Quality play between the pipes continues to be a recurring storyline in the 2021-22 boys prep hockey season.
New England Hockey Journal attended two games on Wednesday, and the goaltenders made a difference in both contests. That is not to say that the skaters failed to do their part, or that other storylines and trends were lacking. Both goaltenders shined in a Belmont Hill road contest at Brooks School, with a gritty effort from Jake Inzirillo for the home team. Although he wasn’t able to prevent a 3-0 loss, both Inzirillo and Sam Scopa (Lexington, Mass.) showed why they are near the top of prep hockey’s statistical leaders.
In Groton, Governor’s Academy senior David Palandjian (Concord, Mass.) turned aside more than 40 Lawrence Academy shots from an active Spartans team that is putting on a more consistent offensive push in recent games. Luc Gagnon (Natick, Mass.) made some athletic stops to keep the visiting team from coming away with an extra point, as the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Outside of the superb play in net, several forwards and defensemen attracted positive reviews for their strong play in both games.
Inzirillo vs. Scopa: Contrasting styles, high performance
One goaltender was under siege, facing almost 50 shots, yet refusing to allow the game to get out of hand. The other wasn’t tested a great deal but brought the consistent calm, poise and preparation he’s been known for in helping his Belmont Hill team remain unbeaten (11-0-2) in NEPSIHA play.
Inzirillo, who did his level best to secure an upset for Brooks, was active and engaged from start to finish. He made myriad athletic saves, to keep it close. After a scoreless first period, Belmont Hill got a pair of goals from junior Dane Carter (Concord, Mass.), one on a strong net drive, the other on a 5-on-3 power play on a shot with eyes through traffic. After that, he was perfect, with only James Fisher’s (Wilmington, Mass.) empty-netter at the end closing out the scoring.
The senior from West Islip, N.Y., played for the Cape Cod Whalers during fall league play and is a highly active player in his crease. He’s perhaps too active at times, but his team seems to feed off of his energy and competitiveness. He’s instinctive and will get away from his structured technique and fundamentals to make desperation saves. His teammates did a good job of collapsing around him to keep opponents from finding loose pucks around the net, and aside from two shots that he didn’t have much of a chance on, Inzirillo did his job well. It wasn’t enough to secure the win, but he stood on his head. If your team doesn’t score any goals, you can’t win the game.
At the other end, Scopa went through large stretches of inactivity, which in many respects, presents challenges much more difficult for a goaltender playing behind a disciplined defensive team like his. He stopped all 13 shots but had to be focused and sharp on several of them. His poise and ability to shut down scoring chances without many rebound opportunities made it tough for Brooks to mount a comeback.
The ’04 and ’05 goaltenders are not yet committed, but both are making strong cases for that this season and will continue to be on the radar going forward.
LA, Gov’s offenses kept in check
Palandjian and Gagnon put on an impressive goalie duel, with both making some highlight-reel stops.
Lawrence Academy forward Clarence Beltz was denied by Palandjian on two memorable saves, early in the first period when Beltz got in behind the Governor’s defense on a breakaway. The senior netminder waited out the power forward and then contorted his body to make a sprawling save. In the second period, he got across the crease quickly to turn aside a Beltz one-timer. He read the play and demonstrated excellent quickness to deny what would have been a sure goal.
Gagnon, who has been impressive in the early going, was smooth and quick getting laterally to track and maintain sight of quick puck movements and shots to his net. He didn’t panic and continued to show the confidence that has allowed him to establish himself as a trusted and capable option for Robbie Barker’s Spartans team.
2022 NHL draft watch
Matt Biotti (Cambridge, Mass.)
Belmont Hill, 8/27/04, D, right shot, 6-4/180
NCAA commit: Harvard
This was more of a quiet game for Biotti compared to our last viewing in a back-and-forth affair against St. Sebastians. He’s so fluid with his skating and footwork, that he often makes escaping forechecking pressure look easy. With his Harvard bloodlines and his impressive combination of size and mobility, there is a lot of raw material to work with here. There are moments where he gets too far up the ice, but it will be easier to rein him in as opposed to a player who is too risk-averse. The EC Wizards split-season standout continues to look like he could hear his name called in July as a project player with the upside to be an effective two-way pro eventually.
James Fisher
Belmont Hill, 4/28/04, RW right shot, 6-3/180
NCAA commit: Northeastern
He certainly pops with the way he can get up and down the ice sheet with speed and unload a hard, heavy drive off the rush. Empty-net goal aside, there is still room for Fisher to assert his power forward game more consistently in all facets of the game. When he finishes his hits and bulls his way to the net, there are not many players at this level who will stop him. On the cycle, he shields the puck with his big body and ability to control the puck as he makes tight cuts and turns. There is more in the tank here, and with his size, speed and scoring touch, NHL teams will continue to be on him as the season goes on.
Others who stood out
A pair of Brooks ‘04s (one forward and one defenseman) played well in the loss. Missouri and Carshield AAA product Jeremy Emch is the team’s leading scorer and around the puck a lot. Defenseman CJ Beals (Chelmsford, Mass.) moves well and supports the play with his quickness, effort and sound decision-making.
Belmont Hill ’05 sophomore Jake McManus (Winthrop, Mass.) had a strong autumn with Boston Jr. Eagles 16-U and showed some flashes of his speed/quickness and offensive skills skating on a line with Fisher and recent Yale commit Ronan O’Donnell (Fairfield, Conn.). He’s a slasher, who flits in and out of skating lanes and works pucks to the right areas of the ice. Whatever he lacks in size (5-foot-8, 155 pounds), he makes up for with his feet and vision/instincts. He’s going to be a productive player at this level as he gains more experience and gets a little older.
The two scorers for Governor’s looked good in the game beyond the scoring. Ian Olenik (Windham, N.H.) started the play that led to his eventual tally by beating an LA defender up the ice and gaining the offensive zone cleanly. After handing off the puck, he eventually rotated around to the opposite side of the ice and was able to drill home a pass before Gagnon could be set. It all started with the captain’s effort to take the breakout and make something happen. Defenseman Jack Farrell (Wilmington, Mass.) showed off good range and had some quality effort plays at both ends of the ice. ’05 forward Cam Russo (Middleton, Mass.) has notable size and offensive skills – he chipped in with a pair of assists.
