Edward Little coach Norm Gagne knew he made the right decision to move Brooks Hefty from defense to forward when the Red Eddies played Falmouth on Jan. 6

“If you saw the game against Falmouth down there, when he got the puck in front, he took it on his forehand to his backhand and lifted it over the goalie,” Gagne said. “I was like, ‘Whoa.’ The first four games, he had four or five goals.”

The goal against Falmouth was the game-winning goal in the 2-1 overtime win over the Navigators.

The position wasn’t a completely new one for the senior. The longtime high school blue-liner made the move for the Red Eddies midway through the season, but he played forward in youth hockey. The move allows him to show off his hands more.

“The puck is on my stick a lot more. Being able to stick-handle helps,” Hefty said. “Like I said, I played forward before — I have always had it. I just didn’t use it as much as a defenseman.”

Gagne said he wasn’t worried about Hefty making the transition because of his hockey sense.

“His on-ice awareness is really good, and I always felt he could help us out front,” Gagne said. “Since I have put him there, it has made a big difference.”

Hefty has six goals and 12 assists so far this season. The 18 points are tied for second on the team. They all have come since Jan. 3, when he made the position switch. The Red Eddies are 6-4-1 since then, and Hefty has points in five of the six wins.

“He’s definitely getting a lot more points,” linemate Andrew Clements said. “I’d say we needed that; we needed someone to score and create good opportunities.”

Edward Little started the season 1-4.

“It’s nice to score,” Hefty said. “But I think our goalie Cam (Dufour) has helped us win a lot of games. We have come out slow the past couple of games, but Cam has shut it down in the third period — it helps a lot.”

Hefty said he has more responsibilities being a forward.

“It’s a lot faster. As a defenseman, it’s a little easier, you can say,” Hefty said. “But playing forward, you have to skate more, get on the puck a lot, and forecheck.”

Hefty said his new linemates helped in the transition. He also said as a defenseman, he always pointed the forwards where they had to be on the ice.

“Knowing where I have to be on the ice helps,” Hefty said. “Especially playing (defense) before this, I wanted to know where my forwards were supposed to be. Now, being in that position as a forward, if I am where I am (supposed to be), it helps the defense.”

On the Red Eddies’ power play, Hefty has moved to the wing and Edward Little has more options now on the man advantage.

“Where I got him now, instead of being at the top, I said, ‘We have to get him down low,'” Gagne said. “That’s where we got him. He sees the openings and he can get the puck to Peyton (Dyer), he can get the puck to Avery (Tyler). He can shoot the puck if need be. If he gets in close and if there’s a rebound, he can put that in.”

The new positioning on the power play has been a welcome one for Hefty.

“It’s definitely a lot less stressful than being on top,” Hefty said. “At the top, you have to worry about when (the opponents) ice it — you have to get back quick. Now being on the side, I have the opportunity to score more and it’s a little easier on the breakout.”

At even strength, Hefty is on a line with Clements and Jack Caron. Clements has notched 15 of his 18 points this season since Jan. 3, while Caron has recorded seven of his eight points.

“He has definitely helped me out,” Clements said. “We have been working off each other and helping each other out.”

Clements and Hefty feed off each other well.

“Andrew has always been a good player,” Hefty said. “Now, playing on a line with him, I am noticing a lot more he’s really good at scoring goals and he gets to the net.”

Gagne said the forward lines now have more depth.

“I said I had to break up Andrew and Peyton (Dyer) and put other people around them, because if you put them together (the opponents) will zero in on one line,” Gagne said.

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