Over the weekend, many of the top ’02s and ‘03s from the five New England states outside of Massachusetts competed in the New England District Select Festival at the New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Mass.
This event is a tryout for players looking to advance to this summer’s USA Hockey Select 16 and Select 17 Player Development Camps in Amherst, N.Y. The festival was headed by Brown University assistant coach Jason Guerriero and was evaluated and attended by several other area college coaches.
Six forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender were scheduled to advance from the weekend’s festivities that included three games and a couple of practices.
With just one committed player in the ’03 age group, there were a few sleepers who impressed. With the ’02 age group being more well known, there were less surprises there.
I took in Sunday morning’s action before heading over to the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. for the NCAA East Regional final, won by Providence.
Below are the six forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, along with a couple of alternates and honorable mentions, that I would have selected from the 2003 class for USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp, based on Sunday’s action:
Forwards
1. Matt McGroarty
#11 Gold, Brunswick, 1/30/03, Right Shot, 5-11/153
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
McGroarty was on the ice for five of the seven goals his team scored on Sunday. His speed and 200-foot game are both impressive. He hunts pucks and is reliable in all three zones. On the second goal, he made a great pass on a rush to Alex Lobdell for a goal. He made a great pass on a two-on-one that wasn’t converted. He scored a rebound goal on his team’s fourth goal.
2. Oliver Flynn
#9 Green, Yale 15O, 6/13/03, Left Shot, 6-1/172
Flynn had a big game on Sunday, registering two goals and one assist. He reportedly scored eight goals over the course of the camp. He has good size and made a power move on a drive into the zone for his assist. He scored the team’s first goal after getting a drop pass on a two-on-zero rush. He gave his team 4-3 lead when he drove the net for a loose puck, rebound goal. He was around the puck a lot and had length. He wasn’t afraid to put his shoulder down and bull his way into the scoring areas. He’s heading to Loomis Chaffee in the fall.
3. Jack Kurrle
1/28/03, Selects Academy 15O, 1/28/03, Left Shot, 5-11/165
NCAA Commit: Vermont
Kurrle had three goals and an assist in Sunday’s game. He drove the net for a rebound off the initial rush, had a turnaround wrister go in, and sniped one from the left wing circle that beat the goaltender shortside. He’s physical and competes throughout the 200-foot surface. His skating is above average.
4. Patrick Neal
#15 White, Avon Old Farms, 2/12/03, Left Shot, 5-8/175
Neal scored a turnaround wrister for his team’s first goal Sunday morning. He’s quick, keeps his feet moving, and flies all over the ice. He’ll go digging in corners for pucks and he’ll plant in the slot to get off shots.
5. Jake Bongo
#10 Grey, Selects Academy 15O, 2/4/03, Right Shot, 5-9/140
Bongo was involved in almost all the scoring chances, including two of his team’s goals in Sunday’s game. He assisted on the first and then went to the net for a rebound goal on the second one. He’s not overly dynamic, but he’s quick and skilled.
6. Cooper Flinton
#12 Blue, St. Paul’s, 8/16/03, Left Shot, 6-2/185
Flinton had length, made a nice drop pass, and drove the net down the right wing for a good scoring chance. He was around the puck a lot.
7. Chase LeClerc
#14 Blue, Seacoast 16U, 11/1/03, Left Shot, 5-10/165
LeClerc had a couple of flashy plays, including one where he split the defense. He made a nice little pass through a seam down the left wing on a transition chance. He accelerates quickly. If he can learn to keep his feet moving and play with a little more consistency, he could join his brother as a Hockey East commit.
8. Casey Raffone
#16 White, Selects Academy 15O, 5/21/03, Left Shot, 5-10/165
Raffone is a winger who can get to pucks with his compete and skating. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and has an above average skill set for this level.
9. Drew Haxton
#10 Green, Bishop Hendricken, 1/12/03, Right Shot, 5-8/144
Haxton is a good skater who made a couple of plays on the rush. He’s quick, but tended to stay to the outside. If he can improve his hockey sense some and play more inside the circles, there’s potential.
10. Cooper Boulanger
#8 Red, Holderness, 7/8/03, Left Shot, 5-9/140
Boulanger’s skating stood out here. He definitely has the speed to get up and down the sheet and play the center position as he did from the third line for Holderness this winter.
11. Ethan Cordeiro
#10 White, LaSalle, 6/4/03, Left Shot, 5-10/140
Cordeiro is a versatile forward who isn’t going to shine in an event like this. He skates well, competes and can play in all situations. He just isn’t overly dynamic with the puck. He could fit well as a bottom six forward at the prep level.
12. David Oberbeek
#14 Gold, Wilton/Mid-Fairfield 15O, 2/25/03, Left Shot, 5-11/160
Overbeek had length to protect pucks and his skating was slightly above average for a big guy. He has the size and a hard shot to go with it. There’s some upside as a power forward if he can improve his hockey sense some.
13. Harrison Giuliano
#11 Grey, Bishop Hendricken, 7/2/03, Left Shot, 5-9/150
Giuliano skates well and has some potential. He played for Rhode Island state champion Bishop Hendricken this winter.
Defensemen
1. Connor Chalmers
#2 White, Kimball Union, 8/30/03, Right Shot, 5-10/165
Chalmers has the best feet of any defenseman in this age group in the district. He’s able to skate pucks out of trouble and start the transition from defense to offense. He has a good stick and makes plays. He didn’t get much ice time this winter at KUA, but should have more of a role next winter.
2. Charles Andriole
#2 Green, Notre Dame West Haven/Yale 15O, 4/19/03, Left Shot, 5-8/140
Andriole is mobile and moves well laterally as well as straight line. He was shifty a few times to sidestep opposing forwards and get shots on net from the point. He escaped trouble on retrievals and looks to have an above average stick.
3. Nick Donaldson
#3 Gold, Berkshire, 1/3/03, Right Shot, 5-11/195
Donaldson’s footwork and skating need some work, but he does a lot of things well. He has good size and is strong on his skates and hard to knock off pucks. He’s rugged and has good vision. He made a nice look to the backdoor and got some shots on net from the point.
4. Silas Van Vranken
#7 Grey, Cardigan Mountain, 9/19/03, Left Shot, 6-2/174
Van Vranken is a tall, lanky defender who plays hard and has some upside. He has good reach and looks to play the role of a pro style defenseman. A Vermont native, he’s reportedly heading to Kimball Union next fall.
5. John Burdett
#2 Grey, Brunswick, 2/11/03, Right Shot, 6-2/155
Burdett looked to be a steady defenseman who made smart outlets and did a decent job of closing and getting into passing and shooting lanes. He still hasn’t filled out his frame, which negatively impacts his stride and shot. Once he develops more muscle mass, he could become an intriguing prospect. There’s definitely something here.
Goaltender
Keegan McLaughlin
#1 Grey, Lewiston, 1/1/03, G, Catches Left, 5-7/140
It’s tough to gauge goaltenders in an event like this, especially when they’re only playing a half of the game. It’s not the strongest position of the ‘03 class in the New England District, but McLaughlin made some good saves on Sunday morning by using his athleticism and quick reflexes, despite lacking in size.
New England District Select 17s
Most of the focus was on the ‘03s so there wasn’t much time for viewing of the ‘02s. Here are a few ‘02s who stood out in minimal viewing of the NED Select 17 action:
Forwards
- Aidan Cobb, Ridgefield, Conn./Kent School
- Victor Czerneckianair, Southington, Conn./Selects Academy 16U (Quinnipiac)
- Brennan Horn, West Hartford, Conn./Northwest Catholic
- Jonathan Horn, Southbury, Conn./Elite Hockey Academy 16U
- Cy Leclerc, Brentwood, N.H./Seacoast Academy 16U (New Hampshire)
- Ronan Walsh, Andover, N.H./Proctor Academy (Vermont)
- Jack Williams, Biddeford, Maine/Selects Academy 16U (Northeastern)
Defensemen
- Nate Benoit, Bow, N.H./Northern Cyclones 16U
- Jason Marsella, Greenwich, Conn./North Jersey Avalanche 16U (Yale)
