FOXBORO, Mass. — The River Rats Jamboree was Sunday through Tuesday, which means — in the hockey world — summer is officially (and unfortunately) over.
Fall hockey is upon us, as the Rats Jamboree is always the event that kicks off the autumn slate.
Games were hosted at several rinks across Massachusetts for the 13U, 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U levels. There were several Division 1 and Division 3 college coaches, as well as a plethora of NHL and junior scouts. It was packed.
I spent my time watching the uncommitted 18U prospects, which you can read here for forwards and here for defenders, as well as uncommitted 16U players.
Here are the teams I watched...
- Mid Fairfield
- Providence Capitals
- Yale Jr. Bulldogs
- Cape Cod Whalers
- Neponset Valley River Rats
- Connecticut Jr. Rangers
- East Coast Militia
- North Suburban Wings
- Long Island Royals
Let's dive into the standout uncommitted 16U prospects from the jamboree.
18U RIVER RATS JAMBOREE STANDOUTS: 12 top defenders | 11 star forwards
Aaron Alves-Thomas
Providence Capitals, 3/31/2009, G, catches left, 6-0/160
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.Â
Alves-Thomas was very strong positionally, never being out of position or overcommitting to a shooter. Even when Mid Fairfield forwards drove the net hard, he held onto rebounds. On one play, Mid Fairfield forward Rich Janniello drove the net hard and got a good shot off, but Alves-Thomas turned it away with his blocker. The netminder will be at St. Mark's this season.
Easton Anello
Neponset Valley River Rats, 1/19/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/170
Hometown: Windsor, Mass.Â
Anello is a prospect I'd be watching heavily if I were a Division 1 school (and they definitely are). The Williston Northampton product was smooth with the puck, consistently making smart puck plays to break out of his own zone and assist the offense. In his own zone, he showed strong awareness, positioning himself well in front of the net to intercept passes to the slot.
Harlan Beaulieu
NS Wings, 3/26/2009, D, left shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.Â
Beaulieu showcased strong vision in breaking pucks out and making passes in the neutral zone. He was patient on his reads coming out of his own zone, too. On a 2-on-1 against the Long Island Royals, he got down to take away the passing lane and ended up blocking the shot. He funneled pucks down low well in the offensive zone, and he was physical with an edge in board battles. He will be at St. John's Prep this winter.
Landon Brawn
Neponset Valley River Rats, 1/14/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/150
Hometown: Warwick, R.I.Â
I wasn't familiar with Brawn prior to Tuesday, but I came away impressed after watching him against the Yale Jr. Bulldogs. He played with pace and utilized his speed to put defenders on their heels. Early in the first half against the Jr. Bulldogs, Brawn gained the offensive zone, went around the net and found Anello at the point, whose shot tipped off Luke Dickson and in. Brawn also showed patience with pucks in the offensive zone, as he waited for passing lanes to open. He will be at Williston Northampton this season.
Anthony Brunetti
Providence Capitals, 7/12/2009, F, left shot, 6-1/195
Hometown: Lewiston, MaineÂ
Brunetti showcased good speed and an ability to put defenders on their heels off the rush. He made a phenomenal pass across the offensive zone to Colten Simas for a one-timer score on the power play. Late in the game, with the Capitals protecting a lead, he sped out to the point to block a shot, ending a Mid Fairfield offensive zone sequence. Brunetti will be at St. Mark's this year.
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Alessandro Dolder
Mid Fairfield, 6/27/2009, D, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Greenwich, Conn.Â
It wasn't Mid Fairfield's best game on Monday, but I really liked Dolder's speed and feet. The Brunswick defender showcased good speed when wheeling around his own net. He used his feet well to defend opposing rushes, keeping good gaps and cutting off passing lanes.
Jacob Foisy
Conn. Junior Rangers, 10/6/2009, F, left shot, 5-10/145
Hometown: Tracy, Calif.
Foisy scored a big goal for the Junior Rangers on Tuesday, getting the puck high in the offensive zone and showcasing a great catch and release over the goalie's glove. He played with a high compete and fought hard to get to high-danger areas in the offensive zone, as well as winning his puck battles. He will be with Delta Charter School this season.
Liam Guilderson
Cape Cod Whalers, 3/30/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/160
Hometown: Belmont, Mass.Â
Guilderson was assertive in my viewing of him on Monday. He used his great hands to drive play, and slowed the play down when it suited him. He protected pucks in the corners on cycles, pivoting at the right times to fend off defenders and switch direction. When I watched him against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers on Tuesday, his smooth skill created a bunch of offense. He will be at Dexter Southfield this season.
Trevor Hamilton
Cape Cod Whalers, 7/23/2009, F, left shot, 5-11/152
Hometown: Framingham, Mass.Â
Hamilton started things off with a bang on Monday, bringing the puck down his off-wing and firing a laser under the goalie's blocker. Throughout the game, Hamilton was vital on the cycle, using his hands and frame to continue offensive zone possessions. He will be back at Catholic Memorial in the MIAA this winter.
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Brock Hanlon
Cape Cod Whalers, 6/25/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Auburndale, Mass.Â
With Hanlon, it was all about speed. He can flat-out fly. Yale Jr. Bulldogs defenders struggled to negate his rushes because he was able to generate so much speed so fast that it was almost impossible to do anything but keep him to the outside. He will be at Dexter Southfield this season.
Alex Marottolo
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 4/21/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: North Haven, Conn.Â
Marottolo showcased an ability to drive play with his skating. He had good hands on his net drives, too, along with being able to protect pucks using his frame. Early in the second half of Monday's matchup with the Cape Cod Whalers, Marottolo took a smart route on a net drive and tipped a shot off the post. He's at Canterbury this season.
Colten Simas
Providence Capitals, 3/22/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Warwick, R.I.Â
Simas was a force against Mid Fairfield on Monday. He scored the game's first goal when Caiden Pellegrino (Uxbridge, Mass.) won a draw back and Simas fired a goal through traffic. His second goal was a one-timer on the power play. His third tally was another one-timer, this time getting a feed from Pellegrino behind the net. Simas, who is at Deerfield, was phenomenal on the forecheck, too. On Tuesday, he scored on another sweet feed from Pellegrino behind the net.
Aiden St. Pierre
NS Wings, 5/14/2009, F, left shot, 5-10/150
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.Â
Against the Long Island Royals on Tuesday, St. Pierre showed himself as a good skater who could drive play. Early in the first half, he beat the defender to the outside, took what was given to him and almost scored on a wraparound. His vision and small-area passes were necessary to rush and cycle offense. At one point, he dangled a defender, went in alone and came oh-so-close to scoring top corner. St. Pierre will be with the MIAA's St. Mary's Lynn this season.
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Zachary Zusman
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 7/10/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/150
Hometown: Stamford, Conn.Â
Over the two days, Zusman scored the nicest goal I saw. The Kent forward dangled through multiple defenders off the rush, got in alone on the goalie and scored in a tremendous individual effort. His hands were an issue for Cape Cod Whaler defenders, as Zusman found ways to sift through coverage. He also showcased a lot of speed in his game and was still able to make plays going his fastest.
