The recently concluded 2021 River Rats Jamboree and Eastern Alliance Kickoff (EAK) events featured some top hockey talent from the 2003 and 2004 birth years.
There was no shortage of quality teams and players to evaluate, and this list is not a comprehensive ranking. It is intended to be a snapshot and give a broader perspective of some of the noticeable, standout performances observed during both showcases.
Below is a quick roundup of the more memorable performances we noted from the ‘03s and ‘04s competing at the Jamboree in Canton and in the 18-U red division of the EAK in Marlboro.
The Connecticut Jr. Bulldogs captured the red division crown in the final game against Bishop Kearney Selects on Labor Day.
2003s
Forwards
Oliver Flynn (Wolcott, Conn.)
Jr. Bulldogs/Loomis Chaffee, 6/13/03, shoots right, 6-2/185, NCAA commit: UConn
Big forward plays a power game and uses his size effectively with some subtle creativity in his game. He’s not flashy, just effective. He plays in the middle of the ice and dirty areas, where games are won or lost, and his Bulldogs captured the EAK 18-U red division crown.
Jacob Kraft
Jr. Bulldogs/Kent, 4/26/03, shoots left, 5-8/165
Small but quick, shifty forward kickstarts the offensive game with his attacking mindset and high energy/pace. He was noticeable and engaged.
Tyler Chenevert (Shrewsbury, Mass.)
River Rats/Hill, 2/14/03, shoots right, 6-1/190
With size and some jam, this complete forward competes and plays in the dirty areas. Looks a little raw at times, but when he goes hard to the net with his powerful skating stride, he’s disruptive and tough to play against. Brings a lot of different attributes that should appeal to coaches at the next level.
Ziv Chodirker (Newton, Mass.)
Jr. Eagles/Rivers, 3/17/03, shoots right, 5-11/180
Effort plays are always there and while there isn’t a lot of skill or offense, he relentlessly moves his feet and competes hard on every puck. Heavy, industrious and gives everything he has.
Defensemen
Charlie Andriole (Branford, Conn.)
Jr. Bulldogs/Loomis Chaffee, 4/19/03, shoots left, 5-11/165
Puck transporter can wheel and immediately transitions the play from defense to offense. Smooth and composed on the back end, he skates with his head up and sees the ice well. Did a nice job communicating and directing plays.
Matthew Fusco (Westwood, Mass.)
EC Wizards/Dexter Southfield, 3/7/03, shoots right, 5-10/180, NCAA commit: Harvard
May not be an explosive skater, but anticipates where the puck is going so well that he always seems to be in position to keep it in the offensive zone or interdict an opposing rush. He’s smooth and poised, makes tight turns and cuts to elude forecheckers; makes the right decisions under pressure.
Mick Frechette (Weston, Mass.)
Jr. Eagles/Dexter Southfield, 10/27/03, shoots left, 6-1/200
Transfer to Dexter from St. Paul’s made some confident plays at the Jamboree and carried it over into EAK play. Good size with a stout build and plays an aggressive, physical style; made forwards pay for real estate in front of his net. His lateral mobility/footwork is an area that he can improve going forward.
Goaltenders
Andrew Palena
Jr. Bulldogs/Salisbury, 4/23/03, catches left, 6-1/170
Compact stance; explodes laterally with a powerful push to make athletic saves. Shows patience and the ability to recover quickly to set his feet for secondary scoring chances.
Ashton Billesberger
Maine Nordiques, 10/8/03, catches left, 5-11/160
Average size, but tracks and battles to make the stops. From Canada, he helped his team battled from behind against the River Rats at the Jamboree’s first game and secure a second-half win with some quality point-blank saves.
2004s
Forwards
Dylan Hryckowian
Buffalo Regals/Salisbury, 5/19/04, shoots right, 5-9/155, NCAA commit: Northeastern
He committed to the Huskies in the middle of the Jamboree and it wasn’t hard to see why he’s going to the Hockey East. Smallish but speedy, skilled, creative forward wants the puck on his stick and is slippery through heavy traffic.
Bennett MacDonald (Weston, Mass.)
EC Wizards/Nobles, 2/24/04, shoots left, 5-11/160, NCAA commit: Harvard
Plays so hard and fast- impossible not to notice him. Top-level instincts for the recent Harvard commit who will follow his father to Cambridge at some point. Makes nifty plays and made those around him better in this one.
Matt Kursonis (Worcester, Mass.)
South Shore Kings Prep/St. George’s, 3/5/04, shoots left, 6-2/185
This player keeps getting better each time out, and he’s trending up in a big way. He’s active in the offensive zone and finds a way to shoot the puck from just about anywhere.
Kurt Gurkan (Darien, Conn.)
River Rats/Phillips Exeter, 2/13/04, shoots left, 5-10/170, NCAA commit: Yale
Very good skater who can put defenders on their heels with his burst of speed to the outside. Plays fast  and effectively in the offensive zone, but needs to do it over the entire 200 feet of ice.
Nick Peluso
Bishop Kearney Selects, 2/14/04, shoots right, 5-8/160
Smallish but built like a fire hydrant…he plays with speed and doesn’t shy away from contact. Lives in the greasy areas of the rink and was around the puck a lot.
James Shannon
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick, 8/12/04, shoots right, 5-10/170
Gritty, hard-working forward is all about the little things that win you games. He’s a forechecking demon, blocks shots and has a mature, refined three-zone game.
Ronan O’Donnell (Fairfield, Conn.)
EC Wizards/Belmont Hill, 2/26/04, shoots right, 6-2/180
Slick hands and competed hard- was rewarded with a goal by going to the net. His skating is preventing him from being a dominant force in his peer group, but it didn’t hold him back here at all.
Michael Callow (South Boston, Mass.)
Jr. Eagles/St. Sebastian’s, 1/15/04, shoots right, 6-2/170, NCAA commit: Harvard
When he uses his size and skating to drive hard to the net, there is significant pro potential and upside here. Protects the puck well and effective on the cycle and below the dots. He’s capable of taking over a shift, so we just want to see it from him more often.
Defensemen
Jordin Palmer (Auburn, N.H.)
River Rats/Avon, 1/6/04, shoots left, 6-1/175
Most pleasant surprise on defense for the Jamboree and EAK games. Smooth, poised and smart- moves pucks to the right places and never panics under pressure. Sees the ice and makes the correct reads, while keeping his gaps tight and deploying his stick effectively to negate puck carriers.
Chris Romaine (Braintree, Mass.)
South Shore Kings Prep/Milton, 2/21/04, shoots right, 5-11/185, NCAA commit: Providence
Elite feet and effortless skater. Can do so much when he has the puck on his stick. In one sequence against Top Gun, he took the puck back into his end to reload then skated end-to-end where he dished it for a quality scoring chance. He announced his commitment to the Friars the next day.
Ollie Chessler (Weston, Mass.)
Jr. Eagles/Rivers, 7/9/04, shoots left, 5-11/165
He’s played a lot of hockey this summer but has the tools to be one of the better puck movers and two-way defenders in the region and it showed here. Fluid skating and footwork with hard, accurate passes are a hallmark of his improving game.
Kiernan Gately
Buffalo Regals/Gunnery, 2/25/04, shoots right, 6-1/165, NCAA commit: St. Lawrence
Continues to grow physically and refine his two-way game. There isn’t a lot of flash in his style, but he holds his gaps, uses his stick effectively and can make the crisp clear with confidence. Keeps getting better.
Alex Zakrzewski
Buffalo Regals/Salisbury, 3/12/04, shoots left, 5-8/150, NCAA commit: Brown
Little engine that could-type defender can really skate, thinks the game well and moves pucks out of his end with authority. He has a well-rounded defensive style and plays with poise and energy.
Michael Fisher (Westborough, Mass.)
EC Wizards/St. Mark’s, 5/2/04, shoots right, 6-3/194, NCAA commit: Princeton
So smooth and defensive staple for his teams is starting to assert himself offensively. On one play, pinched in from the point against the Jr. Eagles in the Jamboree and lasered a shot into the back of the net. He’s moving pucks with authority while keeping things safe and simple in his own end.
Odie Ford
LI Gulls/Portledge, 7/8/04, shoots right, 6-2/180
Tall, long defender stands out for his strong positional play and physicality. He rubs out opposing forwards along the walls and keeps the play to the outside. In one EAK game, he fired a bullet of a goal off a 2-on-1, showing a little offensive flair to boot.
Goaltenders
Andy Heinze (North Andover, Mass.)
Jr. Bulldogs/Loomis Chaffee, 3/8/04, catches left, 6-0/175
Plays big in the net and makes bigger saves. Doesn’t give shooters much net to hit, and even when they think they have him, he finds a way to keep the puck out.
Jack Fialkoff
Bishop Kearney Selects, 4/22/04, catches left, 5-11/165
While not blessed with ideal size, he makes a lot of tough saves. He tracks and adjusts extremely well to pucks, making several highlight reel stops on deflections that should have gone in. Competitive- a winner.
Jake Schunke
LI Gulls, 3/24/04, catches left, 6-0/180
Liked his game- smooth lateral movement and employs a consistent less is more approach. He is patient; stopped a couple of breakaways by standing his ground and forcing the shooter to commit first.
