TYNGSBORO, Mass. — Despite blowing a 2-0 lead, the Islanders Hockey Club came through in the end for a 4-2 win over the South Shore Kings in a USPHL NCDC game at Skate 3 Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
Patrick Somerville scored the game-winning goal 2:33 into the third period before Kyle Lightfoot put the game on ice with an empty-net tally in the game’s final minutes. Will Winship and Kaleb Nelson gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead. Chikara Hanzawa and Matteo Luisetti scored for the South Shore Kings.
The game was played in front of a handful of NHL scouts and Division 3 college coaches. Centers Johan Rosenquist and Billy Norcross were the main reasons NHL scouts from the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils were in the rink. There were quite a few prospects for the Division 3 college coaches to watch.
Below is an evaluation of the notable prospects, committed and uncommitted, from Wednesday’s USPHL NCDC game between the Islanders Hockey Club and South Shore Kings. A lot of the uncommitted players are likely candidates for Division 3, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Uncommitted prospects
Jack Brandt
South Shore Kings, 6/14/04, C, left shot, 5-10/155
Brandt was the best uncommitted prospect in Wednesday’s game. He didn’t score, but he made some plays and got better as the game went along. Brandt is a good skater who sees the ice well. He looked poised and confident with the puck, despite playing in his first-ever junior hockey game. From Columbus, Ohio, he has joined South Shore after leaving Tabor. Brandt is good enough to play in Hockey East, NCHC or Big Ten someday.
Johan Rosenquist
Islanders HC, 10/28/02, C, right shot, 6-1.25/174
Wednesday was a good viewing of Rosenquist, a ‘C’-rated skater by NHL Central Scouting. The late ’02 from Naples, Fla., is a big center. He’s heavy on pucks, plays between the dots, and had the puck on his stick more than usual. Rosenquist had a couple of good chances, including two from in tight midway through the third. His skating and offensive upside are concerns. He struggles finishing. If he’s going to play Division 1, it will be as a third- or fourth-liner.
Charles Cocuzzo
Islanders HC, 5/13/02, D, right shot, 5-10/165
Cocuzzo, from Pasadena, Calif., is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. His puck touches were good in this game and he did a good job defending. His gaps were good and he used his stick to force turnovers and keep plays to the outside. I’m intrigued to see Cocuzzo’s continued development at the junior level. I’m not sure if he’s a Division 1 player, but he has a chance if he ages out of junior in 2022-23.
Nolan Hayes
South Shore Kings, 8/14/02, D, right shot, 5-11.5/166
I’ve probably seen Hayes play as much as any other player in this game. The Milton, Mass., native spent a couple of seasons at Thayer before transferring to Cushing. At every step of the way, his skating and skill have been on full display. That was no different in this game. However, his weakness always has been a propensity to overhandle the puck. That also showed up Wednesday in the form of a costly turnover in the third period. As I’ve said before, Hayes has the skill and skating ability to be an offensive defenseman and get power-play time at the Division 1 level. His hockey sense is the aspect of his game holding him back.
Ryan Botttrill
South Shore Kings, 2/4/02, LW, right shot, 5-10/176
Bottrill had the puck on his stick a lot in the offensive zone. He didn’t score or set up any goals, but he made some plays and impacted the game in a positive way. He plays hard and didn’t shy away from physical contact. His skating is the one area of his game that could limit him when it comes to playing at a higher level. Bottrill was supposed to play in the NAHL with Amarillo Bulls. He played last season for the Janesville Jets in the NAHL. From Scottsdale, Ariz., Bottrill played Bantam hockey for the Phoenix Junior Coyotes and Midget hockey for the Colorado Thunderbirds.
Johnny Ulicny
Islanders HC, 9/30/02, LW, left shot, 5-8/160
Ulicny didn’t get on the scoresheet, but I liked what I saw from the Tecumseh, Ontario, native who was playing his first game in the NCDC. He’s on the smaller side, but he skates well, keeps his feet moving, and competes hard. His hockey sense might be a little bit of an issue when it comes to producing offensively. Ulicny previously played for Leamington in the GOJHL and Markham in the OJHL.
Patrick Somerville
Islanders HC, 10/25/02, RW, right shot, 5-7/150
Somerville’s tenacity led to the game-winning goal. He forced a turnover while forechecking early in the third period. He played on the penalty kill. The Medford, Mass., native provides energy and grit every shift. For a Division 3 program, he could play bigger than he is and boost a bottom-six and penalty-killing unit.
Will Winship
Islanders HC, 10/25/00, RW, right shot, 6-3/195
Winship scored the first goal of the game, cleaning up a juicy rebound on a transitional play. The Andover, Mass., native is a big power forward who can shoot it hard and facilitate offense from below the dots. His skating limits him, but the former Central Catholic standout should find a roster spot in Division 3.
Ryan Leonard
South Shore Kings, 4/13/00, D, left shot, 6-3/187
Leonard, in his second season captaining the Kings, is a big, physical, defensive defenseman. The Duxbury, Mass., native doesn’t have a lot of skill, but there’s room for him on a Division 3 roster. A program looking for a five or six defenseman with a mean streak would be well off to consider Leonard.
Jake Cady
South Shore Kings, 7/4/01, RW, right shot, 5-9/185
Cady was on the fourth line Wednesday, which was lower than he had been in two previous viewings this season. The Raynham, Mass., native and Tabor alum projects as a bottom-six forward who can bring energy and compete. He’s a player who can be used in five-on-five and penalty-kill situations. Cady should find a home at the Division 3 level.
Committed prospects
Michael Stenberg
South Shore Kings, 9/22/04, RW, right shot, 6-0/185
NCAA commit: Penn State
Stenberg was held scoreless in his first NCDC game. The Needham, Mass., native is a late `04 playing against some players who are four years older than him. At the midget and prep level, he was able to bully his way through opposing defenses with his size and strength. That obviously wasn’t the case in a junior hockey game. Still, I liked his willingness to play in traffic and his desire to insert himself physically. Stenberg is a good player who will make more of an impact for South Shore once he gets his feet under him and learns to play in the soft areas of opposing defenses.
Kaleb Nelson
Islanders HC, 4/13/03, RW, right shot, 5-8.75/145
NCAA commit: Providence
Nelson was playing in his first game in eight months. It showed at times, but he scored a goal on the doorstep. He batted in a rebound from midair to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead. His skating is above average and he projects as a hard-nosed winger who can chip in offensively from time to time.
Billy Norcross
Islanders HC, 3/16/03, C, right shot, 5-11.25/167
NCAA commit: Boston College
Norcross was better in this game than he had been in previous viewings this fall. While he didn’t find the scoresheet, he had a couple of good shifts where he cycled pucks down low and controlled possession. The Lynn, Mass., native has two goals and three assists in nine games with the Islanders after leaving Cushing. While Norcross, a ‘C’-rated skater per NHL Central Scouting, is an above-average, top-six center for the Tier 3 level, I wouldn’t be ready to draft him if I were an NHL organization.
Xander Babich
South Shore Kings, 3/13/03, C, left shot, 5-9/170
NCAA commit: RPI
Babich assisted on both South Shore goals. His two points matched his season total through the first six games. The Chicago Mission product is a hard-working forward who hunted pucks on the forecheck. His tenacity and energy level are the reason he found the scoresheet.
Anthony Messuri
Islanders HC, 7/24/01, LW, left shot, 5-9/165
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Messuri saw time on the penalty kill. His skating, compete and willingness to hunt pucks were noteworthy. The Arlington, Mass., native was playing in his second game in the NCDC after starting the season in the NAHL with the Northeast Generals.
Teddy Griffin
Islanders HC, 2/25/01, D, left shot, 5-11/180
NCAA commit: Trinity
Griffin, a Kimball Union alum from Duxbury, Mass., was good in this game. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet, his puck touches were a plus. He made some good breakout passes and moved the puck well while walking the point in the offensive zone. He’s an athlete who can impose his physical presence as well. He should be a nice addition to the Trinity blue line when he matriculates to the Hartford, Conn., school.
Ben Ritter
South Shore Kings, 1/31/02, D, left shot, 5-11/180
NCAA commit: Dartmouth
Ritter, from Pittsford, N.Y., had two penalty minutes in the game. The Loomis Chaffee alum struggled defensively. There were a couple times where he was beat on the rush. His mobility and shot are his assets. He didn’t have the puck on his stick a lot, but did get off a hard one-timer that missed just wide. Ritter started the season with the New Jersey Titans in the NAHL but was cut by that organization.
