The USPHL 16-U All-Star Game took place Monday afternoon at the Lawler Rink on the campus of Merrimack College.
National prevailed with a 4-3 win over American in a game that was attended by several head and assistant college coaches from across Hockey East and ECAC Hockey.
The game featured three committed players, highlighted by Northeastern recruit Nate Hanley, a forward representing the P.A.L. Islanders. He had an assist on the first goal of the game. The other two committed players were defensemen, UMass recruit Cole Crusberg-Roseen of the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs and Brown commit Nick Bernardo of the P.A.L. Islanders.
New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs forward David Bazile had two goals to lead the way offensively for National. Alex Farmer of the New Jersey Rockets had the game-winning goal and Michael Stevens of the P.A.L. Islanders had the other goal for National.
Jersey Hitmen forward Connor Sedlak, CP Dynamo forward Yuri Ushakov and Skipjacks forward Oliver Frontini were the goal scorers for the American.
USPHL 16-U All-Star Game: Top Prospects
Evan Brown
#18 National, NJ Rockets, 10/14/03, C, Right Shot, 5-11/140
Brown is a late ’03 who looks to be making headway among the rest of the age group. He had a primary assist on his team’s second goal and made a couple of other strong moves throughout the game.
Chris Delaney
#20 American, Junior Bruins, 9/25/04, LW, Left Shot, 5-4/120
The Hopkinton, Mass., native was the only ’04 in the game and he didn’t look a bit out of place. Delaney is on the smaller side, but he’s quick and has good hands to stickhandle in traffic. He made a couple of plays in the first period.
Oliver Frontini
#23 American, Skipjacks, 8/15/02, C, Left Shot, 5-9/158
Frontini scored the third goal for his team to tie the score late in the third period. He drove the net and had a quick release on his shot after getting the puck from a linemate below the goal line. He was noticeable for good stretches of the second half of the game.
Thomas Heaney
#30 National, NJ Rockets, 2/2/03, G, Catches Left, 6-1/146
Heaney is one of the top ’03 goaltenders in the country and his play in the second period of this game did nothing to disprove that. He has good size, moves well, and is technically sound. He competes hard as well.
Alex Houston
#31 American, Skipjacks, 3/21/02, G, Catches Left, 6-1/190
Houston is another solid goaltender out of the Skipjacks program that has produced a couple solid players at that position in recent years, including UMass Lowell commit and 2019 NHL Draft prospect Aidan Harper. He doesn’t have the same upside as Harper, but he’s a player college coaches should keep an eye on over the coming years.
Silas Hughes
#23 American, Skipjacks, 4/19/02, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Hughes was around the puck a lot and did a lot of the mucking and grinding for his line. On the goal by Frontini, he did a good job of getting to a loose puck and being heavy. He won the battle behind the goal line and dug it out to Frontini for the score.
Daniels Murnieks
#19 National, Springfield Pics, 3/28/02, C, Right Shot, 5-11/160
The Latvian native didn’t find the score sheet in this one, but he had a couple of good shifts. He’s a good skater and is able to explode out of the blocks. He sees the ice well and made a couple of plays.
Jack Pascucci
#9 National, NH Jr. Monarchs, 2/15/02, D, Right Shot, 6-2/170
From North Andover, Mass., Pascucci has some potential with his size and stick. He has above average feet and the ability to move the puck around. He’s a player to continue watching over the coming years.
Michael Rubin
#4 National, NJ Rockets, 5/5/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11.25/184
Rubin was probably the most polished defenseman in the game. He’s not flashy, but he has good size, is sturdy, and made several smart plays. His first touch is good and he has his head up. He can defend well with strong positioning.
Joseph Sciabarra
#3 National, P.A.L. Islanders, 10/11/03, D, Left Shot, 5-7/155
Sciabarra is a really fun player to watch as he has good feet, skates well, and likes to activate into the offensive rush. He moves pucks well and can get shots through. If he can limit his turnovers, he’ll continue to rise up the ranks.
Connor Sedlak
#18 American, Jersey Hitmen, 11/18/02, LW, Left Shot, 5-8/165
Sedlak scored the first goal of the game for his team, crashing the net and cashing in on a loose puck. He was around the dirty areas and played a gritty game to go along with his above average skill set. He also plays high school hockey for New Jersey power house Don Bosco.
Jason Siedem
#10 National, NJ Rockets, 10/17/02, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/168
Siedem is back on the market after de-committing from Boston College last off-season. He’s recently had a change of scenery as he left Avon Old Farms to join the New Jersey Rockets program. He has a good offensive skill set, skates well, and should land with another Hockey East or ECAC Hockey school in the future.
Patrick Somerville
#15 American, Islanders HC, 10/25/02, C, Right Shot, 5-9/150
Somerville, a former standout at Arlington Catholic, was a pleasant surprise here. He’s a little on the smaller side, but his skating was very good. He used his edges to have good agility and move well in tight spaces. He didn’t find the score sheet, but his offensive skill set and skating were high end for this event.
Gregory Spitznagel
#11 National, NJ Rockets, 3/10/03, RW, Right Shot, 6-3/185
Spitznagel has good size and can control play below the dots when he’s engaged. He has a good shot and looks the part. His skating has improved and he will continue to get more looks as he fills into his frame and works on his stride further.
Yuri Ushakov
#11 American, CP Dynamo, 2/20/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-10/160
Ushakov had perhaps the highlight reel goal of the entire day with a nice move to score a goal on a breakaway before crashing into the net. He skates well and he’s slick. He has been putting up big numbers with CP Dynamo for a couple of seasons now.
