FOXBORO, Mass. — Nothing rings in the fall hockey slate quite like the River Rats Jamboree.
From Sunday to Tuesday, players from the 13U, 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U levels took to the ice to do battle to ring in the 2025-26 season. Foxboro Sports Center was the main destination, while Walpole's Cadillac rinks held many games, as did Lovell Arena, New England Sports Village, Canton Ice House, Thayer and Boston Sports Village.
I caught numerous teams over Monday and Tuesday, as I focused on the 18U and 16U levels. Those are players I have seen quite a bit, so getting to see how much they improved over the summer is always a top storyline for me.
Props to Scott McDougall, Jeff Cox and the rest of the Neponset Valley River Rats for running a well-oiled jamboree to kick things off.
The 18U teams I saw were...
- Yale Jr. Bulldogs
- Hartford Wolfpack
- Brookline Whalers
- Northern CT Nor'Easters
- Islanders Hockey Club East
- Woodbridge Wolfpack
- East Coast Militia
- Neponset Valley River Rats
- Mid Fairfield
- Holy Name
Yes, I saw a lot of hockey in two days. This story will focus on 18U uncommitted forwards, while a separate one will be done on 18U uncommitted defensemen and goalies.
For the first time this fall, let's dive in.
Nico Ciardiello
Northern CT Nor'Easter, 11/10/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Guilford, Conn.Â
Ciardiello was able to consistently drive play on Monday against the Brookline Whalers. In one sequence late with his team pushing, Ciardiello navigated the offensive zone so well, evading defenders and finding space at the top of the zone to fire a shot through traffic that Whalers goalie Basil Hemberger saw and saved at the last second.
READ MORE:Â 7 early boys prep storylines for 2025-26
Michael Dossier
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 5/24/2008, F, left shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.Â
Dossier was outstanding. He created a goal early against the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, getting a shot on net to produce a rebound. He used his hands to sift around defenders to get into scoring positions. He was terrific on the cycle, using great vision and his high compete to create sustained zone time. Late in Monday's game, he fended off a defender while protecting the puck and found Keenan Hauser (more on him in a bit) in front for a goal. Dossier will be at Choate.
Declan Grenache
East Coast Militia, 2/2/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/171
Hometown: Sutton, Mass.Â
Grenache was always poised with the puck. The Williston Northampton product never wavered under pressure, always looking for space and open ice. In the first half of Tuesday's game against IHC East, he held onto the puck long enough to find a teammate wide open in the slot for a one-timer. He also never shied away from finishing a hit and was a pest on the penalty kill.
Keenan Hauser
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 6/8/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.Â
Hauser showed himself as a play-driver. Against the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, he used his hands to dangle opposing defenders to create space for himself. He has a wicked release that he could get off quickly and accurately. Late in the game, he found a soft spot in front to fire in a goal. After playing for Santa Margarita Catholic High and the Anaheim Jr. Ducks last season, he will be at Choate this winter.
Lucas Husted-Edwards
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 1/25/2007, F, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn.Â
Husted-Edwards was such a problem around the net. On Monday, he drove to the net hard with and without the puck, finding soft spots in the defense and was able to get open several times, scoring twice. One was off a tip, while the other was just him getting space in front and firing one in. He was tough to contain, and that should continue again at Kent this winter. On Tuesday against the River Rats, he was a pest on the forecheck, showcasing a good stick.
READ MORE: Would the QMJHL expanding to New England hurt prep hockey?
Andrew Martin
Neponset Valley River Rats, 8/16/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/186
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.Â
This wasn't a surprise at all. Martin was a beast, building on a very strong summer. Against the Yale Jr. Bulldogs, he scored early with his trademark quick, heavy shot from in tight. Right after, he hit Max Donatelli (Barrington, R.I.) with a pass in front for a goal. Martin consistently used his hands and frame to get to high-danger areas in the offensive zone. He has interest from Hockey East schools.
James McMurray
Holy Name, 6/15/2007, F, left shot, 5-8/175
Hometown: Fenelon Falls, OntarioÂ
I loved McMurray's compete in finding ways to get to the middle of the ice in the offensive zone. At the end of Tuesday's first half against Mid Fairfield, McMurray skated the puck shorthanded, cut across the zone, slipped and still passed the puck to a teammate for a scoring chance. His vision was on display when setting up scoring chances in the offensive zone, too.
J.P. Messuri
Brookline Whalers, 6/19/2008, F, left shot, 5-5/145
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Â
Messuri's first game with "Dexter Southfield" as the school next to his name — the Whalers are largely comprised of Dexter players — was huge, as he notched a hat trick against Northern CT Nor'Easter. His first goal was a snipe from the high slot that went bar down. At the start of the second half, Messuri tallied his second by banking in a spin-o-rama off a defenseman and in. The hat trick came on the power play when he knocked in a rebound. His playmaking with Nolan Russell (Arlington, Mass.) didn't miss a beat, going from Arlington High to high-level fall hockey.
Alex Mimaud
Woodbridge Wolfpack, 7/11/2007, F, left shot, 5-8/165
Hometown: Brielle, N.J.Â
Mimaud was a source of so much energy for Woodbridge. He was quick and shifty in his skating and drove play because of that. He had good hands to get around defenders. One of his most potent abilities was that upon entering the offensive zone, he switched his speed, sending the defender further back and giving him more time and space to either take a shot or make a pass.
Charlie Puglisi
Islanders Hockey Club East, 4/16/2008, F, right shot, 5-9/150
Hometown: Albany, N.Y.Â
Puglisi did an admirable job playing in all situations against the Woodbridge Wolfpack on Monday. He was reliable and good on his draws. He's someone NHL scouts will be keeping an eye on throughout the fall. He had 20 points in 28 games last season.
READ MORE: 5 storylines to watch in 2025 New England fall hockey
Will Schlechtweg
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 4/16/2008, F, left shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Goshen, N.Y.Â
Schlechtweg played as well as I've ever seen him on Monday against the Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack. His goal was really nice, as he used his good hands to bring it to the front of the net and score. But Schlechtweg was more about setting up his linemates. One of his shots was tipped in by Husted-Edwards for a goal. Schlechtweg's best play of the day came from a behind-the-back pass from behind the net to Husted-Edwards for another goal in the second half. Schlechtweg will be back at Kent.
