The weekend after Thanksgiving means a full slate of jamborees in the New England prep hockey world.
It’s an exciting time as all teams are undefeated and are ready to start the season with a fresh slate. Hope springs eternal. While the players and coaches are excited to hit the ice for a new season, college coaches and NHL and junior scouts will be scouring the rinks looking for prospective players.
The Belmont Hill Jamboree kicks things off on Saturday with the Proctor Jamboree following on Sunday. The St. Paul’s Jamboree takes place Sunday and Monday. The action stretches further into Monday with the Berkshire Jamboree and Hotchkiss Jamboree.
Regular season action takes off Wednesday, Nov. 28. A few weeks of regular season games will take place before the all-important holiday tournaments Dec. 13-16.
Belmont Hill Jamboree
Saturday, Nov. 24
- 8:30 a.m. — Belmont Hill vs. Proctor
- 10 a.m. — St. Mark’s vs. Winchendon
- 11:30 a.m. — Proctor vs. St. Andrew’s College
- 1 p.m. — Belmont Hill vs. Winchendon
- 2:30 p.m. — St. Andrew’s College vs. St. Mark’s
Belmont Hill will host St. Andrew’s the day before at 4 p.m. Jeremiah McCarthy’s team has three solid defensemen, including Brown commit Brett Bliss. St. Mark’s should be better this year as Carl Corazzini’s team is a year older. Defenseman Tucker Hartmann ('02) is gaining serious interest from several ECAC Hockey schools. Ronan Walsh, the younger brother of Devils prospect and Harvard sophomore Riley Walsh, is taking steps in his game. Winchendon is rebuilding, but should be competitive. The players to watch on St. Andrew’s are defenseman Jack Bar (Harvard) and forwards Mark Hillier (Merrimack) and Brendan Bowie, who would be a great pickup for a college program if he doesn’t go the major junior route. St. Andrew’s will stick around one extra day to take on Dexter on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Proctor Jamboree
Sunday, Nov. 25
- 8:30 a.m. — Eaglebrook vs. Top Gun 14-U
- 10 a.m. — Berwick vs. Holderness
- 11 a.m. — Williston vs. Proctor
- Noon — Eaglebrook vs. Top Gun 14-U
- 1:30 p.m. — Berwick vs. Governor’s
- 2:30 p.m. — Holderness vs. Williston
- 3:30 p.m. — Governor’s vs. Proctor
Eaglebrook has long been a stepping stone to prep school, much like Cardigan Mountain. Top Gun, run by new Governor’s coach Brian McGuirk, has a couple of prep prospects. Speaking of Governor’s, McGuirk has his work cut out for him, but he gained a nice piece in UMass Lowell commit Owen Fowler, an ’02 left wing who played previously at Central Catholic. For Proctor, keep an eye out for prep newcomer James Tepper, an ’02 who starred at Shrewsbury High School. Berwick goaltender Alex Ramsay is one of the more unheralded players in prep. Williston has a very skilled ’00 defenseman in Tim Rego. Holderness has a solid goaltender in senior Connor Androlewicz.
St. Paul’s Jamboree
Sunday, Nov. 25
- 10 a.m. — St. Paul’s vs. Taft
- 12:15 p.m. — Groton vs. Tabor
- 4 p.m. — St. Paul’s vs. Tabor
- 6:15 p.m. — Groton vs. Taft
Monday, Nov. 26
- 10 a.m. — Tabor vs. Taft
- 12:15 p.m. — Groton vs. St. Paul’s
Host St. Paul’s has a few top-notch Division III recruits in senior goaltender Andy Began (Colby) and senior forward Julien Menes. Dan Murphy’s team also has two solid ‘02s in forward Joe Schubert and defenseman Jack Hepp. Groton has one of the best NESCAC candidates in senior wing Jonah Gold, a Californian who has shined brightly at the prep level. For Taft, the player with the most intrigue is ’02 defenseman Christian Jimenez, committed to Harvard. Tabor is in somewhat of a rebuild mode, but goaltender Kyle Myer is a dark-horse.
Berkshire Jamboree
Monday, Nov. 26
- 9:30 a.m. — Brunswick vs. Pomfret (Rink 1)
- 10 a.m. — Canterbury vs. Gunnery (Rink 2)
- 11:30 a.m. — Berkshire vs. Nichols (Rink 1)
- Noon — Kent vs. Northwood (Rink 2)
- 1:30 p.m. — Canterbury vs. Pomfret (Rink 1)
- 2 p.m. — Brunswick vs. Nichols (Rink 2)
- 3:30 p.m. — Berkshire vs. Northwood (Rink 1)
- 4 p.m. — Gunnery vs. Kent (Rink 2)
Host Berkshire has 2019 NHL Draft prospect Cade Alami, a 6-foot-6 defenseman who is committed to Providence. He skates well and has decent hands for his size. Gunnery, Kent and Brunswick are all teams that should be in contention for an Elite 8 bid. The 4 p.m. game between the Lions and Gunnery will be a good one. Brunswick has a couple of ‘03s, Paul Davey and Ryan St. Louis, who are candidates to make the NTDP. Pomfret senior goaltender Peyton Durand is one of the most underrated players in prep. Northwood is coming in fresh off an upset win over Kimball Union. The Huskies have a stellar top line — with all three committed to ECAC Hockey schools.
Hotchkiss Jamboree
Monday, Nov. 26
- 11:15 a.m. — Salisbury vs. Westminster (Dwyer Rink)
- 11:30 a.m. — Hotchkiss vs. Trinity-Pawling (Schmidt Rink)
- 1:15 p.m. — Loomis-Chaffee vs. Westminster (Dwyer Rink)
- 1:30 p.m. — Millbrook vs. Trinity-Pawling (Schmidt Rink)
- 3:15 p.m. — Loomis-Chaffee vs. Salisbury (Dwyer Rink)
- 3:30 p.m. — Hotchkiss vs. Millbrook (Schmidt Rink)
Salisbury, with its 12 NCAA commits, will be the main attraction here. However, don’t sleep on Trinity-Pawling. Bobby Ferraris has put together a terrific team, one that could legitimately compete for a spot in the Elite 8 Tournament. Loomis-Chaffee should also be in contention for a spot in the coveted top eight of the prep playoff computations. Westminster got off to a hot start in 2017-18 and trailed off some down the stretch, but they should be solid once again. Millbrook will be competitive and Hotchkiss boasts one of the top uncommitted goaltenders in New England in Henry Wilder.
