Prospect watch list: December 2020 Western New York Clinic

The Western New York Clinic featured players from the 2002 and 2005 birth years in drills and scrimmages. (Jeff Cox/NYHJ)

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The Western New York Clinic provided scouts and college coaches, watching remotely on Livebarn, the opportunity to see numerous prospects from an area of the country that has been limited in terms of playing hockey this season.

Over the course of two days, players born between 2002 and 2005 were put through flow drills and scrimmages in order to showcase their skill-sets. The event, put on by Tom Gately and Kyle Quick of Gamebreakers Elite, went off smoothly this Saturday and Sunday at Hyde Park Ice Pavilion.

Three players in the event already had college commitments, while a handful of others are likely to suit up for a Division 1 program down the road.

Based on my viewings at the two ice sessions, here are 15 players who stood out.

Forwards

Kaleb Smith
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16-U, 5/14/04, RW, right shot, 6-0/176

This setting isn’t ideal to showcase Smith’s skill-set. He’s a big winger who excels when he’s physical and uses his size and strength to be an impact, north-south player. Smith was better on Sunday than he was on Saturday. He made some plays, cycled pucks down low, and used his explosive stride and length to protect pucks. I’d like to see Smith play to his strengths and accept his role of a physical power forward.

Jared Mangan
Trinity-Pawling, 4/8/03, RW, left shot, 5-11/170

Mangan skated on only Sunday. There’s no doubting he’s a skilled forward with a good stick. He skates well and can read plays, knowing where to go to find pucks. I’d like to see him be a little heavier and play between the dots more than he does.

Hunter Dickey
Rochester Coalition 15-U, 1/19/05, C, right shot, 5-9/165

Dickey is around the puck a lot. His hockey sense puts him in good positions where he can possess the puck and find soft spots in opposing defenses. He has a quick release and his shot is accurate. Dickey is creative with the puck and made a couple of nifty passes. If he can improve his skating, his ability to be a productive offensive player should increase.

Daniel Urban
Rochester Coalition 16-U, 2/17/04, C, right shot, 5-8/160

This was my best viewing of Urban that I can remember. He was quick, shifty and smart. Urban was engaged in both zones, hunting pucks and playing with some sandpaper.

Nate Stachowiak
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16-U, 2/24/04, C, right shot, 5-9/160

Stachowiak isn’t flashy, but he plays a complete, 200-foot game. He goes to dirty areas, including in front of the net. Compete and backchecking ability aren’t always parts of a player’s game that will stand out in an event like this. However, Stachowiak does a lot of little things and has strong habits that you’ll notice if you watch closely.

Defensemen

Alex Zakrzewski
Rochester Coalition 16-U, 3/12/04, D, left shot, 5-9/150
NCAA commit: Brown

Zakrzewski was the best player here. He’s on the smaller side but does a lot of things really well. His skating is an asset, whether it be sidestepping forecheckers or while defending. His stick is good and he makes good decisions on breakouts. He keeps things simple and utilizes the wall for chips to keep pucks out of danger. Defensively, I liked that his gaps were strong and his pokechecks broke up several plays.

Kiernan Gately
Gunnery, 2/25/04, D, right shot, 6-1/161
NCAA commit: St. Lawrence

Gately has gotten noticeably taller and stronger since last season. He’s not a flashy defenseman, but he made several strong plays at both ends of the ice. He skates with his head up and makes strong, simple breakout passes. He covers a lot of ground and communicates well in his own zone.

Dominic Derenda
Nichols Prep, 7/30/03, D, right shot, 5-10/161

Derenda isn’t a player who I had taken note of prior to this weekend. An undersized defenseman, Derenda did a good job of moving pucks and impacting the transition game. He had a good stick and made a quick, effective first touch. Derenda did a good job of activating into the rush.

Joseph Blackley
Nichols Prep, 9/8/03, D, left shot, 5-11/185
NCAA commit: Yale

Blackley was around the puck a lot and certainly can be described as an offensive-minded defenseman. He has the skill-set to jump into the rush and create offense for his team. He did that numerous times here. I’d like to see him pick and choose his spots more wisely.

Jim DeMatteo
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16-U, 4/3/04, D, right shot, 5-10/161

DeMatteo was a late addition to the event, taking the ice on Saturday. He scored two goals in Saturday’s scrimmage, including a bar-down snipe while rushing the puck up the left wing. He popped a few times other than that.

Eric Charpentier
Gunnery, 6/10/02, D, left shot, 6-2/194

Charpentier is a player with upside, as I’ve been saying for a couple of years now. His size and skating are intriguing. He has to shore up his own zone and read plays better on a more consistent basis. Overall, I thought he was solid here. He made a couple of positive plays and is someone to keep on your radar.

Severi Sulonen
Gunnery, 7/7/02, D, left shot, 6-2/180

Sulonen is a tall defender from Finland. He played the past two seasons at Rothsay Netherwood and was planning on competing for Gunnery this season before that school pulled the plug. He has good length and scored a goal on a shot from the point. There’s definitely some offensive upside.

Zach Walsh
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15-U, 2/15/05, D, left shot, 5-11/170

Walsh was the victim of an unintentional collision halfway through Sunday’s action, his only day at the clinic. He has some physical tools, including his mobility and stick. Walsh has the ability to impact the offense and move pucks north. His hockey sense needs to improve in order for him to take that next step. He needs to keep things simple and be careful when taking risks, whether that be pinching or forcing plays. He’s young and has potential as an offensive defenseman.

Goaltenders

Austin McNicholas
Salisbury, 5/24/04, G, catches left, 6-1/165

McNicholas was the best goaltender here, giving up only one goal in his half of action on Sunday. He has good size and is quiet in the crease. Even when he made a save that required quick reflexes, he was in position to make the save look easier than it was.

Joey Lovullo
Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16-U, 1/23/04, G, catches left, 6-0/155

Lovullo also showed some potential for the future. He made a couple of good saves and stopped the shots he was supposed to for the most part.