Forwards:
Zac Bulson – MYHA Gold
– Using his ability to read the development of play, Bulson intercepted several passes and turned them into breakaways with his great speed on the puck. This allowed him to pot a team-high five goals, including a hat trick. He also displayed a highly accurate shot by going bar down with ease. A pure offensive talent, defenses must stay alert when he is on the ice, even when they’re on the puck.
Chris Delmonte – North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue
– A two-way forward that utilizes a physical game over all 200 feet of the rink, Delmonte contributed in ways that did and didn’t show up on the score sheet. In terms of scoring, he had three goals on the ledger. What didn’t show up on the sheet was his willingness to get involved in the play, no matter where it was, and his gritty skating style. He was, and will continue to be, critical to the Aspen Kings gameplan.
Ben Russell – MYHA Gold
– Using his big frame in front of the net, Russell successfully cleared room for MYHA to score. In the showcase opener, he netted two goals in the second period by creating space for himself before unleashing a textbook one-timer. He also showed off strong hand-eye coordination, tipping home a deflection goal. The MYHA power forward finished the showcase with three goals and two assists, a very strong showing for him.
Jonah Smith – Royals Hockey Club
– Among the team point leaders with a goal and an assist, Smith was heavily involved with a lot of offensive scoring chances for the Royals. He displayed a high hockey IQ on his goal, teaming up well with his linemate in order to create a quality scoring chance. Should he be able to maintain this chemistry with his linemates, Jonah will be sure to pop in more goals this season.
Defense:
Chase Unice – North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue
– Unice normally fulfills the role of a stay-at-home defenseman, and that was what he did for a majority of the showcase. He used his large build to snuff out a wide array of attacks. However, he also flashed a rare showcase of offensive talent, as well. He stick handled around a defender and impressively slid a shot by the goalie on their short side. That was hopefully a glimpse into the future and Chase can incorporate more offense like that into his game.
Goalies:
Frederick Horowitz – MYHA Gold
– Backstopping his team to two wins, Horowitz only conceded four goals on 65 shots against him. His .930 save percentage was tied for third among 18U A netminders that played a minimum of 50 minutes. His athletic ability permitted him to stop such a high volume of shots, and will continue to bring him great success down the road.
Utility:
Michael Bonnani – Royals Hockey Club
– Serving time as both the main line and last line of defense in the showcase, Bonnani hit the ice as a defenseman and a goalie. He saw great success as a shut-down defenseman, blocking nearly 50 shots and shutting down up-ice rushes. For the team’s game on Saturday, he was asked to fill in as a netminder and did so admirably, making 43 saves while borrowing equipment from the rink and using a skater’s stick. His versatility and team-first mindset makes him a highly valuable asset for the Royals.