MARLBORO, Mass. — The recently concluded Eastern Alliance Kickoff tournament featured some 220 teams and more than 880 games across multiple venues over the Labor Day holiday.
While New England Hockey Journal couldn’t possibly hope to cover it all, we were able to focus our efforts on a competitive 16-U (red) division with games played at the New England Sports Center.
The Boston Jr. Eagles split-season squad, coached by Kent Hughes with Paul Cannata, captured the tourney crown with a hard-fought victory over a Long Island Gulls 16-U team that lost a key contributor in ’06 forward Trevor Connolly to injury in pool play.
Again, there were more quality players than we can list in one single offering, but these ’05 and ’06 birth year prospects made a positive impression and are on track to have strong years both on split-season and full-season teams.
Forwards
19 Ben Yurchuk
LI Gulls, 2/19/05, left, 5-10/160, NCAA commit: Northeastern
Not much to add here other than the Chicago Steel first-rounder and recent Northeastern commit continued what he showed at the River Rats Jamboree. He plays with a lot of skill and pure instinct- dangerous every time he’s on the ice.
23 Daniel Markevych
Jr. Eagles (Hughes)/Lawrence Academy, 2/2/05, left, 5-10/175
Toronto native of Ukrainian descent appears to have passed on the OHL to pursue the NCAA path. The past week was a coming-out party for him, as he demonstrated a lot of skill and ability to make nifty offensive plays. He has good height and will be even more formidable as he fills out his lean frame.
11 Kamil Bednarik
NJ Rockets, 5/26/06, left, 5-11/154
Chicago-area native left the Mission AAA program to play for the Rockets and was one of the best players on his squad as an ’06. He’ll be an early P1 USHL pick with his ability to skate, put defenders on their heels and get to the net with crafty IQ and soft hands.
17 Jack Sadowski
Jr. Eagles (Hughes)/Arlington HS, 7/29/06, left, 5-10/150 (Arlington, Mass.)
Actively involved in his team’s attack, the MIAA star was noticeable in every game we observed. He’s got a natural nose for the net and buzzes around with and without the puck constantly.
11 Luke Drury
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick, 5/24/05, left, 5-6/180
Outstanding athlete and son of NY Rangers GM Chris Drury has a thick build and powerful core, which allows him to drive through contact and get to the net. Very good on draws and plays a detail-oriented game- looks like he will keep on getting better. He was a steal by Des Moines, who got him in the 22nd round of the Phase 2 draft.
8 Nate Porter
Jr. Eagles (Moran)/Dexter Southfield, 3/10/06, left, 5-10/160 (Hingham, Mass.)
Another skilled and talented ’06 in a deep regional birth year who had a strong Massachusetts Districts showing in late spring and has carried that over into summer hockey and now with the Eagles. Can skate and create, plays with pace.
91 Ben Poitras
Buffalo Regals/Salisbury, 7/18/05, left, 5-11/170, NCAA commit: Northeastern
Another recruit for Northeastern, another extremely talented forward with big upside. The fifth-round OHL pick by the Saginaw Spirit was also a great value for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. Powerful skater who has excellent lateral movement and terrific vision to find open big bookend linemates Ty Creech and Michael Strapp with on-target passes.
7 Jack Plandowski
BK Selects, 4/13/05, left, 5-8/172
An outstanding skater who has it in the bloodlines and was so smooth in the way he got around the ice surface. As he develops his all-around game, he will likely elevate a very good Bishop Kearney 16 team. He and Owen King were able to create and make plays consistently here. USHL rights: Green Bay.
52 Eli Friedman
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick, 4/29/05, right, 5-10/164, NCAA commit: Yale
Quick, slick playmaker from Rye, N.Y. just committed to Yale over the weekend. He’s going to be a very good D-1 college player in a few years as he physically matures and brings his attacking mindset to the future Bulldogs’ forward group.
17 Thomas Klochkov
NJ Rockets, 3/3/05, left, 5-11/150, NCAA commit: UConn
Impressive showing from the Green Bay USHL futures draft pick last May. He motors effortlessly through the neutral zone and gains the offensive zone cleanly with his ability to avoid defenders and handle the puck at speed. Creative and dangerous, he scored a commitment to UConn over the summer.
20 Matt Cataldo
River Rats/St. Sebastian’s, 5/19/05, left, 5-11/195 (Norfolk, Mass.)
Older brother Michael’s mini-me, he’s heavy on pucks, competes hard and helps his team in all three zones. You can’t help but notice the compete and the way he sticks his nose in and grinds it out with opportunistic scoring to boot.
44 Joey Connor
Jr. Bulldogs/Avon, 5-10/170, left, 5-10/170 (Amherst, N.H.)
Sparkplug plays with skill and an edge. After helping the NE Crows win the ’05 division of the Jr. Chowder Cup, he’s a straw that stirs the drink for the Yale Bulldogs and will be part of a deep and dangerous forward group at Avon this winter.
46 Landan Resendes
River Rats/Cushing, 12/10/05, right, 5-7/140 (Marlborough, Mass.)
Late ’05 and Chicago Steel prospect played a lot of hockey this summer, but he doesn’t ever leave you wanting more with his speed, pace and exuberance. He’s got the natural scoring flair and just needs to develop physically and get valuable experience. He’ll play prep for Paul Pearl’s Penguins this winter.
14 Matthew Frost
South Kent, 9/11/06, left, 5-9/152
Not the most graceful of skaters, the ’06 we first noticed at the Jr. Chowder Cup nonetheless has sublime hands, a big shot. As he gets comfortable playing up, we expect bigger things.
21 Jack Pechar
South Kent, 3/20/05, right, 6-0/176
Hidden away on CP Dynamo a year ago, the exposure with a new program should help him to be drafted in the USHL at some point. He’s got deceptive speed, a wicked shot/release and a knack for making plays in tight spaces.
22 Cam Cooke
Little Bruins, 2/2/06, right, 6-2/170 (Pelham, N.H.)
This ’06 has it all: size, skating, hockey IQ, compete and the character to go out and work hard all over the ice instead of just trying to dangle everyone and focus on offense. Would like to see him shoot the puck more, but that’s a minor quibble. He’ll get a chance at making the National Team.
93 Jamison Sluys
LI Gulls
Omaha Lancers 10th-rounder was a likely steal because the Washington state native was up at Delta Hockey Academy and didn’t get many looks. With ties to Nebraska as Jed Ortmeyer’s nephew, he’s fast and skilled, a rink rat who needs to build up his strength but will put in the work.
63 Teddy MacAusland
Little Bruins, 1/13/06, right, 5-8/160 (Westwood, Mass.)
Shifty, slick, even dynamic little water bug is on pucks in an instant and can pick the corners with a pinpoint release when he has time and space. Although size is an issue, he’s got the attributes to succeed at the next level as a smaller forward.
29 Chris Battaini
South Kent, 6/27/05, left, 5-8/142
Goal scorer who impressed along with linemate and fellow ’05 Corson Maguire against a strong Little Bruins team that went the distance in a shootout during their playoff game. Battaini won it with a wicked snipe.
18 Henry Butte
Cape Cod Whalers/Dexter Southfield, 3/23/05, left, 5-11/175 (Belmont, Mass.)
Brother of Army captain (and former Belmont Hill standout) Eric Butte impressed with his pace and heavy on pucks style, plus an ability to find quiet ice. There’s not a lot of flash here, but the substance is what helps good teams win.
Defensemen
71 Sloan Farmer
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick, 6/2/05, left, 5-11/165 (Old Greenwich, Conn.)
His fall play has been big time, as he wheels, moves pucks with authority and plays with tight gaps and an active stick. A nice D-1 commitment should be soon in the offing for this defenseman who was arguably the best player in the division here. Undrafted in the USHL, that was a mistake, and if a team can add him, that should happen. If not, he’ll be a pretty early 2022 Phase 2 pick.
5 Jonathan Lanza
Jr. Eagles (Hughes)/Dexter Southfield, 3/10/05, right, 5-11/175 (Westwood, Mass.)
Played hard and well here after being drafted by Cedar Rapids of the USHL. He’s got decent size and can move pucks with speed and catch opponents flat-footed with sneaky escapability as he breaks out.
44 Owen Keefe
Jr. Eagles (Hughes)/Malden Catholic, 3/26/06, left, 5-11/160 (Saugus, Mass.)
Athletic, strong and compact with excellent hands and feet. Catches pucks in his skates and kicks them easily to his stick without breaking stride. Advanced defensive acumen for his age and his offensive potential is coming along, too.
17 Jake Freelove
River Rats/Winchendon, 1/4/05, right, 5-10/175 (Tyngsboro, Mass.)
We keep coming back to this smooth-skating, poised two-way defender who jumps up into the play at the right times and just plays a smart, efficient game. He’ll get a commitment soon.
14 Curt Heath
River Rats/Milton, 1/12/05, left, 5-8/160 (West Bridgewater, Mass.)
Undersized, but he’s smart, gets back on pucks quickly and turns them up and out. He’s not flashy, but there are no glaring issues in his game.
Julian Brown
River Rats/Milton, 4/10/06, left, 6-2/180
Athlete! Tall and rangy, he was playing up for the 16 team after there were issues with the LI Gulls 15 roster that may not get sorted out. While his playing status is currently up in the air, his raw ability and potential are not. Pro hockey upside with his tools if he can keep developing them.
Goaltenders
29 Sam Scopa
Jr. Eagles/Belmont Hill, 1/10/05, left, 6-0/165 (Lexington, Mass.)
The undrafted (in the USHL) goalie had a great summer of hockey and followed it up by leading his team to the tournament win here. What is most impressive is how he bounced back from a poor performance against the NJ Rockets in pool play to run the table. He’s the total package of athleticism, puck tracking, hockey IQ and competitiveness.
1 Aiden Hopewell
Jr. Bulldogs/Kent, 1/10/05, left, 6-2/175
With the size and quickness he has, Hopewell can steal games. Both he and Rudy Guimond give the Bulldogs a nice 1-2 combo punch in net.
47 Zackary Ferris
LI Gulls, 1/24/05, left, 5-11/159
Not all that big, but the Pittsburgh-area native who played on USA’s 5-Nations-winning team is cat-quick and made some unbelievable stops when he had to. Playing for one of the top teams that defended well, he didn’t see a lot of rubber, but when he did, it was memorable. Good mental focus.
31 Ryder Shea
LI Gulls, 5/4/06, left, 6-1/190 (Framingham, Mass.)
Deserved a better fate in the playoff game against South Kent, but when dialed-in, he robs opposing teams of goals with his ability to push laterally to deny the one-timer. He can make the big stop when hung out to dry and has nice developmental potential going forward.
