NASHUA, N.H. — The best 2006-born players in New England District took to the ice at Conway Arena over the weekend in hopes of earning a spot at USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp next month in Amherst, N.Y.
New England District is made up of the other five New England states outside of Massachusetts. The annual New England District tryout camp for the age group was evaluated by several local college and prep school coaches, led by Brown University assistant Jason Guerriero.
Players competed in three games and skated in three practices leading up to Sunday afternoon’s All-Star Game. From there, players were selected for the USA Hockey event that takes place July 15-19 just outside of Buffalo at Northtown Center. It’s the beginning of an important developmental year for the '06 birth year. Next spring, players will be selected for USA Hockey’s NTDP and drafted into the USHL.
Below are my rankings and evaluations of the top 36 players at the New England District Select 15 Festival. I watched all three games Friday night and Sunday’s All-Star Game. All the players reviewed below have positive attributes while needing to refine other parts of their game, as should be expected for this age group.
Forwards
1. Cameron Cooke
Minuteman Flames, 2/2/06, right shot, 6-0/165
Cooke was one of the top three performers in the two days I was in Nashua. He scored two goals in the All-Star Game and had a goal and a helper Friday. While others might have equaled or exceeded his production, he showed a lot of potential, as he typically does. No player at this event projects better than Cooke. He’s a big, physical, strong-skating, 200-foot forward. He shoots it hard, can drive the net, and beat defenders one-on-one. There were times where he tried to do a little too much. Overall, he showed why he’s a top `06 forward prospect capable of making USA Hockey’s NTDP Evaluation Camp next March.
2. Ronnie Hill
Seacoast, 1/3/06, right shot, 5-7/130
Hill had a monster game on Friday night, scoring three goals. He had the puck on his stick a lot and shot it from everywhere. He has a good shot and his stick skills are good enough where he can stickhandle and keep it away from opposing defensemen. He was a little quiet in the All-Star Game, but Friday’s performance still resonates heavily in my mind.
3. Kolin Sisson
Mount Saint Charles, 9/30/06, right shot, 5-0/95
Sisson is small, but he plays an alpha style. He’s often the first guy to the puck and wants the puck on his stick. Sisson is quick and has agility and stick skills that allow him to possess pucks and make plays, even in traffic against bigger opposing defensemen. He had a couple of goals on Friday night. Despite being held scoreless in the All-Star Game, he had some chances and was involved in the play.
4. Troy Hayes
Minuteman Flames, 1/5/06, left shot, 6-0/155
Hayes is a big power forward who had two goals and an assist in Friday night’s game. He’s good down low and can cycle pucks and promote possession. He shoots it hard and finishes at the net. Hayes is raw and his best hockey is ahead of him. His omission from the All-Star game was one of the more baffling things I’ve ever come across in a hockey rink.
Not to go off on too much of a tangent, but these districts have to do a better job of finding evaluators who know the birth year, especially when it comes to Select 15s. Knowing the '06 birth year well in this region, both Massachusetts and New England made some significant mistakes during the selection process. It could all be avoided if at least one evaluator was more in tune with the age group.
5. Walker Bright
Mid Fairfield, 6/3/06, right shot, 5-9/150
Bright was quiet for his standards in the All-Star Game, but he had a goal on Friday. He’s a good skater with skill. He can separate from opposing forwards and create offense on the rush. His hockey sense is above average, but I thought he was a little too individualistic at times here. I’ve seen him be better in terms of using his teammates. Overall, Bright is a skilled forward who will represent the district well in Buffalo.
6. Niko Tournas
CT Whalers, 2/1/06, right shot, 5-11/145
I admittedly didn’t notice Tournas much on Friday, but he made me a believer on Sunday. He recorded a hat trick and added an assist in the All-Star Game. He’s a shooter. He rips the puck and doesn’t shy away from taking advantage of his opportunities. In addition to his three goals, he rang the post on another bid. Tournas is heavy on pucks, protected pucks with his hip, and showed signs of being a goal-scoring power forward.
7. Ryan Staples
Bishop Hendricken, 2/24/06, right shot, 6-0/150
Staples was one of the more productive players throughout the weekend, according to all accounts. That checked with his play on Friday night and in the All-Star Game. He had a couple of helpers Friday and added another one Sunday afternoon. I knew Staples was a good player, but he exceeded my expectations. He has good size and was around the puck a lot. He recovered pucks and was in the right position to impact the game.
8. Jake Pomichter
Mid Fairfield, 6/6/06, left shot, 5-8/146
Pomichter had a pair of goals Friday night and two helpers in the All-Star Game. He stood out for his north-south ability. He’s not going to dazzle with his stick skill or make too many highlight reel plays. However, he skates well, is heavy on pucks, and is a solid power forward. He takes pucks to the net and does a good job protecting it as he does. Away from the puck, I liked his physicality and work ethic.
9. Blake Burke
Mid Fairfield, 5/18/06, left shot, 5-8/140
Burke is another player who showed better than I was expecting. Even without finding the score sheet Friday, I liked what I saw. He showed signs of being a power forward with length to protect pucks. He had two assists in the All-Star Game. One came off winning a draw, which he seemingly did every time he lined up for one. He also found a wide open teammate at the backdoor for an easy finish.
10. James Chase
Bishop Kearney, 4/8/06, left shot, 5-9/174
Chase is a good player, but I didn’t think he played as well as he’s capable of during my viewings. He has size, skill, and does a good job of driving the net and playing in the dirty areas. He was fairly quiet in Sunday’s All-Star Game.
11. Cayne Leive
Seacoast, 6/18/06, left shot, 6-0/170
Leive had a goal Friday and I think he banged home the loose puck in a scrum for his team’s only goal in the All-Star Game. He has good size and is most effective when he’s playing in the middle of the ice and finishing at the net. He has to improve his skating and be more consistent in playing to his strength as a north-south power forward.
12. Ryan Lucarelli
Elite Hockey Academy, 7/10/06, right shot, 5-8/139
Lucarelli has a good amount of skill. He has a quick release, scoring a goal and adding an assist Friday night. His skating is above average, but if he can become more explosive, his impact on the game will increase.
13. Dylan Cappelli
Bishop Hendricken, 1/1/06, left shot, 5-5/130
Cappelli is on the smaller side, but he skated well and made some plays. Even in the All-Star Game when the pace picked up, he was able to show some flashes with his quickness.
14. Wyatt Sancibrian
Seacoast, 3/26/06, left shot, 5-6/130
Sancibrian didn’t make the All-Star Game, but he had a goal on Friday night. His skating is above average and he showed some skill.
15. Ben Bradley
Mid Fairfield, 6/12/06, left shot, 6-1/185
Bradley is a big forward who is able to have some success due to his size and strength. His skating is an area of his game that will need to get better in order to have an impact at the midget and prep level.
16. Gage Spagna
Seacoast, 1/1/06, right shot, 5-6/125
Spagna had a goal on Friday and had a pair of assists in the All-Star Game. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s skilled and sees the ice fairly well.
17. Logan Lambrecht
CP Dynamo, 1/1/06, left shot
Lambrecht had a goal in both games I watched. He certainly has the size and strength to be a factor. His hockey sense is an area for him to work on if he’s going to take his game to the next level.
18. Easton Masse
CT Huskies, 1/1/06, right shot
Masse has size, skated well, and did enough Friday for me to believe he deserved to be in the All-Star Game. He didn’t do a lot on Sunday, but he’s worthy of being on this list.
19. Cole Mollica
CT Huskies, 1/1/06, left shot
Mollica didn’t make the All-Star Game, but I think he’s a player to keep an eye on over the coming years. He played a hard, physical brand of hockey, delivering a big hit on Friday night. In past viewings, I’ve been impressed by his knack for being around the puck.
20. Nick Solomon
Mid Fairfield, 1/1/06, right shot, 5-8/141
Solomon had a goal in Friday’s game. He didn’t make the All-Star game, but he was better than I expected on the first day.
21. Braeden Gagnon
Maine Nordiques, 1/1/06, left shot
Gagnon had a goal and an assist Friday night, showing some skill and above average skating ability.
DEFENSEMEN
1. Deke Davidson
Seacoast, 6/4/06, left shot, 5-8/140
Davidson was the best defenseman here. He’s a good skater and was effective at both ends of the ice. He promoted possession by making quick and efficient decisions on first touch. He jumped into the rush a few times, but didn’t get caught out of position. Defensively, his gaps were tight and he used his stick for pokechecks to defend on the rush. He was consistently making positive plays throughout the two games I watched.
2. Lucas Van Mullen
Cardigan, 12/9/06, right shot, 5-11/145
Van Mullen was the surprise of the festival. He has good size and showed the ability to be a rangy defender. He made smooth pivots and kept it simple. He protected pucks, jumped into the rush, and recovered well defensively. A late `06, there’s a lot of upside.
3. Colton Whitfield
Bishop Hendricken, 4/10/06, left shot, 5-10/150
Whitfield has good size and plays a mature game. He does a good job of stopping plays of his opponents. He closes and takes away time and space with his length and physicality. He’s strong and I liked his compete level. The one time he got walked pretty badly, he worked hard to recover and showed some emotion when going to the bench. He has a hard shot and can make the simple and effective play to move pucks north. I’d like to see him continue working on his skating and being more consistent in terms of keeping it simple and playing to his identity.
4. Blake Stant
Mid Fairfield, 4/7/06, left shot, 5-6/126
Stant is a mobile defenseman who skates well and keeps his head up ice looking to make plays. I liked his propensity to make poised decisions while pushing the pace in transition. He projects as a puck transporter.
5. Caeden Harrington
Seacoast, 1/1/06, right shot, 5-10/140
Harrington was another player here who surpassed my expectations going into the camp. He’s physical and plays a sound defensive game. He delivered the best hit of the four games I watched in Sunday’s All-Star Game when he stepped up and cleanly took out an opposing forward who was skating up ice with his head down. He did a good job of retrieving pucks and looking over his shoulder to know which way to go to avoid the oncoming forechecker. He had an assist on Sunday, as well.
6. Cooper Cleaves
Mid Fairfield, 1/5/06, right shot, 5-8/150
Cleaves has good size and can make solid plays with the puck on his stick. He’s physically mature and strong, which helps his game currently.
7. Cameron Wolf
Seacoast, 11/8/06, left shot, 5-7/143
Wolf is a mobile, offensive-minded defenseman who likes to jump up into the rush. His skating is an asset, but his vision and IQ will have to catch up, if he’s going to make the most of his skill set.
8. Rowan Aggarwal
Moses Brown, 1/1/06, right shot, 5-8/135
Aggarwal is a good skater who was smooth and had good gaps. The one area of his game that I’d like to see improve in the coming year is his decision making and poise with the puck on his stick.
9. Logan Hurd
Mid Fairfield, 1/12/06, right shot, 5-6/130
Hurd is a little bit of a riverboat gambler as he likes to play a very offensive style. His skating is his best attribute and he doesn’t shy away from pushing the pace and activating.
10. Ralfs Viguls
Ramapo Saints, 4/1/06, left shot
Viguls needs to improve his skating, but there’s some potential with his size, strength and hard shot. He scored a goal in Friday night’s game.
Goaltenders
1. Treva Murphy
Cardigan Mountain, 1/11/06, catches left, 5-9/154
Murphy is a little on the smaller side, but he was the best skater of all the goaltenders here. He moved well laterally and showed quick reflexes. I like how he competes while tracking and eating pucks to prevent rebounds. He was the only goaltender in the All-Star Game to not allow a goal.
2. Hayden Thorson
NJ Colonials, 1/12/06, catches left, 5-11/175
Thorson has good size and stays quiet in the net. He does a good job staying square to shooters and cutting down angles. If he can improve his skating, he’ll stay in the mix as one of the top goaltenders in the region in this birth year.
3. Zach Ericson
Seacoast, 7/15/06, catches left, 5-10/150
Ericson had a tough outing in the All-Star Game, but he’s a better goaltender than he showed on Sunday. He’s athletic and moves well in the crease, despite being a little undersized for now.
4. Ethan Roy
Cardigan Mountain, 4/3/06, catches left, 5-9/157
It’s hard to argue against the four goaltenders who did make the All-Star Game, but I thought Roy was in the mix, at least based on Friday night. He made a couple of huge saves in that game.
5. Kyle Bolduc
CT Huskies, 1/1/06, catches left, 5-10/140
Bolduc has good size and was solid in Sunday’s All-Star Game, allowing just one goal against.
