GROTON, Mass. -- Dexter Southfield captured the 2019 Groton/Lawrence Holiday Tournament with a 3-1 win over Lawrence Academy on Saturday morning.
Dexter Southfield and Lawrence Academy proved to be two of the top teams in prep school hockey with their respective showings in the tournament.
In addition to Dexter Southfield and Lawrence Academy, the other teams in the tournament were Culver, Cushing, Groton, Holderness, Pomfret, and Proctor.
After taking in Thursday’s four games, I took a look at the 2020 NHL Draft prospects and top uncommitted prospects among the eight teams.
Groton/Lawrence Holiday Tournament -Â 2020 NHL Draft prospects
Three players among the eight teams here are identified by NHL Central Scouting as ‘C’ Skaters. Based on Thursday’s viewings, only two of those stood out as prospects that NHL scouts should continue to keep an eye on as the season progresses. Neither David Sacco or Riley duran did anything Thursday to scream draft pick, but both showed signs and are certainly worthy of more viewings.
David Sacco
Lawrence, 1/3/02, C, right shot, 5-11.5/187
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Sacco put the finishing touches on Lawrence’s 3-1 win over Cushing Thursday night. Racing down the ice, he drove the far post and one-timed a shot into the back of the net after a nice feed from a defenseman jumping into the rush. Sacco played hard and brought it physically without crossing the line. It was one of his better viewings of the 2019-20 season.
Riley Duran
Lawrence, 1/25/02, RW, right shot, 6-1.25/174
NCAA commit: Providence
Duran didn’t find the score sheet, but he skates well, has size, and made an impact as a north-south winger. His ability to hunt pucks and be hard on the forecheck are valuable assets. His offensive skill set and instincts aren’t as high as many NHL scouts would like, but I think he’s a player who will continue to get better once he’s in a more structured environment at Providence.
Groton/Lawrence Holiday Tournament All-Uncommitted Team
These six players stood out as being prospects that major Division I programs should be interested in for the future:
Damien Carfagna
Lawrence, 12/12/02, D, left shot, 5-9.5/153
Carfagna had an assist on the team’s first goal. He got a shot on net from the left point that was redirected by Providence commit Blake Humphrey. Carfagna made numerous good puck touches, including a couple of notable stretch passes. He turned the puck over on Cushing’s only goal, but he had a lot more positive plays than negative.
Jackson Dorrington
Cushing, 4/13/04, D, left shot, 6-0.75/171
Dorrington plays with poise and maturity for a youngster in prep. He makes simple and smart puck touches, plays with a little jam, and has the puck on his stick a lot. He’s the best ‘04 defenseman in the New England region.
Dylan Silverstein
Dexter, 2/7/04, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Silverstein was solid in Thursday’s win over Pomfret. I wasn’t there, but he was reportedly terrific in the championship game win. Silverstein has the physical tools, the size, and technique to be regarded as a candidate to be one of the two goaltenders chosen for the NTDP.
Cully Wilson
Dexter, 3/12/03, LW, left shot, 5-11/180
Wilson had a goal and two assists against Proctor. He also assisted on the game-winning goal in Saturday’s final. Wilson is a smart, cerebral player who is heavy on pucks. When he keeps his feet moving, he’s particularly productive. There’s a lot to like about his game.
Matt Copponi
Dexter, 6/4/03, C, right shot, 5-9/140
Copponi wasn’t as productive as he had been for much of the early season in Thursday’s game. He didn’t find the score sheet, but he was still noticeable a few times. He skates well, hunts pucks, and plays with an edge in all situations.
James Tepper
Proctor, 2/20/02, RW, right shot, 6-0/175
Tepper had three goals and two assists in the tournament, including a tally on Thursday. He skates well, forechecks with a purpose, and brings it physically. He has some skill, but his hockey sense is an area of his game that continues to need improvement. Regardless, he’s the best player on Proctor and should have a college commit in the future.
Groton/Lawrence Holiday Tournament - Honorable Mention Uncommitted prospects
These players stood out or were worth mentioning based on previous viewings. Listed in alphabetical order, some of the following prospects are candidates for Division I while a majority are likely Division III players.
Jacob Banks
Cushing, 3/27/01, LW, left shot, 5-10/185
Banks assisted on Army commit Jacob Hewitt’s short handed goal Thursday night. It wasn’t his best viewing, but he still showed an ability to play with pace and play hard.
Tyler Bourque
Pomfret, 11/16/00, C, right shot, 5-11/175
Bourque assisted on two of Pomfret’s goals in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Holderness. He’s smart, sees the ice well, and makes plays. He should be a player Division III programs are watching closely.
Spencer Cox
Culver, 2/7/01, D, left shot, 5-10.75/171
Cox is a skilled, offensive-minded defenseman who was previously committed to Miami. He’s on the smaller side, but he skates very well and has skill with the puck on his stick. He can join the rush and push the pace. Cox had a nice stretch pass that led to a breakaway goal. On occasion, he’ll try to force plays, but his skill and skating will land him a Division I commit.
Jack Dempsey
Dexter, 5/17/01, LW, left shot, 6-3/215
Dempsey was really good against Proctor. He’s a big power forward who was around the puck and got a lot of chances. He has good reach and is trending in the right direction. Dempsey had a couple of assists in the game. The one area of concern is his skating, but he’s proven that he can get better in that regard and other aspects of his game.
Kyle Furey
Lawrence, 2/5/02, D, right shot, 6-0/160
Furey has taken his game to the next level this season. I previously believed he’d be a high-end Division III player, but I now think he could get to Division I. His skating is above average and his puck skills and the ability to be a puck mover are valued assets. He was smarter and limited risky decisions on Thursday night.
Vincent Gould
Dexter, 2/11/03, RW, right shot, 6-2/200
Gould has a hard shot and is heavy on pucks below the dots. His skating has gotten better and he had a couple of nice moments Thursday.
Jake Hughes
Pomfret, 4/10/01, RW, right shot, 5-8/155
Hughes, who used to play at Worcester Academy, found the score sheet Thursday. He’s smaller, but he buzzes and was fun to watch. Hughes is likely a Division III prospect.
Jackson Irving
Cushing, 2/3/04, G, catches left, 5-10/165
Irving more than held his own in a tough environment for a young goaltender. He’s quick and fundamentally sound. Irving made a couple of big saves and couldn’t really be faulted on any of the goals.
Philippe Lamarre
Pomfret, 10/31/02, D, right shot, 5-11/165
Lamarre is intriguing. He’s a first year prep player from Florida who could develop into an offensive defenseman.
Connor Lovett
Lawrence, 4/7/01, C, right shot, 5-11/185
Lovett played hard and was effective on the forecheck. He drove the net, was heavy on pucks, and tough to play against.
Cameron Lund
Cushing, 6/7/04, RW, right shot, 6-1/165
Lund wasn’t as impactful as he had been in the first couple of viewings of Cushing, but he skates well and didn’t look out of place as an ‘04 in a high intensity prep game. He skates well and he plays with an edge.
Tim Manning
Holderness, 10/12/00, LW, left shot, 5-9/165
Manning is an older player in prep so it’s hard to gauge just how good he is, but he did score the lone goal for Holderness Thursday. He’ll be joining the NAHL’s Maine Nordiques after the season and is a player that could be a walk-on at the Division I level or a higher end Division III prospect.
Patrick Morrissey
Dexter, 1/7/03, D, right shot, 5-10.5/158
Morrissey has the ability to move pucks north and quarterback a power play with his hockey sense. He didn’t find the score sheet Thursday.
Mack Oliphant
Lawrence, 12/28/02, D, right shot, 6-3/190
Oliphant is an intriguing prospect as his skating has come a long way in just over a year. Last season with Chicago Young Americans, he struggled to keep up in the skating department. He made a great pass right on the tape to Sacco on a two-on-one that ended up with the puck in the back of the net.
Nick Rheaume
Cushing, 5/2/02, LW, left shot, 6-1/180
Rheaume is a smart, goal-scoring winger. He didn’t score, but he had a great release on a shot as he was entering the zone Thursday night. He whistled it just wide, but it caught my eye. His skating needs work, but he’s a player to watch. With his hockey sense and shot, he has a chance to land a spot in Atlantic Hockey or high-end Division III.
Timofey Spitserov
Culver, 3/26/02, RW, left shot, 6-0/180
Spitserov scored a goal for Culver on Thursday in the team’s win over Groton. He has a good shot and caught and had a couple of notable plays.
Kyle Tomaso
Pomfret, 12/31/00, LW, right shot, 6-1/175
Tomaso scored the first Pomfret goal. He’s a big power forward who shoots it hard. He’s around the puck a lot and has a hard shot. His feet are probably holding him back from Division I, but he’s a player who could be a goal scorer at the Division III level.
Charles Whitehead
Groton, 8/27/02, D, right shot, 5-8.5/169
Whitehead has some mobility and skill from the backend. He was the only player on Groton that stood out in Thursday’s game against Culver.
