EXETER, N.H. — Mid Fairfield and Mount Saint Charles played a wildly entertaining game last weekend with New England District’s 15 Only automatic bid to USA Hockey Nationals on the line.
Mount Saint Charles jumped out to a 1-0 lead before Mid Fairfield took a commanding 4-1 advantage. The boys from Woonsocket, R.I., rallied to force overtime, scoring two with the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker. Ultimately, Mid Fairfield prevailed by a score of 3-0 in the shootout after a scoreless overtime period.
Mid Fairfield has a ton of high-end talent, including several players destined to make USA Hockey’s NTDP. Mount Saint Charles has a couple of NTDP candidates of its own. The two finalists were heads and shoulders above the rest of the competition over the weekend at The Rinks at Exeter. Seacoast Performance Academy and South Kent Selects Academy were the other two semifinalists and the next closest competition for Mid Fairfield and Mount Saint Charles, who are both bound for Dallas later this month to compete at USA Hockey Nationals.
While Seacoast didn’t have any NTDP candidates, it was my first look at its 15 Only team this season. I was impressed with the team’s first line of center Taybor Aldrich and wingers Saxton Tess and Thomas Scully. It was the most consistent line over the course of the two days I was in Exeter. Tess was the standout. He’s on the smaller side, but he skates well, has above-average hockey sense, and plays in all situations. Aldrich was a power forward who drove the net and scored. Scully showed off his vision on several occasions. On defense, Blake Belt was a mobile, puck transporter.
For Selects Academy, goaltender Griffin Davis is a little unorthodox, but he has quick reflexes and athleticism. Up front, Corson Maguire, a right-shot forward from Toronto, looks to have some goal-scoring capabilities.
Below is a look at the NTDP candidates and how they fared at the New England District 15 Only Tournament. All three defensemen mentioned are likely to make the team, while the forwards and goaltender have some work to do to make it past the evaluation camp. All nine of these individuals are great hockey players, but making the NTDP is difficult.
Forwards
Tanner Adams
Mount Saint Charles, 9/2/05, C, right shot, 5-10/155
NCAA commit: Providence
Adams had his moments here, but I’d like to see him be more consistent. He scored a beauty of a goal to get Mount within two goals of the lead on Sunday. He also scored against Selects Academy on Saturday. The Northport, N.Y., native is skilled and has the hockey sense necessary to produce offensively. His skating is above average, and he shows a strong compete level at times. Based on his performance this week, I’d project that Adams makes the NTDP Evaluation Camp but falls short of a roster spot.
Ryan Fine
Mid Fairfield, 3/14/05, C, right shot, 5-8/155
NCAA commit: Boston University
Fine, from Center Moriches, N.Y., had an assist on a goal scored off a faceoff win and connected on a shootout attempt in Sunday’s final. Fine, who was unquestionably regarded as one of the most offensively gifted Bantam players in this age group, is still a productive player. While the gap has narrowed, he has his moments where he can take over a game with his offensive instincts and hands. If Fine doesn’t make the NTDP, he’ll almost certainly tender with a team in the USHL. Fine has spent time on the high school team at Don Bosco.
Sal Guzzo
Mid Fairfield, 4/17/05, C/RW, right shot, 6-0/165
Guzzo had a really strong game in Sunday’s final. He set the tone early with some big hits and aggressive forechecking. Later, he used his size and strength to play as a power forward and score two goals. Guzzo is a versatile player who could slide up and down the lineup while scoring goals and bringing energy and toughness. When he’s on his game, he’s hunting pucks and winning battles below the goal line, which creates time and space for his linemates. The Staten Island, N.Y., native plays high school hockey at Don Bosco.
Brian Nicholas
Mid Fairfield, 3/15/05, C/LW, left shot, 6-1/165
Nicholas is a power forward with plenty of pro upside. He has the size, skating and heavy shot to make anyone in the rink look twice. From Scarsdale, N.Y., Nicholas sometimes leaves you wanting more. I’d describe him as still a little bit raw, in terms of putting it all together. If he does, Nicholas easily could be a first-round NHL draft pick. Nicholas should make the evaluation camp but might be on the outside looking in.
Chris Pelosi
Mount Saint Charles, 3/6/05, C, left shot, 6-0/160
Pelosi had three goals and two assists in the two games played on Sunday. The Sewell, N.J., native has good size and used it to his advantage. His goal in the championship game was a perfect example of the type of player he projects to be when at the top of his game. He forced a turnover in the neutral zone then raced in on net and fired a shot that beat the goaltender on the blocker side. He was involved in both goals with the extra attacker. In the semifinal, he scored on an odd-man rush and cleaned up a rebound for another. My one knock against Pelosi is I’d like to see him bring this level of play every game. When he’s competing and just playing a north-south game, he’s a very good player.
Defensemen
Drew Fortescue
Mid Fairfield, 4/28/05, D, left shot, 6-1/160
Fortescue is a smooth, two-way defenseman whose hockey sense and reliability are valued assets. He might not have the high-end athleticism of teammate Aram Minnetian, but he more than makes up for that with his brain and making the right play. Countless times over the weekend, Fortescue would put pucks in safe places if he didn’t have an opening. In other words, he doesn’t force plays. His size, skating and stick are all good. He might not be a No. 1 or 2 defenseman on the NTDP, but he’s a blueliner who can be relied upon in all situations. From Nyack, N.Y., Fortescue also plays high school hockey for Don Bosco in New Jersey.
Aram Minnetian
Mid Fairfield, 3/19/05, D, right shot, 6-1/175
Minnetian is probably the most gifted defenseman in this age group. He has the size, strength, skating ability and stick to wow observers. He loves to make plays at both ends of the ice. He’s not afraid to jump into the rush, wheel and deal with the puck in the attacking zone, or launch himself for that big hit in the defensive end. When he does make a mistake and gets caught out of position, Minnetian has the best recovery ability of anyone in this age group. He did a really good job of closing and taking away time and space from opposing forwards this weekend. He scored a goal on a blast from the blue line in the final. The tools are there to make Minnetian a high NHL draft pick someday. From Woodcliff Lake, N.J., Minnetian plays high school hockey for Bergen Catholic.
Lucas St. Louis
Mid Fairfield, 3/30/05, D, left shot, 5-9/150
St. Louis, from Riverside, Conn., is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. While he’s on the smaller side, his hockey sense with the puck on his stick allows him to make plays almost every time he touches it. He skates with his head up, which allows him to make the right play on outlets. His lack of strength sometimes hurts him when battling for loose pucks or fighting for positioning in traffic. Regardless, he’s someone who should make the NTDP as a seventh or eighth defenseman, at the worst, and contribute on the power play and in offensive scenarios.
Goaltender
Ryan Sanborn
Mid Fairfield, 1/15/05, G, catches left, 6-1/175
Sanborn, who split games this weekend with Will Baker, didn’t have his best performance in Sunday’s championship game. He was solid in Saturday night’s win 5-1 win over Mount Saint Charles and blanked the Northern Cyclones on Friday night. Sanborn has proven he’s one of the better goalies in the country. For me, he’s in the mix for a spot at NTDP Evaluation Camp, but probably loses out to two of four of Try Augustine (Honeybaked), Zach Ferris (Pittsburgh Penguins Elite), Michael Chambre (Florida Alliance) and Sam Scopa (Junior Eagles).
