All CTHSHockey Team

By: Luke Devoe

Before people start publicly lynching me let me preface this team by saying this is NOT an All-State team or an All-Star team.  This is simply a realistic squad, from what I've seen, comprised of studs, grinders and players that make teams successful.  If you are having a breakout season, netting goal upon goal and you're left off this list understand, the team would not be realistic with ten 20 goal scorers.  I've taken into account style of play and year in school as well.  Here goes.

First Line
F David White, Sr. Fairfield Prep
Every team needs a stud.  A player who night in and night out contributes in every way.  White does this in his sleep.  He's notched 20 points this year through nine games against the hardest competition anyone in the state has faced.  As good of a scorer as he is a distributor, White would wear a C.
F Harry Stanton, Sr. New Canaan

New Canaan's Stanton

Stanton leaves it all out on the ice, all while tallying some impressive point totals.  He's one of the state's most entertaining players with a deft scoring touch and the fearless mindset to go into the corners and battle.
F Demitri Yao, Jr. Northwest Catholic
Yao knows how to distribute the puck and play with top notch talent.  He does this nightly with Jeff Greenwood and Patrick Melanson.  Yao has 21 points in 7 games this year and would fit beautiful as a junior on this top line.

Others considered: Greg Zullo (NDWH), Avery Clair (Glastonbury), Tyler Carangelo (Hamden), Brendan Richard (Newington-Berlin), Zach White (Milford), Kaden Batzinger (Lyman Hall-HK), CK Keator (St. Joseph), Brendan Hathaway (Darien)

Second Line
F Tommy Watters, Jr. Darien
Watters is, at times, overshadowed by seniors Brendan Hathaway and Jack Knowlton, but Watters is the type of player that coaches would love to have.  This undersized line should fly by opponents led by Watters' grit.

NDWH's Dumas

F Matt Longobardi, Jr. East Haven
Longobardi pours in the points with line mates Tristan Goodwin and Mike Falanga on a nightly basis.  He could play on most top lines in the state but here is flanked by some of the best set up men in the state.  The all junior line would flourish well together and move forward.
F Matt Dumas, Jr. NDWH
Pure speed is Dumas' game.  The point totals haven't necessarily been there for the junior but his steady play often goes unheralded for the Green Knights.  Outside of the shadow of the stars NDWH possesses, Dumas' game would excel.

Others considered: Liam Smith (Ridgefield), Ryan Carpenter (Simsbury), Ben Solin (Hand), Avery Boissy (Fermi-Enfield), Ryan Corcoran (St. Joseph), Jim Morrissey (West Haven), Harrison O'Connell (New Milford), Connor Thompson (Glastonbury), Tyler Smith (Shepaug-Litchfield-Nonnewaug), Sean Johnson (Xavier)

Third Line
F Dylan Podbielski, Sr. North Branford

Hamden's Regan

The senior would bring needed leadership and experience to the dressing room.  He's tallied 15 points this year and boasts a 5 goal game, but his two way play makes him a strong member of this checking line.
F Mike Regan, Sr. Hamden
The grittiest player on the squad would be the undersized Regan.  He would also wear a C and would be counted on to be a leader on special teams.  A poor man's Stanton, Regan is not afraid to mix it up and do the dirty work needed to win.  A gamer and a delight to have.
F Charlie Christo, So. Masuk
Some youth on this line would go a long way.  Christo has proven to score at a high level for an overachieving Masuk squad this year at more than a point a game player.  He also gives this line some more size at just under 6'0".

Fourth Line

Watertown-Pomperaug's Block

F Will Vitelli, Jr. Milford
The junior Vitelli has put together a nice little year for himself in the shadow of all stater Zach White.  Vitelli knows how to raise up on the biggest stage and would be a great fit on the bottom two lines of this team.
F Luca DiPaola, Fr. Newington-Berlin
An electric freshman is holding his own on a deep and talented Newington-Berlin squad.  DiPaola certainly has a bright future and gives this team some depth as well as staying power.
F Kyle Block, Sr. Watertown-Pomperaug
In the only time I saw WP this year Block was all over the ice doing the intangible things that make teams successful.  While he won't lead this team or his team in points he will find the back of the net plenty of times and be a solid penalty killer.

Others considered: Ryan Bell (Hand), Denzel Dickerson (St. Bernard-Bacon-NFA), Grayson LaCroix (Conard), Brett McNeil (Amity), Bailey Brown (Immaculate-New Fairfield), Vin Fasulo (North Haven), Christian Ugolik (Hamden)

D Pairing 1
D Andrew Gore, Sr. St. Joseph

Cheshire's Nesdale

Size, strength, point presence.  Gore brings it all.  He would also wear a C on this team and carry the point on the power play.  He can be offensive when he needs to and is as good defensively as anyone in the state.
D Darren Capobianco, Sr. NDWH
Another kid with a strong shot from the blue line and a natural leadership ability.  Capobianco has been a rock for NDWH on defense the last two years.  A strong passer, he leads an experienced D core on this squad.

D Pairing 2
D Jake Nesdale, Sr. Cheshire
A bright spot on a struggling team Nesdale is a strong puck moving defenseman.  He also another senior which would add great leadership to this blue line.  Nesdale can play a great two way game and can contribute on the power play if needed.
D Greg Ferris, Sr. ND Fairfield
A solid defensive defenseman.  Ferris can distribute the puck well and while he doesn't have much plus side offensively he's a very competent second defenseman.

BBD's Warren

D Pairing 3
D Alex Scranton, Jr. West Haven
Scranton adds some sandpaper to this rather "nice" D core.  Scranton is not afraid to mix it up and get under opponents skin.  Unlike graduated Kyle Leyerzapf who manned the Bennett blue line and racked up points, Scranton contributes in more of a blue collar way.  A perfect third pair fit.
D Jordan Warren, Sr. Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury
Warren would be a great complement to Scranton.  Warren does bring that offensive game and can feed with the best of them.  Warren is also big game proven, leading BBD to the state semi's last season.


Others considered: Ian Ball (Ridgefield), Sean Henry (Fairfield Prep), Dan Dupont (Xavier), Dan Chicoine (Hamden), Eric Zurmuehle (Staples-Weston-Shelton), Ryan Moore (Guilford)

Goalies
G Shane Baldwin, Sr. Xavier
Baldwin is big, bad, takes up a bunch of crease and has gotten better and better each season.  It seems like Baldwin has been with Xavier forever and I think he'd be a great fit to lead this team between the pipes.
G Chris Gutierrez, Jr. Fairfield Prep

Xavier's Baldwin

Gutierrez has shown he can be a starter or a back up.  His patience behind fellow junior Matt Beck show how strong of a back up Gutierrez can be and show his readiness to take the crease if needed.
G Garrett Mathews, So. Suffield-Granby-Windsor Locks
Strong enough to start down the road on the squad.  Mathews has shown brilliance at times and could battle with Gutierrez for straight up back up.

Others considered: Paul Sliwinski (NDWH), Cam Earle (BCR), Aaron Lickwar (Fermi-Enfield), Matt DePalma (New Milford), Luiz Dibble (BBD), Scott Romano (Cheshire)