The focus right now is on prep and high school playoffs. For full-season teams at the 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U levels, national championships aren't far off either.
But from March 19-23, the focus will be very different. That's when the U.S. National Team Development Program holds its evaluation camp to pick its U17 team for 2025-26.
Forty-seven players were selected to head to Plymouth, Mich., to try out for the team last season. Seven New Englanders, along with one other who played in the region (Luke Schairer), got spots at the camp. Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), Jamie Glance (Stratham, N.H.) and Schairer were the only locals who made it.
This season, the NTDP fixes its focus on the '09s. NTDP director of player personnel Rod Braceful and his staff have been watching these players for the last year (and then some).
So, how is the local crop of '09s? They're really good.
Evaluation Camp invites haven't been announced yet and, crazily enough, I don't pick who goes to Evaluation Camp. And even more crazy: I don't pick the final team. Shocking, right? But from watching the '09s for the last two years, I'd anticipate seven or more get invited. Once at camp, I'd imagine more than three make it.
Rather than just list out every player, I organized them into three tiers: "Locks", "Likely" and "Bubble." "Locks" is for players who I'd be willing to bet make the team. "Likely" is for players who, in my opinion, have a better chance of making the team than not making it. "Bubble" is for players who, in my opinion, would be on the bubble for making it to camp and then making the team.
Here's a look at how local players stack up one month before evaluation camp.
LOCKS
Carter Meyer
Rivers, 4/10/2009, F, left shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
Little doubt here. Meyer won NEHJ Prep Rookie of the Year last season after posting 39 points as an eighth-grader. He followed that up by being the front-runner for NEHJ Prep Player of the Year this season with 35 goals and 60 points in 23 games. He leads prep in points per game (2.61), which is impressive given the majority of his competition is older and stronger. His ability to take over and slow down games against older competition gives a great indication of how Meyer will likely do next season against USHL teams. He has the early signs of being an NTDP star.
Rocco Pelosi
Mount St. Charles, 1/28/2009, F, left shot, 5-11/168
Hometown: Sewell, N.J.Â
There's always a worry that the high-end players at the 14U level will take a step back at 15O. That hasn't happened to Pelosi, as he has 54 goals and 117 points in 47 games so far. He's a force down the middle who impacts the game at both ends of the ice. He can score a dazzling goal just as easily as he can battle for 50/50 pucks and prevent chances in his own zone. The leadership he carries is also an added bonus and something the NTDP will like. He can play anywhere in a lineup, too. I'd be stunned if Pelosi didn't make the team.
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LIKELY
Finn Sears
Rivers, 5/4/2009, F, left shot, 6-1/175
Hometown: Medford, Mass.Â
This category of players is where things get much more interesting. Like Meyer, Sears has upped his game this season. He was over a point per game player in prep last season and is averaging over two points per matchup this season (47 in 21). Sears can reach top speed quickly, has great hands and has a heavy, accurate shot. He plays with an edge, too, and will finish checks and pressure opposing defensemen. With his size and skill, he should continue to thrive against older competition.
Sam Pandolfo
Rivers, 7/2/2009, F, left shot, 6-4/180
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
While Pandolfo doesn't have the flashy numbers like Meyer and Sears, his potential is his biggest asset. At 6-foot-4, with an extremely high hockey IQ and an ability to play center and wing, he'd be really hard to leave off. He's over a point-per-game player in prep and hasn't seemed to come near what he could be as he approaches college. He does the little things well and wins his battles, especially low in the offensive zone. He has underrated vision and would be a fantastic player to put with other high-end ones at the NTDP. He's the son of Boston University coach and longtime NHLer Jay Pandolfo.
Jake Boguniecki
Mid Fairfield 15O, 4/22/2009, D, right shot, 6-2/161
Hometown: Woodbridge, Conn.Â
Boguniecki has spent the year with the Mid Fairfield 15O team. The NTDP loves its two-way defensemen and Boguniecki is a two-way force. His size and reach allows him to shut down opposing players in his own zone and in neutral ice. His puck-moving abilities and skating allows him to execute breakouts and make an impact in the offensive zone. Boguniecki has all the tools of being someone who would develop nicely at the NTDP. Two fun facts about Boguniecki. The first is that he's a phenomenal baseball player. The second is that he's the son of Eric Boguniecki, who starred at UNH in the 1990s and spent time in the NHL and AHL.
Braiden Scuderi
Mount St. Charles 15O, 3/31/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/154
Hometown: Haddon Heights, N.J.Â
For the last two seasons, Scuderi has been one of the most productive '09s in the United States. He has 43 goals and 106 points in 48 games for Mount this year. What he lacks in size (and the NTDP has no issue taking smaller forwards), he more than makes up for with his elite hands, great vision and high-end offensive IQ. My one question would be can he play anywhere in a lineup? Every player who makes the NTDP is high-end and can play in the top six. The program also usually moves players up and down the lineup throughout their U17 season.
Brody Berard
Mount St. Charles 15O, 9/2/2009, D, right shot, 6-0/181
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.Â
The Mount defenseman may not be an offensive defensemen, but he is a strong shutdown, physical defender. He can lay big hits and generally makes things difficult on forwards trying to get to the slot. He plays even bigger than he is. But Berard's prospects of making the team will likely come down to the other '09 defensemen from around the country. If there are bigger and better shutdown defensemen around the country, Berard will probably be on the outside looking in. But if there isn't, Berard could be a nice fit.
BUBBLE
Cam Minella
Brunswick, 8/29/2009, D, left shot, 5-11/155
Hometown: Darien, Conn.Â
Minella made the move to prep hockey at Brunswick for the winter and he's been a smashing success. He ranks inside the top 10 in points for a defensemen with 27. He's a smooth skater who is extremely patient with the puck. He can run a power play and can also effortlessly elude pressure to move pucks up ice on breakouts.
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Nathaniel Chizik
Mount St. Charles 15O, 2/15/2009, G, catches left, 6-3/201
Hometown: Warrington, Penn.Â
I'll be the first to admit I'm not the greatest at evaluating goalies. But Chizik has the attributes high-level teams would want in a goalie. He's 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, so he has the size to withstand older competition at the NTDP. His numbers have been terrific the past two seasons with Mount St. Charles. He's agile and seems to square himself up to every shot. The NTDP can also be a tough place for goalies given the jump in play from 15O hockey to the USHL and the mental toughness required to get through the 17U season.
Brayden Willis
Mount St. Charles 15O, 9/16/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/161
Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.Â
Willis moved to Mount St. Charles this season from the Phoenix Junior Coyotes. So far, the move has produced big returns. In 48 games for Mount, Willis has 47 goals and 97 points. He has phenomenal hands that can help him make the most of any situation. He's able to stick-handle through coverage in the neutral zone and in the offensive zone to create offense. All season, he's proven he doesn't just fit with high-end players — he helps them, too.
Joseph Covelluzzi
Cushing, 1/15/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/160
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.Â
Covelluzzi wasn't really on my radar for the NTDP earlier this season. He was a nice secondary player for the Boston Junior Eagles 14U team last year before making the move to the Neponset Valley Rivers Rats for 15O hockey. He thrived with the Rivers Rats in a big role and has only improved since starting the prep season with Cushing. He has 18 goals and 31 points in 25 games for the Penguins. That kind of production should at least warrant some consideration.
Caiden Pellegrino
St. Mark's, 12/4/2009, F, left shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.Â
St. Mark's has been one of the biggest surprise teams in prep. What hasn't been much of a surprise is that Pellegrino's been impactful. The crafty center has six goals and 29 points in 23 games, which is tied for second on the Lions. He has phenomenal vision and a high IQ.
Justin Lee
Nobles, 6/28/2009, G, catches left, 6-1/165
Hometown: Newton, Mass.Â
Lee's stock has shot up in the last couple of months as he took over the Nobles net. The freshman '09 has a 2.60 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage as he's proven to be able to have success against older competition. He's also been a steady backstop for the Boston Junior Eagles 14U and 15O teams. While the NTDP is a great honor, staying in prep would probably be a better development path for Lee.
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Alex Wang
Groton, 1/28/2009, G, catches left, 6-2/184
Hometown: Concord, Mass.Â
Wang has struggled in his sophomore year for Groton. Still, he has intriguing size and led all goalies at last summer's USA Hockey Select 15 Camp with a 0.50 GAA and a .979 save percentage. The NTDP heavily scouts Select 15 Camp for obvious reasons so that may have had a big impact. Still, like Lee, Wang should be back in prep next season.
