MARLBORO, Mass. — One of the biggest weekends of the offseason is in the books.
Mass. Hockey’s girls festival was this past weekend at the trusty New England Sports Center, featuring 224 of the top players in the state across the 2009, 2010 and 2011 birth years. Now, all eyes will look ahead to the Final 40 at the NESC in a few short weeks.
The ’09s and ’10s are competing for spots at National 16/17 Camp, as well as the Under-18 Women’s National Team Festival. Meanwhile, the ’11s are on the hunt for spots at National 15 Camp and the U18 WNT Festival. They’ll also be eligible for the Eastern 15 Camp.
I spent Friday watching the ’09s before catching the ’10s on Saturday and the ’11s on Sunday.
Here are the ’11s who stood out.
Cam Katapodis
Archbishop Williams/Boston Junior Eagles, 2011, D, left shot, 5-7
Hometown: Halifax, Mass.
Katapodis made quick decisions on breakouts and at the point, and she made several key defensive plays to prevent dangerous rushes. Early on, she was quick to a loose puck out high and put a good shot on net from long range before getting back to break up a stretch pass with a good stick. Later, she made a fantastic heads-up bank pass into the neutral zone to send Kelly O'Brien in on a quick break. Katapodis also did a good job of tying up opponents down low, and she had multiple strong breakups against Katharine Cooke on a drive to the net as well as on a potential seam pass up the middle.
MASS. FESTIVAL: 16 uncommitted ’09 standouts | 14 standout'10s
Bess Elkins
Connecticut Polar Bears, 2011, D, right shot
Hometown: Northampton, Mass.
Elkins saw the ice well with the puck on her stick in the neutral zone and at the offensive blue line. She had a good release from the point and got her shots through to the net. Elkins kick-started a big rush for Cooke, curling up the middle, when she made a move around a defender and hit her in stride with a slick pass, sending her off to the races the other way. Later, in 3-on-3, Elkins scored with a quick wrister from out high, patiently waiting for a shooting lane as traffic funneled toward the net. Her shot found daylight on the stick side.
Abigale Loring
Dexter Southfield/Boston Junior Eagles, 2011, F, left shot
Hometown: Wellesley, Mass.
Loring was dominant at times on Sunday. She was difficult to contain in the offensive zone, and she created quality chances on practically every shift. Early on, she flew back into the zone on a counter rush and got a quality shot before Ryleigh Burt put home the rebound. Later, Loring pulled the puck off the boards and drove between the dots for several Grade-A chances. She was also a force in 3-on-3, stealing the puck at the left circle and feeding Juliet Platt for a goal.
Samantha Sada
Williston Northampton/Connecticut Polar Bears, 5/11/2011, F, right shot, 5-3
Hometown: West Springfield, Mass.
Sada also had dominant shifts in the offensive zone. She played with high compete and saw the ice well in the attacking zone. Her up-tempo game helped her win footraces for 50/50 pucks in the offensive zone, and she was miserable to play against on the forecheck with her high motor and quick stick. She got a great chance driving between the dots after forcing a turnover on the forecheck early on.
NE DISTRICT TRYOUTS: 12 uncommitted ’09 standouts | 11 standout ’10s | 12 standout ’11s
Juliet Platt
Brookline High/Boston Junior Eagles, 2011, F, right shot
Hometown: Brookline, Mass.
Platt was opportunistic and fed off her linemates well. Early on, she forced a turnover and flew the other way on a 2-on-1 with Cooke. Platt had a quality shot before Cooke got a bid at the rebound. Later on during 3-on-3, Platt did a great job of protecting the puck in the corner. Moments later, she got the puck after Loring forced a turnover. Platt tried to go top-shelf initially but did a nice job of sticking with the play in tight and burying the rebound.
Katherine Cooke
Phillips Andover/East Coast Wizards, 3/21/2011, F, left shot
Hometown: Wenham, Mass.
Cooke was explosive and dynamic, pushing the pace offensively and creating chances for herself and her linemates. She was effective driving play off the rush with her speed throughout the day, nearly getting multiple breakaways. One of her best looks came as she blew past everyone on a beeline to the net on a 2-on-1 with Platt. She even tried to pull off the 'Michigan' later on.
Serena Mohsen
BB&N/East Coast Wizards, 2/9/2011, D, right shot, 5-8
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
Mohsen impressed in all three zones. She defended well in 1-on-1s with her long reach, including when she broke up Alexandra Joslyn trying to dangle to the net in 3-on-3. Later, she nearly scored a beauty when she got a drop pass from Abby Macaulay, danced around a high defender and rang the crossbar from the right dot. Mohsen also generated speed through the neutral zone with the puck. One of her best rushes came after a quick pass from Singh before cutting around a forechecker to open up all kinds of space up the middle as she got things going up ice.
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Amelia Paes
Arlington Catholic/Boston Junior Eagles, 2011, F, left shot
Hometown: West Roxbury, Mass.
Paes showcased speedy, powerful skating to go along with a quick release and good vision. She was patient with the puck and didn't force any passes offensively, showing good chemistry with Cali Littlewood. Paes got a great look when she fought through a hook before driving between the dots. Shortly after, she had some smooth hands to get around a defender before cycling low. She nearly had another Grade-A look later, changing speeds and quickly cutting toward the slot before getting tripped up.
Taylor Bierschied
HPNA/Islanders Hockey Club, 2011, F, right shot
Hometown: North Andover, Mass.
Biershied was strong on her skates and outmuscled opponents both on the forecheck and in the defensive zone. She made a physical play early on to steal the puck out high before driving back in deep. Later, she did a nice job of using her strength to fend off a back checker and hang onto the puck in transition. Bierschied also helped set up Lucy Taylor's goal in 3-on-3, finding the initial outlet pass to get the rush started.
Eliana Andersen
Assabet Valley, 2011, F, left shot
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.
Anderson played hard on Sunday and finally got rewarded with a late goal. She caught the defense too far forward and sped up the middle for a stretch pass and a breakaway. After her initial backhand wouldn't go, Andersen stuck with the puck in the corner, drove back to the crease and scored five-hole. It was a strong finish to a nice sequence.
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Janvi Singh
BB&N/Boston Junior Eagles, 2011, D, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.
Singh was poised with the puck, making good decisions and moving it quickly. Early on, she had a strong gap and quick poke check to make it look easy defending the rush. Later, she helped set up a Grade-A look for Caroline McGowan in the slot, keeping the puck alive out high, cutting into a shooting lane and putting a quick shot on. Singh also scored a beauty in 3-on-3. She got the puck out high, took advantage of open space in the high slot and went top shelf.
Claire McCoy
Winchester High, 2011, D, right shot
Hometown: Winchester, Mass.
McCoy consistently made quick plays and held her own in battles against bigger matchups. A lot of that was thanks to her quick stick down low. It paid off early on with an excellent poke check to prevent a chance for Mackenzie Tierney as she drove to the net.
Kelly O'Brien
Lovell Academy, 6/20/2011, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: Walpole, Mass.
O'Brien had quality chances throughout the day, including her look off Katapodis' bank pass. O'Brien swung high through the neutral zone and was in a perfect spot for the feed, weaving into the zone in a 1-on-1 and getting a quality shot in the slot. Later, O'Brien won a puck battle down low, curled around the net and fired a turnaround shot from a sharp angle for the score. She wasn't afraid to try some dangles in 1-on-1s.
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