MARLBORO, Mass. -- Neponset Valley River Rats winning the Massachusetts 16-U State Championship could truly be described as a team effort.
As had been the case for much of the fall, the River Rats got contributions from a lot of different players and competed with a strong work ethic up and down the lineup. It has been a fun team to watch since August.
On their way to the final, the River Rats defeated defeated the Eastern Mass Senators in the quarterfinals and Junior Bruins in the semifinals. That set up the 5-3 triumph over the Boston Junior Eagles in the final. With the championship, the River Rats punched their ticket to USA Hockey Nationals in Rochester, Mich., from April 1-6, 2020.
Below are the top prospects from the Massachusetts 16-U State Championship, held Nov. 8-10 at the New England Sports Center.
Forwards
1. JP Turner
River Rats, 1/31/03, C, right shot, 5-11/186
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Turner had a goal and two assists, but his impact is felt far beyond the score sheet. He’s a winner and has a lot of intangibles. His skating has gotten a lot better, but it still could be improved. Nonetheless, he doesn’t let that negatively affect him. He hunts pucks and wins just about every battle for a loose puck. He hits hard and he can shoot hard. He’s a player you win with and he’s a big reason the River Rats were successful all fall.
2. Shane Baker
Junior Bruins, 4/21/04, C, right shot, 5-11/165
Baker is starting to establish himself as a big-time prospect in this age group, despite not being selected to attend last May’s Massachusetts Hockey CCM High Performance Festival. He had a goal and three assists here. He’s long, he drives the net and he sees the ice well. If he can keep progressing at the same rate, he’ll be committed by next August.
3. Tim Delay
Boston Jr. Eagles, 6/16/03, C/RW, right shot, 6-0/162
NCAA commit: Boston College
Delay’s best attributes are his skating and his hands. He has blazing speed and he can snap a puck off with deception. He also has touch on his passes. If he can learn to play a little more between the dots and slow the game down some, he’ll be an even better prospect.
4. Matt Copponi
River Rats, 6/4/03, C, right shot, 5-9/140
Copponi didn’t have a huge weekend on the score sheet, but his impact was felt throughout. He’s fast, hunts pucks and is willing to go to the greasy areas. He has skill to finish, but his best attribute is his ability to get to pucks and create offense for his linemates.
5. Shane Lachance
River Rats, 8/30/03, LW, left shot, 6-3/180
Lachance was good this past weekend and keeps getting better. He’s a tall, lanky winger who is still growing into his body. Once he does, he’ll be a sure-fire Hockey East player. He protects pucks and can shoot it hard.
6. Jack Silich
Junior Bruins, 6/20/03, RW, right shot, 5-9/178
NCAA commit: Quinnipiac
Silich had a couple of goals on the weekend. He’s a strong, rugged kid who can win puck battles down low and along the boards. Silich, who played much of the fall for the Junior Bruins’ NCDC team, has a hard shot.
7. Michael Callow
Boston Jr. Eagles, 1/15/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/169
Callow is starting to make progress and finished a couple of times on the weekend. Another tall, lanky kid who has time to grow into his frame, he’s always had a world of potential. He has the ability to lower his shoulder, drive the net and finish. That potential is starting to come to fruition.
8. Culin Wilson
Boston Jr. Eagles, 3/12/03, C/LW, left shot, 5-11/180
Wilson had two goals on the weekend, but he was his usual self in the attacking zone. He’s heavy on pucks and does a good job facilitating offense from the walls.
9. Vincent Gould
East Coast Wizards, 2/11/03, RW, right shot, 6-1/187
Gould is a big winger who is heavy on pucks and can rip it hard. In addition to his three goals on the weekend, he made a really nice centering feed on a rush for an assist Friday night. His skating, always a little bit of a concern, has started to improve.
10. Coleman Jenkins
River Rats, 5/11/03, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/150
Jenkins had a good weekend and provided secondary scoring punch outside the team’s big top line. He was good at the dot and competed hard in all three zones.
11. Joe Bennett
River Rats, 12/1/03, LW, left shot, 5-9/170
Bennett is a smaller wing who seems to have a knack for scoring. He scored two goals, including one in Sunday’s final. He’s another player on his team who just goes to the greasy areas.
12. David Walsh
River Rats, 1/27/03, C/LW, right shot, 5-7/130
Walsh had a pair of goals and assists on the weekend. He isn’t flashy, but he’s around the puck a lot and finishes from in tight areas.
13. Jayden Grier
East Coast Wizards, 12/12/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/160
Grier has taken a big step in his game. He’s always been an athletic forward who was willing to play hard. He had a hat trick in Friday night’s win. He’s a good skater and his stride has gained some explosiveness. He drove the net and is using his increased size to his advantage. If he can learn to slow the game down a little and see the ice a little better, his stock will continue to rise.
14. Landyn Greatorex
Boston Jr. Eagles, 7/26/03, LW, left shot, 5-7/140
Greatorex had three goals this weekend to continue his very good fall season. He skates well and has above average hands. He’s often in the right place at the right time. Greatorex should be one of the better public school players in the MIAA as a junior at Reading.
15. Brendan Gorman
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2/17/03, RW, right shot, 5-10/140
Gorman has taken a big step this fall. He wasn’t quite as noticeable this weekend, but he still finished with two assists in three games. He skates well and has more skill than he’s sometimes given credit for.
16. William Hughes
River Rats, 1/4/04, C, right shot, 6-2/185
Hughes is a big power forward who can skate. With his physical tools, I’d like to see him finish and influence the game more than he does. However, it’s important to realize he’s still young and has time. There is significant upside with his size and skating ability. He’s a candidate for the NTDP Evaluation Camp.
17. Cameron Lund
Eastern Mass Senators, 6/7/04, C, right shot, 5-11/160
Lund looks a little taller than he was in the summer. He’s a good skater who gets to pucks and is dangerous with the puck in the attacking zone. He sees the ice well and makes very good passes.
18. Massimo Gentile
Top Gun, 7/2/03, C, left shot, 5-7/155
Gentile had the only goal for his team in its loss on Saturday. He’s a speedster who will be a newcomer at Governor’s. If his hockey sense can catch up to his skating ability, his upside could expand.
19. Chris Delaney
Junior Bruins, 9/25/04, LW, left shot, 5-4/121
Delaney doesn’t have elite straight-line speed, but he’s quick and able to juke opposing defenders in small areas before facilitating offense to his open linemates.
20. Harrison Giuliano
Boston Jr. Eagles, 7/2/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/160
Giuliano is a nice secondary option for the Junior Eagles. The Bishop Hendricken star had a good split season showing and should be a top two or three player in Rhode Island high school hockey.
21. Ziv Deener-Chodirker
Boston Jr. Eagles, 1/4/03, C, right shot, 5-10/160
Chodirker had a goal on the weekend, but his biggest impact is away from the puck. He has a high compete level, blocks shots, kills penalties and is solid on draws.
22. Reid Capello
East Coast Wizards, 1/2/03, C, right shot, 6-1/215
Capello made a really good pass for an assist on a teammate’s goal on Friday night. He has good size and protects pucks, drives the net and gets space for his linemates.
23. Brandon Spaulding
Springfield Rifles, 8/8/03, C, left shot, 5-10/160
Spaulding is the top center on his team and is an above average skater. He’ll be a top 10 player in the MIAA this winter.
24. Eamon Connaughton
GBL Bruins, 4/16/03, C, left shot, 5-11/165
Connaughton was the standout for the GBL Bruins in the team’s loss on Friday night. He’s hard and heavy, and should provide a solid foundation on the second or third line for St. Mark’s this winter.
25. Will Kelleher
Boston Advantage, 1/15/03, C, left shot, 5-11/180
Kelleher had a goal in his team’s loss to East Coast Wizards on Friday night. It was a one-timer from the right wing circle while on the power play. He’s big, hard on pucks and plays physically. Kelleher was around the puck a lot.
26. Joseph Fontaine
Junior Bruins, 1/29/03, RW, right shot, 5-7/140
Fontaine is on the smaller side and has never stood out in previous viewings of the Junior Bruins, but he had a productive weekend.
27. Michael Stenberg
Cape Cod Whalers, 9/22/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/174
NCAA commit: Penn State
Stenberg and the Whalers were ousted in one game, but he had an assist and was solid playing with and against kids a year older. Although he didn’t have a dominant fall, he likely would have been a man among boys at the 15 Only level.
28. Jackson Coutu
Cape Cod Whalers, 1/9/03, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/175
NCAA commit: Providence (lacrosse)
Coutu had a goal in the Whalers’ quarterfinal loss. A multisport athlete, he committed to Providence College for lacrosse a few days ago.
29. Dom Boccelli
Minuteman Flames, 9/22/03, C, left shot, 6-1/165
Boccelli has good size and is around the puck a lot. Although he’s not the most skilled player, his compete and nose for the puck makes him a threat to produce offensively.
30. Jonathan Surrette
Top Gun, 8/6/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/167
Surrette didn’t have his best game on Saturday, but he’s a player to watch as he enters his junior season at Woburn High School.
31. Caiden Hess
Junior Bruins, 3/3/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/165
Hess is the left wing on the Junior Bruins’ second line. His best asset is his speed. He can really fly around the sheet.
32. Jack Alecia
Springfield Rifles, 4/7/03, C, right shot, 5-8/140
Alecia has a lot of speed and scored a goal in his team’s first-round loss.
33. Gaven Havens
Bay State Breakers, 5/19/03, C, right shot, 5-8/150
Havens was a good skater with above average hand-eye coordination. He’s a player to watch at Catholic Memorial this winter.
Defensemen
1. Nolan Joyce
Boston Jr. Eagles, 9/25/03, D, right shot, 5-11/155
The improvement in Joyce’s game is remarkable. As a bantam, he was a good player who could make plays with the puck on his stick. After getting less ice time than he’s accustomed to in 2018-19, he could have regressed. However, he’s done the opposite. He’s bigger, stronger and better. He has good feet and a good stick while making solid plays. There are still aspects of his game that could use work, especially in his own end, but he’s a Division I player.
2. Patrick Morrissey
River Rats, 1/7/03, D, right shot, 5-11/158
Morrissey’s vision is an asset as he sees the ice well and can make plays in transition as well as in the attacking zone. He also scored a couple of goals by using solid offensive instincts. If his feet going back and his overall defensive play can improve, he’ll be a Division I player. This was his best showing of the fall.
3. Brendan Fitzgerald
Boston Jr. Eagles, 3/6/03, D, left shot, 5-10.5/147
Fitzgerald was good in both ends this weekend. He has the ability to make plays with his vision and skill. An underrated aspect of his game is his ability to defend the rush with jam and having a good stick on pokechecks.
3. Will Killoran
East Coast Wizards, 1/30/03, D, right shot, 6-2/180
Killoran was solid in his own zone, per usual. He’s a big, physical defenseman who is tough to play against. His feet and puck poise need work, but there’s a lot to like in his game. He’s a junior at Belmont Hill and will be a Division I player down the road.
4. Aidan Lyons
Boston Jr. Eagles, 2/26/03, D, left shot, 5-9/163
Lyons is a good skater who has a flare for the dramatic with the puck. His skill level allows him to make nice plays. As usual, he needs to reel it in and keep things simple with more regularity.
5. Tyler Rubin
Boston Jr. Eagles, 1/10/03, D, left shot, 5-9/135
NCAA commit: Princeton
Rubin’s feet are elite, which allows him to influence the breakout in a positive way. He can make good stretch passes as well as skating it out of trouble. His angles defensively and decisions need work, but his feet are a big-time asset.
6. Ethan Mistry
River Rats, 2/4/03, D, left shot, 5-8/160
Mistry is a little on the smaller side, but he’s a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. With the strong fall he had, there’s interest from Ivy League and other ECAC schools. He’ll be a newcomer to Milton.
7. Joe Fleming
Boston Jr. Eagles, 6/19/03, D, right shot, 5-11/190
Fleming needs to work on his skating, but he’s a big, rugged defender with the ability to play hard in his own zone. He also can shoot it hard and has adequate instincts with the puck on his stick. There’s potential for him to grow as a player.
8. Ben Cook
Junior Bruins, 1/31/05, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Cook is playing up and doesn’t look out of place one bit. He has good size and is a strong, physical defenseman. He can make a good first pass, but the most impressive part of his game is his shutdown ability.
9. Conner Chalmers
Top Gun, 8/30/03, D, right shot, 5-11/170
Chalmers has the footwork to be a special player, but his decision making needs to get better. One thing that stood out was his jam: He was way more physical than he has been in the past.
10. Trey Scott
Junior Bruins, 5/4/04, D, right shot, 5-8/135
Scott is a smaller defenseman who thinks well offensively. He jumped into the rush and scored a goal from the point in one game.
11. Sean Conlon
Springfield Rifles, 1/7/03, D, left shot, 6-2/185
Conlon is a big, rangy defender who can shoot hard from the point. With his skating ability and size, there’s potential for him to blossom into a Division I prospect.
12. Nicholas Bernardo
Top Gun, 5/13/03, D, right shot, 5-8/165
Bernardo didn’t have his best viewing, but he’s still an offensive-minded, mobile defender with above-average skill.
13. Connor Berg
Boston Advantage, 6/10/03, D, right shot, 6-1/160
Berg has size, skates well, jumps into the attack, and has the puck a lot. His feet need work skating backwards.
14. Brandon Plaga
River Rats, 8/21/03, D, right shot, 5-10/135
Plaga isn’t as dynamic with the puck as some of his fellow River Rats blue liners, but he’s an above-average skater and moves well. He’ll be a newcomer at Milton.
15. Colin Wenrich
Junior Bruins, 1/16/03, D, left shot, 5-10/140
Wenrich makes quick decisions with the puck and is a solid, reliable defender. He’s a work in progress, but there’s potential for him to grow as a player and become a solid prep prospect after this season.
16. Shane McElhaney
Eastern Mass Senators, 2/13/03, D, left shot, 5-11/140
McElhaney is smooth with the puck as a mobile defender with skill. He still needs to work on his strength and play in the defensive end.
17. Jack Shemligian
Minuteman Flames, 4/22/03, D, right shot, 5-11/156
Shemligian has stood out for most of the fall as his team’s top defenseman. He’s an above-average skater and has a decent stick. He’ll be at Algonquin High School this season.
18. Jackson Biancheri
Junior Bruins, 4/21/03, D, left shot, 5-9/150
Biancheri is a mobile defenseman with skill, but he needs to improve his hockey sense, jam and overall compete level.
19. Seamus Cummings
Eastern Mass Senators, 4/14/03, D, right shot, 5-11/160
Cummings has stood out for his size and two-way ability. Although his footwork and first step need to improve, there’s potential here.
20. Carter Rugg
GBL Bruins, 3/14/03, D, right shot, 6-2/158
Rugg, from Hingham, Mass., is a big prospect with potential to be a shutdown defender at the prep level. He needs to improve his hockey sense as he goes through the prep school circuit at Pomfret.
Goaltenders
1. Dylan Silverstein
River Rats, 2/7/04, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Silverstein made key saves at big times in games to keep the River Rats on the right side of the scoreboard. He has good size, skates well and challenges shooters. The Woburn, Mass., resident should be a candidate for the NTDP Evaluation Camp. Silverstein will be the starting goaltender for Dexter Southfield.
2. Conor Sullivan
Boston Jr. Eagles, 10/3/03, G, catches left, 6-3/164
Sullivan has a lot of potential with his size, skating ability and technique. He will get the majority of the starts this winter at Rivers.
3. Gabe Brissette
Boston Advantage, 10/12/03, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Despite taking the loss in the first round, Brissette looked solid once again between the pipes for the Boston Advantage.
4. Michael Salvatore
Junior Bruins, 8/9/03, G, catches left, 5-8/150
Salvatore is a little on the smaller side, but he had a couple of good games and made key stops.
5. Ryan Sande
Minuteman Flames, 5/20/03, G, catches left, 6-0/160
Sande is a little unorthodox and he flops around some, but he made highlight-reel saves and exudes athleticism.
