ROCKLAND, Mass. – Seacoast Performance Academy won the E9 prep league playoffs on Sunday with a 5-2 win over the Neponset Valley River Rats in the final.
Seacoast defeated the Springfield Thunderbirds and Lovell Academy en route to the final. The River Rats made it to the final with wins over Boston Hockey Academy and Valley Junior Warriors.
All of the playoff games were played at the recently opened Lovell Ice Arena, a three-sheet facility.
Below is a look at eight players who stood out over the course of the two days at the E9 prep league playoffs:
Forwards
Ryan Staples
River Rats, 2/24/06, C, right shot, 6-0/165
NCAA commit: Yale
Staples was the top prospect in the tournament and the only committed player. The Middletown, R.I., native scored two goals in both the semifinal and final. Formerly of Bishop Hendricken, his hockey sense and attention to detail in both zones make him the player he is. He’s got a great, accurate shot, as evidenced by his snipes on Sunday.
Ronnie Hill
Seacoast, 10/3/06, C, right shot, 5-8/152
Hill scored the game-winning goal in the final and was a threat each time he had the puck throughout the weekend. The late '06 from Saco, Maine, is a spark plug for the Seacoast offense. He’s quick and can shoot the puck with zip and accuracy. He plays with a little fire and is the most talented prospect on his team.
Gryphon Bucci
Boston Hockey Academy, 8/28/06, C, left shot, 5-9/140
Bucci has taken a nice step in his game with Boston Hockey Academy this season under the guidance of coaches Paul Jenkins and Neil Mulcahy. A dual citizen from Sandy, Utah, Bucci skates well, competes and has above-average vision. He’s the clear-cut top offensive threat for Boston Hockey Academy. In a quarterfinal loss to the River Rats, he was around the puck and factored in on the only goal his team scored. His playmaking ability was noticeable on numerous occasions throughout the game. He’d be a nice addition to the roster for a prep school in 2023-24.
Jake Pleau
Seacoast, 6/6/06, LW, left shot, 5-11/168
Pleau is a newcomer to my radar, having played previously for Seacoast and North Suburban Wings. He had a goal and an assist in the final. The Newburyport, Mass., native showed some poise and hockey sense in his offensive playmaking on Sunday. He’s a player to watch as a potential late-bloomer.
Defensemen
Deke Davidson
Seacoast, 6/4/06, D, left shot, 5-11/156
Davidson stood out in his team’s championship weekend for logging a ton of minutes on the blue line and having an impact on the puck possession game. The Newmarket, N.H., native has good size, skates well, and has some athletic ability. He’s still rounding out his game and learning to be consistent and to make smart choices with the puck on his stick. There’s some potential and he’s a player to keep tabs on.
William Patey
Boston Hockey Academy, 8/18/06, D, right shot, 5-11/161
Patey, hailing from Cow Head, Newfoundland, is his team’s best defenseman. He isn’t overly offensive, but he’s solid at both ends of the ice. He makes simple and confident puck touches while exuding poise. There’s a lot to like in his game.
Goaltenders
Ethan Ramonetti
River Rats, 5/2/06, G, catches left, 5-8/153
Ramonetti, from East Northport, N.Y., stopped all five shots in the shootout during a 2-1 victory over the Valley Junior Warriors Sunday morning. The newcomer to Groton School is a positionally-sound, smart goaltender who reads plays well. He should give a boost to the Zebras’ goaltending this winter after plying his trade previously with the P.A.L. Islanders. The River Rats also got strong goaltending from Hotchkiss newcomer Connor Towle (Fairfield, Conn.) in the quarterfinals.
Chase Anderson
Valley Jr. Warriors, 3/30/06, G, catches left, 6-2/170
Anderson was very good in his team’s semifinal contest against the River Rats. He has good size and made himself look big in net. He took away angles and was the biggest reason the game was as close as it was. From Salem, Mass., Anderson is in his second season at Phillips Andover and should vie for more ice time in net. He’s one part of the goaltending tandem for the Warriors alongside Austin Prep goaltender Marty Pierce, the grandson of the legendary Matignon coach with the same name.
