Evan Marinofsky

6 days ago | hockeyjournal.com | Evan Marinofsky

ROCKLAND, Mass. — What's cool about the Mass. Hockey boys festival is players go through it three times. So over the course of three years, onlookers get to watch players raise their stock. For the '08s, this was their third time through, meaning we've gotten a full look at their development from ages 15-17. It's the second time through for the '09s, so this season marks a nice midway point to see how they're progressing. It's the first time seeing the '10s. They won't be included in this story.

1 week ago | hockeyjournal.com | Evan Marinofsky

We have a funny habit of comparing things because they follow one another. Whether fair or not, it's a natural thing to do. I grew up near Mad Willie's, an ice cream shop in Framingham, Mass. The original owners were the best — a husband and wife who took the time to greet you with a smile and some great ice cream. The more times you went, the more likely they were to remember your exact order despite the line going through the front door. But then they decided to sell, and a new owner took over.

1 week ago | hockeyjournal.com | Evan Marinofsky

The 2025 Mass. Hockey boys festival came to a close this past weekend with the Final 40 at Lovell Arena. For 2008-born players, it was their final time at the event. They took to the ice to battle for spots at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp, which will be in Amherst, N.Y., from July 7-13. From there, they will hope to have a shot at making the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup team. Here are the for the Massachusetts District, which is different from the New England District in the eyes of USA Hockey.

1 week ago | hockeyjournal.com | Evan Marinofsky

ROCKLAND, Mass. — The next step is USA Hockey Select Camps. And those are a pretty big deal. The Mass. Hockey boys festival is over after two straight weekends of action at New England Sports Center and, most recently, Lovell Arena. On the first weekend, roughly 80 players from each of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 birth years took to the ice. Then, the evaluators whittled it down to 40 players in each age group, who made up the Final 40 this past weekend.

1 week ago | hockeyjournal.com | Evan Marinofsky

It all comes down to this. Players will battle for spots at USA Hockey's Select 17, 16 and 15 Camps this weekend at Lovell Arena in the Mass. Hockey boys festival's Final 40. A group of evaluators will pick a certain number of players (we'll get into that in a bit) to move on to Amherst, N.Y., for Select Camps. I want to make this clear: I don't pick who moves on. I will certainly put out predictions early next week, but I have no part in the decision process. The '08s are the oldest this season.