MARLBORO, Mass. — The Mass. Hockey boys festival got underway last weekend at the New England Sports Center, and plenty of players impressed in the highly anticipated best-on-best competition.
With spots in next weekend’s Final 40 on the line — which will be Saturday and Sunday back in Marlboro — the ’09s, ’10s and ’11s hit the ice for an action-packed three-day slate that kicked off Friday night.
I spent Friday watching the ‘10s, who are in an important transition year before a big year in the prep circuit, or, in some cases, even in the USHL.
After the group dwindles to 40 next weekend, this age group will be vying for spots at USA Hockey’s Select 16 Camp in Amherst, N.Y., from June 25-July 1.
Here is who stood out among the ‘10s from Friday’s slate at the festival.
Brayden Dickie
Canton High, 2010, F, left shot
Hometown: Canton, Mass.
Dickie was the best player on the ice for portions of Friday’s game due to his simple, yet effective, play style that made a lot of good things happen in the offensive zone. He was particularly effective on the rush, using his speed to separate himself in transition while driving to the net with force. On his third rush, he found Nicholas Tulipano (Burlington, Mass.) for a tap-in goal on a 2-on-1, then set up another teammate for a scoring opportunity on his fourth rush. He scored a goal, too, depositing a loose puck in the blue paint after joining in on a rush with speed. Dickie represented the MIAA well.
Alexander Guo
Belmont Hill, 5/5/2010, D, left shot, 5-11/176
Hometown: Weston, Mass.
Guo separated himself as one of the better two-way defenders on the ice. He handled pucks well at the blue line and was equally as responsible on the defensive side of the puck. In a sequence early in the first half, Guo made a slick move at the point to create an offensive chance at the net before stepping up in the neutral zone with a big hit to provide his team with possession.
Logan Cotter
St. Mark’s, 8/17/2010, D, left shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.
Cotter attended Select 15 camp last year and proved his mettle as an elite prospect throughout the entirety of Friday’s game. There was one sequence where he took a shot from the point, barreled his way into the corner for the retrieval and made a nifty move around a defender before setting up a teammate in the slot. He’s an exceptional skater and was recently signed to a tender agreement by the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.
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Samuel Fishbone
St. Sebastian’s, 4/5/2010, D, right shot
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Fishbone only got better as Friday’s game went on. He was great under pressure, escaping multiple situations with defenders draped on his hips before transitioning the puck up ice. Fishbone didn’t shy away from taking ice himself, either. He took the puck himself a handful of times and made a few nifty head fakes to force the opposition to bite. Fishbone was just selected by the Sioux Falls Stampede in the fifth round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Colin Walsh
Framingham High, 8/18/2010, F, left shot, 6-1/180
Hometown: Framingham, Mass.
Walsh showcased himself as a top-end power forward, using his size to his advantage with the puck on his stick. He did just about everything in his last shift of the game, winning puck battles in the corner and showcasing his puck possession skills below the dots. He was physical, too, leveraging the opposition on the forecheck to create scoring chances for his teammates.
Graham Furness
Governor’s Academy, 5/27/2010, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Reading, Mass.
Furness doled out a handful of crushing checks on Friday and was strong on pucks in the offensive zone. In one sequence, he peeled out of the corner before unleashing a laser on the goal that nearly found twine. His release was quick and dangerous.
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Blake Ward
St. John’s Prep, 2010, F, left shot
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.
Ward was shifty with the puck and was one of the quickest players on the ice. He consistently made smart decisions with the puck and wasn’t afraid to make the simple play in the offensive zone. He walked into the offensive zone to start the second half to create a scoring chance for himself before making an outlet pass.
Michael Barrett
Phillips Andover, 2010, F, left shot, 6-2/185
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
Barrett fed TJ Petropoulos (Bridgewater, Mass.) for a perfectly executed give-and-go on an odd-man rush that led to a goal and was a standout playmaker all game. Later, he laid a big hit and was a dominant presence in the corners.
Jorden Marzi
Rivers, 2010, D, left shot
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass.
Marzi showed great vision on the rush and fooled the opposition with his head fakes in transition. He knew when to head-man the puck and excelled at creating scoring opportunities in the offensive zone. Later, he whizzed a shot-pass to an open teammate on the doorstep for a great chance.
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Benjamin Beaudry
Mid Fairfield, 8/22/2010, D, right shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Sturbridge, Mass.
You didn’t want to be an opposing player in transition with the puck on Friday with Beaudry positioned in front of you. Beaudry frequently kept great gaps and kept his stick on puck to execute poke checks, keeping the opposition off balance. He even stepped up and delivered a pair of hard hits.
Bruce Ghostlaw
South Shore Kings, 3/1/2010, F, left shot, 5-11/157
Hometown: Walpole, Mass.
Ghostlaw found twine with an ultra-quick release from the right dot in what was only the beginning of his strong performance on both ends of the ice. He then won a battle in the corner before threading a pass out front for a scoring chance. Later, he made a big hit and showcased his quick step in transition on the rush.
Carter Felt
Rivers, 2010, F, left shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Natick, Mass.
Felt, a Select 15 selection last year, was a menace in the offensive zone. He had a nose for the net and a motor that wouldn’t stop. There was one play where he attempted a wrap-around in a shift where he was all over the puck and nearly scored. He was also physical and equally as aggravating on the forecheck for the opposition. Felt just never stopped skating.
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James Hamlin
Roxbury Latin, 10/29/2010, F, right shot, 5-11/146
Hometown: Wellesley, Mass.
Hamlin played the role of playmaker on Friday, picking up two assists that showcased his vision and unselfishness with the puck. He first found Owen Frick (Holden, Mass.) for a goal in the slot after pulling up on the rush in the attacking zone before hitting Sean Callanan (Waltham, Mass.) for a tally later in the game. Hamlin was patient with the puck and demonstrated great poise in all three zones.
Owen Frick
Cushing, 3/17/2010, F, right shot, 5-10/168
Hometown: Holden, Mass.
Frick was electric on the rush, showcasing his speed and puck-handling abilities to create separation. But what stuck out the most was his two-way game. In one instance, he back-checked from deep inside the offensive zone into the neutral zone and broke up a play to send his team back the other way. He also had great touch around the net, feeding a pass to Kellan Murphy (Belmont, Mass.) for a look out front. Frick was recently nabbed by the Omaha Lancers in the fourth round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
