The Massachusetts District was well-represented at the USA Hockey Girls Select 16/17 Development Camp in Oxford, Ohio.
While the eight teams were not broken up by district, the 24 Massachusetts players were able to stand out in new lineups, including Molly Boyle, Kassidy Carmichael and Ainsley Tuffy, who earned spots in the U-18 Select Camp.
Boyle, Carmichael and Tuffy are part of the group of 13 — five forwards, three defenders and five goalies — who now compete for slots at the Under-18 National Festival Aug. 7-13, where the U-18 team will be named.
At the end of camp, the light blue and gray teams had first-place tying records, going 3-1 in the four games played for each squad.
Here’s a look at the Massachusetts players who had strong showings in Ohio.
Molly Boyle
Scituate, D, right shot, 5-8/150
Boyle, who played for the East Coast Wizards 16-U last season, netted one goal for the purple team en route to her selection for the U-18 Select Camp.
The two-way defenseman has spark in her stride and has been working on being a bit more physical, perhaps representative of her 4.5 penalty minutes through four games.
“Her skating strength and defensive awareness are the two big contributing factors to her making a run at making this national team,” said Ed Bourget, Massachusetts’ girls player development director. “She probably went into camp with the mindset of trying to take the body a bit more and then being aware of the netfront presence in the (defensive) zone.”
Kassidy Carmichael
Westford, F, right shot, 5-7/140
Despite being one of the youngsters in the group, 16-year-old Carmichael has been tearing it up and has a chance to further prove herself at the U-18 Select Camp.
Carmichael posted three goals in four games for the fifth-most points at camp with the winning gray team, continuing her offensive production from last season with the North American Hockey Academy.
“This year she had to work through becoming more consistent on a regular basis as a player,” Bourget said. “She’s a powerful skater, very good with puck protection. I think she’s one of our top players in Mass.”
Through 57 games with NAHA in her 2022-23 campaign, Carmichael tallied 26 goals and 19 assists, showing consistency that helped her stand out at Select 17 Camp.
“She just has a nose for the net and she pretty much can score any way possible, whether it’s a nice deflection or a rebound goal,” Bourget said. “But then she also has the ability to beat the goaltender on that first quick shot.”
Ainsley Tuffy
Duxbury, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Tuffy earned a spot in the U-18 Select Camp after she was lights-out for the light blue team, with a 1.00 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in four games.
The 2024-25 Harvard commit was strong between the pipes at Shattuck-St. Mary’s last season, boasting a 1.84 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, thanks partly to her agility.
“She’s super athletic and tracks the puck well — that combined with her frame,” Bourget said. “She’s just a naturally gifted goaltender.”
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Tuffy knows her game and sticks to it. Her stability in the crease has primed her for NCAA hockey.
“Probably the speed of the game and the power of the shots, but other than that I think it will be a small learning curve for her,” Bourget said of needed adjustments for the collegiate game.
Violet Carroll
Milton, F, shoots right, 5-5/138
With the purple team, Carroll put home two goals, including one on the power play, and demanded attention at Select 17 Camp.
Smaller in size, Carroll inserts herself in net-front scrums and often cashes in on her gritty chances down low, aided by relentless puck-hunting.
Carroll is part of the powerhouse Williston Northampton team that won its second consecutive NEPSAC championship last season.
In 28 games, Carroll had 19 goals and 13 assists for a 32-point sophomore year.
Ally Cohen
Dedham, F, shoots left, 5-5/140
Cohen ended the week with one assist on the gray team alongside Carmichael. Cohen had an assist in her squad’s Game 1 matchup against the light blue team, eventually going on to win 4-3 in overtime.
The 17-year-old played with the North American Hockey Academy last season, lending her talents to both the Red U-16 team and White 19-U team. In a cumulative 49 games played, Cohen potted eight goals and dished out 11 assists.
While some players had stronger weeks than others, the Massachusetts District impressed at the Select 17 Camp.
“Overall, I think this whole group has done a great job to improve on all their games,” Bourget said. “As a whole, I think they’ve all elevated their game.”
