The New England Hockey Journal's look at 2007 top prospects from the region continues today with defensemen and goaltenders.
With Mass. Hockey Festival occurring May 6-8 at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough and the New England District Festival in Keene, N.H., in June, we will get a clearer picture of emerging players trending up for summer play and the new season in 2022-23.
Below is a list of ’07 defensemen and goaltenders we saw live last year throughout the season. It is not a holistic, top-to-bottom ranking, but a review of players who caught our attention in various events and games.
MORE: Watch list of 14 New England forwards from ’07 class to track
Defensemen
Carter Amico (Westbrook, Maine)
Seacoast Performance Academy, 3/15/07, right shot, 6-3/175
Tall and rangy with a long reach and the ability to get up and down the sheet, he pops in the first viewing with a live athletic frame and agile feet. He has a long, effortless stride and covers a lot of ground with a powerful push. Pretty good with the puck, he looks the part, and will sacrifice the body to block shots or end plays along the wall. His hockey sense and positional game are areas he will need to address, but while raw and unrefined, there is potential here.
Everett Baldwin (Rumford, R.I.)
Moses Brown/Junior Eagles, 1/15/07, right shot, 5-8/140
Impressed at last fall’s Eastern Exposure Cup, and continued his strong play throughout the Eagles season as the only non-Bay State product on the roster. He skates well, and sees the ice: activates at the right times and gets pucks in deep or pinches down from the blue line to get shots to the net. He has a good stick and plays an up-tempo, puck-moving style to transition from defense to offense seamlessly.
Anthony Bongo (Ridgefield, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield, 5/16/07, right shot, 5-8/140
He's a top area prospect at the position for his smarts and all-around game. While playing for the Jr. Rangers 14-U team last season, the play flowed through him on the back end, as he played with maturity and poise beyond his years. Moves pucks quickly and plays a simple, but sound positional game to angle opponents away from the net and a smart stick to disrupt rushes. He will be a top player coming out of the New England District to Select 15 National Development Camp this summer, and has a shot at U.S. National Team Development Program consideration in March.
Nick Evans (Malden, Mass.)
Malden Catholic/Islanders HC, 3/13/07, right shot, 5-8/135
Smooth, unheralded player who skates well and keeps the play in front of him. He was paired with the Lancers’ top scorer in Owen Keefe this season, and often stayed back and focused on defense. Thinking he only has a defensive element to his game is selling him short, however. Will be a player to watch in his second MIAA season with the confidence of a solid true freshman campaign under his belt.
Sean Farrell (Burrillville, R.I.)
Burrillville HS/Providence HC, 8/7/07, left shot, 5-11/155
Details are the essential element in his game, as he impressed in the New England District playoffs in March with his effort and strong two-way play. He skates hard and gets to loose pucks on defense zone for efficient zone clearances, or walks the offensive blue line with poise, getting shots to the net or the puck in deep. He’s got some bite to his game, and uses an active stick to break up plays. He’s not flashy, but plays the game the right way.
Shayne Gould (Princeton, Mass.)
Mount Saint Charles/NV River Rats, 4/7/07, left shot, 5-5/120
Small but dynamic, Gould began the year with the River Rats, but suffered an early season injury and missed some key fall time. Offered a spot at Mount Saint Charles, he added to an already skilled blue line with his speed and ability to transport pucks north. A crafty defender who will have to refine his defensive game, it will be interesting to see how much he can grow and physically mature in this key season of development.
Evan Jones (Arlington, Mass.)
Junior Eagles, 2/7/07, left shot, 5-8/140
Smooth and poised two-way player is smart and engaged. Around the play a lot, he recognizes opportunity windows and brings an aggressive mindset with the puck. A deft passer, he is able to make quick outlets or hit long lead passes to forwards at full speed through the neutral zone. Mobile and smart, he’s an effective power play presence and a player who is on the upswing with his development curve.
Gavin Lafleur (Hooksett, N.H.)
Seacoast Performance Academy, 3/13/07, right shot, 5-10/150
Sleeper; with good size and skating ability, he can beat the forecheck with his feet and advances the puck with simple outlet passes. He may not have the size or physical tools of his teammate Amico, but is more of a steady, reliable presence. Even with an upper body injury that caused him to miss time, should have had a bigger role with SPA at the end of the year. He will move in-state to the Northern Cyclones and play on the 16 academy team, with a chance to get his development back on track.
Goaltenders
Jack Fichthorn (Darien, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield, 5/1/07, catches left, 5-5/115
Smaller, throwback-style goaltender who comes out aggressively to cut angles down and has the reflexes to make athletic stops. Has a good feel for the game, reading and anticipating where the more dangerous shots will come from. While on the lower end of the size scale, if he hits a growth spurt, could have a chance at playing at the subsequent levels.
Anthony Palmer (Lynnfield, Mass.)
St. Mary’s (Lynn) HS/NV River Rats, 10/28/07, catches left, 5-9/140
Started the season right by making a lot of athletic saves in a 1-0 shutout of the Boston Jr. Eagles, and continued the trend in fall play. Quick and agile, he tracks pucks and competes hard. For Palmer to be able to keep climbing the developmental ladder, more physical growth will help, but his compete and battler’s mentality could take him a long way.
Jason Thibodeau (Waltham, Mass.)
Junior Eagles, 2/20/07, catches left, 5-9/135
While not all that tall or thick, Thibodeau plays big in his net with strong fundamentals. He maintains visual contact with the puck, isn’t overactive in his crease and absorbs shots into his midsection. Played well for the Eagles, as he and Derrick Huang (Carlisle, Mass.) formed a solid tandem this season, but we got more looks at Thibodeau in our live viewings.
