MARLBORO, Mass. -- Mount Saint Charles captured the New England District 18-U Championship last weekend at the New England Sports Center to earn its first national-bound championship berth.
The Saints, coached by Matt Plante, had a clear edge in talent over the rest of the field. The group was led by the usual suspects of Quinnipiac commit Victor Czerneckianair (Southington, Conn.) and Providence commit Michael Citara. Goaltender Ethan Pearson also played an instrumental role in the 4-1 win over Northern Cyclones Prep in Sunday night’s final.
Northern Cyclones Prep was a team assembled by former New Hampton head coach Casey Kesselring. What the team lacked in high-end talent, it made up for in playing a hardworking brand of hockey. The team’s lone Division I commit, Dartmouth recruit Isaac MacLeod, was very good.
With the championship, Mount Saint Charles will advance to next April’s USA Hockey Nationals in Rochester, Mich. Although it is the first national-bound championship for the new program at Mount Saint Charles, it’s not the first for Plante and co-director Devin Rask, who are no strangers to winning games and developing talent from their days at South Kent Selects Academy.
Here my top 10 uncommitted prospects from the New England District 18-U Tournament:
1. Nate Benoit
Mount Saint Charles, 11/26/02, D, left shot, 6-1/170
Benoit is one of the better uncommitted defensemen in the region, regardless of birth year. He was solid in both ends of the ice this weekend. His feet and skating are both above average and he plays with jam. He contributed offensively, including a goal and an assist in Sunday’s action.
2. Marcus Joughin
Northern Cyclones Prep, 7/5/01, C, left shot, 5-10/160
Joughin has skill and vision. He skates well and played the point on the power play. He reads the play and sees the ice well. Joughin hunts pucks and should be a player to watch in prep this season. Outside of MacLeod, he was the top offensive threat on his team.
3. Robert Hyde
Mount Saint Charles, 7/3/02, LW, left shot, 6-0/170
Hyde plays a complementary role for the team’s first line. He skates well, shoots it above average and goes to the dirty areas. His hockey sense could use some improvement, but he has a chance to keep developing into a college player.
4. Ethan Pearson
Mount Saint Charles, 7/30/02, G, catches left, 6-2/185
Pearson was really good in the final, as Northern Cyclones Prep came at the Mounties hard. He has good size, fundamentals and is a goaltender to keep an eye on.
5. Gustave Bylin
Selects Academy, 1/12/02, G, catches left, 6-3.25/185
Big goaltender Bylin looked good in a few viewings, despite his team lacking the results. He has potential.
6. Ryan Gordon
Mount Saint Charles, 5/5/02, C, right shot, 6-0/170
Gordon isn’t gifted with a lot of skill, but he plays an honest game and has a high compete level. He does a lot of the little things to help his team win.
7. Kevin Urquhart
Northern Cyclones Prep, 4/9/01, RW, right shot, 6-2/190
Urquhart is a big, physical winger who did a good job as a power forward. He even showed off his hands with a snipe under the bar in Sunday’s playoff action.
8. Owen Stadheim
Northern Cyclones Prep, 3/23/02, C, left shot, 5-10/170
Stadheim stood out on Friday night. He’s a smart, 200-foot center at this level. He could be more than that, but I liked how he played away from the puck and his compete level.
9. Ryan Miknich
Selects Academy, 1/25/02, C, left shot, 5-9/165
Miknich is a small forward who was around the puck and was the most engaged of any player on his team in minimal viewing over the weekend.
10. Brett Lockhart
Northern Cyclones Prep, 2/1/01, D, right shot, 6-0/170
Lockhart has decent size and showed an ability to rush the puck up the ice. His hockey sense is a work in progress, but he should have a solid prep season at Tilton.
