There will be tons of talent on display this weekend at the Mass. Hockey Festival.
Seventy-seven Massachusetts-born players from the 2006 birth year will battle it out to make the Final 40 players at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. Those who make that will fight for spots at USA Hockey's Select 17 Player Development Camp. The number of players to make it past the Final 40 is based on the rankings given to them by the talent evaluators.
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While there are lots of great players at this event, these 15 players have a high chance of standing out. Some also have something to prove. It wasn't easy to pick since all of these players are good. They wouldn't be here if they weren't, so all of these players are standout prospects on their respective teams.
But only the best of the best will stand out this weekend.
Here are 15 players to keep an eye on at the festival.
Sam Caulfield
Milton Academy, 8/29/2006, G, catches left, 6-2/185Â
Caulfield burst onto the scene with Milton this season, posting prep hockey's best save percentage (.948) and a sub-2.00 goals-against average. He was the biggest reason why Milton earned the No. 3 seed in the Elite 8 Tournament. His next step will be continuing his success from prep hockey into this festival to improve his chances at Division 1 college hockey recruitment.
Gavin Cornforth
Dubuque, 12/15/2006, RW, right shot, 5-9/154Â
Do you know how in baseball when you're taking warmup swings, you can put a donut on the bat to make it feel heavier? And when you take it off and step to the plate, the bat feels light as a feather? That's how I expect Cornforth to play this weekend. He spent the winter playing against older and stronger players in the USHL as a very young '06, posting four goals and 10 points in 49 games.
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Ethan Cox
Nobles, 1/25/2006, LW, left shot, 6-1/170Â
Cox was part of a trio of '06s who led Nobles in scoring (we'll get to the other two in a bit). Cox ranked third, notching 12 goals and 26 points in 27 games. Cox plays hard and was good this winter at getting to interior ice. He's great at winning puck battles along the wall and below the goal line.
Dennis Davidson
Nobles, 5/15/2006, C, right shot, 5-9/154Â
Davidson, Cox's center, is the second of the '06 trio who played a vital part in Nobles' offense. Davidson drives play and was Nobles' top offensive producer this season with 31 points in 27 games. His shot is great, too, which helped him lead his team in goals with 16.
Laz Giardina
Reading, 6/29/2006, FWD, left shot, 6-5/190Â
Reading got to within a game of playing for the Division 1 state championship in March and Giardina was a huge reason why. His size is a huge asset of his game, as it helps him earn space and get to high-danger scoring areas. But he's also got speed and good hands, which help him drive play. He will be attending Lawrence Academy next season. It will be interesting to see how his game progresses in the NEPSAC. The first step will be a strong showing this weekend.
Tyler Hamilton
Catholic Memorial, 12/7/2006, C, right shot, 5-11/146Â
Another MIAA standout, Hamilton was outstanding in his sophomore season for Catholic Memorial, posting 12 goals and 24 points. His compete and two-way abilities make him such an effective do-it-all center. He will make the move to prep school next fall, going to Dexter Southfield. That will be a big step in his development towards landing a Divison 1 college hockey commitment.
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Dylan Hunt
Milton Academy, 2/9/2006, D, left shot, 6-1/174Â
Hunt had a great year for head coach Paul Cannata's Milton Academy Mustangs. His defensive abilities are impressive, as he was leaned on a lot for shutdown minutes. He also progressed with his offensive game this season and should take even more steps in his junior season next winter.
Owen Keefe
Muskegon, 3/26/2006, D, left shot, 5-10/174
NCAA: Boston UniversityÂ
Like Cornforth, Keefe made the jump to the USHL as an '06. However, he came straight from Malden Catholic in the MIAA. Keefe posted four goals and 14 points in 59 games for Muskegon this season. I'm intrigued to see how much playing with older players improves his ability to stand out among players his own age.
Teddy MacAusland
Nobles, 1/13/2006, RW, right shot, 5-9/179Â
The final piece of Nobles' '06 trio that led the team in scoring, MacAusland had a great winter, serving as the set-up guy alongside Davidson and Cox. MacAusland led the team in assists with 23. He's creative and has great skill. If all three of Cox, Davidson and MacAusland progress this offseason like they should, Nobles is going to be dangerous next season.
JJ Monteiro
Mount Saint Charles 16U, 1/12/2006, LW, left shot, 5-11/174
NCAA: ProvidenceÂ
Monteiro had a strong season for Mount Saint Charles 16U, continuing to establish himself as a force on the left wing. He has a high compete level and is great at creating space for himself and his linemates. He has no trouble getting to interior ice.
Nate Porter
Dexter Southfield, 3/10/2006, C, right shot, 5-10/161Â
Porter entered this winter with high expectations after finishing the fall as a point-per-game player with the Boston Jr. Eagles 16U team. He finished the prep season with 10 goals and 27 points in 32 games with Dexter's offense struggling at times. Porter has the tools to be a strong play-driver down the middle and he has Division 1 interest from colleges. He did play a game for the USHL's Omaha Lancers after Dexter's season ended. His next step will be consistency.
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Kiernan Poulin
Lovell Academy 16U, 1/5/2006, D, right shot, 5-9/139
NCAA: UMass
Poulin was one of the best skaters I saw this winter. His elusiveness and ability to exit his own zone with the puck is impressive and why he's already committed to UMass. He had eight goals and 36 points in 39 games with Lovell Academy's 16U team and skated in two games with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks.
Cole Pouliot-Porter
Xaverian, 7/24/2006, G, catches left, 6-1/168Â
Pouliot-Porter was the biggest reason why Xaverian was in the MIAA Division 1 state final in March. He elevated his profile with his ability to make big saves look easy and his athleticism. What's next? A strong showing this weekend would go a long way to boosting his stock even more. It won't be easy, as there are some really good goalies in this birth year. This winter, Pouliot-Porter proved he can hang with any of them.
Jack Sadowski
Kimball Union, 7/29/2006, FWD, left shot, 6-0/179
NCAA: New HampshireÂ
Kimball Union had Jackson Kyrkostas (Windham, N.H.) lighting up the scoresheet this season, but head coach Tim Whitehead was fortunate to have Jack Sadowski, who transferred in from Arlington High School. The first-year prep standout had 17 goals and 42 points in 34 games and consistently showcased a high hockey IQ.
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Ryder Shea
St. George's, 5/4/2006, G, catches left, 6-1/179
NCAA: MaineÂ
Shea entered this season with high expectations. He made last summer's USA Hockey Select 16s and was invited to U.S. National Team Development Evaluation Camp. But he struggled this winter for St. George's. This weekend is a big opportunity for Shea to make a statement.
