FOXBORO, Mass. — It's a big fall for the uncommitted 18U prospects in the region.
Along with getting ready for the winter season, another goal of theirs is to get attention from college coaches in hopes of playing hockey at the next level.
A prime opportunity for that was this past weekend at the Beast Columbus Day Tournament, as numerous rinks around Massachusetts hosted games.
Here are the 18U games I watched over the weekend:
SaturdayÂ
- Cape Cod Whalers vs. Jersey Hitmen
- Yale Jr. Bulldogs vs. Central Mass. Penguins
SundayÂ
- Neponset Valley River Rats vs. Islanders Hockey Club
- Avon Regals vs. Central Mass. Penguins
- South Shore Kings Prep vs. North Shore Hockey Academy
We already examined the 14 uncommitted forwards. Here are the standout uncommitted defensemen and goalies from those games.
Marko Bilic
Central Mass Penguins, 3/3/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/179
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.Â
Bilic got the start on Saturday for the Penguins and was really strong despite allowing three goals. He has great form and was always square to the shooter. What stood out most to me about him was his glove. He made numerous glove stops, most notably robbing Jr. Bulldogs forward Owen Maher from right in the slot. Bilic looks to be a major player for Cushing this winter.
Kamden Carkner
Cape Cod Whalers, 10/10/2005, G, catches left, 5-10/160
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
The Whalers took down the Hitmen, 4-0, but a late push by the opposition forced Carkner to be at his best late and he delivered. He showed a strong glove when he robbed the Hitmen off the rush in the final minutes, as well as making a great glove stop while screened. At the buzzer, he went post to post for a pad stop. Carkner enters this season at St. Sebastian's as a senior.
Grayson Cohen (8)
Cape Cod Whalers, 10/18/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/195
Hometown: Concord, Mass.Â
I thought Cohen was the Whalers' best defenseman on Saturday. The Belmont Hill junior showcased strong puck movement in transition and showed no hesitation in joining the rush. He walked the blue line well and was able to snap off quick shots that got through to the net. In his own zone, he was tough to play against in front of his net and was responsible. A late '06, Cohen is a prospect to keep an eye on this winter under head coach Brian Phinney.
Drew Pitts (4)
Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 3/31/2005, D, right shot, 5-11/174
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.Â
Pitts played a really strong defensive game, especially when defending the rush. That's saying something given how fast the Penguins play. He was also really good at getting shots through from the point. Pitts' best play was when he made a heads-up play to assist on Charles Blanchard's (West Hartford, Conn.) third goal of the game, which tied the game, 3-3.
Jeremy Poirier (21)
Islanders HC Prep, 7/28/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Salem, N.H.Â
While the Islanders didn't have a full bench full of players on Sunday morning, Poirier stood out. He played a bunch, showed off his good skating and moved the puck well. At the offensive blue line, his mobility allowed him to get space and sift shots through. Poirier enters his first season at Holderness after spending the last two with the New Hampshire Avalanche.
Jake Stevens (12)
Neponset Valley River Rats, 10/20/2005, D, right shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Newton, N.J.Â
On Sunday, Stevens looked like the puck-moving master who posted seven goals and 25 assists in 29 games at Canterbury last winter. At the offensive blue line, his mobility and patience helped him deliver crisp passes to open forwards lower in the zone. He also gained the offensive blue line multiple times, rushing the puck into the opposing end and either getting a shot off or setting up sustained zone time.
Owen Tatro (15)
Central Mass Penguins, 2/23/2005, D, right shot, 5-11/165
Hometown: Colchester, Vt.Â
My biggest takeaway from Saturday and Sunday: Tatro can freaking hit. He was very physical, including a handful of strong, open-ice hits. Early in Saturday's game, he was out killing a penalty and lost his stick in the corner. Instead of giving up, Tatro used his strength to battle and eventually helped his team win the puck back. He scored later in that game when his shot from the point went over Jr. Bulldogs goalie Kyle Ozgun.
Zach White (30)
Central Mass Penguins, 7/12/2006, G, catches left, 6-2/157
Hometown: Manteca, Calif.Â
White earned a shutout in Sunday's game. Towards the end of the first half, he made three consecutive stops off a rush from the opposition, culminating in robbing Regals defender Jake Johner of a sure goal. Later in the game, Regals forward Connor Davis flew down the left side and cut middle around the defender, but was stopped by White's glove.
