We have a funny habit of comparing things because they follow one another. Whether fair or not, it's a natural thing to do.
I grew up near Mad Willie's, an ice cream shop in Framingham, Mass. The original owners were the best — a husband and wife who took the time to greet you with a smile and some great ice cream. The more times you went, the more likely they were to remember your exact order despite the line going through the front door.
But then they decided to sell, and a new owner took over. He was fine, but it wasn't the same. Was he worse than them? I'm not sure, but the standard was set so high by the previous group that following them was an almost impossible task.
We see this with hockey teams. The rising seniors tasked with following a championship from a previous season often struggle to reach that same level. It's not their fault they're following a generational act.
I find myself feeling this way about the 2010-born players from Massachusetts after the Mass. Hockey boys festival.
Every year, the biggest question at the festival outside of "who is going to Buffalo?" is "which players from the youngest birth year could make the U.S. National Team Development Program next year?"
Before even answering that, the unfortunate reality for '10 NTDP hopefuls has to be acknowledged: look at who they're following.
Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.) and Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) came with hype and lived up to all of it. They played on the same teams and, most of the time, on the same line. They skated together at NTDP Evaluation Camp in March and had no issue making the team. They were productive as eighth graders at Rivers and even better as freshmen, with Meyer posting 41 goals and 70 points, Sears notching 22 goals and 53 points and Pandolfo scoring 10 times and adding 26 assists.
Go back through prep history and find a season like that for players at that age, let alone three. You'll be scrolling for a long time.
It's not right to do, but the '10 NTDP hopefuls this season will be matched up and compared with those three '09s.
Now, how many '10 NTDP hopefuls are there?
Coming out of the festival, I believe there is only one definite Evaluation Camp candidate, and that's St. Sebastian's center Jack Queally (Milton, Mass.).
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Queally was dominant throughout the festival as a responsible, two-way center. He drove play, distributed well and created chances offensively with his skill and skating. His hockey IQ is extremely high and what sets him apart. There were numerous plays that he anticipated and was in the right spot for. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 174 pounds, he plays bigger than he is and protects pucks well.
He spent the winter playing for St. Sebastian's and the 14U Neponset Valley River Rats. As the Arrows' No. 1 center, he tallied three goals and 10 points in 20 games, while notching 26 goals and 68 points at the 14U level for the River Rats.
From talking to people around the rink, others feel the same way about Queally. One person even made a comparison to former NTDP Camp invite and Boston College commit Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.). While Mutryn didn't make the team for U17, he joined the U18s later this past winter and is a two-way power forward.
Many people I talked to over the last two weekends think Queally is the only definite right now. But that could change.
Another intriguing name to watch is Blake Wilichoski (Danvers, Mass.). Believe it or not, I take pretty rigorous notes when I watch games, and I had him listed 10 (yes, ten) times in Saturday's game. He's responsible in his own zone with smart positioning and getting back, while also being a problem for opposing defensemen. He's able to generate speed quickly with fast feet, protect pucks and he always seems to make the right play. He also consistently took smart routes to the Grade-A areas.
He had 44 goals and 72 points in 31 games for the Hillside School this past year and is slated to be at Milton Academy next season. NTDP eyes should be on him.
Belmont Hill has a handful of intriguing 2010s. If forward Robert Dekleine (Westboro, Mass.) progresses and defenseman Nicholas Ware (Weymouth, Mass.) continues his development, they could be candidates.
Austin Wu (Dedham, Mass.) at St. Sebastian's is another name to watch. Wu plays a powerful game and was one of the top forwards both weekends at the festival. He has a hard, accurate shot and has long, powerful strides that get him up ice quickly. He had 17 points in 23 games for St. Sebastian's this past season.
SELECTIONS: 17 from Mass. picked for Select 15s | 15 from Mass. picked for Select 16s | 15 from Mass. picked for Select 17s
Other names could emerge, but the biggest takeaway is that this isn't like the '09s. Massachusetts may not necessarily have surefire NTDP players for next season.
It will take time.
