NEEDHAM, Mass. — In an early-season ISL matchup at Lane Rink, St. Sebastian’s came away with a 4-2 win over the visitors from Milton Academy.
The Arrows trailed 2-1 after the first period but prevented the Mustangs from doing any further damage while scoring three goals of their own in the final two stanzas. Nolan Flynn (Natick, Mass.), Jayden Grier (Needham, Mass.), Nolan Joyce (Dedham, Mass.) and Isaac Mitchell (Harvard, Mass.) were the goal scorers for Sean McCann’s team. In the losing effort, Mikka Kelechian and Will Cannata (Milton, Mass.) scored for Paul Cannata’s squad.
With two players on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch List from St. Sebastian’s and another 2022 draft prospect on Milton, there were a few NHL scouts in the building for the 5:30 p.m. puck drop.
Flynn got the scoring started with his first prep school goal at the 8:29 mark of the first period. He batted in a rebound from midair to give the Arrows the 1-0 lead. The initial shot came from senior defenseman Cooper McCann, who registered his first prep school point on the play.
Kelechian, a late '04 from L’’lle Bizard, Quebec, knotted the score at one just over three minutes later when he scored off an attacking zone face-off win from Ethan Davidson. Milton took its only lead of the game shortly thereafter when Cannata struck on the power play. He won a 50/50 puck battle in the slot and sent a turnaround wrister past St. Sebastian’s goaltender Matthew Choi (Boston, Mass.). The assist on the play went to Bradley Holcomb.
St. Sebastian’s evened the score 5:50 into the second period when the first line went to work on the forecheck. Upon zone entry, Michael Callow (South Boston, Mass.) gained possession and chipped it down low to Brendan Gorman (Arlington, Mass.). From there, the Princeton commit sent the puck out into the slot where Grier popped it in with a nice shot upstairs.
The Arrows took the lead for good midway through the middle period when Joyce, a Boston College commit, blasted home a one-timer on the power play from the left wing circle. Gorman and Grier picked up the assists.
The only goal of the third period came at the 7:09 mark when Mitchell scored his second of the season. He slipped behind the Milton defense for a breakaway and finished with a nice backhander past goaltender Jake Cardonick. The assist went to Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.).
2022 NHL draft prospects
Michael Callow
St. Sebastian’s, 1/15/04, RW, right shot, 6-4/190
NCAA commit: Harvard
Let me start out by saying I’ve been impressed by Callow’s game lately. I thought he had turned a corner and been around the puck more and been more consistent in terms of impacting the game from a puck possession and offensive production standpoint. This wasn’t his best game. He picked up an assist on the team’s second goal, but took two penalties. Callow obviously has the size and skating ability to be a hard, north-south power forward. I’d like to see him dominate a game like this against a lesser opponent. I’m not writing him off by any means, but he didn’t stand out the way he’s capable of in this one. He had a hat trick in Wednesday’s season opener against Rivers. In short, with his physical tools, he should be taking over games at the prep level, in order for an NHL team to have conviction to select him at the 2022 NHL draft.
Chris Romaine
Milton, 2/21/04, D, right shot, 6-0/185
NCAA commit: Providence
Similarly, Romaine didn’t have his best game either. He was good all fall for the South Shore Kings Prep 18-U team. The Braintree, Mass., native has the footwork, stick skills, and intuition to be a breakout machine. He was a minus on the first two St. Sebastian’s goals tonight and was in the penalty box for a third goal against. He fanned on a shot at the offensive blue line, which led to a breakaway. I like Romaine’s skating, strength and breakout ability. He should remain on the list for NHL organizations to be watching ahead of the draft, but this wasn’t his best viewing.
Top 5 uncommitted prospects
Teddy Mutryn
St. Sebastian’s, 2/16/07, RW, right shot, 6-0/180
As expected, Mutryn didn’t have a ton of impact on this game as a true freshman. He picked up his first prep school assist midway through the third period. However, when watching him in this game, you’d realize why he’s one of the better `07s in the country. He’s big, strong and has a long, powerful stride. I liked that he brought it physically and backchecked a couple of times to break up scoring chances for Milton. Mutryn played for Boston Advantage last year, but played up with the Junior Eagles Moran 16-U this fall.
Dylan Hunt
Milton, 2/9/06, D, left shot, 6-1/175
Hunt was solid in this game. As an `06 freshman playing his first game of prep hockey, he didn’t look timid or out of place. To the contrary, he skated well, played solid defense, and even drew a penalty on a breakout play where he evaded an oncoming forechecker. Hunt will likely never be a power play guy, but he’s a defensive defenseman with size and skating ability. He’s at his best when you’re not noticing him. From Marlboro, Mass., Hunt played fall hockey for the Little Bruins 16-U.
Isaac Mitchell
St. Sebastian’s, 2/28/05, LW, left shot, 5-8/170
Mitchell is an undersized winger who scored the insurance tally to give St. Sebastian’s breathing room in the third period. He’s slick with the puck and certainly has skill and quickness. I’d like to see him be more of a consistent threat and play more between the dots. Nonetheless, college coaches should be keeping an eye on the crafty winger who played for the Junior Eagles 16-U this fall.
Will Elias
St. Sebastian’s, 1/28/03, D, right shot, 6-0/180
Elias was the best defenseman in this game. The `03 doesn’t have a pro ceiling, but he’s a steady defenseman that can absolutely play Division 1 hockey. He mans the first unit power play and makes quick, smart decisions with the puck. I like his simplicity and the fact that he doesn’t over-handle it. I can’t remember him turning one puck over on Friday night. He skates well enough, has good gaps, and his stick helps him breakup plays defensively.
Will Cannata
Milton, 5/17/05, C, left shot, 6-0/175
Cannata scored a power play goal, but what I liked most about his game Friday night was what he usually stands out for. He’s an athlete who competes and gives it his all each shift. He backchecks, plays hard, and engages in the defensive zone. The one area of his game that could use improvement for him to take that next step is his offensive hockey sense. Also a good baseball player, Cannata is certainly a player for schools to keep an eye on going forward.
St. Sebastian’s lines
Grier - B. Gorman - Callow
Ma. Cataldo - Mi. Cataldo - Walsh
Mitchell - C. Gorman - Mutryn
Flynn - Hall - Yang
Connors - Elias
Joyce - Harney
Leverone - Lynch
McCann
Choi
Milton lines
Holcomb - Cannata - Cohen
Davidson - Kelechian - Pohl
Maher - Young - Powers
Chen - Romaine
Hunt - Faughnan
Lee - Heath
Cardonick
