FOXBORO, Mass. -- The Eastern Exposure Cup took place over the weekend at the Foxboro Sports Center and several other local arenas.
The event, put on by Matt Miles, was terrific and easy to scout. All of the '06 and a select number of '07 games took place in Foxboro. Being able to watch so much good hockey without having to leave one rink is a concept that all other area tournaments and showcases should follow. Also kudos to the tournament for having a scout book with line charts and space to write down notes.
I took in three '07 games on Friday in Foxboro, watching the Boston Junior Eagles, Bishop Kearney Selects, Chicago Mission and Long Island Gulls. I’ve seen most of the top players on all four teams numerous times at showcases across the region, but it was nice to get a look at teams in their entirety, especially Chicago Mission, the ultimate champion of the top division at this event.
Below is a look at 27 players who stood out among the four teams based on their performance at the Eastern Exposure Cup:
Forwards
1. Cameron McKinney
Chicago Mission, 3/16/07, right shot, 5-11/160
McKinney is one of the top '07 forwards in the country. The Lake Forest, Ill., native is big, strong, and can score goals. He has good hands, patience, and shows a propensity to get to the scoring areas. I’ve seen him twice now, including the Mid Fairfield Showcase this past summer. He’s a fun player to watch and he certainly looks on track to be in the mix for a roster spot on the NTDP in 16 months.
2. Jack Murtagh
BK Selects, 8/22/07, left shot, 5-11/160
Murtagh, from East Greenbush, N.Y., is a skilled forward with good size, skating ability and grit. I like that he plays in all situations. He scored a shorthanded goal on Friday. He went to the net and he also did a good job below the dots. He’s added quite a bit of size over the last year and has taken his game to a whole new level. His hands and goal scoring touch, combined with his agility and skating ability, will translate well as he moves up the developmental ladder.
3. Cooper Dennis
BK Selects, 6/7/07, right shot, 5-5/135
Dennis is one of the fastest players I’ve seen in this age group. That was again the case on Friday. His skating is what stands out, but similarly to Murtagh, he plays in all situations. Dennis, from Ithaca, N.Y., is a complete, 200-foot center. His vision and hockey sense are the total package. Dennis and Murtagh are clearly the top two forwards on BK Selects, a team coached by former North Attleboro High and River Rats head coach and Nobles assistant Ben McManama.
4. Landan Paul
Long Island Gulls, 2/21/07, right shot
This was my first time seeing Paul, a Bulls Creek, New Brunswick, native. His skating is dynamic and he was able to protect pucks, take it to the net, and show offensive instincts. He was very impactful here. While he’s certainly not undersized, he played even bigger than his stature would indicate.
5. Michael Munroe
Junior Eagles, 7/7/07, left shot, 5-7/135
Munroe’s skating ability stood out to me. He hasn’t always been the biggest name among the players on this team, but he will continue to get better as he gets bigger and stronger. He was productive here. From Hanover, Mass., Munroe is a player who prep coaches should be coveting.
6. Jake Tavares
Junior Eagles, 1/27/07, right shot, 5-9/150
Tavares is a big winger who plays a north-south game. The Belmont, Mass., native is a freshman at Belmont Hill, a program that is certainly reloading and trending in the right direction. Tavares has the size, skating, physical presence and play away from the puck that should keep him on the radar of college coaches as the next few years unfold.
7. Jesse Orlowsky
Long Island Gulls, 3/27/07, right shot
Orlowsky is a big power forward from Brooklyn, N.Y. His skating isn’t quite there yet, but his stick, ability to protect pucks and drive the net are all valuable assets. He shoots it hard and can produce offensively.
8. Ryan Aaronson
Chicago Mission, 1/15/07, left shot, 5-8/145
Something tells me Aaronson will be climbing these rankings over the coming years. The Highland Park, Ill., native has good hands and can finish. His stick was good and he looks to be an above average skater.
9. Nick Knutson
Chicago Mission, 4/1/07, left shot, 5-8/140
I didn’t know as much about Knutson as some of the other players on this team. However, I was impressed based on my viewing in Foxboro. He skated well and hunted pucks in both zones. He played with grit and went to the dirty areas while also scoring goals.
10. Cameron Aucoin
Chicago Mission, 3/20/07, left shot, 5-10/140
Aucoin isn’t there yet, but he’s had a growth spurt of late and looks to be trending in the right direction. The Hinsdale, Ill., native skates well, has confidence, poise and vision with the puck, and made some plays.
Honorable Mention
Ethan Baker
Chicago Mission, 6/1/07, right shot, 5-10/135
Baker didn’t score while I was watching him, but I was impressed with his skating and speed. If he can put it all together, watch out for the Wilmette, Ill., native to become a more well-known prospect in the coming years.
Liam Gore
Junior Eagles, 6/22/07, left shot, 5-10/150
Gore has been one of the more productive players in this age group for a few years now. He didn’t find the score sheet, at least during my viewings here, but he brought a physical element to the games. He’s physically mature, strong, and can overpower opposing players. The Arlington, Mass., native will play for John Messuri’s Spy Ponders as a freshman in the 2021-22 MIAA season.
Indiana Grossbard
Long Island Gulls, 12/21/07, right shot,
Grossbard is a sneaky good player. Here, I liked his skating, ability to create on the rush, and he showed some skill and craftiness. He plays with energy and seems to be fairly consistent on a shift-by-shift basis. The Wilton, Conn., native is a player prep coaches should be recruiting.
Nathen Jastrzebski
Chicago Mission, 3/1/07, left shot, 5-7/175
Jastrzebski is strong and hard to knock off pucks. He has a hard shot and can bull his way to the scoring areas and maintain possession below the dots.
Logan Keil
Long Island Gulls, 1/11/07, right shot, 6-1/174
Keil, from Sayville, N.Y., is a physically mature, strong forward. He brings energy and grit to the ice. He keeps it pretty simple and plays to his north-south identity.
Billy MacAusland
Junior Eagles, 8/4/07, left shot, 5-6/125
MacAusland was on the smaller side, but he skated well, had craftiness and skill. He made some plays and had a little bit of an edge. From Westwood, Mass., he’s at Dexter Southfield as a middle schooler.Â
Freddy Meyer
Junior Eagles, 10/16/07, left shot, 5-7/140
Meyer skates well and was noticeable, but didn’t yet have the impact offensively that some of his teammates did. The Winchester, Mass., native is expected to play prep hockey for his father, former BU star and retired NHL defenseman Freddy Meyer, at Rivers.
Ethan Wyttenbach
Long Island Gulls, 2/10/07, right shot
Wyttenbach isn’t going to blow by any opposing defenders with his skating, but his vision and how he saw the ice were noticeable a few times here. He made a couple of nice low to high passes from deep in the attacking zone and showed overall patience and poise with the puck.
Defensemen
1. Asher Barnett
Chicago Mission, 5/16/07, left shot, 6-0/170
Barnett is a big, physical, two-way defenseman. From Wilmette, Ill., Barnett skates well, has a good stick, and defends well. He’s rangy, has length, and can take away time and space from opposing forwards. He’s the complete package and certainly one of the best defensemen in the '07 birth year.
2. Donny Bracco
Long Island Gulls, 7/26/07, left shot, 5-7/140
Bracco is one of his team’s top prospects. An offensive defenseman from Freeport, N.Y., he’s strong on his skates, shoots it with zip and can get it through from the point. He’s smooth, can move pucks north with his skating, and impacts the game while pushing possession.
3. Cameron Reid
BK Selects, 4/8/07, left shot, 5-10/150
Reid, from Aylmer, Ontario, is an intriguing, two-way defender. I like his size, skating, and length. He’s rangy with good gaps, a strong stick, and shows the ability to shut down opposing teams on the rush and keep plays to the outside. He’s not flashy offensively, but he makes smart, safe puck decisions when breaking pucks out.
4. Matthew Judge
BK Selects, 3/6/07, left shot, 5-10/165
Judge is a sturdy, strong-skating defender. He’s tough to play against, keeps it simple, and also can jump into the offense. The Pittsford, N.Y., native has been a player that has impressed me for over a year now and his play here showed he’s continuing to develop in the right direction.
5. Nate Watson
Long Island Gulls, 3/16/07, left shot, 5-7/139
Watson, from Montreal, steps into the offense and has solid instincts, especially with the puck on his stick. It was my first time seeing Watson, but I liked his potential upside as an offensive defenseman.
Honorable Mention
Everett Baldwin
Junior Eagles, 1/15/07, right shot, 5-8/135
It was minimal viewing obviously, but I’d like to see more of Baldwin. The Rumford, R.I., native showed some skill and vision with the puck on his stick. I liked his presence on the breakout.
Dylan Chabrier
Long Island Gulls, 9/1/07, left shot, 5-9/130
Chabrier has good height and looks to be a player that might take a step over the coming years. The Bayville, N.Y., was mobile and had good gaps.
Tuck Gilbane
Junior Eagles, 1/23/07, right shot, 5-7/146
Gilbane is a defenseman who I haven’t seen as much in showcases as some of the other blue liners on his team. From Chestnut Hill, Mass., Gilbane brought a physical element to the game.
Goaltender
1. Jason Thibodeau
Junior Eagles, 2/20/07, G, catches left
In the morning game against the Long Island Gulls, I liked Thibodeau’s size, skating and potential. He moved well and made a couple of nice saves.
