Prep Hockey Game Report: Berkshire at Avon Old Farms

It was a mismatch on paper and it proved to be on the ice as well. Avon Old Farms, with its nine Division I commits, shut out visiting Berkshire by a score of 3-0 to improve to 8-3-3 on Saturday.

Boston College recruit Spencer Knight made 24 saves for the shutout while Boston University commit Trevor Zegras had a goal and an assist. Both 2001-born stars are near locks to be invited to USA Hockey’s NTDP Evaluation Camp in March. Providence recruit Matt Allen and Sam Timonen also scored goals for the Winged Beavers.

Providence commits, ‘98s Matt and Kyle Koopman, play for Berkshire. The twin brothers are the top prospects for Dan Driscoll’s team. ‘01 Briggs Gammill is a player who could be selected in the USHL Phase I Draft, but he didn’t play due to injury.

AOF Lines:

Sam Timonen - Will Christiansen - John Giatrellis
Drew Elser (UConn) - Tyler Madden (NU) - Trevor Zegras (BU)
Matt Kirwan - Matt Allen (PC) - Nick Wildgoose (SLU)
Gentry Shamburger - Ryan Lanchbury - Nick Keroack

Jack Babbage - Ryan Ashe
Ben Pirko (Union) - Ryan Siedem (BC)
Mac Wiseman (UConn) - Cullen Young
Aaron Pinto - Will Rooney

Spencer Knight (BC) - Brandon Schellin

* Midway through the second period, Elser and Timonen switched lines.

Here are the notes generated from Saturday’s game on the prospects from AOF, including one uncommitted defenseman who impressed:

Trevor Zegras, #11 Avon Old Farms, RW, Shoots Left, 3/20/01, 5-11/160 (Boston University) - The Terrier commit is an elite skater with a tremendous overall offensive skill set. He had a goal and an assist, but was a threat with the puck on his stick throughout the entire game. His first chance came early in the game where he showed off his speed as he burst in on net from the right side and got off a good shot. A few minutes later he won a puck battle in the right corner of the offensive zone and sent out a quick pass to the slot for a good chance. He showed good footwork coming into the zone down the left side, turning to the side before giving a pass back to the trailer for a wrist shot on net. His first step and skating ability was on display in the second period when he blew past a defender down the right side. After getting by the defender, he sent a great pass out to the slot for a chance. On the power play he was shifty and elusive along the wall as the puck went through him. He also does a good job of finding seams in the defense without the puck to get into position to receive passes. On his second period goal he showed off his quick release as he came in on the right side on a two-on-one. The puck was barely on his stick after receiving a feed from Tyler Madden before it was in the back of the net. He consistently made good passes from the wall and below the goal line. His speed into the attacking zone set up possession which led to Timonen’s third period goal.

Spencer Knight, #35 Avon Old Farms, G, Catches Left, 4/19/01, 6-3/180 (Boston College) - He wasn’t tested a lot, but he made a few nice saves. He’s a prototypical modern era butterfly goaltender with good size. He kicks rebounds to the corners. He challenges and squares up to shooters. He made a glove save on Nick Botticelli who broke in alone down the left side that he made look easy because of his positioning. He covers a lot of the net and played the puck well a few times.

Ryan Siedem, #14 Avon Old Farms, RD, Shoots Right, 2/25/01, 6-2/190 (Boston College) - The recent commit to the Eagles was steady and looked in control and composed for an ‘01 playing defense in prep hockey. He has a very good stick. He’s smooth and moves the puck well. He retrieves pucks and makes breakout passes that are effective if not flashy. He plays the point on the top power play unit and does a nice job distributing the puck.

Jack Babbage, #24 Avon Old Farms, LD, Shoots Left, 8/30/00, 6-0/180 - He’s always been one of those defensemen who has good size and is intriguing. This might have been the best viewing of him to date. He is mobile and has good footwork for his size. He moved the puck well on the power play. He made a terrific look to the backdoor from the right point on the man advantage. He has good mobility to break the puck out of his own zone. He joins the rush. He had good closing speed before crushing an opposing right wing in the third period. If there is one thing he needs to work on, it is that he needs to learn to slow the game down some. He’s on the affiliate list of the Sioux City Musketeers.

Tyler Madden, #10 Avon Old Farms, C, Shoots Right, 11/9/99, 5-10/145 (Northeastern) - The son of former NHLer and Michigan alum John Madden, he’s improved a lot since committing to the Huskies a year ago. He is a good skater with good hands. He gave a great sauce pass right on the tape to Zegras on a two-on-one for a goal. His speed lets him create time and space. His speed allowed him to penetrate into the slot in the third period and he got off a great shot that sailed just over the crossbar. The Omaha Lancers drafted him in 2015, but he wasn’t protected.

Mac Wiseman, #7 Avon Old Farms, LD, Shoots Left, 8/9/00, 5-10/165 (UConn) - He’s still recovering from a bad leg injury that held him out for a lot of the fall and the beginning of the prep season. He’s an athletic blue liner that likes to play physical and take chances. He wasn’t as dynamic as he can be, but that will come back. Sioux Falls Stampede has him on their affiliate list.

Drew Elser, #13 Avon Old Farms, LW, Shoots Left, 1/4/00, 5-10/170 (UConn) - His speed is always his top asset. It was on Saturday. He created several chances due to his acceleration. He also drew a penalty by blowing by a defender. He’s on Bloomington Thunder’s affiliate list.

Matt Allen, #27 Avon Old Farms, C, Shoots Left, 3/14/99, 6-2/180 (Providence) - He’s a player whose development stalled some, but he’s starting to progress again. He had a good game Saturday, centering the third line. He scored the first goal of the game in the first period. He’s a good skater. He was drafted by Muskegon in 2015, but was not protected or put on the organization’s affiliate list.

Ben Pirko, #20 Avon Old Farms, LD, Shoots Left, 2/2/99, 6-2/160 (Union) - The Dutchmen commit is a smart, steady defender who plays solid positionally. His defensive zone coverage was very good and he kept pucks to the perimeter. One penalty kill, in particular, was very strong. He’s on Omaha Lancers’ affiliate list.