BOSTON -- The Boston Jr. Eagles 14U Columbus Day Showcase saw prospects from six top bantam major teams to the greater Boston area over the holiday weekend.
In addition to the host, the Jr. Eagles, the other teams in the showcase were Mid Fairfield Rangers, New Jersey Colonials, Philadelphia Hockey Club, Providence Hockey Club, and Syracuse Nationals.
The six teams played four games over the course of two days, Saturday and Sunday. Five of the six games on Sunday took place at Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena.
New England Hockey Journal took in all three afternoon games on Sunday. Syracuse Nationals and New Jersey Colonials skated to a 2-2 tie in the first game. Mid Fairfield defeated Philadelphia Hockey Club, 2-0, in the middle contest. In the finale, the Boston Jr. Eagles downed Providence Hockey Club by a score of 4-1.
Here are the prospects who stood out in Sunday’s viewing:
Forwards
Ryan Fine
#19 Mid Fairfield, C, right shot
NCAA commit: Boston University
Fine had both Mid Fairfield goals. The Center Moriches, N.Y., native is one of the most gifted offensive players in the country at this age group. On his first goal, he slipped past the defense and scored on a nice finish. His second tally was on the power play where he blasted home a one-timer from the left wing circle. His speed and hands are both elite. He was hands down the best offensive player on the ice Sunday.
Charlie Cerrato
#16 Philadelphia HC, C, left shot
Cerrato stood out for his puck skills in the middle game. He had the best chances for his team. Cerrato is slick, has very good hands, and can generate offense on the rush.
William Vote
#22 Boston Jr. Eagles, LW, right shot
Vote didn’t find the score sheet, but his play away from the puck was notable. The Arlington, Mass., native makes good reads, knows where the puck is going to be, and is responsible in his own end. His skating is very good and he sees the ice well.
Will Smith
#2 Boston Jr. Eagles, C, right shot
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Smith didn’t find the score sheet and wasn’t as dynamic with the puck as he can be. However, the Lexington, Mass., native still had a few flashes where he showed off his skill and hard shot.
Chris Pelosi
#14 Philadelphia HC, C, left shot
Pelosi had a couple of solid shifts towards the second half of his game. He has an explosive stride and can power his way to the scoring areas.
Owen Leahy
#10 Providence HC, LW/C, left shot
Leahy is a smart, versatile, two-way forward. He skates well, has strong hockey sense, and plays all 200 feet.
Salvatore Guzzo
#23 Mid Fairfield, C, right shot
Guzzo is a big power forward who can drive with the puck. With his size, he has upside.
Eli Friedman
#24 Mid Fairfield, RW, right shot
Friedman is a skilled winger who sees the ice well and plays with composure.
Trip Pendy
#9 NJ Colonials, C, left shot
Pendy is a shifty forward who stick handles well. His skating is his best asset.
Marcel Lavitman
#88 NJ Colonials, RW, right shot
Lavitman had a goal in the team’s 2-2 tie with Syracuse. He drove the net, has length, and has a hard shot. He’s a player who could develop into a solid power forward.
Ben Yurchuk
#91 NJ Colonials, C, left shot
Yurchuk wasn’t as much of an offensive force as he is most games, but he made a really good look on a two-on-one rush for a great scoring opportunity for a line mate.
Logan Renkowski
#42 Mid Fairfield, LW, left shot
Renkowski has a quick release and a good one-timer. Outside of Fine, he might have been the most dangerous offensive threat among forwards in this game.
William Cannata
#10 Boston Jr. Eagles, C, left shot
Cannata is a good skater who made a nice pass on a two-on-one for an assist. He did some good work on the PK and is the son of longtime Milton Academy head coach Paul Cannata.
Owen King
#8 Syracuse Nationals, LW, right shot
King made more plays than anyone else on his team in the afternoon game. He had an assist, but was consistently strong down low and facilitated offensive chances. His assist came on a good zone entry where he evaded a defender to keep the play going.
Sean Gibbons
#33 Mid Fairfield, RW, right shot
Gibbons had an assist on one of Fine’s goals and was a small, crafty forward.
David Klee
#20 Syracuse Nationals, C, left shot
Klee is a big power forward who was heavy on pucks. He did a good job of crashing the net and making an impact on the forecheck. He led the team with a goal and an assist while centering the top line.
Emerson Marshall
#88 Providence HC, LW, left shot
Marshall had the assist on his team’s only goal. He brought the puck down the right wing and started going behind the net before hitting Andrew Gibbons for an easy finish.
Shawn Leary
#21 Boston Jr. Eagles, RW, right shot
Leary has played forward in the past, but was a defenseman this summer in a couple of viewings at the Jr. Battle of Boston and STX 68 Combine. As a winger, he had a hard shot for a goal and played a heavy game.
Brendan Boring
#19 Philadelphia HC, C, right shot
Boring brought his physical game against his old team in Sunday afternoon’s game.
Andrew Gibbons
#12 Providence HC, C, right shot
Gibbons had the only goal for Providence HC.
Luke Benitez
#10 NJ Colonials, RW, right shot
Benitez made a couple of good low to high passes.
Jake McManus
#2 Providence HC, C, left shot
McManus didn’t get much going in this game, but he’s a player to watch with his size. He came over from Islanders HC along with Marshall and a couple of others.
Gates Omicioli
#13 Providence HC, LW, left shot
Omicioli is a small forward who is quick.
Cullen Emery
#12 Boston Jr. Eagles, RW, right shot
Emery skates well and works hard. He keeps his feet moving and has a high compete level.
Roshean Nissangaratchie
#17 NJ Colonials, RW, left shot
Nissangaratchie was noted for being a good skater and having speed.
James Reen
#24 Boston Jr. Eagles, LW, left shot
Reen was noticeable a couple of times, including on a goal he scored.
Nicholas Shaw
#54 Syracuse Nationals, C, left shot
Shaw is physically mature and able to use his size and strength to his advantage.
Chase Pirtle
#11 Philadelphia HC, RW, right shot
Pirtle was dressed and on the bench, but did not play in Sunday afternoon’s game. He’s a very good player when he’s on the ice.
Defensemen
Aram Minnetian
#17 Mid Fairfield, D, right shot
Minnetian once again proved he is one of the best defensemen in the country at this age group. He has good size, is an elite skater, and has a good shot. He pushes the pace in transition and can quarterback a power play. He made a terrific pass to Fine for an assist on the power play tally. In his own zone, he closes time and space on opposing forwards. He’s a terrific two-way defender.
Ryan St. Louis
#26 Mid Fairfield, D, left shot
St. Louis was good in this game. He always has good feet and the ability to move pucks. He can sidestep opposing forecheckers. He used his mobility and good stick to defend the rush.
Drew Fortescue
#2 Mid Fairfield, D, left shot
Fortescue is a good skater and plays with jam. He has skill and can contribute offensively.
Nick Fascia
#10 Philadelphia HC, D, left shot
Fascia didn’t get involved in the offense as much as he sometimes does, but he used his good skating and stick to defend well.
Jack Harney
#7 Boston Jr. Eagles, D, left shot
Harney has good size and skates well, especially considering that. There’s a lot of upside here.
Jonathan Lanza
#5 Boston Jr. Eagles, D, right shot
Lanza is a physical, defensive defenseman. He has good size and is an above average skater, but his bread and butter is punishing opposing forwards.
Alex Bosland
#24 NJ Colonials, D, right shot
Bosland is a strong, rugged kid. He made a nice stretch pass and was solid in his own zone. The best thing you can say about a defensive defenseman is he wasn’t that noticeable and that was the case with his play for much of the game Sunday afternoon.
Jake Johner
#90 NJ Colonials, D, right shot
Johner got off a couple of good shots from the point. He scored on a nice wrister through traffic and hit the post on another occasion. He has good size and looks to be a solid defender.
John Michael Danks
#84 NJ Colonials, D, right shot
While he didn’t get into the score sheet in Sunday afternoon’s game, Danks has good mobility, is tough to knock off pucks, and has solid offensive instincts.
Timmy Galvin
#21 NJ Colonials, D, left shot
Galvin is a smaller defenseman, but he had good gaps and used his stick to defend the rush and keep the play to the perimeter.
Jack Kent
#29 Syracuse Nationals, D, right shot
Kent seemed to have good mobility, gapped well, and had a good stick.
Goaltenders
William Baker
#32 Mid Fairfield, G, catches left
Baker isn’t as well known as Mid Fairfield’s other goaltender, Ryan Sanborn, but he got the job done Sunday afternoon. He has good size and pitched the shutout.
Michael Doney
#21 Syracuse Nationals, G, catches left
Doney is a big butterfly goaltender who stayed quiet and made numerous quality stops in the game against NJ Colonials.
Jason Cai
#19 NJ Colonials, G, catches left
Cai kept Syracuse at bay for most of the game before allowing two late. He’s a little bit of a hybrid goaltender, but he has quick reflexes.
Tyler Bloomfield
#42 Boston Jr. Eagles, G, catches left
Bloomfield was solid in his team’s 4-1 win over Providence HC.
