Nine Massachusetts forwards are at this week's USA Boys National 16 Camp in Amherst. Five are returning from last year's NAT 15 roster. Four are first-time camp invitees. They span seven team colors and include the top prep-scoring Mass forward of 2025-26 (Carter Felt, 34 points) along with last year's MA forward camp leader (Jamie Calla, 8 points at NAT 15).
| Forward | Camp Team | 2025-26 Prep | G | A | P | NAT 15 ('25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Felt | Red | Rivers School | 20 | 14 | 34 | Yes |
| Drew Short | Gold | Winchendon | 8 | 18 | 26 | — |
| Michael Barrett | Orange | Phillips Andover | 10 | 13 | 23 | Yes |
| Jameson Needham | Navy | St. Sebastian's | 12 | 8 | 20 | — |
| Robert Dekleine | Royal | Belmont Hill | 9 | 11 | 20 | Yes |
| Jamie Calla | Lime | Governors Academy | 11 | 7 | 18 | Yes |
| Liam Carlin | Orange | Winchendon | 3 | 14 | 17 | — |
| Austin Wu | Grey | Dexter Southfield | 8 | 6 | 14 | Yes |
| Colin Walsh | Kelly | Framingham HS (MIAA) | — | — | — | — |
Note: Walsh played MIAA varsity hockey at Framingham High School (35G, 19A — 54 points). Those numbers are not directly comparable to the NEPSAC prep totals above due to differences in schedule, competition level, and scouting context.
The Five Returners
Carter Felt
Felt was the top-scoring Mass prep forward at 2025-26 with 34 points (20G, 14A) at Rivers School, with Neponset Valley River Rats as his club program. The 20-goal season is the headline number — no other Mass forward at this camp matched it. He skated for Navy at the 2025 NAT 15 camp and posted 3 points there. Returning to Rivers for 2026-27. His Red team faces Royal (Anderson, Dekleine) on Friday, Black (Poti) on Saturday, Gray (Ware, Wu, Torres) on Monday, and Lime (Calla) on Tuesday — four straight games against MA-connected teams.
Michael Barrett
Barrett produced 23 points (10G, 13A) at Phillips Andover, with Neponset Valley River Rats as his club program. He was on Orange at the 2025 NAT 15 camp and is back on Orange in 2026 — the same color, the same path. Returning to Phillips Andover for 2026-27. His Orange team has three Mass players this week (Barrett, Fishbone, Carlin). They open against Navy (Needham) on Friday and face Yellow (Cotter) on Saturday.
Robert Dekleine
Dekleine posted 20 points (9G, 11A) at Belmont Hill with the Minuteman Flames as his club. He played on Kelly at the 2025 NAT 15 camp and contributed 4 points there. Now on Royal alongside fellow Mass returnee Brodie Anderson and goaltender Jesse Bernardinelli — three of the seven Mass players named to Royal-Black or Royal-Red openers. Returning to Belmont Hill for 2026-27.
Jamie Calla
Calla led all Massachusetts forwards at the 2025 NAT 15 camp with 8 points (6G, 2A) — doubled the next closest MA forward. His 2025-26 Governors Academy season produced 18 points (11G, 7A) with the Islanders Hockey Club as his club program. He's on Lime this week, opening against Gray (Ware, Wu, Torres) at 2:15 PM Friday — the marquee Day 1 matchup. Returning to Governors for 2026-27.
Austin Wu
Wu finished 2025-26 with 14 points (8G, 6A) at Dexter Southfield, club program Minuteman Flames. He skated for Red at the 2025 NAT 15 camp and posted 1 point. This week he's on Grey alongside fellow Belmont Hill teammate-by-association Nicholas Ware (D) and goaltender Will Torres — same team, same camp, second year of evaluation. Watch the Day 1 matchup against Calla's Lime at 2:15 PM Friday.
The Four First-Timers
Drew Short
Short put up 26 points (8G, 18A) at Winchendon last season — the top prep production of any first-time Mass forward at this camp. His club program was Neponset Valley River Rats. He's also one of the highest-profile 2026-27 transfers in the Mass prep landscape, leaving Winchendon for Belmont Hill. His Gold team faces Lime (Calla) on Monday and Gray (Ware, Wu, Torres) on Saturday — Short on the ice with several of his soon-to-be Belmont Hill teammates.
Jameson Needham
Needham finished 2025-26 with 20 points (12G, 8A) at St. Sebastian's, with Neponset Valley River Rats as his club program. He's the only Mass player on Navy this week. The 12-goal season was the second-highest by a first-time Mass forward at camp behind Felt's returning resume. Navy plays Orange (Barrett, Fishbone, Carlin) on Friday, Kelly (Walsh) on Saturday, White on Monday, and Columbia (Marzi) on Tuesday. Returning to St. Sebastian's for 2026-27.
Liam Carlin
Carlin posted 17 points (3G, 14A) at Winchendon last season with the Islanders Hockey Club as his club. He's one of three Mass players on Orange — Barrett, Fishbone, and Carlin. Orange faces Navy (Needham) on Friday and Yellow (Cotter) on Saturday. Returning to Winchendon for 2026-27.
Colin Walsh
Walsh comes to camp off a 35-goal, 19-assist MIAA varsity season at Framingham High School, with the Neponset Valley River Rats as his club program. His 54 points were the top scoring total of any forward at this camp, though MIAA numbers don't compare directly to NEPSAC prep totals. He's joining Rivers School for 2026-27 — putting him on the same roster as Carter Felt. He's also been drafted by the Chicago Steel of the USHL. He's the only Mass player on Kelly, which opens against Columbia (Marzi) on Friday and plays Navy (Needham) on Saturday.
What's at Stake
Per USA Hockey's own program book: "Players from the USA Hockey Boys 16 Camp will be evaluated and chosen to play for the U.S. Under-17 Men's Select Team playing in the Under-17 Four Nations Tournament."
For all nine, this week is the audition.