FOXBORO, Mass. – For the seventh consecutive Wednesday night, six teams of top players from around the region converged on the Foxboro Sports Center to play three games in front of spectators, including Boston College head coach Greg Brown.
The first game Wednesday night had the best pace and the most high-end talent, including players slated to play for USA Hockey’s NTDP in 2022-23 and a few others with hopes of being on the U17 team in 2023-24.
The league was missing a handful of players, who are at USHL 40-man camps as Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux City and Sioux Falls are getting their top players back in action over the next few days. Still, there were plenty of talented prospects who are on the radar of top college programs throughout the region.
Below is a look at the players who stood out on Wednesday night, the seventh week of league play.
There will be two more weeks of regular-season matchups followed by the playoffs. Kudos to Tyler Holske of Milton Academy, South Shore Kings and the Sioux City Musketeers for putting on the league for players, scouts and coaches to enjoy.
Tommy Anderson
Thayer/River Rats 15O, 2/2/07, F, left shot, 5-7/160
Anderson had a pair of assists, showing off his playmaking abilities. He’s got an elite stick and can make plays in small areas. He had a top-six role as a freshman at Thayer last season and his ice time should only increase in 2022-23.
Will Cannata
Milton/Junior Eagles U16, 5/17/05, F, left shot, 5-11/178
Cannata plays the game with an edge and seemingly gets into a scrap every week. He might have gotten an assist in this game, but I’m all for a player who gives it his all, no matter what the situation. He’ll need to keep his penalty minutes to a minimum this winter as he’ll be relied upon heavily while skating for his father’s team at Milton Academy.
Matty Cataldo
St. Sebastian’s, 5/19/05, F, left shot, 5-11/195
I wrote about Cataldo last week, but his play once again deserved recognition. He scored a nice goal cutting through the middle of the ice. His skating and physical strength are both trending in the right direction as he gets ready for his junior season at St. Sebastian’s.
Aidan Connors
St. Sebastian’s/Junior Eagles U18, 8/9/05, D, left shot, 5-10/153
Connors has had a good summer, exceeding expectations and performing well at the USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp in June. He scored a goal in the game Wednesday night. His skating, skill and vision are all above-average, and he’ll be counted on to step up for Sean McCann’s Arrows this winter with the losses of Nolan Joyce and Will Elias to junior hockey.
Cam Cooke
Junior Bruins U16, 2/2/06, F, right shot, 6-1/178
Cooke wasn’t listed on the roster, but wore No. 8 for the orange team. He had an assist on his team’s first goal. A good-sized center, his skating and 200-foot game projects well to the college level. He should be one of the top young players in the USPHL, whether it be with the U16 team or in callups with the NCDC.
Ethan Gardula
Cushing/CM Penguins U18, 2/28/05, F, left shot, 6-1/178
Gardula had a goal late in his game. His size and skating are certainly intriguing and he’s always been a good player in the age group. He’s got even more to give and will be heavily coveted by college programs if he keeps playing harder and more consistently under Cushing’s second-year head coach Paul Pearl.
Andrew Gibbons
St. Mark’s/Little Bruins U18, 6/2/05, F, right shot, 5-9/187
Gibbons’ skating has improved significantly over the past 18 months. His first two steps still need work, but his speed has gotten better and it’s allowed him to be a consistent force this summer on the score sheet. While he wasn’t as productive Wednesday night as he had been in previous games, he did some things to stand out. His newfound speed allowed him to break up a play on the back check. He’s around the puck a lot and had a couple of near misses. College programs will be hard pressed to find a better teammate than Gibbons, who should be a big part of the top line for Carl Corazzini’s Lions this winter.
Dylan Hunt
Milton/Junior Eagles U16, 2/9/06, D, left shot, 6-1/174
Hunt was tremendous in the first game. While he won’t wow coaches and scouts with jumping into the rush, his size, skating and defensive ability are all consistently noticeable. He’s smooth and projects as a big-time shutdown defender at the college level and possibly beyond. His role at Milton should increase with the departure of Providence commit Chris Romaine, who is spending his senior season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers.
Evan Jones
Arlington/Junior Eagles 15O, 2/9/07, D, left shot, 5-8/165
Jones had his moments in the first game, as you might expect for a young defenseman going up against some older players in a fast-paced game. He made some plays on the breakout and held his own defensively. He’ll be one of the top defensive prospects in the MIAA this winter while playing for John Messuri’s Spy Ponders.
Dylan Krayer
Mount Saint Charles U16, 3/12/07, F, right shot, 5-7/130
Krayer was mentioned in this space last week for improving each week. He held true to form, picking up a pair of helpers this Wednesday. One of them was a highlight-reel play where he made a beauty of a pass on his backhand to find a teammate in the slot for a goal. Even outside the two assists, he made a couple of nifty plays on the night.
Sean Keohane
Dexter Southfield/CC Whalers U18, 11/4/04, D, left shot, 6-4/190 | NCAA commit: Harvard
Not surprisingly, Keohane was the best 2023 draft eligible prospect on display Wednesday night. He’ll have that distinction quite a bit over the next 10 months with the Cape Cod Whalers and Dexter Southfield. He looks the part of a future pro with his size, skating and sharp decision making skills. The puck snaps off his stick and he can be rangy defensively.
JJ Monteiro
Mount Saint Charles U16, 1/12/06, F, left shot, 5-11/199
Monteiro isn’t the fastest, nor the most skilled, but he always seems to be around the puck and make things happen. I mean the above sentence as a compliment. He gets the most out of his ability by being a north-south forward, being heavy on pucks, and using his hockey sense to his advantage. He had a goal and at least one assist in the first game. It will be interesting to see if he can take the next step with an increased role for Mount Saint Charles this upcoming season with the absence of James Hagens and Sacha Boisvert, who will both be in the USHL.
Michael Munroe
Avon Old Farms/River Rats 15O, 7/6/07, F, left shot, 5-6/154
Munroe scored a goal and picked up an assist. He uses his speed to separate from opposing defensemen and has terrific offensive instincts. He’s working hard on his habits away from the puck and it’s showing with his play this summer. Munroe will be one of the more watched newcomers to prep hockey as he transitions from Division 3 high school champion Hanover to Avon Old Farms.
Teddy Mutryn
St. Sebastian’s/Junior Eagles U16, 2/16/07, F, right shot, 6-0/196
Mutryn was outstanding in his team’s win in the first game. He had a pair of goals, but made some equally impressive passes to set up chances for teammates. He’s a power forward who drives the net, as he did on a goal that he slipped through the five hole. Mutryn’s maturity with and without the puck is well beyond his years.
Quinn Pine
Westminster, 10/4/05, F, right shot, 5-9/160
I’ve seen Pine play a time or two over the years, but never noticed him in as positive of a way as Wednesday night. He had two goals and an assist. He finished plays at the net and showed well throughout the game. He’s making the jump from Bishop Stang to Westminster.
Cam Russo
Governor’s/Little Bruins U18, 1/3/05, F, right shot, 6-0/187
Russo had two goals in his team’s win and had a bunch of other quality chances. His stick is his elite asset and he can certainly score goals. He’ll be watched closely by NHL scouts in his draft year. Russo will be the go-to guy for Brian McGuirk’s squad at Governor’s this upcoming winter.
Kolin Sisson
Selects Academy U16, 9/30/06, F, right shot, 5-6/120
Sisson is undersized, but he’s fun to watch. He’s quick and crafty and seems to get a few breakaways each game. He capitalized on one tonight and was impactful on the line rush all game. He’ll be back for a second year at South Kent in the fall.
Ryan Staples
Loomis Chaffee/River Rats U16, 2/24/06, F, right shot, 6-0/162
Staples scored a big-time goal, rifling a puck into the top shelf with a quick release. He sees the ice well and plays a complete, honest game, even in showcases such as this one. Last week, he made a lot of plays, picking up three assists. This week, it was his finishing ability that was noticeable. Staples is a versatile player that can slide up and down the lineup and play center or wing. He’ll be a key contributor for Loomis Chaffee as he makes the jump from Bishop Hendricken in the RIIL.
Teddy Stiga
NTDP U17, 4/5/06, F, left shot, 5-8/143
Stiga’s skating is what draws you in right away. He has the speed to separate and the shiftiness to be elusive in tight spaces. He didn’t have as big of an impact on the score sheet as some others, but his upside was on display throughout the game. After an incredible freshman season at Belmont Hill, he’s off to the NTDP. In another key development, he’s reportedly accelerating to be a junior in 2022-23, meaning he can go straight into college following his two years in Plymouth.
Chase Watts
Barrington/CC Whalers U16, 1/1/06, F, left shot, 5-9/130
Watts has just gone through a growth spurt and his play on the ice is also on an upward trajectory. He had a few assists and made a lot of plays on Wednesday night. He combined with Pine on at least a few occasions. He’ll certainly be a top-five player in the RIIL this upcoming season.
