STAMFORD, Conn. -- Ten of the top 14-U teams in the country, along with a lot of terrific prospects on those teams, converged on Chelsea Piers over the weekend for the Mid Fairfield Jr. Rangers Showcase.
In addition to Mid Fairfield, the tournament host and champion, Boston Jr. Eagles, Belle Tire, Chicago Mission, Florida Alliance, Honeybaked, Los Angeles Jr. Kings, New Jersey Colonials, Philadelphia Hockey Club, and Team Illinois participated in the three-day event.
The Mid Fairfield Jr. Rangers Showcase brought a lot of watchful eyes, including coaches from top college hockey programs, NHLPA agents, USA Hockey personnel, and other scouts and coaches. It was a terrific and well-run event all under one roof at the two-sheet facility.
I was at Chelsea Piers on Friday to watch each team play two games. Below is a look at the players who stood out during Friday’s games. All players listed below were noted for positive attributes and are very good bantam major players. Some players stood out more than others while others could certainly blossom into even better players if they continue developing and work on parts of their game that are in need of improvement.
Forwards
Will Smith
Jr. Eagles, 3/17/05, C, right shot
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Smith had two goals, including the overtime game-winner, and an assist as the Jr. Eagles knocked off Philadelphia HC in Friday’s most anticipated clash. Smith has elite skill and can stickhandle and protect pucks to get off shots or find open teammates. He made a great pass to the weak side for a power play assist. He redirected a centering feed for his first goal and then buried a chance all alone in overtime. This was his best viewing in a while as he looked more engaged without the puck and moved the puck more than he had in some past viewings.
Ryan Fine
Mid Fairfield, 3/14/05, C, right shot
NCAA commit: Boston University
Fine had a goal in his team’s win over Honeybaked. He used his speed to separate from a defender and finish with a backhand through the five hole on the breakaway tally. He’s the best skater of any player in this age group.
Will Vote
Jr. Eagles, 2/22/05, RW, right shot
Vote is an extremely smart player whose value is immeasurable. He had a goal and an assist in the team’s win over Philadelphia HC. His goal came on a quick one-timer on the power play. He’s a good skater who plays a 200-foot game and is always on the right side of the puck. Vote goes to the greasy areas and knows where to go to find pucks and to make an impact.Â
Chris Pelosi
Philadelphia HC, 3/6/05, C, left shot
Pelosi had a couple of goals in the team’s win over Belle Tire. He’s a power forward who made a couple of big time moves, driving the net with authority. Both of his goals were scored on breakaways and he did a good job protecting pucks and fending off opposing defenders.
Chase Pirtle
Philadelphia HC, 3/8/05, RW, right shot
Pirtle had a couple of assists during Friday’s games. He’s a power forward who is heavy on pucks and can bring it physically. He has above average hands and is a player who looks like he could continue to get better over the coming years.
Charlie Lewinski
Belle Tire, 1/5/05, C, left shot
Lewinski is a power forward that could be really good. He has good size and moves well once he gets going. He scored a really nice goal on Friday. Once he improves his first step and becomes more assertive, he could be able to truly take over games on a consistent basis.Â
Salvatore Guzzo
Mid Fairfield, 4/17/05, RW, right shot
Guzzo is a power forward who recovers a lot of pucks for his teammates. He’s heavy on pucks and has above average hands. While he’s not the flashiest of players and doesn’t always get on the score sheet, his impact is vital as he’s a glue guy for his line.
Ben Yurchuk
NJ Colonials, 2/1/05, C, left shot
Yurchuk is a very smart, 200-foot center who sees the ice well. He’s an above average skater who plays in all situations. Yurchuk isn’t flashy, but he’s a player that has stood out in each viewing over the past year.
Carter Slaggert
Chicago Mission, 3/4/05, LW, left shot
Slaggert is a very good skater and has skill to go along with it. He sees the ice well and can make plays while also being reliable in his own end and on penalty killing situations.
Pavel Baranchik
LA Jr. Kings, 9/22/05, LW, left shot
Baranchik is a player I enjoy watching. He’s not as gifted as some other players, but he produces and he does so because he’s smart and works hard. He’s an honest player who is responsible in his own zone. He was always the first player back to backcheck. On Friday night against Team Illinois, he had two goals and an assist.
Brenden Fields
LA Jr. Kings, 1/9/05, C, right shot
Fields is a skilled, playmaking center who had a couple of assists against Team Illinois. He’s quick and has good agility. His speed allowed him to get time and space. Fields made a terrific pass from below the goal line to an awaiting teammate out front for an assist on a power play.
Trip Pendy
NJ Colonials, 1/7/05, C, left shot
Pendy had a good day on Friday. He’s a really good passer who made a couple of notable plays in that regard. One was springing a teammate for a breakaway goal. He’s a good skater who can protect pucks and stickhandle through traffic.
Brandon Hilton
Belle Tire, 6/13/05, C, right shot
Hilton has speed, skill, and can shoot it hard. He’ll have to improve his hockey sense some in order to truly get the most out of his skill set.
Dashel Oliver
Chicago Mission, 2/24/05, LW, right shot
Oliver was up to his usual tricks on Friday. He forced a turnover and scored a beauty of a shorthanded goal. He didn’t break stride and sniped the puck home for the tally. He has a second gear and is an impressive skater.
Charlie Cerrato
Philadelphia HC, 3/10/05, C, left shot
Cerrato’s top attribute is his skating and speed. It helped him draw penalties and he was able to create offense on the rush and get time and space in the attacking zone. He had a couple of assists on Friday.
Griffin Erdman
Philadelphia HC, 2/10/05, LW, left shot
Erdman had a couple of goals Friday night against Belle Tire. Both of them came from right on top of the goal mouth and were redirections.Â
Landon Renkowski
Mid Fairfield, 8/1/05, C, left shot
Renkowski is one of the more improved players I’ve seen in this age group over the past few months. He keeps getting better with each viewing. He looks a little more explosive and he’s around the puck a lot. Showing the coaches’ confidence in him, Renkowski was on the ice late while his team protecting a 1-0 lead over Honeybaked.
Nathan Murray
Honeybaked, 2/9/05, C, right shot
Murray was the only player making things happen offensively in what proved to be a tough day for his team. He’s quick and can juke opposing defenders. He made some plays and is a very good passer.
Joseph Willis
Chicago Mission, 3/14/05, C, left shot
Willis didn’t get a lot going in the action that I saw Friday, but he still showed some flashes of why he’s well regarded in the age group. He’s a strong skater with good edges.
Eli Friedman
Mid Fairfield, 4/29/05, C, right shot
Friedman is a smart, cerebral center who was also on the ice late with his team clinging to a one-goal lead. He makes some nice passes and is a player to keep an eye on over the coming years.
Sean Gibbons
Mid Fairfield, 8/1/05, RW, right shot
Gibbons is a smaller forward, but he’s quick and buzzes.Â
Jett Kozman
Belle Tire, 7/20/05, LW, left shot
Kozman had a goal against Philadelphia HC. He’s on the smaller side, but he flies around and is tough to knock off pucks.
Jacob Jastrzebski
Chicago Mission, 7/27/05, C, left shot
Jastrzebski made some plays, was quick, and also showed he’s responsible in his own end.
Casey Johnson
Philadelphia HC, 8/26/05, C, right shot
Johnson scored a power play goal by finding a rebound and quickly depositing it into the back of the net on his backhand.
Thomas Augustine
NJ Colonials, 1/1/05, C, right shot
Augustine had a breakaway goal in the team’s game against Chicago Mission.
Ethan Gardula
Jr. Eagles, 2/28/05, LW, left shot
Gardula had an assist on one of Smith’s goals as he played on the team’s first line.
Ryan Morgan
Team Illinois, 9/16/05, C, left shot
Morgan is around the puck a lot and involved in the play. He had a huge hit to break up a play while backchecking.
Connor Brown
Florida Alliance, 5/3/05, C, right shot
Brown has a good motor and keeps his feet moving. He made a couple of nice passes and was certainly his team’s top offensive threat.
Marcel Lavitman
NJ Colonials, 1/26/05, RW, right shot
Lavitman has good size and could blossom into a middle six power forward.
Andrew Kuzma
Chicago Mission, 1/29/05, C, left shot
Kuzma has some potential as a power forward.
Mikey Burchill
Team Illinois, 4/29/05, C, right shot
Burchill has skill and is an above average skater.
Sebastian Demarais
LA Jr. Kings, 10/27/05, RW, right shot
Demarais scored two goals against Team Illinois. He’s on the smaller side, but he used his above average hands and skill to find the back of the net.
Declan Stewart
LA Jr. Kings, 9/10/05, C, right shot
Stewart showed an ability to be a physical, grind-it-out forward with size.
Brendan Boring
Philadelphia HC, 10/30/05, RW, right shot
Boring is a physically mature winger who is heavy on pucks. He’ll make for a good prep player in a year or two.
Defensemen
Aram Minnetian
Mid Fairfield, 3/19/05, D, right shot
Minnetian’s physical tools are unmatched. He’s powerful and explosive while covering a lot of ground. He can jump into the offense in the blink of an eye and has the recovery speed to get back and defend. He had an assist on Fine’s breakaway goal and scored on a hard blast while coming down the right wing in the nightcap. He’s strong, has a hard shot, and can bring it physically. The one part of his game that he’ll need to work on as others catch up to him physically is his hockey sense. It’s not bad, but it’s not as elite as the rest of his game. Overall, he projects as a big time player in this age group.
Nick Fascia
Philadelphia HC, 4/28/05, D, left shot
Fascia is extremely smooth and poised. He isn’t flashy and won’t be the type of modern era defender you see jumping up into the attack. However, his ability to move pucks north, break pucks out of his zone, and keep possession are all valued assets. All of his breakout passes are right on the tape and he is smart enough to make quick, but smart decisions. He doesn’t rush decisions and he avoids turnovers.
Ryan St. Louis
Mid Fairfield, 3/30/05, D, left shot
St. Louis is on the smaller side, but he thinks the game well and uses is mobility to his advantage. He made a really nice play with his stick to break up a rush. His passes are always on the tape and he can jump into the attack.
Matthew Mania
Belle Tire, 1/11/05, D, right shot,Â
Mania is a dynamic skater with high end skill from the back end. He’s able to jump into the offense with regularity. He’ll need to limit his turnovers going forward, but he has upside as an offensive defenseman.
Shawn Leary
Jr. Eagles, 5/12/05, D, right shot
Leary played a little bit of forward in this game, as well. When I first saw him over the summer, his physical tools stood out right away. He has good size and is strong. He looks more and more like a hockey player with each viewing. He made a great pass to the backdoor for an easy finish by Brendan Hirsch. He also made a notably good pass to keep the rush going while in the neutral zone.
Nathan Williams
Chicago Mission, 7/9/05, D, right shot
Williams is a physical, strong defenseman who does a good job taking away time and space. He has an active stick and forces pucks out of the zone and to the perimeter.
Paul Fischer
Chicago Mission, 1/30/05, D, left shot
Fischer is on the top pair with Williams and has some upside, as well. He’s a good skater and has a good stick.Â
Zach Schulz
Honeybaked, 6/14/05, D, left shot
Schulz has good size and has a heavy shot from the point. He keeps things simple and delivered a couple of big hits. Going forward, his bread and butter will be as a shutdown defender.
Alex Bosland
NJ Colonials, 4/14/05, D, right shot
Bosland is a good-sized defender with slightly above average skating ability. He projects as more of a defensive defenseman with the ability to close and take away time and space.
Rory Booth
Philadelphia HC, 2/3/05, D, left shot
Booth had good feet and got pucks up ice. He’s big and strong and did a good job on retrievals.
Jonathan Lanza
Jr. Eagles, 3/10/05, D, right shot
Lanza is a big, strong defenseman who is on the first power play unit. His skating still needs to catch up to his size, but there’s some potential here.Â
John Michael Danks
NJ Colonials, 2/26/05, D, right shot
Danks is a big and strong with the ability to walk the blue line and get shots on net. His offensive instincts are very good, but his skating will need to improve in order to get the most out of his skill set.
Andrew Strathmann
Chicago Mission, 2/27/05, D, left shot
Strathmann has good puck poise and size. This was my first viewing of him and he left me wanting to see him again.
Sean Smith
Honeybaked, 4/10/05, D, left shot
Smith is a big defenseman with a mean streak. He uses his length to defend as he does a good job taking away time and space.Â
Jack Harney
Jr. Eagles, 11/22/05, D, right shot
Harney is a big defenseman who could blossom into a shutdown blue liner.
Kai Janviriya
Belle Tire, 4/2/05, D, right shot
Janviriya is a small, puck-moving defenseman. He’ll need to reel it in and try to do less, but he’s fun to watch out there.
Nathan Hargrest
Florida Alliance, 4/21/05, D, right shot
Hargrest is a small, offensive defenseman with above average feet and mobility.
Aidan Shirey
Team Illinois, 4/6/05, D, right shot
Shirey was a top pairing defender with offensive capabilities.
Zephyr Tangri
LA Jr. Kings, 1/12/05, D, left shot
Tangri is a big, strong, physical defender with above average instincts. He delivered a couple of big hits. His skating is a part of his game that is a work in progress.
Goaltenders
Ryan Sanborn
Mid Fairfield, 1/15/05, G, catches left
Sanborn is an elite goaltender with size, composure, and excellent technique. He skates well and is an athlete. Sanborn blanked Honeybaked in his game.
Michael Chambre
Florida Alliance, 1/7/05, G, catches right
Chambre is another elite goaltender at this age level with good size. He stays square to shooters, limits rebounds, stays quiet, and makes saves look easy.
Dominick Gatto
Team Illinois, 4/20/05, G, catches left
Gatto is a small goaltender who allowed just one goal in his team’s game against Belle Tire on Friday morning.
