With the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) season ending this past Sunday, New England Hockey Journal continues its look at the top players in the commonwealth, by birth year.
With the 2000s, there are significantly less high-end players still in Massachusetts’ high school hockey so there is only going to be an All-State Team (3 forwards, 2 defensemen, 1 goalie) followed by a few players worthy of honorable mention (listed in alphabetical order).
Thomas Kramer
#27 BC High, Jr., F, Shoots Left
There might not be a smarter player in MIAA hockey than Thomas Kramer. The Bridgewater, Mass., native comes from a hockey family. His older brother Patrick played in the USHL with Youngstown and is now at Merrimack. His younger brothers, twins Joseph and Peter, are two of the better ‘02s in the state. Kramer can slow things down and thinks the game well. He’s responsible in all three zones. The only issue is if he can play with enough pace to succeed at the next level.
Will Winship
#21 Central Catholic, Jr., F, Shoots Right
Winship has signed a tender to play for Sean Tremblay’s Islanders Hockey Club in the USPHL NCDC next fall. He has the size and physical tools to intrigue observers. When he wants to, he can do a nice job digging pucks out down low and facilitating offense. At this level and with his size, he can sometimes coast. He’s a player to watch as he challenges himself more in junior hockey.
Brendan Nehmer
#8 Pope Francis, Sr., F, Shoots Left
Nehmer really grew on this observer in Pope Francis’ Super 8 run. While he’s always been a decent skater with good hands, he really stood out down the stretch. He can make plays by himself and also does a good job involving his teammates. He’s shifty and can find seams. He’d be a very nice pickup for a junior program or for a prep school as a PG.
Jagger Benson
#21 Malden Catholic, Jr., D, Shoots Right
Benson has all the athleticism and physical tools necessary to play Division I hockey, but he’s still extremely raw. He moves pucks, he can escape trouble and skate pucks out of the zone. The hockey sense is not there yet, but if he can get some more seasoning, he’d be a nice late bloomer for the right program. His father played at Merrimack.
Jacob King
#6 Pope Francis, Sr., D, Shoots Left
King is a veteran of the blue line in Massachusetts’ high school hockey. He’s logged a lot of ice time for a few years now and this season was no different. He has pretty good size and can play physically. He has a good stick in the defensive zone and can move pucks north. His offensive touch is limited, but he’d be a very good PG with the potential to be a good Division III player down the road.
Matt Pasquale
#35 Central Catholic, Jr., G, Catches Left
Pasquale has long been considered one of the top two goaltenders in the state in this age group along with Belmont Hill’s Connor Hopkins, a Yale commit. Pasquale faced limited rubber this season with a dominant team in front of him. He has good size, moves well, and has solid fundamentals. He looks the part of a top goaltender. An occasional soft goal is what is continuing to prevent him from a college offer.
Honorable Mention
Anthony Bono (#8 St. Mary’s, Sr., F), Sean Brown (#91 Central Catholic, Jr., F), Max Cocchi (#4 Pope Francis, Jr., F), Makem Demers (#10 Pope Francis, Jr., F), George Deroche (#10 Lynnfield, Jr., F), Matt Lakus (#10 BC High, Jr., F), Jack Pinard (#29 Arlington, Sr., G), Jon Tavella (#5 Pope Francis, Jr., F), Mike Tobin (#19 Reading, Jr., F)
