EXETER, N.H. — The ’06 Crimson Combine brought some very good 2006-born players to The Rinks at Exeter from Aug. 3-4.
The event is always well put together by the Harvard coaching staff. This year was no exception, but it did lack some top Canadian players who usually make the trek to Harvard’s Bright Arena. This year’s event was moved to New Hampshire, due to Massachusetts not allowing games at the time.
Below is a look at the top players from the ’06 Crimson Combine, broken down by position. Note: The following is meant as an identification of some top players in the age group. I spent more time watching the ’05s who were playing basically simultaneously, but I believe this is an accurate representation of the ’06 standouts from the event.
Forwards
Michael Hagens
Mount Saint Charles, 11/3/06, left shot
Hagens was dynamic at times during this event. His speed, quickness and skill all shined through. He’s not the biggest player on the ice, but he’s crafty and willing to go to areas of the ice that have high traffic.
Nate Porter
Junior Eagles, 3/10/06, right shot
Porter has a lot of skill and can play a power or finesse game. He has the skill, is willing to drive the net, and can shoot it hard. He produced here and was really good during my viewings.
Gavin Cornforth
Junior Eagles, 12/15/06, right shot
Cornforth has a lot of upside as a power forward with his size, strength, shot and ability to protect pucks.
Ben Nakata
Boston Advantage, 8/30/06, left shot
I continue to say this, but Nakata is one of the most underrated players in this age group. He might not have the high-end skill or flash to his game that others do, but he’s a smart hockey player. He sees the ice well and makes plays. For a player this age, he has good habits and is solid away from the puck.
Walker Bright
Mid Fairfield, 6/3/06, right shot
Bright is a playmaker who has good vision, skill and skates well. He creates a lot of offense on the rush.
Tyler Kelly
Junior Eagles, 2/21/06, left shot
Kelly’s skating and speed are truly dynamic. I haven’t seen a player in this age group across the entire country who is as fast. He’s got that trademark move where he picks up speed and goes coast to coast.
Elliott Schaller
Philadelphia Junior Flyers, 9/1/06, left shot
I don’t believe I had seen Schaller play prior to this combine, but I was impressed. He’s a little on the smaller side, but he’s quick and put the puck in the back of the net at least a couple of times.
Michael Minchello
Junior Eagles, 1/1/06, right shot
Minchello has the skill to put the puck in the back of the net. He’s a good skater and I think he could continue to climb the development ladder, especially if he finds more consistency to his game.
Benjamin Bradley
Mid Fairfield, 6/1/06, right shot
Bradley is a power forward who scored a couple of goals in my viewings here. He has the size and looked to be a goal scorer.
Patrick Fortune
LA Junior Kings, 9/11/06, left shot
Fortune is a skilled and crafty forward who buzzes all over the ice. He’s more than held his own the couple of times I’ve seen him play in the New England area and beyond.
Lance Roberts
Eaglebrook, 1/1/06, left shot
Roberts is a small and quick forward who I noted positively a couple of times over the two days.
Defensemen
Drake Murray
Los Angeles Junior Kings, 3/29/06, right shot
Murray has a ton of upside and was all the buzz among the agents I talked to after the event. He’s a big, two-way defenseman. He’s a smooth skater who jumps into the rush, jumpstarts the offense from the back end, and can shoot it hard. In his own zone and defending on the rush, he’s rangy and closes quickly on opposing forwards.
Liam O’Keefe
Dexter Southfield, 1/1/06, left shot
O’Keefe has good size, kept things simple and played his usual steady game. I really like his game as a solid two-way defender.
Blake Stant
Mid Fairfield, 4/1/06, left shot
I thought Stant was really good here. He’s not a player who jumps right off the page at you, but he’s a smooth skater, walked the blue line, and got some shots on net. He’s solid and defends well.
Charlie Windwer
Mid Fairfield, 1/18/06, right shot
Windwer is a mobile, two-way defenseman who plays an aggressive game. He’s physical and athletic. He’ll jump into the offense and he’ll take away time and space from opposing forwards.
Noah Jettelson
Mid Fairfield, 3/13/06, right shot
Jettelson is a rangy, defensive defenseman who I put a few pluses next to during the two days.
Christian Bifano
Long Island Gulls, 10/1/06, right shot
Bifano is a smaller defenseman with mobility and a good stick.
Brady Flynn
Junior Eagles, 1/1/06, left shot
Flynn is a confident, poised, puck-moving defenseman. He’s not that flashy, but his feet are good and he makes good decisions to push the pace in transition.
Cooper Cleaves
Mid Fairfield, 1/5/06, right shot
Cleaves plays a mature game and he’s physically strong. He has a future as a defensive defenseman.
Jack Montaldo
Long Island Royals, 6/1/06, right shot
Montaldo is a mobile, offensive defenseman who I noticed a couple of times during the two days.
Goaltenders
Hayden Thorsen
New Jersey Colonials, 1/12/06, catches left
Thorsen is a huge goaltender who takes up a lot of the net. I haven’t seen every goaltender in this age group across the country, but I’d be hard pressed to believe that he isn’t in the running for the NTDP.
Evan Zhang
Roxbury Latin, 2/2/06, catches left
Zhang is the best ’06 goaltender I’ve seen in New England. He moves well laterally, covers up rebounds and is fundamentally sound.
