It pains me to say it, but the summer is drawing to a close. Players will soon be returning to class and beginning fall hockey schedules if they haven't already.
Spring and summer provide a good mix of rest and gearing up for the 2023-24 fall and winter seasons. There's lots of time for the weight room, on-ice skills and the beach (and/or the golf course).
The big events over the summer were USA Hockey's Select camps, as well as the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and the Five Nations Tournament. There were also weekly games such as the Foxboro Prep League and the New England Crows' 3v3 league, as well as lots more around the region.
It's sort of a preseason for fall, which is when things really heat up. But it's also a prime opportunity for prospects to raise their stock.
Here are 10 forwards who did during the summer. This does not mean these are the only 10 forwards who did this summer — these are just 10 who caught my attention.
MORE SUMMER RISERS: 5 goalies/defensemen who boosted stock
Austin Borggaard
St. Mark’s, 1/15/2005, F, left shot, 6-0/183
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.Â
The lone '05 in this post, Austin Borggaard enters his senior year at St. Mark's this winter. He put on a strong performance at the Matterhorn Fit All-Ivy Showcase in Naples, Fla., back in April. Throughout the summer, he showed really well in Foxboro Prep League games. His confidence has grown throughout the offseason and his shot is one of the best and hardest I've seen at this level, working his way onto Division 1 radars. A big fall season with the Little Bruins 18U team before settling into a prominent role with St. Mark's will be imperative for him.
Blake Burke
Westminster, 5/18/2006, LW, left shot, 6-0/175
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn.Â
Blake Burke's stock-raising performance came at USA Hockey's Select 17 camp back in June. The '06 forward proved to be one of the New England District's biggest weapons offensively, using his compete and ability to get open to net him four goals. He finished with seven points in six games, which was tied with teammate Kole Hyles (Exeter, N.H.) for fourth in the camp.
Burke posted 14 goals and 30 points in 26 games for Westminster last season. With Ryan Shaw (East Longmeadow, Mass.), the team's leading point-getter, off to the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, Burke will be looked at to be even more of a leader on the scoresheet.
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Rian Chudzinski
St. Sebastian’s, 12/30/2007, F, right shot, 5-10/143
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Rian Chudzinski burst onto the scene at the Mass. Hockey Festival after playing as an eighth-grader at St. Sebastian's last winter, posting two goals and four points in 19 games. Where he was most noticeable at the Mass. Hockey Festival were in earning scoring chances and getting to high-danger scoring areas. In an event with a lot of great players, Chudzinski found a way to elevate his game and make some highlight-reel plays.
If that wasn't enough, he followed it up by finishing USA Hockey's Select 16 camp tied third in goals (5) and sixth in points (8). He didn't just elevate his stock this summer — he moved himself into being someone to watch this winter with St. Sebastian's.
Laz Giardina
Lawrence Academy, 6/29/2006, F, left shot, 6-5/190
Hometown: Reading, Mass.Â
When I watched Laz Giardina play for Reading last winter, I wondered whether his dominance was just because of his size and lack of competition. Those thoughts were debunked when Giardina was one of the best forwards on the ice at the Mass. Hockey Festival, using his high compete level and good skating for his size to make a big impact. He made the Select 17 team and was impactful there, too, posting one goal and two assists over six games. Against some of the best competition in the country, Giardina proved he belonged and should make his way onto Division 1 radars.
Jameson Glance
Mount St. Charles 15U, 9/23/2008, C, right shot
Hometown: West Newbury, Mass.Â
Jameson Glance posted a strong 14U season at Mount St. Charles this past winter, scoring 37 goals and totaling 67 points in 47 games. He has terrific patience and can slow the game down in the offensive zone, allowing him to set up teammates for lamplighters. That was true at Select 15 Camp, where he posted one goal and five assists in four games, elevating his status among other '08 skaters around the country.
Kole Hyles
Cushing, 1/16/2006, C, left shot, 5-10/161
Hometown: Exeter N.H.
NCAA: New HampshireÂ
Hyles posted a respectable 21 goals and 54 points in 65 games last season for Seacoast Performance Academy's 16U team. Then Select 17 Camp came around and Hyles was dominant for the New England District, centering a line between Kolin Sisson and Niko Tournas (we'll get to both players in a bit). He was tied fourth in the camp with seven points and displayed good hockey sense and no issue in getting to high-danger areas. Hyles should be a major factor for Cushing this winter.
Joe Marchi
Dexter Southfield, 10/30/2007, RW, right shot, 5-7/154
Hometown: Foxboro, Mass.Â
I was surprised Joe Marchi didn't make Select 16 camp back in May. The small, quick winger from Catholic Memorial showed no trouble in dancing around defenders and making smart plays at high speed. His biggest attributes are his shiftiness and his terrific hands, and that was on display almost every week in the Foxboro Prep League where he always seemed to have the puck or be around it. Prep hockey this winter will be a step up in competition from the MIAA, but all signs point to Marchi being a top player on a young Dexter Southfield team.
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Kolin Sisson
Chicago Steel, 10/30/2006, F, right shot, 5-9/154Â
Hometown: Lincoln, R.I.
NCAA: ProvidenceÂ
What a summer for Kolin Sisson. It culminated in a commitment to Providence College earlier this month, as the Lincoln, R.I., native had his pick of high-end Division 1 college hockey programs in New England.
His shifty style of play helped him score at a point-per-game pace at both South Kent and Mount Saint Charles this past winter. But his style and skill went to the next level at the USHL's Chicago Steel Tryout/Development Camp where he earned a roster spot. He ascended even more at Select 17 Camp, scoring a camp-high six goals and totaling nine points, helping the New England District win the entire event.
Niko Tournas
New Jersey Rockets, 2/17/2006, RW, right shot, 6-2/185
Hometown: Redding, Conn.
NCAA: New HampshireÂ
Niko Tournas entered this summer having already committed, as he announced his pledge to UNH last September. He put up 67 goals and 118 points for the New Jersey Rockets 16U team last season. Tournas wasn't exactly unknown. Still, Tournas raised his stock even more as an offensive force at Select 17 Camp. He potted four goals and totaled nine points, which was tied for second in the event. He has a good blend of size, skating and skill to make a big impact.
CJ Watroba
Kimball Union, 2/2/2007, LW, left shot, 5-11/168
Hometown: West Springfield, Mass.
NCAA: MerrimackÂ
I've written about CJ Watroba a lot recently. I thought he was the best value recruit, as Merrimack scooped him up earlier this month. Last winter, he was dynamite for Pope Francis, scoring 22 goals and 37 points en route to an MIAA Division 1 title. But he upped his game against better competition this summer.
At the Mass. Hockey Festival (which was in May, but I'm counting that as summer), he was arguably the top forward there. He rightfully made Select 16 Camp and was effective there, too, scoring three goals and adding three helpers in five games. His offensive creativity has only gotten better throughout the summer. It's a safe bet that he will adjust well to Kimball Union and prep hockey this winter.
RELATED READING FROM THE SUMMER:Â
- 6 standouts from the Foxboro Prep League championship
- 11 standouts from the '09s at Harvard's Crimson Combine
- 10 standout forwards from the '08s at Harvard's Crimson Combine | 5 standout defenders
- 13 standout forwards from Harvard's College Hockey Experience | 8 standout defenders
- 9 standouts from Massachusetts District at Select 17 Camp
- 7 standouts from New England District at Select 17 Camp
