Here is the skinny on what shook down at the Jack Byrne Arena this past week (July 4-8 2022):
Thursday (U15) – W: White. Game Tape HERE , rosters in video description
It is very safe to say that the U15 HPP team will have a position battle in goal. While I’m not sure if Will Morgan is trying out, guys like Andrew Akerman will make it tough on the U14 incumbent guys. Akerman – if my memory serves me correctly – has yet to give up a goal in 2 weeks of Thursday night hockey.
White took control of this game in the early going; the line of Percy-Connors-Warren were buzzing all night long, with black having very little answer for the trio. J.D Trainor is quite fast in open space. For a group that doesn’t have a great deal of size on the back end, Zach Earle – if he is trying out for HPP in August – will be an intriguing player for the coaching staff. Earle is a raw talent with an athletic family background; lets see where his summer takes him.
Friday (U18 Female) – W: Black. Game tape HERE and HERE , rosters in video description
Leah Wicks’ name is generating some buzz – and rightly so. The 2007 born defenceman will take her gear to Shattuck St. Mary’s this season, which raises even the most amateur scouts eyebrow. However, the play of Haley Ryan has to have USPORT schools on high alert. Ryan is an ’05, but her dynamic skill should catch some school’s eyes at the ACC in October.
Ryan could have had multiple tallies on Friday night if it wasn’t for the stellar play of Katie Winsor. The 2026 high school grad year stood on her head at times for Team White, making the initial save in efficient fashion. Winsor will be a hot commodity this season, as she has yet to commit to a prep program for Grade 10. A bidding war shall ensue.
Even though she has chosen to stay home for her Grade 11 year, Bethany Pitcher needs to be monitored throughout the season and at the major tournaments in 2022-23. Pitcher is big, strong, and can bull her way to the front of the net. If Pitcher can learn to play at a high pace through the end of her shifts and gets quicker off the mark, I genuinely believe she could be a university-caliber hockey player.
Is it just me, or has Avery Battcock gotten so much better since the Spring even? Good on ya Avery!
Friday (U18 Male) – W: White. Game tape HERE and HERE
Ty Peddigrew (7 white) caught fire in the second half, picking up a couple of tallies to pace the whites offensively. One goal was off a nice dish from Ashton Farrell, and the other was off an even tastier dish from Cole Cooper. Look for Cooper to be selected in the upcoming MHL Draft on July 15th. Peddigrew has a lot of hype around his name at the moment, and for good reason. The ’07 forward is East Coast Blizzard property.
Carter Arnold (black G) was very, very good for team black in this one. Arnold is mega under-rated. Arnold was definitely a sweaty mess after that match; black struggled to defend, giving up odd-man rushes at will and allowing the ever-dangerous Liam Noble (11 white) to cruise around the offensive zone like he had eggs in his pockets.
Say what you will about Jabez Seymour (39 black), but in our opinion, he will be a top-two round pick in the 2023 QMJHL Draft. Seymour does not give two f*^ks about who he offends out there – he’s skilled, he’s 6’3, and he will knock you out (and not think twice). Seymour will lace up his boots at South Kent this coming season, but it will likely be a short stay in CT once he shores up his defensive game.