ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Top prospects from five states in the region took to the ice over the weekend at the New England Sports Village to prove they were among the best at the New England District Select 16 Festival.
Six forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender earned spots at this July’s USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp in Amherst, N.Y. Close to a dozen college coaches evaluated the `06s in order to pick the best representatives for the New England District, which is made up of all the region’s states outside of Massachusetts.
Players from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont were put through drills and other on-ice activities in Friday’s practices before competing in three games Saturday and Sunday morning. An all-star game took place Sunday afternoon to culminate the weekend’s activities.
After attending games Saturday and Sunday, here are my top 20 prospects from the `06 birth year in the New England District, based on this weekend’s action. Players selected to represent the district at national camp are noted with an asterisk.
Forwards
1. Ryan Staples *
Bishop Hendricken/River Rats 15s, 2/24/06, right shot, 6-0/160
Staples, from Middletown, R.I., was the best and most consistent player in the field. He scored a goal in all four games. A couple of the tallies were of the highlight reel variety. He has good size, drives the net, and plays a mature game. He’s good away from the puck and has a strong stick. He was one of the few players backchecking and being an impact player in all three zones. Staples is making the jump from Bishop Hendricken to Loomis Chaffee for the 2022-23 season.
https://twitter.com/NVRiverRats/status/1512960522597056522?s=20&t=vNT6aa75H6VWRJfwHxx5rw
2. Cam Cooke *
Junior Bruins 16U, 2/2/06, right shot, 6-1/166
Cooke is a tall power forward who skates well. He was solid before the all-star game, scoring a goal. He was even better in the all-star game scoring a goal and adding an assist. He can drive the net and protect pucks while also impacting the game at his own end. From Pelham, N.H., he’s expected to be back with the Junior Bruins.
3. Blake Burke *
Mid Fairfield 15s, 5/18/06, left shot, 5-10/152
Burke was good here as a north-south power forward. He was physical, shot it hard, and came off the wall with authority. The Trumbull, Conn., is a player trending in the right direction as I believe he’ll keep getting better. Working on improving his hockey sense will help him further his game.
4. James Chase *
Bishop Kearney 15s, 4/8/06, left shot, 5-10/175
Chase has skill and produced during the first few games before the all-star contest. He uses his speed to create on the rush. The Williston, Vt., native can become more of a consistent threat to score if he plays more in the middle of the ice.
5. Ryan Lucarelli
Canterbury/River Rats 15s, 7/10/06, right shot, 5-9/150
Lucarelli was the surprise forward of the tryout. The Westport, Conn., native is skilled and played well with Staples. He made plays and finished. As he bulks up and continues playing a more well-rounded game, his stock should continue to go up. He’ll be back at Canterbury as a sophomore in the fall.
6. Ronnie Hill *
Seacoast 15s, 10/3/06, right shot, 5-8/138
Hill is certainly one of the top six forwards in the age group in this district. It wasn’t his best showing over the three days, but he’ll represent the district well at national camp. He’s on the smaller side, but his skating and shot are worthy of getting through this camp. From Saco, Maine, he’s expected to return to Seacoast, where he’s been a mainstay over the past couple of years.
7. Walker Bright *
Berkshire/Mid Fairfield 15s, 6/3/06, right shot, 5-9/150
Bright is a good player, but didn’t really get it going until the all-star game. His skating and stick are both above average. From New Canaan, Conn., Bright will be in his second season at Berkshire in 2022-23.
8. Ben Bradley
Mid Fairfield 15s, 2/2/06, left shot, 6-3/220
Bradley is a big power forward who uses his size and strength to drive and protect pucks. He was productive during the first few games. The Fairfield, Conn., native’s hockey sense is an area that could use improvement, in order for him to elevate his game further.
9. Gennaro Pompano
Yale Jr. Bulldogs 15s, 12/8/06, right shot, 5-8/146
Pompano, from East Haven, Conn., was one of the hardest working players I watched over the weekend. His top attribute is his compete and he uses that strength to hunt pucks and generate scoring chances with his grit. His hockey sense is an area that can be improved for him to take the next step in his game.
10. Max Dinneen
Seacoast 15s, 7/5/06, left shot, 5-8/146
Dineen played with Staples and Lucarelli for much of the first few games. While he didn’t have as much skill as his linemates, he complimented them well with his tenacity and being hard and heavy. From Brentwood, N.H., he’s been a longtime top six forward in the Seacoast program.
11. Kolin Sisson
Selects Academy 15s, 9/30/06, right shot, 5-5/118
Sisson was quiet until the all-star game, but he potted two in the final showing of the weekend. The Cumberland, R.I., native is on the smaller side, but he’s quick, crafty and skilled. When he’s at his best, he’s playing fearlessly and not backing down from opposing players who tower over him.
Defensemen
1. Elliott Groenewold *
Bishop’s College, 2/4/06, left shot, 6-1/175
Groenewald, from Bellows Falls, Vt., skates well, has good size, jumped into the rush, and made fast, poised decisions while skating with his head up.
2. Caeden Herrington *
CP Dynamo 15s, 1/26/06, right shot, 5-10/150
Herrington was solid at the Select 15 tryouts in June of 2021, but he’s gotten better over the past 12 months. The Manchester, Vt., native skates well and is a two-way defender. He’s hard to play against and can bring a physical element while jumping into the offensive rush when he gets going north. The tools are there for him to be a big time prospect. He plays a mature game and is headed to Holderness for 2022-23.
3. Colton Whitfield *
Bishop Hendricken, CC Whalers 15s, 4/10/06, left shot, 6-0/156
Whitfield is a top defenseman in the birth year at this district, but he wasn’t at his best for the lofty standards he’s earned. He’s tall, long and can shoot it hard. He’s at his best when he’s not forcing plays and keeping things simple. The Warwick, R.I., native is reportedly heading from Bishop Hendricken to Mount Saint Charles.
4. Cooper Cleaves
Mid Fairfield 15s, 1/5/06, right shot, 6-1/174
Cleaves has good size and has gotten better over the past 12 months as he’s improved his skating. His hockey sense is a part of his game that he can improve, in order to make the most out of his physical tools.
5. Tyler Garofalo
LaSalle, 6/12/06, left shot, 5-8/155
Garofalo, from Warwick, R.I., is a mobile, puck moving defender. He’s on the smaller side, but he makes poised decisions and gets pucks up ice. He’s at Lasalle Academy, one of the top teams in Rhode Island high school hockey after Bishop Hendricken.
6. Deke Davidson
Seacoast 15s, 6/4/06, left shot, 6-0/156
Davidson, from Newmarket, N.H., made national camp in 2021. He has the physical ability to perform at a high level, but needs to make better decisions to return in 2023. Credit goes to him for playing through an injury and giving it his best.
7. Conrad Calderini
Berkshire/Mid Fairfield 15s, 3/7/06, left shot, 5-10/150
Calderini skates well and played hard. He delivered a couple of big hits and showed an ability to skate the puck out of trouble. He’ll be a sophomore at Berkshire in the fall.
Goaltenders
1. Treva Murphy
Cardigan Mountain, 1/11/06, catches left, 5-7/157
From Manchester, N.H., Murphy is a small goaltender, which likely hurt his chances for advancing to national camp. When just judging his play on the weekend, he was good. He ate pucks, moved well, and made some nice saves.
2. Kyle Bolduc *
Yale Jr. Bulldogs 15s, 4/19/06, catches left, 5-11/151
Bolduc wasn’t as consistent as Murphy, but he looks the part and has the most upside. From Bolton, Conn., he’s strong fundamentally and skates well.
