MARLBORO, Mass. -- The Cape Cod Whalers dominated the top 15 Only division at the Massachusetts State Championship last weekend.
The Whalers outscored their opponents 25-3 en route to punching their ticket to April’s USA Hockey National Championship in Plymouth, Mich. The Whalers’ most productive line was that of center Pavit Mehra (Hopkinton, Mass.), right wing Grayson Badger (Brookline, Mass.) and left wing Ryan Teehan (Easton, Mass.).
Despite losing 8-1 to the Whalers in the final, a special stick tap to the Minuteman Flames. They had upset the Neponset Valley River Rats, 2-1, in the quarterfinals before pushing past the East Coast Wizards, 3-2, in the semifinals.
Below are the top 37 prospects from the Massachusetts 15 Only State Championship:
Forwards
1. Grayson Badger
Cape Cod Whalers, 5/9/04, C/RW, right shot, 6-0/170
Badger led the tournament in scoring with four goals and five assists for nine points in three games. He’s not necessarily a scorer going forward, but his compete is off the charts. He works so hard to get to pucks and he plays with an edge. He’s a really fun player to watch. Badger will be at Braintree High for his sophomore season.
2. James Fisher
East Coast Wizards, 4/28/04, C, right shot, 5-11.5/155
Fisher scored three goals in two games. Against the East Coast Militia, he sniped a wrist shot under the bar after throwing his hip out to protect the puck on a net drive. He scored a rebound goal later in the game. He projects as a power forward with the ability to finish. He’s at Belmont Hill after playing up last season with the Junior Bruins 16-U.
3. Shane Taddia
Cape Cod Whalers, 1/20/04, C, right shot, 5-10/155
Taddia had three goals and two assists in three games. He’s a power forward who will be at Thayer as a ninth grader after playing his eighth grade season for BB&N.
4. Pavit Mehra
Cape Cod Whalers, 7/16/04, C, right shot, 5-9/130
Mehra is an undersized forward who works for everything he gets. He had three goals and four assists in the tournament and made a couple of notable passes during my viewings. He’s quick and has a nose for the puck.
5. Donovan Frias
River Rats, 11/9/04, LW, left shot, 6-2/170
Frias scored a goal from the top of the goalmouth against the Minuteman Flames. He’s scored a whole bunch of goals just like that all fall. A power forward with the ability to finish around the net, Frias will be at St. George’s this winter alongside twin brother Julian.
6. Bobby Landry
Cape Cod Whalers, 3/22/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-10/155
Landry didn’t produce a lot here, but he’s a forward who can dominate below the dots. He does a good job of facilitating offense from along the wall and below the goal line. He’s heavy on pucks and sees the ice well. His skating needs improvement as he goes about his prep career at Dexter.
7. Ben MacDonald
East Coast Wizards, 2/24/04, C, left shot, 5-9.25/146
MacDonald has always been an honest player, but the last few viewings he’s shown he has offensive upside. He did just that in two games with two goals and an assist. He’s a good skater who’s on the right side of the puck all the time. He makes good reads and forces turnovers when the opposing team has the puck. He sees the ice well and does a lot of the little things that help teams win. MacDonald will be at Nobles this season.
8. CJ Foley
Cape Cod Whalers, 2/11/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-10/155
Foley is a solid two-way forward who competes well and has good offensive instincts. He’s played defense in the past, but he produced here and was notable as one of the better players on the ice at all times. He’s heading into his second season at Thayer.
9. Andrew Garzone
Cape Cod Whalers, 5/30/04, C, right shot, 5-10/155
Garzone produces because he’s a good skater with above average athleticism. He’s around the puck a lot and should continue to get better as he develops at Deerfield.
10. Austin Tasca
Cape Cod Whalers, 3/14/04, C, right shot, 5-6/124
It’s easy to dismiss Tasca because of his size, but that would be a mistake. Although he’s not a dynamic forward, especially for his size, he keeps producing because of his quickness. Tasca will play Rhode Island high school hockey at Lasalle this winter.
11. Joseph Dable
River Rats, 4/13/04, RW, right shot, 5-8/158
Dable didn’t produce in the River Rats’ loss to the Minuteman Flames, but he was noted a few times. He’s a strong winger who skates well and is tough to knock off the puck. He has a hard shot and should be a player to keep an eye on while at Roxbury Latin.
12. Kurt Gurkan
River Rats, 2/13/04, LW, left shot, 5-8/162
Gurkan is quick, snaps a shot off quickly, and has above average hands. He’s able to be shifty and maneuver in small areas. If his hockey sense can improve, his upside will increase. Gurkan will be back at Phillips Exeter for his sophomore season.
13. Jeremy Lacroix
Minuteman Flames, 3/23/04, C, left shot, 5-7/140
Lacroix stood out right away in his team’s upset win over the River Rats. Although he didn’t produce like some of his teammates, his hands were very good. His hockey sense is a work in progress. According to the roster, Lacroix will play for Marlboro High School.
14. Brendan Quinn
Minuteman Flames, 3/17/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/170
Quinn had four assists and was able to use his size to protect pucks before finding open teammates. The Lincoln-Sudbury sophomore had a nice helper in his team’s win over the River Rats.
15. Nick Townshend
East Coast Wizards, 3/2/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/160
Townshend isn’t gifted offensively, but he plays a key role on any team he’s on with his ability to influence the forecheck. He plays with an edge and has good size and strength. He’ll be back at St. John’s Prep for his sophomore season there.
16. Ryan Teehan
Cape Cod Whalers, 1/14/04, LW, left shot, 5-0/110
Teehan is on the smaller side, but he’s quick, crafty and made a couple of really nice assists during my viewings.
17. Rohan Anand
Springfield Rifles, 6/9/04, RW, right shot, 5-6/135
Anand had four goals in two games. He’s a smaller, quick forward who sees the ice well. A native of California, he is in his first season of prep with Kent.
18. Henry Cohen
Cape Cod Whalers, 3/7/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/16
Cohen had a good weekend on the score sheet in a secondary scoring role for the Whalers. He’ll be at Middlesex School for his sophomore season.
19. Dylan Marchand
East Coast Militia, 5/5/04, C, right shot, 5-6/130
Marchand has a lot of skill, but needs to improve his skating and willingness to go to the dirty areas in order to take the next step in his game. He’ll be a sophomore on the hockey team at Franklin.
20. Jack McDermott
Minuteman Flames, 7/12/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-8/140
McDermott had an assist and then scored the winning goal on the penalty kill in his team’s upset win over the River Rats. The Northwest Catholic High School sophomore has good size and is a player to watch for Connecticut prep schools.
21. Jack Brandt
River Rats, 6/14/04, LW, left shot, 5-10/140
Brandt is around the puck a lot and goes to the net. He reads how the play is developing and is heavy on pucks. From Columbus, Ohio, he’ll be a newcomer to Tabor Academy this winter.
22. Brady O’Connor
River Rats, 4/7/04, C, left shot, 5-11/160
O’Connor is a big, strong forward who competes hard. He’ll be at Arlington Catholic this winter.
23. Joe Scanlon
Minuteman Flames, 4/8/04, RW, right shot, 5-8/150
Scanlon has played defense and looked pretty good in the past. He played up front at the tournament and was a solid winger in all situations.
Defensemen
1. Chris Romaine
Cape Cod Whalers, 2/21/04, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Romaine has really good feet and can skate the puck out of trouble from deep in his own end. He also makes good stretch passes. If he can learn to move the puck before he makes that one extra play, his game will take off to the next level. Romaine is making the jump from BC High to Milton Academy.
2. Sean Keohane
Cape Cod Whalers, 11/4/04, D, left shot, 5-10/145
Keohane is an offensive defenseman with good mobility. He’s smart and is able to make good breakout passes as well as influence the play in the attacking zone. Keohane will be at Dexter.
3. Michael Fisher
River Rats, 5/2/04, D, right shot, 6-1/180
Fisher has good size and is a raw defenseman with upside. He’s strong and makes good lead passes in transition. He has a hard shot and defends with some jam. Fisher will be in his second season playing at St. Mark’s.
4. Jack Kennedy
Springfield Rifles, 5/14/04, D, right shot, 5-9/155
Kennedy is a mobile, offensive defenseman who was able to jump into the offense for the Rifles. He’ll be a second-year player as a ninth grader for Pope Francis.
5. Ryan Buckley
Cape Cod Whalers, 1/6/04, D, right shot, 5-11/150
This was one of Buckley’s better viewings to date. He seemed more comfortable and assertive out there. He’s a shutdown defender going forward, but he had a nice goal on a point shot during one of the team’s wins. Buckley will be in his second year at St. George’s this season.
6. Tyler Messier
River Rats, 5/17/04, D, right shot, 6-1/180
Messier is a big, mean defenseman who didn’t put up with nonsense in front of his net. He has good size and plays tough. From Quebec, he’ll be a freshman on the hockey team at Tabor.
7. Matthew Biotti
East Coast Wizards, 8/27/04, D, right shot, 6-2.25/170
Biotti is a big, raw defenseman with upside if he can put it all together. There’s potential here with his feet, especially for a young big guy. Biotti is at Belmont Hill.
8. Jack Farrell
East Coast Wizards, 6/10/04, D, left shot, 5-9/145
Farrell did a good this weekend. He keeps things simple while being tough to play against. He has a good stick and plays with jam. Farrell will be in his second season at Austin Prep after playing last year as an eighth grader.
9. Brian Grant
Cape Cod Whalers, 3/18/04, D, right shot, 5-11/156
Grant is a big defenseman who moves above average for his size and age. He’s a player to keep an eye on. Grant will be in his first season at Deerfield this winter.
10. CJ Beals
River Rats, 1/31/04, D, right shot, 5-5/130
Beals is an undersized defenseman with above average feet and puck skills. His hockey sense needs work as he makes the move from BB&N to Brooks.
11. Josh Sacco
Minuteman Flames, 7/8/04, D, left shot, 5-11/155
Sacco was a big defender who seemed to be able to play with a little bit of jam. The St. John’s Shrewsbury sophomore was the standout on the blue line for his team.
Goaltenders
1. Jacob Selema
Minuteman Flames, 4/13/04, G, catches left, 5-11/145
Selema stole the show and kept the Minuteman Flames in the game until they could win it late against the River Rats in the quarterfinals. He helped his team advance to the final before the Whalers overpowered him and the rest of his teammates. He’s a goaltender to watch at Smithfield High School this winter.
2. David Mallio
East Coast Militia, 3/17/04, G, catches left, 6-0/175
Mallio didn’t receive a lot of help in front of him during his team’s loss to East Coast Wizards, but he’s a good-sized goaltender who makes good saves and is technically sound.
3. Luc Gagnon
Cape Cod Whalers, 2/10/04, G, catches left, 5-11/155
Gagnon didn’t face a lot of rubber, but played in two of his team’s wins and did enough to earn a mention here. He’s a good goalie who played for the South Shore Kings bantam team last season and will be the backup at Dexter this season.
