MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — Some of the top teams in girls prep hockey rang in 2025 earlier this week at the New Year’s Prep Puck Drop, hosted by St. George’s.
In addition to the host Dragons (6-4-0), the tournament featured Canterbury (1-6-0), Cushing (10-2-0), Hill School (7-5-0), Rivers (7-2-0), and Williston Northampton (9-0-0).
Just as it did at the Harrington Tournament before the holiday break, Williston ran the table, adding a second trophy to this season’s collection. The Wildcats shut out Cushing, 5-0, in Monday’s championship after beating Rivers, 5-1, and Canterbury, 8-1, on Sunday. Nora Curtis powered Williston with two goals and two assists against Cushing, while Olivia Ferebee and River Grady (Bedford, NH) combined for the clean sheet.
I made it down to St. George’s on Monday morning to take in the final day of action. In addition to the championship, I caught Rivers’ 4-1 win over Hill as well as St. George’s 5-2 triumph over Canterbury.
We got into nine standout forwards from the day earlier this week. Now, here are five defenders who impressed
Mia MacDonald
Rivers, Class of 2028, D, right shot
Hometown: Walpole, Mass.
MacDonald has improved every time I've seen her play over the last few months. Her confidence continues to grow, and her release is heavier and quicker. She played with poise against Hill School, staying patient with the puck and moving it well up ice. MacDonald trusted her teammates and knew when to take chances up ice or with some stretch passes in transition. She did a great job at the point on the power play, getting shots through traffic and being smart with the puck. In the first, she was rewarded when her quick wrister from the point had eyes, finding a way through traffic and in to make it 2-0.
Alyssa Frazier
Williston Northampton, 06/2007, D, right shot, 5-8
Hometown: Berlin, Vt.
Frazier continued her strong run of form from the Harrington Tournament right into the new year. Her gap control and stick position defending in transition was strong, and she was consistently in the right spots. She flashed her skill when she opened the scoring in the first period. Frazier got the puck at the point and made a great move out high to pull the puck to her backhand, using the full length of her reach to shake the high forward, before driving down the left circle and scoring with a wrist shot. Cushing gave her a ton of time and space, and she took advantage, scanning the ice before opting to shoot.
NEW YEAR'S PREP PUCK DROP: 9 forwards who rang in 2025 on a high note
Chloe Carroll
Canterbury, Class of 2025, D, left shot, 5-9
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
Carroll was among the bright spots in Canterbury's loss to St. George's. She set up Grace Steers' equalizer in the second period with a good wrist shot from the point after the puck found her out high. Carroll wasted no time and got the shot on net quickly, and Steers got a stick on it on the way in. Later, Carroll made a great defensive play against Chase van Ogtrop (Weston, Mass.) off a regroup. Van Ogtrop drove in 1-on-1, and Carroll maintained a good gap and made a great poke check to strip the puck before getting a quick up for the Saints.
Amanda Ranaudo
Canterbury, 6/13/07, D, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: Secaucus, NJ
Ranaudo's offensive prowess stood out on the blue line for the Saints. She was solid quarterbacking the power play, where her impressive one-timer added another layer that St. George's had to account for. She kept her heavy shot low and on target, giving teammates opportunities for tips and redirects. Ranaudo was also good when skating the puck up ice herself. Her head was always up, she was patient, had smooth strides and did a good job of carrying the puck through traffic in the neutral zone. Before Maddie Lahah's (North Attleboro, Mass.) second goal of the game, Ranaudo made a great play to prevent her from getting to a rebound, tying her up and taking away her stick as she crashed the net.
TENNEY CUP: 9 standout forwards | 10 standout defenders and goalies
Mackinley Ronan
Hill School, 7/29/07, D, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: New Hartford, NY
Ronan played a high volume of minutes against difficult matchups in Hill School's loss to Rivers. She was hard-nosed and physical in her own end, keeping plays outside the dots and using her body to establish position. She made a great play against Lindsay Morin (Weston, Mass.) off a turnover in the first period. Hill coughed the puck up right to Morin in the slot, but Ronan recovered to prevent a lane to the net. She broke up the play and forced Morin toward the boards with a good stick check and some physicality. She made it look easy.
