The 2019 Beantown Summer Classic brought many of the region’s top 2020 NHL Draft prospects to the New England Sports Center in Marlboro on Monday and Tuesday, August 11-12.
The Committed Division showcased a few players who will be heavily scouted by NHL scouts ahead of the 2020 NHL scout. Headlining the group was Chicago Steel right wing Sam Colangelo, a Stoneham, Mass., native and Lawrence Academy product.
After a banner year for USA Hockey, the 2020 NHL Draft won’t have as many Americans making headlines. That extends to the New England region, which will have a light year at next June’s draft in Montreal. The Beantown Summer Classic did a good job getting most of 2020 prospects from the region. Excluding the USHL and NTDP players, only Boston Advantage 18U defenseman Timothy Lovell, Jr. and Lawrence Academy center David Sacco were notable 2020 prospects missing.
In addition to the Committed Division, there were three other divisions: Pro Division, Futures Division and Prospects Division. The Futures Division was the next most intriguing group with a couple of younger players who will almost certainly play Division I college hockey someday. The majority of the time spent in the rink focused in on the Committed Division and Futures Division, but there were a couple of players to circle back on from limited viewing of the Pro Division.
The teams were coached by NHL scouts and the Beantown Summer Classic was well attended by other scouts, college coaches, and agents.
Due to bouncing back and forth between two ice sheets, notes aren’t that extensive. The following reports are meant merely as a check-in prior to the season starting.
Here’s a look at the notable prospects from the 2019 Beantown Summer Classic:
Committed Division
Sam Colangelo
#11 Blue, Chicago Steel, 12/26/01, RW, Right Shot, 6-2/205
NCAA Commit: Northeastern
Colangelo didn’t have much to prove here. He’ll get a chance to take his game to the next level this season in the USHL. Colangelo did look to be in even better shape and looks like he might have taken another step in his skating. He appeared more engaged in the defensive zone, for what it’s worth, in an environment that isn’t conducive for such a thing. His bread and butter will always be his shot and the ability to see the ice well.
Projection: Late 2nd Round-3rd Round
Alex Jefferies
#15 Blue, Gunnery, 11/8/01, RW, Right Shot, 6-0/195
NCAA Commit: Merrimack
Jefferies has a really good release. The puck comes off his stick with some zip and there’s some deception. He has good size and he works hard. He’s heavy on pucks. He’s able to move well after he picks up steam, but his first couple of steps still need work. Jefferies is staying at Gunnery for his senior season, but is switching fall teams to Rochester Coalition 18U after playing last fall with Yale 18U.
Projection: 4th-5th Round
Ian Moore
#8 Blue, St. Mark’s, 1/4/02, D, Right Shot, 6-3/170
NCAA Commit: Princeton
Moore has skating, stick, and offensive repertoire to draw serious draft consideration. He showed well here, but didn’t stand out like he is capable of based on past viewings. He’s a player to watch. He’ll be back at St. Mark’s, but is playing the fall for the Little Bruins 18U after previously skating for the Cape Cod Whalers.
Projection: 4th-5th Round
Alex Laferriere
#27 Red, Des Moines Buccaneers, 10/28/01, RW, Right Shot, 6-0/175
NCAA Commit: Harvard
Laferriere had a really good showing and should be on the map of all scouts as he makes the jump to the USHL after a breakout season at Kent last winter. Laferriere, who got his growth spurt later than many of his peers, skates well and has skill. While his skill isn’t necessarily elite in terms of high-end draft prospects, his compete level is very high. He’s around the puck, whether it be hunting pucks on the forecheck or driving the net.
Projection: 4th-6th Round
Riley Duran
#16 Blue, Lawrence, 1/25/02, C, Right Shot, 1/25/02
NCAA Commit: Providence
Duran has the size and skating to merit draft consideration. He’s at his best when he’s playing a hard, north-south game, which doesn’t always come out in a short showcase such as this. He projects as a third line wing who can be heavy on pucks, play solidly in his own zone, and chip in offensively from time to time. The best thing for his development would be to head to Youngstown and play in the USHL, but as of now, he’ll be back at Lawrence and the Cape Cod Whalers.
Projection: 6th-7th Round
Victor Czerneckianair
#32 Red, Mount Saint Charles 18U, 2/17/02, Right Shot, 5-11/170
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
Czerneckianair skates well and has skill. While not the biggest player, he has that quick twitch in his game that makes him a threat with the puck on his stick. He’ll be with Mount Saint Charles 18U this season after playing the past two years at Selects Academy.
Projection: Watch
Michael Posma
#30 Red, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 12/4/01, Left Shot, 6-0/175
Posma is a big center who can make plays and dominate below the dots. He’s one of those players who always seems to come up big in key situations. He is around the puck a lot and can make some plays. He drives the net and plays with a physical edge. His feet and overall foot speed need work, but it’s not an unfixable issue. After recently de-committing from Air Force, Posma is back on the market and will be with Cedar Rapids this season. Don’t expect him to be uncommitted for long.
Projection: Watch/potential NCAA free agent down the road
Jack Robilotti
#21 Red, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 7/18/01, Right Shot, 6-3/195
NCAA Commit: Holy Cross
Robilotti isn’t the type of player to stand out in a showcase format such as this. He has good size and is an above average skater. He projects as a defensive defenseman. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he had a solid season in the USHL after a solid career at Selects Academy.
Projection: Watch/potential NCAA free agent down the road
Hunter McDonald
#23 Red, Rochester Monarchs NCDC, 5/11/02, Left Shot, 6-2/178
NCAA Commit: RPI
McDonald is a good sized defensive defenseman who had a good showing. He’s solid defensively and is strong on his skates. He’s hard to play against and getting better.
Projection: Watch/potential NCAA free agent down the road
Liam McLinskey
#29 Red, Jersey Hitmen NCDC, 2/20/01, Right Shot, 6-3/170
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
McLinskey had a couple of goals and looks to have gotten a little faster. He’s a power forward who will likely play a middle six role once he gets to Quinnipiac. He’ll need to round out his game and be better away from the puck. If he becomes more of a complete player, there could be something there as a bottom six forward.
Projection: Watch/potential NCAA free agent down the road
Ronan Walsh
#34 Red, Proctor, 5/3/02, Right Shot, 6-3/195
NCAA Commit: Vermont
Walsh has the size, hard shot, and physical element to merit some attention from scouts. His footwork and skating still need work, but that part of his game has improved over the last couple of years. He’s back for another season playing for his father, Mike Walsh, with Proctor. He’s the younger brother of Harvard junior defenseman and New Jersey Devils prospect Reilly Walsh.
Projection: No draft
Gunnar Fontaine
#9 Blue, Chicago Steel, 9/16/00, Left Shot, 5-9/175
NCAA Commit: Northeastern
Fontaine scored a really nice goal on the rush and was noticeable a few other times. He’s fast and hunts pucks. One area of possible concern is that a lot of his offensive production seems to come on the rush. Undersized, he’s now committed to Northeastern after previously being a RPI commit. He’ll be back in the USHL for a second full season with the Steel.
Projection: No draft
Brian Carrabes
#26 Red, Sioux Falls Stampede, 8/1/01, Right Shot, 5-9/165
NCAA Commit: Boston University
Carrabes stands out right away for his speed. He can fly and he gets around the ice quickly. He has skill and can score goals. Two areas of his game that need to get better in order to merit draft consideration are his passing and playing more between the circles.
Projection: No draft
Liam Devlin
#14 Blue, Chicago Steel, 1/7/01, Left Shot, 5-11/181
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire
Devlin is still a little on the smaller side, but he’s clearly added muscle and gotten more explosive since stepping off the ice for the last time with St. Sebastian’s in late February or March. He keeps his feet moving and has skill. He’ll be with the USHL’s Chicago Steel this upcoming season.
Projection: No draft
Brandon Chabrier
#22 Red, North Jersey Avalanche 18U, 7/19/02, Right Shot, 6-0/165
NCAA Commit: Northeastern
Chabrier has the skating and puck-moving ability worthy of being mentioned as a potential prospect. However, his hockey sense and overall game are areas that need improvement before he draws serious consideration.
Projection: No draft
Gregory Japchen
#5 Blue, Brooks Bandits, 12/17/01, Left Shot, 6-3/195
NCAA Commit: Nebraska-Omaha
Japchen has the feet and puck skills to intrigue. Watch him for a couple of shifts and his physical tools will be noted. However, his proneness to turnovers and the extra motions he makes in his skating are areas of his skill set that need improvement before heading to college.
Projection: No draft
Futures Division
Brendan Fitzgerald
#2 Nationals, Governor’s, 3/6/03, Left Shot, 5-11/155
Fitzgerald sees the ice well and makes some plays. He has a good stick and jam in his game to be good one-on-one defensively. Working on his skating and picking his spots to pinch and make plays will come. He’s one of the top two or three uncommitted ‘03s within the region.
Brendan Holahan
#30 Braves, Brunswick, 6/15/04, Catches Left, 6-2/185
Holahan is the best ‘03 goaltending prospect in this region. He has good size, fundamentals, and stays quiet and composed in the crease. He’ll likely get some time in net at the prep level for Brunswick.
Henry Wilson
#21 Hombres, Islanders HC 16U, 5/13/04, Left Shot, 6-1/175
Wilson has the size, length and skating ability to show a lot of promise. He’s still raw after splitting time between Winchester High School and Boston Advantage last year. He shows signs of being an explosive skater. Once he fills out his frame, he could be a highly coveted prospect.
Brendan Gorman
#16 Nationals, St. Sebastian’s, 2/17/03, Right Shot, 5-11/145
Gorman has added a step and is heavy on pucks. He’s able to win a lot of races and battles for loose pucks, especially below the dots. His finishing ability could be better, but there’s something here.
Luke Santilli
#8 Nationals, Islanders HC 16U, 12/5/04, Right Shot, 6-0/155
Santilli is a big, raw defenseman who projects as a steady defender. His length allows him to break up plays defensively. He closes and has good range. He’s a late ‘04.
Jackson Irving
#30 Nationals, Cushing, 2/3/04, Catches Left, 5-10/155
Irving has good technique and athleticism. He moves well laterally and has the quickness to make good kick saves and glove saves. If he was a little bigger, there’d be more buzz about him among college coaches.
Harry Meirowitz
#3 Hombres, P.A.L. Islanders 16U, 5/21/03, Right Shot, 5-9/165
Meirowitz had never stood out in any prior viewings, but his mobility and skating ability jumped out right away here.
Bobby May
#4 Titans, Kimball Union, 11/20/03, Left Shot, 5-11/172
This was likely the first time viewing May, who is heading to KUA after playing last season with Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 15’s. He scored a goal from the point and looks to have some potential as a late ‘03. There’s no doubt he’ll get good coaching under Tim Whitehead.
Jackson Kyrkostas
#14 Hombres, Islanders HC 16U, 8/19/04, Right Shot, 5-7/140
Kyrkostas has speed and skill. As has been the case in prior viewings, he’ll need to play more between the dots, but there’s potential to be an offensively gifted college player if.
Joshua Cohen
#16 Braves, Lac St-Louis, 5/3/04, Left Shot, 5-10/162
Cohen scored a goal and looks to potentially have some offensive skill worthy of watching.
Ian Olenik
#10 Nationals, Governor’s, 3/20/03, Left Shot, 5-9/152
Olenik had a good game Monday afternoon and looks to be ready to take the next step in his game as a second year prep player. He made a couple of plays and had the speed to create on the rush.
