MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — It's not always ideal to judge players off of tryouts like the Mass. Hockey Festival. Some prospects show well in tryouts, while others don't.
That's the nature of the game.
The good news is that this past weekend was a great chance to get more looks at some of the best Massachusetts-born players from the 2007 birth year. Many of these players had solid prep, high school or academy seasons, but just how much they developed over the winter was on full display at New England Sports Center this weekend.
Just like in the '08 standouts story, I didn't see enough of the goalies to give a real analysis of them. Apologies for being the bearer of bad news.
While 40 players made it to next weekend, these 12 prospects caught my attention for various reasons.
Let's dive in.
Mathew Bolduc
Pope Francis, 1/8/2007, D, right shot, 5-10
Tournament jersey: 19 WhiteÂ
I was shocked to look at the Final 40 list and not see Bolduc's name. The Pope Francis defender wasn't the fastest player on the ice, but he was reliable and moved the puck well. When I was watching him, he made strong breakout passes and aided his team offensively.
Cam Caron
New Hampton, 6/21/2007, C, left shot, 6-3/180
Tournament jersey: 25 RedÂ
What stood out to me most with Caron is his wicked shot. On Saturday night, Caron scored on two wrist shots that were quick and lethal. He can snipe. Because of his size, he had no trouble getting to space and earning interior ice. It's no surprise that he was selected for the Final 40.
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Rian Chudzinski
St. Sebastian's, Dec. 2007, F, right shot, 5-10/143
Tournament jersey: 25 GrayÂ
Chudzinski thoroughly surprised me this weekend. I wasn't super familiar with the eighth grader from St. Sebastian's, but after watching him Saturday, I was impressed. Chudzinski scored three goals throughout Saturday's contest that were all centered around him using his hands and shiftiness to get to high-danger areas and snipe. His stick skills in tight enabled him to separate from defenders and his quick release got him to finish plays by lighting the lamp.
Nick D'Olympio
Catholic Memorial, 6/8/2007, RW, right shot, 5-7/134
Tournament jersey: 29 RoyalÂ
D'Olympio's vision stood out a lot. There was one sequence in Saturday's game when D'Olympio entered the offensive zone and looked around to see where his teammates were quickly and then kept his focus on the net. The defender thought he was going to shoot or keep skating, so D'Olympio passed it to a wide-open teammate. D'Olympio has that ability to make things happen in the offensive zone.
Jack Fitzpatrick
Xaverian, 10/22/2007, F, left shot, 6-4/190
Tournament jersey: 27 WhiteÂ
Fitzpatrick used his big frame to his advantage this weekend. He played hard and battled his way to the front of the net. There was one sequence on Saturday night that really stood out. Off the rush, he dangled a defenseman and sniped a shot high over the goalie's glove.
Shayne Gould
BK Selects 15U, 4/7/2007, D, left shot, 5-7/126
Tournament jersey: 20 GrayÂ
Gould's strength is moving the puck, and that was on display. On his zone exits, he was patient, sometimes curling back into his own zone and away from pressure to reset and find a new passing lane. He's a solid skater who had no hesitation in joining the rush and sometimes driving play himself.
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Dylan Krayer
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 3/12/2007, RW, right shot, 5-8/145
Tournament jersey: 30 GrayÂ
My biggest takeaway with Krayer was just how dynamic he played. He opened Saturday's game with a nice move to the inside off the rush, beat a defender and scored. He drove play through the neutral zone and consistently created opportunities for teammates. It was rare to see penalties across all three birth years, but on Saturday, Krayer got to run a power play from the half wall. He showed patience and protected the puck well along the wall.
Billy MacAusland
Nobles, 8/4/2007, LW, left shot, 5-10/160
Tournament jersey: 31 GrayÂ
What stood out most with MacAusland were his hands. In Saturday's game, he dangled a defender and sniped a shot into the top corner of the net off the rush. His skill allowed him to protect the puck below the dots in the offensive zone and help out in the cycle game.
Joe Marchi
Catholic Memorial, 10/30/2007, RW, right shot, 5-7/154
Tournament jersey: 31 WhiteÂ
Marchi continued to impress. The shifty right wing showed off his speed early in Saturday's game, earning a breakaway. Later in the period, he dangled around a defenseman and snapped a quick wrist shot. He was creative offensively, especially low in the zone. In the third period, he hustled back into his own zone to break up an opposing scoring chance.
Michael Munroe
Avon Old Farms, 7/6/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/165
Tournament jersey: 33 RedÂ
Munroe broke up a few defensive plays in his own zone, but his biggest impact was felt at the other end of the ice where he was heavily involved in the cycle game and created chances for himself and teammates. That's in large part due to his compete. Another area where the compete helped out: breaking into high-danger scoring areas. He fired a shot that nailed the crossbar in Saturday's game.
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Tyler Russo
Cushing, 3/19/2007, D, left shot, 6-0/172
Tournament jersey: 22 RedÂ
Events like this don't always lend themselves to great defense. Russo provided that in my viewing of him. In Saturday's game, he consistently shut down the rush and defended the front of his own net well, battling hard for space. He rushed the puck well and kept his head up. He made simple passes on breakouts and when exiting his own zone. Russo projects to be Cushing's No. 1 defenseman next winter.
CJ Watroba
Pope Francis, 2/2/2007, LW, left shot, 5-11/168
Tournament jersey: 34 WhiteÂ
In my viewing of the 2007s, Watroba made a strong case as the best player on the ice. In one sequence on Saturday, he pressured a defender hard, forced a turnover and created a breakaway for himself. Later in the game, he showed off his nice shot when he labeled a one-timer for the back of the net. His good hands were on full display when he stickhandled into the slot, dished a pass down below the net, got to open space and smacked in a loose puck for a goal.
