WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The first Northeast Pack Hockey League event of the season took place in Rhode Island and New York over the weekend. Mount Saint Charles hosted the larger showcase, with participation by teams from the 15O, 16, and 18-U divisions. New England Hockey Journal was at the Abelard Arena to observe the action.
Also attending the showcase were the Bishop Kearney Selects, New Jersey Rockets and Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15-18 teams. The Long Island Gulls were participants in the 16 and 18-U divisions. Games were played in Woonsocket, West Warwick and Smithfield. For the purpose of this player listing, all 15-only teams were observed with the exception of the Pens Elite squad. 14-U games were played in Rochester, N.Y. over the weekend.
The following 2006 birth year players impressed and are prospects worth keeping track of as the 2021-22 season progresses. The event was headlined by James Hagens, Christian Humphreys and Sasha Boisvert up front, with Will Felicio and Alex Visnapuu locking things down on the back end, plus nice depth down some of the rosters, the ’06 birth year is shaping up as a quality group of players.
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The first Northeast Pack Hockey League event of the season took place in Rhode Island and New York over the weekend. Mount Saint Charles hosted the larger showcase, with participation by teams from the 15O, 16, and 18-U divisions. New England Hockey Journal was at the Abelard Arena to observe the action.
Also attending the showcase were the Bishop Kearney Selects, New Jersey Rockets and Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15-18 teams. The Long Island Gulls were participants in the 16 and 18-U divisions. Games were played in Woonsocket, West Warwick and Smithfield. For the purpose of this player listing, all 15 Only teams were observed with the exception of the Pens Elite squad. 14-U games were played in Rochester, N.Y. over the weekend.
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The following 2006 birth year players impressed and are prospects worth keeping track of as the 2021-22 season progresses. The event was headlined by James Hagens, Christian Humphreys and Sacha Boisvert up front, with Will Felicio and Alex Visnapuu locking things down on the back end, plus nice depth down some of the rosters, the ’06 birth year is shaping up as a quality group of players.
Mount Saint Charles
James Hagens, C; 11/3/06, shoots left, 5-9/140
Elite performance from one of the very best ‘06s in the country. He’s got a long stride with deceptive speed in open ice, able to turn on the afterburners to pull away from would-be defenders. Tremendous instincts in all zones, and able to weave through traffic effortlessly. In-stride stickhandling skills are among the best of any player in his birth year. Can set the table and finish, able to outwait goalies and get them to commit first, then firing pucks upstairs. Watching Hagens play, it’s hard to believe that he’s less than 60 days from being an ’07.
Sacha Boisvert, C; 3/17/06, shoots left, 6-1/160
Tall, rangy pivot from Quebec had an outstanding weekend and impressed with his production and pace. He can burst quickly to loose pucks and shows surprising fluidity for his size. He sees the ice and can distribute pucks effectively, but also willing to exploit shooting lanes and scored several goals by letting shots fly with perfect timing and aim. On the power play, he and Hagens did a lot of damage together with few teams able to account for their movement and ability to carve the PK unit in-zone.
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Will Felicio, D; 5/15/06, shoots left, 5-9/150 (Holden, Mass.)
Top two-way defenseman had a strong weekend with his heads-up play and ability to keep things calm on the back end. His gaps are tight and he brings high-level recognition to any situation, able to contain outside speed, but then counterattack with confidence. Poised and confident, he looks like a strong NTDP candidate in the early going.
Theo Kiss, RW;Â 7/13/06, shoots left, 5-9/155
Slovakian import was noticeable with his quickness and excellent playmaking skills, as the puck followed him around the ice. Pass-first winger who anticipates where the puck will be and gets there first, making accurate passes on both sides of his stick. Smallish, but keeps his feet on contact, slipping away and maintaining possession.
Jackson Delleo, RW;Â 1/13/06, shoots right, 5-10/173 (Franklin, Mass.)
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With good size and all-around skills and hockey sense, Delleo made a lot of plays and demonstrated an effective heavy-on-pucks style. As he continues growing, he will be even more difficult to play against with his net front presence and ability to wreak havoc as he crashes the crease. Honest, hard-nosed style- he finishes his checks and exhibits good offensive recognition to make himself available for passes.
Jack Montaldo, D;Â 6/4/06, shoots right, 5-10/165
Smart defender doesn’t quite have Felicio’s puck game or upside, but is similar in that he’s a reliable two-way gamer who makes good decisions. There isn’t a lot of flash here, but he brings a broad range of abilities to get back quickly to retrieve pucks and wheel them out, keep opponents to the outside, and join the rush in support.
Luke Gallo, LW;Â 7/1/06, shoots right, 5-7/150
New York product gives his club even more depth and the ability to exploit favorable defensive matchups with his top speed and impressive east-west agility. He got slapped with a 2- and 10-minute penalty for a hit from behind penalty early on, which cost him some time off the ice. The tools are there for Gallo to be an early D-1 commitment when the time comes.
Chase Stefanek, LW;Â 8/1/06, shoots left, 6-1/170
Big-bodied winger clicked with Boisvert and generate a lot of scoring punch for the second line. He has a powerful stride, but his foot speed has room for improvement. In the offensive zone and around the net, he’s a weapon: a deft passer who finds seams, he also uncorked some hard, heavy shots. He competed and also did little things like block shots in his own end and was an impact player throughout.
Jesse Venturo, C;Â 6/23/06, shoots right, 5-7/145
Canada import from Ontario is another forward with a natural knack for the net who can score and create. He saw PP play time with Hagens and buried a nifty backdoor play with instant recognition to get to some quiet ice and give the goalie no chance for a save.
Max Tauoa, D;Â 4/30/06, shoots right, 5-11/170
Contributed at both ends of the ice. Utah native brings some intriguing tools and upside. He scored a nice power play goal by activating and getting to the net for a nifty rebound conversion. We weren’t familiar with him before the weekend slate of games, but watching him now.
JJ Monteiro, LW;Â 1/12/06, shoot left, 5-11/175 (Hudson, Mass.)
Played with some jam and showed off a sneaky offensive dimension to slide into high danger areas for quality scoring chances. Playing with Hagens and Delleo is a lottery ticket for him, but he brings a physical dimension with some skill that makes him a solid fit on that line’s left side. Will need to pick his spots a little better going forward and maintain his discipline.
Andrew Check, D;Â 4/11/06, shoots right, 5-11/165
Showed some interesting mobility and physical play with a puck game. He can walk the offensive line well and keep pucks in zone, but also able to get back and break up rushes. Impressive closing speed/quickness and a two-way presence.
Sam Esposito, LW;Â 9/16/06, shoots right, 5-5/125
Impressed with his energy and compete, plus made some quality offensive plays as well on the fourth line. Not very big, but he forechecks relentlessly and goes into the dirty areas. He will be a project player who requires time and patience, but works hard and flashed some offensive upside with the way he chipped pucks and hit linemates in stride with on-target passes. Needs to shoot the puck more- passed up open chances- unselfish maybe to a fault.
Jack Parsons, G;Â 1/15/06, catches left, 6-2/175
Excellent size and an athlete- he takes up a lot of net and has the agility and quick twitch to develop into a top netminder in his age group. Very good lateral movement. Inconsistent tracking- at times lost sight of the puck, but found a way to make some dynamic saves and is a superb last line of defense for a very good hockey club.
Bishop Kearney Selects
Christian Humphreys, C;Â 2/4/06, shoots left, 5-11/147
Top center with height, skill and intelligence was unstoppable on Labor Day weekend but a little quieter here. Surveys the ice like a field general, and has no panic under pressure, holding the puck until he can make the play. He’s a high-end talent and total package who looks like a real bet to make the U.S. National Team next spring. For now, he is the straw stirring the drink up front for this deep squad.
Alex Visnapuu, D;Â 1/11/06, shoots right, 6-0/149
Tall and built like a beanpole, he has superb feet and range with puck skills and a high ceiling. He moves well, especially along the blue line where he reads and anticipates, keeping clearing attempts in the o-zone. He’s long and tough to get around when he’s back defensively. Excellent stick and gaps to negate rushes when opposing players attempt to stickhandle around him. NTDP candidate.
Grant Dillard, C;Â 2/3/06, shoots right, 6-1/160
Athletic power forward can motor and has underrated hands. He keeps getting better when we watch him, and his hard-driving, straight-to-the-net style will translate well at the higher levels. He constantly churns his feet to power through defenders and/or create separation for himself. Blurry-fast release on his shot that will only get heavier and more powerful as he matures.
Geno Carcone, LW;Â 11/14/06, shoots right, 5-8/173
Late birthday winger from Georgia is raw but on the upswing. He hunts pucks and goes hard into the corners. Shows a deft touch around the net and has some bourgeoning creativity to go with the energy. Seems to be hitting an upward development curve and adds solid ability and depth to a strong team. Disruptive player who coaches at higher levels will have a lot of time for.
Will Shields, RW;Â 3/24/06, shoots right, 5-9/151
Slick, intelligent scoring winger has a lot of puck touches and does the subtle things that help him pile up positive shifts and points. He’s quick, nimble and can beat defenders to loose pucks in small areas. As the import from the Maritimes gets stronger, he could develop into a top offensive threat.
Mitch Kneidel, D;Â 3/14/06, shoots left, 5-11/185
Looks the part with his size, skating and puck skills. Loves to jump up into the play and can move very well. At times, the decisions result in turnovers and more risk in his game then warranted. Would like to see him simplify and manage pucks better.
Nate Delladonna, RW;Â 8/22/06, shoots right, 5-10/183
Shows off his scoring chops in flashes, and was productive over the weekend. He has a quick release and isn’t shy about getting pucks to the net. Consistency is an area that he can address, as he had some quiet, more passive shifts after getting off to a hot start against Mt. St. Charles on Friday.
James Chase, LW;Â 4/8/06, shoots left, 5-9/176 (Williston, Vt.)
Has some real jump in his stride and recognition of seams and lanes, which he uses to generate scoring chances. The Vermont native isn’t overly flashy or a higher-end talent like some of his teammates but complements the BK roster well with his two-way game.
New Jersey Rockets (no roster)
Ryan Lukko, C;Â 2006, shoots left, 5-5/145
Small but fast and quick forward competed hard and flashed some intriguing long-term potential, though he’s physically behind the power curve. Converted d-man ran the Rockets PP from the top. His team was overmatched, but he put up a solid effort and did what he could to create and make his teammates better when he was on the ice.
Thomas Pisano, D/F;Â 6/1/06, shoots left
Flashed ability with some elusive, slippery moves with the puck. Separation gear and can burst into small areas. Able to slip away from defenders and cut back against the grain. Liked to pull up and delay, looking to hit the trailer into the zone, but could stand to add more unpredictability into his game.
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The first Northeast Pack Hockey League event of the season took place in Rhode Island and New York over the weekend. Mount Saint Charles hosted the larger showcase, with participation by teams from the 15O, 16, and 18-U divisions. New England Hockey Journal was at the Abelard Arena to observe the action.
Also attending the showcase were the Bishop Kearney Selects, New Jersey Rockets and Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15-18 teams. The Long Island Gulls were participants in the 16 and 18-U divisions. Games were played in Woonsocket, West Warwick and Smithfield. For the purpose of this player listing, all 15 Only teams were observed with the exception of the Pens Elite squad. 14-U games were played in Rochester, N.Y. over the weekend.
The following 2006 birth year players impressed and are prospects worth keeping track of as the 2021-22 season progresses. The event was headlined by James Hagens, Christian Humphreys and Sacha Boisvert up front, with Will Felicio and Alex Visnapuu locking things down on the back end, plus nice depth down some of the rosters, the ’06 birth year is shaping up as a quality group of players.
Mount Saint Charles
James Hagens, C; 11/3/06, shoots left, 5-9/140
Elite performance from one of the very best ‘06s in the country. He’s got a long stride with deceptive speed in open ice, able to turn on the afterburners to pull away from would-be defenders. Tremendous instincts in all zones, and able to weave through traffic effortlessly. In-stride stickhandling skills are among the best of any player in his birth year. Can set the table and finish, able to outwait goalies and get them to commit first, then firing pucks upstairs. Watching Hagens play, it’s hard to believe that he’s less than 60 days from being an ’07.
Sacha Boisvert, C; 3/17/06, shoots left, 6-1/160
Tall, rangy pivot from Quebec had an outstanding weekend and impressed with his production and pace. He can burst quickly to loose pucks and shows surprising fluidity for his size. He sees the ice and can distribute pucks effectively, but also willing to exploit shooting lanes and scored several goals by letting shots fly with perfect timing and aim. On the power play, he and Hagens did a lot of damage together with few teams able to account for their movement and ability to carve the PK unit in-zone.
Will Felicio, D; 5/15/06, shoots left, 5-9/150 (Holden, Mass.)
Top two-way defenseman had a strong weekend with his heads-up play and ability to keep things calm on the back end. His gaps are tight and he brings high-level recognition to any situation, able to contain outside speed, but then counterattack with confidence. Poised and confident, he looks like a strong NTDP candidate in the early going.
Theo Kiss, RW;Â 7/13/06, shoots left, 5-9/155
Slovakian import was noticeable with his quickness and excellent playmaking skills, as the puck followed him around the ice. Pass-first winger who anticipates where the puck will be and gets there first, making accurate passes on both sides of his stick. Smallish, but keeps his feet on contact, slipping away and maintaining possession.
Jackson Delleo, RW;Â 1/13/06, shoots right, 5-10/173 (Franklin, Mass.)
With good size and all-around skills and hockey sense, Delleo made a lot of plays and demonstrated an effective heavy-on-pucks style. As he continues growing, he will be even more difficult to play against with his net front presence and ability to wreak havoc as he crashes the crease. Honest, hard-nosed style- he finishes his checks and exhibits good offensive recognition to make himself available for passes.
Jack Montaldo, D;Â 6/4/06, shoots right, 5-10/165
Smart defender doesn’t quite have Felicio’s puck game or upside, but is similar in that he’s a reliable two-way gamer who makes good decisions. There isn’t a lot of flash here, but he brings a broad range of abilities to get back quickly to retrieve pucks and wheel them out, keep opponents to the outside, and join the rush in support.
Luke Gallo, LW;Â 7/1/06, shoots right, 5-7/150
New York product gives his club even more depth and the ability to exploit favorable defensive matchups with his top speed and impressive east-west agility. He got slapped with a 2- and 10-minute penalty for a hit from behind penalty early on, which cost him some time off the ice. The tools are there for Gallo to be an early D-1 commitment when the time comes.
Chase Stefanek, LW;Â 8/1/06, shoots left, 6-1/170
Big-bodied winger clicked with Boisvert and generate a lot of scoring punch for the second line. He has a powerful stride, but his foot speed has room for improvement. In the offensive zone and around the net, he’s a weapon: a deft passer who finds seams, he also uncorked some hard, heavy shots. He competed and also did little things like block shots in his own end and was an impact player throughout.
Jesse Venturo, C;Â 6/23/06, shoots right, 5-7/145
Canada import from Ontario is another forward with a natural knack for the net who can score and create. He saw PP play time with Hagens and buried a nifty backdoor play with instant recognition to get to some quiet ice and give the goalie no chance for a save.
Max Tauoa, D;Â 4/30/06, shoots right, 5-11/170
Contributed at both ends of the ice. Utah native brings some intriguing tools and upside. He scored a nice power play goal by activating and getting to the net for a nifty rebound conversion. We weren’t familiar with him before the weekend slate of games, but watching him now.
JJ Monteiro, LW;Â 1/12/06, shoot left, 5-11/175 (Hudson, Mass.)
Played with some jam and showed off a sneaky offensive dimension to slide into high danger areas for quality scoring chances. Playing with Hagens and Delleo is a lottery ticket for him, but he brings a physical dimension with some skill that makes him a solid fit on that line’s left side. Will need to pick his spots a little better going forward and maintain his discipline.
Andrew Check, D;Â 4/11/06, shoots right, 5-11/165
Showed some interesting mobility and physical play with a puck game. He can walk the offensive line well and keep pucks in zone, but also able to get back and break up rushes. Impressive closing speed/quickness and a two-way presence.
Sam Esposito, LW;Â 9/16/06, shoots right, 5-5/125
Impressed with his energy and compete, plus made some quality offensive plays as well on the fourth line. Not very big, but he forechecks relentlessly and goes into the dirty areas. He will be a project player who requires time and patience, but works hard and flashed some offensive upside with the way he chipped pucks and hit linemates in stride with on-target passes. Needs to shoot the puck more- passed up open chances- unselfish maybe to a fault.
Jack Parsons, G;Â 1/15/06, catches left, 6-2/175
Excellent size and an athlete- he takes up a lot of net and has the agility and quick twitch to develop into a top netminder in his age group. Very good lateral movement. Inconsistent tracking- at times lost sight of the puck, but found a way to make some dynamic saves and is a superb last line of defense for a very good hockey club.
Bishop Kearney Selects
Christian Humphreys, C;Â 2/4/06, shoots left, 5-11/147
Top center with height, skill and intelligence was unstoppable on Labor Day weekend but a little quieter here. Surveys the ice like a field general, and has no panic under pressure, holding the puck until he can make the play. He’s a high-end talent and total package who looks like a real bet to make the U.S. National Team next spring. For now, he is the straw stirring the drink up front for this deep squad.
Alex Visnapuu, D;Â 1/11/06, shoots right, 6-0/149
Tall and built like a beanpole, he has superb feet and range with puck skills and a high ceiling. He moves well, especially along the blue line where he reads and anticipates, keeping clearing attempts in the o-zone. He’s long and tough to get around when he’s back defensively. Excellent stick and gaps to negate rushes when opposing players attempt to stickhandle around him. NTDP candidate.
Grant Dillard, C;Â 2/3/06, shoots right, 6-1/160
Athletic power forward can motor and has underrated hands. He keeps getting better when we watch him, and his hard-driving, straight-to-the-net style will translate well at the higher levels. He constantly churns his feet to power through defenders and/or create separation for himself. Blurry-fast release on his shot that will only get heavier and more powerful as he matures.
Geno Carcone, LW;Â 11/14/06, shoots right, 5-8/173
Late birthday winger from Georgia is raw but on the upswing. He hunts pucks and goes hard into the corners. Shows a deft touch around the net and has some bourgeoning creativity to go with the energy. Seems to be hitting an upward development curve and adds solid ability and depth to a strong team. Disruptive player who coaches at higher levels will have a lot of time for.
Will Shields, RW;Â 3/24/06, shoots right, 5-9/151
Slick, intelligent scoring winger has a lot of puck touches and does the subtle things that help him pile up positive shifts and points. He’s quick, nimble and can beat defenders to loose pucks in small areas. As the import from the Maritimes gets stronger, he could develop into a top offensive threat.
Mitch Kneidel, D;Â 3/14/06, shoots left, 5-11/185
Looks the part with his size, skating and puck skills. Loves to jump up into the play and can move very well. At times, the decisions result in turnovers and more risk in his game then warranted. Would like to see him simplify and manage pucks better.
Nate Delladonna, RW;Â 8/22/06, shoots right, 5-10/183
Shows off his scoring chops in flashes, and was productive over the weekend. He has a quick release and isn’t shy about getting pucks to the net. Consistency is an area that he can address, as he had some quiet, more passive shifts after getting off to a hot start against Mt. St. Charles on Friday.
James Chase, LW;Â 4/8/06, shoots left, 5-9/176 (Williston, Vt.)
Has some real jump in his stride and recognition of seams and lanes, which he uses to generate scoring chances. The Vermont native isn’t overly flashy or a higher-end talent like some of his teammates but complements the BK roster well with his two-way game.
New Jersey Rockets (no roster)
Ryan Lukko, C;Â 2006, shoots left, 5-5/145
Small but fast and quick forward competed hard and flashed some intriguing long-term potential, though he’s physically behind the power curve. Converted d-man ran the Rockets PP from the top. His team was overmatched, but he put up a solid effort and did what he could to create and make his teammates better when he was on the ice.
Thomas Pisano, D/F;Â 6/1/06, shoots left
Flashed ability with some elusive, slippery moves with the puck. Separation gear and can burst into small areas. Able to slip away from defenders and cut back against the grain. Liked to pull up and delay, looking to hit the trailer into the zone, but could stand to add more unpredictability into his game.
