MARLBORO, Mass. — The Mass. Hockey boys festival got started this past weekend with three days of games for the '08s, '09s and '10s at New England Sports Center.
I spent Saturday watching the '09s as they battled for spots in the Final 40, which is held this coming weekend at Lovell Arena on Saturday and Sunday.
It's an interesting year for the '09s, as they fight to make USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp. With forwards Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) and Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) off to the U.S. National Team Development Program, there should be more spots for locals in Buffalo.
Here are some first impressions of '09 players from the first weekend of the festival. Let's dive in.
Preston Abbott
South Shore Kings, 4/5/2009, D, left shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Middleton, Mass.Â
Abbott was dominant in Saturday's game. His goal was impressive, as he calmly sifted through defenders in the neutral zone, got knocked to his knees in the slot and still put one over the goalie's blocker. Abbott showcased great vision in passing up ice and was able to get off quick, hard snapshots from the blue line.
Kurt Beck
Arlington High, 4/2/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/175
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Â
Beck's rush defense was high-end on Saturday. He was never more than a stick's length away from opposing forwards coming down on him, and then picked the right times to step up and break up the play. He did that multiple times. On breakouts, he was calm and used the occasional head-fake to get a forechecker to bite in one direction.
MOVING TO COLLEGE: How many players from the Mass. Hockey Festival eventually play college hockey? Â
Joseph Covelluzzi
Cushing, 1/15/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.Â
Covelluzzi's hockey sense and vision were on display on Saturday. Early in the game, he had the puck behind his own net and made a heads-up pass up the middle to start a breakout. His passes were quick, accurate and creative. Later in the game, he hustled on a backcheck to lift the opposing forward's stick and break up the scoring chance. He has a wicked shot and always seemed to find ways to get open.
Isaac Davis
Northstar Christian Academy, 1/27/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/161
Hometown: Rockland, Mass.Â
Davis' blend of hands and speed were on display as he drove play. With his shiftiness in his skating, he was able to draw defenders to him, which opened up passing options to teammates. On one play, he showcased those hands in tight, drawing a defender and passing across the offensive zone to an open teammate for a scoring chance. Davis also had a great stick in his own zone when breaking up plays.
Ryan Elrick
Canton High, 5/31/2009, F, right shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Canton, Mass.Â
Elrick's work with Owen Kailher (Plymouth, Mass.) was outstanding. The Canton High forward got two goals on Saturday; the first of which was a 2-on-1 with Kailher, while the other was forcing a turnover and firing a shot past the netminder. Elrick was able to consistently get open for Kailher to feed him the puck. Elrick's release on his shot was noteworthy, too, which made Kailher so eager to get him the puck.
Jack Funk
Duxbury, 3/12/2009, F, left shot
Hometown: Duxbury, Mass.Â
Funk scored a nice goal on Saturday, getting the puck in the slot, dangling around a defender for a chance all alone and deking the goalie for a tally. He consistently took smart routes on the front of the net for scoring chances throughout the game.
Paulo Gualberto Jr.
Mount St. Charles, 4/9/2009, F, left shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Barnstable, Mass.
Gualberto being as dominant as he was on Saturday wasn't much of a surprise. He controlled play and dictated the pace, playing center. He was never in a rush to get rid of the puck, and always looked for open ice to get to. That open ice was often in the slot, which Gualberto got to with his high compete and frame. He also won his fair share of puck battles deep in the offensive zone.
Troy Hamelin
Pope Francis, 6/8/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/163
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.Â
Hamelin was at Select 15 Camp last season, but this past weekend firmly put Hamelin up with other top '09s. His game started with smart, not-so-flashy plays. He successfully read and picked off a breakout. He was terrific in wall battles, taking smart routes and using good technique to free the puck. In the second half, he made a nice, cross-ice pass to Matthew Bowolick (Ayer, Mass.) for a goal. Hamelin's best play was a goal when he completely dangled two defensemen and then made it look like he had the puck on a string, deking the goalie for a beautiful score.
READ MORE: 5 standout defenders from the 2010s at Mass. Hockey Festival
Owen Kailher
Mount St. Charles, 4/7/2009, F, right shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Plymouth, Mass.Â
Kailher was the best '09 I saw this weekend. He was consistently creating scoring chances with his elite skating and skill. His edgework helped him evade defenders and extend plays, especially low in the offensive zone. Early in the first half of Saturday's game, he had two plays that showed that. He danced behind the net until a passing lane opened to the front of the net, where he found Liam Guilderson (Belmont, Mass.) for a chance. Later, Kailher had a trip around the net where he dangled an opposing player and backhanded a pass to Cade Noonan (Needham, Mass.) for a chance at the far post.
Jacoby Palmer
Long Island Gulls, 8/9/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: Holden, Mass.Â
Palmer was impossible to miss on Saturday. He was assertive with the puck and didn't just skate the puck straight up the ice — he was smart with his rushes, looking off defenders and sifting through coverage. In the offensive zone, he was calm and patient with the puck, waiting for passing lanes to open up. He was also physical, at one point stepping up to break up an opposing rush to get a 3-on-1 going the other way.
Caiden Pellegrino
St. Mark's, 2/10/2009, F, left shot, 5-8/155
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.Â
Pellegrino's IQ and vision are wildly high. The St. Mark's product used those, along with his skating, to drive play and produce offense through the middle of the ice. His positioning also helps him be in the best position to jumpstart play the other way.
Chase Warsofsky
Cushing, 6/19/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Northboro, Mass.Â
Warsofsky was one of the best skaters among his peers and one of the top '09s overall. He used that skating to drive play and put defenders on their heels. Late in Saturday's game, he drove the net, corralled the puck and got a scoring chance.
READ MORE: 14 standout forwards from the 2010s at Mass. Hockey Festival
Colin Yandle
Catholic Memorial, 10/15/2009, D, right shot, 5-10/159
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.Â
Yandle's two-way abilities were on display. He has such a good, active stick in his own zone, as he always is trying to poke-check opposing puck-carriers and take away passing lanes. His good skating also put him in spots to get on top of opposing players. He also wasn't hesitant to step up at the opposing blue line and try and extend offensive zone possessions.
