The Mass. Hockey boys festival is on the docket for the next two weekends. It's a big deal for the 2008-born players.
From Friday through Sunday at New England Sports Center, countless '08s will battle for a spot in the Final 40, which is held the following weekend at Lovell Arena. From there, players will be picked for spots at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp.
It's also a big chance for players to show off in front of college coaches. These players are either already eligible to commit to a Division 1 program or soon will be on Aug. 1.
We've already taken a look at uncommitted '08 forwards.
Click or tap here for the full rosters for the Mass. Hockey boys festival
Now, let's dive into some of the uncommitted '08 defenders to watch this weekend.
Gavin Callahan
Mount St. Charles, 4/12/2008, D, left shot, 6-1/181
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.Â
Callahan was at Select 15 Camp two summers ago and Select 16s last year — and for good reason. He's a good-sized, two-way defenseman who skates well and easily moves pucks, especially on breakouts. He had two goals and 25 points in 55 games for the Mount St. Charles' 16U team this past season, and while he's not flashy, he can always be counted on to get the job done.
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Kaiden Donia
Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/190
Hometown: Townsend, Mass.Â
Last season, Donia burst onto the scene when he was invited to U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp. While he didn't make the team, he was given an automatic bid to Select 16 Camp and was a second-round pick (19th overall) by the USHL's Lincoln Stars in the Phase 1 Draft. He wasn't as offensively impactful as some expected this season (12 points in 28 games), but his size, range and rawness make him an intriguing prospect.
Vinnie D'Urso
Tabor, 3/7/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/190
Hometown: Andover, Mass.Â
In his first season at Tabor, D'Urso was one of the best goalies in prep. Among goalies who played at least 1,000 minutes in the NEPSAC, he ranked second in save percentage (.929) and boasted a 2.63 goals-against average. D'Urso has been a longtime standout for the Neponset Valley River Rats and was at Select 16 Camp last season. It will certainly be competitive among the '08 goalies over the next two weekends, but D'Urso enters near the top.
Matt Hines
Dexter Southfield, 6/10/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.Â
Hines took a big step in his junior year at Dexter. He scored five goals and notched 19 points in 27 games, which was nice. But he became a puck-mover that head coach Danny Donato relied on quite a bit. He executes smooth breakouts and can carry the puck when necessary. In the offensive end, he facilitates well deeper into the zone, and when he holds onto pucks, he has a quick, hard wrister that he can get through traffic.
Gavin Holland
Lawrence Academy, 3/20/2008, D, left shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: Topsfield, Mass.Â
Holland is far from a flashy, point-getting defenseman. The longtime Boston Junior Eagle is more known for his defensive abilities and the stable play he's provided the past two seasons for Lawrence Academy. He's a good skater who can get pucks up ice quickly. He defends hard, keeping on opposing players and using his good stick to break up plays.
Matas Janulis
Lawrence Academy, 11/19/2008, D, left shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: Lincoln, Mass.Â
Janulis is a classic, two-way defenseman. He has great reach and uses it well to shut down opposing players with his stick. He can also contribute offensively, knowing when to join the rush and when to slip into the slot. Janulis had five goals and 12 points in 24 games for Lawrence Academy this season. He made Select 16 Camp last season.
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Brian McFadden
Thayer, 1/8/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/181
Hometown: Holbrook, Mass.Â
In his first season in prep, McFadden missed a lot of it due to injury. But when he was in Thayer's lineup, the big righty had a goal and nine points in 14 games. With his size and reach, he's a potent, stout defender. But what makes him so intriguing are his puck-moving abilities and his offensive ceiling. What he could be offensively, in addition to what he does in his own end, makes him so fascinating to watch. He had three assists in five games at Select 16 Camp last summer.
David O'Brien
Long Island Gulls, 3/29/2008, D, left shot, 5-7/150
Hometown: Weymouth, Mass.Â
O'Brien made the move from Bishop Kearney Selects to the Long Island Gulls this past season, scoring eight goals and tallying 29 points in 57 games at the 16U level. O'Brien is a phenomenal skater who is elusive and a deft puck-moving defenseman. He had a goal and four points in five games at Select 16 Camp last season.
Thomas Saulnier
St. Sebastian's, 2/15/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/165
Hometown: Medfield, Mass.Â
Saulnier faced a whole bunch of shots behind a young and inexperienced St. Sebastian's team this season. He posted a 2.94 GAA and a .910 save percentage and kept the Arrows in a slew of games they otherwise wouldn't have any business being in. He's athletic and has terrific control of rebounds. He was at Select 15 Camp two summers ago, but didn't make Select 16s last year.
Brady Sloper
Belmont Hill, 5/21/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/198
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.Â
Sloper is a shutdown defenseman. At the 13U, 14U and 15O level, he was one of the bigger players, so his skating needed some work, which is totally understandable. This season, however, he seemed to be more comfortable in his frame with his skating. He has a great stick and was much more physical on opposing forwards. When he's physical, he's at his best. He was at Select 15 and 16 Camps the last two summers.
Kris Soja
Nobles, 3/11/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/190
Hometown: Ludlow, Mass.Â
While Soja isn't the biggest defenseman in this story, he's one of the most physical and has a high compete. He will take on anybody in puck battles and fights hard for positioning in front of his own net. He's also a creative puck-mover and has the capabilities to be more of an offensive defenseman. He had four goals and 11 points in 27 games as a sophomore in Nobles this past season, which was a slight dip from the 14 points he tallied as a freshman. He had six points in four games at Select 15 Camp two summers ago.
MASS. HOCKEY FESTIVAL: 13 uncommitted '08 forwards to watch at Mass. Hockey FestivalÂ
Parker Stockseth
Seacoast Performance Academy, 12/9/2008, G, catches left, 6-3/174
Hometown: Blandford, Mass.Â
Stockseth has had two straight strong seasons for Seacoast Performance Academy. This season, he put up a 1.98 GAA and a .919 save percentage in 25 games at the 16U level. He has intriguing size for a goalie, which is why he's a Division 1 prospect to watch. He was picked in the eighth round by Sioux City in last year's USHL Phase 1 Draft and the 14th round of the QMJHL Draft by Sherbrooke. Stockseth was at Select Camps the last two summers.
