BOSTON, MA -- New this season, the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) and Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP) will announce All-Showcase Teams as Players of the Week following league-wide events. These selections are presented by Hockey Night in Boston.
Forwards
David Basin - Seacoast Spartans
The EHL is pleased to announce forward David Basin as a North Division Showcase Star as he helped lead his team to a 2-1-0 showcase weekend in Worcester. The ’05 native of Orsk, Russia had an excellent showing at the Worcester Showcase tallying seven points (2G, 5A) in the Spartans' three games. Basin scored the OT winner in the Spartan’s thrilling 6-5 comeback win over the East Coast Wizards on Thursday. Next up for Basin and the Spartans is a match-up with the Lumberjacks on October 5th.
Brayson Bennett - Vermont Lumberjacks
The EHL is pleased to announce forward Brayson Bennett as a North Division Showcase Star. The ’04 native of Columbus, IN had a stellar weekend for the Lumberjacks putting up seven total points (4G, 3A). Bennett tallied at least one goal in each of his team’s three games and played a big role in their Friday 5-1 win against the Connecticut RoughRiders. Next up for Vermont is a trip to Exeter to take on the Spartans on Thursday.
Casey Raffone - East Coast Wizards
The EHL is pleased to announce Casey Raffone as an East Division Showcase Star. The ’03 Guilford, CT native had five goals and one assist over the Wizards' three games. He netted two goals in their overtime 6-5 loss to the Spartans and two more in their 5-3 loss to the Philly Little Flyers. Raffone added a power play goal in the Wizards 4-0 blanking of Providence Hockey Club. Next up for the Wizards is a home game on October 4th against the New England Wolves.
Defenseman
Robert Martiniello - New Hampshire Avalanche
The EHL is pleased to announce defenseman Robert Martiniello as a North Division Showcase Star. The ’03 native of Salem, NH played a vital role in his team’s 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Little Flyers. Martinello netted four total points in the game including one goal and three assists helping the Avalanche to avoid getting swept at the Showcase. Next for the Avalanche and Martiniello is a game with the Seahawks Hockey Club on Thursday at the Ice Den.
Andrew VanAntwerp - Boston Jr Terriers
The EHL is pleased to announce Andrew VanAntwerp as an East Division Showcase Star. The ’03 native of Petoskey, MI was key on the blue line for the Jr. Terriers this weekend and tallied four total points (1G, 3A) in the team's three games. The Terriers look to rebound Thursday when they visit the Valley Jr. Warriors for an 11:30 am puck drop.
Goaltender
Charles Watson - Boston Jr Rangers
The EHL is pleased to announce goaltender Charles Watson as an East Division Showcase Star. The ’03 native of Yarmouth, ME had an impressive showing over the weekend. He led the Jr. Rangers to two big wins over Team Maryland and the New Jersey 87’s. Watson allowed just four total goals while making 39 saves in his two wins. Next up, the Jr. Rangers host the Bridgewater Bandits on Wednesday at 11:10 am.
Forwards
Anthony Vernillo - New York Apple Core
The EHL is pleased to announce forward Anthony Vernillo as a Central Division Showcase Star. Vernillo, the ’04 native of Smithtown, NY helped the Apple Core to an impressive 3-0-0 showing over the weekend. He scored two goals in their 3-2 win over the Bandits and had a goal and an assist in the Apple Core’s 3-2 win over the Seahawks. Next, they travel to Flemington Arena to take on the New Jersey Bears on Friday at 7:15 pm.
Mathew Fortin - New Jersey Bears
The EHL is pleased to announce forward Mathew Fortin as a South Division Showcase Star. The ’03 native of Canada has been a vital part of his team's 6-2-0 start. He tallied an assist in his team’s 5-1 win over the Wolves and had the game-tying and game-winning goals, plus another assist, in a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Avalanche.
Cameron Cyr - H.C. Rhode Island
The EHL is pleased to announce forward Cameron Cyr as a Central Division Showcase Star. The ’03 native of Exeter, RI had two big goals in his team's 5-2 win over the Jr. Terriers and also tallied an assist in their 3-2 over Philadelphia Hockey Club. H.C. Rhode Island and Cyr will look to keep it going Thursday when they host the Bandits at 1:00 pm.
Defenseman
Andrew Henry - Philadelphia Little Flyers
The EHL is pleased to announce defenseman Andrew Henry as a South Division Showcase Star. The ’03 from Wilmington, DE tallied at least one point in his team’s three games over the weekend. He notched a total of six points, including a three-point game against the Wizards. Next for Henry and the Little Flyers are two games with the Connecticut Chiefs on Thursday and Friday.
Michail Kukareka - New Jersey 87's
The EHL is pleased to announce defenseman Michail Kukareka as a South Division Showcase Star. The ’04 native of Moscow, Russia helped the 87’s win two big games. He tallied a goal and an assist from the blue line in both their 3-2 win over the Chiefs and their 5-2 win over the Spartans. The 87’s and Kukareka will host Philadelphia HC on Wednesday at 12:30 pm.
Goaltender
Aaron Matthews - Railers Jr Hockey Club
The EHL is pleased to announce goaltender Aaron Matthews as a Central Division Showcase Star. Matthews, an ’04 from Newton, MA was a vital part in the Railers 3-0-0 weekend. He earned two big wins, the first being a 3-1 win over PHC and the second a 2-1 over the Warriors. He allowed just two total goals while recording 40 saves. After a slow start, the Railers have been hot and look to keep it going next Wednesday, October 11th when they hosting the Connecticut RoughRiders.
Forwards
Zach Spicuzza - New England Wolves
The EHLP is pleased to announce forward Zach Spicuzza as a Showcase Star. The ’05 from Meredith, NH had a great showing for the New England Wolves. He scored two goals in their 5-4 shootout win over the Little Flyers and two goals in their 4-3 win against the Bandits. The Wolves hope to keep it rolling next Sunday, October 8th when they host the Valley Jr. Warriors at 10:00 am.
Jacob Badar - Adirondack Jr Thunder
The EHLP is pleased to announce forward Jacob Badar as a Showcase Star. The ’06 native of Saratoga, NY had a monster showing this week for the Jr. Thunder. He put up nine total points (7G, 2A) in four games. He tallied at least one goal in all four games and his highlight performances included scoring two goals and two assists in an 8-0 win over the Little Flyers as well as a three-goal game against the Seahawks. The Adirondack Jr. Thunder will have a little time off before their next game when they host the Union Jr. Thunder on October 14th at 7:00 pm.
PJ Sweeney - Boston Jr Rangers
The EHLP is pleased to announce forward PJ Sweeney as a Showcase Star. The ’04 from Paris, France put up impressive numbers this weekend. Sweeney totaled nine points (6G, 3A) in four games played. He had a five-point game including a hat trick in the Rangers 6-2 win over the New Jersey Renegades and he put up another three goals in their 10-4 win over the Lumberjacks. Next up for the Rangers and Sweeney are two back-to-back games against Vermont at home on Thursday and Friday.
Defenseman
Jim Fitzgerald - Adirondack Jr Thunder
The EHLP is pleased to announce defensemen Jim Fitzgerald as a Showcase Star. The ’03 native of Queensbury, NY had a solid showing on the blue line putting up five total points. He had a goal and an assist in both their 5-3 loss to the Rangers and an 8-0 win over the Little Flyers. He also recorded an assist in their 5-0 win over the Seahawks.
Luke Castor - Railers Jr Hockey Club
The EHLP is pleased to announce defensemen Luke Castor as a Showcase Star. Castor, an ’05 native of West Springfield, MA has played a key role in the Railers’ 7-0-0 start and tallied three total assists in this weekend’s four-game sweep. Next up for the red hot Railers and Castor, is a date with the also undefeated Warriors on Thursday morning at 11:30 am at the Worcester Ice Center.
Goaltender
Damien Carter - New Hampshire Avalanche
The EHLP is pleased to announce goalie Damien Carter as a Showcase Star. The ’05 native of Derry, NH had a lights out weekend between the pipes. He delivered three wins for his Avalanche team, allowing just three goals and making 87 saves. The Avalanche won all three of the games he started. Next up, they host the Seahawks on Thursday at 10:00 am.
Forwards
Roman Berger - Pennsylvania Huntsmen
The EHLP is pleased to announce forward Roman Berger as a Showcase Star. Berger, an ’04 from Littleton, CO had a great showing tallying six total points. He recorded one goal and four assists in their 7-3 win over the Bandits. Berger also had the overtime winner in the Huntsmen’s 2-1 win over the Rangers. The Huntsmen next game has them hosting the Little Flyers on Friday night at 8:35 pm.
Andrew Duval - Valley Jr Warriors
The EHLP is pleased to announce forward Andrew Duval as a Showcase Star. The ’05 native of Tewksbury, MA continues to pile up the points as he had nine in three games over the weekend. He tallied a stellar four goals as well as an assist in Valley’s 12-1 win over the Chiefs. Duval also scored a goal and an assist in their 7-1 win over Union. Duval was also named a Star of the Week last week for his shining efforts.
Brooks Wright - Railers Jr Hockey Club
The EHLP is pleased to announce forward Brooks Wright as a Showcase Star. Wright, an ’04 from Denver, CO has been an intricate part of the Railers’ early success. This past weekend he posted seven points (3G, 4A). He had two goals in a 5-2 win over the 87’s, two assists in a 2-1 win over the Avalanche, and one goal and two assists against the Little Flyers. Next up for Wright and the Railers, a battle of the unbeatens on Thursday against Valley.
Defenseman
Joe Hoover - New Jersey Renegades
The EHLP is pleased to announce defensemen Joe Hoover as a Showcase Star. The ’04 native of Babylon, NY had a solid showing from the blue line for the Renegades with four assists over the weekend. He had two in the Renegades 9-2 win over the Bandits. Next up, a trip to play Union on Saturday night at 7:40 pm.
Jonathan Rubio - Bridgewater Bandits
The EHLP is pleased to announce defensemen Jonathan Rubio as a Showcase Star. The ’04 native of Anaheim, CA recorded four points in three games for the Bandits. He had two assists in the team’s 7-4 loss to the Huntsmen and a goal and an assist in their 4-3 loss to the Wolves. Next up, the Bandits host the Express Hockey Club on Monday, October 9th at Noon.
Goaltender
Dylan Callahan - Pennsylvania Huntsmen
The EHLP is pleased to announce goalie Dylan Callahan as a Showcase Star. Callahan, an ’04 from Mt. Sinai, NY allowed just one goal and had 27 saves in his team’s 2-1 overtime win over the Rangers on Sunday.
Alexis Demopoulos covers the EHL for HNIB and can be followed on Twitter @Alexissss21
Alexis is a 2017 graduate from UMass Lowell who currently works covering hockey for Hockey Night in Boston as well as the Eastern Hockey League & is a sports reporter for the Daily Times Chronicle in Woburn.