Several prospects on the USA Hockey NTDP radar took to the ice in southern Connecticut over Labor Day Weekend at the Eastern Alliance Kickoff.
While college coaches still can’t be in the rinks, scouts from NHL, USHL, QMJHL and OHL teams, as well as USA Hockey personnel, spent time in the various rinks watching prospects. The Eastern Alliance Kickoff was played primarily at Chelsea Piers in Stamford, Conn., but rinks in Bridgeport, Hamden, Milford, Norwalk and West Haven also were utilized.
There were a lot of good hockey players across the four age divisions, 18-U, 16-U, 15 Pure and 14-U. However, a few ’05s at the 16-U and 15 Pure divisions stood out as possibly being good enough to play on the 2021-22 NTDP U-17 team.
Below, in alphabetical order, is a look at the NTDP candidates who stood out at the Eastern Alliance Kickoff that took place from Sept. 4-7 in rinks across southern Connecticut:
Nick Fascia
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 4/28/05, D, left shot, 5-11/160
Fascia is still recovering from an injury that had him sidelined for a few weeks. He got better as the weekend went along. The Blackwood, N.J., native is an elite skater, which is why he’s in the running to make the NTDP. His ability to retrieve pucks and make simple, yet smart, outlet passes is his calling card. Projecting forward, he’ll have to continue to improve on his offensive skill-set and instincts to truly make it as a puck-moving defender.
Ryan Fine
Mid Fairfield St. Louis 16-U, 3/14/05, C, right shot, 5-7/145
NCAA commit: Boston University
Fine is the top-line center for Mid Fairfield St. Louis, but his line was overshadowed in my one viewing this weekend. Logan Renkowskis’ hat trick helped power the team past the Junior Eagles on Sunday morning in Stamford. While Fine didn’t have his most productive game, his skill and offensive instincts were on display a few times. The Center Moriches, N.Y., native might not be the top offensive player in this age group, but he’s certainly in the discussion for a top-six role on the NTDP.
Aram Minnetian
Mid Fairfield St. Louis 16-U, 3/19/05, D, right shot, 5-10/175
Minnetian isn’t the top defenseman in this age group, but he’s in that next grouping. From Woodcliff Lake, N.J., he has good size, skates well and can impact the game at both ends of the ice. He’s rangy and brings a physical element to his own side of the red line. With the puck on his stick, he can skate it up ice or make crisp passes right on the tape of the wings. Minnetian can shoot it hard. Things can change over the course of a season, but I’d expect Minnetian to make the NTDP U-17 team in 2021-22.
Quentin Musty
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 7/6/05, C, left shot, 6-2/180
Musty was the most dominant ’05 at the Eastern Alliance Kickoff. Ever since his Bantam minor season, I’ve regarded Musty as one of the top players in this age group. Over the past 18 or so months, he’s done nothing to disprove that notion. From Hamburg, N.Y., Musty checks a lot of boxes. He can skate, he has a hard shot, can dish pucks and has a physical presence. He produced a lot in Stamford. Outside of maybe Avalanche teammate ’04 Nicholas Moldenhauer, there was not a player who I noticed more consistently than Musty. The Buffalo Junior Sabres product certainly will make the NTDP if he doesn’t go the OHL route.
Chase Pirtle
North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 3/8/05, RW, right shot, 6-1/160
Around the net, there is no question Pirtle is one of the more dangerous players in this age group. He has good hands for a big guy and can finish from in tight. He’s a big winger who projects as a power forward. From Far Hills, N.J., the knock against Pirtle is his play away from the puck. If he can improve that portion of his game and become more consistent, especially in terms of his compete level, he should make the NTDP.
Ryan Sanborn
Mid Fairfield St. Louis 16-U, 1/15/05, G, catches left, 6-1/175
Due to games being played simultaneously in multiple rinks across an hour or so swath of southern Connecticut, I didn’t get to see Sanborn play. William Baker got the nod in Mid Fairfield St. Louis 16-U’s game against Junior Eagles 16-U on Sunday morning in Stamford. I avoid commenting on players I don’t see live over the course of an event, but I had to at least mention Sanborn as he’s proven to me over numerous viewings in the past that he’s a top-three goaltender in this age group. The Brookfield, Conn., native has played for the Mid Fairfield organization for the past few years.
Will Smith
Junior Eagles 16-U, 3/17/05, C, right shot, 5-11/165
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Smith and his Junior Eagles teammates lost 5-1 to Mid Fairfield on Sunday morning and skated to a 2-2 tie against the River Rats the previous evening. It wasn’t the best viewings of Smith, but there were a couple of shifts where he stood out. Smith never will be the type of player that you notice every shift or will impact the game even when he doesn’t have the puck on his stick. However, he’s that dynamic offensive threat who can change the tone of a game in a shift or two. The Lexington, Mass., native has good size and hands that allow him to make a lot of plays, whether it’s scoring or passing, below the dots.
Lucas St. Louis
Mid Fairfield St. Louis 16-U, 3/30/05, D, left shot, 5-8/135
St. Louis is an offensive, puck-moving defenseman. He’s gotten better as he’s filled out his frame over the past 12 months. While he was good before, he’s gotten even better. He’ll never be a defensive defenseman, but there’s room for him on most teams as a power-play quarterback and blueliner who can move pucks north, jumpstart the offense, and shoot it from the point or dish it off in the attacking zone. The Riverside, Conn., resident was really good in his team’s big win over the Junior Eagles on Sunday morning.
Will Vote
Junior Eagles 16-U, 2/22/05, RW, right shot, 5-7/148
Vote, the right wing on the Junior Eagles’ top line that Smith centers, is a vastly different player. While he doesn’t have the size or elite skill-set, his hockey sense and compete sets him apart. The Arlington, Mass., native didn’t have his most productive games in my viewings, but he’s able to be noticed even in a losing effort. He backchecks, wins 50/50 battles, and sees the ice well. I’m not sure if he makes the NTDP, but I’d certainly take him on my team, if I were calling the shots for USA Hockey.
