11 standout forwards from CEM/NEFPHL crossover showcase

MARLBORO, Mass. — Fall hockey in New England has changed quite a bit in recent seasons. While powerhouses like the Boston Junior Eagles, Neponset Valley River Rats, Mid Fairfield, East Coast Militia, Yale Junior Bulldogs and Connecticut Nor'Easters still snag the top kids at every birth year for their teams, a new kind of fall hockey has emerged.

Prep teams playing together.

On Sunday at New England Sports Center, two of the top leagues converged, with CEM League teams taking on New England Fall Prep Hockey League (NEFPHL) squads.

CEM, run by Cutting Edge Management, consists of Deerfield, Taft, Canterbury, Frederick Gunn, Westminster and Salisbury. They play under different team names, but it's pretty easy to tell them apart.

• 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 the day going from game to game, trying to see as many teams as I could. Some teams didn't have full rosters, but it was still a good gauge of the kind of talent those teams will have this winter. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see Frederick Gunn, Deerfield, Berwick and Pingree.

This story will focus on some standout forwards I saw. A separate story will cover the defensemen and goalies.

Let's dive in.

Gavin Anderson

Fall Prep Governor's, 1/7/2009, F, right shot, 6-2/185
Hometown: Andover, Mass. 

Against the Western Conn. Rhinos, Anderson opened the scoring by using his speed to fly through the neutral zone, broke away from a defender and sniped a shot. Anderson was able to drive play throughout the game and his size helped him protect pucks and extend offensive zone possessions.

ROUTE 12 FALL CLASSIC: 16 standout 14U forwards | 13 standout 14U defenders

Byron Chin

Central Conn. Marlets, 4/15/2009, F, left shot, 6-1/150
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia 

Chin scored a sick goal on Sunday against American Hockey Academy. He got the puck off the half-wall, passed it to linemate Brayden Dickie and immediately got it back, getting space from defenders. When Chin got the puck back, he cut to the net, went through his legs and roofed a goal. It was the kind of goal Chin will be showing his future grandkids 60 years from now.

Carter Cowan

Fall Prep Wildcats, 10/10/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/179
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario 

Cowan played with quite a bit of power. He drove play a lot, gaining the offensive zone and forcing defenders on their heels. Against the Western Conn. Saints, he showcased a great release off the rush, ripping a low shot that beat the goaltender. Cowan has all the makings of a breakout player in prep this winter.

Charlie Davis

Central Conn. Marlets, 3/31/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/150
Hometown: Rye, N.Y. 

Davis was an offensive threat every time he had the puck. He scored on a snipe against American Hockey Academy, getting the puck near the top of the circle, stopping up to create separation and rifling a shot past the netminder. Davis did a good job of getting open in high-danger areas and was elusive on the cycle. He should be due for a breakout season at Westminster this winter.

Evan Fitzsimmons

Western Conn. Saints, 4/15/2010, F, right shot, 5-8/159
Hometown: Avon, N.Y. 

Fitzsimmons scored a nice one against the Fall Prep Wildcats on Sunday, getting a loose puck in the slot, dangling to his backhand and roofing a goal. He was also smart in his forecheck positioning, doing a good job as the third forward high. Fitzsimmons arrives at Canterbury after two years with BK Selects.

Hunter Henderson

Fall Prep Huskies, 3/17/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Portsmouth, N.H. 

Henderson always seemed to find his way into the thick of things against the Northwest Knights. He was great at using his speed to slip past defenders and consistently earn scoring chances. He was rewarded in the first half when he jumped a pass in the neutral zone, intercepting it and feeding Gavin Burley, who went hard to the net for a goal.

Richie Janniello

Fall Prep Huskies, 2/9/2009, F, left shot, 5-8/165
Hometown: New Rochelle, N.Y. 

Janniello is a fast skater, and that speed didn't waver when he had possession. He was able to buzz around the offensive zone, through and around defenders, creating scoring chances and new passing lanes. Against the Northwest Knights, he absolutely sniped one across his body to the far side. His quickness made him lethal and difficult to defend.

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Joseph Lenhard

Northwest Knights, 6/5/2009, F, left shot, 5-8/181
Hometown: Grosse Pointe, Mich. 

The biggest thing with Lenhard, outside of his orange pants, is his shot. Boy, can this kid shoot a puck. Against the Millers, he got the puck off the rush and took almost no time between catching and shooting, wiring a snipe. He played with a lot of speed, too, and was fearless with the puck. He spent the last three seasons with Belle Tire.

Andrew Martineau

Western Conn. Saints, 4/26/2010, F, left shot, 5-7/152
Hometown: Ellington, Conn. 

Martineau is known for his high level of skill, and that was on display Sunday. Against the Fall Prep Wildcats, he got a breakaway and dangled the netminder for a goal. Deep in the offensive zone, he got around older, bigger defenders because of his hands. Martineau is one of a handful of intriguing '10s slated to be at Canterbury this winter.

Nathan Slack

Central Conn. Marlets, 7/6/2010, F, right shot, 5-10/157
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
NCAA: Yale 

Slack showed himself as a powerful play driver for the Marlets. He was difficult to knock off the puck when he had possession, protecting the puck well. He displayed a great shot that he could get off from anywhere. On one sequence against American Hockey Academy, a hard backcheck led to him breaking up the play and starting a sequence the other way. The Yale commit was a standout for the Don Mills Flyers 16U last season.

READ MORE: 10 standout defenders from CEM/NEFPHL crossover showcase

Mitchell Smith

Millville Millers, 11/9/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Thunder Bay, Ontario 

Smith was outstanding for the Millers against the Northwest Knights. His skill and elusiveness led to scoring chances. His skill and vision led to an assist on a late power-play goal, putting the Millers in the driver's seat with the lead. Shortly after, he hustled on a backcheck, allowing him to pull a puck off his team's goal line. Smith should be one of the best players in the Lakes Region this winter.

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