New England Hockey Journal was in the rinks last week to focus on 2006 birth year hockey players competing in the Senior Chowder Cup and Exposure Hockey Group’s showcase.
The New England Pro-Am Hockey League 2021 John Cunniff Senior Chowder Cup happened in Foxboro, Attleboro, Canton and Braintree, Mass., from July 22-25. The Eastern Exposure event was held in New Hampshire at the Rinks in Exeter.
This piece covers the ’06 players who caught our eye over the weekend and show potential to play hockey at the junior, D-1 levels and beyond. We will follow up with a look at the ‘07s in a separate piece coming soon.
1. Macklin Celebrini, LW-C, All American Prospects (Chowder Cup)
6/13/2006, shoots left, 5-11/181
In a word: electric. The Vancouver native was on the dominant Shattuck-St. Mary’s 14U team this past season and scored over 100 points. Though Chowder Cup play is loosey-goosey with little to no structure, he was on another level here. He has a genius-level hockey IQ, and all the skills to be a top performer at the highest levels. Celebrini is already on NHL radars for the 2024 draft, and he showed off that potential and more as the youngest player by far on his team here. With a player like him, it's appointment viewing, and he delivered the goods in Foxboro.
2. Cole Eiserman, LW, Team PVCK (Eastern Exposure)
8/29/06, shoots left, 6-0/181
The Newburyport, Mass., native is coming off of an outstanding showing at the Select 15 Player Development Camp in Amherst, N.Y., and showed why he is one of the very best ’06 USA players in the country here. On Sunday morning, he slipped behind the Team Exposure defense on his first shift and made a series of nifty dekes to finish off a breakaway and make it 1-0, just 28 seconds into the game. A teammate of Celebrini’s on the Shattuck Sabres 14 squad last season scored an eye-popping 97 goals and 154 points in 50 games. He’s simply dominant at this level against his peers, with a rocket of a shot. Eiserman can do it all and had his way in the game. He looks like a lock for the U.S. National Team in 2022-23 and like Celebrini, is on the NHL draft watch already for 2024. Older brothers Chris, Billy and Shane were all high-level players who came up through the ranks in New England, but Cole is taking a different path, and has the highest upside of them all.
3. Kiernan Poulin, RD, Team Dangle (Eastern Exposure)
1/5/06, shoots right, 5-7/125
Although undersized, this elite skater is dynamic, explosive and wants the puck on his stick. In this kind of event, we didn’t get as much of a feel for his defensive play, but the Boston Advantage standout is going to be a priority watch going forward. Operating as more of a fourth forward, the Norwell, Mass., product made several high-end athletic plays to elude the forecheck or a big hit and flew up the ice. He skates with his head up and can make all manner of passes. He carries the puck like it’s on a string, and he showed the offensive instincts to pinch down aggressively at the right times and get some zip on his shots to the net when the lanes were open. He was up top on the PP, and moved pucks around effortlessly. He’s obviously got a lot of growing to do, but Poulin checks the boxes for a small defenseman- elite in the transition game, and will be on the NTDP radar.
4. Ryan Staples, RW, Team Gelstx (Eastern Exposure)
2/24/06, shoots right, 6-0/153
The Bishop Hendricken forward from Middletown, R.I., made an impact on his very first shift when he used his size to win a puck battle along the wall and then take it right to the net. The lack of hesitation by him to go and get the puck set the tone, and he was noticeable throughout. With his size, he shields the puck effectively and is around the play a lot. He’s got good skill and demonstrated the work ethic to make plays by being heavy on pucks or just going north-south and keeping it simple.
5. Michael Minchello, RC, Team Gelstx (Eastern Exposure)
1/1/06, shoots right, 6-0/150
Dexter Southfield forward has been noticeable in summer prep league play in Foxboro this month, and he looked the part over the weekend, using his size, skill and strong skating to make a lot of plays for his team. He ripped one goal on a rocket release and always seemed to be in the middle of the play. While not sure about the pure creativity and vision, the Braintree, Mass., native definitely has the physical attributes to play at the higher levels.
6. Tij Iginla, LC, Team Dangle (Eastern Exposure)
8/4/06, shoots left, 5-9/145
Played hard on every shift, moving his feet and playing a disruptive style on the forecheck. One thing that stands out about him is his details- he supports the puck well, doesn’t do flybys when pressuring the puck carrier, and stops at the net. Those traits are especially welcome in a showcase event without much structure like this one. He skates well and generated several scoring chances while hunting pucks with a relentless tenacity. The Boston Jr. Eagles product from Brookline, Mass., will be playing in Canada this season.
7. Aiden McKenna, G, Team Dangle (Eastern Exposure)
4/30/06, catches left, 6-1/165
This was our first viewing of McKenna, and he was the best goaltender here. He already has the size, but he moves extremely well with athleticism and quickness. He has an interesting, fast-twitch movement to his pads, noticeable especially on shootouts and breakaways, but it works for him- he gets down and seals lightning-fast, and gives shooters very little net to hit. He’s aggressive and comes out to challenge, but manages his net depth well. Read the play well and didn’t allow a single goal on Sunday- not during the game nor in the shootout portion at the end. Rochester, N.Y. native will play for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres this year and if this weekend was any indication, will be a player to watch.
8. Walker Bright, RW, Team PVCK (Eastern Exposure)
6/3/06, shoots right, 5-9/150
From New Canaan, Conn., Bright turned a strong New England District showing in Nashua into a spot at the Select 15 Player Development Camp this month. We liked him here again- he’s smart, engaged, competes on pucks. Plans to play at Berkshire School and the Mid-Fairfield 15 split-season team, and has a good chance to be a USHL draft pick in May.
9. Tyler Kenney, RW, Team Exposure (Eastern Exposure)
5/15/06, shoots left, 5-10/161
Another player who caught our eye at the NED Select 15 Festival, Kenney is a smart playmaker who has a natural knack for creating offense. His team was playing a few men down, but he did his part to keep them in it Sunday, scoring a breakaway goal with a high laser over the goaltender’s blocker. The Scarborough, Maine, native will stay in his home state with the Maine Nordiques 16 team this season, but has junior and college potential as an under-the-radar player to watch.
10. Jake Pellicane, RD, Team Gelstx (Eastern Exposure)
7/13/06, shoots right, 5-11/150
Right shooting-defender played the left side and was noticeable for his solid positional play and decisions. He’s going to have good size, and plays with length, using his stick to break up rushes and holding the offensive blue line well. He’s a defender first, offense-producer second, and you need those guys. The native of Long Beach, N.Y. will play for the Long Island Gulls 15 team this season.
Others of note:
Peter Luecke, D, Team Dangle — From South Boston, Mass., and playing at BC High, he stood out for his patience and smart pinches. He moves well and has the size to develop into a good player at the higher levels.
Chris Reiniger, D, Team Dangle — Another undersized, fast defender like Poulin who flew around the ice and made plays with the puck on his stick. The Maryland native will play at South Kent Selects Academy this year.
Charlie Metz, F, Team Exposure — Small Michigan pepper pot was quick, engaged and hustled. Every shift, he had some good puck touches and can fly. He’s slated for the Belle Tire 15 team this year.
Jordan Geike, F, Team Dangle — Fast skater and rushed the puck wide a lot during the game, showing some very good 1-on-1 skills. The Minnesotan will play AAA for the Windy City Storm (formerly Chicago Young Americans) 15 team.
Monty Wood, F Team Exposure — From South Burlington, Vt., the Rice Prep forward is massive at a listed 6-foot-4, 226-pounds, and can really fire it. If he can lean out a bit to improve his quickness and speed, he showed some intriguing promise.
Bartholomew "BJ" Ricciardi, G, Team Gelstx — Florida Alliance AAA goalie from Tampa looked huge in net and showed some of the best economy of movement of any goalie here- less is more. Stopped all the shots he had to, and a few he shouldn’t have.
