FOXBORO, Mass. — Wednesday night marked the sixth night of the Foxboro Summer Prep League, which is where some of the premier high school and prep school players in the region play at the Foxboro Sports Center.
All three games were solid, featuring players showcasing how they've improved in the offseason if there even is one (there really isn't).
Did the games carry the intensity of a mid-January prep school game? No, but no one expects them to.
Of course, there are the usual suspects like Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), Michael Munroe (Hanover, Mass.), Dylan Krayer (Concord, Mass.), Dylan Hunt (Marlborough, Mass.) and Sam Caulfield (Needham, Mass.) playing well and the college commits too — it felt like Dartmouth commit Ben Buckley (Warwick, R.I.) always had the puck.
But I tried my best to watch players I haven't seen a ton of to this point. Here are six who stood out.
Henry Butte
Dexter Southfield, 3/23/2005, FWD, left shot, 6-0/180Â
Butte (Belmont, Mass.) was always involved in Team Omicioli's offense Wednesday night. He showed off a quick release on a shot that sailed into the top corner of the net for a goal in the first half. In the second half, he had a nice play off the rush where he used his frame to protect the puck and stave off a defender to dish it to Gates Omicioli (New Haven, Conn.) for a goal. Butte also showed off nice hands when he stickhandled through the neutral zone late in the game and earned a breakaway. Butte posted five goals and 13 points in 32 games for Dexter this past winter. As a senior next season, a jump in production is expected.
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Austin Borggaard
St. Mark's, 1/15/2005, FWD, left shot, 6-0/183Â
Speaking of seniors in prep, Borggaard had a strong showing. The Worcester, Mass., native potted a nice goal in the second game, rifling a quick shot from the slot. As a center, he drives play well and showcases high compete. Borggaard notched 16 goals and 23 points in 29 games as a junior this past winter for head coach Carl Corazzini's squad. St. Mark's graduated four vital seniors up front and lost Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.) to the United States National Team Development Program. Borggaard will have every opportunity to be a top producer for the Lions in next season and should have no trouble doing so.
Rian Chudzinski
St. Sebastian's, 12/30/2007, FWD, right shot, 6-0/170Â
If someone invested $50 in Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) back in March, they'd have about $1,000 now and by next March, could have as much as $100,000. Chudzinski has raised his stock a ton and Wednesday's game continued that. He had a goal off the rush, scoring in the slot. His skating, hands and overall offensive creativity are impressive and that continued recently at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp. He ranked ninth among all players at the camp in points, posting eight points (five goals, three assists). On paper, St. Sebastian's is stacked in the top six with forwards, but Chudzinski should factor in.
Will Doherty
Tabor, 2/13/2006, FWD, right shot, 6-0/157Â
Doherty showed off a nice shot in Wednesday's third game between Team Cox and Team Holske. Early in the frame, he snapped a shot off the crossbar. He was a big piece of his team's offense throughout the game, putting himself in smart spots in the opposing zone. He hunted pucks well, too, which isn't always prevalent in summer hockey. As a sophomore with Tabor this past winter, the Marshfield, Mass., native posted five goals and 13 points. Doherty is an early breakout candidate for next season.
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Max Kirianov
Pingree, 9/8/2006, D, left shot, 6-2/185Â
I hadn't seen Kirianov before, so it was a pleasant surprise Wednesday night when his play caught my attention. He has a good frame for a defenseman and moved the puck with poise. In my first viewing of him, his stick is his best asset on defense, as he used it to disrupt forwards off the rush and take away passing lanes. He had good gap control, too. As a sophomore at Pingree this past winter, the Marblehead, Mass., native posted 21 assists in 29 games. Now a junior, it will be fascinating to watch his next step at Pingree this winter.
Joe Marchi
Dexter Southfield, 10/30/2007, FWD, right shot, 5-7/154Â
This is the one player in this story who I've seen a lot of. Marchi was always around the play and what impressed me most were his puck routes. He always found a way to get open and make himself useful in the offensive zone, which is something that was on display at Catholic Memorial this past winter. His shot, skill and ability to navigate through a defense with the puck make him lethal. Even as a late '07, he has a real chance to make an impact at Dexter Southfield next season.
