The recently concluded 2021 River Rats Jamboree featured rising young hockey talent competing in the 15-U division from the 2006 birth year at several Massachusetts venues.
New England Hockey Journal observed games at the Foxboro Sports Center and Canton Ice House on Monday and Tuesday.
There was no shortage of quality teams and players in the division. This list is not a holistic look at all of the ‘06s who competed and showed well. It is intended to be a snapshot and give a broader perspective of some of the noticeable, standout performances noted during the two days of games.
Coaches from top programs in the Hockey East, ECAC and prep programs were in attendance to catch the action as well, and the birth year itself is shaping up to have quality and depth as the 2021-22 hockey season gets underway.
Forwards
Drew DellaSalla
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick, 5/8/06, shoots left, 6-0/178
The New York native has all the tools to be a top tier performer going forward: size, skating, puck skills and terrific vision/creativity. Unselfish with the puck, he beat one defender around the back of the net and put a perfect pass to the high slot to Luke Hall, who rifled it home. He has excellent balance on his skates, with the ability to stop, start and cut back with no loss of control of his body or the puck. Consistency of effort on every shift is something to watch going forward, but he took care of business here.
Ben Bradley (Weston, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield/King School, 6/12/06, shoots right, 6-1/190
Big power winger can skate and impose his physical will on games. A good passer who sees the ice and gets to the net. He likes to get up high/above the puck in the defensive zone and create odd-man rushes, which can be costly against good teams. Is he cheating it, or does he just possess the anticipation to be in the right spots to transition on offense?
Joey Crescimanni
Rochester Coalition, 4/13/06, shoots right, 5-8/130
Small, shifty and slick forward slips and weaves through defenses and can get pucks to the net with ease. Natural offensive hockey sense. Plays with pace and energy, and scored a nice goal when he looked pass all the way, then snapped off a shot that found daylight to the back of the net. He was tough to defend and you noticed him on every shift.
Walker Bright (New Canaan, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield/Berkshire, 6/3/06, shoots right, 5-9/150
Talented forward can skate and handle the puck at speed. He was hit or miss in the early going, but strung together some strong shifts in the second half. He put the game out of reach with a hard-working goal on the doorstep, outfighting the defenders to locate the puck in front and jam it through the scrum. When he’s moving his feet and attacking with pace, Bright is one of the best ’06 forwards in the New England District.
Josh Itri (Sandwich, Mass.)
River Rats/Tabor, 1/4/06, shoots right, 5-8/155
Smart, engaged forward will make the jump to prep hockey this season and brings a lot to the table. He skates well and sees it- his linemates need to be prepared for the pass that materializes instantly on their sticks from him. He has room to be more assertive and get to the net/take over shifts, but there is a lot of room for him to develop into an effective two-way player with upside.
Ryan Staples (Middletown, R.I.)
River Rats/Bishop Hendricken, 2/4/06, shoots right, 6-0/143
Tall, strong forward is very good in the possession game. He’s a powerful skater when he gets going, but his footwork and acceleration are areas to focus on improving. Heavy on pucks; when he leans into defenders and keeps driving his legs while carrying the puck, he’s tough to stop at this level.
Blake Burke (Trumbull, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield, 5/18/06, shoots left, 5-11/155
Superb skater with terrific burst and ability to separate/pull away from defenders in the open ice. If he can round out his game, his speed will allow him to play a versatile two-way style.
Jacob Kulas (Weston, Mass.)
Jr. Eagles/Rivers, 4/25/06, shoots left, 5-11/165
Good size, big-bodied forward made some plays for his team against Mid Fairfield. His initial steps can get better, but moved well in a straight line and was willing to fire pucks to the net.
James Marshall (Weymouth, Mass.)
River Rats/BC High, 4/5/06, shoots left, 5-11/155
Showed off some deft hands and soft touch versus ROCO on a breakaway goal. Was involved in the play in all three zones and competed hard with good effort and intensity.
Defensemen
Luke Hall
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick, 9/8/06, shoots right, 5-11/155
Scored a goal by pinching down from the point and demonstrating nice catch-and-shoot skills. Showed off some nimble moves skating the puck through traffic. Not overly flashy, but skates well and contains speed.
Blake Stant (Redding, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield/Joel Barlow HS, 4/26/06, shoots left, 5-10/155
Smooth skater plays with his head up and is confident with the puck. There were a few times where he hesitated on a play and pucks got away from him, but chalk it up to the first game of fall hockey. He defends well and plays an efficient game.
Michael Peluso
Rochester Coalition, 5/1/06, shoots left, 5-6/130
Smart defender kept it simple and moved pucks efficiently. All-around player who activates at the right times, gaps up well against rushing forwards and is reliable in retrievals.
Cooper Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.)
Mid Fairfield/Brunswick, 1/5/06, shoots right, 5-11/180
Big, rangy skater and strong defensive style showed well. He played with physicality, stepping up to make hits in open ice or take opponents out along the walls. Puck management/decisions under pressure is an area to address.
