MARLBORO, Mass. — With all the top 14U teams in Massachusetts under one roof at the Mass. State Tournament this past weekend, I wanted to catch a glimpse of the future top prospects.
I haven't seen any of the '11s this fall, with most of my focus on the 15O, 16U, and 18U levels. I did get to watch some of the '11s at Harvard's Crimson Combine this summer. But that was about it.
First impressions? It's early, but there is legitimate talent among the '11s in Massachusetts, and I haven't even gotten the chance to see the birth year around the rest of the region.
Islanders Hockey Club took down the Cape Cod Whalers in the championship, but I watched most of the teams throughout the weekend.
Here are 15 standouts.
Bryce Albano
Islanders Hockey Club, 2011, F, right shot, 5-6/135
Hometown: Gloucester, Mass.Â
Albano was able to generate speed quickly, which allowed him to create separation and be hard for defenders to contain. Despite being a little smaller, he showcased great poise with the puck along the wall and protected pucks well, along with good hockey sense.
Emmett Aufiero
Islanders Hockey Club, 2011, D, right shot, 6-0/155
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
I've heard a lot about Aufiero throughout the fall, and in my first viewings of him, he lived up to it and then some. He's dynamic with the puck on his stick and knows how to create offense. On breakouts, he showed confidence and poise in eluding forecheckers to move the puck up ice or skate it himself. His skating is fluid, and he has great hands, which allow him to hold onto pucks longer than most players in the offensive zone without having the puck on his stick for too long. He should make an impact this winter at Belmont Hill.
Alexander Bobrov
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2011, D, left shot, 5-10/152
Hometown: Milton, Mass.Â
Bobrov had strong poise with the puck. When he gained possession at the offensive blue line, he held onto it longer, always keeping his head up and feet moving as he looked for passing and shooting lanes. He's an eighth grader at Belmont Hill this year.
Nolan Boyle
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2011, F, left shot, 5-7/140
Hometown: Waltham, Mass.Â
Boyle consistently drove play in my viewings of him. Against the Boston Americans on Saturday, Boyle skated it himself into the offensive zone, got around defenders and made a great pass to Carter Watson at the far post for the goal. Boyle consistently used his hands to stick-handle into high-danger areas, keeping his head up.
Max Colley
Cape Cod Whalers, 2011, F, left shot, 5-6/145
Hometown: Sandwich, Mass.Â
The biggest thing with Colley was his shot. Against the Junior Eagles, he potted one over the goalie's glove. But Colley brought his best in the championship, tallying two against the Islanders. While the first was a rebound that he knocked in, the second was him getting the puck at the face-off dot and picking his spot to score. He's an eighth grader this year.
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Griffin Erickson
Islanders Hockey Club, 2011, F, left shot, 5-10/155
Hometown: Keene, N.H.Â
Erickson showed himself as a do-it-all center for the Islanders this weekend. He had fantastic hands as he sifted through coverage in the defensive zone, and he was able to generate zone entries with his play-driving abilities. Against the Militia on Saturday morning, he showed good patience with the puck when he slowed down in the slot and fired one off the post. He wasn't afraid to get to high-danger areas, either.
Leighton Lam
East Coast Militia, 2011, G, catches left, 5-10/158
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.Â
Lam was outstanding against the Islanders on Saturday morning. The Islanders pressed hard, forcing Lam to make several saves, and he did so without issue. He absolutely robbed Islanders forward Logan Young, going post-to-post to snag the shot with his glove. He was poised on shots in tight, too. Lam should be a bright spot at BB&N this winter and going forward.
Peter Lyden
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2011, F, left shot, 5-1/103
Hometown: Stamford, Conn.Â
Sure, Lyden is small. But his shiftiness, hands and skating made him hard to contain and someone who constantly generated offense. As he continues to grow and mature, he should turn into a skilled, top-six center. He's at Brunswick as a freshman.
Bryce Powderly
Cape Cod Whalers, 2011, D, left shot, 5-7/145
Hometown: North Falmouth, Mass.Â
I first noticed Powderly with a big hit in front of his own net when playing the Northeast Generals. For the rest of my time watching him, he showed a much larger penchant for offense. Early in the second period against the Generals, he showed his great hands when he faked a shot, dangled middle and almost scored on a chance. He was always finding a reason to be down low in the offensive zone, too. He's an eighth grader in Falmouth this year.
READ MORE: 6 standouts from 18U Mass. championship | 7 standouts from 16U Mass. championship | 7 standouts from 15O Mass. championship | 5 standouts from 14U Mass. championship
Max Prudovsky
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2011, F, left shot, 5-6/135
Hometown: Newton, Mass.Â
This actually wasn't my first viewing of Prudovsky. My first came in 2024 when he played up with the '10s at Harvard's Crimson Combine. Prudovsky's vision, skill and hockey sense are unquestionably high-end. He plays the game at a different level than those around him. But what impressed me most: He was the first player back on the backcheck. No matter the situation, if the other team was going the other way, Prudovsky was skating at full speed to break up the play. Plus, he supported his defensemen well low in the zone and still got up ice without issue.
He should legitimately make an impact for Dexter Southfield this winter. He's too good not to.
Matthew Stock
East Coast Militia, 2011, F, left shot, 5-10/145
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.Â
The Militia were outmatched on Saturday morning against the Islanders, but Stock was still one of the best players in the game. He scored early, getting behind the defense with a breakaway and showcasing a nice finish. He had good speed, which helped him get on top of opposing puck carriers and force turnovers. His shot was especially impressive, given that it was advanced for his age. He will be at Catholic Memorial this winter.
Quinn Tazziz
Cape Cod Whalers, 2011, F, left shot, 5-7/135
Hometown: Falmouth, Mass.Â
Tazziz had high-end confidence with the puck and mostly did the right things with it. He potted two goals against the Generals. The second one was the most impressive when he came in off the rush and wired a hard shot into the back of the net. Tazziz protected pucks well with body positioning and used his hands to dangle away from defenders. I liked his vision, too. He's at Hillside School as an eighth grader. He's worth tracking this winter for sure.
Carter Watson
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2011, F, right shot, 5-10/175
Hometown: Bridgewater, Mass.Â
Watson proved himself to be a force throughout the weekend. Against the Boston Americans, he factored into the first three goals, scoring the first two and assisting on the third. The first one was a tap-in at the back post, while the second was a snipe after picking off a breakout pass and roofing the shot. He got the zone entry and hit Cole Reagh (Falmouth, Maine) for a pass that he finished the chance on.
Chris Welby
Islanders Hockey Club, 2011, F, right shot, 6-0/180
Hometown: Westwood, Mass.Â
Welby is a highly-touted '11, and it's not difficult to see why. He has the size and isn't an awkward skater. Many 14U players at 6 feet look gangly — that wasn't Welby. He has a heavy, accurate shot and had no problem getting into high-danger areas to let it go. He should be impactful for St. Sebastian's this winter.
READ MORE: What’s the future of New England fall hockey? Coaches weigh in
Logan Young
Islanders Hockey Club, 2011, F, right shot, 5-5/120
Hometown: Woburn, Mass.Â
Young's hands stood out the most. He was able to skillfully carry pucks into the slot to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates. Along with that, there was a play he made in the championship game that made me raise my eyebrows. Off the rush, he used his speed and body positioning to change the passing angle to get a puck across. I'm intrigued to watch him develop.
