I think you have it backwards. If you are looking at, in your words, a "real" half season team the talent and competition is considerably better than the Fall Prep league. If you are looking for a consistent schedule, then stick to Fall Prep.

If truly a U19 player and not playing up, then Fall Prep League is pretty much your only option.

OP
He is an 04 so will be playing up.

Where is he going to HS or prep school?

Boarding or day school?

Where is school/your home?

Is he playing U15 or U16 this year?

What level of play?

What is your realistic assessment of his ability?

How much does he want it?

Will he be playing varsity HS or varsity prep?

Will he skate at school during fall split season or do you want a split season team that has skills/practices occasionally?

Answers to these questions will help you decide. My sense is that next year the best place for an 04 id likely U16 on a split season team, but fall prep could be a good place to play against older players. Again, need more details to make an informed decision.

At the urging of the coach, my 04 played u19 fall prep this season to get ready for the prep season. He also played u15 split. His school put in a full team. It was a great experience for him to play with and compete against older, stronger, faster men. Playing fall prep sort of ruined his split season as he felt that level was slow, but I could see how that may flip over the next couple years.

My son may be in the same situation next fall (prep coach will put him in a clone team of varsity hockey in NEFPHL). Do you still suggest he signs up for U14 EHF Select team? I mean will the money wasted by signing up EHF team?

Based on our experience U19 fall prep was better for development that U15 split NB. Yes the best 15 yo players are playing split but are the best 15yo better19 year olds?

We had bad luck with our first go around. I am not anxious to see my son return to it. To me 2,500 for 5 tournaments is a big price tag for hockey. A player in Canada could do 5 tournaments with recycled jerseys and poor organization for around 600 to 700. Hockey quality is similar to spring hockey up and down for sure and far less games that we expected. That coupled with the fact that due to rides and injury he played 2 games total it was a complete wash for us.

That said we hope he goes to a school that offers lots of options for training because I think they don't need the games, if they are that good, they don't need the "Exposure" either. Train and get stronger and remain healthy for the season.

OP

He goes to a public high school 25 minutes down 93.
No plans of going to boarding school or prep school yet.
Has always played club hockey U15 this year. Not the best in the team but he's pretty good.
I was told if he did this summer program in Salem NH they usually put you in the U 19 pool. I looked at the rosters and that seems to be the case.

The top players played on the top half season teams against the the top players in the nation virtually every weekend in Showcases right here in New England, That is where the best hockey was fot the U14, U15, U16 and U18 levels. if you are 14 or 15 playing mediocre 18 And 19 year olds I can see why you may think it was faster. But don't confuse it with great hockey. The 15 yo South Kent team would have run the table in that league.

"..I can see why you may think it was faster.". What a smug, condescending ***** response.

An 18 or 19yo is bigger, stronger, faster than a 15 year old. So u19 hockey is faster than u15 regardless of the team.

The difference between u18 and u15 games this past weekend in Marlboro was big as it should be.

Doesn't mean the 18 year old skates faster than the 15 year old. Or makes quicker decisions on the ice. Yes, the 18 year olds with equivalent talent as the 15 year olds (like in Marlboro this weekend) will be faster and stronger than the 15 year olds.

So you’re arguing against biology? Interesting.

No, I'm saying not all 18 year olds are faster than 15 year olds. Especially the really good 15 year olds compared to the mediocre 18 year olds. Get it?

PF and BM thank you for your contribution! Please comeback next year and write out that check.

No, because I’ve watched both, you clearly have not. 19 yo men are stronger/faster than 15 yo, therefore the game is faster and more physical. Perhaps the skill is a bit of a step down from the two top u18 tier 1 teams but the drop is not as large as you’d think. This argument is similar to ones between town parents and elite parents, the town parents don’t know what they don’t know. Good luck.

You're both right, so there's no reason to continue to try to win the other over.

Games played by teams comprised of mostly 18 and 19 year olds are going to be faster and more physical.

But, there certainly are 15 year olds that are faster than 19 year olds.

One moment etched in my memory was from a 2011 game between Lawrence Academy and Nobles. Colin White was a 14 year old 8th grader playing first line for Nobles. Won a 50/50 race at the blue line. By the time he'd covered 50 feet he'd opened up a two-stride lead on the 19 year-old D man, then buried the puck top shelf. That's elite speed.

Where is South Kent? Is that in Connecticut or Canada?

Fall prep
Consistent schedule
Does not interfere with academics
A great value compared to split season programs
Coaching was strong

Good info, how about level of play? Did the U19 prep team with numerous 2000’s dominate?

Fall prep is trash. One of the refs was 100 years old and couldn’t find his whistle. Money grab.