Boston Junior Eagles, Mid Fairfield Rangers, and Cape Cod Whalers won titles at their respective top divisions of the Tier 1 Labor Day Face Off.
Boston Junior Eagles captured the championship at the 18U Division. The team was led by Northeastern commit and Thayer junior center Sasha Teleguine.
At the 16U Division, Mid Fairfield Rangers captured the championship. Chris Gragnano’s team was a deep group, but defenseman and Penn State commit Drew Tsakounis was a catalyst during Sunday’s playoff action.
Cape Cod Whalers won the 15 Only Division. The team was clearly a step above the rest of the competition and had numerous players who will soon be making an impact in MIAA and prep.
While the level of play at the Tier 1 Face Off wasn’t what it was at the ECC Labor Day Cup, New England Hockey Journal spent some time at the Foxboro Sports Center and Rodman Arena to take a look at some of the top prospects from this event. Most of the viewing took place during the playoffs and with games going on simultaneously, not every second of each game was viewed in its entirety.
2020 NHL Prospects
1. Ian Moore
#2 Little Bruins 18U, 1/4/02, D, Right Shot, 6-3/170
NCAA Commit: Princeton
Moore is quickly establishing himself as the top 2020 NHL Draft prospect in prep hockey. In the couple of games viewed at the Tier 1 Labor Day Face Off, he was a catalyst for his team’s offense. He has size, skating, feet and overall athleticism. He has a good stick and a hard, accurate shot. In Sunday’s quarterfinal game against Jersey Hitmen, he scored a beauty of a backhand to win the game in overtime.
2. Riley Duran
#13 Cape Cod Whalers 18U, 1/25/02, C, Right Shot, 6-1/170
NCAA Commit: Providence
Duran was very good in this weekend’s viewing of him. He has the size and skating ability to be a difference maker. When he’s at his best, he’s playing a hard, north-south game. He was doing that here. He has a hard shot and is heavy on pucks. He’s a player who is best in structure and will continue to get better at Providence under Nate Leaman. He’s worth taking a late-round flyer on, especially for a team who might have a couple extra picks.
3. David Sacco
#16 Cape Cod Whalers 18U, 1/3/02, C, Right Shot, 6-0/185
NCAA Commit: New Hampshire
Sacco has all the potential in the world to be a power forward with pro upside. He has size, strength, and can skate with an explosive burst. He has a hard shot, can drive the net, and brings it physically. The only issue with Sacco is his inconsistency. If he can bring his ‘A’ game every night, his draft stock could soar. He could have a long pro career as a third line forward if he decides he wants it. If he plays the way he’s capable on a consistent basis this fall and prep season, he could be worthy of a third or fourth round pick.
4. Paul Dore
#26 GBL Bruins, 4/26/02, LW, Left Shot, 6-2/190
Dore and his team weren’t able to generate much offense in the viewing of the GBL Bruins on Sunday morning. He can shoot it as he’s proven in the past, but his skating and foot speed are issues that will prevent him from getting drafted. He’s listed as a ‘watch’ by NHL Central Scouting, but it’d be hard to envision a scenario in which a team drafts him come next June in Montreal.
Committed Standouts
1. Sasha Teleguine
#7 Junior Eagles 18U, 9/17/02, C, Left Shot, 5-10/183
NCAA Commit: Northeastern
Teleguine took Sunday’s quarterfinal game over and was good throughout the day. He scored the team’s first two goals in the quarterfinal game against GBL Bruins. The first one was a power move. He turned on the jets, rushing down the right wing, before driving the net and sliding it past the goalie as he went right to left. The second goal, he roofed a shot between the goaltender’s shoulder and the short-side post as he drove down the left wing. Teleguine’s skating sets him apart. His hockey sense is the one area of his game that could continue seeing improvement. A late ‘02, he has a year to figure that out before being eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft.
2. Drew Tsakounis
#8 Mid Fairfield 16U, 7/15/03, D, Left Shot, 5-9/159
NCAA Commit: Penn State
Tsakounis was a catalyst for Mid Fairfield in Sunday’s ride to the championship. In the semifinal win, he had a pair of goals and at least one assist. He has very good feet and puck skills. He can quickly transition from defense to offense. He does a nice job joining the attack and he can quarterback a power play. He’s still a work in progress defensively, but he is a very good collegiate prospect as an offensive defenseman.
3. Matt McGroarty
#13 Mid Fairfield 16U, 1/30/03, C, Right Shot, 5-10/159
NCAA Commit: Quinnipiac
McGroarty plays hard and is as complete a player as there is in this age group in the New England region. He skates well and does a lot of the little things right. He was good in Sunday’s playoff action, despite not finding the score sheet in any of my viewings.
4. Michael Stenberg
#24 Cape Cod Whalers 16U, 9/22/04, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/174
NCAA Commit: Penn State
Stenberg had a pair of goals in his team’s quarterfinal loss to the Junior Eagles. He slipped behind the defense and scored on a breakaway, going bardown. On the other tally, he drove the net and banged home his own rebound. Stenberg is a good athlete who plays hard and has the ability to be heavy on pucks.
5. Casey Severo
#19 Junior Eagles 18U, 2/1/01, C, Right Shot, 5-11/175
NCAA Commit: Merrimack
Severo made a couple of really clever passes to create offense. His hockey sense and responsible play in all three zones are his top assets. His skating and finishing abilities are just average for a player his size. Moving forward to junior hockey and college, he projects as a bottom six center who can kill penalties and play an honest game on the defensive side of the puck.
6. Tim Delay
#19 Junior Eagles 16U, 6/16/03, C/RW, Right Shot, 6-0/162
NCAA Commit: Boston College
Delay’s skating is his top asset. He uses his speed to gain separation. He drew a penalty late in the quarterfinal game by turning on the second gear. There’s still some work to be done in order for him to fully utilize his skating prowess. However, there’s plenty of upside with a kid who is north of six feet and can skate the way he does.
7. Philip Tresca
#4 Junior Eagles, 4/10/02, C, Right Shot, 5-11/174
NCAA Commit: Yale
Tresca is a late bloomer who has gotten better as he’s filled out and put on muscle over the past year or so. He’s always been skilled, but he’s become better at playing between the circles and finishing even under pressure. He’s trending in the right direction.
All-Uncommitted Team
1. Tyler Rubin
#97 Junior Eagles 16U, 1/10/03, D, Left Shot, 5-10/145
Rubin’s feet are terrific. He can push the pace in transition and recover to get back defensively by using his speed and quickness. He’s able to side-step oncoming forecheckers and he can gets shot through from the point. His hockey sense is only average, but it’s good enough that he can continue to get better in that regard with more coaching. A junior at Belmont Hill, he’s getting a lot of attention from college programs, including top Hockey East powers.
2. Jackson Dorrington
#16 Eastern Mass Senators 16U, 4/13/04, D, Left Shot, 6-1/180
Dorrington has good size and projects as an offensive defenseman with the potential to be more than adequate in his own zone. His poise and confidence with the puck on his stick are noteworthy. He doesn’t appear to get rattled by pressure. As an ‘04, he’s still a year away from being able to commit to a college program. However, he should have his pick of several Hockey East programs when the time comes.
3. Cullin Wilson
#12 Junior Eagles 16U, 3/12/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-11/180
Wilson is a good prospect with his ability to be heavy on pucks and make plays after winning battles along the wall and down low. He sees the ice well and makes good passes, but he can also finish. He scored a breakaway goal after picking off an errant pass by the opposition in the team’s quarterfinal win over Cape Cod Whalers. He’s the top uncommitted ‘03 forward in the region -- among New England natives.
4. Medrick Bolduc
#19 South Florida Hockey Academy 16U, 7/9/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-9/145
I watched South Florida Hockey Academy 16U play twice on Sunday morning. Having never seen Bolduc, a Val-d’Or, Quebec, native, he stood out right away for his skating, ability to hunt pucks, and make plays. He’ll be an interesting player to keep an eye on as he and his team come to New England a couple of more times this fall. He’s a sixth round pick of Rouyn-Noranda in the 2019 QMJHL Draft.
5. Conor Callaghan
#35 Mid Fairfield 16U, 3/2/03, G, Catches Left, 5-10/175
Callaghan didn’t face a lot of rubber early on Sunday, but he was terrific in his team’s win over Junior Eagles in the final. He’s not overly big, but his compete, skating, and technique are all assets. Callaghan should be the starting goaltender for Avon Old Farms this winter after taking a backseat to Providence commit Alex Aslanidis, who graduated, in 2018-19.
6. Andon Cerbone
#17 Mid Fairfield 16U, 4/13/04, C, Left Shot, 5-7/137
Cerbone is quick and has an above average offensive skill set. Both of those attributes were on display on Sunday, especially in the semifinal win over South Florida Hockey Academy. He had a goal and an assist. He’s a player to watch as he’ll be back at Brunswick this winter.
Other Uncommitted Standouts (alphabetical order)
Deniz Akyurek
#35 Junior Bruins 18U, 5/10/02, G, Catches Left, 5-11/155
Akyurek, who hails from Shrewsbury, Mass., was the only reason his team took the eventual champion, the Junior Eagles, to double overtime in the semifinal.
Grayson Badger
#5 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 5/9/04, RW, Right Shot, 6-0/170
Badger was his usual self on Sunday. He works hard and hunts pucks. He buzzes and is a energy player. His offensive instincts and skill could use a little improvement as he gets a ton of chances based on his high compete. He should be a player prep coaches are all over after a sophomore season at Brookline High School.
John Burdett
#16 Mid Fairfield 16U, 2/11/03, D, Right Shot, 6-2/155
Burdett is a big defenseman who is worthy of watching further as he continues progressing. He’ll be at Brunswick this winter.
Michael Callow
#8 Junior Eagles 16U, 1/15/04, RW, Right Shot, 6-2/170
Callow has the size and potential to blossom into a top player. He still has to put it all together, but his physical tools will keep him on the radar of college coaches as he gets older.
Michael Cataldo
#7 Cape Cod Whalers 16U, 5/4/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/165
Cataldo is one of the more underrated players in the region. He skates well and plays hard. He has good size and is heavy on pucks. He seems to be around the puck a lot and always finds his way onto the score sheet, despite not being the flashiest of players. He should see a regular shift in his first year of varsity this winter at St. Sebastian’s.
Ziv Deener-Chodirker
#11 Junior Eagles 16U, 3/17/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/161
Deener-Chodirker stood out for his compete level on Sunday. He went to the net to tip in a point shot for his team’s first goal in the quarterfinals. However, more impressively, he backchecked, blocked shots, and played hard away from the puck.
Will Elias
#5 Junior Eagles 16U, 1/28/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11/164
Elias looks to have gotten a little bigger and stronger over the summer. He’s steady, smart and plays well both ways. He gaps well and has a good stick. He’s not a flashy defender, but his feet and skating are above average. He might not have as high of a ceiling as some other more skilled defenders, but he should be a reliable, two-way defenseman at the collegiate level at a Hockey East or ECAC Hockey program.
Brendan Fitzgerald
#3 Junior Eagles 16U, 3/6/03, D, Left Shot, 5-11/147
Fitzgerald is a strong, two-way defenseman who makes plays with the puck and on the defensive side of the puck. He has a good stick and defends the rush well. He has some jam to his game. He rang the post on a shot from the point in the waning moments of one of the game’s Sunday. He should get even more attention this winter as he makes the move to prep school at Governor’s.
Joe Fleming
#50 Junior Eagles 16U, 6/19/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11/190
Fleming can bring it physically and projects as a defensive defenseman. His skating needs to get better and there’s areas of his game that he needs to refine, but it was a good weekend at times. He still is forced to take penalties when opposing forwards use their speed to get by him. However, he’s improved a lot and is a player to keep an eye on as he takes the next step in his development.
CJ Foley
#6 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 2/11/04, D, Right Shot, 5-9/155
Foley had an assist in the championship game against Islanders HC. He’s a versatile player who played some forward for Thayer last winter. He plays with jam and works hard. He’s an athlete and he’s a player who could very well continue working towards the point he’s looked at by Hockey East programs.
Tyler Gaulin
#9 GBL Bruins 18U, 11/9/01, C, Left Shot, 6-0/163
Gaulin has good size, skating and skill. While he’s not on the level of some of the elite Hockey East recruits in this age group, he keeps getting better. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he worked his way to a commitment from an ECAC Hockey or Atlantic Hockey program after a couple of years of junior hockey. At the very least, he should be a highly coveted Division III recruit as he enters his final season at Berwick.
Brendan Gibbons
#15 Little Bruins 18U, 7/18/02, RW, Right Shot, 6-1/205
Gibbons found the back of the net on Sunday, as he always seems to do. His skating is average at best, but he’s around pucks and has a knack for getting to the net. He has a hard shot and has the size and strength to get space and protect pucks.
Harrison Giuliano
#24 Junior Eagles 16U, 7/2/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-10/150
Giuliano skates well, plays hard, and was on the right side of the puck a lot. He’s a player to watch.
Landyn Greatorex
#26 Junior Eagles 16U, 7/26/03, LW, Left Shot, 5-7/140
Greatorex is a good skater who has played at Reading High School. He was around the puck a good amount.
Nolan Joyce
#27 Junior Eagles 16U, 9/25/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11/153
Joyce continues to get better as he adds size. He scored a nice goal from the point on a five-on-three power play. He skates well and is playing with more jam than he has in the past. There are still areas of his game that need work, but he deserves credit for being one of the more improved players in this age group over the last year.
Sean Keohane
#15 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 11/4/04, D, Left Shot, 6-0/152
Keohane, who will be at Dexter, is a good skater and plays a steady game. He has good vision and is a player who could begin to pop over the coming years.
Jeremy Keyes
#9 Utica Comets 15s, 6/6/04, LW, Left Shot, 6-1/170
Keyes was a player that displayed some tools in a quick viewing during the championship game against Cape Cod Whalers.
Declan Loughnane
#16 Cape Cod Whalers 16U, 11/22/03, D, Right Shot, 5-11/194
Loughnane has size, skates well, and made a couple of plays in his team’s game against Junior Eagles. He makes good stretch passes and also has a good shot from the point.
Aidan Lyons
#10 Junior Eagles 16U, 2/26/03, D, Left Shot, 5-9/163
This was a typical viewing of Lyons. He has really good feet and has flare to his game with the puck on his stick. He can make plays and he has the skating ability to play Division I. He needs to do less at times. Choosing his spots wisely and continuing to work on his hockey sense will allow him to earn a Division I commit.
Pavit Mehra
#10 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 7/16/04, C/RW, Right Shot, 5-9/130
Mehra is a fun player to watch. He’s on the smaller side, but he has more skill than you think. He works hard and gives it all he’s got each shift. He threw his weight around and delivered a big hit in one game watched Sunday.
Sean McWhinnie
#19 Minuteman Flames 16U, 10/23/03, LW, Left Shot, 6-2/175
McWhinnie, who plays high school hockey at Natick, is a big power forward. He has reach and plays with a physical edge. He’s a player who could make a good addition for a prep school. His skating isn’t bad, but it could use improvement as he continues developing.
Caleb Owens
#9 South Florida Hockey Academy 16U, 8/20/04, C, Left Shot, 5-6/140
Owens was around the puck a lot and has some deception on his release. He’s quick and hunts pucks.
Beanie Richter
#20 Mid Fairfield 16U, 8/20/04, LW, Left Shot, 5-10/148
Richter had a goal and an assist in the semifinals. He’s a good skater who plays the game the right way. He’s the son of hockey hall of famer Mike Richter and younger brother of Tom Richter who is committed to Union.
Chris Romaine
#17 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 2/21/04, D, Right Shot, 5-10/150
Romaine has really good feet and skates well. He can make plays to break pucks out or from the top of the point in the attacking zone. His game needs some maturing, but he’s an athlete worth watching. He played at BC High last winter and will be making the jump to Milton Academy.
Riley Rosenthal
#6 South Florida Hockey Academy 16U, 10/12/03, D, Right Shot, 6-2/233
Rosenthal has good size and can make plays. He likes to push the play and looks for stretch passes. His size and physical tools are intriguing. His skating is still a work in progress. A NTDP Evaluation Camp invite in March of 2019, he’ll be a player to watch over the next year or two.
Ryan Sande
#20 Minuteman Flames 16U, 5/20/03, G, Catches Left, 6-1/170
Sande stood tall in net for his team in a close semifinal loss against the Junior Eagles. Sande is at Marlboro High School.
Spencer Sasenbury
#98 Utica Comets 15s, 5/24/04, C, Left Shot, 6-1/145
Sasenbury has good size and was a top line center for his team. He can make plays and use his size to his advantage at this level. Need more viewings to learn more, but he stood out in the team’s loss to Cape Cod in the final.
Carson Scott
#10 Mid Fairfield 16U, 2/14/03, RW, Right Shot, 5-9/155
Scott, who comes to New England from the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes, will be at Canterbury. He was a relative unknown to this observer, but he kept finding the back of the net. He scored two goals in the semifinals and added another in the final. He was around the puck. He’ll be a player to watch this fall.
James Shannon
#19 Mid Fairfield 16U, 8/12/04, RW, Right Shot, 5-8/155
Shannon works extremely hard out there. He has size and is heavy on pucks. He seems to always be buzzing and hunting pucks. He plays hard and is willing to throw his weight around.
Jack Shemligan
#9 Minuteman Flames 16U, 4/22/03, D, Right Shot, 6-0/180
Shemligian had a good stick and moved fairly well. He had some offensive instincts and was a power play option at the blue line. He’ll be at Algonquin High School this winter.
Kasper Soini
#15 South Florida Hockey Academy 16U, 5/17/03, D, Left Shot, 5-11/145
Soini, from Finland, is in his first year playing in North America. He’s an elite skater who can fly around the ice and get pucks going north.
Conor Sullivan
#30 Junior Eagles 16U, 10/3/03, G, Catches Left, 6-3/164
Sullivan has a lot of upside as a top goaltending prospect in this region due to his size, skating and technique. He made a couple of good saves in a closer than expected game against Minuteman Flames in the semifinals.
Shane Taddia
#9 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 1/20/04, C, Right Shot, 5-10/155
Taddia is able to protect pucks and play a power forward game with his strong stride and ability to use his length to his advantage. He’s a north-south forward with a hard shot and he can free up space for his linemates. He’s the top forward prospect on the Cape Cod Whalers 15s.
Austin Tasca
#16 Cape Cod Whalers 15s, 3/14/04, RW, Right Shot, 5-6/124
Tasca had a couple of goals in the final and was a force throughout the day Sunday. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s quick and has a good offensive skill set. He’ll be back at LaSalle Academy in Providence.
Connor Welsh
#9 Mid Fairfield 16U, 1/2/04, C, Right Shot, 5-8/131
Welsh has that quick twitch in his stride and some good hands. He’s still on the smaller side, but he’s a player to watch as he grows and adds muscle to his frame.
