BOSTON – Several players stood out at the inaugural Massachusetts High School Hockey Showcase this past weekend at Boston University’s Walter Brown Arena.
The three-day event was open to any player competing for a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) team in 2017-18. NHL scouts and college coaches ran practices and manned the benches during the games, which featured more than 100 players across six teams.
Mike Levine, Vegas Golden Knights Director of Amateur Free Agents, put together the showcase. A former player at Sandwich High School, Levine played college hockey at Utica College before coaching in preps at New Hampton and Kimball Union, then collegiately at ECAC program Brown.
Other coaches at the event included Northeastern associate head coach Jerry Keefe, Harvard associate head coach Paul Pearl, Babson head coach Jamie Rice, New York Rangers scout Brendan Clark, Suffolk assistant coach John Burgess and Wentworth assistant coach Ryan McGrath.
The two players with the highest ceilings were both ‘03s, Malden Catholic defenseman Brendan Fitzgerald and Westborough High School forward Cameron Sullivan.
Check out New England Hockey Journal's full analysis of the showcase's top 20 prospects below.
1. Brendan Fitzgerald
• #3 Blackhawks, Malden Catholic, ‘03, Defense, Left Shot
Fitzgerald was really good. He might not be a sure thing like his two older brothers, Ryan and Casey, but he’s going to be a heck of a prospect in his own right. He plays confidently and tough. He has tight gaps and a good stick to defend. He transitions quickly from defense to offense.
2. Cameron Sullivan
• #9 Golden Knights, Westborough, ‘03, Right Wing, Right Shot
Sullivan is a great skater who competes hard. He does a good job finding seams in opposing defenses and getting chances. He’s still flying somewhat under the radar, but he’ll pop in time.
3. Patrick Somerville
• #16 Blackhawks, Arlington Catholic, ‘02, Forward, Right Shot
Somerville is a good, fast skater who plays with pace. His next challenge is improving his hockey sense to make the most out of his physical ability.
4. Jack Simon
• #5 Blackhawks, Arlington, ‘01, Defense, Left Shot
Simon has always stood out in past viewings of the Spy Ponders, but he was really good here. He activated as a fourth forward from the back-end, had good feet to walk the blue line, and made some good passes.
5. Jagger Benson
• #4 Kings, Malden Catholic, ‘00, Defense, Right Shot
Benson is skilled and skates well, but his hockey sense needs improvement. He turned the puck over a few times here. He might be better off converting to forward as his skill set is good enough to continue moving up.
6. Matt Lakus
• #10 Blackhawks, BC High, ‘00, Forward, Right Shot
Lakus has continued to improve under John Flaherty at BC High. He’s got good size and uses it to get on pucks and fend off defenders once he gets possession. His first step could use some work.
7. Joe Scheschareg
• #16 Bruins, Arlington, ‘01, Center, Left Shot
Scheschareg has a good offensive skill set and he sees the ice well. He makes good tape-to-tape passes and scored a nifty goal a shootout.
8. Michael Tersoni
• #17 Blackhawks, Framingham, ‘01, Forward, Left shot
Tersoni has quietly put together a nice high school career with the Flyers. He’s a good skater who can make some plays and he uses his brain to think the game through.
9. Anthony Messuri
• #11 Blackhawks, Arlington, ‘01, Forward, Left Shot
Messuri, the son of Spy Ponders head coach John Messuri, is quick and crafty.
10. Andrew Malatesta
• #11 Kings, Arlington, ‘01, Forward, Left Shot
Malatesta has good speed and can generate some offense through his ability to keep his feet moving and get to pucks.
11. Ryan O’Halloran
• #12 Blackhawks, Burlington, ‘02, Forward, Left Shot
O’Halloran is a good skater and does a nice job playing a complete game, even in summer hockey.
12. William Cohen
• #2 Bruins, Austin Prep, ‘02, Defense, Right Shot
Cohen is a steady defender who skates well, has good gaps, and a solid stick to match. He’s not flashy, but he generates possession for his team.
13. Dominic Metro
• #2 Golden Knights, Arlington Catholic, ‘02, Defense, Left Shot
Metro has good size, length and defends with his reach and stick. There's some serious potential here.
14. William Jennings
• #9 Kings, Matignon, ‘01, Forward, Left Shot
Jennings made a great look to the weak side for a one-timer goal on Sunday. He has some size and potential.
15. Josh Barton
• #14 Blackhawks, St. John’s Shrewsbury, ‘00, Forward, Left shot
Barton has good size and skates well enough to hold onto pucks and create offensive chances. He drove the net a few times, including for a rebound goal on Sunday.
16. Henry Reznicek
• #15 Blackhawks, Malden Catholic, ‘99, Forward, Right Shot
Reznicek was one of the older players at the showcase and it showed. He scored a couple of goals from atop the goalmouth.
17. Ryan Pomposelli
• #15 Bruins, Xaverian, ‘01, Forward, Left Shot
Pomposelli is a rugged, physically mature winger with a heavy shot. He’ll need to improve his skating to keep moving up the ladder.
18. Brendan Pigott
• #14 Bruins, Arlington, ‘02, Forward, Right Shot
Pigott skates well and has some good hands. He scored a nice forehand goal that he roofed right under the bar in the shootout.
19. Thomas Tavenner
• #5 Golden Knights, Andover, 03, Defense, Left Shot
Tavenner is on the smaller side, but he’s a mobile, offensive defenseman who made some heady passes and skated well.
20. Cade Beauparlant
• #5 Lightning, Newburyport, ‘01, Defense, Left Shot
Beauparlant is a solid, thick defender who uses his size and stick to defend. He deflected a few passes and shots out of play by having his stick in lanes.
