ROCKLAND, Mass. — This past weekend, the Beast held a showcase across various rinks throughout Massachusetts.
In other words, it was a regular fall hockey weekend in New England.
I was at Lovell Arena all day Saturday and watched several 15O squads. The intrigue with 15O prospects is that they will be eligible to be drafted by USHL and CHL teams come the spring. The 2010-born players are also being watched closely by the U.S. National Team Development Program for next year's U17 team.
Plus, many of the '10s will have breakout winters in prep or high school hockey.
These are the teams I caught on Saturday.
- Islanders Hockey Club
- Woodbridge Wolfpack
- Boston Hockey Academy
- Yale Jr. Bulldogs AAA
- Amherst Knights
- South Shore Kings
- Minuteman Flames
- Neponset Valley River Rats
Let's dive in.
Donato Antonucci
Boston Hockey Academy, 8/26/2010, F, left shot, 5-7/140
Hometown: Morris Plains, N.J.Â
I poked my head into the Boston Hockey Academy-Yale Jr. Bulldogs AAA game on Saturday morning and watched Antonucci have a phenomenal shift. The New Jersey native laid a hard hit on the forecheck, separating the defenseman from the puck. He continued to show a high level of compete, working to get the puck back and forcing himself into high-danger ice. It resulted in him scoring a goal off a nice pass from the perimeter.
Jamie Calla
Islanders Hockey Club, 7/2010, F, right shot, 5-10/150
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.Â
Calla had two qualities that stood out quite a bit on Saturday: his hands and his IQ. Early in the second half, he was in a 1-on-2 against two Wolfpack defenders. He dangled away from both of them, got to better ice and backhanded a chance on net. His IQ was obvious in how he supported his defensemen by getting low in his zone. There were also heads-up plays he made throughout the game, such as when he'd find crafty ways to hit teammates up ice with passes.
Liam Carlin
Islanders Hockey Club, 2/1/2010, F, right shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: Erding, GermanyÂ
While the Islanders struggled to counter anything Woodbridge did, it was Carlin who most consistently created offense and forced turnovers. He has a wide stride, which allows him to protect pucks well, especially off the rush.
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Cam Daigle
Neponset Valley River Rats, 2/5/2010, F, right shot, 5-7/150
Hometown: East Greenwich, R.I.
Daigle was a key reason why the River Rats beat the Flames handily on Saturday. He won a puck battle and hit Drew Short across the offensive zone for a one-timer goal to open the scoring. On a 2-on-1 early in the second half, he got the puck from Carter Felt and waited for the perfect time to dish it back to Felt, who tapped it in at the far post. Daigle was also a pest on the penalty kill, showcasing a high compete. He will be at St. George's this season.
Carter Felt
Neponset Valley River Rats, 8/17/2010, F, left shot, 5-10/150
Hometown: Natick, Mass.Â
Felt went off in the second half against the Flames. He scored on that 2-on-1 with Daigle. After that, he spent the rest of the period causing headaches for Flames' defenders. Whether he was finishing a hit on the forecheck or winning puck battles below the goal line, Felt consistently made winning plays. Late in the second half, his hustle back prevented a breakaway.
Bruce Ghostlaw
South Shore Kings, 3/1/2010, F, left shot, 5-10/145
Hometown: Walpole, Mass.Â
First off, what a last name. That's enough to stand out as is. But Ghostlaw was dominant and all over the puck on Saturday. He showcased good skating and kept playing at high speeds even with the puck on his stick. He was patient, using his reach and speed to keep pucks out wide to protect from defenders. Ghostlaw had no issue bringing pucks into high-danger areas and creating offense either. He should make an impact for Roxbury Latin this winter.
Ethan Machado
Minuteman Flames, 9/7/2010, F, right shot, 5-8/161
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.Â
It wasn't the Flames' game on Saturday against the River Rats, but Machado played really well. His hockey IQ is so high, which was consistently evident. With the River Rats pressing on his first shift, he made a heads-up play to get back, break up the pass to his side of the ice and start a rush the other way. His reads were solid, and he took smart routes on forechecks. He will be at Cushing this season.
Evan Pyszczynski
Amherst Knights, 6/4/2010, D, right shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: Grand Island, N.Y.Â
I really liked Pyszczynski's gap control and his ability to step up in neutral ice to shut down plays before they reached his blue line. He made intelligent puck plays throughout the game and wasn't afraid to rush the puck himself when necessary. He played like a true two-way defenseman.
READ MORE:Â Did the CHL ruling have an impact on Aug. 1 commitments?Â
Jack Queally
Neponset Valley River Rats, 7/27/2010, F, left shot, 6-0/180
Hometown: Milton, Mass.Â
Queally scored on a wicked one-timer midway through the first half. He started the whole play when he gained the offensive zone and consistently made poised puck plays that led to him getting open at the top of the circle. Queally was always unselfish with pucks, always seeming to find open teammates, especially at the point. In 1-on-1 rushes, he used his eyes to deceive defenders.
Chase Schulberger
Woodbridge Wolfpack, 11/9/2010, D, right shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Quakertown, Penn.Â
Schulberger's first goal against Islanders Hockey Club exemplified some of his best qualities. He gained the offensive zone after rushing the puck, cut middle and looked for a teammate to pass to at the far post. Even after the puck got knocked down, he followed the play, picked it up and fired it in for a goal. He scored on a one-timer later in the game. As his puck skills get better and better, he projects to be a force.
Drew Short
Neponset Valley River Rats, 3/14/2010, F, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Lunenburg, Mass.Â
Short scored twice against the Flames on Saturday, and both were one-timers. The first was early in the game, positioning himself well to get open and fire one past Flames goalie Will Torres (Framingham, Mass.). The second came on a similar play later in the game. Short is at Winchendon again this winter.
Maveric Thisdelle
Woodbridge Wolfpack, 3/8/2010, F, right shot, 6-0/163
Hometown: Gatineau, QuebecÂ
Thisdelle was dominant. Against Islanders Hockey Club, Thisdelle scored the second goal of the game on a terrific effort, winning a puck battle, getting to the slot, fending off both defenders and firing a low shot to make it 2-0. He supported plays well in all three zones and when he had the puck, he evaded defenders and forecheckers well with shiftiness. It helps that he has great hands.
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Colin Walsh
Neponset Valley River Rats, 8/18/2010, F, left shot, 6-1/175
Hometown: Framingham, Mass.Â
Walsh's patience with the puck and ability to make the game play at his pace continued to impress. There was one sequence on a 3-on-1 against the Flames where he had the puck and rather than trying to force a pass across the zone to the streaking forward, he waited an extra second, slowed up and found Michael Barrett (Lynnfield, Mass.) as the trailer. Walsh scored on a nice rush and shot late in the first half and set up Short's goal late in the game. Walsh should be someone on the prep radar.
