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From NEHJ: 2012-13 high school season preview
By Ed Flaherty
Here’s NEHJ’s state-by-state preview of the 2012-13 high school hockey season:
CONNECTICUT
Defending champions
Boys — Notre Dame-West Haven (Division 1), Trumbull (Division 2), Newington/Berlin (Division 3)
Girls — Hall-Conard
The skinny
Notre Dame-West Haven played its best hockey when it counted most last season, winning its final nine games, including a 5-0 shutout over Glastonbkelury in the Division 1 championship game. The championship was the seventh in school history for Notre Dame-West Haven, but its first since 2002. … Trumbull made history with its first Division 2 crown, defeating Branford for the state title. … In Division 3, Newington/Berlin also had a historic victory, claiming the school’s first state championship with a 2-1 win against Northwest Catholic. … Hall-Conard put an end to New Canaan’s run as Connecticut’s girls state champion with a 3-2 victory. The title is the first for Hall-Conard and ended New Canaan’s state title streak at two.
Players to watch
Tyler Hackett (soph., F, Branford), Christian Keator (sr., F, St. Joseph), Scott Kline (sr., G, Notre Dame-Fairfield), Zach White (jr., F, Milford), Christian Lacroix (jr., F, Notre Dame-Fairfield), Cody Albert (sr., F, Sheehan), Christian Blais (sr., F, Newtown), Frank Sullivan (jr., D, Notre Dame-Fairfield), Jon Meissner (jr., D, Wilton), Olivia Hompe (sr., F, New Canaan), Bea Eppler (jr., F, New Canaan)
NEHJ boys preseason rankings
|
1 |
Notre Dame-West Haven |
|
2 |
Glastonbury |
|
3 |
Fairfield Prep |
|
4 |
West Haven |
|
5 |
Ridgefield |
|
6 |
Trumbull |
|
7 |
Hamden |
|
8 |
Darien |
|
9 |
Northwest Catholic |
|
10 |
Xavier |
|
|
|
MAINE
Defending champions
Boys — Thornton Academy (Class A), Greely (Class B)
Girls — Greely
The skinny
Thornton Academy made it back-to-back Class A state titles in 2012 with its win over Saint Dominic Academy. The Trojans will need to reload following the loss of a talented senior class, including C.J. Maksut, the school’s all-time leading scorer. … Greely won its second Class B title in the last four years by dispatching Messalonskee High School. The Rangers bring back several of their top players, including leading scorer Mitchell Donovan, a sophomore forward. … The Greely girls defeated rival Falmouth for the state title. … Portland High School and Deering High School will form a co-op team, beginning this season, following a lengthy battle that made its way through the Maine court system.
Players to watch
Peter Storey (sr., D, Greely), Ted Hart (jr., F, Greely), Eliza Brooks (sr., F, Brunswick), Devan Kane (jr., G, Falmouth), Taylor Landry (jr., F, Leavitt/Edward Little), Paige Tuller (sr., F, Greely)
NEHJ boys preseason rankings
|
1 |
Thornton Academy |
|
2 |
Saint Dominic Academy |
|
3 |
Greely |
|
4 |
Messalonskee |
|
5 |
Falmouth |
|
6 |
York |
|
7 |
Brewer |
|
8 |
Scarborough |
|
9 |
Bangor |
|
10 |
Marshwood |
MASSACHUSETTS
Defending champions
Boys — Malden Catholic (Division 1A), Burlington (Division 1), Wilmington (Division 2), Hudson (Division 3)
Girls — Arlington Catholic (Division 1), Duxbury (Division 2)
The skinny
Malden Catholic made it back-to-back Super 8 titles in 2012 with a 20-1-4 record and a win over BC High in the championship game. The Lancers bring back plenty of firepower in their quest for a three-peat, with senior forward Ryan Fitzgerald and defensemen Colin MacGilivray (senior) and Casey Fitzgerald (sophomore) among the top returning players. … The Division 1 (Beverly), Division 2 (Wilmington) and Division 3 (Hudson) boys champions all claimed their first titles in 2012. … The Arlington Catholic girls shook off a pair of regular-season losses against St. Mary’s (Lynn) to defeat St. Mary’s for the Division 1 title. … The Duxbury girls won their second-straight Division 2 girls crown and at 22-0-1, the Dragons were the only unbeaten team in Massachusetts last year.
Players to watch
Connor Irving (jr., F, Beverly), Ryan Ouimet (sr., F, Wahconah), Josh Edwards (jr., F, Blue Hills), Peter Cronin (sr., G, BC High), Cam Owens (sr., F, Wilmington), Kayla Smith (sr., F, Woburn), Sarah Foss (sr., G, St. Mary’s), Jane Freda (sr., F/D, Hingham), Alison Butler (sr., F, St. Mary’s), Samantha Girard (soph., F, Dedham)
NEHJ boys preseason rankings
|
1 |
Malden Catholic |
|
2 |
BC High |
|
3 |
St. John’s Prep |
|
4 |
Central Catholic |
|
5 |
Burlington |
|
6 |
Hingham |
|
7 |
St. Mary’s (Lynn) |
|
8 |
Milton |
|
9 |
Wilmington |
|
10 |
St. John’s (Shrewsbury) |
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Defending champions
Boys – Pinkerton Academy (Division 1), Bedford (Division 2), Kennett (Division 3)
Girls — Hanover
The skinny
Pinkerton Academy was the class of Division 1 in 2012, and the Astros claimed their second title in four years with a tight 3-2 victory over Manchester Memorial. The Astros will look to defend their title without the services of two top players — Zach Sanford and J.D. Dudek — who will play junior hockey and at prep school, respectively, this season. Memorial made a strong run to the Division 1 title game after posting a 6-11-2 record a year earlier. The Crusaders also earned New Hampshire’s sportsmanship award to go along with their outstanding performance on the ice. .. In Division 2, Bedford captured its first state title with a 2-1 win against defending champion Dover. … In Division 3, Kennett and Alvirne were on a collision course throughout the regular season and made their state title contest a memorable one. Kennett eventually prevailed, posting a 4-3 overtime victory. … The Hanover girls won their third straight title, but the Marauders will need to move on without their famous “Black Line” of Madison Hill, Tessa Hill and Maddie Dewhirst.
Players to watch
Ryan Slatky (sr., G, Trinity), Brian Greene (jr., F, Londonderry), Chris Pollini (jr., D, Kingswood), Brent Phillips (jr., F, Spaulding), Steve Upton (soph., F, Souhegan), Jeremy D’Amour (sr., F, Belmont-Gilford), Dustin Lubinger (jr., F, Windham-Pelham), Sandra Strogen (jr., D, Oyster River), Michaela Schones (jr., D, Lebanon), Sabrina Dobbins (jr., G, Bishop Guertin), Amelia Gage (sr., F, Lebanon), Annie Mullen (jr., F, Concord)
NEHJ boys preseason rankings
|
1 |
Pinkerton Academy |
|
2 |
Manchester Memorial |
|
3 |
Bedford |
|
4 |
Dover |
|
5 |
Bishop Brady |
|
6 |
Trinity |
|
7 |
Merrimack |
|
8 |
Kennett |
|
9 |
Alvirne |
|
10 |
Oyster River |
RHODE ISLAND
Defending champions
Boys —Bishop Hendricken (Division 1/Cimini), Moses Brown (Division 1/Eccleston), Coventry (Division 2), East Providence (Division 3)
Girls — La Salle (Emma Division), Barrington (Decosta Division)
The skinny
Rhode Island’s premier boys teams clashed in the Division 1 (Cimini) state title series, with Bishop Hendricken ending Mount St. Charles’ four-year run as state champ. The series went three games, with Bishop Hendricken winning the third and deciding game, 5-2. … Moses Brown swept the Division 1 (Eccleston) championship series against Barrington. … In Division 2, Coventry swept Prout in two games, while in Division 3, East Providence needed three games to win the title over Mount Hope. … The Division 1 (Emma) championship series was historic as La Salle earned its first-ever wins against Mount St. Charles, capturing Games 1 and 3 to claim the title. The loss ended Mount St. Charles’ two-year reign as champion. … Barrington won the Division 1 (Decosta) title, sweeping Burrillville.
Players to watch
Billy Palmer (sr., G, Bishop Hendricken), Matt Creamer (soph., F, Bishop Hendricken), Nate Farrington (sr., F, Moses Brown), Brian Belisle (sr., F, Mount St. Charles), Matthew Harrigan (sr., F, Portsmouth), Michael Curtis (jr., F, Middletown), Nyle Sockbeson (jr., D, Prout), Joe Tomaselli (sr., D, Cranston West), Robert Macera (sr., D, Smithfield), Dylan Legarie (jr., D, Pilgrim), Brianna Castro (jr., F, Mount St. Charles), Meghan Rickard (soph., F, La Salle), Brittney Evangelista (sr., G, North Smithfield), Meghan Miller (soph., F, Barrington), Emily Fox (sr., F, Warwick), Jean Bray (sr., F, Lincoln), Abby Ellis (soph., D, Warwick)
NEHJ boys preseason rankings
|
1 |
Bishop Hendricken |
|
2 |
Mount St. Charles |
|
3 |
La Salle |
|
4 |
Burrillville |
|
5 |
Moses Brown |
|
6 |
Barrington |
|
7 |
Coventry |
|
8 |
Prout |
|
9 |
East Providence |
|
10 |
Mount Hope |
VERMONT
Defending champions
Boys — BFA-St. Albans (Division 1), U-32 (Division 2)
Girls — Essex (Division 1), Burr and Burton (Division 2)
The skinny
BFA-St. Albans earned its 16th Division 1 boys state title with a 3-1 win over Colchester, but the real drama was in how each team reached the championship game. Colchester advanced with a five-overtime win over No. 1 Essex, while BFA-St. Albans reached the title game with a double-OT victory over North Country. The championship was the 16th for BFA-St. Albans. … U-32 won the Division 2 boys title by defeating Northfield, 5-1. The championship was the first since 1992 for U-32. …Essex defeated South Burlington to win the Division 1 girls title. … Burr and Burton defeated Stowe, 4-1, to win the girls Division 2 title. The win gave Burr and Burton its fourth state title.
Players to watch
Zach Stewart (sr., G, Burr and Burton), Nate Foice (sr., D, Essex), Matt Cuce (jr., F, Colchester), Tommy Boyer (sr., F, South Burlington), Jackson Tucker (jr., F, Northfield), Jack Cabanaw (sr., D, Essex), Caleb Lothian (sr., D, Missiquoi), Shane Hickey (sr., D, Spaulding), Bernie Thibeault (sr., D, South Burlington), Chris Bronson (sr., G, North Country), Katie Campbell (sr., F, Missiquoi), Abby Marmer (soph., F, Burr and Burton), Shanley Howrigan (sr., G, BFA-St. Albans), Aly Hardy (sr., F, BFA-St. Albans), Ellen Gosselin (sr., D, Spaulding), Courtney Barrett (jr., G, South Burlington), Anne-Marie Farmer (sr., F, South Burlington), Camille Rainville (sr., F, Missiquoi), Jade Remillard (soph., F, BFA-St. Albans), Chelsea Ellis (jr., D, BFA-St. Albans)
NEHJ boys preseason rankings
|
1 |
BFA-St. Albans |
|
2 |
Colchester |
|
3 |
Essex |
|
4 |
U-32 |
|
5 |
South Burlington |
|
6 |
Northfield |
|
7 |
Stowe |
|
8 |
Burr and Burton |
|
9 |
People’s |
|
10 |
St. Johnsbury |
This article originally appeared in the December 2012 issue of New England Hockey Journal.
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