SALEM, N.H. — On Sunday, the Cutting Edge Management (CEM) fall league met up with New England Fall Prep Hockey League (NEFPHL) teams at the Salem Icenter for a showcase.
The NEFPHL has been around for a long time and features several prep teams playing together. CEM started with Salisbury, Frederick Gunn, Westminster, Deerfield and Taft this fall. Salisbury and Frederick Gunn have two teams.
Sunday was a great opportunity to see several prep teams under one roof. It also showcased a whole bunch of uncommitted prospects who have junior and college hockey aspirations.
Before we get into the standout forwards, here are all of Sunday's matchups.
- Team Yellow (Deerfield) vs. Top Gun 18U
- Team Orange (Westminster) vs. Fall Prep Huskies (New Hampton)
- Team Green (Frederick Gunn) vs. Fall Prep Bishops (Brooks)
- Team Blue (Frederick Gunn) vs. American Hockey Academy
- Team White (Salisbury) vs. Millville Millers (St. Paul's)
- Team Black (Salisbury) vs. Fall Prep Governor's (Governor's Academy)
- Team Red (Taft) vs. Fall Prep Wildcats (Kimball Union)
Here are 16 uncommitted standout forwards from Sunday. A separate story will be done on defensemen and goalies.
Let's dive in.
Xander Boutilier
Fall Prep Wildcats/Kimball Union, 7/13/2008, F, left shot, 6-1/180
Hometown: Middle Sackville, Nova ScotiaÂ
Boutilier was dominant with Josh Phillips and Carter Cowan on Sunday. The start to his second half showcased his game the best. On his first shift, he laid multiple hits to get his team going, who were somehow down 2-0 despite outplaying Team Red. Shortly after, he scored off a fantastic pass from Phillips while driving hard to the net. Boutilier's physicality mixed with his strong offensive instincts, make him a prospect to track this winter.
Patrick Cerullo
Team Blue/Frederick Gunn, 4/19/2008, F, left shot, 5-10/154
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.Â
Cerullo's speed stood out the most. He was able to leave defenders flat-footed on rushes. Midway through the first half, Cerullo showed a high compete when he won a footrace and kicked the puck middle to a teammate. Cerullo continued, driving for the near post and almost scored. He had 13 points for Frederick Gunn last year and looks poised to take another step this winter.
Devin Cokinos
Team Black/Salisbury, 10/31/2009, F, right shot, 5-7/152
Hometown: Dedham, Mass.Â
Cokinos may be smaller, but his shiftiness and speed set him apart. Because of his good skating, he could drive play and create offense. He was even able to get into high-danger areas, too. The '09 arrives at Salisbury from Bishop Kearney Selects' 15O team, as well as Cardigan Mountain.
Charlie Davis
Team Orange/Westminster, 3/31/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/150
Hometown: Rye, N.Y.Â
Davis deposited a rebound goal in the second half by getting to the top of the crease. On offensive zone sequences, Davis was able to drive play and keep plays alive. He was always looking for passing lanes to the front of the net, too.
Nathan DeSanto
Team Green/Frederick Gunn, 8/4/2008, F, right shot, 5-8/176
Hometown: New York, N.Y.Â
DeSanto's speed and intelligence with the puck helped him drive play. Early in the second half, he picked the right time to cut middle in the offensive zone and hit the post. He was also key in killing off a second-half penalty, forcing puck-carriers to make decisions when they didn't want to, and using that speed to get on top of defenders when they were trying to execute power play breakouts.
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Nick Dias
Fall Prep Bishops/Brooks, 3/24/2007, F, left shot, 5-10/185
Hometown: Nashua, N.H.Â
Dias might not be at the coveted 6-foot mark, but he played like it, as he consistently found ways to high-danger areas. In the cycle game, he was able to dangle through defenders to extend his possession and eventually find a passing lane or a lane to the net. He opened the second half like he was shot out of a cannon, exploding past the defenders for a breakaway.
Matt Homer
Fall Prep Huskies/New Hampton, 8/4/2007, F, left shot, 5-7/161
Hometown: Norton, Mass.Â
Homer was a force. I watched him pot two goals, and both came around the net. The first was off a rebound, while the second was a heads-up play by defenseman Keegan Hunt to shoot it low so Homer could tip it in from the back post. Homer's short, hard strides helped him forecheck opposing defensemen hard and force turnovers. He was outstanding in the cycle and should be a top producer for New Hampton this winter.
Kellar Kelusky
Team Yellow/Deerfield, 5/26/2008, F, left shot, 5-9/161
Hometown: Groton, Conn.Â
The biggest thing that stood out with Kelusky was his speed. His stride allowed him to generate speed quickly. On one play, he got down to block a one-timer and beat the defender the other way for a breakaway. He consistently drove play to the outside and forced defenders to respect his speed.
Camden Lathrop
Top Gun 18U/North Yarmouth Academy, 3/1/2007, F, left shot
Home state: New JerseyÂ
Lathrop caught my attention quite a bit. He showed himself as a fantastic skater who routinely drove play. He also took smart routes, adding in a little east-west to his trips through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. He was able to get to high-danger ice. He got scoring chances and created them for his teammates. He also showed off a high compete on the forecheck and was a menace for opposing defenders to deal with. He was with Frederick Gunn last season, but will play for NYA this winter.
Tucker Mears
Team Blue/Frederick Gunn, 4/3/2007, F, right shot, 6-0/201
Hometown: Shaker Heights, OhioÂ
Mears was everywhere as a center for Team Blue. Early in the game, he made a smart play to create a goal. It came at the end of a long offensive zone sequence, but Mears faked a slapshot and slid it to his left to defenseman Ryan Collins, who one-timed a shot past the netminder. Mears was able to drive play throughout the game and get to high-danger areas because of his frame. On Team Blue's second goal, Mears planted a defender, which took him out of the play and helped lead to a goal.
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Johnny Niemela
Fall Prep Huskies/New Hampton, 7/17/2007, F, right shot, 6-4/196
Home state: CaliforniaÂ
Niemela worked alongside Homer and Dylan Podergois. Those three spent most of their shifts in the offensive zone. When the line was in its own zone, Niemela got low as the center to support. He has great hands for someone of his size and seems to be filling into his frame. He's an intriguing prospect to track this winter.
Josh Phillips
Fall Prep Wildcats/Kimball Union, 4/24/2007, F, right shot, 6-3/195
Hometown: Los Altos, Calif.Â
A man amongst boys. Phillips was the only player across all seven games who looked head and shoulders above everyone. He had great hands when carrying pucks, as he always found ways to use his frame and skill to get to high-danger ice. He set up Boutilier's goal after winning a puck battle and later hit the crossbar on a shot. He should have a massive winter for KUA.
Harry Seely
Top Gun 18U/North Yarmouth Academy, 3/15/2008, F, right shot, 5-10/157
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass.Â
Seely was always driving play and was extremely patient with the puck. His best moment on Sunday, however, came when he corralled a rebound and sniped one over the netminder's shoulder and into the top of the net. He has terrific skill, and it was evident whenever he had possession. He should be a go-to guy for NYA this winter.
Riley Slovis
Team Black/Salisbury, 7/6/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/176
Hometown: Lexington, KentuckyÂ
Slovis opened his game with a dominant goal. He entered the offensive zone, cut to the high slot and beat the defenders, sending a hard shot past the goalie. Slovis spent the rest of the game driving play and showing himself as one of the best players on the ice.
Mitch Smith
Millville Millers/St. Paul's, 11/9/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Thunder Bay, OntarioÂ
Smith raised my eyebrows multiple times. His quickness in his stride helped him drive play and control pucks for long periods of time. Early in the first half, he forced a turnover at the blue line and went in for a breakaway. Team White deployed a man-to-man defense, and containing Smith was difficult. He was able to use his shiftiness to get around defenders and into high-danger ice, which helped extend cycles. He was also super physical on defensemen who had the puck.
It's easy to get carried away from a fall viewing, but Smith should see a bump in production after putting up 22 points in 30 games for St. Paul's last winter.
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William Wright
Team Green/Frederick Gunn, 2/27/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/180
Hometown: Alisa Craig, OntarioÂ
Wright seemed like a pain for opposing defenders — literally and figuratively. He finished all of his hits and would crush defenders, helping to force turnovers along the walls and in the offensive zone. Because of his frame, he was also vital to Team Green's cycles.
