EXETER, N.H. — Most of the top 14-U teams in New England took part in the 2020 River Rats Jamboree on Monday and Tuesday. Games at the River Rats Jamboree were played at The Rinks at Exeter, Salem ICenter, Cyclones Arena, Tri-Town Arena and the Ice Den.
The Boston Junior Eagles, Minuteman Flames and Mount Saint Charles were the top three 14-U teams in attendance at the River Rats Jamboree. All three teams have some very good prospects. Several other teams in the age bracket also had some notable performers.
While it was impossible to see every team and every game with games going on simultaneously across five rinks, I wanted to highlight the notable performers from each team I saw at the River Rats Jamboree. Below is a look at a few top players who stood out at the River Rats Jamboree 14-U Division. (Check hockeyjournal.com for other age division reports later this week.)
With bouncing back and forth between games, this is not meant as a complete list of every good player in the division. It’s a snapshot of what players impressed me during my viewings over the last two days.
Forwards
Cam Cooke
Minuteman Flames, 2/2/06, C, right shot, 6-1/165
Cooke was my standout forward during the two days. He’s a big power forward who can shoot it hard. He drives the net with authority and his physical presence is intimidating for opposing players. Cooke found his way onto the scoresheet a lot in my viewings. For a big guy, he skates fairly well. As with anyone of any age, his first two steps can be improved.
Jackson Delleo
Mount Saint Charles, 1/13/06, RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Delleo is a power forward who protects pucks and is strong on his skates. He shoots it hard and with pinpoint accuracy. He scored at least four goals over the games I saw here.
Jacob Duval
Valley Junior Warriors, RW, right shot, 5-10/150
Duval is a strong winger who can shoot it hard. He had a couple of goals in Tuesday morning’s game against New Hampshire Avalanche.
James Hagens
Mount Saint Charles, 11/3/06, LW, left shot, 5-6/125
Hagens is on the smaller side and looked a little tentative at times. He still showed flashes of why he’s always been one of my top-ranked forwards in the age group. Hagens is crafty, can spin away from defenders in small areas, and has the skill to thread the needle to find teammates for quality scoring chances.
Cooper Hall
Eastern Mass Senators, 1/17/06, LW, left shot, 5-9/160
Hall has good size, is heavy on pucks and can shoot it hard. He had a couple of goals in a game against the River Rats and found the back of the net in another game as well.
Troy Hayes
Minuteman Flames, 1/5/06, LW, left shot, 6-0/155
Hayes is a power forward with good size. He’s still a little raw, but there’s a lot to like about his game. He was active down low and helped in his team’s cycle game below the dots.
Ronnie Hill
Seacoast Academy, 1/1/06, RW, right shot, 5-10/155
Hill used his size, strength and hard shot to score a couple of goals in a game vs. the East Coast Wizards.
Billy MacAusland
River Rats, 8/4/07, LW, left shot, 5-6/120
MacAusland is an ’07 playing up with and against the ’06s in this age group. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s extremely skilled. MacAusland isn’t afraid to hunt pucks or go between the circles looking for scoring chances. He scored his team’s only goal against Minuteman Flames.
Teddy MacAusland
Minuteman Flames, 1/13/06, RW, right shot, 5-6/140
Teddy is the older brother of Billy MacAusland on the River Rats. Teddy plays a similar style as a skilled forward. He’s reportedly going to play some games up with the Junior Bruins 16-U this season.
James Marshall
River Rats, 4/5/06, C, left shot, 5-8/135
Marshall had several points over his team’s three games here. He has good size, can create on the rush, and has the puck on his stick a lot.
Nate Porter
Junior Eagles, 3/10/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/140
Porter is a multi-dimensional player who can play a hard, north-south power game, but also uses his skill to be a finesse player at times. On a very good Junior Eagles squad, he’s the forward with the most upside, as I see it now.
Tyler Wood
Mount Saint Charles, 2/15/06, RW, left shot, 5-11/155
Wood didn’t produce as much as some of his teammates in the action I watched, but he intrigued me with his size and tools. It will be interesting to see how the Prince Edward Island native adjusts to playing in a different country at such a young age.
Defensemen
Will Felicio
Mount Saint Charles, 5/19/06, D, left shot, 5-9/145
Felicio is a skilled, mobile, offensive defenseman. He’s creative and makes plays on breakouts and in the attacking zone that few defenders this age can. He’s a little high risk, high reward at times, but he’s slick and can impact puck possession in a positive manner.
Owen Keefe
Junior Eagles, 3/26/06, D, left shot, 5-8/145
Keefe continues to get better with each viewing. He’s a smart two-way defender who makes efficient outlet passes to jumpstart the transition. Away from the puck, he plays with jam, using his stick, gapping well, and making it tough on opposing forwards.
Goaltenders
Ryder Shea
Minuteman Flames, 5/4/06, G, catches left, 6-0/181
Shea is your prototypical modern-era goaltender with size. In the butterfly, he takes up a lot of the net. He’s quiet and makes saves look easy. Shea is one of the best goaltending prospects in the country at this age group.
Evan Zhang
River Rats, 2/2/06, G, catches left, 5-7/105
Zhang doesn’t have the size that Shea has, but he’s technically sound, skates well, makes the saves that he’s supposed to make, and covers up rebounds.
