Several of the top bantam major teams in the Northeast convened on the Canton Ice House in Canton, Mass., for the North American Challenge Cup over Columbus Day weekend.
Bantam major teams are made up of mostly ‘04s, with a few ‘05s playing up. Several college coaches, including a few of the heavyweights in the business, came out for the games. Many prep school coaches and NHLPA agents were also in attendance.
The North Jersey Avalanche defeated the Valley Forge Minutemen in the finals. The other six teams to advance to Monday’s playoff action were Boston Advantage, East Coast Wizards, Neponset Valley River Rats, Seacoast Academy, Springfield Rifles and Westchester Express.
North Jersey Avalanche right wing Ryan Schelling was the only committed player in the tournament, but there are a few others who stood out and will likely commit to a college program in the near future.
Here’s a look at the top prospects from the North American Challenge Cup:
Vinny Borgesi
#53 Valley Forge Minutemen, 3/2/04, Defense, Right Shot
Borgesi is a small defenseman from Philadelphia, Pa. He’s extremely smart and poised with the puck on his stick, which makes him a dynamic playmaking threat. He’s agile and can side-step forecheckers. He has a strong shot on net, despite his small stature. He’ll likely soon land a college commitment.
Bobby Landry
#19 Boston Advantage, 3/22/04, Center, Right Shot
The Hingham, Mass., native is strong on his skates and tough to knock off the puck. He made a great pass from the left wing corner to the slot for a goal. He also made a great power move to the net for a goal that he finished with a toe-drag and a backhand finish through the five-hole. Landry has a lot of upside as a power forward with skill.
Ryan Schelling
#26 North Jersey Avalanche, 4/29/04, Right Wing, Right Shot
NCAA: Commit: Providence
Schelling is a recent commit to the Friars. He’s rugged and physically mature, which makes him heavy on pucks. He combines power with hockey sense to make some nice plays. He protects pucks by using his body as leverage. He can finish and set up plays. One of the prettiest plays he made was a pass off the left wing wall to a linemate for a goal in Monday’s playoff action.
Liam Chapman
#16 Seacoast Academy, 3/11/04, Defense/Center, Left Shot
Chapman is the younger brother of Army recruit Josh Chapman. Liam can play defense and center, plus exudes athleticism. He’s strong on his skates and makes plays, whether it be in transition or bulling his way to the goal. When playing defense, he gaps well, has a good stick and closes quickly with his length. The Weare, N.H., native moves pucks north and likes to jump into the rush.
Ollie Chesler
#11 East Coast Wizards, 7/9/04, Defense, Left Shot
The Weston, Mass., native is a small, mobile, puck-moving defenseman. He defends with his feet and gaps well. He has a good first touch and consistently made smart decisions to maintain possession for his team. He likes to activate and jump into the offense.
Shaun McEwen
#21 Seacoast Academy, 1/21/04, Defense, Left Shot
McEwen has a lot of potential as a strong, two-way defenseman. He also played some forward this weekend. He scored a nice goal from the point. He plays with a mean streak as well.
Dylan Shane
#22 Valley Forge Minutemen, 4/19/04, Defense, Right Shot
Shane is a sturdy, mobile defenseman who is one of three blueliners on the Valley Forge's top power-play unit. He’s physically mature and tough to knock off pucks.
Andrew Centrella
#23 Valley Forge Minutemen, 1/29/04, Defense, Left Shot
Centrella is another very good defenseman on Valley Forge who displays a lot of positive characteristics. He’s solid on breakouts and moves the puck well on the power play. He has a good stick.
Ryan Leonard
#4 Springfield Rifles, 1/21/05, Right Wing, Right Shot
The Amherst, Mass., native is the brother of UMass sophomore and San Jose Sharks pick John Leonard. He’s playing up a year and certainly has some upside with his skating and stick.
William Hughes
#55 River Rats, 1/14/04, Right Wing, Right Shot
Hughes is a big winger who skates well up and the down sheet. He has a hard shot and can make plays by hunting pucks and facilitating. He can also finish with a hard shot. He was called up to play with the River Rats 15U team on Sunday.
Ryan Healey
#33 Boston Advantage, 4/1/04, Defense, Right Shot
Healey is a solid, two-way defenseman. He's also the son of former pro hockey player Eric Healey, who played collegiately at RPI.
Henry Wilson
#10 Boston Advantage, 5/1/04, Left Wing, Left Shot
Wilson, from Winchester, Mass., is a good skater who is a possession-type forward. He’s strong on his skates, protects pucks and make plays.
Nick Townshend
#18 East Coast Wizards, 3/2/04, Center, Right Shot
Townshend is a tall, lanky forward with a good first step. He gets in on the forecheck quickly, has a strong stick and hunts pucks. He’ll be at St. John’s Prep.
Rayford Mueller
#33 Seacoast Academy, 3/16/04, Center, Right Shot
Mueller is a complete, 200-foot player who plays a mature game. He shoots with a purpose, often leading to rebounds. He sees the ice well and has good hockey sense.
Eric Vivineto
#12 North Jersey Avalanche, 10/8/04, Center, Right Shot
Vivineto is a fun player to watch. He’s around the puck a lot and makes plays. He has good vision and a hard shot.
Paul Tollet
#12 Seacoast Academy, 8/9/04, Left Wing, Left Shot
Tollet did a nice job of driving the net and scored a couple goals just by being in the right place at the right time. He has good size and could be a player to watch.
Jordin Palmer
#94 Seacoast Academy, 10/26/04, Defense, Left Shot
Palmer is coming off a fairly serious lower-body injury, but showed signs of real potential. He has good size and can skate well. He’s solid and can make good defensive plays in his own zone, plus some pretty outlet passes.
Ben MacDonald
#9 East Coast Wizards, 2/24/04, Center, Left Shot
MacDonald is the son of former Hobey Baker Award winner and NCAA Champion Lane MacDonald, who starred at Harvard. He plays a complete, 200-foot game from the center position.
Cam Fici
#14 East Coast Wizards, 4/2/04, Right Wing, Right Shot
Fici is on the smaller side, but he buzzes out there. He’s quick and finds seams well. He made more plays in Monday’s playoff game than any of his teammates.
Arthur Smith
#75 Elite Hockey Academy, 4/30/04, Goaltender, Catches Left
Smith is a big, athletic goaltender who takes up a lot of the net. He makes it hard for shooters to find angles. He’s undeniably the top prospect on his team.
Remi DeSmith
#1 Seacoast Academy, 1/1/04, Goaltender, Catches Right
DeSmith is an athletic goaltender who moves well in the net. He has good size and shows a lot of potential. He’s the cousin of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith, who played at UNH.
David Mallio
#72 East Coast Militia, 3/17/04, Goaltender, Catches Left
In limited viewing, the Franklin, Mass., native certainly looks like a goaltender to continue tracking over the coming years.
Ray Cartigiano
#48 North Jersey Avalanche, 2/1/04, Forward, Right Shot
Cartigiano has good size and strength and is tough to knock off pucks.
Tinos Raftis
#29 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/1/04, Defense, Left Shot
Raftis uses his size and length to defend with toughness. He also made a great look from the point on the power play for a tip-in goal.
James Webb
#31 Westchester Express, 1/1/04, Goaltender, Catches Left
Webb was terrific in his team’s shutout win over East Coast Wizards in the quarterfinals. He did great work in the semifinals until the wheels fell off for his entire team. He has good size, moves well laterally and made some nice glove saves.
