The Gelstx Neponset Valley River Rats Jamboree took place at Canton Ice House in Massachusetts as well as several other area rinks earlier this week.
The event was well attended by NHL scouts, college coaches and agents looking to get a first look at some of the 2019 fall split season teams and its players.
NHL scouts were largely in the rinks to watch Gunnery right-shot left wing Alex Jefferies, who plays for Rochester Coalition 18-U, and Timmy Lovell Jr., a left-shot defenseman from the Boston Advantage 18-U. There was a large discrepancy in talent between the top teams and the middle of the pack to lesser teams, so most of the college coaches were honing in on the same five or six teams.
Here’s a look at the standouts, broken down by the four different divisions, at the 2019 Gelstx River Rats Jamboree:
18-U forwards
Alex Jefferies
No. 12 Rochester Coalition, 11/8/01, LW, right shot, 6-0/195
NCAA commit: Merrimack
Jefferies was really good here. He hunts pucks and competes. He made several notable plays. He gave a perfect pass right on the tape for a goal by Lucas Mercuri on a two-on-one. After recovering a puck on the wall, he found a teammate through the neutral zone for a breakaway. He showed patience on the rush to give another good pass to Mercuri. He battled at the net front on a goal by a linemate.
Quinn Hutson
No. 27 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/1/02, RW/LW, right shot, 5-10/180
NCAA commit: Boston University
Hutson scored and made plays for his linemates here. He has a good stick and hunts pucks. He also showed the ability to play his off wing at times. No one in the entire jamboree outside of Jefferies made more plays, despite his team losing all three games.
Matt DeBoer
No. 9 Rochester Coalition, 9/2/02, RW, right shot, 6-0/175
DeBoer’s feet continue to get better and he was good here. He had a hat trick in one game, including a shorthanded tally. He’s heavy on pucks and goes to the net.
Lucas Mercuri
No. 54 Rochester Coalition, 3/7/02, C, right shot, 6-3/200
NCAA commit: Vermont
Mercuri has patience and skill with the puck. He can finish. His feet are an area of his game that could use some improvement. He was really good with Jefferies and DeBoer.
Blake Humphrey
No. 34 Rochester Coalition, 1/18/02, C, right shot, 5-9/155
NCAA commit: Providence
Humphrey centered the second line so didn’t get in as much scoring chances as the top trio. He has a quick release and scored at least one goal.
Nick Ring
No. 37 Boston Advantage, 10/26/03, C, right shot, 5-9/153
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Ring is a really good skater and it showed in a few viewings here. He’s able to get around the sheet and make plays on the rush as well as in zone situations.
Owen Fowler
No. 16 River Rats, 6/4/02, LW, left shot, 5-10/190
NCAA commit: UMass Lowell
Fowler goes to the net and is hard to defend. He skates well and goes hard as he hunts pucks. He’ll be an effective bottom-six player in junior hockey and at UMass Lowell.
Ryan Corcoran
No. 55 Boston Advantage, 4/4/02, C, left shot, 5-11/175
Corcoran missed most of last season with an injury, but was good here. He scored at least one goal on a rebound. He’s smart and makes a lot of good passes. He sees the ice and is good below the dots. He engages in the play in all three zones.
Tabor Heaslip
No. 7 River Rats, 12/17/01, RW, left shot, 5-9/160
NCAA commit: UConn
Heaslip always plays hard and brings it physically. His stride is a little funky, but he gets to where he needs to be. He looks to have added a little skill in the offseason. One play that stood out as a rush where he was going down the right side. He waited, pulled the puck back and found a streaking linemate for an easy tap-in goal.
Matt MacDonald
No. 17 Boston Advantage, 4/16/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/195
NCAA commit: Merrimack
MacDonald is an ugly skater, but he’s usually very effective. His compete is extremely high and he just bulls opposing players over en route to the puck and the net front. He tried to be a little too finesse at times here. As long as he stays true to his identity and plays a power game, he should continue proving people wrong as he gets to Merrimack someday.
Brendan Clark
No. 24 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/16/02, C, left shot, 6-0/185
NCAA commit: Brown
Clark has a good shot and plays with a little bit of jam. His skating, hockey sense and puck skills are areas that he can work on, but he’s a gamer. He just seems to step up in big situations for his team.
Lukas Sedlacek
No. 81 North Jersey Avalanche, 10/3/01, RW, right shot, 5-11/165
I’ve seen Sedlacek several times before, but this was his best showing to date. He made a couple of plays and scored. He was around the puck a lot. He made a nice power move to the net down the right wing for his team’s first goal against Rochester Coalition.
Aidan Connolly
No. 23 River Rats, 5/10/01, C, left shot, 5-11/175
NCAA commit: Sacred Heart
Connolly is a good skater who sees the ice well. He can make plays and finish. He’s gotten better in this regard, but if he plays more between the dots, his impact will increase.
Tristan Fasig
No. 16 Junior Bulldogs, 10/9/01, C, left shot, 6-2/185
Fasig is a big power forward who can shoot it. He skates well and has a chance to have a big final season at Taft. He’s a player who could find his way to Division 1 if he ages out of junior hockey in a couple of seasons.
Morgan Winters
No. 61 River Rats, 12/8/01, C, left shot, 5-9/155
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Winters centered the top line and scored at least one goal by driving the net. He’s a complete, 200-foot player who sees the ice well. He’ll probably need a couple of years of junior hockey before matriculating to UNH.
Carson Whitman
No. 23 Boston Advantage, 6/4/02, C, right shot, 5-10/161
Whitman looks to have taken another step in his game. He made a couple of good passes and has some skill. He has good hands and can pick corners with his shot.
Christopher Carroll
No. 28 North Jersey Avalanche, 5/4/01, LW, left shot, 5-9/155
Carroll was around the puck a lot and was heavy on pucks. He had an assist on a power-play goal after retrieving a puck in the corner.
Trey Croddick
No. 17 Jersey Rats, 7/14/01, left shot, 6-2/190
NCAA commit: Dartmouth
Croddick made a couple of plays and was the best offensive threat on his team.
Jon Tavella
Springfield Rifles 19-U Showcase, 11/17/00, RW, right shot, 5-7/165
Tavella, who will be heading to Tilton after a standout career at Pope Francis, made plays and hunted pucks. He’s always moving his feet. He might not have the size or elite skill for Division 1, but he could make a Division 3 program a lot better.
Ben Raymond
No. 96 River Rats, 8/22/01, C, left shot, 5-11/170
Raymond should be highly sought after by NESCAC type schools at the Division 3 level. A good student, he has the speed and energy to make a difference at this level. He’s a fun player to watch as he flies all over the ice. His hockey sense is the one issue that will likely keep him from getting serious Division 1 looks.
Michael Casey
No. 15 Junior Bulldogs, 9/3/02, LW, left shot, 5-11/160
Casey is a good skater who was around the puck a lot. He’s a player to watch this fall.
Jason Kleinhans
No. 15 Springfield Rifles 19-U Showcase, 10/4/00, C, right shot, 5-10/175
Kleinhans flies all over the ice and has good speed. He’s a player for Division 3 coaches to watch carefully as he enters his final season at Kent.
Jake Cady
No. 67 River Rats, 7/4/01, RW, right shot, 5-9/185
Cady competes hard and delivered a couple of big hits, despite his lack of size. He’s a good F1. He should be another player on the radar of Division 3 coaches.
Simon Ellingson
No. 10 Maine Nordiques, 12/27/01, RW, right shot, 5-9/170
More viewings are necessary, but Ellingson had a strong compete and played with an edge. He made a couple plays to break up scoring chances in his own zone.
18-U defensemen
Timmy Lovell Jr.
No. 27 Boston Advantage, 2/8/02, D, left shot, 5-5/124
NCAA commit: Ohio State
Lovell was his usual self, moving pucks north and being smart on retrievals and first touches. He did take a big hit in one game. His size will always be an issue, but his hockey sense, skating and puck skills allow him to be a top player at this level. A year in the USHL next season will be imperative before he heads to college hockey.
John Hallard
No. 3 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/28/01, D, right shot, 5-11/190
Hallard is a solid two-way defenseman who could very well be playing in the NAHL this season. He scored a power-play goal on a quick release as he pinched down the left side. He forces the opposition to make bad plays on the rush with his closing ability. He’ll be a key to the Avs’ success on the other side of the puck.
Cole Teleki
No. 9 River Rats, 3/13/02, D, right shot, 6-1/185
Teleki has gotten bigger and is a good two-way defenseman when he keeps things simple. He makes good breakout passes and has size and length to defend.
Zachary Bookman
No. 47 Rochester Coalition, 3/29/02, D, right shot, 5-9/165
Bookman is on the smaller side, but he had a couple of really good first touches. He made some good outlet passes and was able to escape oncoming forecheckers.
Jason Marsella
No. 4 North Jersey Avalanche, 11/20/02, D, left shot, 5-10.5/181
NCAA commit: Yale
Marsella is skilled and can skate, but his hockey sense was an issue at times here.
Frank Djurasevic
No. 7 North Jersey Avalanche, 3/9/02, D, right shot, 6-2/190
Djurasevic is a defensive defenseman with reach to close on opposing forwards. As long as he realizes his identity and plays to his strengths, he could find his way onto a Division 1 roster someday.
Mikey Adamson
No. 6 River Rats, 8/16/01, D, left shot, 5-10/170
Adamson has a little bit of skill and grit to his game. He’s on the smaller side and will be a fringe Division 1 player. He’ll likely need to age out of junior to get that Division 1 opportunity. Division 3 coaches should be on him as he has the skill to run a power play and the jam to defend.
Luke Antonacci
No. 3 Maine Nordiques, 11/26/02, D, right shot, 5-7/160
Antonacci has good feet, which allows him to make some plays, jump into the attack, and defend with a good stick. He has some refining necessary in order to get to Division 1, but he has the skill-set to make it possible.
Reid Shafer
No. 27 River Rats, 1/10/01, D, right shot, 6-2/195
Shafer has the size and ability to be a bottom-pairing, defensive defenseman in the NAHL and at the Division 3 level in the future.
Ryan Pineault
No. 6 Junior Bulldogs, 2/10/01, D, right shot, 5-9/150
Pineault is an undersized, smooth, puck-moving defenseman who should be a top target of NESCAC schools as he plays his final season of prep hockey at Westminster.
18-U goaltenders
Henry Wilder
No. 31 Junior Bulldogs, 3/19/01, G, catches left, 6-1/170
NCAA commit: Boston College
Wilder had a shutout in one half of action. He’s a good-sized goaltender who moves well and keeps things composed. He’s athletic and technically sound. He was the best goaltender here by far.
16-U forwards
Oliver Flynn
No. 15 Junior Bulldogs, 6/13/03, C, left shot, 6-0/164
After being a relative unknown among coaches and scouts prior to last March’s New England Development Festival, Flynn has emerged as one of the better forwards in this age group in the region. He has good size and a powerful stride. He can drive the net to score and he also has a good shot he can release after finding seams. He can create in zone as well as on the rush. A lot of upside here.
Owen McLaughlin
No. 24 Valley Forge Minuteman, 3/25/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/140
McLaughlin is starting to generate all kinds of buzz after a strong showing at USA Hockey Select 16 Camp. He was good here. He’s big and can drive pucks to the net. He scored a beauty of a goal by coming off the wall and unleashing a hard wrist shot from the circle for a goal. He skates well and is still raw. There’s plenty of upside.
Jack Musa
No. 17 North Jersey Avalanche, 7/22/03, LW, left shot, 5-6/128
Musa continues to play well as he has over the past couple of months. He’s small, but he has that bulldog mentality. He gets to pucks and is able to weave between and around opposing defenders. He had a big second day.Â
Samuel Lipkin
No. 3 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/3/03, C, left shot, 6-1/180
NCAA commit: Quinnipiac
Lipkin, who just committed to Quinnipiac, plays a power game. He’s able to drive the net and bull his way to scoring areas. On one such instance he drove the net, went behind and his wraparound attempt was left loose for a rebound goal by Musa.
Devin Kaplan
No. 21 North Jersey Avalanche, 1/10/04, C/RW, right shot, 6-2/189
NCAA commit: Boston University
Kaplan, who played up with this team last year, is physically mature and able to use his size and brute strength to his advantage. He has a hard shot and is heavy on pucks. He’s a NTDP 40-man camp invite for sure, but if his skating and hockey sense can improve a little, he’ll be even more highly regarded.
JP Turner
No. 24 River Rats, 1/31/01, C, right shot, 5-10/185
NCAA commit: New Hampshire
Turner’s feet continue to get better and he’s a player who seems to do whatever it takes to win. He’s hard to play against. He made a couple of big hits and he was heavy on pucks below the circles. He has a hard shot and he’s able to get time and space by using his strength. He’s a player who is certainly trending upward.
Matt Copponi
No. 15 River Rats, 6/4/03, C, right shot, 5-9/140
Copponi was a little inconsistent here, but he still came through on the scoresheet. When he’s keeping his feet moving and hunting pucks, he’s a threat to make things happen. He forced a couple of turnovers and picked up some points.
Ryan Schelling
No. 28 North Jersey Avalanche, 4/9/04, RW, right shot, 5-10.5/170
NCAA commit: Providence
Schelling didn’t find the scoresheet in parts of games I watched, but he played his usual hard game where he brought it physically and was heavy on pucks.
William Hughes
No. 55 River Rats, 1/4/04, C, right shot, 6-2/185
Hughes didn’t produce in any of the action I saw, but he has size and skates well. His size and skating ability are intriguing.
Cole Watson
No. 10Â Junior Bulldogs, 4/21/03, RW, right shot, 6-1/167
Watson made a couple of nice passes and also scored a goal. He’ll be a newcomer at Kent this winter.
Joe Luff
No. 11 Junior Bulldogs, 1/4/03, RW, right shot, 5-8/145
Luff made a couple of plays, scored a goal and was an impactful F1.
Tyler Kopff
No. 22 North Jersey Avalanche, 4/22/03, LW, left shot, 5-10/167
Kopff drove the net and finished on a power move to the net. His skating isn’t elite, but he has a hard shot and is able to control pucks below the dots.
Brandon Spaulding
No. 18 Springfield Rifles, 8/8/03, C, left shot, 5-10/160
Spaulding skates well and has some size and offensive instincts. He should be one of the top forwards in the MIAA this upcoming season, his third for Brian Foley at Pope Francis.
Cole Eichler
No. 17 Junior Bulldogs, 3/28/03, RW, right shot, 5-11/190
Eichler is a goal scorer who is heavy on pucks. He scored a snipe right under the bar as he was coming down the right wing and found the twine at least one other time. His skating is an area that needs improvement.
Cam Bergeman
No. 10 North Jersey Avalanche, 2/11/03, C/LW, left shot, 5-6/137
Bergeman is a small forward with skill and quickness. He needs to round out his game and play a little more inside the circles, but his skating and hands are both good enough to get him to the Division 1 level.
Max Abene
No. 10 Springfield Rifles, 3/17/03, RW, right shot, 5-9/155
Abene has good hands as evidenced by three shootout goals scored in the team’s game against Yale on Monday. He also made a play or two during regulation.
Gavin Bloder
No. 13 Junior Bulldogs, 2/22/03, LW, right shot, 6-0/155
Bloder is a physical forward who projects as a bottom-six winger. He is able to generate a little offense by utilizing his big frame. He’s making the move from South Florida Hockey Academy to Gunnery.
John-Michael Childs
No. 12 Junior Bulldogs, 4/9/03, LW, right shot, 6-3/200
Childs is a big winger who plays Connecticut high school hockey for Notre Dame. He scored a beauty of a goal on a shootout attempt that got the whole bench going wild.
Cullen Hennessy
No. 17 Rochester Selects, 4/10/03, RW, right shot, 5-10/140
Hennessy looks to have some skill and skating ability. He was the most lethal offensive threat for Rochester in the team’s game against North Jersey Avalanche.
Dante Palombo
No. 16 River Rats, 12/23/03, LW, left shot, 5-7/145
Palumbo is a newcomer to Kent this year. He displayed some touch around the net and found the back of the net at least once.
David Chen
No. 19 River Rats, 4/1/03, C, right shot, 5-10/150
Chen scored a goal and ripped a shot off the post in another sequence. He had some deception on his release. He’ll be heading to Milton this fall.
Nicholas LeClaire
No. 21 Junior Bulldogs, 2/13/03, RW, right shot, 5-8/140
16-U defensemen
Lane Hutson
No. 23 North Jersey Avalanche, 2/14/04, D, left shot, 5-7/120
Hutson is on the smaller side, but his ability to retrieve pucks and transition from defense to offense are elite skills. He’s smooth and can escape trouble. He has offensive instincts and should make the NTDP Evaluation Camp.
Ethan Mistry
No. 4 River Rats, 2/4/03, D, left shot, 5-9/160
Mistry really stood out on Monday for his decision making with the puck on his stick. He exuded confidence and poise. He made a lot of good touches with the puck and contributed to the offense. He’s on the smaller side, but he could be a really good prep player. He wasn’t with the River Rats on Tuesday as he left to attend the Niagara Ice Dogs training camp in the OHL.
Harry Meirowitz
No. 65 North Jersey Avalanche, 5/21/03, D, left shot, 5-7/140
After standing out in the Beantown Summer Classic, Meirowitz was good again here. He’s a mobile defenseman who can move pucks north. He has some offensive ability. His defensive side of the puck is a work in progress.
Andrew Centrella
No. 6 Valley Forge Minutemen, 1/29/04, D, ;eft shot, 5-7/153
Centrella is an offensive defenseman who skates well. He’s a puck mover who skates well and has a good stick.Â
Nicky Wallace
No. 9 North Jersey Avalanche, 3/7/03, D, left shot, 5-7/158
Wallace is a skilled, puck-moving, offensive defender. He can escape trouble and is able to create offense on the rush. His hockey sense and ability to avoid turnovers are both areas that have improved.
Bryceon Lago
No. 8 North Jersey Avalanche, 5/20/04, D, left shot, 5-5/122
Lago is a small defenseman who can sidestep forecheckers and move pucks north with his feet and passing ability. He’s on the smaller side, but there’s upside as far as being an offensive defenseman at the junior or college level.
Patrick Morrissey
No. 5 River Rats, 1/7/03, D, right shot, 5-11/160
Morrissey got shots through and made a couple of good looks from the point while manning the power play. His foot speed is the one issue that he needs to work on to continue making the steps necessary to play junior and college.
Sean Conlon
No. 2 Springfield Rifles, 1/7/03, D, left shot, 6-2/185
Conlon has good size and length and projects as a defensive defenseman. He has good reach and can also make a solid, but simple breakout pass. There’s upside here and he’s a player to watch at Albany Academy this season.
Jan Olenginski
No. 7 Junior Bulldogs, 3/23/03, D, right shot, 5-8/145
Olenginski scored a really nice goal on the rush as he drove it to the net. He can skate well and has some offensive instincts. He’ll be interesting player to watch as he heads to Loomis Chaffee.
Charles Andriole
No. 3 Junior Bulldogs, 4/19/03, D, left shot, 5-8/150
Andriole is an offensive defenseman who could use some improvement in his own zone. He’s making the jump to prep school at Loomis Chaffee.
16-U goaltenders
Greyson Pane
No. 1 Junior Bulldogs, 8/2/03, G, catches left, 6-3/177
Pane is a good sized goaltender who moves well and cuts down on opposing shooters’ angles. He makes saves and played well. He’s one of the best goaltenders in this age group despite somehow getting left out of national camp.
Dylan Silverstein
No. 60 River Rats, 2/7/04, G, catches left, 5-11/160
Silverstein is a top goaltender in his age group, but it wasn’t his best performance this week. He skates well and has good size. He moved around a little more than I’d like to see.
15-only forwards
Kurt Gurkan
No. 13 River Rats, 2/13/04, C, right shot, 5-7/162
Gurkan has the skating and skill to produce at this level. His hockey sense is fine, but could get better. If he grows, he’s a player to watch for Division 1 programs.Â
Mike Murtagh
No. 18 River Rats, 9/11/04, RW, right shot, 5-8.5/148
Murtagh is a very good skater with good size. He can create on the rush, but his hockey sense needs to improve further in order to take it to the next level. With his skating, there’s a lot of potential.
Kyle Smyth
No. 20 Seacoast Academy, 1/8/04, C, right shot, 5-10/150
Smyth was quick and made a nice sauce pass for a scoring chance. He protects pucks down low and is a player to watch.
Paul Tollet
No. 12 Seacoast Academy, 8/9/04, LW, left shot, 5-11/157
Tollet has size and is strong below the dots. He had a nice assist on the power play.
Laurent Trepanier
No. 11 Seacoast Academy, 4/1/04, LW, left shot, 5-7/153
Trepanier was quick and is a playmaker. He’s a player to watch at this level.
Donovan Frias
No. 90 River Rats, 11/9/04, LW, left shot, 6-2/180
Frias made a nice power move to the net before dishing it off to Gurkan for a score. He’s a player to watch on a St. George’s team that is constantly getting better.
15-only defensemen
Seamus Powell
No. 2 Rochester Coalition, 4/26/04, D, left shot, 5-11/145
Powell had a huge game on Monday and is an offensive, puck-moving defenseman. He’s a little bigger than his older brother, ’02 Eamon Powell, who is on the USA NTDP U-18 team. He’s the region’s best bet to make the 2020-21 NTDP U-17 team.
Liam Chapman
No. 16 Seacoast Academy, 3/11/04, D, left shot, 6-0.5/200
Chapman is physically mature and hard to knock off pucks. He has offensive instincts and a hard shot. He can make plays on the rush and has the potential to bring it physically in his own end.
Jordin Palmer
No. 17 Seacoast Academy, 1/6/04, D, left shot, 6-0/176
Palmer made a really nice look to the backdoor on the power play and can jump into the rush. He has good size.
14-U forwards
Cam Russo
No. 8 River Rats, 1/3/05, C, right shot, 6-0/155
Russo is a good skater who can power his way to the net, but also has finesse to his game. He has a hard shot and is skilled. Heading to St. John’s Prep, look for him to be one of the top young players in MIAA this year.
Alex Pelletier
No. 91 River Rats, 6/1/05, LW, left shot, 5-9/155
Pelletier is a slick forward with a ton of skill. He’ll likely spend one year in Connecticut high school hockey before making the jump to prep school.
