EULESS, Texas — There were numerous top prospects competing recently at the 2021 USA Hockey 15 Only National Championship at Children’s Health Star Center just outside of Dallas.
Detroit Honeybaked claimed the national championship with a 6-3 win over Florida Alliance. Mid Fairfield Rangers and Chicago Mission were the two semifinalists who fell short of making the finale. Mount Saint Charles, the only other local team in the 15 Only division of USA Hockey Nationals, failed to advance to the playoffs out of pool play.
Honeybaked was led by a trio of players at each position who are destined to make USA Hockey’s NTDP U-17 Team for the 2021-22 season. Center Charlie Cerrato, defenseman Zach Schulz and goaltender Trey Augustine were the catalysts for head coach Jason Deskins and his team’s run to the national championship.
Florida Alliance was buoyed by the strong goaltending of Michael Chambre, who also seems like a lock to make the NTDP. Center Connor Brown is on the smaller side, but he’s a smart two-way forward who really shined in Texas.
Chicago Mission had the deepest team at the 15 Only division, especially up front. The top-ranked team in the country for much of the season ultimately fell short against Honeybaked, due to the latter having better goaltending, defense and structure. Forwards Carter Slaggert, Gabriel Perrault and Joseph Willis, defensemen Paul Fischer, Patrick Sharp and Nathan Williams should be in the mix for a NTDP spot.
Mid Fairfield fell to Florida Alliance in a shootout. The team, coached by Marty St. Louis and Adam Delgado, had the most high-end talent of any team in the tournament. Six players from Mid Fairfield’s roster made the NTDP Evaluation Camp and a few more are being pursued by college programs.
Below is an in-depth look at the top 12 prospects from the USA Hockey 15 Only National Championship who have ties to the region, whether it be playing here or being from here:
1. Aram Minnetian
Mid Fairfield, 3/19/05, D, right shot, 5-11/178
Minnetian has all the physical tools. He has size and strength, skates well and has a good stick. All of that put together allows him to be an elite, two-way defenseman. He jumps into the rush, whether it be rushing the puck up ice or making a breakout pass to an awaiting wing. His stickhandling and agility allow him to avoid oncoming forecheckers and walk the blue line before getting clear lanes for a shot or a pass. He shoots it hard and has good moves, which he showed off on numerous occasions at the national tourney. He forces some plays and doesn’t always take the safe approach. When he does get himself into trouble, he has the athleticism and skating ability to recover as well as anyone at this level. He closes quickly and takes away time and space. The Woodcliff Lake, N.J., native can bring it physically. He’s a lock for the NTDP and could very well be a first-round pick in the 2023 NHL draft. Minnetian will have his choice of any top college program in the country come Aug. 1.
2. Drew Fortescue
Mid Fairfield, 4/28/05, D, left shot, 6-0/163
Fortescue, from Nyack, N.Y., also is a very good defenseman, but he plays a very different style. His tools aren’t quite as high end as Minnetian’s, but he is smart and isn’t as high risk, high reward. Fortescue skates well and has a good stick. He doesn’t fly up and down the sheet much, but he makes good breakout passes and can make plays while manning the point. What I really like about Fortescue is he always leaves the puck in a better place than he found it. If he runs into traffic and doesn’t have a legitimate option, he’ll throw the puck to a safe spot. He’s reliable defensively with good gaps. He has a good stick to break up plays while taking away shooting and passing lanes. Fortescue will have numerous suitors when it comes to picking his college destination later this offseason. He looks to have the inside track at making the NTDP.
3. Salvatore Guzzo
Mid Fairfield, 4/17/05, RW, right shot, 6-0/170
Guzzo is my favorite forward on Mid Fairfield. He played really well in Texas, scoring four goals and adding two assists. From Staten Island, N.Y., Guzzo has good size, skates well and plays hard. Guzzo has a heavy shot and he drives the net and doesn’t back down from anyone. He was often the first guy in on the forecheck and brought a physical element to disrupt breakouts and force turnovers. He forechecks with a purpose and is able to cycle pucks well below the dots. While he scored four goals, the play that epitomizes the type of player he is came on an assist. He hunted a puck below the goal line, used his size and strength to separate the retrieving defender from the puck, and sent a perfect pass out to linemate Brian Nicholas, who fired it home. Guzzo has a lot of interest from top college programs.
4. Logan Renkowski
Mid Fairfield, 8/13/05, RW, left shot, 5-8/138
Renkowski is the most underrated player on his team and throughout the region. From Long Island, N.Y., Renkowski skates really well, has skill and can play hard. He scored four goals and was solid throughout the event. He lacks size, but he’s gotten exponentially better over the past two years. Renkowski is trending in the right direction and is getting plenty of attention from college coaches already. He’s a good value pickup as he’d likely be a strong four-year contributor.
5. Brian Nicholas
Mid Fairfield, 3/15/05, C, left shot, 6-0/178
Nicholas always has drawn plenty of intrigue, due to his size and skating ability. The Scarsdale, N.Y., native led Mid Fairfield in scoring in Texas with two goals and five assists for seven points. His size and skating will get him plenty of interest, but I’d like to see him be heavier on pucks and play more between the dots. If he can become less perimeter, his stock will rise further.
6. Ryan Fine
Mid Fairfield, 3/14/05, C, right shot, 5-7/162
NCAA commit: Boston University
Fine had two goals and two assists here. He’s on the smaller side, but his skill and offensive creativity are second to none in this age group at the moment. The Center Moriches, N.Y., native has that dynamic stick that makes him a threat to score or set up a teammate anytime he has the puck on his stick. The Boston University commit likely will make the NTDP.
7. Tanner Adams
Mount Saint Charles, 9/2/05, C, right shot, 5-10/161
NCAA commit: Providence
Adams, who hails from Northport, N.Y., brings a unique skill-set to his lineup. He’s a little inconsistent, but when he brings his ‘A’ game, he can be very effective. His skating is just slightly above average, but he has good hands and can finish, and he also plays with jam. He’ll fight for loose pucks and go to the greasy areas.
8. Lucas St. Louis
Mid Fairfield, 3/30/05, D, left shot, 5-9/150
St. Louis is a smart, mobile, puck-moving defenseman. On the smaller side, his hockey sense is what allows him to make a positive impact on the game. He has great vision and makes good passes to push the pace in transition or while running the point on the power play. He has to get stronger and be tougher to knock off pucks, but his hockey sense and skating are certainly positive attributes. He’ll be at the NTDP Evaluation Camp and has plenty of suitors when it comes to college programs.
9. Chris Pelosi
Mount Saint Charles, 3/6/05, C, left shot, 6-0/160
Pelosi had a really strong New England District Tournament, but wasn’t quite as good in Texas. He has good size, can skate well, and play hard, when he wants to. There’s a lot of upside for him to be a power forward at the collegiate level. The key for Pelosi, who hails from Sewell, N.J., is to be more consistent and bring that physical, north-south element each shift.
10. Eli Friedman
Mid Fairfield, 4/29/05, C, right shot, 5-7/135
Friedman was playing through a lower-body injury at USA Hockey Nationals. He’s a better player than he showed in Texas, but that can be attributed to the bum ankle. The Rye, N.Y., native has the skating ability, skill and vision to be a Division 1 college hockey player down the road.
12. Jake Gutwirth
Mount Saint Charles, 5/29/05, C, left shot, 5-6/140
Gutwirth is the most consistent player on Scott Gainey’s team. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native is on the smaller side, but he has a big heart. He’s the team’s captain and he leads by example. He gives it his all each shift. His skating and energy are attributes that will translate well. He hunts pucks and plays in the dirty areas. It might take a while, but Gutwirth should get several Division 1 offers.
12. Ryan Sanborn
Mid Fairfield, 1/15/05, G, catches left, 6-1/175
Sanborn wasn’t at his best in Texas, but he’s still in the running for being a top three goaltender at this age group in New England. The Brookfield, Conn., native has good size, skates well, and is technically sound.
