The New England Hockey Journal goaltender assessment series rolls on with a closer look at the best 2005, 2006 and 2007 prospects at the position.
This list was built from live viewings during the 2021-22 hockey season, plus Massachusetts and New England District (for the ’05 and ’06 players) festival action in April and May.
Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) headlined part 1 of the series, as the Boston University junior and Chicago Blackhawks prospect is on track to be a productive pro.
The ’05-‘07s are a little tougher to project given their age, but '06 Nobles freshman Thatcher Bernstein (Brookline, Mass.) is one of several players who has elevated his stock.
2005
Best: Sam Scopa (Lexington, Mass.)
Belmont Hill/Junior Eagles, 1/10/05, catches left, 6-0/175
The rising junior was outstanding in summer play a year ago, then followed it up with a stellar fall and prep season with the Eagles and Sextants, respectively. Whatever he lacks in ideal size, he more than makes up for with his athleticism, fluid movements, ability to see the puck/read the play, and tremendous competitive drive. He was brought up to the U.S. National Team at the end of the season. The USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders drafted him to be their goalie of the future after he spends another year at Belmont Hill, and look for him to be in play for a NCAA commitment sometime after August 1.
Honorable mention
Tyler Bloomfield (Hudson, Mass.)
Nobles/Little Bruins, 3/31/05, catches left, 5-11/175
Bloomfield, while solid yet unspectacular, is underrated in his ability to locate pucks and set his feet to make the first save. He’s poised and flexible in his net, extending his limbs to deny quick shots or getting down to seal off the lower portions of the net. Like Scopa, he doesn’t have the kind of size colleges look for, but he’s talented and competitive.
Ryan Nolan (Hampton, N.H.)
Seacoast Performance Academy, 8/17/05, catches left, 5-11/165
The ’05 national camp selection from the New England District, Nolan will stay close to home to play for Alan Thompson at Holderness School next season. Although he has average size, he plays big in his net and will come out of his net to challenge shooters. Quick and smooth laterally, he’s good at tracking pucks and anticipates where the high danger chances are coming from.
Mitch Stenger (Wilton, Conn.)
Canterbury, 1/5/05, catches left, 6-5/215
Massive, intriguing and still quite raw, Stenger came to prep hockey from the Bishop Kearney Selects program in Rochester. He’s huge and automatically attracts notice for how much of the net he covers, but will have to iron out his technique and cut down on allowing leaky goals. He’s calm in his crease and doesn’t get overactive.
Will Baker (Norwalk, Conn.)
Brunswick/Mid Fairfield, 3/2/05, catches left, 5-10/160
Another smallish but smart and unheralded goalie, Baker backed up Brendan Holahan (New Canaan, Conn.) this season. He performed well in fall play with the Jr. Rangers 16-U team and brings a natural anticipation to the position. He does a good job of adjusting his stance and position to take away shooting angles and openings in the net.
2006
Best: Thatcher Bernstein (Brookline, Mass.)
Nobles/Junior Eagles, 7/17/06, catches left, 6-3/200
Had an impressive start in prep as a freshman, winning Flood-Marr MVP honors with his size, athleticism and poise. Although there were some bumps in the road as the season went on, he parlayed the season into an invitation to the U.S. National Team Development Program, but will be back at Nobles. Drafted by Dubuque in the USHL, the future is bright.
Honorable mention
Ryder Shea (Framingham, Mass.)
St. George’s/Little Bruins, 5/4/06, catches left, 6-1/180
After a strong fall with the Little Bruins, Shea was even better with the Dragons as a sophomore. He has good size, sees the ice well, and competes hard to keep pucks out of his net. Like Bernstein, he went to Michigan in March for Team USA evaluation camp. Cedar Rapids selected him in the USHL Futures Draft earlier this month.
Kyle Bolduc (Bolton, Conn.)
Yale Bulldogs/Springfield Jr. Pics, 4/19/06, catches left, 6-0/154
Impressed in live looks last fall with the Bulldogs, and was the best goaltender at the April NED festival in Attleboro. He plays with good net depth, smoothly moves across his crease to snuff out shots and absorb pucks into his midsection. Chosen to represent New England at the Select 16 National Camp in Amherst, N.Y., in July, he’s an interesting project player to watch.
Keagin Wilson (Hingham, Mass.)
Hingham HS/River Rats, 10/12/06, catches left, 5-9/140
Had a terrific freshman campaign for the Harbormen, despite being a smaller player with a throwback (to the 1980s) playing style relying on quickness, cutting down angles and smart positioning. He made the New England Hockey Journal MIAA All-Rookie 2nd team, and is one to watch.
2007
Best: Anthony Palmer (Lynnfield, Mass.)
St. Mary’s/River Rats, 10/28/07, catches left, 5-7/135
First live viewing was at last August’s River Rats Jamboree, when he shut out the high-powered Junior Eagles 14-U team 1-0, and Palmer just continued to play well as he went along. He carried that over to the 2022 Mass. Hockey Festival Final 40 weekend, earning one of two spots to Select 15 National Camp in Amherst, N.Y. in a couple of months. He’s athletic, driven and battles to the very end. If he can keep growing, there’s long-term potential here with his foundation and compete.
Honorable mention
Devin Mehta (Princeton, Mass.)
Boston Advantage, 9/19/07, catches left, 5-6/130
Had a very good weekend this month in Marlboro, earning the other nod to National Camp in July with Palmer. He’s a less-is-more/economy-of-motion goaltender who lets pucks hit him. Patient and focused, he has the quick reflexes to recover quickly and set himself for secondary scoring chances. Good fundamentals.
Derrick Huang (Carlisle, Mass.)
Junior Eagles, 6/07, catches left, 5-10/174
Formed half of a strong Eagles tandem in net with J.J. Thibodeau, and was very good at the Mass. Festival Final 40 first day of action, making numerous athletic stops and securing a win for his team. It didn't result in a call to national camp, but he's an area prospect to watch next season.
Jason “J.J.” Thibodeau (Waltham, Mass.)
Junior Eagles, 2/20/07, catches left, 5-9/135
Although not selected for national camp, he has good structure in his game, with a compact stance and the ability to show patience or the acrobatic skill to make desperation saves. He’s been a solid performer as a bantam, and expect that trend to continue.
