FOXBORO, Mass. — The players in the Foxboro Summer Prep League saved their best for last. The first semifinal on Wednesday and Thursday’s final were by far the best two games of the season.
Team Moran captured the championship with a 7-5 win. The league was well-attended all summer by NHL scouts, Division 1 and Division 3 college coaches, junior scouts, and NHLPA agents. The last couple of games had some heavy hitters watching, including Boston College, Providence and UMass on Thursday night.
The league, put on by Tyler Holske, provided a great experience for the players on all six teams. It was enjoyable to coach and watch the games for the last 10 weeks. There were always rosters available for coaches, scouts and fans. Games went off on time and the players had fun while staying in game shape for the fall.
It was fun to see kids born in 2007 challenging themselves against older players, including a few ’04s. All five ’07s who skated in Thursday’s final are Division 1 hockey players. Mikey Munroe (Hanover, Mass./Avon Old Farms) was the most productive in the two games and even got into a scrap sticking up for his goalie in the semifinal. The former Hanover High star will be a name to remember among top newcomers in prep hockey this upcoming season. There will be plenty of college coaches calling him on January 1.
Teddy Mutryn (Needham, Mass./St. Sebastian’s) is a lock to commit to Boston College next August as he’s a legacy with his dad, Scott, having played quarterback for the Eagles football team from 1994 to 1998.
The other three, Tommy Anderson (Braintree, Mass./Thayer), Jack McDonough (Duxbury, Mass.) and Dylan Krayer (Concord, Mass.), are also names that Division 1 recruiters already know well and will be looking to lock up in the future.
While acknowledging it was the big picture and based on many factors, four league players made Division 1 commitments during the 10 weeks. Jimmy Lyver (Grafton, Mass./St. Mark’s) was the first to do so, pledging to Holy Cross. In the aftermath of August 1, Landan Resendes (Hudson, Mass./Cushing) committed to Boston College while Cam Russo (Middleton, Mass./Governor’s) and Ryan Staples (Middletown, R.I./Loomis Chaffee) committed to Brown and Yale, respectively.
Below are the three uncommitted players of commitment age who stood out above the rest during the Foxboro Summer Prep League playoffs this week:
JJ Monteiro
Mount Saint Charles U16, 1/12/06, LW, left shot, 5-11/200
Monteiro had the game-winning goal in a close semifinal to get Team Moran to the final. From Hudson, Mass., Monteiro is a bulldog out there. He had the puck a lot and when he had it, good things were bound to happen for his team. His ability to protect pucks as he drove the net was uncanny in the final. Monteiro is my unofficial most valuable player of the playoffs. He’s already got a few offers and his stock should continue to soar as he enters his third season at Mount Saint Charles.
Ethan Gardula
Cushing, 2/28/05, LW, left shot, 6-1/178
Gardula was the only reason his team kept it close in the semifinal. The Princeton, Mass., native played his best game I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen him a lot over the years with the Junior Eagles and Cushing. He’s got pro size and his skating was strong as a power forward in that game. He showed off his hands, making a few nifty plays to protect pucks in traffic. There was also a terrific pass he made for an assist. If he plays all the time with the assertiveness he had Wednesday night, his draft stock will skyrocket.
Pat Murphy
Mount Saint Charles U18, 12/1/05, RW, right shot, 5-11/180
Murphy, from North Kingston, R.I., had two tallies in a lopsided semifinal victory and added a goal and an assist in the final. He drove the net on a couple of power moves and he also showcased his great shot from the high slot. Murphy got into a couple of scraps, as he was accustomed to doing all summer. Murphy is one of those players who should be coveted by even more Division 1 programs than he is already. He can play a top-six role for some, but he can slide down the lineup and be an impactful wing in the bottom six with his physicality, while still chipping in offensively.
