Prospects: Top performers in Northeast Pack 18-U division

Yale commit Jack Henry (Skaneateles, N.Y.) is a right-shot defenseman for Bishop Kearney Selects 18-U. (Photo by BK Selects)

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The final Northeast Pack Hockey League event of the regular season took place over the weekend, hosted by Bishop Kearney Selects at Rochester Ice House. The five-team league will hold its playoffs for all levels (14-U through 18-U) from Feb. 11-13.

The 18-U division was a four-team battle between Bishop Kearney, the Long Island Gulls, New Jersey Rockets and Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. Mount St. Charles did not attend due to Covid protocols.

There were many impressive performances, but the most noteworthy was a hat-trick on Sunday by Jake Manfre (Kings Park, N.Y.).

The Gulls trailed the Penguins, 2-0 when Manfre scored a shorthanded goal to put his team on the board. Manfre broke up a play in the defensive zone, cleared the puck into the neutral zone, outraced two Penguins players to the puck, and scored on the ensuing breakaway. Shortly after, Manfre scored his second goal thanks to the tremendous individual effort where he followed up on his shot and buried the rebound. He capped off his hat-trick on a two-on-one toward the end of the game when he deceived the Penguins defender, toe-dragged around an outstretched stick, and ripped a shot high glove side. The Princeton commit assisted in the win and buried a goal in another viewing earlier in the weekend.

Here, we rank the impacts of Manfre and nine other players who stood out in the 18-U division:

Jake Manfre (Kings Park, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls, 4/22/04, LW, left shot, 6-0/191
NCAA commit: Princeton

As we mentioned in our preview, Manfre was a scoring machine for the Gulls. He is property of the Madison Capitols in the USHL and appears ready to step into a junior line-up today if they need him. His size is an asset, and he knows how to use his body to protect pucks and his strength to muscle through checks and beat opponents. His stride isn’t pretty, but it is very effective, and he displayed impressive separation speed to create scoring chances. In addition, he has quick hands and a deceptive release on a shot that emits a lot of power. Manfre is an efficient player in both zones and a difference-maker for his club.

Jack Henry (Skaneateles, N.Y.)
Bishop Kearney Selects, 2/25/04, RD, right shot, 6-0/185
NCAA commit: Yale

Henry is an aggressive defender who was impactful on both sides of the puck this weekend. In addition, he has impressive offensive jumped fueled by his puck-moving skills and ability to use his feet to join the play. He proved difficult for wingers to defend at the point because he used his footwork to adjust his body with the puck and walk into open shooting lanes. He does need to work on getting pucks on the net, however. On the defensive side of the puck, he used his body to work over his opponents around the net or in the corners. Henry is effective at taking away time and space and winning pucks in tight areas, but he can make better reads against the rush. Nevertheless, Henry is an intriguing prospect and another player who should find a home in the USHL next season.

Charlie Major (Skaneateles, N.Y.)
Bishop Kearney Selects, 9/14/04, RW, right shot, 5-10/155
NCAA commit: Cornell

Major is a talented winger who continues playing a productive role for Bishop Kearney. He is a Chicago Steel prospect and will play for the elite USHL program next season. His vision, creativity, and playmaking skills scream “impact player” at the next level. However, the quality that separates him from others is his hockey sense and ability to read a defense and make nifty plays around them. An example of a noteworthy play from the weekend occurred during a 2-2 tie against Long Island. Major set up on the left flank inside the left face-off circle, where he received a cross-ice pass from Jack Henry and very quickly slid a backdoor pass to another teammate to create a goal. This play illustrated his awareness of the ice and his playmaking prowess.

Hans Martin Ulvebne
Bishop Kearney Selects, 8/25/04, LC, left shot, 6-0/180

The Oslo, Norway product is playing his third year in the States and second as a member of Bishop Kearney’s program. The centerman is making strides in his development, and this weekend he showcased as one of the premier players at the event. He has good size and skating ability, along with impressive stickhandling skills and a powerful shot. He was used as a shooter on the power play, and he did a good job maneuvering himself into positions where he could receive a pass and challenge the goalie. Ulvebne is a competitive player on both sides of the puck and promises to be an efficient two-way forward at the junior level and beyond.

Nicholas Zocco (Staten Island, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls, 6/19/03, RC, right shot, 5-11/181

Although we didn’t see him produce on the scoresheet like he usually does, Zocco still played a competitive, well-rounded game for the Gulls. He was aggressive on pucks and created chaos through a heavy forecheck. When he handled the puck, he was difficult to defend thanks to his quick hands and his size to protect pucks and work through checks. His shot is lethal, and there is scoring potential in his game. In addition, he is a willing penalty killer who slides into shooting lanes to block shots. Zocco will be an efficient junior player with a definite college upside.

Zach Wagnon (Red Bank, N.J.)
New Jersey Rockets, 3/26/04. RC, right shot, 6-1/165
NCAA commit: Yale

Wagnon once again was the Rockets’ top performer at the U-18 level. His competitive nature makes him an impact player whenever he steps on the ice. He returns aggressively on defense and assists his teammates in winning pucks down low and finding outs to transition up the ice. On offense, he is sneaky with the puck and can find seams to make plays and create scoring chances. The Yale commit is ready to play at the junior level and contribute to a Tier II team right now.

Ryan Friedman (North Merrick, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls, 3/12/04, LW, left shot, 5-6/140

Friedman is an undersized winger who possesses impressive speed and stickhandling abilities. He is quick with the puck and uses his skating and hands to trick defenders and create space for himself. The Chicago Steel pick sees the ice well and makes skilled passes to his teammates. He is a battler on both sides of the puck, and despite being a smaller player, he showcased well on the penalty kill but putting his body into shooting lanes and reading passes to pick off opportunities. Friedman has the talent and compete-level to be an impact player at the junior level.

Johnny McMahon (Oceanside, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls, 5/25/04, RC, right shot, 5-11/190

McMahon is a reliable centerman who plays with a purpose. He is competitive without the puck, using his skating to backcheck and help defend rushes or in-zone play, and he displays impressive strength along the walls through the success he finds in puck battles. In addition, McMahon has a potent shot and scored a notable bar-down goal against the Penguins Elite on Sunday. He has intriguing junior and college upside.

Zachary Hixon
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 5/3/04, LD, left shot, 6-4/170

The big-bodied defenseman recently signed a North American Hockey League tender with the Johnstown Tomahawks. He hails from Shavertown, Pa., and has flip-flopped between the Penguins Elite and Esmark Stars programs. His upside is undoubtedly intriguing, especially considering that he is very mobile for his size. In addition, he moves smoothly on the ice and uses his feet to keep tight gaps on opposing forwards. Although he isn’t overly physical, Hixon has a good reach and an active stick to break up plays. He should be able to step into Johnstown’s top-six immediately next year and could develop into a D-1 player.

Dominic Mastomonica (Kings Park, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls, 7/22/04, LW, left shot, 6-2/220

Mastromonica is a big forward who brought a physical presence to the games in Rochester. He was strong on pucks, battled his way to the net-front for chances, and finished some big hits on opposing players. He doesn’t appear to possess high-end talent, but he is effective by using his body to win plays and earn scoring chances. His brother, Anthony, was a long-time power forward in the North American Hockey League, and Dominic should attain a career at the same level.