CANTON, Mass. – The kickoff to the 2022-23 regular season began in earnest Monday and Tuesday at the 13th annual River Rats Jamboree.
The two-day event took place mostly at the Canton Ice House, but a number of other local rinks were used.
NHL scouts and college coaches from Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, Big Ten and Division 3 were in attendance. The 18U division had the most teams, but most of the high-end players were in the 16U and 15 Only divisions.
Below is a look at six players of note from the 16U division who showed well over the course of two days at this week’s River Rats Jamboree.
U16
Alex Bales
Kent/Yale Jr. Bulldogs 16U, 7/6/06, D, left shot, 5-9/180
NCAA commit: Providence
Bales scored a breakaway goal in his team’s 2-2 tie against the River Rats on Tuesday. On both days, he showed well. There was a sense of anticipation and of good things happening when he was on the ice. The East Amherst, N.Y., native showed more assertiveness than he has in the past. Bales’ skating, hockey sense and poise were all positives while watching him play at the jamboree. He continues to trend in the right direction and will be a nice addition to the Friars lineup in two or three years.
Drew DellaSalla
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield 16U, 5/8/06, LW, left shot, 6-0/165
DellaSalla didn’t produce as much as he’s capable of during my viewings, but his stick skills and skating are attributes that stand out when watching him play. The Rye, N.Y., native doesn’t have the arsenal of forwards around him that he will have while at Brunswick this winter. DellaSalla is choosing between two Beanpot schools for his college destination.
Liam Kilfoil
Buffalo Regals 16U, 3/21/07, C, left shot, 5-10/162
Kilfoil is one of the most well-regarded '07s in North America. He’s not an elite skater, but his hockey sense is off the charts. The Quispamsis, New Brunswick, native appeared to take a game to adjust to the pace of 16U after playing 14U last season. He had a couple of shifts where he stood out for a nice offensive play, but didn’t get a lot going overall in the first game. Later in the event, he found his stride and popped in a couple of goals. If he chooses the NCAA route, there will be a number of top programs offering him next August 1.
Jacob Kulas
Rivers/River Rats 16U, 4/25/06, C, left shot, 5-11/180
Kulas had a solid, but under-the-radar sophomore season for Freddy Meyer’s Red Wings in 2021-22, scoring just 10 points. The Stow, Mass., native showed this week that he’s poised for a breakout campaign. Kulas had two goals and an assist in the three games at the jamboree. He’s big, strong and heavy on pucks. Kulas is still raw and has a lot of untapped potential.
Nate Porter
Dexter Southfield/Junior Eagles 16U, 3/10/06, RW, right shot, 5-10/162
Porter had a hat trick in his team’s win over the River Rats and scored a goal in the Eagles’ other game at the jamboree. From Hingham, Mass., he started out on the JV team last winter at Dexter Southfield, but quickly earned varsity minutes. There’s never been a doubt that Porter is a top player at the '06 birth year in New England. He showed that here as he’s lethal when he has the puck on his stick. Expect plenty of local college programs to be calling him on January 1.
Grant Young
Long Island Gulls 16U, 3/22/06, C, right shot, 5-9/160
Young has a great motor and showed well as a two-way center. The Boulder, Colo., native plays in all situations. He scored a nice goal in one of the games I watched. What impressed me, as it usually does with him, was Young’s play at both ends of the ice. He hunts pucks and gets after it on the forecheck, but his ability to track on the backcheck is equally impressive. He’s visited schools in Hockey East, ECAC Hockey and the NCHC.
