Many prospects looking to showcase their skills in front of college coaches and NHL scouts took to the ice this weekend at the Junior Bruins Shootout.
The tournament, hosted by Peter Masters’ USPHL organization, took place mainly at the eight-sheet New England Sports Center in Marlboro, but the action spilled over to several other area rinks.
The Junior Bruins Shootout had a handful of quality prospects, but it was watered down, as has become custom at tournaments such as this one. When it’s difficult to decipher top teams because different buzz words or colors are given for team names, it’s not good for anyone.
I’ve been advocating for this tirelessly over the past couple of years, but it would be great if the developmental model in New England got back to the best playing the best, as it is in Minnesota and Michigan. The top teams should play each other and the next tier of teams could then face off in another tournament. It would benefit both the top teams as well as the lesser teams.
Lopsided results aren’t good for players’ development on teams on either end of the decision. College coaches are forced to pick and choose which portions of games they see as it’s impossible to see all the desired prospects’ full games.
Keeping in mind that there were eight or more games going on simultaneously at many times during the weekend, here’s a look at the top performers from this past weekend’s Junior Bruins Shootout:
16-U Division Forwards
Gleb Veremyev
#28 NJ Rockets 16-U, 6/28/03, C, left shot, 6-3/181
Veremyev seems to get better with each viewing. He uses his size to drive pucks to the net. He has some skill and is very good cycling pucks down low. There’s pro upside and he’s garnering serious college attention from top notch Big Ten, Hockey East and ECAC Hockey programs.
Jack Silich
#87 Junior Bruins 16-U, 6/20/03, LW, right shot, 5-11/160
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
Silich has a ton of skill with the puck on his stick. He’s rugged and does a good job of protecting pucks and controlling possession. He’s hard to knock off pucks and is a force below the dots.
Cullin Wilson
#12 Junior Eagles 16-U, 3/12/03, C, left shot, 5-11/180
Wilson continues to show a strong ability to play a 200-foot game. He’s versatile and is heavy on pucks. He does a good job winning battles along the wall and creating offense as a result. He has vision and should continue to get better.
Ean Somoza
#97 LA Jr. Kings 16-U, 2/8/03, C/RW, right shot, 6-2/170
Somoza was really good here. He’s added some size and it shows in his ability to be a power forward. He did a good job penetrating into the slot and protecting pucks. He got off a couple lasers, including a wrist shot that he buried for a goal. He’s trending up.
Michael Stenberg
#24 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 9/22/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/174
NCAA Commit: Penn State
Stenberg is a hard and heavy power forward. He does a good job driving the net, isn’t afraid to go to the greasy areas and plays with jam. He has a hard shot, but his hands and puck skills are just slightly above average. Overall, he showed his strong athleticism once again.
Michael Cataldo
#7 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 5/4/03, RW, right shot, 5-11/165
Cataldo is a big winger who is heavy on pucks. He produces a lot offensively and it’s not because he’s the most skilled player. He can shoot it hard, but credit him for competing, going to the dirty areas, and willing pucks to the back of the net.
Mike Collard
#21 Fox Motors 16-U, 1/3/03, LW, left shot, 5-11/165
Collard typically wears No. 9, but had a different jersey due to his being ripped the previous weekend. He made a couple of nice plays, one on the rush and one on the power play. From The Netherlands, He’s a smart player with good vision.
Ian Spencer
#20 Chicago Fury 15s, 9/9/04, C/LW, left shot, 5-9/165
Spencer has good speed and made a couple of plays just by getting to pucks quickly and creating time and space by beating defenders wide.
Shane Baker
#91 Junior Bruins 16-U, 4/21/04, C, right shot, 6-0/150
Baker has taken a huge jump in his development, going from Division 3 high school hockey to USPHL 16-U. He has good size and is a net front presence. He skates well and has some skill. It will be interesting to continue watching his development for the rest of this season.
Trevor Castino
#88 LA Jr. Kings 16-U, 4/20/03, C, left shot,Â
Castino is a big power forward who skated well enough to make an impact throughout the 200 feet of the ice sheet. He made a couple of plays and was around the puck a lot. I’d like to see him again, but he was definitely the catalyst for his line that was good all weekend.
Parker Murray
#27 LA Jr. Kings 16-U, 9/26/03, LW, left shot, 6-1/178
Murray is another big power forward with some potential, especially if his skating can continue to improve.
Easton Armstrong
#7 LA Jr. Kings 16-U, RW, right shot, 6-1/165
Armstrong has good size and potential to blossom into a power forward. He scored a nice goal, beating the goaltender to the short side, but he needs to do a better job moving pucks in order to take that next step in his game.
Chris Delaney
#88 Junior Bruins 16-U, 9/25/04, C, left shot, 5-5/140
Delaney is quick and can make plays in small areas. His straight line speed needs to get a little better in order to maintain his skill advantage as he continues going up against better players.
Grayson Badger
#5 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 5/9/04, LW, left shot, 5-11/170
Badger continues to find the net by competing harder and out-willing his opponents. He’s around the puck a lot and seems to win every race he’s involved in.
Cameron Lund
#21 Eastern Mass. Senators 16-U, 6/7/04, C, right shot, 5-10/158
Lund is a good skater who plays well in all three zones. He’s still adjusting to the increased pace and limited time of midget hockey, compared to bantam hockey.
Chase LeClerc
#27 Islanders HC 16-U, 11/1/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/165
LeClerc has good skill and is an above average skater. He needs to be more consistent in engaging and playing well without the puck.
Jackson Coutu
#87 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 1/9/03, C/RW, right shot, 5-11/175
Coutu is an athletic forward who skates well, hunts pucks, and makes plays.
Jackson Kyrkostas
#22 Islanders HC 16-U, 8/19/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/140
Kyrkostas has very good hands and can motor, but he needs to play more between the circles. His skill and skating are becoming more dynamic.
Mike Santonelli
#15 Junior Bruins 16-U, 1/14/03, RW, right shot, 6-0/165
Santonelli was good here and played his off wing at times. He made plays in small areas and is a player to watch.
Dylan Young
#17 Belle Tire 16-U, 1/14/03, C, right shot, 5-5/129
Young scored a nice goal on a breakaway, beating the goaltender high glove after showing some deception. He made a couple of other nice plays and was nifty with the puck on his stick.
Tyler Marietta
#21 Belle Tire 16-U, 5/15/03, RW, right shot, 5-10/160
Marietta has a powerful stride and showed some upside here.
John Small
#17 Chicago Fury 15s, 1/17/04, C/LW, left shot, 5-9/161
Small had a couple of solid flashes during his team’s game against the New Jersey Rockets 15s. He looks to be a player that can play in all situations, at least at this level.
Henry Wilson
#86 Islanders HC 16-U, 5/13/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/160
Wilson has a lot of room to grow, but his size and skating stride are worthy of mention.
Austin Tasca
#16 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 3/14/04, LW, left shot, 5-6/135
Tasca is quick and keeps producing this fall, despite his lack of size.
Colin Norton
#8 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 5/23/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/175
Norton had a nice shorthanded goal on a backhand finish.
Zachary Glass
#4 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 2/14/03, RW, right shot, 5-11/165
Glass skates well and made a couple of plays on the rush.
Ethan Cordeiro
#10 Eastern Mass. Senators 16-U, 6/4/03, C, left shot, 5-10/150
Cordeiro is an above average skater, competes hard and has some skill.
Hagen Moe
#87 Belle Tire 16-U, 5/20/03, LW, left shot, 5-11/172
Moe forced turnovers and won some battles along the wall.
Will Kelleher
#24 Boston Advantage 16-U, 1/15/03, C/LW, left shot, 6-0/180
Kelleher is a big power forward who likes to throw his weight around. He was very physical here and looks to be a versatile bottom six forward if his offensive skill set doesn’t translate.
16-U Division Defensemen
Will Elias
#2 Junior Eagles 16-U, 1/28/03, D, right shot, 5-11/165
This was perhaps the best viewing to date of Elias, who has been a favorite of mine for over a year now. He’s a steady, two-way defenseman who skates well. He retrieves pucks and quickly transitions up ice. He has a good stick and gaps well. His instincts are getting better.
Tyler Rubin
#97 Junior Eagles 16-U, 1/10/03, D, left shot, 5-9/135
Rubin’s feet are elite. That’s the first thing that stands out every time the Junior Eagles 16-U takes the ice. He can be a one-man breakout as a result.
Brendan Fitzgerald
#3 Junior Eagles 16-U, 3/6/03, D, left shot, 5-11/147
Fitzgerald reads plays well and is a very good defender, one-on-one. He plays with jam and has some offensive skill. He’ll continue trending in the right direction as he learns when to pick and choose his spots to step into the rush.
Chris Romaine
#17 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 2/21/04, D, right shot, 5-10/150
While Romaine still has some growth necessary in terms of his hockey sense, especially on the defensive side of the puck, he was really good this weekend. He used his feet and puck skills to make numerous plays and to join the attack.
Alexander Panameno
#70 LA Jr. Kings 16-U, 12/15/04, D, left shot, 5-9/170
Panameno is a little on the smaller side, but he’s very tough. He plays with jam and is a physical, defensive defenseman. He also has solid skating ability and can make an above average first touch.
Owen Paskowski
#6 Eastern Mass. Senators 16-U, 2/4/03, D, left shot, 6-4/180
NCAA Commit: Colorado College
Paskowski appears to be more lean and his skating has improved as a result. He’s a big, strong, pro-style defenseman with a hard shot. He’s trending in the right direction.
Ben Cook
#12 Junior Bruins 16-U, 1/31/05, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Cook is a big defenseman who is playing up. He’s solid defensively and could become a coveted player if his skating and footwork continue to get better as he fills into his big frame.
Declan Loughnane
#16 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 11/22/03, D, right shot, 5-11/194
Loughnane has good offensive instincts and can get shots on net from the point. He needs to keep things simple, but he makes good outlet passes and could turn into a solid puck-moving defender who can break pucks up ice.
Luke Santilli
#44 Islanders HC 16-U, 12/5/04, D, right shot, 5-11/150
Santilli is a big, pro-style defenseman who is still very raw. He’s tall and lanky, but there’s reason to believe he could turn into a good two-way defenseman with size.
Will Murphy
#14 Cape Cod Whalers, 5/13/03, D, right shot, 5-10/175
Murphy is a strong, defensive defenseman who made a couple of good plays to brush opposing forwards off the puck.
Brendan Kimball
#47 Islanders HC 16-U, 8/24/03, D, left shot, 5-9/135
Kimball is an elite skater, but he needs to be tougher on pucks and play with more jam.
John Logan
#2 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 5/3/03, D, right shot, 5-10/170
Logan is a smaller puck-moving defenseman. He’s good on retrievals, including one that he quickly got up ice for a shorthanded goal by one of his teammates. His mobility is strong. If his hockey sense can improve some, he could be a good prep player. Keep an eye on him at BC High this winter.
Alex Umbro
#12 Cape Cod Whalers 16-U, 1/24/03, D, left shot, 6-1/185
Umbro has good size and made a couple of solid plays on both sides of the puck. He has a physical presence. He’s another player to watch in the MIAA circuit at Archbishop Williams.
Seamus Cummings
#22 Eastern Mass. Senators 16-U, 4/14/03, D, right shot, 5-11/160
In a couple of limited viewings of the Senators, he showed some potential with his size and defensive play.
Nick Fields
#6 Belle Tire 16-U, 12/18/03, D, left shot, 5-8/160
Fields is an offensive defenseman who jumped into the offense a few times. He skates well.
Conner Berg
#4 Boston Advantage 16-U, 6/10/03, D, right shot, 6-1/150
Berg has good size and is a defenseman to watch to see if he takes the next step in his development over the next couple of years.
16-U Division Goaltenders
Owen Millward
#0 Fox Motors 16-U, 5/1/03, G, catches left, 6-3/190
Millward took some lumps this weekend, but his size, technique and athleticism have him trending upwards, in terms of goaltenders in this age group. He’s very composed in net and doesn’t move around a lot. A prototypical modern era butterfly goaltender, he’s one to keep an eye on over the coming years.
Jackson Reda
#29 Chicago Fury 15s, 8/29/04, G, catches left, 5-10/150
Reda was good in a couple of viewings, despite not facing a ton of rubber. He moves well and has above average fundamentals.
Gabe Brissette
#29 Boston Advantage 16-U, 10/12/03, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Brissette has some potential and was solid in his team’s game on Friday afternoon.
Kyle Marchionna
#1 Long Island Royals 16-U, 10/27/03, G, catches left, 6-0/175
Marchionna’s team was outmatched during a couple of viewings on the weekend. He stood on his head numerous times.
18-U Division Forwards
Casey Severo
#19 Junior Eagles 18-U, 2/1/01, C, right shot, 5-11/175
NCAA Commit: Merrimack
This was a really good weekend for Severo. He was better than usual on the offensive side of the puck and was his usual self away from the puck. He’s on the right side of the puck and has such good habits that it allows him to be around the puck a lot in positions to score.
Sasha Teleguine
#7 Junior Eagles 18-U, 9/17/02, C/LW, left shot, 5-9/178
NCAA Commit: Northeastern
Teleguine continues to show he’s a dynamic offensive threat with his elite skating ability. His engagement away from the puck needs to be better in order to truly take the next step in his game. He’s clearly capable of being an elite junior and college player, if his hockey sense and compete without the puck improve.
Ryan Corcoran
#5 Boston Advantage 18-U, 4/4/02, C, left shot, 5-11/158
Corcoran wasn’t his best, but he was still very good. He’s a 200-foot center who can make plays and skate well enough to have an impact in all three zones. He’s a heady player with good vision and is typically on the right side of the puck.
Kyle Van Compernolle
#7 Fox Motors 18-U, 4/8/02, C, right shot, 6-6/200
NCAA Commit: Michigan Tech
Van Compernolle was really good. He uses his big frame to protect pucks. He makes a big impact below the circles and drives the net. His hands are above average, especially for a big power forward.
Nick Ring
#37 Boston Advantage 18-U, 10/26/03, C, right shot, 5-10/180
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire
Ring has skating and skill to make plays and finish. If he can continue to improve on his hockey sense and offensive instincts, he could become an even more lethal threat when it comes to producing.
David Sacco
#16 Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, 1/3/02, C, right shot, 6-0/190
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire
Sacco was a little in and out on the weekend. At times, he showed the ability to take over a game with his strong skating and hard shot. He’s physical and hard, but he’s a little disengaged still at times. If he ever puts it all together on a consistent basis, watch out.
Vesse-Wincent Lampen
#22 South Florida Hockey Academy 18-U, 3/4/02, RW, right shot, 6-0/150
Lampen was buzzing here. He seems like a potential goal scorer and he skates well. More viewings are necessary, but he looked to be a promising prospect at the Junior Bruins Shootout.
Peter Kramer
#9 Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, 8/8/02, LW, left shot, 6-0/170
NCAA Commit: Providence
Kramer was good and competed hard. He projects to be a solid third liner who can kill penalties and chip in offensively from time to time.
Carson Whitman
#23 Boston Advantage 18-U, 6/4/02, C, right shot, 5-10/165
Whitman is quick and can make plays. If he can add more consistency to his game, his stock will rise further.
Lewis Rowan
#10 Belle Tire 18-U, 11/4/01, LW, left shot, 5-9/181
Rowan isn’t the most gifted player offensively, but he’s gritty. He hunts pucks and uses his high motor to win races. He can set up goals by keeping his feet moving.
Luke Panchisin
#90 Chicago Fury 18-U, 8/23/02, C, right shot, 5-7/150
I only caught a glimpse of the Fury’s 18-U team, but he looked to be a solid goal scoring center in limited viewing. Keep an eye on his development over the next year or so.
Matt MacDonald
#17 Boston Advantage 18-U, 4/16/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/196
NCAA Commit: Merrimack
MacDonald needs to get back to playing the style of game that got him a commit. He’s trying to be a little too finesse at times. While his skating stride and feet are ugly, when he keeps things simple and plays a hard north-south game, hunting pucks, he can be a force.
Elijah Devereaux
#12 Northwood, 6/24/01, C, left shot, 6-1/175
Devereaux is a very good skater who has speed to be a top junior and college player. He needs to put it all together, but he’ll get a chance this year as he’s taken a step up in his role on this Northwood team.
Felix Trudeau
#27 Northwood, 9/24/02, LW, left shot, 6-1/170
Trudeau has some length and made a couple of plays.
Jack Schlifke
#4 Northwood, 1/13/01, RW, right shot, 6-5/210
Schlifke is a big power forward who appears to have some ability as a finisher. He uses his size to protect pucks and drive the net. He has a hard shot and found the back of the net a few times.
Steven Thibodeau
#7 Victory Honda 18-U, 4/24/02, C, right shot, 5-5/150
Thibodeau is a smaller forward with some skill for this level. He found the score sheet a few times in viewings.
Chance Heaphy
#63 Boston Advantage 18-U, 6/5/02, RW, right shot, 5-6/150
Heaphy found the back of the net a couple of times and was crafty and elusive for a smaller forward.
Anthony Achille
#16 Boston Advantage 18-U, 1/8/02, LW, left shot, 5-10/150
Achille skates well and competes hard.
Drake Albers
#91 Belle Tire 18-U, 3/11/02, RW, right shot, 5-8/150
Albers found the back of the net at least once here and is a player to keep an eye on moving forward.
Kolby Amici
#26 Nichols 18-U, 12/16/02, C/RW, right shot, 5-5/135
Amici was quick and skilled. If he can play more between the circles, he’ll be able to better utilize his skill set.
Dylan Lugris
#16 Nichols 18-U, 6/23/01, RW, right shot, 6-0/162
Lugris is a former participant at USA Hockey national camp. He played the wall on the power play and was solid. His skating will likely limit his Division I opportunities, but he could be a solid Division III prospect.
18-U Division Defensemen
Timothy Lovell
#27 Boston Advantage 18-U, 2/8/02, D, left shot, 5-5/125
NCAA Commit: Ohio State
Lovell was terrific all weekend. He’s a dynamic, puck-moving, offensive defenseman with his skating, skill and hockey sense. He made quite a few really good breakout passes after retrievals. In addition to his highlight reel goal making the rounds on social media, he assisted on an equally dazzling play on the rush during Friday morning’s game. His size hurts him, but against inferior competition, he did a good job of taking over the games.
Ian Moore
#2 Little Bruins 18-U, 1/4/02, D, right shot, 6-3/170
NCAA Commit: Princeton
Moore was the top pro prospect among draft eligible players here. He had a secondary assist on his team’s first goal Saturday morning against Belle Tire. He has really good feet and hands to keep pucks moving as he quarterbacks the power play. Moore defends well with his reach on pokechecks and can also protect pucks in the same regard.Â
Lukas Gustafsson
#8 Eastern Mass. Senators 18-U, 12/16/02, D, left shot, 5-9/165
NCAA Commit: Boston College
Gustafsson was really good as a puck-moving defenseman with skill. He skates well and is very smooth. This was a very good viewing.
Jackson Dorrington
#16 Eastern Mass. Senators 18-U, 4/13/04, D, left shot, 6-1/171
Dorrington continues to show an innate ability to play with poise, despite going up against players two and three years older. He skates well and has a good stick. There’s a lot of potential upside.
Nick Justice
#4 Victory Honda 18-U, 11/24/02, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Justice is a steady defenseman who was on my radar following a solid showing at national camp in June. He has a good stick, reads plays well, and takes away space from opposing forwards. He skates well and has a good first step. His offensive instincts and puck touches could use a little more consistency.
Jacob Karpa
#5 Victory Honda 18-U, 3/25/02, D, right shot, 5-10/165
Karpa is another solid defenseman on the Victory Honda team. He skates well and is reliable without being flashy. Karpa plays the game the right way.
Jacob Guevin
#9 Northwood, 1/17/03, D, right shot, 5-10/186
NCAA Commit: Nebraska-Omaha
Guevin has very good mobility and has skill to make plays and push the pace in transition. He threw a couple of pucks away, but he projects as an offensive defenseman.
Colin Oppelt
#65 Boston Advantage 18-U, 6/21/02, D, left shot, 6-2/185
Oppelt has good size and length, which allows him to defend well. He closes on opposing forwards and keeps the play to the perimeter. If his skating comes along just a little, he could be a reliable bottom pairing, defensive defender.
Alex Newton
Fox Motors 18-U, 9/13/01, D, left shot, 5-10/150
Newton, in limited viewing, appears to be a capable offensive defenseman who can move pucks north with above average mobility.
Tor Jendrell
#12 Victory Honda 18-U, 6/21/02, D, right shot, 5-8/135
Jendrell jumped into the offense a couple of times in his team’s game against the Cape Cod Whalers. He had an assist and looked to have a chip on his shoulder. He played with physicality, especially given his size.
Drew Joliet
#4 Belle Tire 18-U, 1/25/02, D, right shot, 6-0/175
Joliet, who was a very good bantam player a couple of years ago, remains noticeable during viewings. He has above average size, skill and skating, and can play hard in his own end. He has a hard shot and some offensive instincts.
Matt Connor
#11 Cape Cod Whalers 18-U, 5/31/01, D, right shot, 6-2/200
Connor is a big, tough defenseman. His hockey IQ has gotten better, but more improvement is necessary in order to take that next step in his development. Regardless, he’s worth watching further.
Joseph Blackley
#4 Nichols 18-U, 9/8/03, D, left shot, 5-9/160
Blackley wasn’t out of place, but he wasn’t as impactful as I’ve seen him be when playing against his own age group. Playing up, he was still noticeable a couple of times as an offensive, puck-moving defender.
Nate Boak
#2 Northwood, 7/12/02, D, left shot, 5-8/159
Boak is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman who saw time on the power play.
Mack Oliphant
#26 Little Bruins 18-U, 12/28/02, D, right shot, 6-3/190
Oliphant is an intriguing big defenseman who will be a prep newcomer at Lawrence Academy.
Luke French
#17 Northwood, 3/20/01, D, right shot, 5-9/207
French had a good stick defensively and is a player I’d like to watch more this season.
18-U Division Goaltenders
Owen Parker
#32 Boston Advantage 18-U, 1/4/02, G, catches left, 6-6/235
Parker is a big goaltender who gave up just one goal in a Friday game against the Cleveland Barons.
Peyton Grainer
#88 Belle Tire 18-U, 3/12/02, G, catches left, 6-1/170
Grainer is a good goaltender with above average size. He recently signed in the OHL with the Flint Firebirds.
Nick Bevilacqua
#29 Boston Advantage 18-U, 8/6/03, G, catches left, 5-10/144
Bevilacqua is on the smaller side, but he’s athletic and has good reflexes. He needs to challenge shooters a little more and maintain better composure in net, but he has some potential, especially if he grows. Keep in mind he was playing up here as an ‘03.
