USA Hockey: New England Summer Roundup Part 2

The New England area was busy all summer with hockey tournaments and displayed some of the best players from all-around North America. In our second installment of a three-part series, McKeen's correspondent Vincent Montalbano reviews several players who participated in the Beantown Summer Classic.

BEANTOWN SUMMER CLASSIC (FUTURE DIVISION)

Clay Witt (2009), G, (Jr. Bruins - Empire)

A 1991 DOB who was invited to the NTDP try-out .. has good size (6-2, 190) .. has long legs and covers the bottom of the net well .. made a nice save on a partial breakaway .. decent at handling the puck .. has a good glove and is vocal .. a definite Division 1 prospect.

Stephen Hickey (2009), D, (Shattuck St. Mary's)

A 1991 DOB who has size and strength (6-2, 190) .. was physically, over-powering opposing forwards in the corners and in front of his net .. has a strong shot and is strong at the point keeping the puck in .. needs to control himself better on the PK and not to chase .. plays a strong game in his own zone and seems to have the potential to develop an offensive game.

Adam Berkle (2008), F, (Valley Forge Midget)

A 1990 DOB who has very good size (6-3, 175) .. a good skater with a long stride .. had some of the best hands at the tournament .. very good hands in tight and in traffic areas .. always seemed to be around the puck and creating scoring chances .. has good offensive instincts and gets himself in the scoring areas .. willing to battle his way to the net .. shifty with the puck and has a strong shot that makes him dangerous around the net .. needs to play at a higher level to show that his skills can handle the stronger and better players.

Alex Gacek (2011), F, (Little Bruins (Midget)/ Governor's Academy)

A 1993 DOB who plays with and against players who are up to four years older than him .. lacks the size (5-7, 155) but it does not stop him from getting in on the forecheck and battling the defenseman for control of the puck .. has very good speed with and without the puck and quick strides .. will need to get stronger on his skates .. showed a quick shot and good hands around the net .. scored against the Seals with a quick cutback to the middle and fired it five-hole .. should only get better with age and should play Varsity for Governor's Academy this year.

Zachary Todd (2011), D, (Jr. Bruins – Empire)

Another 1993 DOB who lacks size for a defenseman (5-8, 155) but plays a strong game in all areas of the rink .. makes strong outlet passes along with showing good poise with the puck at the point .. does not have a strong shot but is very effective in just firing it low and on net for tips and rebounds .. strong 1-on-1 and decent defensive coverage .. a definite player to watch progress.

BEANTOWN SUMMER CLASSIC (PRO DIVISION)

Paul Dimitruk (2008), D, (Jr. Warriors – Empire)

A 1990 with size (6-1, 180) .. plays a solid game .. has poise with the puck in the offensive and defensive zone and moves the puck well from the backend .. a solid skater forward and backwards .. has ability to battle through checks and make the pass .. good 1-on-1 .. his offensive ability is questionable, but can be relied upon if team is protecting a lead.

Bobby Farnham (2008), F, (Phillips Andover)

A 1989 who has committed to Brown for 2008 .. decent size (5-10, 175) .. has tremendous wheels with a quick stride and offensive instincts .. willing to battle hard in front, but at his best along the boards with the puck .. never gives up on a play and has a quick shot .. scored when he came out of the corner and circled around the dot and fired a quick snapshot glove side .. skates very well with the puck .. needs to get stronger along the boards .. will be a solid college player with pro potential.

Peter Child (2008), D, (Green Bay – USHL)

1988 DOB who played last year for St. Paul's .. decent size (6-0, 200) .. has tremendous poise with the puck and somehow finds a way to avoid the check and get out of trouble .. was not as offensive as last viewing, as his shots were not getting through .. moves the puck very well, but at times, he makes the risky passes in the defensive zone .. should be a Division 1 player.

Jason Bourgea (2008), F, (St. Paul's)

1989 DOB .. committed to Dartmouth for 2009 .. lacks size (5-8, 175) .. has straightaway speed and can really turn on the jets coming down the wing .. shoots from anywhere and everywhere .. can be shifty at times with a quick release .. his defensive game needs some work.

Steve Moses (2008), F, (Jr. Bruins – EJHL)

1989 DOB .. committed to UNH for 2008 .. despite size (5-9, 180), Moses plays a feisty style that borders on being dirty and chippy (received a 5-minute penalty) .. he is an explosive skater with the puck and has quick strides .. always moving in the offensive zone .. questionable hockey smarts .. has very good offensive tools .. scored when he attacked the net and collected the rebound .. seemed to have a scoring chance every shift .. has the ability to play the point on PP .. will be a good college player, but do not know if he has pro potential.

John Henrion (2009), F, (Jr. Bruins – EJHL)

1991 DOB who was invited to the NTDP try-out .. good size (6-1, 195) .. has a heavy and quick shot .. solid in the offensive zone .. strong on his skates .. needs a few strides to get going but is a very good skater .. plays hard in every zone .. a definite Division 1 player with pro potential.

Derek Arnold (2008), F, (Jr. Bruins – EJHL)

1990 DOB .. committed to Maine for 2009 .. lacks size (5-9, 155) .. solid all-around game in every zone .. good in the faceoff circle .. has quick strides and speed .. goes to the net with and without the puck .. scored with a shot off the goalie's glove and just fell in over the line.

Philippe Ringuette (2008), F, (Green Bay – USHL)

1988 DOB .. has size and strength (6-0, 205) .. a solid offensive player who seems to be involved in every scoring chance his team had .. has a quick shot and uses his body well to protect the puck .. a good playmaker who finds a way to get pucks to his linemates .. needs to work on his defensive coverage .. has good speed and gets in on the forecheck quickly .. scored on the PP with a nice pass from teammate Sy Nutkevitch that he quickly snapped top corner .. a definite Division 1 prospect.

Jean-Francois Boisvert (2008), F, (St. Andrew's)

1989 DOB with decent size (5-10, 180) .. a very good skater with a strong stride and speed .. skates the puck very well .. sees the ice well and moves the puck quickly .. good offensive talent who does everything at a high speed .. does look to pass a little too much, as he passed-off a couple of scoring chances .. scored when all he was alone in front and snapped it five-hole .. scored another goal when he came out from behind the net and backhanded a shot through a screen .. a definite Division 1 prospect, who could get some draft buzz this year.

Patrick Mullane (2008), F, (Avon Old Farms)

1990 DOB .. committed to Boston College in 2009 .. has size (6-0, 195) .. his game is all about consistency and willing to battle everywhere on the ice .. solid defensively and starting to develop a stronger offensive game .. backchecks hard and a non-stop motor on every shift .. has good speed but short, choppy strides .. moves the puck well in the offensive zone .. made a nice pass when he got it around two defenders and right on the stick of his linemate .. does very good work behind the net and down low in the corners .. protects the puck well with his body .. battles through checks and has good hands around the net and in tight .. strong in the faceoff circle .. smart with the puck and makes the right plays .. a definite draft pick in 2008 and should see his offensive numbers go up this year with more responsibility.

Wayne Simpson (2008), F, (Lawrence Academy)

Late 1989 DOB .. decent size (5-10, 180) .. on one hand, he has tremendous poise with the puck and very good hands, but on the other hand, he has a tendency to hold the puck too long and is prone to losing it .. very good offensively and never stops moving his feet .. has a strong shot .. uses his quickness and body to shield the puck well .. a definite Division 1 prospect who could find his way on the draft list with a strong season at Lawrence .. will be playing with the highly touted Steven Whitney, so it should only help his draft status.

Edwin Shea (2008), D, (Jr. Bruins – EJHL)

1989 DOB .. has size (6-0,170) .. committed to Boston College for 2008 .. has the ability to skate the puck up ice or make the strong tape-to-tape pass out of the zone .. has good speed and short, quick strides when he needs speed but then extends to a long stride .. needs to read the play better when 3-on-2 or 3-on-3 and be more vocal on the ice .. has a quick shot that he just seems to get to the net for rebounds and tips .. gives good defensive support to his partner in the neutral and defensive zone .. could find his name on some draft lists this year.

Jason Silvia (2008), F, (Belmont Hill)

1989 DOB .. has good size and strength (6-2, 205) .. a bit of a surprise not being drafted in 2007, but should get another look in 2008 .. plays a physical game and willing to battle along the boards .. a decent skater who needs a few strides to get going .. has good hands and offensive skill, but is prone to a few quiet shifts when he cannot seem to get the offense going .. dependable in the defensive zone .. should be a highly sought after Division 1 player who again should get draft buzz.

Mark Anthoine (2008), F, (Chicago – USHL)

1990 DOB with size (6-0, 185) .. committed to Maine for 2008 or 2009 .. has shifty moves and quick hands .. prone to a few quiet shifts and then come out flying .. has a very good shot with a quick release .. one shot, he hit two posts before almost going in .. smart offensively with the puck and uses his poise and hands to find open space .. will play physical and aggressive on the forecheck and in the neutral zone .. a draft prospect that needs a strong season with Chicago (USHL) to move up in the rankings.

Mike DiMare (2008), F, (Avon Old Farms)

1989 DOB .. despite size (5-7, 160), he is willing to battle for pucks down low and is the typical small, quick, offensive player who creates so much offense every shift .. has quick hands and is shifty with the puck .. ability to take-off up the wing and receive a pass with ease in full stride .. has the ability to slip around checks and keep going .. needs to shoot quicker and despite getting in on the forecheck, he needs to get stronger .. scored when he took it off the defenders stick and fired a shot top corner .. always around the net .. seems like every shift he gets a scoring chance or creates a scoring chance for linemates .. had a penalty shot and scored on a Tony Amonte/Doug Weight-type move when you go down and show the goalie backhand, but quickly shift to forehand last second.

John Heffernan (2008), F, (BC High)

1989 DOB with good size (6-2, 185) .. committed to Merrimack for 2008 .. good down low and tough in the corners .. has good hands in tight and around the net .. a long reach to get around defenders .. has average speed and takes a few strides to get going .. scored when the puck came out to the slot area and he skated into his shot, the goalie saved it, but it trickled in .. seems to have solid hockey sense in the offensive zone, but needs to work on his defensive game .. returning to BC High could hinder his development more.

Malcolm Lyles (2008), D, (Deerfield Academy)

A 1990 DOB with decent size (5-10, 180) .. his game revolves around speed and skating the puck .. has quick acceleration with one or two strides .. has good anticipation to pick-off passes in the neutral zone, but needs to be more aware of the forwards getting behind him .. prone to getting lazy in the defensive zone .. has a quick shot from the point and is shifty with the puck .. seems to try to do too much at times .. overall, a very good offensive defenseman who still needs work on his defensive game .. will be a Division 1 prospect that may end up on a draft ranking by the end of the season.

Paul Lee (2008), F, (Avon Old Farms)

A 1989 DOB who is transferring to Avon from Lawrenceville Prep .. committed to Dartmouth in 2008 .. has good size (6-2, 210) .. takes short, quick strides with good speed coming down the wing .. decent shot .. physical along the boards and in the corners .. needs to get stronger on his skates .. backchecks hard .. with a breakout year offensively, he could find his way on a draft rankings.

Cam Atkinson (2008), F, (Avon Old Farms)

1989 DOB .. committed to Boston College for 2008 .. lacks size (5-9, 175), but that is about the only thing he lacks .. he is so talented offensively and very smart with and without the puck .. scored when he was given a little room and snapped a shot top corner over the glove .. reliable defensively and willing to help down low .. strong on his skates and never gives up on a play .. has such good hands in tight and speed that makes him so dangerous when in full flight .. going to be a very good college player and with a strong season at Avon, he should not be overlooked come draft time.