BEDFORD, Mass. — Some of the top 14U prospects in the region made their way to the Edge Sports Center over the long weekend for the annual East Coast Wizards 14U Columbus Day Invitational.
It was a great chance to see some of the top 2012- and 2013-born prospects in New England.
A smattering of the talent across the showcase will make an impact in prep this winter, in addition to many more in the MIAA, CIAC and Maine. We'll surely see more and more of the '12s entering the NEPSAC in the coming seasons.
I took in several games on Friday. Here are the teams I saw:
- Assabet Valley
- Boston Junior Eagles
- Connecticut Ice Cats
- Connecticut Polar Bears
- East Coast Wizards
- Islanders HC
- Massachusetts Spitfires
- Minuteman Flames
Here are 11 standout forwards from the action. We'll take a look at standout defenders in a separate article later this week.
Let's dive in.
Giada Gambino
Boston Junior Eagles, 2013, F, left shot
Hometown: Whitman, Mass.
Gambino found the back of the net twice against Assabet, first burying a power-play goal at the right post before a snipe on another power play. After playing pitch and catch in the umbrella, Gambino picked her spot from the right circle, going bar-down over the blocker for her second. She also did a good job in the defensive zone, later preventing a shot at the point before getting the play headed the other way quickly.
GIRLS PREP: What to expect in Kate Leary's first season as Phillips Andover coach
Emma Doucette
Assabet Valley/St. Mary’s, 9/12/2012, F, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
Doucette was explosive and strong against the Junior Eagles. She won pucks and did a good job of navigating through traffic in the neutral zone. She had several strong scoring chances, including an inside-out deke as she powered into the zone that drew a hook as well as ringing a crossbar on the power play. Doucette cashed in later on, powering to the high slot, cutting to her forehand and scoring from inside the right hash.
Cappy Daniel
Assabet Valley/North Yarmouth Academy, 7/23/2012, F, left shot, 5-6
Hometown: Yarmouth, Maine
Daniel was a big play-driver for Assabet with her confidence, speed and slick hands. She saw the ice well in the attacking zone, anticipated and moved well off the puck, especially on the power play. She got a fantastic look early, getting a drop pass from Doucette in the cycle, toe-dragging a defender and trying to go five-hole. Later, Daniel cut out of the corner and found Doucette in the slot for a chance.
Avery Belka
Minuteman Flames/Acton-Boxboro, Class of 2030, F, right shot
Hometown: Acton, Mass.
Belka generated quality chances in the Flames' tilt against the Islanders. She got a great look as the trailer on a rush in the third, skating into a loose puck with speed, cutting to the slot and putting a heavy shot on blocker side. The goaltender made a strong shoulder save. Belka later did a nice job of finding open space in the high slot off the cycle, getting the pass out front and ripping a wrist shot for another great look.
GIRLS PREP: Can Brooks’ young core take the next step in 2026-27?
Ella Rentz
CT Ice Cats/Darien High, Class of 2030, F, left shot
Hometown: Darien, Conn.
Rentz's speed and tenacity made her an effective presence at both ends of the ice. She won races on the forecheck and took away space at the other end, especially on the penalty kill, playing with an active stick. Rentz got a Grade-A scoring chance, thanks to her speedy puck pursuit, too. She intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and drove into the attacking zone with a head of steam before cutting middle for a good wrister.
Mary Whatley
CT Polar Bears/Rye Country Day, 8/20/2013, F, right shot, 5-3
Home state: Connecticut
Whatley was terrific facilitating offense in transition and in extended attacking shifts, cycling well and finding open lanes. She set up a goal for Bevin Skibo with a hell of a coast-to-coast effort. Whatley made a fantastic play in her own end to prevent a centering pass to the slot before speeding the other way, powering down the left wing and sending a pass middle, where Skibo buried it. Whatley got another Grade-A look later, cutting to the slot off a high cycle and dangling a defender for an open shot.
Reagan Young
Boston Junior Eagles/Dexter Southfield, Class of 2032, F, right shot
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Young scored a beauty for the Junior Eagles against Assabet. She turned defense into offense up the right wing, taking advantage of the open lane as the defender kept backing off her. Young drove right to the net, faking to her backhand before stuffing it short-side at the right post. Later, Young did a good job at the end of a penalty kill, anticipating a pass at center ice as she filled the lane and intercepted it, which led to an extended offensive shift.
CONTENDERS & SLEEPERS: An early look at the 2026-27 girls prep landscape
Brooklyn Enwright
Islanders HC, Class of 2030, F, left shot
Home state: Massachusetts
Enwright was one of the Islanders' best play-drivers against the Flames. She had quick feet off the rush, which allowed her to beat defenders in 1-on-1 matchups. She was also effective at protecting the puck with her strength. Enwright had a dangerous chance late when she powered past a defender to get into the slot and rang the post.
Leah Chirco
East Coast Wizards, 2/15/2013, F, left shot
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Chirco scored a highlight-reel goal early on against the Massachusetts Spitfires. She found an open lane to the left post, and Julia Grogan hit her on the tape with a cross-ice pass. Chirco deked to her backhand and showed tremendous patience as she cut across the crease, waiting out the Spitfires goaltender before slotting it home. Chirco later set up a chance for Avery Tapp, flying to the net hard to keep the loose puck alive before curling behind and sending a pass in front for Tapp.
Julia Grogan
East Coast Wizards/Dexter Southfield, 7/27/2012, F, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
Grogan was strong at the face-off dot and a dynamic presence in the attacking zone. She had good chemistry with Laila Randolph, too. Grogan made a fantastic pass to set up Chirco's early goal, and she was at the center of a bevy of chances for the Wizards the rest of the way. She found open space in the attacking end and had a heck of a release, too, which led to several strong chances both on the rush and from the left circle.
MAKING THE JUMP: Former girls prep stars on going from prep to college hockey
Abby Burke
East Coast Wizards/Notre Dame (Hingham), 7/10/2012, F, left shot
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.
Burke was confident and dynamic with the puck, playing with plenty of pace through the neutral zone and showcasing some sweet hands. She had a good chance in the first, showing patience as she entered the zone before dangling a defender and trying to go top shelf at the right post. Later, Burke set up a power-play goal. She was first on a bouncing puck down low, quickly deked to her backhand and sent a feed in front, where the Wizards jammed it home.
