On Sunday, several teams made their way along I-95 in Massachusetts to Dedham and Needham for the ISL Keller Showcase at Nobles and St. Sebastian’s.
The showcase featured Belmont Hill, Governor’s, Lawrence Academy, Milton Academy, Tabor, Thayer and, of course, Nobles and Seb's.
I caught the action at Nobles, first seeing Tabor steal a win from Lawrence before the host Bulldogs rode a big third period to victory over Belmont Hill. Just down the road, Thayer fended off Gov's in overtime, while host Seb's knocked off Milton.
Here’s Sunday’s scoreboard:
At Nobles:
- Nobles 4, Belmont Hill 0
- Tabor 3, Lawrence Academy 1
At St. Sebastian’s:
- St. Sebastian’s 5, Milton Academy 2
- Thayer 3, Governor's 2 (OT)
Let’s dive into 15 standouts and takeaways from the showcase:
Tucker Monroe
Nobles, 12/5/07, G, catches left, 6-3/185
In a strong day for goalies at Nobles, Monroe (Wellesley, Mass.) was outstanding. He reacted quickly and recovered well, giving Belmont Hill nothing, especially on second-chance opportunities. He made a strong save on Andrew Waugh's (Norwell, Mass.) 1-on-1 bid on a quick up in the first. Later in the period, he made an excellent pad stop, flashing his right leg on Jake Tavares' (Belmont, Mass.) point-blank look. Monroe came through again in the second in a goal-mouth scramble after another strong look for Tavares. In the third, he robbed Matthew Carolan's (Stow, Mass.) rebound bid after making the initial save on a shot from the point. Late in regulation, Monroe made another strong sequence of stops with a big kick save before sprawling to deny multiple rebound looks before chaos broke out around his crease.
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Vinnie D'Urso
Tabor, 3/7/08, G, catches left, 5-10/185
D'Urso (Andover, Mass.) stole a win for Tabor against Lawrence. He was sensational from start to finish, especially as he kept Tabor in it through most of the first two periods when Lawrence dominated possession. He anticipated well, made good reads and came through in multiple scrambles around his net. Among his best saves was a blocker stop on Aiden MacIsaac on a first-period penalty kill when he exploded to the top of his crease and cut down MacIsaac's angle. When he was under siege in the second, D'Urso pushed to his right to make a strong save on a one-timer in a 3-on-1. He later robbed Chase Field's (Barnstable, Mass.) breakaway before laying out for several more saves on the ensuing rebounds. He had a similar sequence early in the third, sprawling in the crease and denying multiple looks on the doorstep.
Teddy MacAusland
Nobles, 1/13/06, F, right shot, 5-9/179
MacAusland (Westwood, Mass.) was everywhere for Nobles. He made impactful, winning plays throughout. He had an excellent shorthanded effort in the first, breaking up a pass at the blue line before getting the puck deep and using his strong base to protect the puck and kill a few extra seconds. Later in the first, he beat an icing and fed Kyle O'Leary (Medfield, Mass.) in front, leading to several strong scoring chances. MacAusland also had an excellent shift late in regulation as Nobles tried to keep Belmont Hill off the board. He won a key face-off before blocking a centering pass. He won the footrace the other way and got rewarded by burying the empty-netter.
Kyle O'Leary
Nobles, 6/25/06, F, right shot, 6-3/185
NCAA: Yale
O'Leary dominated physically for Nobles. His size combined with his strength, ability around the net and penchant to create chances for himself and others gave Belmont Hill fits. The Yale commit had two excellent looks in transition in the first, sidestepping a defender to get an open skating lane and a shot before finding open space in the slot for a catch-and-release shot. He later found open space in the slot for several strong chances in front off an initial centering feed from Teddy MacAusland. In the second, he made a slick setup for Billy MacAusland (Westwood, Mass.), flipping it into open space for MacAusland to skate into it and get a breakaway. In the third, O'Leary drew a key penalty after he pick-pocketed Evan Jones (Arlington, Mass.) deep in the offensive zone before cutting to the front for a chance.
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Matas Janulis
Lawrence Academy, 11/19/08, D, left shot, 6-1/179
Janulis' (Lincoln, Mass.) ability at both ends of the ice was on display. He was typically in the right spots defensively, where his long stick gave him an advantage, and he had a penchant for providing good support in transition offensively. It came through on his goal when he came in as the trailer, in a perfect spot to one-time Brady Matheson's rebound. Later in the third, Janulis made a big block on Marcello Martinelli's one-time bullet from the point as Lawrence tried to keep things tied on a penalty kill.
Ethan Travis
Tabor, 4/22/08, F, left shot, 5-11/172
Travis (Narragansett, R.I.) was likely Tabor's best forward against Lawrence. His speed was a major factor, and his line with Chase Watts (Barrington, R.I.) was one of the few to consistently generate chances. They were especially strong in the third. Travis came through with the equalizer in the second when he got lost behind the defense for a breakaway, scoring with a nice five-hole finish. He was off to the races on another breakaway just a few shifts later but couldn't solve Kolin Belliveau (Andover, Mass.). Travis later iced it in the third with an empty-netter, thanks to some fantastic hustle. He won a footrace after some errant passing by Lawrence and he buried a backhander from a tough angle to put the game away.
Ethan Cox
Nobles, 1/25/06, F, left shot, 6-1/170
Cox (Westborough, Mass.) came through with a first-period buzzer-beater off the rush to open the scoring for Nobles against Belmont Hill. Cox made a beautiful move to toe-drag Brady Sloper (North Andover, Mass.) — who otherwise had a solid game — at the bottom of the left circle before roofing one under the bar as time expired for a highlight-reel goal. Outside of his goal, Cox had a strong day defensively. He was impactful on the penalty kill, and he made a great back check in the second to strip the puck from Waugh and prevent an odd-man look.
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Jake Tavares
Belmont Hill, 1/27/07, F, right shot, 6-0/174
NCAA: Dartmouth
Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) and linemate Patrick Woods (Charlestown, Mass.) were two of the Sextants' best forwards against Nobles. The two combined for several chances, including a pair of identical looks in the second period. Tavares set Woods up off a gorgeous saucer pass from left to right in transition, but the shot wouldn't go. Seconds later, Tavares got open at the far side as Woods returned the favor for a similar chance. Tavares' ability to anticipate, be it lanes opening or closing down lanes for defenders was apparent. He made a great play to pick-pocket a defender in the first before drawing a tripping call. He would have had a clear break in alone.
Ty Wood
Lawrence Academy, 11/3/05, F, left shot, 6-0/174
Wood (Gloucester, Mass.) had a solid day for Lawrence. His line with Matheson created chances, and they accounted for Janulis' goal in the first. It was another good job of Wood leading a counter-rush. He flew the neutral zone for a stretch pass and set up Matheson for the initial shot after drawing the near-side defender toward him. Wood also had a great chance off a quick regroup earlier, exploding through a seam with strong strides and getting a good shot on from the left dot, but D'Urso made a good stick save. His speed continued to give Tabor issues when he forced a turnover at the offensive blue line and walked in for a scoring chance in a 4-on-4 late in the first. Later in the third, Wood did great work at the defensive blue line, breaking up a pass and getting a clear on a key penalty kill.
Alec Dzavik
Tabor, 06/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/162
Dzavik (Hingham, Mass.) was having a strong game for Tabor before exiting with an injury in the third period. He did a good job running the point on the power play in the first period, facilitating quickly out high. Defensively, he had a good stick, breaking up multiple rushes and forcing players outside the dots early in the second.
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Laz Giardina
Lawrence Academy, 6/29/06, F, left shot, 6-4/207
Giardina's (Reading, Mass.) long strides and effortless release led to several strong chances for his line in transition. His ability to get heavy, accurate shots off quickly in stride was on full display. He had one rush down the left wing on a second-period power play where it seemed he had the top-right corner picked, but D'Urso got a piece of it with his shoulder. D'Urso robbed him again in the third with a big push to his right to smother Giardina's bid in tight after he found open space in the slot. Giardina made a great read early on to step in front of a stretch pass and start a counter for Lawrence, eventually leading to an offensive zone face-off.
Harrison Lavoie
Belmont Hill, 12/19/07, F, right shot, 6-1/150
Lavoie (Stow, Mass.) had some of Belmont Hill's best scoring chances. He did a great job of finding soft space around the net in the first, putting himself in a perfect spot for a point-blank chance as the puck worked out from behind the net. Later in the second, Lavoie flashed some good hands in a tight space. He somehow maintained possession through a maze of bodies behind the net, curling out and trying to stuff it through Monroe. The initial chance and several whacks at the rebound wouldn't go.
Leftover thoughts...
- Monroe and D'Urso aside, it was all about the goalies at Nobles on Sunday. All four netminders had strong days, overall. Belliveau will want Macello Martinelli's (North Providence, R.I.) game-winner for Tabor back, but he was otherwise sharp when he needed to be, especially considering the lack of volume he faced earlier in the game. Keagin Wilson (Hingham, Mass.) was every bit as good for Belmont Hill in what was mostly a duel between him and Monroe. He played well enough to win, making high-quality saves and recovering to kill rebound chances.
- Lawrence's defense was excellent through the first 40 minutes against Tabor. Whether it was strong stick positioning in the defensive zone by Colby Mara (Lexington, Mass.), Janulis' play at both ends or a strong top pair with Thano Meirmaris (Wilmington, Mass.) and Gavin Thompson (Canton, Mass.), the Spartans gave the Seawolves all they could handle. They surrendered very little in the middle of the ice, killed plays in transition and moved the puck up ice quickly with ease.
- Belmont Hill probably deserved better but ran into a strong goaltending performance by Monroe. Wilson was just as strong for most of the game and kept them in it until the latter half of the third. It seemed like a matter of time until the Sextants would break through, especially with their chances around the net in the second and third. The power play found a groove in the second, working it around quickly and generating open shots. Monroe just had every answer.
