The 2018 Crimson Combine took place last Thursday and Friday at Harvard’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center, showcasing some of the top 2004-born prospects throughout North America.
Past Crimson Combines have been a great indication of future success. Looking back over the past few years, the ‘01s featured Matthew Boldy (BC), Marshall Warren (Harvard), Spencer Knight (BC), Trevor Zegras (BU), Dominick Fensore (BU), and Sean Farrell (Harvard), all players who now play for the U.S. National Development Team Program. John Farinacci (Harvard), Derek Mullahy (Harvard), Robby Griffin (Northeastern), Lynden Breen (Maine), and Chase McInnis (Northeastern) were other ‘01s that participated in that year.
The 02’s included Matt Beniers, Drew Commesso (BU), Alex Gaffney (Harvard), Dylan Peterson (BU), Stephen Davis (BC), Cole Shepard (Harvard), Cole Perfetti (Michigan), Nick DeSantis (Miami), John Opilka (St. Cloud), and Jarod Crespo (Penn State).
Last year’s event, the ‘03s, featured Ryan St. Louis (Northeastern), Jack Hughes (Northeastern), Paul Davey (BC), Tyler Boucher (BU), along with some top players who are still uncommitted: Cole Huckins, Tim Delay, Liam Gilmartin, Nick Wallace, Ryan Ufko and William Elias.
Credit goes out to Harvard assistant Rob Rassey, head coach Ted Donato, and former associate head coach Paul Pearl, who is now at BU, for always putting together such a top-notch showcase.
Back to this year’s event, here is a look at the future with the top performers from the 2018 Crimson Combine. Keep in mind that there was a very short window to view these players and there is still plenty of growth and development to go. This post is strictly to give prep coaches, agents, college coaches and hockey families an early look into some of the top players at this event.
The first six players are the three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender who stood out the most. Following that there will be others who impressed in an honorable mention category.
All-Crimson Combine Team
Jordan Dumais
Lac St-Louis Lions, Forward, Right Shot
Dumais is from north of the border, hailing from Quebec. He showed off his excellent vision as well as his second gear to separate from opposing defenders.
Ryan Conmy
Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Forward, Right Shot
Conmy was good at the BU Prep Showcase, but even better here. He has an explosive stride, can protect pucks using his size and quickness, and has vision to find open teammates.
Seamus Casey
Compuware, Forward, Right Shot
Casey is a Floridan who is playing up in Michigan with Compuware. He has the brain to slow the game down and make things happen offensively. He has really good hands, as evidenced by a nice saucer pass for an assist, plus a goal on another sequence.
Tommy Budnick
Honeybaked, Defense, Left Shot
Budnick has really good size and instincts. He gets a strong shot on net through traffic from the point and knows when to step up into the rush. He defends with his length and can use his body. His skating is still a work in progress, but he’s a high-end prospect.
Charlie Leddy
Mid Fairfield, Defense, Right Shot
Leddy is a player who will almost certainly end up at one of the Beanpot schools. He’s a tall defender who skates well and can make plays. His recovery speed is good when he jumps up into the rush. He tried to do a little too much here and it ended up in a few turnovers, but there’s a lot of upside.
Brendan Holahan
Mid Fairfield, Goaltender, Catches Left
Holahan has good size, moves well and has strong technique in the crease.
Honorable Mention
William Jones
Nashville Jr. Predators, Defense, Right Shot
Jones is a very good, mobile defender who can protect pucks and escape forecheckers. His skating and vision were both consistently noticeable.
Devin Kaplan
North Jersey Avs, Forward, Right Shot
Kaplan is a really good player who showed he can impact the game in a number of different ways. He’s big, strong and isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. He skates well and has power to his game as he drives the net with authority.
Jonah Aegerter
Madison Capitols, Forward, Right Shot
Aegerter is shifty, agile, and has good hands. He eluded defenders and found seams to make plays.
Eric Vivinetto
North Jersey Avs, Forward, Right Shot
Vivinetto was very good. He’s quick, scored a nice turnaround goal, ripped a wrist shot for a goal off a turnover, and played heavy.
Christopher Romaine
South Shore Kings, Defense, Right Shot
Romaine is definitely one of the best defensemen in Massachusetts. He reads plays well, steps into the offense, and has a very good first step and pivot.
Jojo Dable
Islanders HC, Forward, Right Shot
Dable scored a nice breakaway goal, had speed, and had strong compete.
Vinny Borgesi
Valley Forge Minutemen, Defense, Right Shot
Borgesi is on the smaller side, but he was really good here. He’s mobile, jumps up into the rush and has excellent vision. He was poised and seemingly made a good play each shift.
Nicholas Capasso
Mid Fairfield, Forward, Left Shot
Capasso is a crafty forward who can make plays and excelled in small areas.
Antonio Arcaroli
North Jersey Avs, Forward, Left Shot
Arcaroli did a nice job using his size to play heavy, protect pucks and impact the forecheck.
William Hughes
Boston Jr. Eagles, Forward, Right Shot
Hughes, who is going to Phillips Andover, has a pro frame and moves well. He has a good, hard shot and he plays a mature game, even without the puck.
Lukas Klemm
North Jersey Avs, Defense, Right Shot
Klemm is a big defender with upside. He made a few nice lead passes to transition from defense to offense.
Bobby Landry
Boston Advantage, Forward, Right Shot
Landry has size and was able to get to loose pucks. He made a really nice play to win a battle along the wall in the neutral zone. He quickly fed the puck to the weak side for a breakaway bid by a teammate.
Michael Callow
Boston Jr. Eagles, Forward, Right Shot
Callow has always been one of the better ’04 forwards in Massachusetts. He’s tall, lanky, and has the chance to be a Division 1 player down the road.
Andrew Centrella
Valley Forge Minutemen, Defense, Left Shot
Centrella had a good stick, defended with his feet, and seemed to have good vision on breakout passes.
Andon Cerbone
Mid Fairfield, Forward, Left Shot
Cerbone has stood out at several showcase events this summer. Here was no different. Despite his small stature, he’s slippery and can spin away from defenders to strike offensively.
Frankie D’Ancona
Mid Fairfield, Forward, Left Shot
D’Ancona showed off his agility and made some nice passes.
Lucas DiChiara
Mid Fairfield, Defense, Right Shot
DiChiara has good size and length, covers a lot of ground defensively, and isn’t afraid to activate into the play.
Jackson Dorrington
Islanders HC, Defense, Left Shot
Dorrington, from North Reading, Mass., has good size and definitely shows the potential to be a Division 1 defenseman down the road.
Kiernan Gately
Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Defense, Right Shot
Gately is a smaller defender who skates well and has above-average vision. He can defend with strong closing speed and a good stick. He’s a little bit of a high-risk, high-reward player when it comes to puck movement.
Ryan Friedman
LI Gulls, Forward, Left Shot
Friedman is a small, quick forward who jumps on pucks quickly and can be crafty. He scored a nice goal, forcing a turnover and sliding the puck through the five-hole on the ensuing breakaway.
Ben Robertson
Team Maryland, Defense, Left Shot
Robertson had tight gaps and a good stick to defend the rush and turn plays right back up the other way.
Jack Silverman
Toronto Red Wings, Forward, Left Shot
Silverman was the only Toronto-area player in attendance. He saw the ice well in the offensive zone and had above average hockey IQ.
Asher Wites
Florida Alliance, Defense, Right Shot
Wites is a very good skater and has good skill with the puck on his stick. He’ll need to improve his hockey sense in order to make the next step, but he has a strong foundation.
Christian Wood
Mid Fairfield, Defense, Right Shot
Wood is a big, athletic defender with upside.
Nicholas Townshend
EC Wizards, Forward, Right Shot
Townshend was gritty and tough on the forecheck. He had good hand-eye coordination and went after it each shift.
Gus Hinckley
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Defense, Left Shot
Hinckley has good size and the potential to develop into a solid defenseman.
Haydon Hurt
Islanders HC, Goaltender, Catches Left
Hurt has size and made a couple of nice saves. He took away the five-hole on one breakaway bid that he stopped.
Christian Kocsis
NJ Rockets, Forward, Left Shot
Kocsis was around the puck a lot.
Owen Paskowski
Boston Bandits, Defense, Left Shot
Paskowski is a big defender with potential, but his skating needs improvement.
Leo Schwartz
LI Gulls, Defense, Right Shot
Despite being on the smaller side, Schwartz was noticeable for playing tough and making a few nice plays with his body.
Micah Berger
Team Maryland, Forward, Left Shot
Berger has potential to grow into a power forward.
