With November right around the corner, the New England Hockey Journal series on the standout players we’ve seen in the fall hockey schedule for full and split season Midget teams continues with a look at the 18-U goalies.
This ranking is based on live viewings only, and given the relatively short time window since the end of August, this can be considered a preliminary top-10, and we will continue to watch these players as they continue with their full-season clubs or head to their prep schools later in Nov.
South Shore Kings Prep and Thayer Academy’s Beau Lane (Pembroke, Mass.) is the top New England native on the list, and there is a good mix of diverse talent in the 2003 and 2004 birth years who have impacted the region during the fall schedule.
1. Jacob Fowler
South Kent Selects; 11/24/04, catches left, 6-1/220
Not eligible for NHL draft consideration until 2023, this poised and talented netminder has been impressive in the early going. He’s agile and able to make athletic stops, but is also patient enough to let shots hit him. The Sunshine State native and Florida Alliance product’s USHL rights are owned by the Youngstown Phantoms. The youngest 18-U player on this list brings intriguing long-term pro upside (2023 NHL draft eligible) with his overall size, skill and effectiveness at this level.
2. Beau Lane (Pembroke, Mass.)
South Shore Kings Prep/Thayer; 6/16/04, catches left, 6-3/160
With the requisite height and fluid agility critical for the position, Lane keeps getting better with each viewing. Poised and capable, he keeps rebounds away from the high danger areas and ends plays by tracking and swallowing up pucks into his midsection. Quick pads and doesn’t give shooters a lot of net to hit. Multisport athlete with upside as he refines his positional play and fundamentals.
3. Brendan Holahan (New Canaan, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick; 6/15/04, catches left, 6-2/181
Very good size and competitive drive to carry a heavy workload. Doesn’t get too overactive and lets shots come to him as opposed to getting scrambly in his crease. Sets his feet for the first shot and recovers quickly. Plays like he has something to prove and has multiple attributes to carry the mail this season, and then making the jump to junior. He was drafted in the USHL by the Des Moines Buccaneers.
4. Peter Sterling
Mount Saint Charles, 11/16/04, catches left, 6-5/180
Massive, but even with his impressive height and octopus-like arms/legs, he’s going to have to find a balance of mass to add to his skinny frame in order to better stand up to heavy traffic in front of his net. While not as refined as fellow late ’04 Fowler, Sterling is bigger, and will continue to attract the eyes of NHL scouts as he develops.
5. Jackson Irving (Newbury, Mass.)
Central Mass. Penguins/Cushing; 2/3/04, catches left, 6-0/160
An accomplished netminder in the birth year for some time now, Irving continues to make progress in his game as he’s grown into his body and refined his game. He reads the play and anticipates where the shot is coming from, using his quick reflexes and ability to get down to the ice to absorb pucks or direct them away from his crease. The Cedar Rapids (USHL) prospect is poised for a breakthrough season in prep.
6. Jack Fialkoff
BK Selects; 4/22/05, catches left, 5-11/165
Although he’s considered undersized for the position, the New York native plays a big game in his net. He’s a quick twitch athlete who tracks the play well and can adjust to pucks in flight, often making saves on tips and deflections because he’s so instinctive. Puts real power in his lateral pushes to move across his crease to deny bang-bang shots from the slot- just stops pucks.
7. Conor Sullivan (Westboro, Mass.)
Little Bruins/Rivers; 10/3/03, catches left, 6-3/185
Looks the part with his height and long arms/legs. Smooth skater with explosive movements around the net. Gets out to the top of his crease quickly and when he sees it, he’ll stop it. At times, could stand to more aggressively use his entire body to track pucks and fight through bodies in front of the net. Project player who has the tools to climb in levels with development and consistency in his play.
8. Michael Salvatore (Newburyport, Mass.)
River Rats/Phillips Exeter; 8/9/03, catches left, 5-11/170
Like Fialkoff, Salvatore may not possess natural size for the position, but he looks and plays big in his net. He’s been instrumental in the success of the River Rats as a top-20 team in the national rankings. Competitive, with a knack for making big saves in key moments, this underdog has the mental makeup to face a high volume of shots and handle the pressures of tight games where there is no margin for error. He doesn’t give up on the play, battling to the end.
9. Austin McNicholas
Buffalo Regals/Salisbury; 5/24/04, catches left, 6-1/175
Solid, consistent performances in our viewings. Economy of motion goaltender who has a compact stance and is efficient in his movements, blocking the net without being overactive or flashy. He’s on the margins of the height/size scale, but gives his team a chance to win each night and should carry that same winning mentality over to prep this season.
10. Andy Heinze (North Andover, Mass.)
Conn. Jr. Bulldogs/Loomis Chaffee; 3/8/04, catches left, 6-0/175
Active and combative, making a lot of second effort saves and battling hard to keep the puck out of his net. Had an outstanding run over the Labor Day weekend, where he shined under pressure. He’s not a household name per se but is effective at stopping pucks, even if he’s not as smooth as others on the list at doing it.
Honorable Mention
Matt MacArthur, LI Gulls; 4/30/04, 6-2/190
Andrew Palena, Conn. Jr. Bulldogs/Salisbury; 4/23/03, 6-1/170
Alex Mickanin, Boston Imperials/Dexter Southfield; 8/11/03, 6-1/190 (Hopkinton, Mass.)
Seth Bushey, Boston Hockey Academy; 5/14/04, 5-10/175 (Swanton, Vt.)
Thomas Giroux, Little Bruins/Groton; 9/18/03, 6-0/168
Nick Bevilacqua, Jr. Eagles/Northfield-Mt. Hermon; 8/6/03, 6-0/179 (Abington, Mass.)
Jack Spicer, Mount Saint Charles; 4/28/04, 6-1/185
Greyson Pane, North Shore Hockey Academy; 8/2/03, 6-3/176 (Boxford, Mass.)
Ashton Billesberger, Maine Nordiques 10/8/03, 5-11/160
Jake Inzirillo, Cape Cod Whalers/Brooks; 6-0/175
Alex Lafreniere, Islanders Hockey Club; 10/5/04, 5-10/140 (Chelmsford, Mass.)
