It's not guaranteed success, but getting the call to USA Hockey's National Team Development Program is a big deal.
Every year, the NTDP invites the best 15-year-old, American-born players to try out for their U17 team. That's the first step of a two-year process.
You have to make the team — and five New Englanders, along with several others who play here, got that invite. Seven locals and one prospect who played here got the call to camp last season. Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), Jamie Glance (Stratham, N.H.) and Luke Scharier were the ones who made it.
This year's camp will be held in Plymouth, Mich., March 19-23. The '09s are the targeted group to fill next year's U17 team.
The Rivers '09s all got invites. That means forwards Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) and Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) will battle to make the team. They also all play with the Boston Junior Eagles. Staying in prep, Brunswick defenseman Cam Minella (Darien, Conn.) got an invite. Jake Boguniecki (Orange, Conn.) Minella's defense partner with Mid Fairfield, will join these four, too.
Mount St. Charles' 15O team will be represented well come the camp. Forwards Rocco Pelosi, Braiden Scuderi and Brayden Willis, defenseman Christian Semetsis and goalie Nathaniel Chizik were sent invitations.
None of these picks should be a surprise.
Meyer, Sears and Pandolfo made themselves locks to at least get camp invites last season when they made waves with Rivers as 14-year-old eight-graders. All three made considerable strides this winter with Rivers, too. Meyer led New England prep in goals (41) and points per game (2.50). He also ranked second in points with 70. Sears was tied for ninth in the region in points with 53. Pandolfo had 10 goals and 36 points in 28 games.
The three have long complemented each other perfectly on a line. I've never seen a prospect slow the game down and drive play like Meyer, who is 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. Sears, at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, has high-end skill, drives play and can fly down the ice. Pandolfo has fantastic vision, a high IQ and does the little things right. Him being 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds certainly helps him, too.
If they are to make the team, playing against older and stronger players for the last two years should have them in a position to make an immediate impact.
The same can be said for Minella. While this was his first season in prep, he was a force for Brunswick. The 5-foot-11, 155-pound defenseman burst onto the scene with seven goals and 37 points, which ranked fourth in New England among all defensemen. His elite skating helps him be a terrific, puck-moving defenseman. He runs power plays and facilitates in the offensive zone so well.
Boguniecki, at 6-foot-2 and 161 pounds, has long been a two-way force on Mid Fairfield's blue line. He's physical in his own zone, has a good stick and defends the high-danger areas well. He's a reliable puck-mover out of his own end and into the neutral zone. In the offensive zone, he has a heavy shot and makes smart plays to generate offense.
When it comes to Mount St. Charles, its five representatives all have compelling cases to make the team.
Pelosi has long been ranked the No. 1 American-born '09, according to Puck Preps — and it's not difficult to see why. The 5-foot-11, 168-pound center had 87 goals and 170 points in 64 games with the 14U team last season. He's followed that up with 55 goals and 120 points in 49 games this season. The Sewell, N.J., native can take over a game with his two-way play and is also a phenomenal leader. His shot is ridiculous.
Scuderi grew up playing alongside Pelosi with Philadelphia Hockey Club. The Haddon Heights, N.J., native had 137 points at the 14U level last year and has 44 goals and 111 points in 50 games this season. At 5-foot-8 and 154 pounds, he's a shifty skater with a high skill. He never seems to have any issue getting to the slot for high-end chances.
Willis was with the Phoenix Junior Coyotes' 14U team last season, but made the move to Mount for 15O. He's been a smash hit with 49 goals and 101 points in 50 games. He has outstanding hands and uses his skill to get out of trouble. He drives play and is a strong skater. He's 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds.
On defense, the word to describe Semetsis is dynamic. The Smithtown, N.Y., native has 12 goals and 45 points in 48 games for Mount this winter. He rushes pucks with ease and creates offense at a high level. He's 5-foot-10 and 157 pounds.
Chizik has promise in net. The Warrington, Pa., native has a 1.38 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage as a 14U. By contrast, he has a 2.26 GAA and a .900 save percentage this season at the 15O level. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound netminder was at Select 15 Camp last summer and posted a 4.50 GAA and a .864 save percentage in four games.
