The prep school holiday tournaments are always a highlight on the local hockey calendar. This year was no exception, as there was no shortage of excitement and rinks filled to capacity.
In addition to competing for a trophy, players are afforded the opportunity to showcase their skill in front of a large number of college recruiters and NHL scouts. Coaches and scouts go to these tournaments with players circled ahead of time, but less heralded players can sometimes catch their attention, as well.
That was the case for six prep school skaters, who played their way onto the most recent NHL Central Scouting list, a forecast for the 2023 draft. The merits of the scouting service’s work is often questioned in the rink, but it’s a nice recognition for players.
Avon Old Farms goaltender Stephen Peck, defenseman Hudson Miller, and right wing Joseph Odyniec (Ridgefield, Conn.) all worked their way onto the list following the Winged Beavers’ win at the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic. Taft goaltender Rudy Guimond, Kent left wing Jack Roberts, and Kimball Union left wing Kyle Murray-Smith (South Stafford, Vt.) also earned the nod from NHL Central Scouting’s three scouts who attended the holiday tournaments.
It wasn’t all about the lesser-known players. Two of prep hockey’s top players, Northeastern commit Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.) and Boston College commit Landan Resendes (Marlboro, Mass.), earned MVP honors at the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic and Edward G. Watkins Tournament, respectively.
FULL RESULTS: Pre-Christmas tournaments | Post-Christmas tournaments
Below is a look at 10 uncommitted juniors and seniors whose stock soared during the holiday tournaments.
Brennan Cail
Hotchkiss, 5/11/05, C, right shot, 6-2/170
Cail, the leading scorer for the Bearcats, found the twine three times at the Flood-Marr Tournament. The Cheshire, Conn., native has a hard, accurate shot and can score goals. His skating has improved since I first watched him a couple of years ago. Only a junior, he appears to be a fringe Division 1 player who could end up as a goal-scoring forward in Division 3.
Matt Cataldo
St. Sebastian’s, 5/19/05, C, left shot, 5-11/195
Cataldo, from Norfolk, Mass., scored a hat trick and added an assist in his team’s semifinal victory against Williston at the Kevin Mutch Christmas Tournament. Cataldo is best fitted at left wing, but he’s slid over to the middle this year, centering the Arrows’ top line. Cataldo’s skating is a concern, but he’s a team-first player who is physical, strong and heavy on pucks. Thanks to his play to start the prep season, he’s starting to garner college interest for the first time.
HOW THEY STACK UP: Check out the latest coaches poll
Jack DesRuisseaux
Tabor, 2/24/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/175
DesRuisseaux had three goals and two assists at the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic and then finished strong with two tallies in the final game of the Joshua Weeks Tournament a few weeks later. The Manchester, N.H., native is on the slighter side, but he’s skilled, had the puck a lot, and made plays. He was certainly the catalyst offensively for the Seawolves. He’ll take his talents to junior hockey next season.
Gio DiGiulian
Kent, 9/25/05, C, right shot, 6-0/160
Kent entered the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic with a couple of key injuries, which allowed all the attention to be on DiGiulian. He didn’t waste any time in proving his worth, scoring three goals and an assist in his team’s first game against St. Paul’s. More of a bottom-six center at the college level, the South Burlington, Vt., native has seen his stock rise incrementally over the past six months. His skating, north-south game and strong stick are reasons for optimism among Division 1 recruiters.
Charlie Gollob
Avon Old Farms, 2/10/04, C, left shot, 6-3/200
While the NHL scouts were all there to watch his linemate, Connor, Gollob continued to show college coaches that he’s worthy of a shot at the Division 1 level. Brown University assistant coaches Matt Plante and Jason Smith both watched and felt similarly. As a result, the Bears offered him a commitment, which he accepted on Jan. 12. From Toronto, Ontario, Gollob makes the most of his ability. He’s smart and hard-nosed. He’s the glue guy that can hold a line together. His skating has improved and while it can get better, the consistent production cannot be denied. He had three assists in the first game against Tabor then added a goal in each of the next three at the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic.
Brendan Holahan
Brunswick, 6/15/04, G, catches left, 6-2/181
Holahan blanked St. Sebastian’s in the final of the Kevin Mutch Christmas Tournament as Brunswick captured the championship. The New Canaan, Conn., native allowed just four goals in the entire tournament. He has good size and held his ground, despite a late charge from the Arrows. He started off the year in the USHL with Muskegon, but is back to serve as the captain of the Bruins.
BEST OF THE BEST: The top performers from Jan. 4-10
Mikka Kelechian
Milton, 9/24/04, C, right shot, 5-11/170
Kelechian had two goals and three assists as the Mustangs won the Flood-Marr Tournament for the first time in 40 years. From Ile Bizard, Quebec, his skating might preclude him from Division 1, but he could be a dynamic top-six center in Division 3. He’s the top scorer on a Milton team that exceeded expectations in the first half of the prep season.
Beau Lane
Thayer, 6/16/04, G, catches left, 6-3/165
Lane is the backbone of a young and rebuilding squad at Thayer. From Pembroke, Mass., his size and ability to make the first save are keys to his game. He helped the Tigers defeat Dexter Southfield at the Watkins Tournament and also had a strong outing against Holderness in the consolation game of the Groton/Lawrence Tournament.
Stephen Peck
Avon Old Farms, 1/18/05, G, catches left, 6-2/170
Peck started off the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic with a shutout of Tabor and allowed just three goals the rest of the tournament. The New York City resident has good size and is finally coming into his own as a potentially high-end goaltending prospect. He has good size and fundamentals and has proven he’s one of the top players at his position in prep hockey.
Zach Rizzo
Cushing, 8/7/04, D, right shot, 5-10/165
The Penguins won both holiday tournaments they were in, skating off the ice as champions of the Groton/Lawrence Tournament and a few weeks later of the Edward G. Watkins Tournament. Rizzo plays on the team’s top pair. He’s still a work in progress as far as his hockey sense, but he plays hard and has an above-average shot from the point. The Atlanta, Ga., native will either be a big-time Division 3 recruit or slip into Division 1.
