Vancouver Canucks scout Vinny Montelbano hosted the annual Kings of East Coast Showcase over the past three days at UMass Lowell’s Tsongas Arena.
While the eight-team field didn’t have the high-end players that some showcases do, it’s a great take for some late bloomers or under-the-radar players looking to get seen by Division I and Division III college coaches. All the players in the showcase were uncommitted. There were a lot of NESCAC coaches, other Division III coaches, and a smattering of Division I coaches in the rink.
It’s a great event to scout. All the games are on one rink so there’s no bouncing around in hopes of seeing everyone. Rosters and line charts are provided ahead of time. Kudos to Montelbano and John Healey, who helps put on the Kings of East Coast Showcase.
A good majority of the players in the Kings of East Coast Showcase are likely headed to Division III or club hockey, but there were a couple of standouts who certainly have the opportunity to prove they belong on a Division I roster someday.
One big takeaway from this showcase was that Tilton will have a very good team in 2019-20. The defending NEPSAC Small School Champion, the Rams should make another run this year. Brooks McQuade has done a very good job of getting talent to Tilton and his team should be in the hunt for a spot in the Elite 8 this season.
Broken down by position, here is a look at the top prospects from the Kings of East Coast Showcase:
Forwards
1. Jackson Hallum
#93 NorthStar Elite MN, St. Thomas Academy, 9/15/02, Left Shot, 6-1/170
Hallum was the top prospect at the showcase with his speed and ability to get chances. He’s one of the fastest players I’ve seen all summer. He made a couple of nice passes, as well. If he can develop more of a finishing touch, he’ll generate even more interest than he surely did after the three days in Lowell.
2. Jack Seymour
#13 NH Granitemen, Tilton, 4/6/01, Right Shot, 5-9.5/148
Seymour will be one of the more coveted forwards in prep hockey as he enters 2019-20 without a commit. The Quebec native is a very good skater with the second gear to beat defenders. He went to the net and scored a couple by beating defenders to the far post for easy finishes. His skating and skill are both very good and stood out at this showcase.Â
3. Cade Ahrenholz
#42 NorthStar Elite MN, Lakeville South, 11/30/02, Right Shot, 6-3/201
Ahrenholz is a big power forward who projects as a third line winger with the ability to bring it physically. He was good down low and went to the net. He has to be even more assertive in order for his game to the next step.
4. Nik Norman
#8 MN Blades, Jamestown Rebels, 3/8/01, Left Shot, 5-10/168
A former Minnesota commit, Gorman is a good skater who has the speed to beat defenders. He made some plays, but needs to play more between the circles in order to regain that Division I commit.
5. Cooper Gay
#28 NorthStar Elite MN, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 3/15/02, Left Shot, 6-3/185
Gay scored a beauty of a goal coming down the left wing. A big forward, he drives the net, plays hard, and is heavy on pucks.
6. Matthew Beaty
#9 NorthStar Elite MN, Prior Lake, 8/11/02, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Beaty could become a good bottom six forward with the energy he brings. He doesn’t have the hockey sense to be a top six, but he’s quick and plays with an edge.
7. Mike Tersoni
#9 NH Granitemen, Tilton, 3/29/01, Left Shot, 5-9/160
Tersoni is heading to Tilton after a stellar four-year career at Framingham High. He’s fast and skates well. He made some nice passes to facilitate offense, including a great look to the backdoor for a goal as he pivoted out of the right wing corner.
8. Cade DeStafani
#12 EC Kings, Northeast Generals, 6/21/01, Right Shot, 6-2/170
DeStefani looks to have put on some more muscle and might be a little taller. His junior experience showed during the showcase and he produced. He’ll be making the jump to the NAHL after playing last year in the USPHL NCDC.
9. Chris Kernan
#96 NorthStar Elite MN, Maple Grove, 7/15/02, Right Shot, 5-11/170
Kernan is a good skater and is strong on his skates. He plays bigger than he is and shows some potential.
10. Ryan O’Halloran
#16 Boston HC, Burlington, 5/2/02, Left Shot, 5-10/145
O’Halloran made a really nice pass to a linemate for a goal on a two-on-one rush and then split the defense and scored on a nice finish during another sequence. He showed off his skating and extra gear when he split the defense. He’s athletic and competes, but his habits need to improve in order to take his game to the next level. A three-sport athlete, that could come if he does a post-grad year following his senior season with the Red Devils.
11. Jon Tavella
#5 NH Granitemen, Tilton, 11/17/00, Right Shot, 5-7/170
Tavella works extremely hard and hunts pucks. He’s a very effective F1, wins races to loose pucks, and brings energy each shift. He’s doing a post-grad year at Tilton following a nice career at Pope Francis.
12. Max Cocchi
#8 NH Granitemen, Tilton, 10/3/00, Right Shot, 5-7/155
Cocchi makes plays and is a very good passes. He keeps his feet moving. Like Tavella, he’s heading to Tilton after graduating from Pope Francis.
13. Tyler Gaulin
#6 NH Granitemen, Berwick, 11/9/01, Left Shot, 6-0/163
Gaulin is an underrated prospect. He has length and a deceptive release on his shot. A good-sized forward, he has a good stick and should score plenty of goals for Jeoff Jarnot at Berwick.
14. Jake Black
#26 EC Kings, Winchendon, 3/5/02, Right Shot, 5-10/150
Black was a pleasant surprise. He’s a good skater and made plays. He scored a couple of goals, as well. His older brother, Ryan Black, plays at Babson.
15. Henry Eischen
#12 MN Blades, Hill-Murray, 3/21/02, Right Shot, 5-9/165
Eischen is a good skater who plays with pace.
16. Farrell Dinn
#9 DMV Prospects, Team Maryland 18U, 5/11/02, Left Shot, 5-9/165
Dinn was an unknown, at least to me, heading into this showcase. He had a good few days and produced. He made a nice for an assist on a two-on-one and scored the game-winning goal Wednesday morning on a backhander.
17. Tae Lee
#11 NH Granitemen, Tilton, 4/19/00, Right Shot, 5-10/152
Lee had a tip-in goal and made a couple of nice passes. He should have a good senior campaign for Tilton and could be a solid prospect for a local Division III school.
18. Will Halecki
#17 Boston HC, Tabor, 4/19/02, Right Shot, 5-8/165
Halecki scored a goal on a nice shot from a bad angle. He’s making the move from Pingree to Tabor.
19. Matthew Yeager
#9 NorthStar Elite Atlantic, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 18U, 5/21/02, Right Shot, 6-5/210
Yeager is a big winger and moves OK for his size. He could make the jump to the Jr. Sabres’ OJHL team after playing with the organization’s 16U team in 2018-19.
20. Nick Wood
#8 DMV Prospects, Potomac Patriots, 10/12/01, Right Shot, 5-10/152
Wood found the score sheet and played hard, delivering a couple of big hits and bringing energy along the wall and on the forecheck.
Defensemen
1. James Miller
#2 MN Blades, Minnetonka, 9/7/01, Left Shot, 5-10/165
Miller is a flashy, puck-moving defender. He’s smooth with very good feet. He has a hard wrist shot and has an ability to get shots through to the net from the point.
2. Nick Hauck
#6 MN Blades, Maryland Black Bears, 3/11/01, Left Shot, 6-0/190
Hauck was good on retrievals and had good gaps and stick defending the rush. He makes good reads and also had a couple of shots from the point, including one that was tipped home. He’s not as flashy as Miller, but he was steady and reliable in both zones.
3. Carter Rose
#24 NorthStar Elite Atlantic, Holderness, 8/9/02, Left Shot, 5-11.25/178
Rose is an intriguing prospect. He played a big role in Holderness’ run to the NEPSAC Small School Tournament final. He’s physical and makes some solid plays defending one-on-one. If his skating and compete can improve further, he’ll get more looks.
Goaltenders
1. Brennan Boynton
#33 MN Blades, Fargo Force, 8/1/00, Catches Left, 5-11/145
Boynton moves well and has decent size. He has composure in the crease and could be making the jump to the USHL after graduating and playing a few games in the NAHL with Brookings in 2018-19.
2. Justin Lee
#29 NH Granitemen, Tilton, 1/21/01, Catches Left, 5-8.25/138
Lee made a couple of good saves and was solid statistically over the course of the three days. He’ll likely log most of the minutes for Tilton.
