Who are the ’08 forwards to watch at the Mass. Hockey Festival?

Last year was a big Mass. Hockey Festival for the 2008-born prospects because it was their first.

When all was said and done, 10 forwards, five defensemen and two goalies made it to USA Hockey's Select 15 Camp. The 10 forwards were Will Bent (Dover, Mass.), David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.), Michael Federico (Hanover, Mass.), Andrew Giguere (Georgetown, Mass.), Ty Hymovitz (Needham, Mass.), Matthew Krayer (Concord, Mass.), Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), Benjamin Short (Lunenburg, Mass.), Noah Survilas (Winthrop, Mass.) and Spencer Thornborough (Boxford, Mass.).

Bent, Bosco, Mutryn and Thornborough were all invited to this season's U.S. National Team Development Program's Evaluation Camp, with Mutryn as the lone player to make it. The rest of the three have automatic bids to Select 16 Camp.

For everyone else, the focus shifts to earning bids to that Select 16 Camp, which will be held July 9-15 in Amherst, N.Y.

That starts this weekend at the Mass. Hockey Festival. Players will battle at New England Sports Center for spots the following weekend in the Final 40. From there, players will be picked to move on to Select 16 Camp.

We're going to focus on the forwards in this story. Some of these players were talked about prior to the USHL Phase 1 Draft, but many were not. A separate story will be done on defenders.

Let's dive in.

Luke Allen

Lawrence Academy, 5/20/2008, F, right shot
Hometown: Billerica, Mass. 

Allen was an impact forward for Lawrence Academy as a freshman this season, scoring four goals and tallying 17 points. He's long been a standout for the Boston Jr. Eagles.

Michael Federico

Thayer, 7/1/2008, F, left shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Hanover, Mass. 

Over the past 12 months, Federico made the switch from the MIAA (BC High) to prep (Thayer), and it paid instant dividends. He scored eight goals and posted 15 points in 28 games. He was also productive with the Neponset Valley River Rats 15O team. Federico always seems to have a nose for the net.

PHASE 2: 19 locals taken in USHL Phase 2 Draft

Chase Field

Barnstable High, 3/1/2008, F, left shot, 5-8/130
Hometown: Centerville, Mass. 

Field stayed in the MIAA with Barnstable High this past winter, totaling 13 goals and 25 points. In the fall, he was always noticeable with the River Rats.

Andrew Giguere

Belmont Hill, 1/31/2008, F, right shot
Hometown: Georgetown, Mass. 

Giguere has long been a standout with the Boston Jr. Eagles, but played down in the lineup for Belmont Hill this past winter. He posted three goals and eight points in 31 games. Still, the potential is there, which is why the Madison Capitols selected him in the 10th round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft on Monday.

Ty Hymovitz

St. Sebastian's, 11/14/2008, F, right shot,
Hometown: Needham, Mass. 

Hymovitz is a smart, two-way forward. If he stays at St. Sebastian's next year, early projections show him as the team's No. 1 center, giving him plenty of opportunity to learn, grow and develop, while being relied upon to produce.

Matthew Krayer

Mount St. Charles 15O, 10/22/2008, F, left shot
Hometown: Concord, Mass. 

It was another strong season at Mount St. Charles for Krayer. He tallied 32 goals and 79 points in 56 games. It was not a surprise when the Tri-City Storm selected him in the fifth round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft.

Mass. Hockey Festival: 14 uncommitted '07 forwards to watch | 11 uncommitted '07 defenders to watch

Cam MacPherson

St. Mark's, 6/19/2008, F, left shot, 5-7/145
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass. 

MacPherson still has developmental progress to make. But he proved this winter he could thrive against older, stronger players. He scored 10 goals and added 20 assists in 29 games, getting over the coveted point-per-game threshold. Now he gets to face players his own age.

Will Manchuso

Concord-Carlisle, 1/8/2008, F, left shot, 5-10/168
Hometown: Concord, Mass. 

Manchuso was one of the MIAA players most coveted by prep coaches. He can fly and obliterated the competition this winter at Concord-Carlisle, scoring 30 goals and totaling 65 points. This will be a big weekend for him as he looks to break out amongst the best players in his birth year. He will play at St. Mark's next season.

Owen McHale

Dexter Southfield, 2/17/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/174
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass. 

McHale was hampered with injuries this past season during both his fall hockey campaign with the Boston Jr. Eagles and in the winter with Dexter Southfield. Still, he's proven to be an impact player in the past and is due for a breakout 2024-25 season.

JP Messuri

Arlington High, 2008, F, left shot, 5-5/152
Hometown: Arlington, Mass. 

Messuri was one of my favorite forwards at the Mass. Hockey Festival last year. He may be small, but that doesn't stop Messuri from packing a punch. He plays with a high compete and has really good hands. He had a terrific freshman season at Arlington this winter, posting over 40 points, which is stunning for a freshman in Division 1 MIAA.

Miles Mireault

Masconomet Regional High, 6/2/2008, F, right shot, 5-8/140
Hometown: Topsfield, Mass. 

Mireault has great vision. He's been one of the better players for the Boston Jr. Eagles the past two seasons, as well.

Stevie Rousell

Rivers, 3/31/2008, F, right shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Roslindale, Mass. 

Rousell is a very interesting case. He's a good skater and has some skill. His next step will be production at the prep level. He finished with six goals and 14 points for Rivers as a sophomore. The big question will be can he see a big increase in points next season as a junior? Now is a good time for a friendly reminder that every developmental path is different.

PHASE 1: 14 New Englanders taken in USHL Phase 1 Draft

Benjamin Short

Winchendon, 5/14/2008, F, left shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Lunenburg, Mass. 

At last season's Mass. Hockey Festival, one of the fun parts for me was watching the '08s because there were many players I'd never seen before. Short was one of them and he impressed. He's a great skater, has great hands and consistently stands out as one of the better players in his birth year. He produced at Winchendon this past winter, scoring four goals and adding 15 assists.

Noah Survilas

Dexter Southfield, 12/27/2008, F, right shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Winthrop, Mass. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't know why Survilas didn't at least get an invite to NTDP Evaluation Camp. The dynamic right wing was drafted in the third round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft by the Muskegon Lumberjacks.