Crush Hockey is looking forward to working with Liberty Bell Games standouts, Nick Patullo and Corey Mackin. Both Nick and Corey, along with a selected 38 others, are attending Crush END 2 END Invitation Camp. The camp will be held on June 25th-June 27th from 7:45am-4:30pm at the Rink at Warick.
Read below and find out what the scouts at the Liberty Bell Games thought of Nick and Corey!
Write-up from USHR.com...
posted today: Tues. 6/12/12
Liberty Bell Games Top 30 USHR spent the past weekend at the Liberty Bell Games in Voorhees, NJ.
The tournament, run by Ottawa Senators scout Lew Mongelluzzo and now in its fourth year, might be the most scout-friendly showcase we have ever attended. At the door we were given detailed player profiles for every participant as well as color-coded game sheets for the entire weekend. Scouts, spectators, and families were not charged to get in (as it should be) and players were treated like pros, getting a bundle of goodies upon arrival -- hockey tape, apparel, etc. As for the tournament itself, it is well established, with roughly 90% of the region’s top players on hand (just a few guys were missing due to family obligations, USHL tryouts, etc.) Best of all, with only 100 players invited, the event is not watered down, and, with scouts from the NHL, NCAA,USHL, OHL and New England prep schools on hand, it provides excellent exposure for the top players from the NJ/Philly region.
Below are the players who stood out for us.
1. Kevin Kerr, D, ’96 (Team Comcast U16) 5-11/155—Was the top player here. The Penn State recruit is a high end DI prospect and a sure thing to succeed at the NCAA level. Has a lot of confidence and makes high risk plays look easy. Similar to Keith Yandle at the same age. Will be playing for Team Comcast U18 next season.
2. Grant Jozefek, F, ’97 (Long Island Gulls U14) 5-8/160—Was one of the top forwards at the Atlantic District tryout camp a couple weeks ago; followed that up with a strong performance here. Intelligent player who plays hard in all three zones. Has a high skill level and possesses a quick shot release. Being one of the youngest players on the ice did not faze him a bit —possesses a lot of confidence. Will be playing for the North Jersey Avalanche U16 team next season.
3. JJ Piccinich, F, ’96 (North Jersey Avalanche U16) 5-11/175—Because we know his game so well and know what he is capable of we are ranking him high on this list. Having said that, his performance over the weekend was very average compared to what we have seen out of him in the past. Did not play with the same tenacity that we have grown accustomed to seeing. None the less the North Jersey Avalanche product is a top DI recruit who is always around the puck and creates a lot of offense. Has a knack for making plays out of nothing. Will play in the USHL next season for Youngstown.
4. Kyle Fargesen, F, ’95 (Selects Hockey Academy) 5-10/165—Looked better than we have seen him in the past. Was really flying… played with a lot of pace. Put defenders on their heels all weekend and was able to drive to the front of the net with ease. Has quick feet to go along with a nice set of hands. We would be surprised if he does not end up on a DI roster in the future. Is leaving Selects Hockey Academy and will return to his home in New Jersey and play for Bob Thornton’s NJ Rockets (AJHL).
5. Adam Tracey, F, ’95 (Long Island Royals U16) 6-2/188—Played on a very deep Royals team this past season. May have been hidden a bit. At any rate, he really stood out this weekend. A big kid who thinks the game well and can really shoot the puck, Tracey needs to work on his feet and become more explosive, something that could come with added leg strength. Will attend Berkshire this fall where we think he will make an immediate impact.
6. Kevin Neiley, F, ’95 (Valley Forge Minutemen U16) 5-10/170—Brother of Dartmouth forward and Phillips Exeter alum Eric Neiley. Plays a lot like his brother, but has more of an edge. An intelligent forward with a slick set of hands, Neiley is capable of making plays in tight spaces. Has natural goal scoring abilities and can really fire the puck. Will play for Team Comcast U18 next season. Dartmouth College was on hand paying close attention to his game.
7. Ken Citron, D, ’95 (Team Comcast U18) 6-1/190—Has grown over the last year and looked very mature and polished here. Defends well and has a very effective poke check. Makes a good first pass and is not shy about jumping up into the play. Sometimes tries to do too much, but that habit will likely be broken at the next level. Top-notch student who will likely land in the ECAC. Will return next season to Comcast’s U18 team, but he is very close to being USHL ready.
8. Connor Wynne, D, ’95 (North Jersey Avalanche) 5-10/160—One area scout commented to us that Wynne is far and away the most improved player in the Atlantic District over the last season. A fluid skater who processes the game quickly and is just beginning to realize the kind of talent he has. Very thin right now and will benefit a lot from added muscle. Will attend Milton Academy in the fall where he will be an immediate contributor.
9. Ross Colton, F, ’96 (Princeton Day School) 5-5/140—Diminutive forward has an excellent hockey IQ and a tricky set of hands. Would not consider him to be dynamic, though. He will need to add another gear to garner the attention of DI colleges. With that being said, Colton is a top junior/prep school prospect who can beat defenders with his brain and hands routinely. Plans to return to PDS next season.
10. Drew Hotte, G, ’96 (Philadelphia Little Flyers U16) 5-11/155—Along with Chris Birdsall, Hotte, beating out NTDP goalie Edwin Minney. was recently selected to represent the Atlantic District at the Select 16 Festival. An athletic goaltender who is very quick moving laterally. Tracks the puck well and has a high level of focus. In our opinion he was the top goaltender here.
11. Ben Cirba, G, ’96 (Philadelphia Little Flyers) 6-2/170—Oozes with potential. From a technique perspective he is very raw, but has a high compete level and uses his size and athleticism to make a lot of saves. Generated a lot of buzz over the weekend. Will play for the Philadelphia Little Flyers U16 team next season. Is a sleeper right now and is a prospect worth tracking.
12. Mark Bowen, F, ’95 (North Jersey Avalanche) 5-7/155—With gifted hands, it appears as though he has the puck on a string. Creates a lot of plays. Played on one of the top U16 lines in the country with Joey Caffrey in the middle and JJ Piccinich on the other wing. Is limited in terms of DI upside, but will be a highly productive prep school player from Day 1. Going to Canterbury.
13. Joey Caffrey, F, ’95 (North Jersey Avalanche) 5-10/170—Was not as good here as we have seen in the past, but he still made himself noticeable. Has good presence in the middle of the ice and can make plays under duress. Does not have one skill that really jumps out at you, but he is solid in all areas. Will be at Choate in the fall.
14. Nick Patullo, F, ’95 (Hatfield Icedogs U16) 6-0/172—The sleeper of the tournament. Played Tier II hockey this season and was very much an unknown prior to this showcase. Tall kid who has a quick shot release and a goal scorer’s mentality—always seems to be in position to score. This past season he potted 53 goals in 48 games played. We realize it is Tier II hockey, but averaging over a goal-a-game in any league is impressive. Headed to Northwood in the fall.
15. Dylan McArthur, D, ’96 (Philadelphia Little Flyers U16) 5-11/163— A 12/16/96 birthdate. If he were two weeks younger he would surely be a top ’97 prospect. Good skater showed a lot of poise in pressure situations. In the offensive zone he was effective at getting the puck off the wall and into the middle of the ice, a skill that is very challenging to master. Projects as a PP quarterback. Will return to the Philadelphia Little Flyers U16 team next season.
16. Tommy Panico, D, ’95 (NJ Titans U16) 6-1/180—Good-sized defender with a long stride and the ability to move the puck up the ice efficiently. Is a bit raw right now and still has a long way to go, but Panico is certainly worth keeping an eye on. Will play for Team Comcast U18 in the fall. With Kerr, Citron and Panico it is hard to imagine another U18 team with three better defensemen.
17. Trevor Heuser, D, ’96 (NJ Titans U16) 5-10/170—Small, stocky defender who plays on edge and with a lot of energy. Makes a good first pass and enjoys jumping into the rush. Was drafted in the 19th round by Des Moines (USHL) and was tendered by Corpus Christi (NAHL) which is where he will play next season.
18. Conor Tierney, F, ’97 (NJ Rockets U14) 5-7/148—May have been out of his element here as he is young, small and has yet to physically mature. With that in mind, his skill level is undeniable. Is a quick skater and creates offense every time he touches the puck. Was excellent at the Atlantic District tryouts and is a top player in his age group.
19. Nick Bohatiuk, F, ’96 (Team Comcast U16) 5-9/150—Small forward who lacks speed out of the gate, but is very smart and has a great stick. Is dangerous below the tops of the circles. There were no power plays here, but if we had to bet a dollar we’d say he is outstanding on the man advantage. Not someone you want to give time and space to. Knows how to use his teammates. Will play for Team Comcast U16 next season.
20. Anthony Siderio, F, ’96 (Selects Hockey Academy) 5-9/170—Small, quick forward is at his best when he plays with pace and tenacity. Has quick hands and is elusive in the tough ice. Knows how to score and has done it at every level. Will return to Selects Hockey Academy next fall and will play U16 hockey on what is going to be a very good team.
21. Paul Vella, F, ’96 (NJ Devils U16) 5-10/155—Great individual skills. Was one of the best, if not the best, top player here in 1x1 situations. Played on a line with Joey Caffrey and Mark Bowen and the three were difficult for the opposition to contain. Is slated to play for the Metro Moose (MET) next season.
22. Matt Kidney, F, ’97 (NJ Titans U14) 5-7/142—Great hockey sense and was very good with the puck on his stick. Has yet to physically develop, but when he does we think he will be an excellent player. Knows where to be on the ice and displayed high-end vision here.
23. Bobby Wurster, D, ’96 (Choate) 6-3/165—Is going to be a long-term project, but the Choate defender is someone we feel has a bright future. Is very tall and lanky, but gets around the ice well for someone his size. Does not try and do too much, defends well, and is positionally sound. There will always be a market for 6’3” defenders who skate well and make the simple play. Will be a sophomore at Choate in the fall. > > 24. Kevin Darrar, F,’96 (Team Comcast U16) 5-10/171—A good mind for offense. Dangerous around the net as he gets his shot off in a hurry. Showed a lot of chemistry with Bohatiuk -- the two generated a lot of scoring opportunities. Headed to Gunnery in the fall.
25. Kevin Charyszyn, F, ’96 (NJ Rockets U16) 5-9/150—Did not create as much offense as we think he is capable of. Possesses an above average skill set and a high end shot. Is someone who can fly under the radar. Needs to work on his consistency as he can go long stretches without being noticeable.
26. Alex Rocco, D, ’96 (Valley Forge Minutemen U16) 5-11/185—Serviceable defender. Nothing flashy, but gets the job done. Will be in Rochester, NY at the Select 16 Festival.
27. Alex Hagerty, F, ’95 (Delbarton) 6-0/185—The Delbarton junior put up a14-20-34 scoring line in 28 games played last winter. Is solid and well put together. Strong on the puck and has a hard shot. May have peaked physically. Will need to get quicker and have a big senior season at Delbarton to grab the attention of NCAA coaches.
28. Brendan Driscoll, D, ’96 (NJ Rockets U16) 6-1/185—Tall defender with offensive upside. Makes a good outlet pass. Could be a late bloomer.
29. Travis Kauffman, D, ’95 (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U16) 5-10/180—Smallish defender who is very active offensively and likes to get up the ice. Has good gap control and plays with an edge.
30 (tie). Corey Mackin, F, ’95 (Hatfield Icedogs U16) 5-7/155—Another Tier II find. In 78 games played last season he put up an eye popping 58-65-123 scoring line. Is physically limited, but is very quick and shifty. Will make for a good prep school player as he is headed to Northwood along with his teammate Nick Patullo.
30 (tie). Cameron Klein, F, ’95 (NJ Rockets U16) 6-2/190—Scored a lot of goals here. Physically imposing and may find a role in junior hockey as an intimidating presence. Is not very fleet of foot and his skill set is raw.
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