Manchester, N.H.— Bantam major players in the 2007 birth year competed in the New England District 14-U playoffs earlier this month and there was a strong representation of promising talent from the states at St. Anselm's College's Sullivan Arena.
Mount Saint Charles, top-4 among the nation's 14-U teams, captured the district championship, beating the Mid Fairfield Jr. Rangers. Coaches Frank and John O'Connor did a superb job of recruiting a regional power that will contend for a national championship in Chicago next week. Despite the losses of some players who began the 2021-22 season with the Saint M's, the O'Connors did well to fill those holes with players like defenseman Shayne Gould, from Princeton, Mass., who arrived in Woonsocket around midseason after playing in the fall with the Neponset Valley River Rats 14-U team.
The Providence Capitals, Seacoast Spartans, New Hampshire Avalanche and Vermont Flames also competed in the playoffs, and we've got some observations on some of the teams and players who stood out and will be at the top of the watch list for the 2022-23 season, when they will be eligible for selection to the U.S. National Team Development Program and USHL drafts.
New England champion not a surprise
Mount Saint Charles won the New England District the same way they have been a top-5 nationally ranked team all season: with talent, depth and the ability to beat you in a variety of ways.
https://twitter.com/RISaintMsHockey/status/1503162926441517057?s=20&t=ZIlCrs5C0k1K2asS7EChuw
In their first game against Seacoast Performance Academy, SPA played well and hung on in the first period, but as the Saint M’s found their skating legs and got more crisp in their playmaking, the game turned into a rout. With so many players on the roster who can shoot and finish, it has been a chore for any opponent to match such a lethal offense. Liam Kilfoil, Dylan Krayer (Concord, Mass.) and Callum Mainville got things going, and that allowed forward stalwarts like Conrad Fondrk, Nic Whitehead and Egan Beveridge (East Kingston, N.H.) to get going into high gear.
The defense is strong, led by New Yorkers Matthew Grimes and Dom Somma bring the kind of mobility, smarts and two-way play to anchor a championship-caliber top pairing, with Marco Senerchia (Greenville, R.I.), Brady Hall (Narragansett, R.I.), Tristan Boudreau and Gould rounding out the group. Â In net, Ryan Denes and Steven Luciano (New Canaan, Conn.) form a capable tandem.
Add it all up, and it is no surprise that this team was able to earn the automatic bid to nationals. They will face a tough challenge from their NE Pack rival Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and Midwest power Shattuck-St. Mary’s, but this squad has all the pieces to make a USA Hockey championship run. Penguins star forward J.P. Mooney has elite skill/upside and is a lot of fun to watch, and he’s got plenty of support on that roster.
Mid Fairfield next in class, headed to Chicago
The Jr. Rangers weren’t able to overcome the top-to-bottom roster depth of the New England District Champion Saints in a 5-2 final, but the game was closer than the final score indicated. They have some quality players who can make some noise in Chicago and will be priority prospects to track next season.
The defense is led by Anthony Bongo (Ridgefield, Conn.), who can do it all with his skating, puck skills and intelligence. He is one of the New England region's best two-way defensemen in the '07 birth year and already on a lot of radars. Rocco Marinucci and Tommy Bleyl join Bongo on the blue line, with both enjoying strong seasons. They should be able to develop into players with a chance to compete at the higher levels going forward. Bleyl’s biggest challenge is that he’s undersized, but he can make plays at this level with his elusive quickness, instincts and ability to make plays in small areas.
Right wing Tucker Spiess (Old Greenwich, Conn.) had a strong showing with Mid Fairfield and got a taste of prep hockey as a freshman at Brunswick this season. While the team doesn't have the pure firepower up front to win games that turn into track meets, they have enough balance and a strong defense/goaltending, to stay in games.
Mid Fairfield secured an at-large bid to nationals, a reflection of their successful season and balanced roster. Their first test comes against Detroit Compuware on Mar. 30, while Mount St. Charles faces the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers to kick off  their 14-U national championship schedule.
The Providence Capitals fell to Mid Fairfield in the semifinal game, but had several players who stood out during the event. Aiden Ferreira (Warwick, R.I.), who also played at Bishop Hendricken, was the Providence HC’s best player. He can skate and has a wicked shot, with a natural nose for the net. He was a constant threat against the N.H. Avalanche on the first day, getting to the high danger areas with regularity and unleashing his shot with a blurry-fast release. He has as much potential as some of the top players on Mount St. Charles and Mid Fairfield. Aiden Craft(Seekonk, Mass.) also showed well with a deft touch on the puck and providing chemistry with Ferreira. Cam Force(Pawtucket, R.I.)  did some good things on the back end.
Providence competed hard, but it could not match the top-to-bottom roster strength of the two finalists.
The other teams had their hands full on the weekend, but the Avalanche’s Tedy Hanon and Casey Fuller were noticeable with some positive plays in the offensive zone. We've liked SPA's top scorer Van Martin (Derry, N.H.) and goaltender Walter Jimenez in multiple viewings this season, but this team had a tough slog in the playoffs, along with the Flames.
