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The 2017 EHL All-Star Team

By Neil Ravin - Director of Communications, 05/07/18, 9:00AM EDT

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Checking In on the 20 Prospects

BOSTON, MA -- Way back in October of 2017, the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) put together a group of All-Stars to take on the  Umass Boston Beacons. Team EHL consisted of at least one player from all 16 teams, and the young men represented the league very well. The action began with Team EHL getting on the board first, but ultimately it was the Beacons who skated away with a 3-2 victory. The EHL All-Stars were led first and foremost by the play of Nolan Egbert (Boston Jr. Rangers) and Michael Paglucca (New Hampshire Avalanche) between the pipes, as the netminders combined for 56 total saves.

Below you'll find a quick breakdown of the 2017-18 season for each player, as well as an outlook for their future hockey endeavors.

Chris Peters (Walpole Express)

Peters and the Express saw their 2017-18 season come an to end in the Second Round of the EHL Playoffs, but not before the '97 forward left his name etched at the top of the #Eshow Record Books. With 165 career points in the EHL, Peters has solidified himself as the leading scorer in league history, and his mark will be tough to top. Peters will now join Umass Boston this Fall.

DJ Schwenke (New England Wolves)

Schwenke has not yet determined where he will play this upcoming Fall, but the '99 forward should have plenty of options following a phenomenal first season of junior hockey. After tallying 49 points in 52 total games, Schwenke finished in 3rd place for the EHL Rookie of the Year Award, and played a huge role for the Wolves.

Bryce Witman (Philadelphia Revolution)

Witman has also not finalized his decision for the 2018-19 season, but there is no doubt that the Revolution would welcome back the talented scorer. Through three seasons with Philadelphia, the '98 forward has racked up 133 career points in the EHL. In each year, the native of Pennsylvania has improved on the numbers posted in the previous season, tallying 19 points during the 2015-16 campaign, 52 points in the 2016-17 season, and 62 points this past year.

Jake Fuss (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights)

Fuss is another '98 forward who has some thinking to do, but that's due in large part to the improvement he showed over the course of this past season. After tallying 67 total points in his team's first 41 games, Fuss earned the call-up to the Knights' NAHL team, and has played a key role in his team reaching the Robertson Cup Finals (NAHL Final Four).

Jimmy Pelton (Valley Jr. Warriors)

Speaking of leaders, Pelton played a key role as well for the Warriors once again this past season, tallying another 38 points to his name. We can use the word 'another' as in each of Pelton's two seasons in the EHL, the '97 forward racked up 18 goals and 20 assists to his name. Pelton will begin his collegiate hockey career at UMass Dartmouth this Fall.

Alex Ochterbeck (Philadelphia Little Flyers)

They say that 'records are meant to be broken,' and Ochterbeck did just that with the single season record for goals in the EHL. The '97 forward finished with 43 during the 2017-18 regular season, and that total could have been even higher if he hadn't been forced to miss nine games due to injury. With 117 total points in two seasons in the EHL, Ochterbeck will look to carry his scoring touch with him to Curry College this Fall.

Joey Savel (Philadelphia Little Flyers)

While Ochterbeck had the record for goals covered, Savel took care of the marks for assists and points in the regular season. The playmaker finished the 2017-18 regular season with 65 assists and 96 total points to his name, and both of those totals sit at the top of the #Eshow Record Books. Savel will keep the Little Flyer pipeline going to Utica College this Fall.

Drew Platt (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers)

Platt has not yet made his decision for this upcoming season, but it is known that college hockey is what lies ahead for the '97 forward. While the 2017-18 season was a difficult one for the Jr. Flyers, Platt can still look back with great pride for the Championship that he helped his team win the previous year. Through 91 career games in the EHL, the Jr. Flyers' Captain tallied 30 total points. We will keep an eye out to see where he is heading this Fall.

Matthew Boring (New York Applecore)

Just like Schwenke from the Wolves, Matthew Boring turned heads in his first season of junior hockey. The '98 forward tallied 41 points in 51 total games, as he and the Applecore gave the Revolution all they could handle in the Second Round of the EHL Playoffs. The native of New York hasn't finalized his decision yet for the 2018-19 season, but he does hope to spend his final season of junior hockey in the EHL.

Cullen Kane (Connecticut RoughRiders)

The cousin of NHL star Patrick Kane, exploded onto the scene while racking up 74 points in the regular season. Cullen played in key role as the RoughRiders clinched their second straight Central Division Championship, and he will help keep another EHL Pipeline active, as he sets out for Lake Forest College this Fall.

Matthew Stewart (Total Athletics Seahawks)

The leadership qualities continue to show with Stewart, as the small, but gifted forward played a huge role for the Seahawks in their inaugural season in the EHL. The '97 played in all but one regular season game for this team, notching a total of 19 points to his name. Stewart will join the Soaring Eagles at Elmira College this Fall.

Jarrett Slear (New Hampshire Avalanche)

Last, but not least for the forwards, Slear capped off his final year of junior hockey with an EHL Championship. The '97 forward was the TSR Top Performer during the Round Robin play at the EHL Frozen Finals, and then led by example as the Avalanche captured their first title in their first season of operating a junior franchise. This fall, Slear will set out for Plymouth State University and the MASCAC.

Ryan Campbell (Walpole Express)

Flipping over to the defenseman, and Campbell was another very talented rookie in the EHL this past season. The '99 played in all situations for the Express, and racked up 27 points in 51 total games. This Fall, he will go from teammate to opponent with Peters, as Campbell begins his career with Babson College.

Andrew Barber (Vermont Lumberjacks)

Sticking with the trend of offensive-defensemen, Barber was never one to shy away from joining the rush. In two seasons with the Lumberjacks, the '97 tallied 65 total points, and that includes a stellar 51 assists to his name. Barber will be staying in Vermont, as he joins Castleton University this Fall.

Matt Fuller (East Coast Wizards)

Fuller brings more of a physical and defensive presence with him to the ice, and that was huge for the Wizards, as for the second straight season they gave the eventual champion all they could handle in the Second Round of the EHL Playoffs. Fuller played big minutes in a pair of one-goal losses to the Avalanche, but he can also look back with pride on his time spent in the EHL. The '98 got better every day, and Fuller will look to keep that pattern going at the University of Southern Maine this Fall.

Nick Grinvalds (Boston Jr. Rangers)

With Grinvalds, we get our first pair of future teammates, as he will be reunited with Stewart from the Seahawks this Fall. Grinvalds is a player who definitely improved over the course of his time in the EHL, and this was apparent through all the attention he received from different schools. The veteran defenseman will join Elmira College this Fall.

Ian Wallgren (Connecticut Oilers)

The final two defensemen from the EHL All-Star Team, were teammates for the first time in October, and now they will be again this Fall. Wallgren caught the attention of numerous schools because of his 6'4 frame, and a heavy slapshot. The leader of the Oilers notched 31 points for the regular season, and he nearly tied the All-Star Game with a slapshot that rang hard off the post in the final minute. Wallgren now sets out for the very well-respected program at Plattsburgh State.

Matthew Araujo (New York Bobcats/Boston Jr. Rangers)

The final skater from the EHL All-Star Team caught the attention of his future coach based off of his play that afternoon in October. Araujo is steady in all three zones, and his 41 points in 51 total games proves just that. The '97 has great skating ability, and showed just how ready he is for the speed that college hockey brings. Araujo is excited to be a Cardinal at Plattsburgh State this Fall.

Michael Paglucca (New Hampshire Avalanche)

Wrapping things up with the goalies, and Paglucca leaves behind a great junior career. The '97 has both an EHL Championship and an EHLP Championship to his name, and he would love for that winning pattern to stay with him throughout college. The big netminder is set to join the Bears at SUNY Potsdam this Fall.

Nolan Egbert (Boston Jr. Rangers)

The final EHL All-Star was by far the team's MVP back in October, as the Goalie of the Year stopped 36 of the 37 shots that he faced. Egbert developed tremendously in his two seasons with the Rangers, and will undoubtedly continue to do the same when he gets to college. Through all the stellar performances that they were able to witness, the coaching staff at Umass Boston was excited to offer Egbert a spot for this upcoming Fall.