The 2018 Beantown NAPS took place last weekend at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, Mass. The event showcases some top talent from across North America, but lacks depth in terms of teams and prospects of other events hosted by Legacy Global Sports.
New England Hockey Journal was on hand for Sunday’s playoff action. The NJ Spitfires won the ’02 Division, while the Boston Jr. Blues and Maroon Hockey won at the ’03 and ’04 divisions, respectively.
A few prospects played up, including Boston College recruit Aidan Hreschuk, one of the top ’03s in North America. For the purpose of the below list, players are listed within their actual birth-year and not in the division they played.
This list is not a complete ranking of the event, as not all teams were viewed and rosters were sparse or incorrect. Rather, it's intended purely as a solid indication of some top players from Sunday’s playoffs.
Standout ‘02s
• Thomas Messineo
Roc City Elite, St. Sebastian’s, Defense, Left Shot
This was Messineo’s best viewing in a long time. He was really impactful with his skating and athleticism. He moved pucks north and stood out almost every time he had the puck.
• Gabe Dombrowski
Roc City Elite, ISS Kings, Forward, Right Shot
After having a big weekend at the Liberty Bell Games, Dombrowski stood out again on Sunday. He boasts solid size and won puck battles below the goal line, driving the net for scoring chances of his own.
• Ben Ritter
Roc City Elite, Loomis Chaffee, Defense, Left Shot
Ritter, who will play at Loomis Chaffee in the fall, is a smooth, puck-moving defender. He’s small, but his puck possession skills are earning him scholarship offers and looks from a few Hockey East schools.
• Jack Hepp
All-American Prospects, St. Paul’s School, Defense, Right Shot
Hepp is a big defender with upside. He stood out in a few viewings of St. Paul’s, but he’s still a work in progress with his feet. He has some good instincts and the physical tools necessary to continue moving up the ladder. He projects to play college hockey down the road.
• Daniyal Dzhaniyev
NJ Spitfires, NJ Titans, Forward, Left Shot
Dzhaniyev is an under-the-radar prospect, but he’ll be at USA Hockey Player Development Camp next month. He’s fast and can make plays.
• Lachlan Getz
NJ Spitfires, Lawrenceville School, Defense, Right Shot
Getz skates well and has good size. He’s still learning the game and needs to be better at picking his spots, but there’s potential there.
• Luke Antonacci
Roc City Elite, ISS Kings, Defense, Right Shot
Antonacci is a physically mature player who skates well and is solid at both ends of the ice. He was noticeable for pushing the pace and quickly converting chances.
• Blake Humphrey
Roc City Elite, Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Forward, Right Shot
Humphrey scored a few goals here, mostly by going to the net and having a quick release from the slot. He’s one to keep an eye on down the road.
Standout ‘03s
• Aidan Hreschuk
All-American Prospects, LA Jr. Kings, Defense, Left Shot
NCAA Commit: Boston College
Hreschuk played up with the All-American Prospect ’02 team and was terrific. He’s a big-time prospect and as close to a sure thing to make the NTDP as there is. He’s a great skater who is a complete, two-way defenseman. He defends well and quickly moves the puck back up ice or activates as a fourth forward.
• Jeremy Wilmer
Jr. Blues, LI Gulls, Forward,
NCAA Commit: Boston University
Wilmer was absolutely terrific here on Sunday, and reports were he was just as good earlier in the weekend. He’s on the smaller side, but he has the hockey sense, skating and hands to make plays and finish. BU junior forward Patrick Harper is a good comparison, especially considering they are both left-shots and Wilmer will one day don a Terrier jersey as well.
• Dovar Tinling
Squire, Lac St-Louis Lions, Forward, Left Shot
Tinling is a Quebec kid, whose older brother played for Stanstead College before going to the BCHL. He’s a good skater with a very good offensive skill set. He has good size for his age and was the best player on the Squire team.
• Brendan Gorman
Jr. Blues, St. Sebastian’s, Forward, Right Shot
Gorman is the younger brother of recent Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Liam Gorman. The younger Gorman is fast and can control possession. He also has good size. He was really, really impressive on Sunday.
• Declan Loughnane
Squire, BC High, Defense, Right Shot
Loughnane was a little bit unnoticed playing for the 95 Giants last season, but he made a name for himself at the Mass Festival. He’s a big defender with good feet. He makes a good, strong first pass and is mobile, especially for his size. He’ll be at BC High in the fall.
• Billy Norcross
Jr. Blues, Cushing, Forward, Right Shot
Norcross played prep last year and it shows in the maturity of his game. He’s a strong skater who goes to the net. He could be a power forward who plays well down low in the coming years.
• Aidan Lyons
Jr. Blues, Jr. Terriers, Defense, Left Shot
Lyons is a high-risk, high-reward defender whose skill set is undeniable. He needs to learn to be more cautious with the puck.
• Jake Mullahy
Jr. Blues, Dexter, Defense, Right Shot
Mullahy is a big, strong blueliner with a hard shot. He’ll head to Dexter in the fall.
• Lawson Sherk
Roc City Elite, Halton Hurricanes, Forward, Left Shot
Sherk is a playmaking forward from Ontario who played with considerable pace.
• Gleb Veremyev
NJ Spitfires, NJ Colonials, Forward, Left Shot
He played up and was noticeable for his speed and craftiness.
• Mitch Simmons
Roc City Elite, Defense, Right Shot
Simmons is a good-sized defender who projects as a shutdown defender. He was solid at the World Selects Invitational and stood out here as well.
Standout ‘04s
• Charlie Leddy
Maroon Hockey, Mid-Fairfield, Defense, Right Shot
Leddy is a smooth, mobile, two-way defender who plays with poise beyond his age. He skates well, has sharp vision and is already being courted by a top Hockey East program.
• Mick Thompson
Maroon Hockey, Toronto Jr. Canadians, Forward, Left Shot
Thompson is undersized, but that didn’t stop him from being effective. He zigzagged in and out of traffic and produced consistently.
• James Swan
Maroon Hockey, Lac St-Louis Lions, Forward, Left Shot
Swan is big and rugged, allowing him to get to pucks and penetrate into the slot, where he unleashed his hard, heavy shot.
• Zak Lavoie
Maroon Hockey, Ottawa Jr. 67’s, Forward, Right Shot
Lavoie has good hockey sense and skates well, allowing him to make plays. He showed patience on one play, waiting for the goaltender to go down before tucking a shot just inside the post. He has a lot of upside.
• Christian Wood
Maroon Hockey, Mid-Fairfield, Defense, Right Shot
Wood is a big, raw defenseman who could be a player to watch over the next few years. His game isn’t quite rounded out yet.
• Ryan Comishock
Maroon Hockey, Vermont Flames, Forward, Right Shot
Comishock often had the puck on his stick and set up teammates with good looks.
• Billy Sancibrian
SHD New England, Vermont Flames, Forward, Left Shot
Sancribian appeared to be the best player on his team in a lopsided championship game loss to Maroon Hockey. He had good speed and made some nice passes.
