LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Some of the very best prospects in the nation hit the ice in Lake Placid for USA Hockey's Under-18 Women's National Festival.
Forty-six players from the 2009 and 2010 birth years skated at Herb Brooks Arena at the Olympic Center, looking to show well on a national stage. In total, 12 New Englanders were on the Under-18 Festival roster, including seven forwards, five defenders and one goalie.
Just by being there, each player boosted their stock, regardless of whether they already have college commitments.
The camp is part of the selection process for the Under-18 Women’s Select Team roster for the three-game U18 Series against Canada, which begins Wednesday in Richmond, B.C. It coincided with the collegiate (Over-18) camp, which is part of the selection process for the Collegiate Select Team, which will also take on Canada in a three-game set. Seven Massachusetts natives made the Under-18 Select roster, while six New Englanders made the Collegiate Selects.
I made the drive to the Adirondacks to catch the opening leg of the U18 camp, taking in Monday and Tuesday's games. We'll get into the defenders and goalies who stood out later this week. For now, here are 11 forwards who impressed.
Let's dive in.
Annabelle Lovell
Lovell Academy, 2/25/2009, F/D, right shot, 5-3
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
NCAA: Wisconsin
Lovell's skating, hands and ability to process the game at a high level were on full display both days for Team Gold. Her speed helped her wreak havoc on forechecks, including one in which she and Monter beat an icing before Lovell eventually fed Maggie Chudzinski for a goal on Monday. On Tuesday, Lovell assisted Kennedy Hochbaum for the opening goal, getting offense going the other way after Team Gold was hemmed in to start before setting Hochbaum up with a drop pass in the high slot. Lovell also had a golden opportunity in overtime, dangling a defender with a sweet toe drag to the slot. She finished with a goal and two assists in four games.
TEAM USA SELECT ROSTERS: 7 locals make Under-18 Series | 6 locals make Collegiate Series
Aubryn Monter
Lovell Academy, 2/19/2009, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: North Ridgeville, OH
NCAA: Penn State
Monter's speed and high compete made her one of Team Gold's best skaters across both days. She beat out several icings and was a monster on the forecheck, playing above her size, winning battles and playing with a strong stick. She made a fantastic play on a back check on Monday, stripping the puck from Maddison Boone with excellent stick work before motoring the other way on a rush. Monter had several Grade-A chances on Tuesday, including one after a strong solo forecheck and a steal out high before driving back to the net for a great look.
Lena Levins
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 6/18/2009, F, right shot, 5-9
Hometown: Lewis Center, OH
Levins played an imposing game around the net and off the rush with her size and strength. When she got downhill, she was difficult to contain off the rush with her power, too. She was a tough matchup in 1-on-1 battles as well. It showed up on the scoresheet on Tuesday. She did an excellent job of using her reach and strength to win a 50-50 puck en route to a Brooke Schlutter goal. Later, Levins was excellent in a battle in front, providing a screen and a tip on a shot from the point before Reese Unklesbay potted the rebound. Levins finished with three assists in four games.
Jane Daley
Shattuck-St. Mary's, 3/21/2009, F, left shot, 5-7
Hometown: Medfield, Mass.
NCAA: Ohio State
Daley was one of the best players on the ice both days with three points (two goals) in that span. She consistently created quality chances for Team Red and put defenders on their heels, thanks to her ability to generate powerful strides quickly and make plays in tight spaces. She scored in the second period of Monday's game, driving hard to the net to bury a rebound off Francie Ames's play to the net off the rush. You couldn't have drawn up the play any better. Daley helped set the tone on the forecheck with Ames on Tuesday, and she was eventually rewarded with a beauty at the buzzer in the first. Daley powered around a defender, used the full length of her reach and dangled to the net as she tucked it inside the post. Later, Daley had a terrific setup for Brooke Lakowske's goal on a 2-on-1.
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Brooke Schlutter
Shattuck-St. Mary's, 04/2009, F, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, Calif.
NCAA: Cornell
Schlutter had a fantastic game on Tuesday, posting a goal and an assist. She found soft space in the slot as the defense was puck-watching, getting wide open for a feed from Unklesbay off Levins' forechecking work. Schlutter made no mistake as she picked the top right corner. Schlutter was also key to Unklesbay's goal, maintaining possession off the rush as the puck wouldn't cooperate before winning a battle down low and working it out to the point for the initial shot. Later, Schlutter set up Reese Engel's goal on the power play, making a heads-up pass right to Engel's wheelhouse after her initial shot was blocked. Schlutter finished with two goals and an assist across four games.
Reese Unklesbay
Hill-Murray School, 8/29/2009, F, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: Lake Elmo, Minn.
Unklesbay was a key play-driver alongside Schlutter on Tuesday, finishing with a goal and an assist. She threaded a perfect feed to Schlutter in the slot for a goal after Levins won the puck down low. Moments later, she scored a beauty on the rebound after Levins tipped Josie Virnig's shot from the point. Unklesbay got to the loose puck and went bar-down with a backhand in tight. She got an excellent chance later in the game off the rush, flying in with a ton of speed and going short-side. Unklesbay capped her day with the lone shootout goal, going forehand-backhand to open the five-hole.
Mia Sutch
Centennial High, 02/2010, F, left shot, 5-10
Hometown: Blaine, Minn.
NCAA: Minnesota
Sutch led the camp in goals (three) and tied for the scoring lead with four points in four games. She was at the center of high-danger chances for Team Red throughout Monday and Tuesday's games. Sutch set up Daley's rebound goal on Monday off a feed from Ames with a bang-bang play in tight, and she scored a minute later with a perfect release inside the left post off the rush. After her breakaway early in Tuesday's game wouldn't go, Sutch came through in the clutch, tying it with 13 seconds left as she buried a loose puck on one knee in a net-front scramble.
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Francie Ames
Nobles/Boston Americans, 5/25/2010, F, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Brookline, Mass.
NCAA: Princeton
Ames was at the center of plenty of offense for Team Red, finishing with three assists across Monday and Tuesday's action. She set up Daley's goal on Monday with a saucer pass to Lakowske driving to the net, creating the rebound that Daley put home. On Tuesday, Ames won a battle at the red line to send the puck forward for Lakowske, who sent Daley in for another goal. It came after Ames and Daley formed a wrecking crew on the forecheck during the opening shift, pressuring defenders deep in the zone with their speed and intensity, killing exits with stick checks and cutting off outlets at the blue line.
Brooke Lakowske
Madison Capitols, 03/2010, F, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: Black River Falls, Wis.
NCAA: Northeastern
Lakowske had it going with Daley on Tuesday, posting a goal and an assist. She set up Daley's goal, sending her in on a 1-on-1 with a heads-up feed as she entered the zone. Later, Lakowske had a highlight-reel goal on a 2-on-1 with Daley, driving to the net and going forehand-backhand for a beauty off a slick feed. Lakowske also had a huge hand in Alexis Ulrich's goal, going hard into the corner and winning a battle before Ames worked it to the point. Lakowske had three points (two goals) in four total games.
Delaney Miller
Minnetonka, 04/2009, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: Deephaven, Minn.
NCAA: Dartmouth
Miller scored a beauty to open the scoring on Monday, all thanks to her speed and effort off the bench during a change. Levins sent a stretch pass for Monter, who couldn't handle it cleanly. The puck tipped past the defender, and Miller beat everyone to the loose puck with a burst of speed before one-timing it perfectly over the glove.
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Alexa Georgantas
Shattuck-St. Mary's, 6/3/2009, F, left shot, 5-3
Hometown: Foxboro, Mass.
NCAA: Harvard
Georgantas had a goal and an assist for Team Gold on Monday, and she had some terrific looks on Tuesday. She found Chyna Taylor at the left circle for a sweet goal on the power play before Taylor returned the favor with a cross-ice feed to Georgantas at the right dot. Georgantas made herself available through a seam and quickly buried the feed. On Tuesday, Georgantas and Maddy Call combined for a fantastic chance on a 2-on-1 after Team Red overcommitted on a rush, allowing for Georgantas and Call to take advantage of a quick up. Later, Georgantas rang the crossbar with a missile that looked labeled for the top left corner.
