ROCKLAND, Mass. – Many of the best 2007-born players from across the state took part in the Mass. Hockey Festival Final 40 last weekend at Lovell Arena.
Only missing among the top players was Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), who received a free pass to national camp by virtue of being selected to attend USA Hockey’s NTDP Evaluation Camp in March.
College coaches were assigned as evaluators by Mass. Hockey for each age group, including the '07s. The group of coaches watched each stage from the first tryout through last weekend’s festival and the Final 40. They were tasked with selecting the top seven forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender to send to USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp in Amherst, N.Y., next month.
I had some real issues with the selections on the blue line, but the forward group picked was strong. This isn’t meant as an attack on any of the evaluators or the process, but it’s intended to show a different viewpoint. Nick Evans (Malden Catholic), Evan Jones (Arlington), Anthony Pellitteri (Catholic Memorial) and Collin Rowe (Pingree) were all more deserving than the final two selections who made it to national camp on defense in my opinion.
Best player on the ice
If a Most Valuable Player or Most Outstanding Player trophy was handed out for the Mass. Hockey Final 40, this player would have been the easy selection:
Shayne Gould
BK Selects, 7/4/07, D, left shot, 5-7/130
There is absolutely no debating that Gould (Princeton, Mass.) was the best player on the ice, regardless of position. Somewhat undersized, Gould was a machine with the puck on his stick. He consistently made great breakout passes out of his own end and made a number of terrific looks from the top of the point in the attacking zone. His vision and poise with the puck on his stick were uncanny.
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Most pleasant surprise
This player exceeded expectations and made it to national camp after not being selected in 2022:
Patrick Woods
Belmont Hill, 7/5/07, RW, right shot, 6-1/170
Woods (Charlestown, Mass.) had a solid first year on the varsity at Belmont Hill, playing a third-line role for much of the year. He was consistently better than some of the other '07s on the team who had received more hype through the years. However, he was even better here than I expected. He certainly earned his opportunity to represent the district at national camp. He skates well, competes hard and can shoot it with some zip. He brings an edge to the ice sheet. Woods was even better on Saturday from my sources in the rinks.
MIAA players to watch
These three players played well on Sunday and are currently expected to return to the MIAA for their sophomore seasons in 2023-24:
Jack Fitzpatrick
Xaverian, 10/22/07, LW, left shot, 6-4/185
Fitzpatrick had two assists on Sunday, setting up both Billy MacAusland (Westwood, Mass.) goals. He showed poise and vision on one where he held up and waited for the perfect time to slide a pass across on the zone entry. He was big, protected pucks and made plays Sunday. While his skating needs improvement, he showed well here and should certainly be one of the better forwards in the MIAA next season.
Evan Jones
Arlington, 2/9/07, D, left shot, 5-9/165
Jones (Arlington, Mass.) was one of four defensemen who I believe deserved a selection over the final two. He needs to become a more explosive skater, but his hockey sense and the way he plays the game are both commendable. He scored a goal on Sunday and was solid throughout the game.
OFF TO NATIONAL CAMP: Check out the selections from the Final 40
Anthony Pellitteri
Catholic Memorial, 5/2/07, D, right shot, 5-10/208
Pellitteri (Holbrook, Mass.), who scored a goal on Saturday, is big and rugged and can accomplish things at both ends of the ice. He has a hard shot, plays a physical game, and can eat pucks. As one college coach put it, he could be a solid five or six at that level down the road.
