyer V
Rivers, 10/16/2007, D, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Meyer made the move to defense midway through the season after being a center. Meyer has a lot of potential on defense. He's very physical, never shying away from finishing a hit. But he's also a strong puck-mover with offensive upside given his history as a forward. He scored four goals and totaled 19 points this season.
Tyler Moschella
Thayer, 2007, G, catches left
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.Â
Moschella got the majority of reps in the Thayer net and was great, posting a 2.54 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. It will be interesting to see how he pushes the other top '07 goalies at the festival.
Anthony Palmer
Avon Old Farms, 10/28/2007, G, catches left, 5-10/160
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.Â
Palmer quietly had a phenomenal first season in prep, splitting the Avon Old Farms net with junior Michael Heinke and starting both Elite 8 games. Palmer was tied for the region lead in save percentage (.939) and ranked third in GAA (1.60). He made Select 16 Camp last season and enters this festival as the best goalie among the '07s.
Brenden Sanchez
Atlantic Coast Academy, 2007, D, right shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: West Springfield, Mass.Â
Sanchez had another outstanding season with Atlantic Coast Academy, seeing time with both the 16U and 18U squad. He notched 36 goals and 68 points in 37 games with the 16Us, while posting 10 goals and 20 points in 27 games for the 18Us. He makes great decisions with the puck, has a high offensive upside and went to Select 16s last year.
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JJ Thibodeau
Belmont Hill, 2/20/2007, G, catches left, 6-0/161
Hometown: Waltham, Mass.Â
It was another year of splitting the net with Keagin Wilson at Belmont Hill. Thibodeau posted a strong 2.50 GAA and a .902 save percentage. He's been a longtime standout with the Boston Jr. Eagles and is a technically sound netminder. He made it to Select 16 Camp last season with an at-large bid.
