Here is our 2013 Final Rankings for the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
1. Linus Lundin - Springfield Pics - For the second year in a row the Swedish-born netminder led the Pics into the playoffs. He is big, agile, and competes hard. Named the EJHL's Goaltender of the Year.
2. Ben Halford - Connecticut Oilers - We ranked him in our Final Five for New England Prep goalies in 2011. No surprise he has continued to develop in the Junior A ranks. Led the EJ with a .932 Save Percentage. Has committed to Princeton
3. Chris Funkey - NJ Hitmen - Funkey was in the net for the Hitmen's run to the Dineen Cup. We like goalies who win titles.
4. Colton Phinney - Islander Hockey Club - Phinney was third in the league in minutes played and ended with a 2.45 GAA and a .922 Save Percentage. He made 48 saves in the the second game of the finals to stave off elimination.
5. Patrick Feeley -New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs - The 6' 6" goalie was not on the Monarchs roster when the season started but was on it when it mattered most. He carried a .922 Save Percentage into the first round of the playoffs against the Pics and allowed only one goal in two games to help his squad advance. Needs to perfect his butterfly (he tends to get small when he drops to his knees) but starting to show some of the promise he projected when he played at Berkshire.
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2010-2011 FINAL FIVE FLASHBACK
1. Jon Nauta - New Jersey Hitmen
Nauta went most of the season undefeated. We saw him in the EJHL Fall Classic and it was obvious then that he was by far the dominant goalie in the league. There were questions about his college eligibility based on some time in Canadian Major Junior so the question was whether Nauta would be going to college or straight to the NHL. He has since worked out a deal with Quinnipiac to play 2012-2013. My early pick for the 2012-2013 ECAC title? Bobcats.
2. Courtney Lockwood - Springfield Pics
Been at the or near the top for two years in Minutes Played. Was solely responsible for keeping this franchise in games a year ago when they were transitioning under new ownership / management. This year he struggled early and then turned it around to become a dominant player in the league, leading the team to its first playoff since the legendary Gary Dineen ran the team. Our pick for league MVP. How is this battle-tested, playoff tested, adversity-tested goaltender not signed to a DI school? (UPDATE 3/31/11 - Lockwood has committed to Colorado College for next season)
3. Brian Billet - New Hampshire Monarchs
Billett wins games. 6-0 in the playoffs. Heading to BC. 'Nuff said
4. Blake Dougherty / Kyle MacDonald - Bay State Breakers -
These two shared the net this season and while Dougherty committed to Bentley and had a little more time down the stretch, we are really intrigued by MacDonald. A three-year started at Super 8 contender Xaverian, he looked at ease in the Junior A ranks. He will sign next year.
5. Brian Robbins - CD Selects
The Fighter. We saw him play against Springfield at the end of the season. He made 50 saves officially, 63 by our count. At one point in the second period the net kept coming unhinged. The referee accused Robbins of moving to the point where he finally called a penalty. Then he through a CD defenseman out for arguing the call. Then he gave Robbins and unsportsmanlike. A recipe for chaos. How do you stay focused after that? He did. Killed off the 5-on-3, making 12 saves in two minutes. We did a little research and found out that this guy battles like this every game.