WORCESTER, Mass. — A few dozen players took to the frozen tundra Monday and Tuesday to showcase their skills in front of a couple of scouts at Worcester Ice Center.
Outside of Merrimack recruit Matt Copponi, the group of players, ranging from ’02s through ’05s, all were uncommitted. Worcester Railers head coach David Cuniff, assistant coach Bob Deraney and Prospects Hockey owner John Moriarty put on the two-day event.
The Boston Bruins had a scout in attendance on Tuesday. The games were broadcast on HockeyTV for those college coaches who weren’t allowed to come to the rink due to the NCAA recruiting dead period.
Most of the prospects at the Mass College Development Camp are candidates to play Division 3 college hockey. There’s nothing wrong with that. Playing at a NESCAC program, or Babson, Norwich or a handful of other programs in the region is still a terrific accomplishment. A few players at this showcase could work their way into a Division 1 roster spot.
Below is a look at some of the players who caught my eye at the Mass College Development Camp:
Forwards
Tyler Chenevert
Hill School, 2/13/03, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/160
Chenevert is a converted defenseman who looks like he plays the game the right way. The Shrewsbury, Pa., native was on the right side of the puck, forced turnovers, skated well and ripped a shot just inside the far post for a goal. In addition to his time at Hill, he’s played for the Valley Forge Minutemen.
Leo Piandes
Tilton, 8/9/03, RW, right shot, 5-11/160
Piandes, who played at Arlington last season, is a solid prospect. He’s strong on the cycle, made some good low to high passes, and was hard on the forecheck. His puck pursuit forced a couple of turnovers and he produced.
Charlie McGurrin
Exeter, 12/5/03, LW, left shot, 6-3/185
McGurrin is a big winger who also is a former defenseman, having made the switch prior to last season. He used his size well here, being a netfront presence and crashing the goal. The Marblehead, Mass., native scored a couple of goals by cashing in on rebounds and loose pucks in tight.
Trevor O’Brien
St. Mark’s, 4/29/02, C, right shot, 5-8/150
O’Brien, from Hingham, Mass., is a smart, positionally sound center who played well with and without the puck here. He’s the younger brother of Flyers first-round pick and Boston University forward Jay O’Brien.
Mick Frechette
St. Paul’s, 10/27/03, LW, left shot, 6-0/180
Frechette made some good passes, especially down low on the cycle. He’s a player who has intrigued me a few times in the past, but this was the best viewing yet for the Weston, Mass., resident.
Zach Bye
Hotchkiss, 10/1/03, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/160
Bye, from Greenwich, Conn., has made the move to Hotchkiss after playing for Elite Hockey Academy and Selects Academy. His skating and skill are both slightly above average and he showed well here. He’s a player Division 3 coaches should be keeping an eye on at Hotchkiss.
Michael Penna
Cushing, 1/27/03, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/135
Penna, from Hampden, Mass., showed off his speed a couple of times. He was able to get in on the forecheck quickly. He made a couple of good looks on the line rush. Penna is in his first year at Cushing after playing for Springfield Pics.
Chris Hocevar
Andover, 1/22/02, LW, left shot, 5-11/180
Hocevar, a senior at Phillips Andover, was one of the older players here. From Canton, Conn., he showed off his goal-scoring touch and got around the sheet fairly well. He’ll probably have to play a year of junior hockey, but I could see him being a fit for an academically inclined Division 3 program.
Henry Cohen
Middlesex, 3/7/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/180
Cohen is heavy on pucks and can shoot it hard. He uses his size and strength to gain positioning down low and in front of the net. The third-year player at Middlesex is another solid NESCAC candidate.
Dustin Patterson
Lawrence, 1/20/03, RW, right shot, 5-10/160
Patterson is a rink rat who plays a lot of hockey. He makes smart plays with the puck. The Marlton, N.J., native would be a solid candidate for a couple of NCDC or EHL teams for next season, if he doesn’t go back to Lawrence.
Ben Cheney
Duxbury, 1/17/02, C/RW, right shot, 5-8/160
Cheney, from Duxbury, Mass., is strong on his skates and shoots it hard. He can score goals and likely will show that when Williston gets going. He previously played for the Bay State Breakers and Duxbury High School.
Matthew Clute
Winchendon, 1/15/04, LW, left shot, 5-8/150
Clute, from Paxton, Mass., produced here by being around the puck and cycling well. The former St. Peter Marian standout is a sophomore at Winchendon.
Devin Bard
Berkshire, 3/8/05, LW, left shot, 5-11/160
Bard looks a lot bigger than I remember him in past viewings. The Southboro, Mass., native played hard, delivered some hits and scored a couple of nice goals, including one off a faceoff win by his center.
Defensemen
Conner Chalmers
Kimball Union, 8/30/03, D, right shot, 5-11/170
Chalmers was probably the best prospect here, due to his feet and puck-moving capabilities. The Arlington, Mass., native has put on some muscle during the down time with the coronavirus. His feet and skating remain a constant positive. He moved pucks north and created some offense from the back end. His agility allowed him to sidestep forecheckers numerous times. He has the talent to play Division 1 hockey.
Liam Bard
Berkshire, 1/4/04, D, right shot, 5-9/150
Bard is a smaller, offensive defenseman with good mobility. He looks to jump into the offense, and his feet and skating allow him to do just that. He showed good touch on his outlet passes and made a couple of other slick plays with the puck on his stick. The Southboro, Mass., native has a Division 1 skill-set, but his hockey sense will need to continue to improve in order to get there.
Carter Rugg
Pomfret, 3/14/03, D, right shot, 6-1/180
Rugg is a player who has steadily gotten better. He’s in his second season at Pomfret after playing at Hingham High School. He’s strong, shoots it with zip, and defends well with reach and closing ability.
Ben Cook
Deerfield, 1/31/05, D, right shot, 6-0/172
Cook is a young defender who played for the Junior Bruins 16-U last season before making the jump to prep at Deerfield. He’s a strong, physically mature defender. The Concord, Mass., native is tough to beat one-on-one.
Connor Berg
Roxbury Latin, 6/10/03, D, right shot, 6-1/160
Berg, from Wellesley, Mass., moved it quickly and looked smooth out here. He has above-average size and should be a solid NESCAC candidate down the line.
Finnegan Burke
Catholic Memorial, 6/2/04, D, left shot, 6-1/155
Burke looked better than I’ve remembered in past viewings. The second-year player at Catholic Memorial looks to have gotten bigger, moved the puck quickly and precisely, and his skating is above average. He should be one of the better defensemen in the Catholic Conference this winter.
Johnnie Moriarty
Deerfield, 8/10/03, D, left shot, 6-3/195
Moriarty is a big defensive defenseman who looks vastly improved since the last time I saw him. His skating has gotten better. His puck touches were solid and he made a couple of simple plays to keep the puck moving up ice.
Goaltenders
Brendan Holahan
Brunswick, 6/15/04, G, catches left, 6-2/180
Holahan is a good-sized goaltender with skating ability and athleticism. He’s a little raw and he’ll have to become quieter in the crease, but there’s some potential upside. The New Canaan, Conn., native has played for Mid Fairfield.
Greyson Pane
North Jersey Avalanche 18-U, 8/2/03, G, catches left, 6-3/171
Pane, from Boxford, Mass., formerly played at Westminster. He’s another goaltender who has always shown some potential. I thought he was pretty good here and did a good job of making the saves he was supposed to make.
Jake Inzirillo
Brooks, 2/2/03, G, catches left, 5-11/165
Inzirillo is a little on the smaller side for a modern-era goaltender, but he showed quick reflexes and made some nice saves here. He’s from West Islip, N.Y., and in his third year at Brooks.
