It's the most wonderful time of the year, and I'm not just talking about the holiday season.
There's always a buzz entering a new season. It's a blank slate across the board. Every team has a chance to contend. Every player has a chance to prove themselves.
Soon enough, the landscape will begin to fall into place.
Naturally, now is the perfect time to take a look at who could break out this season. Of course, there are many more breakout candidates than just the players mentioned here. These skaters simply caught my eye over the past year or so.
Let's start with some criteria. First, I didn't list any player who scored over 20 points last season. Second, how do we define a breakout? The way I looked at it: these are players who have stood out on the club circuits and shown well at times in prep, but their best (or at least most productive) prep hockey may still be in store. For that reason, a college commitment didn't preclude a player from being mentioned. While there aren't any college commits listed among the forwards below, that doesn't mean there might not be any included in future stories on defenders and goalies.
Let's dive into 24 forwards who could break out this season, listed alphabetically by last name.
Maddie Allen, St. Paul's
Allen plays a powerful game, and she does a good job of using her size effectively to protect pucks, win battles and get to the net in the offensive zone. She's played well in previous summers at the Beantown Classic, and she impressed when I saw the Boston Jr. Eagles 16U squad earlier this fall. She had 12 points (four goals) as a freshman at St. Paul's last year, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see her production spike this winter.
Francie Ames, Nobles
Ames (Brookline, Mass.) mostly played defense for Nobles last season, but it didn't stop her from making an impact in all three zones, finishing with 14 points (seven goals), which matched her eighth-grade season. The '10 was a top player at Mass. Hockey's Festival and Final 40 before good showings with the Premier Prep League in the summer and the Boston Americans 16Us this fall. She plays fast, has strong hockey sense and can rip the puck. Playing her natural position with a bigger role this season, Ames could very well establish herself as one of the top forwards in prep.
Teagan Beigel, Dexter Southfield
Another Juniot Eagles standout, Beigel (Natick, Mass.) will make the jump to prep this season at Dexter. The '10 is excellent at the face-off dot, and she's a confident puck carrier who sees the ice and reads the play well. Beigel was strong at Mass. Hockey's Festival in the spring, too. How big her role is on a team that plans to contend in the Elite 8 remains to be seen, but she has the tools to make an immediate impact.
Selkie Brown, Taft
Brown was terrific for Greenwich Country Day last season, putting up 14 goals and 18 points as a freshman. The Tigers didn't play prep's most rigorous schedule, but it's hard to ignore the production. After playing with the Connecticut Polar Bears this fall, Brown could have the chance to carry last season's momentum to her new digs at Taft. She's slippery and has the hands to finish around the net.
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Shelby Buckler, Brooks
Like Beigel, Buckler (Sherborn, Mass.) is entering the prep ranks this season, and she'll have a chance to contribute to a young Brooks team. The '10 has smooth, efficient strides that sometimes look effortless, and she has soft hands. She showed well at the PPL throughout the summer.
Ava Carr, Williston Northampton
Carr (Medway, Mass.) made solid contributions as a young player on an experienced Williston squad last season, posting 10 points (two goals). The '10 parlayed that into a great spring and summer. She plays an up-tempo game and constantly gets to middle ice, creating a ton of chances in the slot.
Frankie Cormier-McFarlane, Berwick
After putting up 19 points (11 goals) as a freshman, Cormier-McFarlane (Old Orchard Beach, Maine) posted just five points (three goals) for Berwick last season. She'll have a shot to bounce back for the Bulldogs as a junior this winter. The '09 plays a solid game in all three zones, is strong on her skates and difficult to knock off the puck.
Cora Davidson, Berkshire
Davidson (Newmarket, N.H.) put up good numbers as a freshman for Berkshire last winter, finishing with 10 points (six goals). Davidson has an accurate wrist shot that allowed her to do plenty of damage between the dots last season. A key piece of a strong sophomore class, Davidson could be even better for the Huskies this time around.
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Kiara Drake, New Hampton
There's plenty of opportunity up for grabs at New Hampton this season after the Huskies graduated 11 forwards. Drake (Ridgefield, Conn.), who had two goals for Choate last season, enters the fold with key prep experience and a chance to take important minutes from the jump. The '08 showed well with the 19U Boston Americans earlier this fall, playing an up-tempo game with good vision and puck handling through the neutral zone.
Leah Hafer, Dexter Southfield
Hafer (Winchester, Mass.) chipped in six points (four goals) as a freshman at Dexter last season, following nine points (three goals) as an eighth-grader. Hafer plays with good speed, which allows her to make an impact in transition. The '08 impressed at Mass. Hockey's Festival in the spring. A chance at more ice time could spell more production for the sophomore this season.
Molly Halloran, BB&N
Halloran scored 10 goals as part of a 13-point sophomore season at BB&N last season, and she had a huge showing in the Knights' Elite 8 quarterfinal win over Dexter, scoring twice. It was a step up from a five-point season as a freshman. The junior is a strong power forward who can create offense around the net. She'll be a big part of BB&N's forward group this season, and she should continue to improve with the increased role.
Lydia Kealty, Thayer
Kealty could be in line for a major jump at Thayer. After putting up seven points (two goals) as an eighth-grader, she took a big step with 19 points (13 goals) as a freshman. With several foundational forwards lost to graduation, Kealty will play an even bigger role for the Tigers this winter. The '10 is a dynamic player who consistently generates Grade-A looks. It would hardly be a shock to see her become a game-breaker in Thayer's lineup.
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Caroline Kreuz, St. Mark's
Kreuz (Worcester, Mass.), another key Jr. Eagles skater, has caught my attention nearly every time I've seen her skate. She has great offensive awareness, constantly finding open lanes in the offensive zone. She can play with anybody and typically feeds off her linemates well. Kreuz had just three points (one goal) for the Lions last season. She could have a shot at a bigger role after St. Mark's graduated three forwards.
Abby Macauley, Thayer
Macauley (Avon, Mass.) was a key piece as the Tigers' third-line center last season, finishing with six points as an eighth-grader. Like Kealty and several others, much more of the spotlight will be on Macauley this time around. She's strong at the dot and has a tremendous shot. It's a quick release, and she can get a ton on it.
Emma MacPherson, New Hampton
MacPherson (Sandwich, Mass.) has played a depth role for the Huskies over the last two seasons, putting up 13 points (six goals) as a freshman and nine points (four goals) as a sophomore. She also has two Small School titles on her resume, including a goal in last season's final. The center carried that momentum into strong showings with the East Coast Wizards this fall as well as at USA Hockey Nationals in the spring. New Hampton is eager to see what the uncommitted junior can do with more ice.
Kelsey MacPherson, St. Paul's
MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.) was a beast as an eighth-grader in the MIAA last season, scoring over 25 goals for Hopkinton/Dover-Sherborn. MacPherson impressed at Mass. Hockey Festival, as well as with the East Coast Wizards. The power forward is tough to contain in the offensive zone. With her size and physicality, she projects to make an immediate impact for the Big Red.
PREP PREVIEWS: Nobles | Exeter | Cushing | Tabor | Groton | New Hampton | Andover | Dexter Southfield | BB&N | Williston Northampton | Loomis Chaffee | Thayer
Brooke McLaughlin, Taft
Speaking of size and strength, few can match up with McLaughlin (Wilbraham, Mass.) in that department, standing at 5-foot-10. She was Taft's top scorer with 10 points (six goals) last season. The uncommitted senior is a power forward who does a great job of getting to the net as well as using her frame and reach to protect pucks from defenders off the rush. She's someone who could do a lot of damage in the slot, especially on the power play.
Mary Murray, BB&N
Murray (Hingham, Mass.) had 11 points (three goals) in a secondary role for BB&N last year. Like Halloran, she'll have a chance at more ice this year. She's a relentless forechecker, pursuing the puck and forcing turnovers. The '08 impressed at Mass. Hockey Festival in the spring, flashing good hands, and an ability to maintain possession in battles. The junior is uncommitted.
Ella Nannene, Groton
Nannene plays with a ton of energy, and her speed can make a difference for Groton, winning races and taking away time and space on the forecheck. She was a big part of Groton's supporting cast last season, putting up eight points (six goals). With more opportunities up for grabs in the Zebras' top six, Nannene could put up more production. She's committed to Williams for field hockey.
Sofia Nardelli, Tabor
Nardelli (Cranston, R.I.) was a big part of a young crop of forwards that stepped up for Tabor last season. She posted 10 points (four goals) for the Seawolves. The '08 forward is speedy and puts defenders on their heels. With a year of prep hockey under her belt, Nardelli could produce even more as a sophomore.
BOYS PREP: 32 breakout forward candidates | 24 breakout defensemen candidates |13 breakout goalie candidates
Mya Polastry, Westminster
Polastry (West Springfield, Mass.) finished second in scoring for Westminster last season, putting up nine points (three goals), a nice boost from a two-point freshman year. She could be even better as a junior. The uncommitted '08 impressed at the Beantown Classic in the summer as well as with the 19U Islanders earlier this fall. She gets to the net, sees the ice well and has solid edges. She's strong on her feet and carries the puck well through the neutral zone.
Easton Pramuka, Loomis Chaffee
Pramuka had her best season yet last winter with 15 points (eight goals) in 28 games as a sophomore. After the Pelicans graduated key forwards from last season's championship squad, the uncommitted junior will have an even bigger opportunity to contribute. She showed well in the spring and this fall with Mid Fairfield, generating scoring chances and playing with plenty of jump.
Dominique Reiher, Phillips Exeter
Exeter was pleased with the progress Reiher made as a freshman last season, playing her best hockey down the stretch. She posted eight points (three goals). Reiher has some shiftiness to complement her size (5-foot-7), and she has a knack for getting to the net. The sophomore has a shot at being a key secondary contributor for the Big Red.
Quinn Toll, Williston Northampton
Toll scored seven goals as a freshman for the Wildcats last season. It's no wonder she made an immediate impact in finding the back of the net. She has a heavy wrist shot and can beat goaltenders cleanly. She'll have a chance to step up even more for Williston this season.
