HAVERHILL, Mass. — There were no tricks nor treats, just hockey at the CPC Halloween Showcase.
Several top club programs and academies from around the region took to the ice at the Haverhill Valley Forum this past weekend in the U16 and U19 age groups.
I made it out to several games on Sunday morning with the top matchups being the Valley Jr. Warriors U16 Tier 1s taking on NAHA Red and the Jr. Warriors U19 Tier 1s facing off with NAHA Navy.
Here's the full list of teams I managed to see:
- Boston Americans U19 Tier 1
- Boston Americans U19 Tier 2
- Boston Hockey Academy
- CT Jr. Rangers U19
- Lady Devils U19 Tier 1
- NAHA Navy U19
- NAHA Red U16
- NH Mountain Cats
- Valley Jr. Warriors U19 Tier 1
- Valley Jr. Warriors U16 Tier 1
We'll get into some standout defenders and goalies from the day later this week. For now, let's dive into eight forwards who impressed.
Pahsesam Brown-Bear
Boston Hockey Academy, 2007, F, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: Tobique First Nation, NB
Brown-Bear did it all for BHA against the Lady Devils first thing in the morning, finishing with a hat trick. She authored their comeback 3-2 win herself with her second and third goals, too, finding another level in the third. She flashed a quick release and plenty of smarts in transition. Brown-Bear put herself in a perfect spot as a trailer on a broken power-play entry, easily taking the loose puck and picking the top left corner to tie it, 2-2. She followed it with a nice rush through neutral ice, splitting the defense and getting in alone before losing the handle. She also came through on the back check, stripping the puck carrier and getting another entry for the Dukes. Brown-Bear completed her hat trick with a great drive to open space on a 2-on-1 before burying a low wrister for a 3-2 lead.
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Olivia Medeiros
Lady Devils U19/Bishop Stang, Class of 2027, F, left shot, 5-5
Hometown: New Bedford, Mass.
Medeiros gave the Lady Devils a 2-1 lead early in the third on a good rush with Noelle Pezzelli (Coventry, R.I.). Medeiros benefitted from a fortuitous bounce as she centered a backhand, but she made a hard drive to the net on a give-and-go, making herself available and backing up the defense.
Abby Richardson
NAHA Navy, Class of 2027, F, right shot
Richardson was very disruptive in NAHA Navy's scoreless tie with the VJW U16s, playing with a ton of intensity and constantly forcing turnovers. Two stood out in particular. She forced one out high that led to an easy breakaway where she had the goalie beat glove-side after dangling and head-faking, but she hit the post. She was relentless on the forecheck on the next shift, forcing a turnover and setting up Elle Gasseau for a Grade-A look in the slot.
Lilly McInerney
Valley Jr. Warriors U19/Phillips Andover, 7/2/07, F, right shot, 5-3
Hometown: Reading, Mass.
NCAA: Northeastern
McInerney was one of the best players on the ice in the Jr. Warriors U19s' 2-1 loss to NAHA Navy. The Phillips Andover junior played with pace, moved the puck well in transition and sustained pressure in the offensive zone. She answered 42 seconds after NAHA opened the scoring in the second period, getting open in the slot for a pass from Tess Mulkerron (Concord, NH). McInerney set up a great chance for Kelsey Baker (Concord, Mass.), taking a good stretch pass chance from Sarah Lackley (Andover, Mass.) and putting a low, hard shot off the pad to give Baker a perfect look on the rebound. McInerney had another scoring chance in the third, pouncing on a loose puck off a face-off to give herself a good shot in the high slot.
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Quinn Taylor
NAHA Navy, 11/11/2007, F, right shot, 5-7
Hometown: Centerville, Mass.
NCAA: Boston University
Taylor took over the game as things wore on against the VJW U19s, scoring a pair of highlight-reel goals. She opened the scoring in the second when she went forehand-backhand for a sweet finish on a breakaway. She came through again to retake the lead in the third on a 2-on-1 with Kate Louder. Louder found Taylor at the right circle, who cut middle, dangled to her backhand and roofed it under the bar in a tight space. Taylor took advantage of a miscue out high late for another breakaway, but couldn't do much with the rolling puck.
Avery Hovland
NAHA Navy, 4/1/2007, F, left shot, 5-3
Hometown: West Fargo, N.D.
NCAA: Minnesota
Hovland didn't get on the scoresheet for NAHA Navy on Sunday, but her skating and details in all three zones were impressive. The Minnesota commit can flat-out fly. She had an excellent scoring chance early on, carving through the neutral zone and nearly stuffing one short side. She came through late as NAHA clung to a one-goal lead, winning a critical face-off before making a strong play along the boards to win the puck and get a clear.
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Georgia Stevens
CT Jr. Rangers U19, 2006, F, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: Halifax, NS
Stevens was explosive in the Jr. Rangers' loss to the Boston Americans, excelling as a puck carrier on zone entries and typically putting the defense on its heels quickly. She took advantage of a breakdown for the Americans at the blue line, bursting into the neutral zone for a breakaway. Stevens gained separation easily and roofed it under the bar for a pretty goal, tying it 1-1 in the third.
Kaitlyn Usilton
Boston Americans U19, Class of 2026, F, right shot
Hometown: Red Bank, NJ
Usilton opened the scoring for the U19 Americans in their win over the CT Jr. Rangers. She showed great awareness and hustle, making a beeline for open space in the slot after Mia Svendsen (Andover, Mass.) and Georgia MacInnis did Yeoman's work below the goal line. Svendsen made a nice heads-up pass to Usilton, who beat the goalie glove-side with a quick release to cap off a strong sequence for her line.
