CONCORD, N.H. — For some teams, the regular season has begun. But for most, there are scrimmages still being played.
I tend not to pay much attention to scrimmages. Those games can give off the wrong impression about a team. But the St. Paul's Jamboree, which was held Sunday and Monday, has a group of six teams that I'm particularly interested in.
Deerfield was the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8 last season and enters this season at No. 10, while Tabor and Taft were in my Next 15. St. Paul's is very much a program on the rise, and Groton and Governor's Academy have legit potential.
So, on Sunday afternoon, I caught every team in their second games of the tournament.
These are just scrimmages, but I still came away with 14 standouts and three overarching takeaways. I kept the standouts to uncommitted hockey players.
Let's dive in.
Standouts
Matteo Alvarez
Deerfield, 7/20/2007, F, right shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, Calif.Â
Alvarez is a classic power forward. He plays a mean game and can draw penalties. He fought to get into high-danger areas — both with and without the puck. Alvarez has pretty good skill for a power forward and can drive play. When Deerfield was killing a 5-on-3 against Tabor, head coach Tim McVaugh had him as the lone forward. Alvarez is Deerfield's leading returning scorer from last season, when he had 22 points.
Quinn Brandell
St. Paul's, 1/4/2007, D, left shot, 6-2/179
Hometown: Plattsburgh, N.Y.Â
Brandell played a strong two-way game. In his own zone, he defended the interior well. He kept great gaps and made intelligent step-ups in the neutral zone to shut down opposing forward rushes. He made responsible decisions with the puck, too. Brandell is at his best when he plays a simple game.
Colvin Callahan
Tabor, 2/2/2007, F, right shot, 5-11/182
Hometown: Hull, Mass.Â
Callahan tallied a nice goal on Deerfield goalie Elliot Lennon. The former Xaverian standout capitalized on a Deerfield turnover, receiving the puck behind the Big Green's defense, going in and putting one over Lennon's shoulder — a fantastic finish over arguably the top goalie in prep. There was also an element of snarl in Callahan's game that I hadn't seen much of before.
James Capozzi
Tabor, 11/30/2009, G, catches right, 5-11/155
Hometown: Kinnelon, N.J.Â
With there being three games in two days for every team, the backup goalies see some legit time. Capozzi got Sunday night's matchup with Deerfield and was superb. He made some massive in-tight saves, most notably on Deerfield forward Owen Hannah, who had consecutive chances in front. He arrives via Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) and the Jersey Hitmen. Tabor's main man in net is Vinnie D'Urso (Andover, Mass.), but it was still a nice showing from Capozzi.
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Dylan Chery
Taft, 2/29/2008, F, left shot, 6-1/187
Hometown: Blainville, QuebecÂ
Chery had a great showing on Sunday afternoon. On Owen Covington's goal late in the first period, it was Chery who got possession after a puck battle behind the net, brought it out and found Covington in the slot for the goal. Chery showcased great hands and skill, especially when coming off the wall into scoring areas. Chery had 14 points in 22 games last season. I'd expect a jump in production as a senior.
Domenico Clarizio
Taft, 4/30/2007, F, right shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Laval, QuebecÂ
Clarizio looked a step above on Sunday afternoon. It started when he wired a shot past Groton goalie Wes DiModica (Holliston, Mass.). After cutting to the slot off the rush, Clarizio went bardown with a wicked release. Clarizio tallied another midway through the second period when he finished off a 2-on-1 with Harvard commit JT Rothstein. Clarizio's hands and play-driving abilities worked so well with his finishing. He was a 12th-round pick by Drummondville in the 2023 QMJHL Draft.
Harry Holland
Deerfield, 3/28/2008, D, right shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Charleston, S.C.Â
Holland showed his quick feet often on Sunday night against Tabor. He used his skating to get out of forechecking danger and get up ice. He had a good stick when defending rushes and was quick to get up to have good gaps and be aggressive in the neutral zone. With Deerfield having a new-look defensive core, Holland has a chance to rise to the top. He arrives at Deerfield from Brunswick.
Lukas Machan
Deerfield, 4/17/2007, F, left shot, 6-2/175
Hometown: Beaconsfield, QuebecÂ
What stood out most with Machan was his shot. He potted Deerfield's lone goal against Tabor when he followed the play well, picked up a loose puck in the slot and fired one over Capozzi from in tight. Machan has a nice release that he can get off quickly. He had nine goals and 19 points last season.
Nolan Nassar
Governor's Academy, 4/18/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.Â
There isn't a lot of flash to Nassar's game — and that's fine. The big righty got the job done with reliable play. He made smart step-ups in the neutral zone and kept on top of opposing forwards. He was also tough in front of his own net, and made responsible puck plays throughout.
Dylan Rothstein
Taft, 7/6/2010, F, right shot, 5-8/150
Hometown: New City, N.Y.Â
Rothstein played up with JT Rothstein (his older brother) and Clarizio (more on this trio later). In playing the middle and on the wing, Rothstein had the poise and hockey IQ of someone much older. He was able to find scoring areas, while also supporting plays well as the third forward high or supporting his defensemen in his own zone. Rothstein has so much potential, and he's only a '10.
READ MORE: Our preseason boys top 10Â |Â Ranking the next 15 teams
Tripp Schuhwerk
Governor's Academy, 6/22/2007, F, left shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.Â
Schuhwerk had Governor's Academy's first goal on Sunday night against St. Paul's, but his game was much bigger than that. His compete was so high, as he consistently won his battles, coming out of the corner with the puck. He has such a strong center of gravity, and that was apparent on his zone entries as defenders struggled to knock him off the puck. He always found ways to get open in the slot, too. He's committed to Brown for lacrosse.
Brady Smith
Taft, 6/12/2007, D, left shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Columbine Valley, Colo.Â
Smith showed himself as a reliable, puck-moving defenseman on Sunday. On power plays, he quarterbacked from the top of the zone. At one point, he found a teammate across the zone for a nice one-timer. He was responsible in his own zone, too. I've liked Smith's game for a long time, and he should be set to make a bigger impact as a senior now that he's more comfortable with some size.
Mitchell Smith
St. Paul's, 11/9/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Thunder Bay, OntarioÂ
Smith has a whole lot of high-end offensive abilities and potential. He scored against Governor's Academy when he drove the net and knocked in a rebound off a shot from St. Paul's forward Jaden Haas (Concord, N.H.). Smith is such a shifty skater and is so skilled with the puck that he was able to dangle defenders. His compete is high, too. From watching Smith a handful of times, his ceiling is high. He's a name I'd circle for Division 1 coaches.
Connor Wig
Groton, 4/12/2007, D, left shot, 5-11/175
Hometown: Holliston, Mass.Â
Wig showed himself as a very fluid skater. He was able to get up ice with shiftiness and could drive play. On power plays, he was very good at rushing the puck out of his own zone, into neutral ice and the opposing end. That mobility should result in posting more than the 12 points he had last season.
READ MORE: 32 breakout forward candidates | 24 breakout defensemen candidates |13 breakout goalie candidates
Takeaways
- There's a lot to be excited about with Governor's Academy forward Jamie Calla. The Lynnfield, Mass., native starred for Islanders Hockey Club last season and this fall, as well as posting six goals and eight points in four games at USA Hockey's Select 15 Camp this past summer. In Sunday afternoon's game against St. Paul's, Calla was up and down, which is expected with a '10. He has such high-end skill and offensive abilities, and he showed flashes of that on most of his shifts. As he rounds out his game, he should be one of the most intriguing '10s to watch over the next few years.
- I ranked Taft at No. 20 entering the season. There's a good chance the Rhinos make me regret not ranking them higher — especially with what could be an explosive top line. It was only a scrimmage on Sunday, but the line of the Rothstein brothers and Clarizio was dominant. Whether it was off the rush or in the cycle, they moved pucks so well. I'm excited to see what that trio can do once the regular season gets going.
- St. Paul's is coming off consecutive 12-win seasons. The Big Red haven't had a winning season since 2018-19. That said, head coach Scott Harff, who enters his second season as the boss, looks to have the program back on the right track. There are exciting recruits, and it's an older team this winter. Both of those teams usually equate to success both in the short term and for the long haul.
