The short-term implication of the Mass. Hockey Festival is that certain players move on to USA Hockey Select Camps this summer.
The effects long term, however, are different and more powerful.
The 26 kids who made it to the Select Camps will get a natural boost to their confidence. But there are other players who didn't make the cut whose stock still rose at the Final 40.
There will now be higher expectations for next season and stronger Division 1 aspirations.
Today we'll look at players whose stock climbed after their performance in the Mass. Hockey Festival Final 40. We'll limit the field to '06 and '07 players and only consider those who have yet to commit to play college hockey. For the '07s, I tried to avoid anyone drafted high to the USHL. Shayne Gould, Cam Caron, Michael Munroe and Tyler Russo all had terrific showings at the Festival, but we expected that.
SELECTIONS: Check out who's headed to USA Hockey's Select Camps
A case could be made for every Final 40 participant's stock rising. But these nine players were particularly interesting.
Let's dive in.
Rian Chudzinski
St. Sebastian's, Dec. 2007, F, right shot, 5-10/143
I didn't know a ton about Chudzinski entering the Mass. Hockey Festival. He was an eighth grader at St. Sebastian's this past season and just fell below my radar — it happens. I was thoroughly impressed with his skill and ability to earn scoring chances for himself and his teammates on the first weekend of the festival. Entering the Final 40, I was most interested to watch if that would continue, and it did. He was strong in transition and had no problems fighting for interior ice. Going forward, I'd expect him to step into a bigger and more impactful role with St. Sebastian's next winter. That will help his college hockey aspirations even more.
Jack Fitzpatrick
Xaverian, 10/22/2007, F, left shot, 6-4/190Â
While he didn't make Select 16 camp, Fitzpatrick elevated his stock quite a bit throughout the festival. His big frame and sheer power helped him create space and set up scoring chances. Throughout the Final 40, Fitzpatrick showed off his good instincts and poise by setting up teammates for goals. I hope Billy MacAusland bought Fitzpatrick a Gatorade after Sunday's game because Fitzpatrick always seemed to always be working hard and dishing the puck to MacAusland. The best instance of that was when Fitzpatrick fought through the defense and sifted a pass on the rush to MacAusland for a goal. Fitzpatrick is slated to return to Xaverian next year, where he will be a key cog offensively. I'd expect college coaches to be in attendance for his games.
Laz Giardina
Reading High, 6/29/2006, F, left shot, 6-5/190Â
Hey, look — another big, powerful forward. Go figure. In my viewings of Reading High School this winter, Giardina was always dominant. He consistently drove play and had a high compete. But that was the MIAA and the festival featured the best players in Massachusetts. Giardina kept that level of play up over the last two weekends, winning puck battles and using his size to create separation. Giardina's festival performance took him from a dominant MIAA player to an impactful, top prospect from the '07s. His national camp appearance should create a lot of momentum for the Boston, Mass., native when he steps onto the campus of Lawrence Academy this fall.
Dylan Hunt
Milton Academy, 2/9/2006, D, left shot, 6-1/175Â
Defensemen like Kiernan Poulin, Kristofer Soja and Gould have no trouble standing out at events like this. They zip around with the puck and use their explosiveness to close on opposing forwards. But when a player like Hunt stands out, it's telling. In my eyes, he's a happy medium between being a two-way defenseman and a full-on defensive defenseman. He consistently shut down the other team's forwards in his own zone and executed clean breakout passes when launching zone exits. Hunt was already a top-pairing defenseman for Milton Academy, but projects to be the No. 1 for new head coach Jim Gaudet this winter. Hunt was already a candidate to play Division 1 someday, so his performance at the Festival only strengthened his case.
THE '08s: Ranking the top '08s from Mass. Hockey Festival's Final 40Â
Teddy MacAusland
Nobles, 1/13/2006, RW, right shot, 5-9/179Â
MacAusland's playmaking abilities stood out over both weekends. In the Final 40, he was great below the faceoff dots and aided the cycle game well. His ability to sneak passes through defenses was impressive. He was already a top point-getter for Nobles last year, so the next step will be elevating himself into one of the marquee forwards in prep hockey, and he will have the supporting cast to do it with Dennis Davidson and Ethan Cox. As for college looks, like many on this list, his Division 1 aspirations have only been strengthened. A strong Select 17 camp would help, too.
Joe Marchi
Catholic Memorial, 10/30/2007, RW, right shot, 5-7/154Â
Marchi didn't make the cut for Select Camp, but that doesn't mean his stock didn't rise. His shiftiness and good hands were on full display in the Final 40. He drove play and used his small frame to win puck battles and get to high-danger scoring areas. I also liked his work in his own zone. He got in passing lanes and occasionally intercepted cross-zone passes. Marchi was a standout player in the MIAA this winter with Catholic Memorial. He'll meet more challenges when he suits up for Dexter Southfield in 2023-24. There will be less time and space on the ice. But Marchi has the tools to fit inside Dexter's top six. If all goes according to plan, college coaches will be making the trip to Brookline, Mass., to watch his games.
THE '07s: What we learned about the '07s at the Mass. Hockey Festival Final 40
Cole Pouliot-Porter
Xaverian, 7/24/2006, G, catches left, 6-1/168
Pouliot-Porter was one of four strong, '07 goalies at the Final 40. All four had legitimate cases to move onto Amherst, N.Y. But Pouliot-Porter's outstanding play carried over from the MIAA playoffs and into the festival. He made timely saves and his flexibility had onlookers thinking "Good lord, I'd be in the hospital if I ever tried doing that." His stock was already high but it's telling that the lone MIAA goalie among three prep school goalies is the one moving on. He's slated to return to Xaverian in 2023-24. He carried Xaverian to the MIAA Division 1 championship game, so what's left is more consistent play during the regular season and finishing the job with a banner. I'd expect him to be a strong candidate for a postgrad season in 2024-25 at a prep school.
Brenden Sanchez
Atlantic Coast Academy, 2007, D, right shotÂ
While I didn't select Sanchez in my picks, I really liked his performance in the Final 40. This past weekend, he was great at making simple breakout passes and was poised with the puck. Sanchez had strong numbers with Atlantic Coast Academy this winter, posting 20 goals and 75 points in 80 games. He's slated to return there in 2023-24. With a strong showing at Select 16 camp, he will continue to raise his profile in the region.
PREDICTIONS: Who did Evan Marinofsky pick to move onto Select Camps?Â
Patrick Woods
Belmont Hill, 7/5/2007, F, right shot, 6-1/170Â
While Woods didn't make my selections, he did make the actual selections, which is really all that matters. In Saturday's game, he had a really nice rush that resulted in him dangling a defenseman and going upstairs over the goalie to light the lamp. He has a lot of skill and by making the Select 16 camp, his stock has risen a bunch. While Woods provided secondary scoring for Belmont Hill this past winter, he will have every opportunity to become a top scorer for head coach Brian Phinney's team with multiple seniors departing. He's playing his way into the sights of college coaches.
