Editor's Note:Â In a previous version of this story, New England Hockey Journal reported that David Hymovitz would be the new head coach at Thayer Academy. According to the school, that is not true and they have yet to make a decision on the next head coach. New England Hockey Journal regrets the error.Â
FOXBORO, Mass. — All of the top 18U teams in the region, besides South Kent, competed in the Beast Columbus Day Showcase over the course of the long weekend.
Most of the better games took place at Foxboro Sports Center with a few at Canton Ice House and Adelard Arena on the campus of Mount Saint Charles.
NHL scouts were in the rinks watching a select few players in this age division who could hear their names called at the 2023 draft.
Below is a look at players who stood out to me this weekend, with a maximum of two players per team I watched getting a write up.
Landan Resendes
Central Mass. Penguins, 12/10/05, RW, right shot, 5-9/155
NCAA: Boston College
Resendes was seemingly on the ice for all of his team’s goals in a win on Saturday night. The Boston College commit had five points. He’s quick, forechecks with tenacity, and makes plays. He can stickhandle to protect pucks and has a good stick overall. The late `05 from Hudson, Mass., should have a monster prep school season for Paul Pearl at Cushing.
Ethan Gardula
Central Mass. Penguins, 2/28/05, LW, left shot, 6-1/178
NCAA: UConn
When Gardula is on, like he was Saturday night, he’s a legit prospect for the 2023 draft. He played a north-south game while skating well and being heavy on pucks. The Princeton, Mass., native showed good chemistry with Resendes, which is likely a sign of things to come this winter for the Penguins.
Rudy Guimond
Junior Bulldogs, 5/19/05, G, catches left, 6-3/180
NCAA: Yale
Guimond was good once again this past weekend, which has been a common theme throughout the fall. The Kuper Academy alum from Pointe-Claire, Quebec, was solid for the Junior Bulldogs 16U last season and it has carried over to the first two months of fall hockey in 2022. He’s got good size, technically sound, and makes the saves he’s supposed to make. Obviously, it was the whole body of work, but Guimond’s continued strong play led to his finally receiving an offer from Yale this week. He committed to Keith Allain’s program on Tuesday night.
Gio DiGiulian
Junior Bulldogs, 9/25/05, C, right shot, 6-1/160
DiGiulian, from South Burlington, Vt., is one of the most improved players in the region, fall over fall. The good-sized forward can play center or either wing. He skates well, is smart, and competes hard. He’s getting more and more interest from Division 1 schools, which is well earned.
Charlie Gollob
Buffalo Regals, 2/10/04, C, left shot, 6-2/190
I’ve liked Gollob since I first watched him play last August. The second-year player at Avon Old Farms isn’t the prettiest of skaters, but he gets the job done. He’s smart, protects pucks, and wins battles. He goes to the net and cycles well below the dots. He was an impact player for his team on Saturday afternoon. He’ll be a key part of John Gardner’s top six with the Winged Beavers this winter.
Sam Hall
Buffalo Regals, 12/16/04, D, left shot, 6-2/170
Hall, from Far Hills, N.J., is a smart, steady, reliable defenseman. He wasn’t flashy, but he had a positive impact in his team’s win Saturday afternoon. Hall will be a leader on the blue line for a Salisbury team looking to win a third straight NEPSAC Elite 8 title in a few months.
Christian Venticinque
Mount Saint Charles, 7/15/05, LW, left shot, 6-0/180
Venticinque scored a game-tying goal late in his team’s 2-2 tie against the River Rats on Sunday. The Kings Park, N.Y., native is a goal scorer who isn’t afraid to shoot it from anywhere. That showed in this goal from Sunday as he came in, picked up a loose puck in the slot, took a stride or two to get an open lane before roofing a wrist shot. Venticinque needs to show more consistency and a more well rounded game, but his shot is good enough to earn Division 1 interest in the future.
Anthony Cardilli
Mount Saint Charles, 10/13/05, C/RW, right shot, 6-3/205
Cardilli is a big forward who has given you glimpses of potential over the past few seasons. He’s gotten a little more consistent this season, but still needs to figure out a way to impact each shift. The Chicago, native showed some flashes this past weekend. He’s got the height, length and stick to intrigue scouts in attendance.
Mason Chen
River Rats, 5/31/04, D, left shot, 5-11/170
Chen had a strong weekend, including a goal and an assist performance in a tie against Mount Saint Charles Sunday. The smooth-skating blue liner from Toronto moves with his head up and thinks north. He makes tape-to-tape passes on the breakout. The Milton senior needs to keep being heavier, but he’s a coveted defenseman when it comes to NESCAC recruiting. With the loss of Providence commit Chris Romaine (Braintree, Mass.) to the USHL, Chen will be relied upon to fill some of the minutes lost.
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Spencer Hirsch
River Rats, 1/7/05, LW/C, left shot, 6-2/205
Hirsch, from Delray Beach, Fla., has gotten better as the fall has moved along. This past weekend was his best yet, as he produced offensively. He’s big, strong and shoots it hard. While his skating still needs to get better, he used his physical advantage and just played a heavy game. He’ll be a key newcomer for Rob Barker’s team at Lawrence.
Ben Buckley
Cape Cod Whalers, 2/8/05, C, right shot, 5-10/168
Buckley, from Warwick, R.I., scored a goal in one of his team’s victories over the weekend. The St. George’s senior is a smart, hard-nosed forward. He is an effective penalty killer and hunts pucks while playing the game with an edge. His skating isn’t poor by any means, but it can use improvement in terms of Division 1 upside.
Henry Cohen
Cape Cod Whalers, 3/7/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/200
Cohen scored a goal in a game I watched last weekend. The Sudbury, Mass., native has always been a goal scorer, dating back to when I first saw him at Middlesex. Now a senior at Milton Academy, he’ll be one of Paul Cannata’s top offensive threats. NESCAC schools should be interested in the sharpshooter.
Nolan Flynn
South Shore Kings Prep, 2/25/05, LW, left shot, 6-1/180
Flynn scored a beauty of a goal on a transitional play against the Springfield Junior Thunderbirds Saturday afternoon. He roofed a wrist shot right under the bar. The St. Sebastian’s junior from Natick, Mass., showed some signs last winter in a depth role. Sean McCann certainly hopes he’ll take the next step and join the top six. That could happen based on what I’ve seen this fall, including last weekend.
Vinny Sica
South Shore Kings Prep, 4/22/05, D, right shot, 5-11/185
Sica, a defenseman by trade, appeared to be playing forward in the game against the Thunderbirds. The Canton, Mass., native scored a goal in a lopsided victory. Sica isn’t high-end, but he’s competitive and getting better. He’ll earn more ice time this winter at Thayer, as the team looks to fill the void left by the departure of Holy Cross commit CJ Foley (Hanover, Mass.) and Providence recruit Declan Loughnanne (Milton, Mass.).
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Eric Vivinetto
Jersey Rats, 10/8/04, C/RW, right shot, 5-10/170
Vivinetto, a senior at Lawrenceville, is a candidate for NESCAC coaches. The Wyckoff, N.J., native is heavy on pucks and has a hard shot. He’s a goal scorer, who could be playing on a national bound team, if not for most Lawrenceville players skating on the Jersey Rats. He scored two goals and an assist in his team’s big victory over the Islanders Hockey Club.
Jed Brazo
Jersey Rats, 9/27/03, C, left shot, 5-9/180
Brazo had two assists in his team’s 6-1 win over IHC. He’s got a great shot, has a good stick, and competes hard. The Homer, N.Y., native scored 26 goals in 25 prep games in his first season at Canterbury last winter. The senior will be one of the most coveted players for Division 3 schools, if he’s looking to go straight into college. BCHL and NAHL teams should be interested, if he’s going to play junior hockey in 2023-24.
Jack Sadowski
Islanders HC, 7/29/06, LW, left shot, 5-10/177 NCAA: UNH
Sadowski’s hockey sense and shot shine through each time he’s on the ice. It’s been a tougher than expected fall for him and his teammates, due to some injuries and a younger roster. However, the Arlington, Mass., native sees the ice well and puts himself and linemates in positions to score. He’s at Kimball Union after two seasons for John Messuri’s Arlington Spy Ponders.
Sam LeDrew
Islanders HC, 3/19/05, RW, right shot, 6-0/160
LeDrew, from Stillwater Lake, Nova Scotia, is a good skater with a hard shot. In my three viewings, including one this past weekend, he’s been around the puck a good amount. He can skate and shoots the puck with zip. He’ll be a newcomer for Tim Whitehead’s team at KUA.
Ryan Kavanagh
River Rats West, 8/22/05, RW, right shot, 5-7/145
Kavanagh has been one of the offensive catalysts for the River Rats West. The Wakefield, Mass., native is on the smaller side, height-wise, but he’s rugged and buzzes around the ice. His energy and speed were reasons for his offensive success over the weekend. He’ll once again be one of the top players for Dan Gordon’s team at Pingree.
