One of the biggest things that happens at the Mass. Hockey boys festival every year is projecting which players will make an impact in the next New England prep hockey season.
It's most fun to do with the youngest birth year. That was the 2010s this time around.
There were only a handful of '09s who made high-end impacts this past season, so it's a lot to ask of freshmen and sophomores to break out and be key players for their team. But prep is also getting younger, so it's not crazy to think some of these 2010-born players could make their presence felt next season.
A lot can change between now and November. But here are '10s from the Mass. Hockey Festival that should make an impact in prep next season.
Logan Cotter
St. Mark's, 8/17/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/146
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.Â
St. Mark's projects to lose three defensemen next season, so Cotter should have a route into the rotation. If there's anything head coach Carl Corazzini loves, it's offensive defensemen, and Cotter is that. The South Shore Kings product is a strong skater who finds ways to produce in the offensive zone. If he can become more responsible in his own zone, he should be reliable next season.
Robert Dekleine
Belmont Hill, 3/21/2010, F, left shot, 5-11/146
Hometown: Westboro, Mass.Â
While Belmont Hill projects to return a good amount of its scoring from last season. Still, Dekleine was one of the best '10 forwards at the festival. Dekleine has terrific hands and knows how to cut through defenders and into Grade-A areas. He has good speed and takes smart routes through the neutral zone. He should push for a consistent role in the Sextants' offense next season.
Carter Felt
Rivers, 8/17/2010, F, left shot, 5-8/145
Hometown: Natick, Mass.Â
Rivers projects to lose its entire top six from last season, which should pave the way for Felt to get plenty of opportunity. Felt is a forward with an elite level of compete. He's physical and doesn't shy away from corners, contact and the front of the net. He has good skill and patience with the puck, which should help him be productive next winter.
USNTDP: Which ’10s from Massachusetts are on the NTDP track?Â
Sam Fishbone
St. Sebastian's, 4/5/2010, D, right shot
Hometown: Needham, Mass.Â
Fishbone played with St. Sebastian's last season as an eighth grader, scoring two goals and tallying four assists in 26 games. He's still undersized, but his puck-moving abilities could help generate offense for the Arrows.
Alexander Guo
Belmont Hill, 5/5/2010, D, left shot
Hometown: Weston, Mass.Â
Guo didn't make Select 15 Camp, but he's still a threat for Belmont Hill next season. He's a poised puck-mover who can create offense. At the festival, he was able to facilitate in the offensive zone, find open players lower in the zone and walk the blue line well enough to fake out opposing players. He saw some time with Belmont Hill this past winter, scoring a goal and tallying five assists in 32 games.
Sam Lee
Belmont Hill, 2010, F, left shot
Hometown: Woburn, Mass.Â
The Sextants are only losing three senior forwards, so there won't be a lot of spots. But, like Dekleine, it will be hard to keep Lee from playing. He has phenomenal hands and a scoring touch. He projects as someone who could make a real impact next winter.
Owen Lundin
Lawrence Academy, 1/1/2010, F, right shot, 5-9/152
Hometown: Bolton, Mass.Â
Lundin showed off great hands and an ability to get to scoring areas over the last two weekends. That could come in handy next winter for Lawrence Academy, as the Spartans are set to lose their top two scorers.
Brendan Martin
St. Sebastian's, 1/20/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/136
Hometown: Dedham, Mass.Â
St. Sebastian's was a young team last season, which means the Arrows won't lose much on defense next season. Still, Martin showed well at both weekends of the festival and made Select 15 Camp. If he progresses through the summer and fall, it will be hard for him not to see minutes come the winter.
SELECTIONS: 17 make Select 15 Camp | 15 make Select 16 Camp | 15 make Select 17 Camp
Jorden Marzi
Rivers, 2010, D, left shot
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass.Â
Marzi is an interesting case. He's a highly offensive defenseman who is adept at moving pucks. While Rivers will lose a lot up front, the Red Wings have a stable core returning on defense next season. Marzi might not start out getting a lot of minutes, but head coach Freddy Meyer has shown an openness to giving younger players a longer rope. Marzi should be able to make an impact.
Jack Queally
St. Sebastian's, 7/27/2010, F, left shot, 5-11/175
Hometown: Milton, Mass.Â
This is an easy one. Queally was St. Sebastian's No. 1 center for most of this past season, and that shouldn't change next season. He's a two-way force with the size and skill to compete with other top players. Were his four goals and 11 points in 22 games flashy last season? No, but the ingredients are there for him to take a big step next season.
Drew Short
Winchendon, 3/14/2010, F, left shot, 5-10/175
Hometown: Lunenburg, Mass.Â
Short played with Winchendon last season as a freshman, so that should give him a leg up to make an impact as a sophomore. At the festival, Short showed an ability to drive play and get open in scoring areas. He also had good vision to find open teammates on the cycle.
Nicholas Ware
Belmont Hill, 1/5/2010, D, left shot, 5-9/137
Hometown: Weymouth, Mass.Â
Ware's stock is high after the festival. He showed himself as a strong skater who could rush the puck and create offense at one end, while being responsible and shutting opponents down at the other. Most of Belmont Hill's defensive core were seniors, so there should be a lane for Ware to step in and make an impact.
Blake Wilichoski
Milton Academy, 4/18/2010, F, right shot
Hometown: Danvers, Mass.Â
This is a phenomenal get for Milton Academy. The Mustangs project to lose four of their top five scorers from last season, which should allow Wilichoski to make an impact. There's no doubt that he will be able to, as he's a responsible, two-way forward who has a high offensive upside. He has good speed and can cut through opposing defenses to get himself to Grade-A ice.
READ MORE: 10 players who boosted stock at the Mass. Hockey boys festival
Austin Wu
St. Sebastian's, 1/28/2010, F, left shot, 5-9/140
Hometown: Dedham, Mass.Â
Wu was the most productive player in this story, who was in prep last season, scoring nine goals and notching 17 points in 27 games. The big question: What does the next step look like? The Arrows should be better, and Wu is already a powerful player. I don't think getting close to (or surpassing) the point-per-game mark is out of the question.
