EXETER, N.H. — The Eastern Exposure All-Star Weekend, held July 10-12, brought some of the country’s top 2005-born prospects to the Rinks at Exeter.
While college coaches are still prohibited from watching this age group due to the NCAA’s recruiting dead period brought on by the coronavirus, many NHLPA agents, other advisors, NHL scouts, junior scouts and prep coaches took in the action.
Participants competed in two games and were put through practices and small-area games. NHL scouts, including Ryan Breen (New Jersey Devils), Mike Levine (Vegas Golden Knights), Vincent Montelbano (Vancouver Canucks) and Tom O’Connor were some of the notable coaches who worked with this age group.
Eastern Exposure Hockey Group, run by Matt Miles, did a good job of getting most of the region’s top players, as well as some notable players from other areas of the country. It’s always good when a showcase is under one roof and games are spread out so you can view each player a couple of times.
Below is an evaluation of the top 12 prospects from this weekend followed by a look at other players, in alphabetical order. Teams listed are where a player is reportedly going in 2020-21.
Eastern Exposure Hockey Group All-Star Weekend: Top 12 2005s
1. Quentin Musty
#2 White, North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, LW, left shot, 6-1/180
Musty is a big power forward who can take over games as a puck possession machine down low. He’s a playmaker who uses his size and strength to fend off opposing defensemen before getting pucks to open teammates. It’s not just his size that allows him to do that. One of his assists in Saturday’s game was a thing of beauty, finding a linemate with terrific vision. He plays hard and brings a physical element to his game. Musty, who previously played for the Buffalo Junior Sabres, is a good skater with a strong, powerful stride. The Hamburg, N.Y., native is likely destined for the NTDP.
2. Chase Pirtle
#Red, North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, RW, right shot, 6-2/160
Pirtle had a couple of big-time goals on Saturday to show off his hands in tight. The second tally was particularly impressive as he was able to gather a pass and tuck a shot up high between the post and the goaltender, while coming down his off wing. The Far Hills, N.J., native has good size, but there’s more to his game than that. His skating, hockey sense and skill are all very good. His length allows him to protect pucks before unleashing a hard, accurate shot. Pirtle split time last year between Delbarton and Philadelphia Hockey Club. He’s making the move to the North Jersey Avalanche for the upcoming season.
3. Nick Fascia
#12 Black, North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, D, left shot, 5-11/160
Fascia was the best defenseman here. The Blackwood, N.J., native is a little bit of a throwback in terms of not always looking to join the rush and be flashy. He’s just a simple, steady defender with very good feet. He defends well and looks for the quick, efficient pass to get it to an open wing on breakouts.
4. Joe Connor
#9 White, Avon Old Farms, 3/31/05, C, left shot, 5-8/145
Connor is a player I like more and more with each viewing. He produced in both games over the weekend and plays the game the right way. He shoots it hard and goes to the dirty areas to cash in on rebounds and loose pucks. The Amherst, N.H., native made a nice pass to the backdoor for an assist in Sunday’s game. Connor, who spent this past season playing for the Minuteman Flames, competed hard away from the puck and backchecked with more tenacity than any other player here.
5. Drew Fortescue
#12 White, Mid Fairfield 15s, 4/28/05, D, left shot, 5-11/140
Fortescue is a solid, rangy two-way defenseman. He does a good job defensively and then makes quick decisions to move pucks up ice. From Greenwich, Conn., he made a couple of nice plays defending the rush and is efficient on first touches and breakout passes. Fortescue missed some time this past season with an injury, but he looks like he’s back and ready to compete.
6. Logan Renkowski
#2 Black, Mid Fairfield 15s, 8/1/05, C/LW, left shot, 5-8/138
Renkowski was the most improved player I saw all weekend. He looks to have added a little size and explosiveness in his skating. That’s on top of the improvement he had already made over the past 12 months. He’s smart and can be relied on at both ends. I really like this player and he’s trending in the right direction.
7. Ryan Sanborn
#1 White, Mid Fairfield 15s, 1/15/05, G, catches left, 6-1/175
Sanborn is one of the top three goaltenders in the country at this age group. There were a couple of shots he might like back from this past weekend, but he made some big saves as well. The Brookfield, Conn., native has good size, athleticism, compete and fundamentals.
8. Zackary Ferris
#31 Red, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16-U, 1/24/05, G, catches left, 5-10/148
This was a really good weekend for Ferris, who went head-to-head with Sanborn in Sunday’s game. He’s athletic and has good reflexes. From Venetia, Pa., Ferris impressed this observer during practices and games this past weekend.
9. Will McDonough
#48 Red, Boston Advantage 16-U, 6/18/05, RW, right shot, 5-11/165
This was a good showing for McDonough, especially during Saturday’s action. He’s a big winger who always seems to score a garbage goal from just off the crease. The Duxbury, Mass., native hangs around the net and is able to capitalize on rebounds and loose pucks. He protects pucks and has a good shot. His skating is an area that could use improvement.
10. Nathan Williams
#50 Red, Chicago Mission 15s, 7/9/05, D, right shot, 5-10/153
Williams is a strong, rugged defensive defenseman who plays with jam. He has a hard shot from the point and joins the rush. Williams isn’t always a player you notice, but he’s dependable and reliable. From Racine, Wis., Williams is staying with the Chicago Mission as he goes from Bantam to Midget hockey.
11. Ryan Fine
#49 Red, Mid Fairfield 15s, 3/14/05, C/RW, right shot, 5-6/143
NCAA commit: Boston University
Fine had a goal in Saturday’s game, showing off his skill and finishing touch. From Center Moriches, N.Y., Fine is staying with Mid Fairfield as he transitions from Bantam to mMidget.
12. Matt Mania
#53 Red, North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 1/11/05, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Mania, from Auburn Hills, Mich., is a gifted offensive defenseman. He has mobility and jumps into the rush a lot. His skating is elite, but he’ll have to improve his hockey sense and compete away from the puck to reach his max potential. After youth hockey with Belle Tire, he’s reportedly off to join the North Jersey Avalanche.
Honorable Mention (alphabetical order)
Tanner Adams
#3 White, Mount Saint Charles 15s, 9/2/05, RW, right shot, 5-7/135
NCAA commit: Providence
Adams, from Northport, N.Y., was a little quiet this past weekend, especially for his standards. He keeps his feet moving and skates well. Adams is moving on from the Long Island Royals to Mount Saint Charles. His vision and playmaking abilities will need to improve in order to stay at the top of the pack in this age group.
Alex Bosland
#14 White, North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 4/14/04, D, right shot, 6-0/172
Bosland projects as a defensive defenseman with limited puck skills. He made some solid physical plays here but could work on his puck touches. From Basking Ridge, N.J., Bosland will be moving from the New Jersey Colonials to the North Jersey Avalanche.
Luke Calabria
#44 Red, LI Royals 15s, 12/1/05, D, 5-8/140
Calabria is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman who was on the first pairing for the Long Island Royals last year as a Bantam.
Ben Cook
#51 Red, Deerfield, 1/31/05, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Cook, who played up with the Junior Bruins 16-U, is a solid two-way defenseman. The Concord, Mass., native is physically mature and more than capable of holding his own as he transitions to prep hockey.
Paul D’Allesio
#30 Black, New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 16-U, 4/4/05, G, catches left, 5-9/160
D’Allesio, from Burlington, Mass., had the unenviable task of playing goal for the worst team at the showcase. He was on the losing end of two blowout losses. D’Allesio is certainly better than this showing but isn’t on the same level as Sanborn or Ferris in terms of goaltenders in this age group nationally.
Hunter Dickey
#6 White, Rochester Selects 15s, 1/19/05 RW, right shot, 5-9/155
Dickey doesn’t always jump off the ice at you when watching, but he seems to find the back of the net in all viewings. He does a good job of protecting pucks with his hip and can shoot it hard. From Williamsville, N.Y., Dickey is on the move from the Buffalo Regals to the Rochester Selects.
Griffin Erdman
#40 Red, Deerfield, LW, left shot, 5-8/155
Erdman, from Wilmington, Del., is heading to prep school after playing for Philadelphia Hockey Club previously. He’s a hard-nosed winger who skates well and scores a lot of garbage goals.
Ryan Flaherty
#8 White, BC High, 4/25/05, C, right shot, 5-8/135
Flaherty looks to have bulked up and gotten a little bigger since I last saw him play in March at the Massachusetts Hockey 14-U State Championship. The Milton, Mass., native plays with an edge, goes into the dirty areas, and wins faceoffs and battles along the wall. He’s a player who projects as a third- or fourth-line center as he continues moving up the developmental ladder.
Jake Freelove
#15 Black, Winchendon, 1/4/05, D, right shot, 5-8/130
Freelove is an athletic, offensive defenseman with a good stick. He forced a couple of turnovers and made quick passes to break pucks up ice. From Tyngsboro, Mass., he’ll be heading to Winchendon after time with Hillside and the Minuteman Flames.
Michael Hagens
#5 Black, Mount Saint Charles 15s, 2/1/05, LW, left shot, 5-3/105
Hagens is a skilled forward who needs to bulk up and play more between the circles in order to bring out the most of his ability. From Hauppauge, N.Y., he’s joining Mount Saint Charles after being with the Long Island Royals.
Joseph Hurton
#7 White, Dexter Southfield, 3/23/05, RW, right shot, 6-1/140
With his size, Hurton has the potential to blossom into a power forward. The Quincy, Mass., native shows some flashes of that but needs to be more committed to playing between the dots, driving the net, and using his physical advantage to his benefit.
Marcel Lavitman
#9 Black, North Jersey Avalanche 16-U, 1/26/05, RW, right shot, 5-11/160
Lavitman didn’t have the puck as much as I’m used to seeing him with it in previous viewings with the New Jersey Colonials. Still, he showed some flashes of being a power forward and got off a hard shot.
Brian Lonergan
#66 Red, North Jersey Avalanche 15s, 12/28/05, D, right shot, 5-10/140
Lonergan is a mobile defenseman who didn’t look out of place. He’s almost an ’06 so he’s a player to keep an eye on moving forward.
Marty Magaletta
#15 White, Springfield Rifles 16-U, 2/11/05, D, right shot, 5-11/146
Magaletta had a goal by joining the rush in Sunday’s game. The Clifton Park, N.Y., native is heading to Springfield Rifles from CP Dynamo and Shenendehowa High School.
Matteo Marchese
#11 White, Mount Saint Charles 15s, 7/27/05, D, left shot, 5-11/150
Marchese had a goal on Saturday. He’s a solid prospect from Smithtown, N.Y., who is going from the Long Island Royals to Mount Saint Charles.
Emerson Marshall
#10 Black, Junior Eagles 15s, 10/8/05, LW, left shot
Marshall, from Gloucester, Mass., had a pair of goals on Saturday. He’s physically mature, shoots it hard and can go to the greasy areas.
Isaac Mitchell
#46 Red, Junior Eagles 15s, 2/28/05, LW, left shot, 5-5/140
Mitchell is a quick skater who made a nice pass on a two-on-one for a goal in Sunday’s game.
Riley Mullen
#13 White, Kent, 1/1/05, D, right shot, 5-11/165
Mullen, who will be heading to prep school after playing Bantam hockey with the Philadelphia Junior Flyers, is a physical defenseman. The Lincoln University, Pa., native competed hard, played with jam, a mean streak in front of his own net, and made life tough for opposing forwards. He’ll have to improve his hockey sense and not run around quite as much.
Pat Murphy
#42 Red, Mount Saint Charles 15s, 12/18/05, RW, right shot, 5-9/145
Murphy is used to having the puck more than he did this weekend, but he got better as the showcase moved along. The North Kingston, R.I., native is a good skater who is athletic. His hockey sense is an area that can improve in order for him to make that next step in his game.
Brian Nicholas
#47 Red, Mid Fairfield 15s, 3/15/05, C/LW, left shot, 5-11/140
Nicholas is a power forward who is moving from Westchester Express to Mid Fairfield. He’s physically mature and has the ability to control games due to his size and length. He protects pucks before getting them to open teammates.
Jack O’Brien
#14 Black, Boston Advantage 16-U, D, left shot, 5-9/130
O’Brien has above-average feet and does a good job walking the blue line and in joining the rush.
Landan Resendes
#41 Red, Junior Bruins 16-U, RW, right shot, 5-4/110
Resendes is a small, quick forward who looks to have gotten a little bigger since the end of the season. From Hudson, Mass., he had an assist and did a good job in small areas. He’s moving to the Junior Bruins after playing for the Minuteman Flames this past season.
Tommy Rose
#52 Red, Junior Bruins 16-U, 8/31/05, D, right shot, 5-9/130
Rose is an underrated defenseman in this area. He’s a smooth skater who likes to jump into the rush. His skill is there, but he needs to reel it in at times so he doesn’t overhandle pucks. The Westford, Mass., native is jumping over to the Junior Bruins full time after playing with the Minuteman Flames as a Bantam.
Cam Russo
#6 Black, Governor’s, 1/3/05, RW, right shot, 5-11/140
Russo is a skilled forward with above-average size. He skates well and has the puck on his stick a decent amount. I’d like to see him keep his head up more and improve away from the puck, but the talent is there for him to be a skilled forward moving forward.
Trevor Strauss
#45 Red, Mount Saint Charles 15s, 1/1/05, F/D, 6-0/160
Strauss is a big skater who has bounced around between forward and defense. He had a couple of goals in Sunday’s game by using his big frame and hard shot.
Christian Venticinque
#10 White, Mount Saint Charles 15s, 7/1/05, LW, left shot, 5-11/145
Venticinque is an intriguing prospect with potential upside as a power forward. He didn’t have the puck as much this weekend as he did when on the first line with the Long Island Royals during the regular season.
Ben Yurchuk
#4 White, North Jersey Avalanche, 2/1/05, C, left shot, 5-7/130
Yurchuk is a smart, 200-foot forward who had a really good day Saturday. He wasn’t as noticeable on Sunday, but it was still a good weekend. The Randolph, N.J., native does a lot of the little things to make his linemates better. He knows where to go and plays above the puck.
William Whitelaw
#4 Black, Shattuck-St. Mary’s 15s, 2/5/05, C, right shot, 5-6/130
Whitelaw, from Rosemount, Minn., suffered an upper-body injury during action on Saturday, causing him to miss Sunday’s action. He’s a good skater who likely projects as a second- or third-line forward down the line.
