WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Mount St. Charles hosted a Northeast Pack event this past weekend, playing host to Bishop Kearney Selects, the Long Island Gulls, Mid Fairfield, the New Jersey Rockets and Pittsburgh Penguins Elite.
The event featured top talent from the 14U and 15O age groups from Friday-Sunday.
I made the trip to Mount St. Charles on Friday and watched BK Selects, the Gulls, Mid Fairfield and Mount St. Charles.
Here are 13 standout 15O prospects from my viewings. We already covered the standout 14U prospects here.
Brody Berard
Mount St. Charles, 9/2/2009, D, right shot, 6-0/181
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.Â
I've written quite a bit about Berard's high-end defensive abilities, but it was his offense that shined the brightest on Friday. He had two of his shots from the point tipped in for goals. He also scored one himself, having a shot go off a Gulls player and in. His all-around game continues to position him well for a potential U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp invite in the spring.
Jake Boguniecki
Mid Fairfield, 4/22/2009, D, right shot, 6-2/161
Hometown: Woodbridge, Conn.Â
Boguniecki is one of the best two-way defensemen that I've seen among the '09s. On Friday, he knew when to join the rush and push the pace, getting a good one in early in the first period that resulted in a drop pass to Ryan Kazcynski for a chance. His ability to defend his own zone is strong, too, as he was able to shut down BK forwards from finding success in his part of the ice.
Daniil Butin
Long Island Gulls, 5/28/2009, F, left shot, 5-10/150
Home country: BelarusÂ
Butin was a bright spot for the Gulls. He was able to drive play and made smart passes to his linemates in transition. He showed great hands, maneuvering through traffic and pressure. He also took smart routes on the forecheck and disrupted some Mount St. Charles breakouts.
Stephen Cover
Mount St. Charles, 4/19/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Harrisburg, Penn.Â
Cover is such a smart player. In my viewings of him, he always knows where to be. He often correctly anticipates plays before they happen. On Friday, he set up a Paulo Gualberto Jr. goal in the first period, hustling and using his hockey sense to make the play happen. In the third period, he made a terrific pass off the rush to Braiden Scuderi for a goal.
Paulo Gualberto Jr.
Mount St. Charles, 4/9/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/174
Hometown: Barnstable, Mass.Â
Gualberto Jr. was dominant in Friday's game against the Gulls. He potted two goals. The first was off a great set-up from Stephen Cover while the second came from tipping a Brody Berard (Cumberland, R.I.) shot. Gualberto's net drives gave the Gulls fits and his abilities in generation offense were impressive. He can be such a commanding force down the middle.
Ryan Kazcynski
Mid Fairfield, 7/8/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/163
Hometown: Syosset, N.Y.Â
Kazcynski is so intelligent offensively. He has high-end skill, as was evident when he was able to stick handle around BK defenders. He was great as the third forward in the zone, staying above the play and getting open to rifle shots. He showcased nice vision in the offensive zone, too.
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Karter Lundmark
BK Selects, 3/2/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/160
Hometown: Malvern, Penn.Â
Lundmark generated a good amount of offense for BK Selects. On the sequence where Mid Fairfield goalie Jackson Soshnick robbed BK Selects forwards twice, it was Lundmark making smart plays to put pressure on the opponent. Lundmark showed himself to be elusive throughout the game and he took smart routes on forechecks to interrupt Mid Fairfield breakouts.
Robert Matson
BK Selects, 3/10/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/140
Hometown: Binghamton, N.Y.Â
Matson showed an ability to get to space in the neutral and offensive zone, using his good hands and shiftiness. He was strong on board battles, using smart positioning and compete to win them. He had great patience with the puck and was often driving play for BK.
Cam Minella
Mid Fairfield, 8/29/2009, D, left shot, 5-10/154
Hometown: Darien, Conn.Â
Minella's game is often subtle, and that was the case on Friday in a very strong game for the Brunswick defenseman. His gap controls were good, as he regularly kept BK forwards wide off the rush. He was able to step up on forwards and defuse chances. Two of Minella's shots were tipped in by Braydon Sisco for goals.
Michael Romano
Mount St. Charles, 6/16/2009, D, left shot, 5-11/150
Hometown: Naples, Fla.Â
Romano was stout defensively in Friday's game. He showcased a great stick and was aggressive at stepping up at his own blue line. There was a great play when he stepped up on a Gulls forward, forced a turnover and sprung his team on a 2-on-1 the other way. I also liked his decisions with the puck at the offensive blue line.
Braydon Sisco
Mid Fairfield, 1/9/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/141
Hometown: Kinnelon, N.J.Â
Sisco was all over the scoresheet against BK Selects. He owned the front of the net, gaining space to tip in two shots from Minella. Sisco was able to be effective in the cycle game. On rushes with his linemates, he had a quick, accurate release.
NEXT UP: 13 standouts from the 14Us at Northeast Pack
Jackson Soshnick
Mid Fairfield, 6/25/2009, G, catches left
Hometown: Verona, N.J.Â
Soshnick had one of the best sequences I've seen from a goalie at this level ever on Friday. It started when he went post to post to make a wild pad stop. That knocked him out of position, so when a BK Selects forward went to put in the rebound, Soshnick reached out with his glove and miraculously kept the puck out. He helped his team secure a 6-1 win.
Brayden Willis
Mount St. Charles, 9/16/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/161
Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.Â
Willis had a hat trick in the 10-0 drubbing of the Gulls. He's a very shifty skater, which made him so hard to contain. He had great hands and a quick, accurate shot, which led to such a high rate of production. He's also a great playmaker with an ability to find open teammates no matter the situation.
