BOSTON — Harvard’s College Hockey Experience took over the Bright-Landry Hockey Center from Sunday to Tuesday.
Over the three days, players from around the world practiced in the mornings, attended seminars in the late morning and early afternoons, and played games in the afternoon and early evening.
It was run by Harvard men’s assistant coach James Marcou. Various college and prep coaches took part in the camp, including Babson’s Jamie Rice, Williams’ Bill Kangas, Boston College’s Brent Darnell, Northeastern’s Mike Levine, Colby’s Blaise MacDonald, Dartmouth’s Jason Tapp, Wesleyan’s Chris Potter, Merrimack’s Dan Jewell, Cushing’s Ryan Bourque, Bowdoin’s Ben Guite, Providence’s Ron Rolston, Brown’s Jason Smith, Boston University’s Joe Pereira, New Hampshire’s Glenn Stewart and Sacred Heart’s Scott McDougall.
I already did the forwards here. Below are the standout defenders.
Let's dive in.
Kaiden Donia
Team 9/Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/183Â
Donia's stock skyrocketed this season after being invited to try out for the U.S. National Team Development Program. While he didn't make it, the tools are there for him to be one of the most effective defenders in the '08 birth year. Obviously, he has the size. But he also showcased terrific skating during the camp. He was able to get up and down the ice quickly. When he joined the rush or took the puck himself, he got back in time to defend. He had a good stick, shutting down plays. His skating abilities will make him such a fascinating prospect to watch over the coming two years.
Pete Luecke
Team 8/Thayer, 1/10/2006, D, right shot, 6-0/170Â
Luecke showed good elusiveness when he had the puck in the corners of his own zone. He was able to avoid pressure, get his head up and make strong outlet passes. I liked his compete when he hustled back to negate a breakaway in the second period of his team's game against Team 3. He also showed no hesitation in jumping into the rush. For a Thayer team looking to take the next step, Luecke, now a senior, will be a big part of that.
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Colby Mara
Team 1/Lawrence Academy, 7/13/2007, D, left shot, 6-0/165Â
Mara was a good puck-moving defenseman at the camp. He was patient on breakouts and didn't rush or force plays up ice. There were times he held onto the puck, too, rushing it from end to end. In the third period against Team 5, he skated the puck through the neutral zone and into the opposing end, hitting the post from the high slot. He showcased a good stick when defending the rush as well.
Gavin Romkisson
Team 4/North York Rangers, 3/25/2008, D, left shot,Â
What I liked most about Romkisson was his skating. He was able to skate the puck when he wanted to and navigate through a forecheck. Against Team 7, he had the puck, spun away from an opposing player and drew a penalty. Romkisson was able to move the puck with ease and didn't force plays that weren't there.
Noah Schenenga
Team 1/Worcester Academy, 2/28/2007, G, catches left, 5-10/157Â
The event wasn't a strong showing for goaltending, however, Schenenga was strong in my viewing of him. In his game against Team 5, he was the only reason why his team held a 1-0 lead after the second period. He was peppered with shots, but he tracked them nicely. He was apt at squaring himself up to shots from in tight and getting across to rebounds.
Cameron Schimenti
Team 10/BK Selects, 6/7/2008, D, left shot, 6-0/181Â
Schimenti played with a high compete. He showcased snarl, which isn't something always seen at events like these. Against Team 2, he laid out an opposing forward in the corner. A period earlier, he scored on a nice shot from the point that beat the goaltender clean over his glove.
Ian Sherman
Team 5/Pomfret, 5/13/2008, D, left shot, 6-0/190Â
Sherman was consistently good on his puck retrievals. He made strong outlet passes or he would take the puck himself. Against Team 6, he almost turned the puck over but recovered and went end to end, almost scoring in the process. Against Team 1, he scored twice with under two minutes to play. The first was when he dangled the goalie for a tally. Then, at the horn, he tipped in a shot off the rush.
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T.J. Tullock Jr.
Team 6/North Jersey Avalanche, 3/4/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/179Â
Tullock Jr., was assertive when he had the puck. He was able to skate with it well and sift through oncoming pressure. His head was consistently up so he could evaluate potential passing lanes. He had a nice rush in the first period of his game against Team 5. He was able to protect the puck from defenders by switching quickly from his backhand to his forehand.
Thomas Yang
Team 8/Nichols, 6/30/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/150Â
Yang showcased very quick feet. He was able to get to opposing forwards with ease, putting stick on puck to negate any offense. His shiftiness helped him in almost every situation, too. He also had quick hands, using them to stickhandle away from opposing players. I know this was a camp without pre-scouted forechecks, but his ability to read what the three opposing forwards were doing as they came at him was impressive.
