US MIDGET HOCKEY REPORT
NAPHL 18 Fall League
Top Team
MHA Mudbugs 4-0-0
Top Point Getters
Seth Ferguson- 2003’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs- 4G 5A 9Pts.
Adam Pietila- 2003’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs- 4G 4A 8Pts.
Austin Amelse- 2003’ Defensemen, Fairbanks Ice Dogs- 2G 3A 5Pts.
Top Goaltenders
Zach Tyman- 2002’ Goaltender, Wilderness, 96.1SV%, 0.88 GAA, 127 mins, 2 wins.
Program Spotlights
MHA Mudbugs 4W-0L-0T
The Mudbugs are a combination of High School players from the state of Michigan. It was evident from early on that they were the most skilled team at the event. The team as a whole was very tenacious on the forecheck and were led by a strong group of forwards that have the ability to score at any time.
Seth Ferguson- 2003’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs- 4G 5A 9Pts.-Ferguson led the showcase in all scoring. He is a slippery player that loves to create in transition. Has great mobility in his hips which allows him to create space for himself. Plays the game with a lot of detail and is smart on both ends of the ice.
Adam Pietila- 2003’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs- 4G 4A 8Pts- Adam is a goal scorer who finds his way around the offensive zone. He loves to play in the net front and showed a quick release and the ability to get his shot off in tight spaces. Showed finish on the puck as he buried a back door weakside wing opportunity.
Lucas Krol- 2003’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs- 4G 0A 4Pts- Krol is a smart two way player who always finds himself in the right position. Was strong on the forecheck as he was often F1 disrupting the play. Supports the play in all three zones. Showed some creativity and finish. Once he improves his lateral skating ability, he will become a more well-rounded player.
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3W-1L-0T
The group of Minnesota players showed very well here as they have the ability to produce offensively. They are not a group that relies on one line for scoring as they have offensive depth. Their defense did a nice job of getting involved offensively as they were able to contribute to the scoring efforts.
Logan Weierke- 2002’ Forward, Fairbanks 2G 0A 2Pts- The raw prospect is a strong 200-foot player who loves to get his nose dirty. He competes for loose pucks in all three zones as he finishes every play hard. Showed some play making ability here as he was able to generate a few chances. Gets to the net on a regular basis. Has room to grow as he needs to clean up his skating stride.
Logan Weierke Highlight
Jayar Luedke- 2004’ Defensemen, Fairbanks 1G 2A 3Pts- The young, smooth skating defensemen turned some heads at the showcase as he was able to defend with his feet and had a knack for joining the rush. Very comfortable with the puck on his stick and is not afraid to shoot. Very intriguing prospect for coaches at the Junior level to track
Janesville Jets 3W 1L 0T
The Wisconsin group of players competed extremely hard every game. While they did not carry as much fire power as some of the teams in the showcase, they were clearly the most structured team. The group overall has some high hockey IQ.
Prospects
Mason Manglitz- 2002’ Forward, Janesville 5G 0A 5Pts- Mason showed the ability to put the puck in the net, but what was more impressive was his play away from the puck. He competed to every puck, was strong as F1 on the forecheck, found soft areas in the offensive zone and was extremely effective in the faceoff circle.
Max McNeil- 2003’ Defensemen, Janesville 0G 1A 1Pts- Mcneil is a smooth skating defenseman who showed his ability to defend with his feet. He has nice recovery speed which he showed covering for his defensive partner. Anticipates the play extremely well as he picked off several passes, especially in the neutral zone.
Jordan DeGaetano- 2003’ Forward, Janesville 2G 1A 3Pts- The 200-foot player is another one of the Janesville players that competes to every puck. Jordan was creating havoc every shift. He found soft areas of the ice in the offensive zone and he transitions pucks quickly.
NAPHL 16 Fall League
Top Team
Minnesota Magicians 4-0-0
MHA Mudbugs 4-0-0
Top Point Getters
Benjamin Pouliot- 2004’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs 1G 6A 7Pts
Tyler Lafferty- 2004’ Defense, Minnesota Magicians 2G 4A 6Pts
Top Goaltenders
Jack Hochsprung- 2005’ Goaltender, Minnesota Magicians. 98.1 SV %, .40GAA, 2 Wins
Logan Leyde- 2004’ Goaltender, Fairbanks Ice Dogs. 93.3 SV%, 2.28GAA
Program Spotlight
MHA Mudbugs 4-0-0
Much like their older brothers at the 18u level, they are a strong offensive team that comes at their opponent in waves. They possess pucks in the offensive zone and can keep their opponents trapped for long periods of time. Their defensive core is very active and love to join the rush on a regular basis.
Prospects
Matthew Herb- 2004’ Defensemen, MHA Mudbugs, 1G 3A 4Pts- Herb is a lanky two-way defenseman who can carry the puck out of the zone in transition. He is extremely effective in the corner battles as he loves to touch pucks. His shot from the point is heavy and often finds the net. With his size his feet still need to be worked on as he struggles laterally. High upside player with room to grow.
Benjamin Pouliot- 2004’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs 1G 6A 7Pts- The playmaking forward who showed his creativity all showcase. His passing is crisp and accurate. He loves to use area passes to get his line mates open. His stride is clean and his wide skating base generates a lot of power and balance.
Peter Rosa- 2004’ Forward, MHA Mudbugs 4G 2A 6Pts- Rosa is a strong two-way forward who can get to every part of the ice very quickly. His first three strides are impressive and he can change directions very quickly. Loves the puck possession game and is not afraid to use his quick release that typically finds the back of the net. Competes on every backcheck.
Minnesota Magicians 4-0-0
The group from Minnesota was very structured in their approach. They played from the net out as they were very sound defensively. Their forwards worked the puck low to high in the offensive zone and their defense did a nice job of getting their shots through. The power play was clicking as they were able to move pucks extremely quickly.
Prospects
Tyler Lafferty -2004’ Defensemen, Magicians 2G 4A 6Pts- Lafferty was impressive on both sides of the ice throughout the showcase as he was able to shutdown opponents in his own end and contribute offensively. His smooth skating allows him to take his ice on regroups and gives him confidence to lead the rush. He eliminates time and space defensively as he defends with his feet. Great upside
Owen Sheffel- 2004’ Defensemen, Magicians 0G 2A 2Pts- Sheffel is an extremely effective defender as he does a nice job of touching pucks while accepting the rush. Showed great defensive stick habits as he was always in position. Has to improve his overall strength along the wall so he is harder to play against. Takes nice low point shots through traffic.
Carter Haycraft - 2004’ Forward, Magicians 3G 0A 3Pts- The speedy winger generates his offense in transition. Shot needs to improve off the rush as he rarely changes his release point. Showed soft hands in tight in front of net as he scored two net front goals. Not afraid to get to the dirty areas of the ice.
Brady Ingebritson - 2004’ Forward, Magicians 2G 1A 3Pts- Brady plays a nice puck protection game in the offensive zone. His north-south style of play is helped by his first three strides as he can create separation. He capitalizes on his chances, however there is another gear to his game that he has not shown yet.
Mid-Am Region
Hockey is starting to pick up in the Mid-Am Region as several teams have started their seasons at the midget level.
Program Spotlight
Cleveland Barons 18U 3W 1L 0T
The Barons opened up their season Sept 5 with a loss to the Esmark Stars, but bounced back the following night with a 3-2 victory over Esmark. This past weekend the Barons played host to the Washington Little Caps and had a nice weekend sweep. The Barons appear to be a deep team this year that can roll four lines and get production.
Prospects
James Creighton- 2002’ Defenseman, Cleveland Barons, 1G 3A 4Pts- The left shot D has nice mobility and showed he can facilitate offense from the blue line to start the season. He is very steady in his own end and plays within himself.
Joey Trobenter- 2002’ Forward, Cleveland Barons, 2G 1A 3Pts- Trobenter comes back to his home state after spending time with the Rockets in the NCDC last season. He is a big body who can absolutely fire the puck. His foot speed has improved from last year and is poised to have a monster 18u year.
Other 18U Mid-Am News
Indy Jr Fuel- Opened up their season this past weekend vs a lower level opponent. They took care of business going 3-0 and outscoring their opponent 20-6.
Ohio Blue Jackets- Went on the road over Labor ay weekend to take on the Nashville Jr. Predators. The Blue Jackets had a confidence boosting weekend sweeping the Predators with 2-1 and 4-1 wins.
16U Mid-Am News
Ohio Blue Jackets U16 Team have had an impressive start to their season going 3-0 in the early going. Their wins have come from a weekend sweep of the Jr. Predators and a standalone game vs Victory Honda. Reports are this team should be very good this season.
New England
Across the country the teams in the New England region have played the most hockey. The Beast Tournament Series every year is one of the highest scouted circuits across the country. This year is no different as we see some of the best prep/midget players across the country playing.
18U Program Spotlight
Maine Nordiques 7W 0L 1T
This first year academy program has really turned some heads across the hockey world by going 7-0-1 to start the season. The team comes at their opponents in waves as they are extremely deep up front. Coach Nick Skerlick has his team competing every shift making them an extremely hard out on any given night.
Prospects
Gus Holt- 2003’ Goaltender, Maine Nordiques- Holt comes into this season with a lot of expectation as he was selected by the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and Barrie Colts of the OHL. He is a big netminder who moves extremely well. Has shown early on that he can back-stop a team to victory. His athletic ability combined with his ability to be technical make him a high-end prospect for junior programs.
Jack Kurrle- 2003’ Forward, Maine Nordiques, University of Vermont- Kurrle is a natural goal scorer who has the ability to set up any of his teammates for points. He has produced at every level he has been at. This year will be a year for the 03’ as he needs to continue developing away from the puck and in the defensive zone.
Miles Harrington-2002’ Forward, Maine Nordiques- Harrington is always creating offense as he does a nice job of finding soft areas of the ice. He has shown the ability to finish the puck as he just recently recorded a hat trick. Sneaky good offensive weapon for the Nordiques.
Easton Zueger- 2003’ Defensemen, Maine Nordiques- The undersized defensemen is not afraid to throw his body around. He has a very active stick in the defensive zone and is extremely hard to play against in tight areas. Has a big shot from the point that he loves to use. He does a nice job of picking his spots offensively.
Cape Cod Whalers 2W 2L 1T
The Whalers are loaded with talent this season as they have some of the top prep players in the country playing split season for them. The early part of the year has shown mixed results as they have been very up and down. They defeated a very talented Neponset Valley team 6-2 but also saw a 5-2 loss to Mount St. Charles the same day. Overall, Cape Cod is a fun watch.
Prospects
James Tepper-2002’ Forward, Cape Cod Whalers- Has shown the ability to compete in all three zones and has really taken the next step in his game because of it. His hands are soft and he has the ability to make defenders miss. Has shown incredible touch around the net.
Will Tripp- 2002’ Defensemen, Cape Cod Whalers- Utilized heavily on the power play as he moves pucks confidently and accurately. Anticipates well and does a nice job of finding soft areas coming down from the blue line. Defensively needs to compete more as he has been liable to lose puck battles. Lots of upside for Will.
William Tripp - White #5
Other 18U New England News:
Mount St. Charles- Has picked up right where they left off last season as it looks like Coach Plante has restocked his roster after losing a lot to Junior Hockey. Mount has roared out to a 5-0-0 record to start the season
Yale Bulldogs- Currently sitting at 2-2-0 the Bulldogs have struggled with depth this season. They are a team that will be extremely hard to handle once they are playing with a full roster.
Minutemen Flames- Have been a great surprise as they are currently sitting 6-0. Although, their schedule has not been grueling they have taken care of business as they have shown they can skate with any top team. Their offense is very dangerous.
16U Program Spotlight
Mid-Fairfield 4-5-0
Mid-Fairfield has been another one of these teams that have been struggling to find their identity early on. Their offensive fire power is some of the best in the country as they feature Andon Cerbone (Michigan) and Connor Welsh (Boston College). For Mid-Fairfield to continue its success they will need to find more secondary scoring and consistency in the net.
Prospects
Connor Welsh- 2004’ Forward, Mid-Fairfield, Boston College- Welsch looks like he has improved his foot speed from last season. His pace combined with his willingness to get to the net has added an extra element to his game. Elite release that can beat a goalie clean.
Colin Estricht- 2004’ Defensemen, Mid-Fairfield- Has impressed early with his defensive ability. Has developed an offensive side to his game as well. He is a smart player that picks his spots nicely.
Other 16U New England News
Seacoast Academy-A strong recruiting class is paying off, as they currently sit 7-0-2 with Wins vs Mid-Fairfield, Boston Hockey Academy, Cape Cod and Mid-Fairfield.
Mount St. Charles- Opening weekend was rough as they dropped their first two games. The lack of practice time hurt the squad but they bounced back nicely with two wins the following weekend.
Boston Jr. Eagles- Currently sitting undefeated as they were able to take two away from Yale and beat Mount St. Charles. Their only hiccup was a tie to Neponset Valley.
Atlantic District
In the Atlantic District many teams have yet to take ice. Teams have participated in Beast events and the Boston Shootout. The District gave the green light to start playing league games starting September 19th.
18U News
Mercer Chiefs
Opened up their season at the East Coast Classic Tournament over Labor Day weekend and saw some success. Coach Broderick brought in talent from outside the area and this team looks to compete for a spot at districts at the end of the year.
North Jersey Avalanche
Coach Lottio’s bunch are very deep at every position and have been arguably one of the most impressive teams in the country early on. They have out scored their opponents 25-4 going 4-1 overall.
Little Flyers
Making the jump from the second division to the top division, the Flyers have tested themselves early. They have handed defeats out to the Chiefs, Whalers and Colonials. Their schedule will continue to get tougher, but this team looks like a sleeper for the District.
16U News
Rockets Hockey Club
Noel Rubin’s program looks to have taken another step forward this season. They are very deep at all three positions. They have a lot of high-end talent that will get a lot of scouts attention.
North Jersey Avalanche
Very similar to the Rockets, this program will get the eyes of every USHL and OHL scout in the area. They are currently sitting 4-0 with wins vs Mid-Fairfield, Bishop Kearny, Cape Cod and the Rochester Coalition.
Philadelphia Hockey Club
Traditionally a really strong club at the younger ages they have really put a focus on building their midget programs up this year. Although they have played a light schedule so far, they have seen success sitting 7-1-1 with their only hiccup coming against a talented Rockets’ program.