MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. — Buoyed by its strong prep school hockey contingent, Rochester Coalition claimed the USA Hockey 18-U National Championship on Monday at Centene Community Ice Center just outside of St. Louis.
Rochester Coalition went a perfect 6-0 in the tournament. Coached by Brown alum Kyle Quick, the team defeated Ohio Junior Blue Jackets, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders and Maine Nordiques in pool play. Rochester smoked Culver, 8-1, in the quarterfinals before outlasting Mount Saint Charles, 3-2, to reach Monday’s final. Rochester downed the North Jersey Avalanche, 4-2, in the championship tilt.
The team was loaded with prep stars, including many from Salisbury, Millbrook and Gunnery. St. Lawrence commit Samuel Deckhut of Salisbury led the Coalition in scoring with three goals and seven assists. The team had three committed players — Deckhut; Livingston, N.J., native David Chen (Yale); and Southington, Conn., native Dean Bauchiero (Brown). All three play for Andrew Will at Salisbury. Several other players made a name for themselves in this tournament and could be creeping closer to a commitment.
Mount Saint Charles was ousted by the eventual champion in Sunday’s semifinal matchup. Matt Plante’s team had three players find the scoresheet four times: Penn State commit Owen McLaughlin, Long Island University commit Sixten Jenersjo and Zachary Aben.
The Boston Junior Eagles squeaked into Saturday’s quarterfinals after going 1-1-1 in pool play. The Eagles fell 5-4 in a shootout against the North Jersey Avalanche in the playoff game. Tim Delay (Hingham, Mass.) and Michael Cataldo (Norwell, Mass.) led the way offensively with four points each. The team was coached by former Boston College captain John Joyce (Holyoke, Mass.)
Maine Nordiques failed to make the playoff action after going 1-2 in pool play. The team’s lone win came against the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets. Cameron Bauer, Justin Mexico and Aiden Westin all had two points for the second-year program based out of Lewiston, Maine. Nick Skerlick was the team’s coach.
The North Jersey Avalanche was undefeated entering Monday’s final. The team took care of business rather easily in pool play before earning its way to the championship game with an overtime and shootout victory. UMass commit Michael Emerson was the team’s top player, scoring a goal and adding three assists.
Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the pre-tournament favorite, lost to North Jersey in the semifinals. Scott Morrow (Darien, Conn.) led the way with two goals and six assists. His electric play wowed NHL scouts who were there to watch the potential second- or third-round pick in the 2021 draft. Morrow is committed to North Dakota.
UMass commit and San Jose Sharks prospect Timofey Spitserov continued his goal-scoring prowess, lighting the lamp three times for Culver. The Indiana-based prep school fell to Rochester in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
Dartmouth commit Jackson Morehouse paced the way for Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, scoring five goals. The Penguins lost to Mount Saint Charles in Saturday’s quarterfinal action.
Stay tuned to New England Hockey Journal later this week as Jeff Cox will have his evaluations of the top players from each division of the USA Hockey Tier 1 Nationals.
