CONCORD, N.H. — The annual St. Paul’s Jamboree featured four games on Sunday on the campus of the host school. Loomis Chaffee, Tabor and Taft headed north to play two scrimmages each on Sunday while the four teams will complete the round-robin jamboree on Monday.
Taft was the only team to go perfect on Sunday as the Rhinos defeated St. Paul’s, 1-0, and Loomis Chaffee, 3-0. Tabor skated to a 4-4 tie with Loomis Chaffee before edging St. Paul’s, 4-2. Tabor and Taft will square off Monday while Loomis Chaffee and St. Paul’s will also do battle.
There weren’t any marquee 2022 NHL draft prospects in the St. Paul’s Jamboree, but there were a handful of uncommitted players who could eventually earn a Division 1 college logo next to their name on the line chart.
Below is a synopsis of the four teams’ rosters and outlook for the season.
Taft
If you had told me prior to the jamboree starting that Taft would go 2-0 on Sunday, I’d have been skeptical. Ryan Shannon’s team did just that with a particularly impressive win over Loomis Chaffee in the nightcap.
What struck me about Taft was the team’s size. The Rhinos have a big squad. There isn’t a lot of speed, but strong goaltending, size and an older roster could trip up some opponents this winter.
The best prospect I saw on Sunday was '05 sophomore goaltender Rudy Guimond, a newcomer to the prep scene from Kirkland, Quebec. Guimond spent the fall playing for the Yale Junior Bulldogs 16-U. He had a good fall and blanked Loomis on Sunday night. Guimond has good size, takes up a lot of the net, and holds his ground. One of the highlight saves he made was on a first-period breakaway. Guimond will be joined in the Taft crease this winter by senior captain Mike Roberts, a Dartmouth commit who is expected to serve as the third-string goaltender for the Big Green in the future. Roberts had the shutout over St. Paul’s.
As far as the skaters on Taft, '05 sophomore left wing Archer Brown has some intrigue. He has good size, skates well, and has some upside.
I liked late '03 junior center JJ Lemieux and '03 senior center Thomas Ricciardelli in terms of being potential Division 3 recruits. The two top-line centers are different players, but bring something to the table that could interest coaches at that level. Ricciardelli is an above-average skater who can make plays, as he did on a power-play tally against Loomis. Lemieux is a big power forward with a net-front presence. He capitalized on the pass from Ricciardelli for a power play goal. One of Lemieux’s classmates, late '03 right wing Jackson Holl, had an assist on that power goal and is another potential player of interest for Division 3 programs.
Zave Greene - Thomas Ricciardelli - Mason Whitney
Archer Brown - JJ Lemiuex - Jackson Holl
Blake Gauthier - Jamison Moore - Sam Erickson
Connor Collucci - Ben Phillips
Justin Fernet - Shane Mettler
Leyland Johnson - Gerrit Lansing
Rudy Guimond
Mikey Roberts
Tabor
Tabor has two solid lines that helped the Seawolves score eight goals on the day. '04 junior center Jack Brandt is the team’s most skilled player. From Columbus, Ohio, Brandt’s name can be found on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List. He scored a nice goal off a face-off win on Sunday night. For Brandt to turn the corner, he has to be better away from the puck and show a more consistent engagement.
Holy Cross commit Coleman Jenkins, an '03 senior right wing, should have a productive season. The Mansfield, Mass., native is big, strong and plays to his identity. He’ll be heavy on pucks and score goals. Jack DesRuisseaux, an `04 left wing on the top line, has some skill and will complement Brandt and Jenkins.
'06 sophomore right wing Josh Itri played well in both games. He earned a promotion to the second line based on his performance in the first game. The Sandwich, Mass., native has tenacity. He forechecks hard and hunts pucks. He had a positive impact on the game, especially with his play below the dots. He plays a fearless brand of hockey and will get better once he picks up on some of the small details and habits of the game, especially away from the puck.
On defense, the big name is '05 Jason Zaccari, a top pairing guy for the Junior Eagles 16-U. He was solid while paired with late '03 senior Carter Patterson, who brings size to the Tabor blue line. '05 sophomore Cole Estey (Barnstable, Mass.) scored a highlight-reel goal on a rush in the second period against St. Paul’s.
Jack DesRuisseaux - Jack Brandt - Coleman Jenkins
Reed Allen - Keanan Dewberry - Josh Itri
Xavier Vaillancourt - Kai Roberto - Aiden Brenner
Liam Johnson - Sam Barry - James Luo
Jason Zaccari - Carter Patterson
Alec O’Connor - Cole Estey
Axel Vaillancourt - Tyler Messier
Liam Choquette
Gus Ackerman
Loomis Chaffee
Loomis Chaffee was the top program at the St. Paul’s Jamboree and likely will be the best of the four teams in 2021-22 when it’s all said and done. They ran into some bad puck luck and hot goaltending on Sunday.
While this won’t go down as one of the better teams JR Zavisza has ever had, there are some players to watch. '03 senior center Oliver Flynn (Berlin, Conn.) is a UConn commit who plays a north-south game with some jam and his skating is above average. His linemates, '03 right wing Rory Andriole (Branford, Conn.) and late '04 left wing Makai Tarjamo both skate well.
On defense, '03 senior Charles Andriole (Branford, Conn.) has Division 3 potential. '03 senior Cam Miranda, formerly of South Kent, was out of the lineup on Sunday. When the Mendon, Mass., native is dressed, he’s the team’s top defenseman. Andrew Heinze (North Andover, Mass.) and Caleb Alen are expected to battle for the starting goaltending position.
Makai Tarjamo - Oliver Flynn - Rory Andriole
Will Reardon - Elijah Hull - Chris Hibson
Jay Yun - Hunter Drouin - Aidan Healy
Cory Alissi - Ben Carfora - Easton Swift
Charles Andriole - Oaken Son
Drew Anastasio - Giovanni Grassi
Michael Karvelas
Andrew Heinze
Caleb Alen
St. Paul’s
There weren’t a lot of positives for St. Paul’s on Sunday. '05 sophomore right wing Josh Halliday picked up a nice assist for a power-play goal against Tabor. The Saugus, Calif., native showed some promise. His older brother, '03 senior JT Halliday, was out of the lineup.
As far as seniors with Division 3 potential, late '03 center Sam Sibold (South Hero, Vt.) scored a power-play goal and had the puck a decent amount. '03 defenseman Caid Cox (Livingston, Mont.) had solid size and moved the puck well.
Jack Michaud - Sam Sibold - Josh Halliday
Mike Stoddard - Matt Grady - Bryce Terry
Lino Viau - Henry Ong - Jack Roberts
Luke Peinado - x - Dylan Biggs
Ryan Doherty - Caid Cox
Jake Sullivan - Christian Yi
Brad Cox - Conley Bohan
Callum Welch
Rocco Bryant
