MARLBORO, Mass. — Another Beantown Classic is in the books.
The last three days had some of the best prospects in New England, across the country and even Canada flock to Massachusetts for one of the summer’s biggest girls hockey showcases.
I made it out to the trusty New England Sports Center on Saturday morning to take in some action across the Futures Red 19U division. With 60 Futures Red teams in the field, I couldn't see everyone play. Here are the teams I caught:
- Boston Junior Eagles Maroon
- Connecticut Polar Bears Major
- Fury U19 (Minn.)
- Indiana All-Stars
- Mid Fairfield Stars 1
- Wade Warriors
Many prospects who are already in the collegiate ranks or have commitments in hand showed out, but what about those who’ve yet to find landing spots or those who still aren’t eligible to commit?
We'll get to the defenders and goalies who impressed later this week. For now, we'll break down the forward standouts.
Let's dive in.
Milana Shuman
Connecticut Polar Bears/Deerfield, 2008, F, left shot
Hometown: Westfield, Mass.Â
Shuman showed plenty of compete and good vision in the attacking zone during the Polar Bears' tie with the Junior Eagles. She was fantastic in a battle in the corner with Bella Zapata before they worked the puck free, putting it on the money for Riley Stocker flying down the circle for a goal. Later, Shuman did a good job of reading the play at the left circle on the power play, and she found an open seam to set up Stocker for a one-timer with a perfect cross-ice pass.
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Genevieve Smart
Boston Junior Eagles/Tabor, 11/24/2009, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: Manlius, N.Y.
Smart did a great job of carrying the puck in transition, processing the ice well and taking advantage of skating and passing lanes. She had a strong rush after supporting the defense down low on a regroup. After her defender blew a tire, Smart won the loose puck behind the net and went coast-to-coast, driving to the slot for a good chance. She tied it later on to cap a hell of an effort. After drawing a trip in the attacking zone, Smart stuck with the play as it worked to the front of the net, going to her backhand and scoring in tight.
Sofia Nardelli
Boston Junior Eagles/Tabor, 12/31/2008, F, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: Cranston, R.I.
Nardelli was fantastic in the defensive zone late to help the Junior Eagles preserve the tie with the Polar Bears. She was a monster out high on a late penalty kill, clogging shooting and passing lanes with her active stick. She blocked a shot and stuck with the play, getting her stick on the puck to break it up out high before getting a big clear. Her footspeed also allowed her to take away space quickly and win races to loose pucks off defensive zone face-offs.
Heather Gao
Mid Fairfield Stars/Berkshire, Class of 2028, F/D, right shot
Hometown: Ithaca, N.Y.
Gao, usually a defender, played forward in Saturday's contest against the Indiana All-Stars. The rising junior at Berkshire impressed with her details at 5-on-5 and on special teams. Gao consistently stopped on pucks and kept herself on the right side of the puck. She had good puck pursuit on the penalty kill early on, forcing a turnover at the wall before sending it back to the neutral zone to bleed time. Later, she had good support on the back check, winning the puck back with a stick lift and sending it right back into the zone.
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Allison Sha
Mid Fairfield Stars/Hotchkiss, 09/2009, F, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: West Chester, Pa.Â
Sha made plays in the neutral zone and off the rush throughout the game, thanks to her quick feet and good instincts. She had a hell of an effort to force a turnover in the neutral zone on the penalty kill. Later, she set up Karli Charron for an excellent chance off the rush, driving hard down the left wing and slipping a feed to her as a trailer in the slot.
Jaina Kronfrost
Mid Fairfield Stars/Hotchkiss, 10/2008, F, left shot, 5-6
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Kronfrost was difficult to contain in the offensive zone with her strong frame and slick hands. Later in the game, she drove to the slot after dangling to her backhand and put a feed on the money for Reagan Deery for a tip at the far post. Kronfrost won the puck back and drove to middle ice again with some more good hands through several stick checks.
Sydney Schwartzentruber
Fury/Hopkins-St. Louis Park High, 5/9/2009, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: Minnetonka, Minn.
Schwartzentruber's speed was a big factor for the Fury's offensive flurry against the Wade Warriors. She was an effective puck carrier through the neutral zone and disrupted forwards on the back check. She also created chances off the rush and from tight spaces in the offensive zone. Schwartzentruber had a good look later on, flying down the right wing and cutting to the net off the wall. Later, she found soft space on the right wing on a counter rush, driving to the far post and getting a short-side look.
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Cailyn Walfield
Connecticut Polar Bears/Canterbury, 2009, F, right shot
Hometown: Malone, N.Y.
Walfield's speed made her a constant threat on the forecheck and in the neutral zone, making things difficult for puck carriers and forcing turnovers. Early on, Walfield had a terrific second effort on the back check. After initially getting burned by Leah Hafer in the corner, Walfield stuck with her and won the puck back in the neutral zone. Later, she was strong on the penalty kill, cutting puck carriers off in the neutral zone and bleeding time off the clock.
Brooklyn Mauch
Fury/Marshall High, 2/3/2009, F, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Marshall, Minn.
Mauch generated offense for the Fury throughout their loss to the Wade Warriors on Saturday. No chance was bigger than her drive to the net late in regulation as the Fury pushed for a goal. Mauch powered into the zone off the rush and drove hard to the net, muscling past the defenders as she cut to her forehand and tried to go top shelf. Morgan Stickney made a hell of a save to thwart the effort.
