PLYMOUTH, Michigan — The Dropkick Murphys’ hit single was blaring throughout USA Hockey Arena after Team USA tacked on its seventh goal against the outmatched All-Stars from the USHL.
“Shipping Up to Boston” was the apt refrain, and it begged the question: Where had Boston’s prospects been shipped? Had they lost their legs climbing up the topsails? Forty-four players had suited up for the Biosteel All-American Game, yet not a single soul from the Bay State.
“Actually, we have one,” said NTDP coach Dan Muse of Canton, Mass., referring to the injured Jack Hughes (Westwood, Mass.), who will be heading to Northeastern in the fall. Muse added that there are plenty of Mass. men currently in the National Hockey League. And U-20 standouts including Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.) and Matt Beniers (Hingham, Mass.) helped Team USA reel in gold at the recent World Junior Championship. But when it comes to younger teenage talent from the commonwealth, it appears that ship has sailed.
A joint effort between USA Hockey, the USHL and NHL, the game pits the top prospects from the USHL against the top players from the U.S. National Under-18 Team. To date, 225 alumni of the All-American Game have been drafted in the NHL, highlighted by 46 first-round selections.
Muse and coach Greg Mauldin, a Boston native, did have one talented New Englander in its deep arsenal for Team Blue — forward Ryan St. Louis of Riverside, Conn. Son of Hockey Hall of Fame Marty, Ryan was held scoreless in the game but is a ‘C’-rated prospect who has put up solid numbers with the NTDP.
Team White — the USHL crew — included Mackie Samoskevich of Newtown, Conn., and the Chicago Steel, picking up an assist on a goal by UMass recruit Ryan Ufko.
Boston University alum and author Neal Boudette was at USA Hockey Arena this night. The Michigan resident remembered when the NTDP used to be headlined by Massachusetts talent.
“That was a decade ago, when (Jack) Eichel was there,” said Boudette. “There just seemed to be one after another of really top-notch players coming out of Massachusetts and making a name for themselves.” Boudette, who teamed up with Mike Eruzione to write “Making of a Miracle,” feels an affinity for the land of the bean and the cod. “Having lived in Boston a long time, I’d like to see that again.”
Boudette recalled dropping by the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor when Noah Hanifin (Norwood, Mass.) tried out for the NTDP as a 15-year-old. “I was standing there watching the tryouts with coach Don Granato, and he pointed at him (Hanifin) and said, ‘That kid is going to be a first-round draft choice.’ ” Hanifin was selected fifth overall in the 2015 NHL draft after one season with Boston College.
Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.) was another part of that Bay State brigade who dazzled fans with grace, power and skill.
But with the exception of Hughes, the current cupboard appears bare at the NTDP. The Southwest, on the other hand — states such as Arizona and Southern California — are filling precious roster spots in USA Hockey’s elite “Program.” They are all-around athletes who grew up on inline skates, playing on beach parking lots with freedom and creativity.
There is some consolation for Bay State hockey fans: eight NTDP products are committed to playing at Beanpot schools — Hughes (Northeastern), St. Louis (Northeastern), Matt Coronato (Harvard), Jack Harvey (BU), Roman Schmidt (BU), Jeremy Wilmer (BU), Aidan Hreschuk (BC) and Andre Gasseau (BC). Providence recruit Liam Gilmartin also suited up for Team Blue, and Team White’s Bennet Schimek is a Friars commit. Ufko and goalie Colin Purcell are UMass commits.
Massachusetts might not be producing as much elite hockey talent any more, but USA Hockey appears to be following the Dropkick Murphys’ advice when it comes to America’s best hockey teens, who are headed to the Hub’s cherished colleges.
