U14 Northeast Pack: 25 prospects who shined at Mount Saint Charles

BK Selects U14 had several notable prospects on display at the recent Northeast Pack event. (Bishop Kearney Selects)

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The Northeast Pack (NE Pack) league held its third event of the 2021-22 season with the U14 portion hosted by Mount Saint Charles Academy Nov. 19-20.

The showcase ran in conjunction with the Prep Hockey Conference’s inaugural showcase of 18-U games, adding to the quality hockey being played at the Adelard Arena that weekend.

Participating teams included the host team, along with the Long Island Gulls, Bishop Kearney Selects, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, and New Jersey Rockets 14-U squads. The host Mounties swept the weekend of play, going 4-0 against top competition, including a come-from-behind overtime victory against a Pens Elite team that had earned a 4-0 win at home against Mount St. Charles during the USHL Fall Classic in Sep.

Here are 25 2007-born prospects from the event who have the potential to play at the higher levels in juniors, Division 1 and possibly beyond.

Egan Beveridge
Mount St. Charles U14, 1/11/07, RW, right shot, 5-8/145 

Beveridge is the ideal forward for anyone that is looking for a high-compete, high-skill player making him a good fit for every junior and college team. The New Hampshire product isn’t the biggest player on the ice, but he plays a gritty game and surges to the difficult areas of the ice to come away with pucks and make plays. He is crafty, and will dance around defenders and make high-skill plays to his teammates. Beveridge can shoot the puck, too, and offers a dual threat as a shooter and a passer. He is a workhorse away from the puck, and plays in important defensive zone situations and on the penalty kill.

Tristan Boudreau
Mount St. Charles U14, 2/8/07, D, left shot, 6-2/180

 Boudreau is an intriguing prospect thanks to his size and skill package from the blueline. Boudreau skates well with fluid agility and power for his size and age. The Ottawa, Ontario, native has a long, smooth stride, and he’s able to escape pressure in the corners when retrieving pucks. Boudreau makes sharp passes to his teammates and has a very hard point shot, but he needs to work on picking his head up at the blueline and looking out for traffic to prevent his chances from getting blocked. Defensively, Boudreau plays a little bit tentatively, and should use his size to be more forceful. Despite this, he does use his reach to effectively take away space 1-on-1, and he will poke pucks free with good stick work.

Donny Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls U14, 7/26/07, D, left shot

The 07’ class is loaded with talented players, and Bracco’s name sits somewhere near the top. The younger brother of former US National Development Team (NTDP) forward and Toronto prospect Jeremy, played at both defense and wing during the NE Pack event. Bracco is a highly skilled player with great puck-skills and a lethal shot. He is shifty and elusive and seems to have an impact on every shift he takes. On the power-play he sets up on his one-timer side and is used as a dual threat thanks to his ability to rifle off shots or stop the puck and make high-skill passes through the middle of the zone.

Shawn Costello
Bishop Kearney Selects U14, 1/20/07, C, left shot, 6-1/160

This big-bodied Canadian center from Ontario will be an intriguing prospect to follow. He has good size/frame, and uses his body to shield pucks from opponents. He isn’t the flashiest skater, but he gets from Point A to Point B effectively enough to make plays. He has good hands, and he is poised with the puck. He sees the ice well and makes some high-skill plays through dangerous seams to create chances for his teammates. Costello defends hard and will translate as a solid 200-foot player going forward.

Cooper Dennis (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Bishop Kearney Selects U14, 5/7/07, RW, right shot, 5-5/135

He’s fast. He’s skilled. He can score. Dennis is a dynamic talent who keeps opponents on their toes but proves nearly impossible to contain. He buzzes around the ice at high rates of speed, and when he gains a step on defenders, they  aren’t catching him. He can also shoot the puck like a pro, and scored one impressive goal: he ripped a shot from a poor angle near the goal line and somehow hit the far corner, high-blocker on the Gulls netminder. Competitive at both ends of the ice, his consistent effort makes him a dependable player who makes his presence known in all three zones. He’s on track for the NTDP.

Conrad Fondrk
Mount St. Charles U14, 6/1/07, LW, left shot, 5-9/150

This Minnesota-born forward is an elite level talent amongst the 07’s. Fondrk is a sharp-shooter with a lethal release and the ability to pick corners on goaltenders. He is an offensive dynamo who creates just as many scoring chances as he receives. Fondrk has the game breaking skill that teams search for in every player that they scout, and there is no question that he will make the NTDP’s shortlist next season.

Matthew Grimes (Locust, Valley, N.Y.)
Mount St. Charles U14, 5/19/2007, D, left shot, 5-8/135

This Long Island native is a very flashy defenseman, who likes to use his speed and skill to create offense. Grimes is very agile and uses his feet to elude forecheckers. He is a good puck-mover, but at times he will use his skating ability and skills to rush pucks himself. Grimes is crafty and productive and makes for an effective power-play quarterback. It helps that Grimes plays with some of the best forwards in the ’07 birth year, but in his own right, the undersized defenseman is a force offensively and will be fun to watch develop over the next few years.

Daniel Hussa
New Jersey Rockets U14, 5/6/07, LW, left shot, 5-10/141

Hussa recently joined the Rockets after spending the beginning of the season with Mount St. Charles. Hussa has good hands and impressive vision and displayed some playmaking skill off the rush. He is patient with the puck on his stick and made some very nice slip passes to teammates. A Pennsylvania native. Hussa is competitive in his pursuit for pucks in the offensive zone and offers the Rockets U14’s a presence as a top-six playmaker.

Matthew Judge (Pittsford, N.Y.)
Bishop Kearney Selects U14, 3/6/2007, D, left shot, 5-10/165

Judge is a skilled, offensive defenseman who plays with pace. He is quick and crafty and provides complementary scoring. Judge is an apt puck retriever who uses his feet to maneuver around forecheckers and find space to make passes to his forwards. Judge has the confidence to join in the rush and serves as a scoring threat when he trails behind the play. He can shoot through traffic and he’s also able to propel himself into plays low in the offensive zone by using his quick feet to scurry down the wall. Defensively, Judge is aggressive and takes advantage of his mobility to keep tight gaps on opponents.

Logan Keil (Sayville, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls U14, 1/11/07, RW, right shot, 6-1/174

Keil has an impressive frame and long reach. His isn’t the most fleet of foot, but he is balanced on his edges and shifts weight with the puck on his stick to protect pucks and anchor his way into good shooting positions. Keil owns an absolute missile of a shot. He has a quick release and challenges goalies with every chance he takes. Keil is also proving to be an apt penalty-killer and defensive situation forward, utilizing his long reach to take away passing lanes, and using his body to attack shooting lanes.

Liam Kilfoil
Mount St. Charles U14, 3/21/2007, C, left shot, 5-9/150

Kilfoil is a potent offensive player. He can do it all from scoring goals to picking up assists, and the most critical part to his game is that he’s ultra-competitive and never takes a shift off.  He’s clutch and he’s a leader, and he already proves impossible to contain for opposing defenders. The New Brunswick product will earn the eyes of scouts from all levels moving forward in his career, and he will make a must-see prospect next fall in his USHL and QMJHL draft year.

Quinn McKenzie
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U14, 11/28/07, RW, right shot, 5-2/110

This undersized forward is one of the most exciting players to watch because of his unwavering compete level. McKenzie is consistent shift-to-shift, never quits on a play, and despite his size he shows zero fear at engaging in the corners or around the net. McKenzie works hard on both sides of the puck and should one day make a competitive junior and college prospect.

John “LJ” Mooney
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U14, 8/3/07, C, right shot, 5-5/145

There aren’t many in Mooney’s class across the 07’ class right now. He is a threat every time he touches the ice. The diminutive but ultra-talented center can beat defenders in so many ways, and he’s practically a walking – or skating – highlight reel with the puck. He scored one goal during the event where he corralled the puck on one side of the net and possessed it for 5-10 seconds from one side of the zone to the other, before shifting into the slot and ripping a shot glove-side on the unsuspecting Mount St. Charles goaltender. If you’re looking for a sure-bet NTDP player in this birth year, Mooney is the guy.

Jesse Orlowsky (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls U14, 3/27/07, C, right shot

This big-bodied centerman should check most of the boxes for junior and college scouts in the coming years. He has impressive size for a 14-year-old, he moves around the ice well, is strong on pucks, and displays good vision and playmaking ability. Orlowsky looks confident with the puck on his stick and showcased very soft hands and good passing skill.

Landon Paul
Long Island Gulls U14, 2/21/07, RW, right shot

This Canadian-born forward is intriguing. He is strong on pucks and has quick hands in tight. He owns a quick, heavy shot, and displayed a finishing touch here. Paul isn’t the most explosive skater, but he is balanced and controls his edges well especially when pressured by opposing defensemen. Paul is very competitive and spends most of his games battling for space between the dots and in dirty areas of the ice.

Anthony Pedalino (Massapequa, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls, 4/29/08, D, left shot, 5-7/140

Yes, you’re reading that correctly. Pedalino is a 2008-born defenseman playing up a level with the Gulls U14’s. Me might be undersized but owns tremendous mobility and very good puck skills. He is agile and smooth on his feet and avoids oncoming forecheckers with quick, darting moves to slide past hits and into open space. He is a strong puck-mover and he’s especially impressive when running the power-play from the blueline.

Matthew Smith (Scotch Plains, N.J.)
New Jersey Rockets U14, 2/4/07, RW, right shot, 5-8/150

Smith is a skilled forward with effective speed. He can blitz past defenders with the puck on his stick, and he attacks the net ferociously for chances in tight. He has good hands which helps him around the net, and he’s able to move quickly from his backhand to his forehand when he skates down his off-side and drive the net. Smith is very competitive at both ends of the ice and is a useful penalty-killer thanks to his willingness to get in shooting lanes, and use his quickness to win loose pucks and clear the zone.

Luca Torriero
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U14, 2/7/07, G, catches left, 5-6/120 

Arguably the most competitive goaltender during the event, Torriero is an undersized goalie who relies on athleticism and drive in net to make big stops. He moves quickly laterally and he’s able to challenge every shot that he faces thanks to his speed and flexibility. Pittsburgh has developed some very good goalies over the past few years, and Torriero could be next on the list.

Charlie Trethewey
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U14, 8/2/07, D, right shot, 6-1/170

This big-bodied, rangy defenseman is one of the best in his class. He already skates at 6-foot and he can command the game with his size and physical strength. Trethewey uses his stick and body to force forwards off pucks, and then he transitions the play north quickly. He makes hard, crisp passes and uses his skating to jump into the rush. Trethewey is steady and impressive and should be a lock to compete for a position on the NTDP in 2023.

Justin Vlassis
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U14, 5/11/07, C, left shot, 5-11/152

 Throughout the event, Vlassis impressed us by playing a solid 200-foot game and imposing his size when the situation called for it. He has a good frame and solid skating ability, and even displayed very good separation speed when generating odd-man rushes. Vlassis can fire the puck and has a quick release. He is good defensively and shows a willingness to compete away from the puck.

Hong Yu Wang
Mount St. Charles U14, 1/17/07, RW, right shot, 5-8/140

Wang is a player to watch. He is very competitive, plays with a lot of pace, and one of his most deceptive weapons is his shot and scoring ability. He zips around the ice with a high level of speed, and he owns a very good set of hands with the ability to move around opponents and into open space. Wang’s shot is quick and heavy, and Mount sets him up as a shooter on the power-play for the purpose of using that prime asset.

Nicolas Whitehead
Mount St. Charles U14, 2/11/07, C, left shot, 5-9/140

Give this talented forward an inch, and he’ll take a yard. The Penguins learned this in overtime when they left Whitehead wide open near the top of the right face-off circle, where he received a pass in open space and walked right to the net before putting the puck from his backhand to his forehand and sliding it five-hole for a highlight-reel game winner. Whitehead is a threat on every shift thanks to his high-end skating and puck-skills. He has long legs and a long, explosive stride, and he’s even able to shift himself around at high-speeds making it practically impossible for defenders to contain him. He has great hands and a lethal shot, plus the ability to make high-skill plays to his linemates.

Aidan Wilson (Westfield, N.J.)
New Jersey Rockets U14, 2/18/2007, C, left shot, 6-0/150

This big-bodied centerman will make a solid power-forward at the junior and college levels one day. He plays the prototypical, physical power-forward brand, which is a style of play that is incredibly difficult to find nowadays. Wilson doesn’t hold back from finishing hits, and he makes life difficult for defensemen on every forecheck. He wins pucks and gains inside position on defenders near the net, and in the corners. Wilson also uses his size to create space off the rush, and on one occasion, we were impressed to see him bump a puck wide just before reaching the blueline and then drive straight to net, pushing the opposing defense back and opening seams high in the zone.

Max Wright (Parsippany, N.J.)
New Jersey Rockets U14, 1/30/07, D, right shot, 5-11/161

Wright recently made a switch from Mount St. Charles to the Rockets, so this event was something of a ‘return’ for the big-bodied defender. He received plenty of ice-time with the Rockets, and he played in several different situations. He is big and strong, with the willingness to play a hard, physical game. Wright skates well for his size and was willing to take some chances with the puck on his stick. He has good hands and a hard point-shot and shows signs of being able to provide offense at future levels.

Ethan Wyttenbach (Roslyn, N.Y.)
Long Island Gulls U14, 2/10/07, RW, right shot

Wyttenbach is shifty forward with very good vision and offensive IQ. He attacks opposing defenseman with speed and he’s able to locate passing lanes and make plays while controlling the pace on the ice. He is competitive in his puck pursuits and digs for possession out of the corners. On one occasion against the Penguins, Wyttenbach jumped into the right corner of the offensive zone and came free with puck possession on the power-play. He then skated the puck behind the net and came out on the left half wall, where he proceeded to make a play through the middle of the zone which eventually led to a power-play goal being scored.