Professional, major junior and prep school scouts will descend upon the Red Bank Armory this weekend for a look at some of the region’s top young talent as the 11th annual Liberty Bell Games begins June 7-9, before closing out the competition June 14-15.
The 2019 edition of this touted showcase features games between six all-star teams stacked with skill players ages 15, 16 and 17-years old.
For the first time the Liberty Bell Games will also feature Future Prospect competition for 2005-born skaters on the event’s final weekend.
Find the full rosters below.
As well as stage for top talent to put their skillsets on display, the Liberty Bell Games also serve as fundraising event, with each team representing one of six non-profit organizations.
This Year’s Beneficiaries Include
- Athletes for Care (Team Franklin)
- Collier Youth Services (Team Whitman)
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (Team Independence)
- Hockey in New Jersey (Team Penn)
- JBJ Soul Kitchen (Team Constitution)
- You Can Play Project (Team Freedom)
The charities were identified through the Play it Forward Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses athletics to support charitable initiatives and groups. The Liberty Bell Games will collect funds throughout the event and enter them into a single prize pool. At the conclusion of event, a percentage of the funds raised will be dispersed amongst the charities based on the performance of their associated team.
Notable Liberty Bell Games Alumni
Evan Barrat (Chicago Blackhawks), Ross Colton (Tampa Bay Lightning), Anthony DeAngelo (New York Rangers), Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames), Kevin Labank (San Jose Sharks), Cayden Primeau (Montreal Canadiens), Mattias Samuelsson (Buffalo Sabres), Anthony Stolarz (Philadelphia Flyers).
Players to Watch This Weekend
Team Independence
Nicholas Bernardo: The Hoppauge, NY defenseman is a Brown University commit, and one of only two skaters at the event to enter with an NCAA Division I deal.
Logan Heroux: The Middletown, NJ pivot starred on CBA’s top pairing this past season as a sophomore, displaying two-way capabilities with 18 points.
Kyle Contessa: The Colts Neck, NJ winger was the leader of CBA’s offense in his junior campaign with 32 points on 18 goals and 14 assists. Much like his brother Derek, a Sacred Heart University-bound forward, Contessa is threatening combination of size, speed and heavy shot.
Ryan Schelling: The North Jersey Avalanche forward is the other skater with a secured spot at the NCAA Division I level, entering the event with a committed to Providence College.
Gleb Veremyev: The Monroe, NJ native emerged as one of the top point producers in the NJSIAA this past season, logging 69 points on 31 goals and 38 assists for the Falcons as a sophomore.
Team Ben Franklin
Patrick Reilly: At 14-years old, the Avon, NJ defensemen and North Jersey Avalanche product is one of the youngest skaters appearing in Liberty Bell Games main showcase.
Kenny Maxwell: The Oakhurst, NJ winger was one of the most explosive young scorers in the Shore Conference this past season, delivering 58 points on 37 goals and 21 assists for Ocean Township, leading the Spartans to the Public A State Tournament quarterfinals.
Colm Trainor: The Princeton High School forward scored the overtime game-winner in the NJSIAA Public B quarterfinals last season, and followed up with a 35-point sophomore campaign. Colm is the younger brother of fellow Princeton standout Aidan Trainor, who logged 55 points as a junior this past season.
Zach Wagnon: The Red Bank, NJ forward was an impact freshman for CBA this past season with 14 points on eight goals and six assists, including a goal and an assist in a win over Morristown-Beard in the second round of the Non-Public State Tournament.
Team Walt Whitman
Chad Schneider: The Toms River, NJ defenseman was a two-year standout on the CBA blue line before transferring to the Selects Hockey Academy in South Kent, CT for his junior campaign. Chad is the younger brother of former St. John Vianney and current New Jersey Hitmen playmaker Brett Schneider.
Matt DeBoer: The son of NHL head coach Pete DeBoer and younger brother of Boston University centerman Jack DeBoer, the Madison, NJ winger will have eyes glued to him this weekend given his size, skill and hockey pedigree.
Team Constitution
Connor Sedlak: The Wyckoff, NJ center scored the game-tying goal in the third period of an eventual Gordon Cup finals victory for Don Bosco Prep over Delbarton. Sedlak, the younger brother of NJSIAA Player of the Year Tyler Sedlak, was a sophomore standout who registered 20 points for the Iron Men en route to the program’s 2018-19 Non-Public State Championship.
Team Freedom
Colin Grable: The Spring Lake, NJ native garnered plenty of time on CBA’s blue line in his sophomore season, helping the Colts to a Non-Public State Tournament quarterfinals appearance.
Nicholas Del Gaizo: The younger brother of University of Massachusetts – Amherst standouts, Anthony and Marc Del Gaizo, Nicholas Del Gaizo has a promising career of his own ahead. As a freshman at Ridge High School, the forward delivered 21 points while helping the Red Devils to a Public B State Tournament Championship.
Cole Schneider: In his sophomore campaign at Toms River High School North, the forward broke as one of the Shore Conference’s most explosive offensive threats, registering 70 points on 35 goals and 35 assists.
Team William Penn
Andrew Micalizzi: With the 6-foot-2 Micalizzi leading St. John Vianney’s defensive corps, the Lancers finished 18-2-2 and won a Shore Conference Handchen Cup.
Jake Geraci: The Old Tappan pivot logged 20 points for Don Bosco Prep in his sophomore season, helping the Iron Men to a Gordon Cup and an Non-Public State Championship.
David Posma: The Pamona, NY native was an All-American defenseman a season ago for the North Jersey Avalanche’s U15 program, leading all Atlantic Youth Hockey League blue liners in scoring with 39 points in 30 league games.
