Last month, we attended the NCDC Showcase at the Ice Vault in Wayne, N.J., where we evaluated several talented players. Below are our notes on those who stood out. These notes will also be published in the TSA Scouting Journal.
Brett Beswick-F Mercer Chiefs
We’ve watched Brett Beswick for years and know his game well. He has consistently been a high-end goal scorer and point producer at every level. Beswick is an above-average skater with excellent hands and a quick release. The primary concern about his transition to junior hockey was his smaller frame, but if his first three games are any indication, he should be just fine. Over the weekend, he was one of the fastest skaters on the ice. His biggest strength is his exceptional lateral quickness, which allows him to create separation and open up scoring opportunities.
Jeremy Schoenborn –F Wilkes Barre Knights
Schoenborn is a big, fast, and creative center with about above average speed, soft hands, terrific vision, and a high hockey IQ. He consistently used his creativity to set up teammates for quality scoring chances. While he shows good offensive instincts, his shot could use some improvement. We’d also like to see him leverage his size more by driving to the net rather than staying on the perimeter. Although he’s capable of throwing big hits, he isn’t as consistently physical as you’d expect from a player with his frame.
Connor Lawrence-F Wilkes Barre Knights
Lawrence has been a consistent offensive contributor for Wilkes-Barre, recording 5 goals and 3 assists through 9 games. He possesses a quick, accurate release and a heavy shot that is dangerous whether he’s shooting in stride or from a stationary position. Lawrence demonstrates a strong sense of spatial awareness, consistently finding open ice to create scoring chances. His vision and playmaking allow him to effectively set up teammates in prime scoring areas. An above-average skater, Lawrence uses his edge work and lateral agility to evade defenders and generate offense off the rush.
Connor Broderick-G Wilkes Barre Knights
At 6’0”, Broderick isn’t the biggest goaltender, but he uses his stance effectively, standing tall in the crease to appear larger and take away shooting angles. He is a technically sound netminder with explosive lateral movement, allowing him to make controlled saves without overcommitting or “cheating” on cross-ice plays. This quickness makes him difficult to beat on breakaways. Broderick shows excellent recovery ability when forced into scramble situations, maintaining composure and positioning. He’s also a strong puck handler and passer, capable of jump-starting the transition game with precise outlet passes and helping his defensemen by playing the puck confidently under pressure.
Becket Homlish – F-NJ Rockets
The Cherry Village, Colorado native has proven to be a strong addition for the NJ Rockets. Homlish is a speedy, skilled winger with excellent edge work, soft hands, and a strong, muscular frame. He’s effective along the boards, winning puck battles and maintaining possession under pressure. With the puck in transition, he shows the ability to create separation and attack defenders one-on-one, using his agility and puck control to generate scoring chances. He is very good at finding pucks around the net and scoring goals. Homlish’s combination of speed, strength, and skill gives him clear upside and a promising future as he continues to develop.
Tristan Venne – F NJ Rockets
Simply put, Venne can fly. His elite speed makes him a constant threat in transition and a difficult matchup for opposing defensemen. He forces defenders to respect his pace every time he’s on the ice. Venne possesses above-average puck skills and finishes well in tight, showing confidence when attacking the net. To take the next step, he’ll need to make smarter puck decisions, as he can be prone to turnovers under pressure. Additionally, his off-puck play remains an area for improvement—he too often gets caught standing still. He needs to keeps his feet moving and maintain an active stick in defensive situations. With refinement in those areas, Venne’s speed and offensive instincts give him high developmental upside.
Eric McHale – F West Chester Wolves
McHale is a very deceptive player. While he doesn’t have blazing top-end speed, he possesses a quick first step and uses it effectively to catch defenders off guard. He often lulls opponents into thinking they have him contained before using his burst to slip past them.
McHale has a hard, accurate shot with a quick, well-disguised release. He consistently finds open space in prime scoring areas and can finish from outside the circles—something that’s rare at this level. He also has a strong nose for the net, frequently scoring “greasy” goals by winning races to loose pucks and capitalizing on rebounds.
A bit of a late bloomer, McHale is still developing key aspects of his game. He’s off to a solid start with 5 goals and 4 assists through 9 games, but to reach the next level he’ll need to continue improving his skating and play away from the puck.
Jason LaRoda – F NJ Hitmen
The Canadian import is a solidly built forward who uses his frame effectively to protect the puck and maintain possession. LaRoda is a pure goal scorer capable of finding the back of the net in a variety of ways. He has a heavy, accurate shot, soft hands in tight, and the ability to create space for himself with shifty edgework.
Unlike many natural goal scorers, LaRoda also takes pride in his play on the defensive side of the puck, making him a reliable option in all situations. In the games we observed, he was consistently on the ice in the final minute, a clear sign of the confidence head coach Toby Harris has in him. Harris is known for demanding strong defensive habits from his players, so that trust speaks volumes about LaRoda’s commitment to playing the right way.
Alex Hegelson –D NJ Hitmen
Hegelson is a smooth-skating, intelligent shutdown defenseman. He maintains strong gap control, defends the front of his net effectively, and wins a high percentage of board battles. He makes smart decisions with the puck, and his passes are crisp and accurate.
Hegelson has the skating ability to carry the puck out of trouble and make controlled zone entries when needed. He also plays with a physical edge and isn’t afraid to deliver big hits. To take the next step in his development, he’ll need to improve his ability to make the first pass up ice—he can sometimes rely too heavily on skating the puck himself instead of moving it quickly to his forwards.
Anthony Roy-F Universal Academy
Roy is a speedy, skilled forward with a nonstop motor, using his quickness to hunt down pucks and pressure defenders up the ice. He possesses a high hockey IQ and strong vision, allowing him to find teammates and create quality scoring opportunities. While he doesn’t have the heaviest shot, his release is quick, accurate, and well-disguised—capable of catching goaltenders off guard.
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