BROOKLINE, Mass. — This past weekend, the Cape Cod Whalers hosted an 18U showcase at Dexter Southfield featuring eight teams: Brookline Whalers, Cape Cod Whalers, Central Mass. Penguins, Islanders Hockey Club East, Islanders Hockey Club West, Northern Cyclones, Mid Fairfield and the New England Fall Prep Wildcats.
I took in all three games on Saturday and stopped by for some action on Sunday, too.
Outside of the Cape Cod Whalers and Mid Fairfield, the other six teams are prep teams playing together. The Brookline Whalers are mostly Dexter Southfield, while the Central Mass. Penguins are Cushing, Islanders Hockey Club East is Winchendon, Islanders Hockey Club West is Holderness, Northern Cyclones are Tilton and the New England Fall Prep Wildcats are Kimball Union. Unfortunately, Islanders Hockey Club East was the only team I didn't get a chance to see.
The event was an early opportunity to get a first impression of some top prep teams for the winter.
It also showcased some strong uncommitted 18U prospects. Here were 17 who caught my attention.
Let's dive in.
Olivier Benoit
Cape Cod Whalers, 3/12/2007, D, left shot, 6-3/205
Hometown: Fredericton, New BrunswickÂ
Benoit was far from flashy, but he consistently got the job done. He covered the front of his own net well with his reach, as he used his good stick to intercept passes and contest scoring chances. He was rewarded midway through the second period when he jumped into the rush, got a pass down the wing from Liam Kailher (Duxbury, Mass.) and fired it into the back of the net. Benoit will be at Tabor come the prep season.
Mark Bierwirth
Islanders Hockey Club West, 3/20/2007, G, catches left, 5-11/175
Hometown: Chelmsford, Mass.Â
Bierwirth only allowed one goal against the Central Mass. Penguins on Sunday. He was fantastic with high-danger chances, especially in overtime. Bierwirth was busy during the extra sessions and consistently kept the game tied. He was Holderness' starter last winter and should be due for another strong winter in the crease.
Xander Boutilier
Fall Prep Wildcats, 7/13/2008, F, left shot, 6-1/180
Hometown: Middle Sackville, Nova ScotiaÂ
Saturday may have been the best I've seen of Boutilier. Early against the Northern Cyclones, he drove play into the offensive zone, ripped a shot on net and Carter Cowan put in the rebound. Boutilier got on the board late in the second period when he tried to pass the puck middle on a power play, but it was stopped. Fortunately for Boutilier, he followed the pass, grabbed the puck and fired it in. The highlight reel play came in the third period when he forced a turnover, got a breakaway and did the famous Pavel Datsyuk move. Boutilier had 22 points in 30 games for Kimball Union last season.
Owen Burke
Mid Fairfield, 4/22/2008, F, left shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn.Â
Burke was everywhere offensively for Mid Fairfield on Saturday. Late in the first period, he one-timed a goal in. Mid Fairfield was down for most of the game, but Burke injected some life into his team late. He assisted on Ben Lombardi's goal on a fantastic passing play before scoring one of his own off the rush just moments later. Burke was also terrific on the penalty kill, pressuring Whalers puck-carriers and getting a big late scoring chance of his own. He will be back at Westminster this season.
Carter Cowan
Fall Prep Wildcats, 10/10/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: TorontoÂ
Cowan was instrumental in KUA having sustained offense against the Northern Cyclones on Saturday. He scored early, knocking in a rebound off a shot from Boutilier. Cown was big in cycles, facilitating pucks, staying mobile and finding passing lanes to the net. Cowan arrives at Kimball Union after playing for the Toronto Nationals U18 squad last season.
FALL PREP SHOWCASE: 16 uncommitted standout forwards | 13 uncommitted standout defenders
Cam Doull
Cape Cod Whalers, 5/2/2008, F, left shot, 6-3/185
Hometown: Concord, Mass.Â
Doull had a massive day on Saturday, potting four goals to beat Mid Fairfield, 7-5. He showcased his wicked shot and ability to get open in high-danger areas. His good hands allowed him to consistently carry the puck into Grade-A ice, as well as protect pucks along the walls. He should be a top scorer for Milton Academy this winter.
Axel Favreau
Central Mass. Penguins, 7/29/2007, F, left shot, 5-11/175
Hometown: Auburn, MaineÂ
Favreau was active on the scoresheet this weekend. Against the Brookline Whalers, he had a ridiculous behind-the-back pass in transition to Maine commit Joe Covelluzzi (Wakefield, Mass.) for a goal. On Sunday, Covelluzzi returned the favor a bit, firing one towards the net that Favreau tipped in for a goal against Islanders Hockey Club West. Favreau should be a legit point-getter for Cushing this winter.
Tegan Gregory
Islanders Hockey Club West, 5/4/2008, D, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Aurora, Colo.Â
Gregory's mobility and puck-moving skills made him a force on the blue line. On one impressive play in the first period, he pinched at the blue line to grab the puck, dangled a defender and hit a teammate low for a scoring chance. Gregory saved a goal in the second period when Bierwirth was down and out, so the new Holderness defender sprawled out and blocked the shot from going in.
Ryan Johnson
Northern Cyclones, 3/24/2008, F, right shot, 5-7/150
Hometown: Billerica, Mass.Â
The Northern Cyclones were overmatched by the Fall Prep Wildcats on Saturday, but Johnson had flashes. He helped generate the Cyclones' only real scoring chance at the end of the first period. Air Force commit Ryan Shanahan scored on a snipe in the second period, but was only able to because of a great forecheck by Johnson. In his own zone, Johnson blocked a point-blank shot from Wildcats forward Josh Phillips in the second period. Johnson will be at Tilton this winter.
Lexi Kert
Mid Fairfield, 12/12/2007, F, left shot, 6-2/220
Hometown: TorontoÂ
Kert is unmistakably a heavy power forward. Early in the second period, he crushed one of the Cape Cod Whalers' defenders high in the offensive zone. He drove the net and received a pass, which he deposited in the back of the net off a quick shot. Kert was smart with his dump-ins, recognizing when he was outmatched with speed and space. He elected to chip pucks in and use his physicality to win pucks back closer to the net. He's normally a defenseman and will be back at Choate this winter.
Jackson Kimelman
Fall Prep Wildcats, 5/30/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/180
Hometown: TorontoÂ
Kimelman was a key depth scorer for the Wildcats this weekend. On Saturday, Kimelman notched an important goal, entering the offensive zone and firing a shot over the goalie's blocker. He tallied another against the Brookline Whalers on Sunday. He will be a senior at Kimball Union this winter and should be a vital piece for head coach Tim Whitehead somewhere in the middle six.
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Ben Lombardi
Mid Fairfield, 3/24/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/190
Hometown: Greenwich, Conn.Â
Lombardi's speed allowed him to be as effective as he was on Saturday. His first goal came when he skated the puck around the zone and slipped it short side on the netminder. The second came on a 3-on-1 off the rush. Lombardi consistently generated chances off the rush, which is certainly good news for Brunswick. The junior had 25 points in 35 games last season and will be a vital top guy for them come the winter.
Andrew Migliore
Mid Fairfield, 4/6/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.Â
Migliore was a step above in Saturday's game. His hands and ability to slow his skating to give himself more time and space off the rush were impressive. His vision helped create offense, too. On Lombardi's second goal, it was Migliore who broke the play up in his own zone and shoveled the puck up ice to create the 3-on-1. He did almost the exact same thing on Burke's goal right after. Migliore had a whopping 57 points for Trinity-Pawling as a junior last winter.
Parker Murch
Central Mass. Penguins, 12/12/2007, F, right shot, 6-0/173
Hometown: York, MaineÂ
Murch tallied a goal against the Brookline Whalers on a missile under the netminder's blocker. On a power play later in the first period, he assisted on UNH commit Blake Cash's goal. Murch was able to create offense through his vision and his speed. Murch will be a senior at Cushing this winter.
Nolan Russell
Brookline Whalers, 7/23/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/176
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Â
Russell was big in Brookline's comeback against the Central Mass. Penguins on Saturday, scoring in the second period. Russell was able to force turnovers in neutral ice, too. His biggest play in Saturday's game was when he hustled back on the backcheck and broke up a prime scoring chance, sending the play the other way. Russell would easily be an impact player in prep, so he should be a top prospect in the MIAA this winter.
Viktor Samal
Islanders Hockey Club West, 5/5/2007, F, left shot, 6-0/175
Hometown: Hlohova, CzechiaÂ
Samal scored a wild goal on Sunday, firing a shot that hit Penguins goalie Harper Hubbard, went off the back glass and then bounced off Hubbard and in. It was a lucky bounce for Samal, but one that he earned throughout the game. He consistently used his good hands to dangle into high-danger areas, which is a big improvement from last season.. He created offense both off the cycle and the rush. Samal should be due for a huge winter.
READ MORE: 13 NHL Draft prospects to watch in New England fall hockey
Jack Welby
Islanders Hockey Club West, 1/7/2007, F, left shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Windham, N.H.Â
Welby worked so well on a line with Samal, as the two worked off each other to drive play and create offense. Early in the first period, Welby grabbed a loose puck and fired it off the crossbar. He was able to consistently extend cycles in the offensive zone due to winning puck battles and finding passing lanes. That compete showed again when he took pucks hard to the net as well. Welby is due for an increase in production this winter for Holderness.
