FOXBORO, Mass. — The last day of summer is technically Sept. 22 this year. But the real last day of summer was on Sunday, when the puck dropped on the 2026 River Rats Jamboree/Beast Launch.
Several teams at the 14U, 15O, 16U, 18U, and 19U levels gathered at multiple rinks across southern Massachusetts to open the fall hockey slate.
It’s a phenomenal event because of the sheer amount of talent you can see under one roof. I spent my days at Foxboro Sports Center watching the 18U level.
The 18U players are interesting. Some have grown considerably and gotten much stronger over the summer, while others clearly have worked on skills and skating.
There were also way more ’10s, who are really 16Us, playing up in 18U than there were ’09s last year.
Here were the teams I saw:
- Neponset Valley River Rats
- Yale Junior Bulldogs
- Northern Conn. Nor’Easter
- Brookline Whalers
- Boston Hockey Academy
- Atlantic Coast Academy
- Neponset Valley River Rats East
- Holy Name Bears
- Hartford Junior Wolfpack
Let’s dive into the standout forwards. A separate story will be done on defensemen and goalies.
Nico Ciardiello
Northern Conn. Nor’Easter, 11/10/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/200
Hometown: Guilford, Conn.
NCAA: BrownÂ
In my multiple viewings of the Nor’Easter, Ciardiello had multiple snipes, getting pucks in high-danger areas and showcasing a quick, hard, accurate release. His blend of hands and great size allowed him to bulldoze through defensemen and into the slot. It was extremely difficult for defenders to knock him off the puck. Ciardiello is clearly one of the best 18U players in the region.
Devin Cokinos
Yale Junior Bulldogs, 10/31/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/163
Hometown: Dedham, Mass.Â
Cokinos always seemed to be in the right spot. He scored the eventual winning goal against the River Rats on Monday, knocking in a rebound off the rush. Against Islanders Hockey Club West on Tuesday, he scored a similar goal. Even when he wasn’t scoring, he read plays well in the offensive zone to get open and anticipate plays before they happened. He had 17 points for Salisbury as a sophomore last winter.
Tomas Dvorak
Boston Hockey Academy, 5/30/2008, F, right shot, 5-10/159
Hometown: Ceske Budejovice, CzechiaÂ
Dvorak scored a nice breakaway goal against the River Rats East team. He’s a powerful skater with nice skill and a good shot. He was a standout with the New Hampshire Mountain Kings 18U team last winter.
READ MORE: Top 50 ’09 boys entering the season | Top 50 ’10 boys entering the season | 30 ’11 boys to watch entering the season
Grayson Espenshade
Northern Conn. Nor’Easter, 2/14/2009, F, right shot, 5-9/155
Hometown: Enola, Penn.
NCAA: YaleÂ
Espenshade was a notch above. The Salisbury standout’s ability to make plays at high speeds is elite for the 18U level. One thing I love about Espenshade’s game is how he can, at top speed with the puck, stop on a dime and slow the game down. On power plays, he was able to find and open up passing lanes at any speed. He was also fearless at getting to the net.
Ethan Gingeleskie
Northern Conn. Nor’Easter, 6/2/2009, F, right shot, 6-0/175
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn.
NCAA: YaleÂ
Gingeleskie had various shining moments over the last few days, scoring on trademark snipes and with great hands. But he scored one against the Hartford Junior Wolfpack (Trinity-Pawling’s fall team) that was a beauty. The Yale commit dangled through everyone, including the netminder, and scored a goal that would be on highlight reels. He always found a way to the net.
READ MORE: 6 early storylines for the boys prep season
Liam Guilderson
Brookline Whalers, 3/30/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/175
Hometown: Belmont, Mass.Â
The Brookline Whalers struggled offensively against the Nor’Easter on Monday night, but Guilderson was a bright spot. He used his speed to fight hard to the net. On one play, he got behind the defense for a breakaway. He also used that speed to get on top of opposing defenders for dogged forechecks.
Troy Hamelin
Neponset Valley River Rats, 6/8/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/200
Hometown: Southwick, Mass.Â
Hamelin looked much improved at the jamboree. He drove play hard down the middle, getting to the slot for scoring chances. He showed a high compete to get back into his own zone and aid his defensemen and break up opposing scoring opportunities.
Cole Longfield
Brookline Whalers, 9/10/2008, F, left shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Woodstock, Vt.Â
Longfield’s speed was on constant display. Even with the puck on his stick, Longfield could fly. He had 15 points as a junior for St. George’s last season, and should be due for a bump as a senior.
Stephen Nason
Neponset Valley River Rats East, 6/15/2008, F, left shot, 5-10/154
Hometown: Swampscott, Mass.Â
Nason played like the best player on his team Monday against Boston Hockey Academy. He drove play well and was patient with pucks, keeping his feet moving in the offensive zone until a passing lane or route to the net opened up. He had good hands, too. He’s a postgrad at Phillips Andover this winter.
Ilia Shishkin
Atlantic Coast Academy, 7/10/2009, F, right shot, 6-0/176
Hometown: St. Petersburg, RussiaÂ
Shishkin showed himself as a powerful skater with great skill, high compete and a heavy shot. Against the Holy Name Bears, he dangled through a defenseman and hit teammate Talon Beyer (Durham, N.H.) for a goal. He was with South Kent last season.
READ MORE: What’s the future of fall hockey?
Ethan Travis
Neponset Valley River Rats, 4/22/2008, F, left shot, 5-11/172
Hometown: Narragansett, R.I.
NCAA: Sacred HeartÂ
Travis scored a beauty towards the end of Tuesday’s game against the Holy Name Bears. He dangled to the slot and absolutely sniped one past the netminder. Travis’ speed set him apart as he forced defenders to respect him off the rush.
Brayden White
Neponset Valley River Rats, 2/16/2009, F, left shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Wakefield, R.I.
NCAA: Holy CrossÂ
White was the River Rats’ most noticeable, impactful forward in their loss to the Yale Junior Bulldogs on Monday. He showcased great hands and an ability to make smart plays with the puck at high speeds. He had good vision through traffic, too.
