WALPOLE, Mass. — The 2021 Spring Tier 1 Battle of Boston took place over the weekend at Rodman Arena. Top Shelf defeated Hockey Essentials in the Super Elite bracket, while Explosive Hockey took home the crown in the Elite bracket.
The three-day event was well-attended by college coaches, NHL and junior scouts, and advisors. With the sweltering heat outside, several prospects caught the eye of those watching from the last row of the stands.
There was a wide array of talent at this year’s Spring Tier 1 Battle of Boston. There were some very good players, including a couple with college commits. At the other end of the spectrum were some players and teams who were clearly outmatched.
A pair of NHL draft picks took to the ice for Arsenal Hockey on Friday afternoon but did not return for the rest of the weekend. Boston University incoming freshman and Los Angeles Kings sixth-rounder Braden Doyle, a defenseman from Lynnfield, Mass., who played for Dubuque in the USHL, was one of them. The other was Northeastern rising sophomore Sam Colangelo. The Stoneham, Mass., native and second-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks played for USA Hockey at the 2021 World Junior Championship.
A few committed players who stood out were North Jersey Avalanche 18-U center Michael Emerson (UMass), Boston Advantage center Nick Ring (New Hampshire), Sioux City Musketeers defenseman Nick Wallace (Quinnipiac), and Seacoast Performance Academy 16-U defenseman Shaun McEwen (UMass).
Below is a look at some of the uncommitted prospects who caught my eye during the three days of action at the Spring Tier 1 Battle of Boston. Evaluating was a challenge with several lopsided scores and players coming and going and changing teams.
2002s
Karsen Dorwart
Top Shelf Gold, 9/17/02, C, left shot, 6-1/180
Dorwart is an intriguing center with his skating ability and skill. He shined throughout the weekend here and scored at least one absolute highlight-reel snipe. From Sherwood, Ore., he’s on the radar of several top college programs in the region. A major concern is his unwillingness to challenge himself at the junior level. If he does go back to Hotchkiss as planned, he hopefully will play a year of junior before going to college.
Frank Djurasevic
Hockey Essentials, 3/9/02, D, right shot, 6-2/192
Aside from video, I hadn’t seen Djurasevic in about a year. He spent the shortened 2020-21 season in the BCHL with the Pencticton Vees after skating for Trinity-Pawling at the prep level. His development was on full display. The New Rochelle, N.Y., native looked like a man among boys out on the ice here. He’s big, steady and rock solid at both ends of the ice. He closed on opposing forwards while taking away time and space. He made sharp, crisp outlet passes with the puck on his stick. I’ve always liked Djurasevic, but I thought he took another step forward.
Joe Solimine
Boston HC Gold, 3/3/02, LW, left shot, 5-8/155
Solimine, from Middleton, Mass., is on the smaller side, but he’s crafty and plays hard. He did a good job in small areas and came away with some loose pucks, even against bigger defenders. The former Austin Prep and Northfield Mount Hermon winger produced. He played some games with the Junior Bruins in the NCDC last winter and that’s where I’d expect he would end up for the 2021-22 campaign. He could squeak into a Division 1 roster spot, but at the very least, he’ll be a hot commodity among Division 3 recruiters.
Brennan Horn
Explosive Hockey, 1/7/02, LW, left shot, 5-11/170
During my viewings of Explosive Hockey, Horn played wing with Noah Melanson, mentioned below, and center Victor Czerneckianair, a Quinnipiac recruit. It was the team’s top line. While Czerneckianair certainly was the driver, Horn was around the play and used his size to his advantage. Division 3 coaches should be watching him closely.
2003s
Jaiden Moriello
Boston HC Black, 5/4/03, RW, right shot, 6-1/175
Moriello is a power forward who can score goals. He did just that here by driving the net, shooting it hard, and finishing. The Saugus, Mass., native is an above-average skater for his size and continues to improve. Moriello, headed back to Kimball Union, will be a Division 1 player down the road.
Tyler Chenevert
Top Shelf Purple, 2/13/03, C, right shot, 6-0/160
Chenevert has good size and a long, fluid skating stride. A converted defenseman, he did a good job here on draws, winning 50/50 puck battles, and making some plays. The Shrewsbury, Mass., native is heading back to The Hill School for his senior year. A good student, I project him to end up at an Ivy or other top academic school in Division 1 after a couple of years of junior hockey.
Joe Bennett
Boston HC Black, 12/1/03, LW, left shot, 5-9/170
Bennett was around the puck a lot this weekend, as is customary for any coach or scout who’s watched him over the past couple of years. He had four goals and seven assists over the course of the weekend. The Cohasset, Mass., native has a good shot and likes to shoot from anywhere. There are aspects of Bennett’s game that need rounding out, but his knack for being around the puck can’t be ignored. He’ll be back at Cushing for his junior season in 2021-22.
Dante Palombo
Boston HC Black, 12/23/03, C/LW, left shot, 5-9/165
Palombo made a lot of plays on the weekend. He’s not the best skater, but he’s an above-average stickhandler who sees the ice well. He had a handful of assists on the weekend and registered a hat trick in a game Saturday. He’s a fringe Division 1 player who will either be a recruited walk-on in Atlantic Hockey or a top recruit for NESCAC schools. The White Plains, N.Y., native is heading back to Kent for his senior season.
JM Childs
Top Shelf Purple, 4/9/03, RW, right shot, 6-3/220
Childs is a big winger who uses his size to his advantage. He’s hard to knock off pucks and can win a lot of battles for loose pucks by outmuscling opponents. The West Haven, Conn., native scored a couple of big goals in Sunday’s playoff action. According to the roster, he’s heading to Cushing in September.
Nick Bevilacqua
Boston HC Gold, 8/6/03, G, catches left, 5-10/144
Bevilacqua was good here. I’ve always thought he was one of the better ’03 goaltenders in the region, despite being undersized. The Abington, Mass., native skates well, has athleticism, and is technically sound. He struggled in the NCDC this season on a team that didn’t provide much support. His destination for 2021-22 is up in the air.
Michael Salvatore
Boston HC Black, 8/9/03, G, catches left, 5-11/170
Salvatore split time in net over the first two days before getting the nod in Sunday’s playoff game. From Newburyport, Mass., he’s on the smaller side for a goaltender, but he made some good saves and didn’t allow any soft goals. He was quick, had good reflexes, and was solid on rebound control. Salvatore will be back at Phillips Exeter in the fall.
2004s
Jordin Palmer
Boston HC Black, 1/6/04, D, left shot, 6-1/180
Palmer wasn’t on the roster, but he played in two games on Saturday. The top defender for Avon Old Farms, Palmer is a good skater with impressive edges. The Auburn, N.H., native isn’t flashy, but he makes smart decisions with the puck on his stick and plays a reliable brand of hockey in his own zone. He’s still a little raw compared to some of the other top ’04 defensive prospects in the region, but he’s getting better and should continue to develop. He’ll be back at AOF in the fall.
Frank D’Ancona
Hockey Essentials, 6/2/04, C, left shot, 5-10/155
D’Ancona would be talked about by more college recruiters if he was just a little bigger. As it is, he consistently produces and impacts the game. The St. James, N.Y., native is quick, crafty and can make plays. He did a good job of hunting pucks on the forecheck and facilitating offense. It will be a long road due to his size, but he’ll be a Division 1 player in the future. D’Ancona has played the past two seasons at Mount Saint Charles.
Jackson Kyrkostas
Boston HC Gold, 8/18/04, RW, right shot, 5-9/150
Kyrkostas has a lot of skill and skates well. He made some plays here and can hold onto the puck for long stretches. The Windham, N.H., native is making strides in terms of being more of a complete player and playing between the dots. There is still room for improvement there, but his stick and skating should land him Division 1 interest. After a few seasons playing Bantam and Midget hockey for Islanders Hockey Club, he’s heading to Kimball Union.
Noah Melanson
Explosive Hockey, 2/29/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/201
Melanson is a big winger who played on the top line with Czerneckianair and Horn. From West Simsbury, Conn., he has good size, skates well and competes hard. His offensive upside appears limited, but he’s a prospect to keep an eye on for a bottom-six role. He played in nine games for Danbury in the NAHL and another three for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. He’ll likely be back with the Junior Hat Tricks for next season.
Benito Calvanese
Explosive Hockey, 3/19/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/170
Calvanese isn’t a player who I’ve ever really taken note of before this weekend. The Springfield, Mass., native has above-average size and played the role of a power forward with finishing ability here. He scored the first goal of the game in the final, ripping one past the goaltender from the top of the right-wing circle. An Eaglebrook School alum, he’s at Winchendon.
Andrew Heinze
Top Shelf Purple, 3/8/04, G, catches left, 6-0/165
Heinze made several big-time saves in Sunday’s quarterfinals and final. He has just average size for a modern-era goaltender, but he stayed quiet in the crease and made some saves look easy. The North Andover, Mass., native is transferring from Brooks to Loomis Chaffee.
