The NEPSAC boys hockey playoffs are over. Avon Old Farms defied the odds to win the Elite as a No. 8 seed. No. 2 Cushing won the Large School tournament and No. 2 Winchendon snagged the Small School tournament title.
But the second-biggest storyline of the playoffs is always the uncommitted players who boosted their stock.
Throughout the week, junior teams and college coaches head to rinks around New England to get one last look at players during the prep season.
I didn't do an exact count of coaches, but it looked like fewer college coaches were at UConn on championship day than in past years. That makes some sense, given the CHL ruling and some schools opting to wait until prep players make it to juniors to extend an offer.
There were still many influential hockey people in attendance.
Here are the uncommitted players I felt boosted their stock the most.
Aaron Alves-Thomas
St. Mark's, 3/31/2009, G, catches left, 5-11/170
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.Â
Alves-Thomas wasn't perfect in the first two periods of the championship, but was great in the third. As St. Mark's pressed, Avon had some odd-man rushes the other way, and Alves-Thomas kept the Lions in striking distance. He made 32 saves to take down No. 6 Kimball Union, and 26 to take down No. 7 Belmont Hill. He finished the season with a 2.14 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
Nico Ciardiello
Avon Old Farms, 11/10/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Guilford, Conn.Â
Ciardiello was one of Avon's top offensive weapons throughout the season, but he hit a whole new level in the playoffs. Potting four goals (including a hat trick in the first period) against Hotchkiss goalie and Northeastern commit Neilan Johnson is as impressive as it gets. Ciardiello, another former Mount standout, showcased his wicked shot and high offensive IQ. He should generate Division 1 interest.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 field | Large School field | Small School field
Colton Cleaves
Brunswick, 8/31/2009, F, left shot, 5-11/160
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.Â
I noticed Cleaves quite a bit in the championship for his skill and ability to hold onto pucks and make the right play. At one point, he navigated to the net, got in tight and dinged the crossbar. The '09 has quite the hockey family, with older brothers Hank and Cooper at Dartmouth and sister Chloe a star at Deerfield. He will be an intriguing prospect to track through the summer and into the fall.
Logan Cotter
St. Mark's, 8/10/2010, D, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.Â
Cotter was St. Mark's best player in the final. The elusive, smooth-skating defenseman was often a one-man breakout and made smart first passes, leaving his own zone. His quick feet also helped him defend the rush and keep up with fast forward. As I wrote when I named him to our All-Elite 8 tournament team, he should've been an invite to the NTDP's Evaluation Camp. He should be a big name for the USHL Phase 1 and QMJHL Drafts.
Sawyer Graubins
Holderness, 2/13/2007, F, right shot, 5-8/170
Hometown: Victoria, Minn.Â
Graubins opened eyes at Holderness this season. He scored two goals in the Bulls' 9-6 win over No. 8 Pomfret in the quarterfinals and assisted on Viktor Samal's eventual game-winner against No. 5 Berkshire. Graubins is smaller, but his shifty skating and assertiveness with the puck made him so effective for Holderness. He finished third on his team in points with 33.
Grover Henderson
Avon Old Farms, 10/16/2007, F, right shot, 6-4/220
Hometown: ChicagoÂ
Henderson was a brute force through all three games, generating a ton of speed for a big man and laying hard hits on the forecheck. You wouldn't think a 6-foot-4, 220-pound power forward would move well, but against St. Mark's, he put defenders on their heels and was able to move quickly with the puck. The junior has yet to be drafted in any junior leagues, but would be an intriguing add given his size and skating.
Keegan Kazan
Brunswick, 11/15/2008, F, right shot, 5-9/173
Hometown: Wilton, Conn.Â
Kazan exploded for a hat trick in the third period against Tabor. Down 4-1 in the third and with Brunswick's season on the line, Kazan popped for three snipes. The junior's ability to shoot the daylights out of the puck makes him an intriguing uncommitted senior going into next season. He finished with the most goals (18) and points (44) on his team this season.
MORE CHAMPIONS: Boys Elite 8 — Avon Old Farms beats St. Mark’s | Boys Large School — Cushing beats Brunswick | Girls Elite 8 — Loomis Chaffee beats Deerfield | Girls Large School — Phillips Exeter beats Choate | Boys Small School — Winchendon beats Holderness | Girls Small School — Groton beats New Hampton
Brady Knode
Winchendon, 9/18/2007, G, catches left, 6-2/180
Hometown: Broadlands, Va.Â
Knode was outstanding for Winchendon during playoff week, recording 21 saves to beat No. 7 New Hampton, 46 to take down No. 3 Canterbury and 26 to win a championship over No. 1 Holderness. His size and athleticism made him difficult to beat with point-blank shots. He finished with a 2.33 GAA and a .923 save percentage, and would make a lot of sense for a junior team next season.
Sebastian Mogull
Cushing, 12/12/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Naples, Fla.Â
Mogull had a memorable Large School tournament, scoring two goals in every game, along with an assist in the semifinals against Phillips Andover and two helpers in the championship. Mogull, who missed some time down the stretch, drove play as one of Cushing's centers and always seemed to find soft spots in the offensive zone. Of the two-goal games, his biggest was against No. 7 Deerfield, scoring in the third period to tie the game and then winning it in overtime.
Kane Mori
Holderness, 7/8/2009, F, left shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Chofu, JapanÂ
Mori caught my eye during the championship. He was able to drive play, and his head was always up with the puck, allowing him to sift through the defense. He also had really good hands and skill, and was rewarded with a goal in the third period. From Japan, he had a great sophomore year for Holderness with 10 goals and 23 points in 30 games.
Evan Nee
St. Mark's, 8/12/2007, F, left shot, 5-8/160
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Â
Nee was impossible to miss throughout the tournament. The senior used his speed to create scoring opportunities off the rush, especially against Kimball Union in the semis. He finished with two goals and an assist against No. 7 Belmont Hill before tallying three assists against No. 6 Kimball Union. His high compete and speed are two elements that should boost his stock, as he's slated to go to the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads next season.
Mason Raycroft
Cushing, 7/30/2009, G, catches left, 5-11/138
Hometown: Wellesley, Mass.Â
You wouldn't know it from the lopsided scores in the semifinals and championship, but Raycroft was vital to Cushing winning the Large School title. He made 25 saves to edge out Deerfield in the quarters, before turning away 23 shots against Andover and pitching a 32-save shutout against Brunswick. His ability to track pucks from distance and control his rebounds stood out. As a freshman, Raycroft established himself as one of the better goalies in prep, finishing with a 2.29 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
READ MORE: All-Elite 8 tournament team | All-Large School tournament team | All-Small School tournament team
Max Yakub
Avon Old Farms, 7/16/2009, D, left shot, 5-10/185
Hometown: Manalapan, N.J.Â
Yakub came up huge with "the block," which was one of the most memorable championship day plays of the last few years. But he boosted his stock because of his two-way prowess. The former Mount St. Charles star used his feet to get to space and move pucks with ease. He consistently made smart reads with and without the puck and was a big reason why Avon played lockdown defense over the three Elite 8 games. He's a certified winner after capturing two straight USA Hockey national championships with Mount and then winning the Elite 8 this year.
