USA Hockey: Prep Holiday Tournaments Part I

While the rest of their classmates were enjoying the holiday break, most prep players were battling all over New England in the holiday tournaments. In a three-part series, Mckeen's will have player and tournament notes for Cushing Academy's 17th Annual Edward G. Watkins Invitational, Nichols-Belmont Hill 22nd Annual Holiday Tournament, and Tabor Academy Joshua Weeks New Year's Invitational.

Nick Gordon (2009), Northfield Mount Hermon, F (SO)

A late 1990 DOB (Dec) .. size (6-1, 205) .. has a quick burst of speed and ability to release a shot while in stride .. strong on the puck and goes hard after the puck .. quick hands .. a smooth skater .. protects the puck well in corners .. had an assist in the game against Lawrence Academy.

Tom DiDonato (2008), Northfield Mount Hermon, F (SR)

A 1988 DOB .. decent size (6-0, 170) .. captain .. uses his body well to protect the puck .. has a strong shot .. made a nice pass to Brant Sherwood to send him on a partial breakaway .. scored a SHG when finishing a 2-on-1 with Colin Downey .. had two goals and two assists in the game against Lawrence Academy .. rumor that he committed to Bowdoin (Div. III) .. thought he could be a solid low-end Div. I player.

Colin Downey (2008), Northfield Mount Hermon, F (SR)

A 1989 DOB (Sept) .. had a very good game against Lawrence Academy and really allowed his team to stay in the game that saw NMH lose 8-6 in a back-in-forth game .. had a goal and two assists in the game and works well with Tom DiDonato .. has a real nose for the net .. needs to work on his defensive game.

Brant Sherwood (2009), Northfield Mount Hermon, F (SO)

A 1991 DOB (Apr) .. decent size (5-10, 155) .. has decent hands and is good with the puck .. lacks breakaway speed but is a decent skater with short strides .. had an assist on the fifth goal against Lawrence Academy .. a player to watch.

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

Named to the All-Tournament Team .. recently committed to Union for 2009 .. a 1989 DOB (Nov) .. had a tremendous game against NMH and the main reason Lawrence won the game .. he notched seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) .. plays in every situation and really stood out with Steven Whitney gone with the U-17 team .. has very good poise but over handles the puck at times .. also plays the point on the PP, but gets caught going down low .. scored two SHG's and one PPG .. has an accurate shot with a quick release .. a fluid skater with good speed .. do not think he gets enough recognition and may not be on any NHL draft lists but he is a solid player who should play Div. I hockey at a top-end school.

Micah Williams (2008), Lawrence Academy, D (JR)

A 1990 DOB (Mar) .. a steady defenseman with not much to his game .. reliable in his own end and has decent offensive ability .. quick low shot from the point .. solid defenseman who should receive some Div. I attention.

Duncan Barclay (2008), Lawrence Academy, D (SR)

A 1989 DOB (July) .. had two assists against NMH .. moves the puck well .. skating has improved a lot since last year .. no longer an awkward or weak skater, as he is now strong on his skates with decent speed .. had a big hit on the blueline .. drafted by Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) in 2006.

Jake Goldberg (2009), Berkshire School, F (SO)

A 1991 DOB (Jun) .. decent size (5-11, 180) .. scored early in the game against Cushing on a quick snapshot right on top of the crease .. can skate with the puck and attacks the net, especially on the PP .. good offensive instincts .. player to watch.

Cam Miller (2008), Berkshire School, F (SR)

A 1990 DOB (Jan) .. size (6-0, 170) .. had two assists in the game against Cushing .. good speed with quick strides .. does not lose a step when controlling the puck .. shifty down low and behind the net .. needs to get stronger on his skates, as he gets knocked-off the puck too easy .. always keeps his feet moving .. plays on the PP and PK.

Justin Agosta (2009), Berkshire School, D (JR)

A late 1990 DOB (Oct) .. good size (6-2, 213) that has ability to skate and likes to join in the offense .. showed good poise at the blueline .. received a lot of icetime .. physical .. can move with the puck .. his attractive size, strength and offensive ability could get him noticed for the 2009 NHL draft.

Nick Prockow (2008) Berkshire School, F (SR)

Named to the All-Tournament Team .. committed to Colgate for 2008 .. a 1989 DOB (Jan) .. had a goal and three assists in the game against Cushing, but did not standout at all .. plays the point on the PP .. a decent skater who seems a bit weak on his skates .. decent shot .. will need to view again to get a better report on his game .. drafted by Cape Breton (QMJHL) in 2006 .. recently listed on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term ranking.

TJ Massie (2008), Cushing Academy, G (SR)

Named to the All-Tournament Team .. committed to UMass Lowell for 2008 .. lost the game 6-2 against Berkshire and looked very shaky .. allowed two quick goals-against that seemed to deflate his team .. average at playing the puck .. not a strong game and now question whether a year of Juniors in the USHL after this year would help his development more.

Josh Bernard (2008), Cushing Academy, F (SR)

A late 1989 DOB (Oct) .. decent size (5-11, 185) .. has a quick release that is accurate but he could shoot more .. had a goal against Berkshire in the 6-2 loss .. plays PP and PK .. needs to move his feet more on the powerplay, as he is too stationary at times .. recently listed on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term ranking .. will be a solid college player but do not think he has much pro potential.

Mike Conderman (2009), Cushing Academy, F (SO)

A 1991 DOB (Feb) .. seems like the puck follows him around every shift he is on the ice .. works hard every shift and battles hard along the boards .. on the PP, always moving his feet and finding the open spots .. moves the puck well in the neutral zone .. his team did not play well against Berkshire, but Conderman stands-out as a player to watch .. drafted by Kitchener (OHL).

Torin Snydeman (2008), Cushing Academy, F (JR)

Despite his skinny frame, Snydeman likes the physical game and gets in what seems like one hit every shift .. has ability to skate with the puck, but over handles it at times .. has a quick release and a decent shot, but once again, questionable offensive ability may hurt him in terms of pro potential, but should be a solid Div. I player.

Alex Gallen (2008), Cushing Academy, D (SR)

Quiet game against Berkshire .. had a couple of big hits and definitely helps Cushing's powerplay, but was not as offensive as he could have been .. moves the puck well on the PP and possesses a strong shot, but would like to see him shoot it more, especially when 6-foot-2 Jessyko Bernard goes to the front of the net.

Andrew Glass (Wsh), Noble & Greenough School, F (SR)

Committed to BU for 2008 .. played a strong game against a weaker Pomfret team, but was only able to get an assist in a 5-2 win .. loves to shoot the puck, but constantly firing it high .. played in all situations (PP/PK) .. very good at handling the puck and quick moving puck in traffic .. can really skate with the puck and showed good vision in the offensive zone.

Nick Resor (2008), Noble & Greenough School, F (SR)

A senior with good size (6-2, 205) .. had a hat trick in the 5-2 win over Pomfret .. besides the three goals, he seemed to do something every shift to be noticed .. one goal, he drove to the net with the puck, as the defenseman was all over him and he snapped off a shot, as he used his body to protect the puck and it found its way in under the goalies arm on the blocker side .. another goal came on the PP when he positioned himself in front and tipped in a shot from the point .. really seems like he could play at a Division I level.

Michael Griffin (2008), Noble & Greenough School, F (SR)

Named to the All-Tournament Team .. committed to Brown for 2008 .. good size (6-3, 190) .. 1988 DOB and has been passed over the last two drafts .. had two assists in the game against Pomfret .. has a long, wide stride and his skating has gotten better from last year .. needs to get stronger with the puck .. showed good speed after a few strides .. had a tough time scoring and rang a shot off the post .. should be a solid college player.

Matt Marshall (TB), Noble & Greenough School, F (SR)

Named to the All-Tournament Team .. committed to Vermont for 2008 .. tremendous skater and definitely his best asset .. long, full stride with speed .. has size and strength (6-1, 175) but could be more physical, for example, tries to stick check instead of taking one or two more strides for the hit .. had a goal against Pomfret when all alone in front, he held the puck as the goalie went down, then he quickly went upstairs.

Derrick Pallis (2008), Noble & Greenough School, D (SR)

1989 DOB (Sep) .. size (6-1, 175) and needs to add weight and muscle to his frame .. had two assists in the win against Pomfret .. moves the puck well from the backend and has ability to skate it himself .. when he skates the puck, he gets it into the offensive zone, but does not seem to create any scoring chances and seems to turnover the puck or take a weak angle shot .. possess a good shot from the point and keeps it low for tips .. recently listed on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term ranking.

Tyler Quartuccio (2008), Culver Academy, D (SR)

Named to the All-Tournament Team .. committed to Bentley for 2008 .. 1990 DOB (Feb) .. small sized defenseman (5-9, 170) .. typical small defenseman with puck moving skills and good offensive instincts .. creates an instant offensive attack .. has a quick release from the point and not afraid to jump in the offense when the team is putting pressure on an opponent .. his size is a factor down low in the corners of the defensive zone.

Sebastian Geoffrion (2008), Culver Academy, F (SR)

1989 DOB (July) .. decent size (5-10, 190) .. has a combination of speed and physical play .. has a decent set of hands and sees the ice well .. smart player with the puck .. should get some looks from many Division I schools.

David Gerths (2008), Culver Academy, F (JR)

A 1990 DOB (Sept) with a strong, physical presence .. size (6-0, 195) .. has a strong shot out around the circles but had a very quiet game in a 7-1 win over Canterbury .. had one assist in the game .. only a junior and should attract lots of Division I attention.

Chris Darnell (2008), Culver Academy, F (SR)

Committed to Mercyhurst for 2008 .. 1989 DOB (June) .. good size (6-2, 185) .. an offensive talent with good hands and a very good shot .. skates well with and without the puck and has good speed .. goes hard to the net .. has too big of a wind-up when shooting from the outside .. possesses good offensive instincts, especially on the PP .. recently listed on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Term ranking.

Corey Hibbeler (2008), Culver Academy, D (SR)

1989 DOB (June) .. size (6-0, 200) .. scored the opening goal against Canterbury on a one-timer on the PP from the top of the circle .. strong offensive instincts .. against a weaker Canterbury team, he was not challenged much in the defensive zone, although a couple of shifts, Canterbury had him and his partner running around in the defensive zone .. a definite Division I candidate.

Kit Sitterley (2009), Culver Academy, F (JR)

1991 DOB (Aug) .. lacks size (5-9, 170) .. a small and speedy-type player .. seemed to be limited to a third-line-defensive role .. solid on the PK .. should have a bigger role next year and be relied upon for more offense .. has quick hands and is shifty when given space to get some speed.

Watkins Tournament All-Tournament Team

Tyler Quartuccio, Culver

Corey Hibbeler, Culver

Nick Prockow, Berkshire

Chris Buonomo, Berkshire

TJ Massie, Cushing

Mike DeVita, Cushing

Michael Griffin, Nobles

Matt Marshall, Nobles

Colin Cook, Pomfret

Wayne Simpson, Lawrence

Phil DiDonato, NMH

Brian Taptick, Canterbury

Tournament MVP: Jason Torf, Culver

Cushing Tournament Teams

Berkshire School, Canterbury School, Culver Academy, Cushing Academy, Lawrence Academy, Noble & Greenough School, Northfield Mount Hermon School, and Pomfret School.