BEDFORD, Mass. — One of the biggest events of the offseason calendar is in the rearview.
The Wizards Showcase took over the Edge Sports Center this past weekend, featuring 31 teams from New England, the western U.S. and western Canada and some of the best prospects in the U19, U16 and U14 age groups.
I spent my weekend focusing primarily on the U16 and U19 teams, doing my best to see each New England team at least once. All told, I saw 21 total games, most for at least two periods.
We already broke down eight standout forwards as well as eight standout defenders and goalies among the U19s earlier this week. We’ll dive into U16 defenders and goalies as the week progresses.
For now, here are nine U16 forwards who stood out this past weekend.
Devon Moore
Mass. Spitfires/Dexter Southfield, Feb. 2008, F, right shot, 5-3
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
Moore looked stronger and faster since the end of the MIAA season. She played a supremely confident game, generating high-quality looks nearly every shift it seemed. After a goal against the Connecticut Jr. Eagles on Friday, she had a golden opportunity at another, toe-dragging around a defender, cutting to the slot and forcing the goaltender to make a great save. Moore also got multiple breakaways throughout the weekend, too. She read a switch at the blue line perfectly against Team Western Canada on Saturday, pouncing on the puck and heading off to the races after gaining separation, but she couldn't solve the goalie. Sunday against Team West might have been her most complete game of the weekend as she did a great job helping out low in the defensive zone as the center. She finished with two goals and an assist in four games.
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Alexa Georgantas
Mass. Spitfires/Nobles, 2009, F, left shot
Hometown: Foxboro, Mass.
Georgantas dominated possession whenever she was on the ice, especially on Friday against the CT Jr. Eagles. The rising freshman at Nobles saw the ice well and found open seams as a puck carrier, especially in tight space in the offensive zone. She was hard to contain down low in the attacking zone and in the cycle, which led to a great setup for Jaelyn Trudell (Andover, Mass.; Groton) in tight early on. Her line with Trudell and Mya Polastry (West Springfield, Mass.; Westminster) consistently got scoring chances. Georgantas had a goal and two assists on the weekend.
Sofia Nardelli
Boston Jr. Eagles/Cranston-East Greenwich, 12/31/2008, F, left shot, 5-2
Hometown: Cranston, R.I.
Nardelli's speed was a problem for opposing defenders, just as it was at the New England District's festival in May. It was a difference-maker in the offensive zone, especially on entries as she put the defense on its heels. She won races to loose pucks down low and along the boards, which extended offensive zone sequences. She got a great chance out of it against South Carolina on Friday but got absolutely robbed by the goalie after freezing a defender and deking toward the net for a strong shot. Nardelli finished with one goal in four games.
Erin Flaherty
Boston Jr. Eagles/St. Paul’s, 06/2008, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Flaherty found ways to be dangerous in both of the Jr. Eagles' games I caught, and she finished with a goal and two assists for the tournament. She was especially strong against the CT Jr. Eagles on Sunday. She put a hard, low shot on net looking for a rebound on the power play, which Annie Liebhoff capitalized on (Dover, Mass.). Flaherty was excellent on the penalty kill, too. She weaved her way through the neutral zone before bleeding a ton of clock along the boards in the attacking zone. Later, she pounced on a giveaway in the offensive zone, wheeling around the net to kill more clock and buy time for reinforcements. It eventually led to a good shorthanded bid for Nardelli in front.
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Violet Dittman
High Performance Hockey/Cushing, 08/2008, F, right shot
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Dittman was HPHS' most consistent skater throughout the weekend. She drove play on most shifts and did a good job of getting pucks behind the defense in transition. The rising sophomore at Cushing was HPHS' best against Assabet on Friday, despite a lopsided score, as one of few forwards to regularly get chances. She also created problems for defenders with her high motor on the forecheck. Dittman set up a nice goal off the rush against Team West on Saturday as well. She breezed through the neutral zone before curling around the net for a good centering pass. She routinely gained the offensive blue line with possession and made it look easy with her long, efficient strides.
Bella Freitas
Assabet/Cushing, 2009, F, right shot
Hometown: Everett, Mass.
Like Moore, Freitas looked stronger, especially on her skates, and more dynamic from the end of the MIAA season as she prepares to make the jump to the NEPSAC. The former St. Mary's standout once again found ways to frequently create Grade-A chances. She scored twice on Friday against High Performance Hockey Skills (HPHS), flashing her accurate release with a goal off the bar and in before adding another goal in tight. Against the CT Jr. Eagles on Saturday, she danced in alone before making a slick backhand deke. It wouldn't go in but the rebound was right there for Zoe Smith (Westford, Mass.; Groton) to bury. Freitas had a couple more great chances in that game, including a stop-and-start to make a defender miss before getting a good shot in close. She rang the post on Sunday too. In total, she finished at a point-per-game for the tournament with two goals and two assists.
Ava Carr
Premier Ice Prospects/Williston Northampton, 2010, F, right shot
Hometown: Medway, Mass.
Carr scored a pair of strong goals for PIP on Sunday against Assabet, reading plays well and putting herself into good spots in the offensive zone. Her first came on the power play after rotating out high to the top of the umbrella. She put a quick half-slap shot under the bar after taking a few strides to get a closer shooting lane. Her second came on a rebound. Carr found soft space around the crease, putting herself in the right place at the right time to bury Olivia Bonarrigo's (Walpole, Mass.; NAHA Red U16) shot from range.
Maddie Lahah
Mass. Spitfires/St. George's, 2008, F, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: North Attleboro, Mass.
Lahah was one of the Spitfires' best skaters on Sunday against Team West with a strong game in the offensive zone. She had two assists and did a great job using her body to shield pucks from defenders. She had a fantastic setup for Maddie Call (Dedham, Mass.; Thayer). Lahah fended off pressure and drew multiple defenders toward her, opening a seam for Call, who she found at the backdoor for an easy tap-in. Lahah, a rising junior at St. George's who led her team in scoring last season, finished the showcase with four points (one goal) in four games.
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Mia Daley
East Coast Wizards/Williston Northampton, 2009, F, right shot
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
Daley was perhaps the Wizards' best player all weekend. Paisley Meyer (Greenland, NH; Phillips Exeter) was right there, too. They led the U16s in scoring with six points each. Daley had three goals and three assists. She scored a pair against PIP on Saturday and had a chance at a hat trick but not deferred on an empty-net look. Her first goal was a terrific effort, driving to the net and simply outworking the defender to shield the puck before going top shelf for a sweet finish. Her second goal came off a turnover at the blue line. Daley made a beeline for the net, getting behind the defenders and burying her own rebound. Her line with Meyer and Emma MacPherson (Sandwich, Mass.; New Hampton) was a lot for the defense to handle.
