With the high school hockey season on hold for the holidays (save for the Maine High School Hockey Invitational held last weekend), it’s a good time to see how the local hockey teams stack up as they enter the 2009 portion of their schedule.

South Portland (5-0): The Red Riots have gotten off to a very hot start this season as they were excluded from the preseason top 10. As the Coaches/Media Poll begins this month, the Red Riots will certainly be in contention for one of top spots.

Through the first five games, senior forward Nick Fornwalt leads the team in scoring with seven goals and six assists for a total of 13 points. Sophomore forward Josh Cobb has eight goals and four assists for a total of 12 points, junior forward Aidan Boyce has three goals and seven assists through the five games and sophomore defenseman Zach Horton has two goals and six assists for a total of six points.

The Riots handed Gray-New Gloucester/Poland their first loss of the season on Dec. 22, and the Patriotic Knights were likely the toughest opponent the Riots have faced so far this season.

However, that is going to change very soon after the New Year. After a Jan. 1 date with 2-4 Marshwood/Traip, the Riots have to travel to USM to face the Gorham Rams (5-0) another team left out of the preseason rankings, but having a very strong year. How the Riots measure up with the Rams will give a much clearer picture of where South Portland belongs in the top 10.

Scarborough (4-1): The Red Storm are also having a very strong season on the ice, with a 2-1 loss to Cape Elizabeth the only blemish on their record. Perhaps the highlight of the early season for the Red Storm was a 3-2 win on the road over Thornton Academy on Dec. 10, which is the only loss of the season so far for the Golden Trojans.

Junior forward Nate Gadbois (six goals and five assists) and junior forward Nate Tolman (two goals and nine assists) lead the Storm in scoring through the first five games with 11 points. Other top scorers include junior forward Jake Rutt, who has three goals and six assists and senior forward Hunter Wood, who also has three goals and six assists through the first five games.

The Storm will be facing a couple of tough Eastern Maine teams right after the New Year as they will take on undefeated Brewer on the road on Jan. 17 and then travel to Lewiston to face the Blue Devils on Jan. 19.

Cape Elizabeth (4-1): The Capers are one of the top teams in Class B this season, and they have proved that by knocking off some tough Class A competition such as Scarborough (2-1 on Dec. 13) and Cheverus (4-1 on Dec. 18).

The Capers did end 2008 on a down note, as they fell to Biddeford 7-4 in a tough game on Dec. 22.

After the break, the Capers will face mostly Class B competition, giving them a chance to move up in the Heal Points and solidify their position come tournament time. The Capers do have one more tough Class A test on their schedule however, as they will take on Thornton Academy on Feb. 4.

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