WESTON, Mass. — On Thursday night, Top Gun and the Neponset Valley River Rats 14U squads hit the ice for a showcase game.
The teams actually tied, 4-4, with the River Rats coming back from a two-goal deficit in the third period, knotting the score with 2.7 seconds left. It was a terrific game.
But the point of the game was for all the onlookers in the stands: mainly prep coaches. Lots of prep coaches made the trip to Rivers, where the game was held, to see some of the top 2012-born talent in New England.
Major props to River Rats head coach Dan Panciocco and Top Gun head coach Dan Ronan for setting this up, giving everyone 10-day notice and providing rosters with information.
Ultimately, these '12s will enter the spotlight next season as junior teams scout them for their 15O season.
Here are 10 standouts from Thursday's thriller.
Brayden Aucoin
Top Gun, 2/29/2012, F, left shot
Hometown: Chelmsford, Mass.Â
Aucoin scored on a one-timer by the net, showing a good IQ to read the play well, catch the rebound and fire it immediately. He showed great hands when he had the puck near defenders. Late in the game, he got the puck off an offensive zone draw, dangled through a defenseman and got robbed by River Rats goalie Nolan Walker (Grafton, Mass.). He's a freshman at Chelmsford (Mass.) High School.
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Kingston Bourque
Top Gun, 5/5/2012, F, right shot, 5-5/146
Hometown: North Reading, Mass.Â
Bourque was the best player in the game. His IQ and ability to play a two-way game at center were a tier above, and he showcased high-end vision. When he had pucks, he was able to make intelligent decisions on the fly to either find teammates at his flank or use his shifty skating to slip through defenders. Bourque is an eighth-grader at Belmont Hill.
Johnny Dapkas
Neponset Valley River Rats, 2/20/2012, F, right shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Concord, Mass.Â
Dapkas was a force on Thursday night. He scored twice. The first goal came towards the end of the second period when he got free around the net and slid in a rebound. The second goal was crazy. With 2.7 seconds left in the game and down a goal, he threw a puck from the corner that bounced up the goalie's arm and trickled in. Dapkas was also effective with his physicality and his ability to bulldoze to the front of the net. He's a freshman at Concord Carlisle (Mass.) High School.
Warren Holtslag
Top Gun, 1/21/2012, F, right shot
Hometown: Medford, Mass.Â
Holtslag showed an ability to get open and rip hard, quick shots. His forechecking was strong, too, as he repeatedly took smart routes and had his stick in the right spots to force interceptions. He has high offensive upside as a scoring winger. Holtslag is a freshman at St. John's Prep.
Flynn Kelley
Top Gun, 1/30/2013, D, right shot
Hometown: Bedford, N.H.Â
Kelley is a '13, playing up with the '12s, but did more than just hold his own. The eighth grader at Bedford (N.H.) Middle School was a stout defenseman, showing confidence in his step-ups and utilizing a great stick to cut off plays.
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Callen Meyer
Neponset Valley River Rats, 7/13/2012, F, left shot, 5-8/146
Hometown: Greenland, N.H.Â
Meyer was a stout, two-way center who got back hard on backchecks and supported his defensemen. He made strong passes to his wingers when exiting his own zone. On Declan Morris' third-period goal, Meyer started the play with a nice rush and drive to the net.
Declan Morris
Neponset Valley River Rats, 4/5/2012, F, right shot, 5-11/150
Hometown: South Hadley, Mass.Â
Morris was the River Rats' most effective player. He scored twice, first cleaning up a rebound around the crease in the first period and then following the play, picking up a puck in the slot and firing one in during the third period. He has a nice release on his shot and plays with power. He's an eighth-grader at Eaglebrook School.
Jack Ronan
Top Gun, 5/9/2012, D, left shot, 5-7/152
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.Â
I was thoroughly impressed by Ronan's work in the defensive zone. He used his body well in board battles, and when loose pucks were around the net, he did a good job of finding his guy, lifting his stick and tying him up. At one point along the wall, he did a nice job of shutting down Morris with intelligent 1-on-1 defending. I liked Ronan's skating, too. He's an eighth-grader at Belmont Hill.
Tanner Sullivan
Neponset Valley River Rats, 4/23/2012, F, left shot, 5-6/125
Hometown: Walpole, Mass.Â
Sullivan showed himself as a clean, natural skater, gaining speed quickly through the neutral zone and forcing defensemen to respect that. He's a freshman at Dexter Southfield.
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Bennett Waddell
Top Gun, 3/16/2012, F, right shot, 5-9/161
Hometown: Newburyport, Mass.Â
Waddell had a huge first period. He opened the scoring when he found the back of the net off an offensive zone draw. Later in the frame, he got the puck in the slot and rifled a shot for a goal. He was able to drive play well and read plays correctly to get open for teammates. He's a freshman at Newburyport (Mass.) High School.
