10 standout defenders from CEM/NEFPHL crossover showcase

MARLBORO, Mass. — The New England boys prep hockey season doesn't begin for another couple of months.

But it looked like it was in full swing on Sunday when the CEM Fall Development League did a crossover event with the New England Fall Prep Hockey League (NEFPHL) at New England Sports Center.

CEM, run by Cutting Edge Management, consists of Deerfield, Taft, Canterbury, Frederick Gunn, Westminster and Salisbury. They play under different team names.

• Deerfield: Western Mass. Doors
• Taft: Western Conn. Rhinos
• Canterbury: Western Conn. Saints
• Frederick Gunn: Connecticut Highlanders
• Westminster: Central Conn. Marlets
• Salisbury: Northwest Knights

The NEFPHL does have some typical fall teams in it like the Minuteman Flames and Top Gun, but it mainly features Lakes Region teams.

• Kimball Union: Fall Prep Wildcats
• New Hampton: Fall Prep Huskies
• St. Paul's: Millville Millers
• Governor's Academy: Fall Prep Governor's
• Berwick: Fall Prep Bulldogs
• Pingree: Fall Prep Highlanders

I spent Sunday jumping from game to game, trying to catch as many prep teams as I could. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Frederick Gunn, Deerfield, Pingree and Berwick. Yeah, I know — huck those tomatoes at me.

Standout forwards were already covered. This story is about the standout defensemen and goalies.

Let's dive in.

Preston Abbott

Northwest Knights, 4/5/2009, D, left shot, 6-0/194
Hometown: Middleton, Mass. 

The ingredients were on display Sunday for Abbott to have a strong season with Salisbury this winter. He was good at quarterbacking the power play from the point. He showcased nice hands and an ability to get to space and navigate through traffic. He was even physical, too, laying some big hits. But as the intensity got higher against the Millville Millers, he went a bit too out of his way to land hits. Once he reins that in, Abbott will be an effective, all-around threat.

Connor Ashcroft

Western Conn. Rhinos, 5/31/2010, D, right shot, 5-8/172
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario 

I really liked Ashcroft's mobility. He was intelligently aggressive when picking his spots to jump in the offense and stepping up to defend the rush. On one sequence, he read the play correctly, jumping a pass in the neutral zone to prevent a breakaway. A good skater, Ashcroft arrives at Taft from the Toronto Marlboros.

Thomas Besarick

Fall Prep Huskies, 2/13/2008, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Raynham, Mass. 

I was impressed with Besarick's poised puck-moving abilities. He made smart first passes leaving his own zone and read forechecks well. Against the Northwest Knights, he had a nice rush with the puck, getting an exit from his own zone and an entry into the offensive end. He spent last season with American Hockey Academy's 18U team after three seasons with Bishop Feehan High School in the MIAA.

Greer Difani

Fall Prep Huskies, 4/22/2009, D, right shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. 

Difani was an offensive threat for the Huskies on Sunday. He sniped one off the rush against the Northwest Knights, gathering a pass in transition from Michael Ronan and potting a goal. He only had two assists for New Hampton last season but, based on his play Sunday, should be due for a bigger season this winter.

Whit Fusting

Millville Millers, 1/5/2009, D, left shot, 6-0/181
Hometown: Telluride, Colo. 

Fusting's elusiveness on breakouts made him difficult to stop. He was able to get to space effectively using his good edgework, getting away from forechecks. He also showcased a great stick when defending in the corners. He should be due to break out with St. Paul's this winter.

Nolan Nassar

Fall Prep Governor's, 4/18/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/194
Hometown: North Andover, Mass. 

Nassar's been around for some time now in prep — and it shows. His calmness and poise when defending and getting back to negate scoring chances stood out. He never panicked, always using his size and stick to put out fires. He showed himself as a calm, simple puck mover, making intelligent plays. He was almost rewarded with a goal against the Western Conn. Rhinos when he wired a shot off the post.

Thomas Ojard

Fall Prep Wildcats, 3/6/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/187
Hometown: Duluth, Minn. 

Ojard took care of business against the Western Conn. Saints. He does everything well. On one sequence, he broke the puck out himself, rushing it east-west to elude forecheckers, gaining the red line and dumping it in. He was effective offensively, getting low, hard shots through. In the second half of that game, he ripped a shot in from the point. The blueprint is there for him to be one of the better defensemen in prep this winter.

Gabe Walker

Fall Prep Wildcats, 10/20/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/196
Hometown: Fredericton, New Brunswick 

Walker makes this story because of his skating. The Canadian defenseman can fly. He drove play from the back end, and he created scoring chances. A late '09, I'm very intrigued to see what he is and what his role is with Kimball Union come the prep season. He joins KUA from the Fredericton Caps 18U team.

Elliott Watson

Northwest Knights, 4/5/2009, D, right shot, 5-9/181
Hometown: Mascouche, Quebec 

Watson was impossible to miss on Sunday. Against both the Millville Millers and Fall Prep Huskies, he was so dynamic with the puck. He never missed a chance to rush the puck, always finding ways to navigate through forecheckers. In the offensive zone, he read cycles well, pinching at the right time to get open for shots. He remains one of my favorite '09s to watch in the region.

READ MORE: 11 standout forwards from CEM/NEFPHL crossover showcase

Caden Weichselbaumer

Central Conn. Marlets, 8/20/2008, G, catches left, 6-1/165
Hometown: Hampden, Mass. 

One of the biggest advantages Westminster has this winter is that Weichselbaumer is back. After getting a good amount of experience last winter, Weichselbaumer was outstanding for the Marlets against American Hockey Academy on Sunday, earning a shutout. He made several high-danger, in-tight saves. He had quick reflexes, getting his glove and blocker up to negate scoring chances heading for the top corners.

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