The 16-U Red Division of the 2019 ECC Labor Day Cup, won by the Florida Alliance, featured a couple of elite players with NHL upside.
Florida Alliance, coached by Ryan Brindley and Steve Dubinsky, is a talented team, made up mostly of kids from Florida. Forward Gavin Brindley and defenseman Seamus Casey are locks to make USA Hockey’s NTDP.
North Jersey Avalanche lost to Florida Alliance in the championship game. Coached by Vinny Smith, the Avs have quite a few future Division I players and a couple of candidates for the NTDP, as well.
Mount Saint Charles had a team loaded with talent as well, including first line center Zachary Bolduc, a player being wooed by all the major college programs and Rimouski Oceanic in the QMJHL.Â
Selects Academy, Valley Forge Minutemen, New Jersey Rockets, Neponset Valley River Rats, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Junior Bulldogs, New Jersey Titans, Top Gun Prep Selects, EC Wizards and Long Island Gulls also had players of note in the event.
Here are the top prospects, broken down by position, from the 2019 ECC Labor Day Cup 16-U Red Division:
Top 16-U Forwards
1. Zachary Bolduc
#15 Mount Saint Charles, 2/24/03, C, Left Shot, 6-0/171
Given the lofty expectations, Friday night’s first game was just pedestrian for Bolduc. However, he really turned it on the rest of the weekend. Bolduc is an elite skater with a very good stick and a high compete level. For such a talented player, he plays with a chip on his shoulder. He showed off his vast skill set by hunting pucks below the goal line and making good passes to set up open teammates, scoring a beauty of a backhand, and also ripping a wrist shot off the post. All of that came in a few minutes of game action during a contest on Saturday. On Sunday in overtime against Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals, he forced a turnover, drove the net with the puck, and slid it past the goaltender after patiently waiting for him to go down. Bolduc has big time upside.
2. Gavin Brindley
#4 Florida Alliance, 10/5/04, LW, Right Shot, 5-7/139
Brindley is an elite offensive talent who is sure to make USA Hockey’s NTDP. With multiple games going on simultaneously, I didn’t see every minute of Florida Alliance’s games, but Brindley found the back of the net at least 10 times. He had a hat trick or more in two games and was absolutely dynamic each time he touched the puck. He uses his edges and can pull away from opposing defensemen as well as juke in and out of traffic. He has soft hands and can shoot it with pinpoint accuracy. He also made a couple of really good passes and had strong hockey sense, finding seams and exploiting opposing defenses. Simply put, he was terrific. He’ll have his pick of NCAA programs once the time comes to make a commitment. His father and coach, Ryan Brindley, played college hockey at Miami.
3. Clint Levens
#88 Florida Alliance, 6/19/03, RW, Right Shot, 6-1/172
This was a coming out party of sorts for Levens. While he had been quietly having a good summer, he had a terrific weekend. He had a hat trick against Valley Forge and scored a couple of goals and added a couple of more assists throughout the rest of the weekend. He’s a big power forward who can skate and he hits hard. His hands are getting better. He was solid at USA Hockey Select 16 Camp and really good at the Junior Chowder Cup. He plays a pro style and has NHL upside.
4. Ryan Greene
#27 Selects Academy, 10/21/03, C, Right Shot, 5-11/155
NCAA Commit: Boston University
Greene doesn’t have the capability to take over a game offensively, but he’s an honest, 200-foot center with high hockey IQ and elite skating ability. He can still finish and make plays by using his hockey sense and skating. He was really good in a game later on in the weekend.
5. Sam Lipkin
#3 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/3/03, C/LW, Left Shot, 6-1/180
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
Lipkin is a strong, big power forward who controls the play below the dots. He has a hard shot, scored goals, and also facilitated the offense with his line. He’s a recent Quinnipiac commit who should be a very good player in ECAC Hockey.
6. Jack Musa
#17 North Jersey Avalanche, 7/22/03, C/LW, Left Shot, 5-7/130
Musa had another really strong showing as he continues to get better. He had at least 10 points throughout the weekend. He was around the puck a lot and went to the dirty areas. He forced a turnover and scored a goal in the championship game before adding another. He buzzes all over the ice, hunts pucks, and has that bulldog mentality.
7. Owen McLaughlin
#24 Valley Forge Minutemen, 3/25/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-10/136
McLaughlin has made huge strides in his game over the last 12 months. Last November when seeing him play prep school exhibitions against St. Sebastian’s and Nobles, he made an impression. But, he’s really become dynamic. He had a good Select 16 camp and was good this week. He’s a tall, lanky forward with a long, powerful stride. He plays 200 feet and mans the point on the power play. He had a strong drive to the slot which he finished with a goal on one sequence. He has that quick twitch and has a ton of NCAA interest all of a sudden. It would be nice to see him on a team with more players who he could legitimately play with.
8. Kenny Connors
#25 Mount Saint Charles, 3/10/03, C, Left Shot, 6-0/185
NCAA Commit: UMass
Connors is a power forward who can drive the net, protect pucks, and shoot it really hard. He skates well and is tough to knock off pucks while playing a complete game. He probably has more upside than a couple of the players listed above him here. He’s a player that looks to be one who will continue getting better.
9. Devin Kaplan
#21 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/10/04, RW, Right Shot, 6-2/190
NCAA Commit: Boston University
Kaplan made up the third player on the Avs’ top line with Lipkin and Musa. He has potential to be a big time power forward with his size, strength, and hard shot. His hockey sense and skating could both use some improvement, but he’s a serious candidate to make the NTDP.
10. Jake Bongo
#11 Selects Academy, 2/4/03, LW, Right Shot, 5-9/140
Bongo keeps getting better. He seemingly scored goals in each viewing on the weekend. He also made a couple of really nice passes, showing off his vision, and ability to find seams. He’s quick and hunts pucks.
11. Gleb Veremyev
#28 New Jersey Rockets, 6/28/03, C/LW, Left Shot, 6-3/190
Veremyev, formerly committed to Western Michigan, is back on the market and drawing plenty of interest. He’s a big power forward who is very effective when he’s driving the net. He does a good job protecting pucks and is a force below the dots.
12. Oliver Flynn
#15 Junior Bulldogs, 6/13/03, C, Left Shot, 6-0/165
NCAA Commit: UConn
Flynn, coming off a recent commitment to his home state school, had another good showing here. He has good size, skates well, and is a power forward. He does a good job of drawing defenders and then either finding open teammates or protecting pucks before ripping a hard shot.
13. JP Turner
#24 River Rats, 1/31/03, C, Right Shot, 5-11/186
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire
Turner played his usual game here this weekend. He was physical, scored a couple of goals, and was a possession machine below the dots. He has a lot of intangibles and is a very nice get for the Wildcats.
14. Copeland Fricker
#8 Selects Academy, 8/20/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-9/160
Fricker is a glue guy for his line. He competes hard, hunts pucks, and has some skill. He’s a player worth watching as he continues developing.
15. Massimo Gentile
#22 Top Gun Prep Selects, 7/2/03, C, Left Shot, 5-7/151
Gentile was the best player on his team. A newcomer to prep, the Quebec native will be at Governor’s Academy. He’s a very good skater who got chances and had the puck a lot. He forced a turnover and turned it into a goal on a nice shot to beat the goaltender. He made a couple of nice passes as well.
16. Jayden Sison
#27 Mount Saint Charles, 1/27/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-8/165
Sison is an underrated forward who plays a heady, 200-foot game. He seems to always know where to be. He’s on the right side of the puck a lot and plays an honest game. He forced a turnover which led to a nice goal during the quarterfinals against Pittsburgh.
17. Tyler Kopff
#22 North Jersey Avalanche, 4/22/03, C, Left Shot, 5-11/170
Kopff scored a rebound goal by going to the net and also has a hard shot from the slot. He’s heavy on pucks and can get even better if his skating improves some.
18. Sixten Jennersjo
#17 Mount Saint Charles, 4/18/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-10/164
Jennersjo makes plays, has patience with the puck, and has above average skill. I’d like to see him play a little more between the circles.
19. Ryan Walker
#21 Florida Alliance, 9/5/03, LW, Left Shot, 6-2/180
Walker has some upside with size and an ability to protect pucks. He has length and was good down low and along the wall.
20. Max Resnick
#91 Florida Alliance, 9/14/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/170
Resnick had a strong weekend, including scoring an absolute snipe to put his team up 3-2 in the championship game. He skates well and has high compete level. He’s a player that will provide his team with secondary scoring.
Honorable Mention Forwards
Cam Bergeman
#10 North Jersey Avalanche, 2/11/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-7/137
Bergeman is a smaller, skilled forward who scored here. I’d like to see him play a little more between the circles, but his skill and skating are worthy of a Division I offer.
Stephen Canavan
#81 Top Gun Prep Selects, 5/31/03, LW, Right Shot, 6-2/190
Canavan is bigger and made a couple of notable hits.
Sterling Cooke
#11 Mount Saint Charles, 2/7/03, RW, Left Shot, 5-10/173
Cooke was on the right wing on Bolduc’s line. He scored at least one goal during my viewings. He doesn’t have a dynamic skill set, but he works hard and keeps his feet moving.
Paul DeSaro
#16 Selects Academy, 9/16/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/165
DeSaro is getting quicker, got a lot of chances, and had a good shot.Â
Cole Eichler
#17 Junior Bulldogs, 3/28/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/191
Eichler is heavy on pucks and has a really good shot. His skating is an area that needs improvement.
Dylan Fogg
#3 EC Wizards, 1/23/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-6/135
In a short viewing, Fogg’s speed was noted.
William Hughes
#55 River Rats, 1/4/04, C, Right Shot, 6-2/185
Hughes didn’t find the score sheet in games I watched, but he continues to intrigue with his size and skating ability. He has a good stick. There’s plenty of reason to think he could become a Division I player down the road.
Josh Karnish
#9 Mount Saint Charles, 8/7/03, LW, Right Shot, 5-11/158
Karnish made a couple of nice passes, including one where he found an open teammate out front after he recovered a puck below the goal line.
Ryan Kelly
#13 Selects Academy, 10/4/03, RW, Right Shot, 6-1/160
Kelly was a little bit of an unknown entering the week, having played last season with Colorado Thunderbirds 15s. He had a couple of goals and is a player who is worthy of more viewings.
Evan Konyen
#7 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 2/22/04, RW, Right Shot, 5-9/156
Konyen was a little inconsistent while playing up this weekend. He had a really good national camp, but will play with the 15s this season. He’s a guy who goes to the dirty areas and finds a way to get the puck into the back of the net.
Shane Lachance
#77 River Rats, 8/30/03, LW, Left Shot, 6-3/180
Lachance is still very raw, but there’s potential for him to be a late bloomer. He has the size and he can make some plays. He scored a shorthanded goal here and has length and a physical presence.
Jared Mangan
#20 North Jersey Avalanche, 4/8/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-9/140
Mangan is a skilled winger with a very good stick. He’s made a lot of improvement in his game over the past year. He’ll be a fun player to watch this winter at Trinity-Pawling.
Jackson Morehouse
#67 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 4/1/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/175
Morehouse continues to get better. He skates well, competes and has some skill. He scored a really nice goal in an early game here at the tournament.
Ryan O’Connell
#22 Mount Saint Charles, 10/23/03, C, Left Shot, 5-8/155
O’Connell was listed as the fourth line center on the line chart, but he had a really good weekend, scoring goals during Friday and Saturday morning games. On Saturday, he scored on a nice finish. He handles the puck well and got to the scoring areas.
Shawn O’Donnell
#63 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 6/21/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-10/167
O’Donnell is a rugged winger who brings energy. He looks to make his physical presence known. He goes to the net and can score as well. His skating and ability to play at pace are two areas of his game that could use improvement.
Tyler Ribera
#8 Mount Saint Charles, 1/7/03, RW, Right Shot, 6-3/176
Ribera is getting better. He had a couple of flashes this weekend. He has good size and is a power forward. His hockey sense is an issue that needs improvement, but he’s certainly a player to keep an eye on moving forward.
Nicholas Royster
#23 Top Gun Prep Selects, 9/23/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-8/154
Royster forced a couple of turnovers and was a good skater. He’s a player to watch as he transitions to prep hockey at Phillips Andover.
Mick Thompson
#14 North Jersey Avalanche, 3/1/04, LW, Left Shot, 5-4/120
Thompson is very small, but he kept making plays all weekend while not having the advantage of playing on the top line. He’s a fun player to watch and his hockey sense will take him a long way.
Colin Van Stry
#80 Top Gun Prep Selects, 3/17/03, C, Right Shot, 5-11/150
Van Stry should be one of the better players in the Middlesex League as he is back at Winchester High for another season. He’s a big power forward who skates well for his size. He protects pucks and has some potential.
DJ Walsh
#7 River Rats, 1/27/03, C/LW, Right Shot, 5-7/140
In my viewings of the River Rats so far, Walsh seems to be around the puck a lot and he has a finishing touch. He scored a couple of goals this weekend.
Cole Watson
#10 Junior Bulldogs, 4/21/03, RW, Right Shot, 6-1/167
Watson is a good-sized winger who made a couple of nice plays. He can use his size to his advantage to possess pucks. He’s a player to continue watching this fall and into winter while with Kent.
Jaxon Wilson
#16 Florida Alliance, 3/10/04, C, Right Shot, 5-5/140
Wilson benefited from playing with Brindley and Levens, but he was good in his own right. He had a couple of key goals in Sunday’s playoff action.
Alexey Yarmulnik
#8 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 6/27/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/170
Yarmulnik is a goal scorer who found the back of the net in the game against Mount Saint Charles. He’s heavy on pucks and has a hard shot. He plays well below the dots. His skating is an issue, but there’s upside as a goal scorer.
Top 16-U Defensemen
1. Seamus Casey
#6 Florida Alliance, 1/8/04, D, Right Shot, 5-9/146
NCAA Commit: Michigan
Casey is an elite hockey player. He made plays and had a ton of assists. His skating and puck skills are both extremely high end, but he has really good vision as well. He made a pass in one game that made it seem like he had eyes in the back of his head. He’s a lock to make the NTDP.
2. Guillaume Richard
#4 Mount Saint Charles, 2/10/03, D, Left Shot, 6-0/162
NCAA Commit: Maine
Richard was really good all weekend. He’s a two-way defenseman with good size. He has speed to close on opposing forwards, he’s tough to beat one-on-one, covers a lot of ground and has a good stick. He’s also strong offensively and with the puck. He uses his feet and skating ability to make plays in transition.
3. Tyler DesRochers
#13 Mount Saint Charles, 4/2/03, D, Right Shot, 6-0/160
NCAA Commit: Providence
DesRochers keeps getting better with each viewing. He makes really good puck touches and had a couple of notable stretch passes to jumpstart the offense. He has a good stick and his skating allows him to be a very strong two-way defenseman.
4. Aidan Dubinsky
#28 Florida Alliance, 4/28/04, D, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Dubinsky isn’t flashy, but he plays a steady, reliable game in all three zones. He’s a very smart player who makes good puck touches. He skates well and has a good stick. He will certainly earn an invite to the NTDP Evaluation Camp and should make the team.
5. Carter Schade
#37 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 3/7/03, D, Left Shot, 5-10/192
NCAA Commit: Penn State
Schade is a tough, two-way defensemen. He is a force in his own end and he plays with a ton of jam. He also skates with his head up and makes plays in transition. He does a good job jumping into the offense and scored a goal on a rush.
6. Lane Hutson
#23 North Jersey Avalanche, 2/14/04, D, Left Shot, 5-8/135
NCAA Commit: Boston University
Hutson is an elite puck-moving defenseman with very strong offensive instincts. He’s on the smaller side, but his feet and puck skills are very good. I’d like to see him pick his spots a little more wisely, but as the saying goes, you’d rather reign a kid in eventually than persuade him to be more assertive. He’ll likely get an invite to USA Hockey’s NTDP Evaluation Camp.
7. Anthony Cliche
#18 Mount Saint Charles, 6/9/03, D, Right Shot, 6-3/202
Cliche has a lot of upside with his size, skating and skill. He’s a pro style defenseman with good reach, allowing him to defend well. While his physical tools are very intriguing, he needs to clean up parts of his game. There were a couple of questionable decisions. If he can improve his hockey sense and be more assertive on a consistent basis, there’s plenty of reason to believe he could be a very good college player, and potentially beyond.
8. Nicky Wallace
#9 North Jersey Avalanche, 3/7/03, D, Left Shot, 5-7/160
Wallace keeps getting better. His feet are extraordinary. He’s a breakout machine with his ability to rush the puck out of his own zone. Some of the plays come to an end once he gains the attacking blue line. His hockey sense could use improvement, but his feet are too good to pass up. He probably won’t be without a commitment for long.
9. Conor Shortall
#7 Selects Academy, 4/29/03, D, Right Shot, 5-10/175
Shortall really caught my attention for his play in both ends. He probably projects as an offensive defenseman, but he also made a couple of nice plays defensively, including one where he leveled an opposing forward. He has good vision, made some good plays on the rush, and got shots through from the point.
10. Bryceon Lago
#24 North Jersey Avalanche, 5/20/04, D, Left Shot, 5-7/125
Lago is a fun player to watch as an offensive defenseman who can move pucks up ice. He’s mobile and likes to jump into the rush.
11. Andrew Centrella
#6 Valley Forge Minutemen, 1/29/04, D, Left Shot, 5-9/155
Centrella is a mobile, offensive defenseman who can move pucks north.Â
12. Eli Barnett
#2 Selects Academy, 9/16/03, D, Right Shot, 6-5/213
Barnett is a big, defensive defenseman with length and reach to force plays wide and keep opposing forwards at bay.
13. Ethan Mistry
#4 River Rats, 2/4/03, D, Left Shot, 5-8/158
Mistry is an offensive defenseman who does a good job of moving pucks north. He joins the rush and has good vision. He made a great feed right on the tape to a forward for an easy score.
14. Charles Andriole
#3 Junior Bulldogs, 4/19/03, D, Left Shot, 5-8/153
Andriole is a mobile defenseman with an offensive touch. His skating allows him to escape trouble. He’s a player with a chance to make a splash at Loomis Chaffee this winter.
15. Anthony Dowd
#9 New Jersey Titans, 4/25/03, D, Right Shot, 5-5/127
Dowd was good in Sunday’s playoff game. He’s on the smaller side, but he made a couple of plays and used his feet to be an impactful puck mover.
Honorable Mention Defensemen
Nicholas Bernardo
#53 Top Gun Prep Selects, 5/13/03, D, Left Shot, 5-9/154
NCAA Commit: Brown
Bernardo is a good skater who can make plays in transition and quarterback the power play. He’s a smaller offensive defenseman who will be making the jump from P.A.L. Islanders 16-U to Kimball Union.
Conner Chalmers
#51 Top Gun Prep Selects, 8/30/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11/165
Chalmers continues to impress with his feet, but his hockey sense and puck touches need to become more consistent. He should get better in that regard with more seasoning under Tim Whitehead at Kimball Union.
Harry Meirowitz
#65 North Jersey Avalanche, 5/21/03, D, Left Shot, 5-7/140
Meirowitz hasn’t been as good since a really good showing at the Beantown Summer Classic, but he’s still showing the skating ability that will warrant further viewings.
Cody Melanson
#6 Mount Saint Charles, 10/23/03, D, Right Shot, 6-4/175
Melanson has good size. He’s raw, but he’s a player to watch moving forward.
Cameron Miranda
#18 Selects Academy, 3/13/03, D, Right Shot, 6-0/160
Miranda has above average skill and feet. He shows flashes, but needs to continue working on making consistently good puck touches.
Austin Oravetz
#24 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 9/26/03, D, Right Shot, 5-8/168
Oravetz, like many players from this program, plays a tough style and hits hard. He has a little skill and is a player who could continue to get better.
David Posma
#2 Mount Saint Charles, 8/27/03, D, Left Shot, 5-10/175
Posma is a tough defender who plays with jam. He’s hard to play against and brings it physically. His older brother, Michael Posma, is committed to Boston College.
Eddie Romano
#3 Long Island Gulls, 2/24/04, D, Left Shot, 5-8/168
Romano is a puck-moving defenseman who is physically mature and tough to knock off pucks. He can quarterback the power play. His defensive play is a work in progress.
Jared Schaal
#47 Selects Academy, 1/23/03, D, Right Shot, 5-9/150
Schaal has good mobility and is a smaller defenseman, but has some potential to bring his game to the point he could play in college.
Mitch Simmons
#17 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 3/8/03, D, Right Shot, 6-3/214
Simmons scored a goal on a nice shot from the point. He’s a big defenseman with some potential. It’s his second season in the Penguins youth organization after coming up from the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes.
Top 16-U Goaltenders
1. Greyson Pane
#1 Junior Bulldogs, 8/2/03, G, Catches Left, 6-3/171
Pane is a big goaltender with a lot of upside. He tracks pucks, moves well and takes up a lot of the net. I’d like to see him play a little further out on the edge of the crease, but he’s a top goaltender in New England for this age group.
2. Tommy Heaney
#32 Mount Saint Charles, 2/2/03, G, Catches Left, 6-0/165
Heaney is one of the better goaltenders in the region for this age group. He wasn’t at the top of his game during Friday night’s game, but he made some key saves later in the weekend. He’s an athletic goaltender who competes and plays fundamentally sound.
3. Matthew MacArthur
#35 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 4/30/04, G, Catches Left, 6-0/175
MacArthur was really good and kept his team in the game against Mount Saint Charles.
4. Shane Shelest
#37 Top Gun Prep Selects, 5/5/03, G, Catches Left, 6-1/181
Shelest made a nice post-to-post stop in a game Friday night. He’ll be a new sophomore at Phillips Andover. All three goaltenders on this team are solid. Thomas Giroux and Arizona State recruit Zak Brice are the others.
