The quest for a spot at a USA Hockey Select Camp begins this weekend.
Top players from the 2007, 2008 and 2009 birth years will head to New England Sports Center for the Mass. Hockey Festival's Final 40.
From there, a group of evaluators will pick a still-unknown number of players to move on to Amherst, N.Y. for Select Camps.
The 2007-born players hope to make Select 17 Camp, while the 2008s will fight for slots at Select 16 Camp. This is the first festival experience for the 2009s, so they will look to play at Select 15 Camp.
Before we dive into storylines for the weekend, here's the full schedule. All games will be held at Rink 1 at New England Sports Center in Marlborough.
SaturdayÂ
- 2 p.m.: 2009s
- 4 p.m.: 2008s
- 6 p.m.: 2007s
SundayÂ
- 10 a.m.: 2009s
- 12 p.m.: 2008s
- 2 p.m.: 2007s
Here are five storylines to watch.
1. How many players advance from the Mass. Hockey Festival?
It's the question that will be on everyone's minds this weekend and it's necessary we touch on this before moving on to players.
USA Hockey will inform Mass. Hockey how many spots it can give per birth year. While we don't know the exact number, Mass. Hockey typically sends a similar amount from each birth year every season.
2023 Select 15s:Â
- 10 forwards
- Five defensemen
- Two goalies
2023 Select 16s:Â
- Seven forwards
- Four defensemen
- One goalie
2023 Select 17s:Â
- Nine forwards
- Five defensemen
- One goalie
One thing to consider is players can move on to Select Camps through at-large bids. Typically, that's a big way for goalies to advance.
THE '09s: 10 standout '09s from the first weekend
2. The '07 defensemen
This will be an area of much debate this weekend. Last season, Shayne Gould (Princeton, Mass.), Aiden MacIsaac (Andover, Mass.), Tyler Russo (South Hamilton, Mass.) and Brenden Sanchez (West Springfield, Mass.) were the '07 defensemen who made it to Select 16 Camp. Five defensemen made it straight from the Mass. Hockey Festival to Select 17s last year.
Lots can change in 12 months, and it has. Those four had strong seasons and had good showings in the first weekend of festival. But so, too, have other prospects.
Evan Jones looked phenomenal throughout the first weekend. He exploded for 18 goals and 42 points with Arlington in the MIAA this winter. His abilities as a puck-moving defenseman will make him very hard to leave off the final list.
The same can be said about Myles Brosnan (Winchester, Mass.). He broke out with Dexter Southfield this winter with three goals and 21 points, while playing in a big role. He plays a strong, two-way game and impacts the game heavily at both ends of the ice. Another name to keep an eye on is Nick Evans (Malden, Mass.). The Kimball Union product is 6-foot-1 and a nice shutdown presence on the backend. He also has no issue making smart puck plays.
Freddy Meyer V (Winchester, Mass.) is a defenseman now, and a very good one. He's extremely physical in his own end and has offensive upside due to him being a forward as recently as December.
3. The '07 forwards
Select 17 is the biggest of the three camps, as players compete as a district and hope to stand out enough for the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup team. This is why they get two storylines.
For starters, Cam Caron (Dracut, Mass.) isn't at the festival due to him playing for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the BCHL.
The group of '07 forwards who made Select 16s from festival last season were Caron, Rian Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.), Dylan Krayer (Concord, Mass.), John McDonough (Duxbury, Mass.), Michael Munroe (Hanover, Mass.), CJ Watroba (West Springfield, Mass.) and Patrick Woods (Charlestown, Mass.).
Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) factors in this season after he got an auto-bid last year due to him trying out for the U.S. National Team Development Program. He should be a lock and a candidate to make the Hlinka-Gretzky team out of Select 17 Camp. Watroba and Munroe fall under the same category — locks who should push for spots on the Hlinka-Gretzky team.
FIRST WEEKEND: 14 standout '07s from the first weekend of the Mass. Hockey Festival
As for forwards who should push to advance to Select 17 Camp that didn't make Select 16 Camp last season, I'd start with Justin Graf (Lincoln, Mass.). The Rivers product had a phenomenal first weekend and has grown his game quite a bit over the last year. He's turned into a legitimate Division 1 prospect and someone who will push for a spot at Select 17s.
Jake Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) is in the same boat. He broke out with Belmont Hill this season, scoring 18 goals and totaling 32 points in 28 games. He's also a Division 1 prospect. Two others, in my opinion, are George Lovell (Hingham, Mass.) and Billy MacAusland (Westwood, Mass.).
4. The '08 forwards
I didn't get a chance to see the '08s in action this past weekend. However, what happens with the forwards will be really interesting.
Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) made the NTDP team, so he won't even be at Select 16 Camp. William Bent (Dover, Mass.), David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.) and Spencer Thornborough (Boxford, Mass.) all got invites and didn't make the team, which means they get byes straight to Select 16 Camp.
SELECTIONS: Here are the players who made it to the Final 40
The other six '08 forwards who made Select 15 Camp last season were Michael Federico (Hanover, Mass.), Andrew Giguere (Georgetown, Mass.), Ty Hymovitz (Needham, Mass.), Matthew Krayer (Concord, Mass.), Benjamin Short (Lunenburg, Mass.) and Noah Survilas (Winthrop, Mass.). In total, seven forwards made Select 16s last season.
In terms of '08 forwards who could push to replace names on last year's list, I'd look at Luke Allen (Billerica, Mass.), Chase Field (Centerville, Mass.), Cam MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.), Will Manchuso (Stow, Mass.) and JP Messuri (Arlington, Mass.).
However, I guarantee there will be some prospects who break out this weekend who aren't listed here.
5. How about the '09s?
It's their first go-around with the festival, so the slate is clean. Anyone can make it.
As you guys know, however, I'm big into predictions. So I have some picks for who I think will definitely move on to Select 15 Camp.
For forwards, I'd have Paulo Gualberto Jr. (Mendon, Mass.), Owen Kailher (Duxbury, Mass.), Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.), Caiden Pellegrino (Uxbridge, Mass.) and Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.). That's only seven, and 10 made it from the '08s to Select 15s last season.
THE BIG QUESTION: When should players go to juniors? Experts weigh in
JP Montgomery (Winchester, Mass.), Jacoby Palmer (Holden, Mass.) and Colin Yandle (Dorchester, Mass.) would be my picks from the defense. Five '08 defenders were picked to advance to Select 15s last spring.
I haven't seen the '09 goalies enough to pick one or two out.
This weekend is big for the '09s, as more players will rise to the top on the biggest stage, becoming premier players in their birth years.
