Expect some solid competition this fall at both the U14 and U13 levels.

Here is a look at a handful of programs ready to go:

EAST COAST MILITIA (National)

With a lot of new faces on the team this season, the U14 East Coast Militia National team and head coach Anthony Chighisola are focused on making the group the best they can be.

Team leadership is where this group will thrive and Chighisola has made that a top priority in the locker room

“Everyone will have a moment this season where they will need to be a leader,” said Chighisola. “We have very good team chemistry as many of these players have been playing with each other over the past six years or so. We have to have second and third efforts to create offense, and you have to be desperate getting back above the puck defensively.”

Chighisola will have a number of strong players on both offense and defense playing for him this season and is excited to see what his team can do

“We are beyond excited to have the group we have and the emphasis is definitely on the group to play the right way each and everyday,” said Chighisola. “We will need to fight for everything as nothing will be handed to us.”

In goal, the Militia will have Nico Testa and Ethan Lazdowsky sharing the duties this season.

EAST COAST MILITIA (American)

The East Coast Militia U14 American team will be coached by Dan Najarian and they are ready to show how they can compete.

“Our success will depend on each player’s buy in to the team concept,” said Najarian. “As cliche as it sounds we are only as strong as our weakest links. The best teams are player-led teams, where teammates hold each other accountable and players want to play for each other. If we can get there in the locker room than we will be able have some success on the ice.”

As a completely new team, the Militia are still trying to find their identity and will have 11 forwards that all hope to contribute to the success of the team.

As far as the defense goes, Najarian expects a lot out of them and hopes that the team culture will help all the players develop.

“The emphasis will be on playing as a team and building a team first culture that will help these players develop into good players and fine young men,” said Najarian. “Attributes that will assist them when they make the jump to a high school team and beyond.”

Najarian will have two goalies both playing important roles and he is hoping they will both leave their mark on and off the ice.

LONG ISLAND GULLS (National)

Head coach Dan Cassano is confident the U14 Long Island Gulls have all the pieces in place to be there at the end.

“Extremely excited about our group this year,” said Cassano. “I was involved with them as more of a skills/video coach last year while coaching my U16 team but every week I fell more in love with our team. Every player is coachable, caring and willing to do whatever it takes to get better. I found myself getting more and more involved with the team every single week because of their work ethic and love of the game. This team has a chance to be special this year and in the years to come.”

Up front, the Gulls will have freshmen Jake Conroy, Peter Phelan and Andrew Wyda as well as sophomore Maveric Thisdelle as offensive weapons.

A few of their top defensemen include freshmen Marco Cinque, Jaden Wang and Nicholas DiMarco.

Two freshmen in Hugh Rooney and Matthew Cernan will hold it down in net for the Gulls this season.

“We have a very strong core group of returners but also six newcomers that provide us with more depth and skill,” said Cassano. “Most importantly, these players have fit in seamlessly in the dressing room. I was very protective of the culture we had built last season and wanted players who wouldn't just fit in on the ice but also off of it as well. I expect this team to mix skill with work ethic and love for each other and if we can do that, we have everything we need to be there at the end in April.”

LONG ISLAND GULLS (American)

The Long Island Gulls U14 American team should also be competitive under head coach Nick Annunziato.

Annunziato says his team’s keys to success will be “team chemistry, structured systems, and a strong fore check.”

Some key forwards that Annunziato will turn to are freshmen Julian Colon, Lucas Zuzzolo and AJ Navarro. Two newcomers also looking to contribute offensively are eighth-grader Carter Haim and freshman Johnny Kirichenko.

On the blue line, freshman Charlie Marchiselli and Colton Mack will log a ton of minutes as well as newcomer Aiden Naraidu.

Annunziato will go with a two-goalie system and have both Alex Pfeifer and Steven Stravropoulos sharing the time in net.

RED BANK GENERALS

Coach David deKastrozza hopes his U14 Red Bank Generals team can embrace team systems and work hard to have success in the league this season.

The Generals will have top forwards in freshmen Chris Curko, Ronan Fry and Justin Cziplinski ready to show what they can do.

On defense, deKastrozza will turn to Gavin Swain, Matthew Iorio and William Chess to lead the way.

In goal, the Red Bank Generals will have freshman Kevin McQuillan who will be ready to go.

A few newcomers that will be in the mix for the Generals are forwards Paulie Goins and Davis Klinge, as well as defensemen Will Chess.

YALE JR. BULLDOGS

Becoming a team is what will bring success to the U14 Yale Jr. Bulldogs this season and coach Brian Moriarty is stressing that.

“I want the team to get along on and off the ice,” said Moriarty. “That builds to a team’s success everywhere else. Passing, effort, and playing for one another will just take suit if the player gets to become a team.”

One player that stands out as a leader to coach Moriarty is forward Andrew Allred from Newtown, CT.

“Andrew (Allred) will no doubt be that player for this team this year,” said Moriarty.  “Not too many players do the little things right. Everyone wants that highlight goal or just think offense. He will be the best defensive center in the league for the 2010s. He’s a team player and will put the team in that spot over himself always.”

Other key forwards that the Bulldogs will rely on are Kellan Fenstad (Wallingford, CT) and Joe Jones (Wallingford, CT). Two newcomers that hope to get in the mix are Jonah Gutman (Greenwich, CT) and Finn Draddy (Rye, NY).

On defense, Brendan Morden (Suffield, CT), Jackson Wurtz (Greenwich, CT) and Henry Russell (North Haven, CT) will all be key.

In goal, Trevor Rostowsky (Bethany, CT) will be solid for the Jr. Bulldogs.

U13

EAST COAST MILITIA

The U13 East Coast Militia National team will come ready to play as they have a solid group coming in that will work hard.

Coaching this talented group of players will be Whitey McGlame who is stressing playing the game the right way, good aggressive play, solid shot mentality and being strong in the defensive zone to his players.

McGlame will have plenty of forwards to turn to this season and they include Sean Greene (Norwell), Landon Healy (Dorchester), Mason DeSouza (East Bridgewater) and Devin Rotundi (Weymouth).

The Militia will also have a strong defensive core made up of Mason Pasquantonio (Milton), Noah Holt (Dorchester), Thomas Cusack (Walpole) and Brendan Pugsley (Dorchester).

Two newcomers that McGlame excepts to make an impact right away are Max Sergeyev (Dover) and Michael Fahey (Raynham).

As for team leaders off and on the ice, McGlame will look to Greene, Holt and Matthew Stock (Dorchester) to set a good example.

Between the pipes, look for Christian Guarino (North Attleboro) and Whit Monroe (Wellesley) to split the time.

LONG ISLAND GULLS

The Long Island Gulls U13 have a deep and talented roster that head coach Dan Cassano hopes can take them all the way.

“We are a team that will be able to score as we have a very deep and talented forward group,” said Cassano. “The key to our success this year will be our ability to learn to play away from the puck. Our system is built on relentless effort and detail to get the puck back as quickly as we can and then transition fast into immediate offense.”

Some of Cassano’s top forwards include Thomas McNeils, Nick Best, Luca Rose, Jimmy Campobasso and Ryan Reasoner.

On the blue line, you will see Anthony Perdicaro, Ethan Nelsen and Peter Busconi logging a lot of minutes for the Gulls. Carlos Sanfillippo will be relied upon heavily in net this season for Cassano.

“If our players can value their play without the puck, we have a chance to have a strong year,” said Cassano. “Excited to see our new players come in and mix with our returners as we look to build our culture at first year Bantam.”