The 2023 Beast Tournament Series gets underway today with a host of games to be played as part of the Neponset River Rats Jamboree, to be played at several Massachusetts rinks August 27-29.

Here is a look at the action upcoming at the U18 and U16 levels.

U18

BOSTON HOCKEY ACADEMY vs NEW JERSEY TITANS

The Boston Hockey Academy is looking for another big fall season and will have tough one when they face the New Jersey Titans (Tuesday, 8:30am – Canton Ice House).

BHA will look to forwards Maxim Qi, Artem Chepil, Logann Vigneault and Sheldon Alexander up front, defensemen Tyler Kirchner and Jacob Hero and goaltender Dalton Seasholtz to lead the way.

YALE BULLDOGS vs NEPONSET RIVER RATS

Another key battle will see the host River Rats take on the Yale Jr. Bulldogs. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 10:30am at Foxboro.

An explosive Rats offense goes through Mikey Munroe and Ryan Staples, both D1 commits. Teddy Mallgrave, another D1 commit, headlines the blue line group in front of goalie Ben Skowrenek.

Yale also has a powerhouse club, with guys like forwards Alex Pelletier and Gio DiGulian, defensemen Hudson Miller and Andrew Anastasio, and the goaltending tandem of Mitchell McCusker and Kyle Osgun.

* On Tuesday (11am – Rodman Arena), the Atlantic Coast Academy will be tested by the Buffalo Regals.

For Atlantic Coast, coach Paul Traynor says staying healthy will be a key for his club over the next few months. The team will look to Christian Testa, Jack Freiser and Jovanni Smeriglio for leadership.

* The Connecticut Chiefs hope to get off on the right foot when they battle Mid Fairfield (Monday, 1:10pm – Rodman Arena).

Forwards Noah Lasker and Max Gerasimov will be catalysts for the Chiefs, alongside defenseman Parker Cox and goalie Noah Merrick.

OTHER BEAST SERIES U18 GAMES ON THE DOCKET:

– Buffalo Regals Showcase vs New Jersey Bears (Monday, 8:10am – Canton Ice House)

– Buffalo Regals vs North Shore Wings (Monday, 10:40am – Foxboro)

– Long Island Gulls vs Avon Regals (Monday, 12:20pm – Foxboro)

– Mid-Fairfield vs Long Island Gulls (Monday, 5:20pm – Foxboro)

– Mid-Fairfield Showcase vs East Coast Militia (Monday, 9:30pm – Rodman)

– Maine Mariners vs North Shore Hockey Academy (Monday, 1:50pm – Essex Sports Center)

– Boston Jr. Huskies Tierney vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Tuesday, 6:30pm – Canton Ice House)

– Buffalo Regals Showcase vs River Rats Showcase (Tuesday, 8:10pm – Foxboro)

– Seacoast Performance vs West Haven (Tuesday, 12:10pm – Foxboro)

– Springfield Thunderbirds vs Buffalo Regals (Tuesday, 5:00pm – Foxboro)

– North Shore Wings vs Maine Mariners (Tuesday, 7:10pm – Essex Sports Center)

U16

A baker’s dozen of U16 games will be played at the U16 level. Here are some key tilts:

LONG ISLAND GULLS VS. MID FAIRFIELD

The U16 is going to have a lot of talent to show off, but a fun matchup to keep your eye on will be the U16 Long Island Gulls facing off against Mid Fairfield Monday August 28 at the Foxboro Sports Center at 2 pm.

The Long Island Gulls bring a lot of familiar faces from last season as they have 13 returning players and are hoping to use that to their advantage.

Coach Dan Cassano knows the team has unfinished business, so they want to start off the season strong, led by Jesse Orlowsky, Eithan Wyttenbach and Nicholas Sykora.

Mid Fairfield also has a solid group of players that have been playing together for several years and that should make for a great season under coach Chris Gragnano. Keep an eye on forwards Tommy Coccano, George McCaffrey, Luke Dow and Ryan Headley.

NEW JERSEY TITANS NATIONAL VS EC MILITIA

Another interesting U16 matchup to watch is the New Jersey Titans National vs. the EC Militia which will take place Monday at 12:30 at the Foxboro Sports Center.

New Jersey coach Gary Biggs is stressing structure in all three zones of the game and he is hoping his team can start the first showcase off strong with team leaders Ian Aitkenhead, Jack Conrad, Wyatt Capro and Sal Iorio.

The EC Militia is stacked with talent up and down and coach Jacob Hixson knows they will be a threat to other teams and difficult to play against especially with his leaders up front in Nick D’Olympio, Ben Kramer, Justin Graf and Matthew Homer.

The Militia also will have a second key battle on Monday, taking on a strong Yale Bulldogs club (7:00pm, Foxboro Sports Center)

NEPONSET RIVER RATS vs MID FAIRFIELD

Mid Fairfield comes right back on Tuesday at 3:10pm at Foxboro Sports Center when they take on the host Neponset River Rats.

The Rats are led by D1 commits Mikey Munroe and Grayden Robertson-Palmer at forward. A defensive key is Collin Rowe, while Anthony Palmer will be in goal.

Neponset also will have its hands full on Monday (12:40pm at Foxboro) when it takes on the Yale Bulldogs.

• The North Shore Hockey Academy will host Seacoast Performance Academy American in one of a few games that will be played at the Essex Sports Center (Monday, 2:40pm). Nolan Beauchain and goalie Joey Pearl expect to be keys for North Shore and coach Sean Tremblay.

OTHER BEAST SERIES U16 GAMES:

8/28:

–               Rochester Coalition vs. Boston Hockey Academy at Canton (3:40 pm)

–               Yale vs. EC Militia at Foxboro Sports Center (7:10 pm)

–               Rochester Coalition vs. Avon Regals at Foxboro Sports Center (9:10 am)

–               NS Hockey Academy vs SPA American at Essex Sports Center (2:40 pm)

–               Yale Showcase vs. Woodbridge Wolfpack at Boch Ice Arena (4:00 pm)

8/29:

–               NJ Titans vs Boston Hockey Academy at Canton Ice House (8:30 am)

–               Boston Jr. Huskies vs. Woodbridge Wolfpack at Canton Ice House (6:40 pm)

–               Mid Fairfield vs River Rats at Foxboro Sports Center (3:10 pm)

–               Yale vs Avon Regals at Foxboro Sports Center (6:40 pm)

–               Avon Regals vs. Atlantic Coast Acadmey at Rodman Arena (12:40 pm)