The girls prep hockey season is underway. As always, there's plenty to watch around the NEPSAC hockey scene.
The talent level and parity across the board continue to rise. Even after the region saw its share of high-end talent graduate to the collegiate ranks last season, there are still plenty of elite players that will grab the headlines this season.
There are several teams with genuine cases to make as early-season favorites from the get-go. Beyond that, there are sure to be plenty of teams behind the top grouping that will vie to turn heads along the way.
Let's dive into some of the top storylines to follow as we head into the season.
Can Williston Northampton complete the three-peat?
The Wildcats very much have a target on their backs after taking home back-to-back titles. Christa Talbot Syfu's team didn't lose once last season, going 27-0-1. Is that sustainable again with everyone gunning for them? It's hard to say.
Even after losing the likes of Emily Crovo (Melrose, Mass.), Katherine Kang (Amherst, Mass.) and Miranda Calderone, Williston should be just fine. They return top scorer Monique Lyons (Bedford, Mass.), who set a program record with 50 points last season between a team-high 26 goals and 24 assists. She and linemates Nora Curtis and Violet Carroll (Milton, Mass.) combined for 132 points last season. Standout Caroline Aufiero (Belmont, Mass.) is back to hold the blue line, and Olivia Ferebee took hold of the crease last season.
The road won't be easy, but if anyone can make it three in a row, it's Williston.
Tom Resor's final season at Nobles
Resor has been a stalwart of the prep hockey scene for 40 years now. After 21 seasons as the girls hockey coach at Nobles, this season will be his last. He's guided the Bulldogs to 10 NEPSAC titles. They reached the semifinals in 12 of the last 14 seasons, making the finals 10 times and winning six.
You have to imagine Nobles is going to scratch and claw for a chance to add another title to the dynasty and send Resor out with a bang. They have a team that can do it, too.
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The key will be who steps up to replace someone like Brooke Manning (Marshfield, Mass.) up front. Juniors Molly MacCurtain (Reading, Mass.) and Calleigh Brown (Foxboro, Mass.) were solid contributors last season, but will need to take a step this year. Gretta Hulbig (Foxboro, Mass.) has a chance to break out as a sophomore. Fortunately for Nobles, their top producer, Olivia Maffeo (Canton, Mass.) is back and shifting to her natural defense position. Anya Zupkofska (Braintree, Mass.) returns as well after she was one of the NEPSAC's best goalies last season.
Morgan McGathey's rise at Thayer
McGathey (Braintree, Mass.) is a name everyone in the region should know.
In her first two seasons at the prep level, she's scored over a goal per game for Thayer. She had 29 goals (40 points) in 26 games last season after 25 goals (35 points) in 22 games as a freshman. McGathey added 27 tallies (49 points) in 28 games with the East Coast Wizards last year, as well.
The Harvard commit is a powerful, dynamic skater to go along with an elite release.
McGathey is already off to a strong start. I caught Thayer's scrimmage win over Milton on Wednesday, where she had two goals. She was the best player on the ice, and her first-period goal was a beauty, wheeling around the offensive zone, walking down the slot and picking the short-side corner. She reminds me a lot of Jesse Compher.
Who are some sleeper teams?
The race for the Elite 8 this year is sure to see a crowded field.
The usual suspects like Phillips Andover, Nobles and Tabor will be right there to challenge Williston for some hardware. But what about the rest of the field?
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Kelli Mackey is sure to have St. Paul's in the mix, fresh off a Large School championship. Ally Martiniello (Salem, N.H.) returns to the crease after a dominant run to the title, and Cami Bell (Barre, Vt.) is primed for a big year. Kent is also one to watch under new head coach Sam Ftorek. The Lions return a veteran-heavy team, which includes Lauren Ferrari in goal and a pair of Division 1 recruits up front like Mia Montanari (East Hampton, Conn.; RPI) and Megan Duplantie (Dartmouth). Liz Leyden's Loomis Chaffee group also has a bevy of experience, bringing back most of their top six, which includes top two scorers in juniors Chloe Obser and Grace Morin.
Groton could be a true sleeper this year after reaching the Small School title game. Tim LeRoy's team returns many of their key contributors, including sophomore Tina Scalese (Bedford, Mass.) and junior Maddie Cronan (Ashland, Mass.) . That's without mentioning stout goaltender Veronika Hadamovsky (Groton, Mass.) or Keira Ley (Wayland, Mass.) on the blue line.
Ryan Stone and Milton will also look to build on last season after they reached the Elite 8 for the first time. Austin Prep reached the Large School tournament as the fourth seed last year in their first season in the NEPSAC. They'll aim to take an additional step. Ed Bourget always has BB&N in the mix, too.
The keys for nearly all of these teams is not only do they bring back heaps of experience, but they also have their goaltending situations locked down. Those are always two of the biggest factors at this level.
Who are the top players to watch?
McGathey is sure to be at or near the top of this list. The same goes for Lyons and Aufiero.
Maffeo will be really interesting to watch. The BC commit plays defense for the Jr. Eagles, but Nobles utilized her at forward the last two seasons. She led the Bulldogs in scoring last season with 35 points, and she could provide a spark from the back end.
LeRoy calls Scalese a "program changer" for Groton, and it's easy to see why. She had 23 goals and 43 points as a freshman last season. Bell is a "one-of-a-kind" athlete for St. Paul's in Mackey's eyes, too.
I'm also yet to mention Caroline or Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.) or Molly Boyle (Scituate, Mass.). Caroline Averill was a standout as a freshman last season. The playmaker could be one of the NEPSAC's best as a sophomore, especially if she can finish more of her own chances. Maggie Averill, a freshman, is one of the best 2008-born defense prospects between her size (5-foot-11) and offensive ability from the blue line. Meanwhile, Boyle, a Yale commit, is already one of the best defenders in the region. That should continue.
