The holiday break is over and all boys prep hockey teams are about to be back in action. While there have been some tournaments since Christmas, a lot of division rivalries will kick into gear over the coming weeks.
Through one month, we’ve yet to identify a clear-cut front-runner, and many teams could emerge as contenders — both from inside and outside of the current top 10.
There are, however, many question throughout prep that still need clarity, which is expected since the season is only one month old.
Let's dive into the seven biggest storylines to watch as the rest of the season kicks into gear.
1. Who is the best team in prep?
Last year, it was clear Avon Old Farms and Cushing were above the rest. It was only fitting they met in the final. Through one month, there isn't a clear best team. Kimball Union was the No. 1 team in my latest rankings, but head coach Tim Whitehead's team is by no means a runaway favorite. Cushing is right there and might have the deepest roster in the region. So, too, is Avon Old Farms. Brunswick and Holderness have been sensational to start, moving into top-five territory. On paper, St. Sebastian's and Kent are full of talent — I firmly put both with the five previously mentioned teams.
You want me to make predictions? Fine. If I had to guess, the best team from that group will be Kimball Union. The Wildcats are deep and old up front and on defense and Blake McMeniman (Revere, Mass.) has emerged as a true No. 1 goalie. Cushing will be on KUA's tail, which will set up a must-watch home-and-home series Feb. 16 and 17.
This leads to another important question...
2. Who finishes in the Elite 8?
The seven teams mentioned above — Avon Old Farms, Brunswick, Cushing, Holderness, Kent, Kimball Union and St. Sebastian's — are favorites for the Elite 8.
Nevertheless, who is the eighth team come the end of February?
That's where things become difficult. Salisbury is the most obvious choice. Head coach Andrew Will and his squad are no strangers to Elite 8 success and getting hot after Christmas. The Crimson Knights were plagued by slow starts at the Flood-Marr but the roster is too good to let that continue. St. George's has the firepower up front, on defense and in net to warrant success and consideration — the Dragons just need to put it together against ISL Eberhart rivals. Frederick Gunn stumbled a bit at the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic, which won't help it when the Elite 8 gets picked. But head coach Craig Badger's roster makes his team the favorite in almost every game it plays.
All right, now you want me to predict the Elite 8 field from Nos. 1-8? Twist my arm. Remember: I don't pick the Elite 8 and have no influence on the algorithm that does.
- Kimball Union
- Avon Old Farms
- Cushing
- Brunswick
- Holderness
- Kent
- St. Sebastian's
- Salisbury
3. Which teams battle for top-10 consideration?
There are an overwhelming number of teams who have legitimate cases for spots in the top 10. Through the four editions of my rankings, seven teams have been mentioned in all of them — St. Sebastian's, Cushing, Avon Old Farms, KUA, Salisbury, Brunswick and Holderness. Nobles was in the first three. Frederick Gunn, St. George's and Kent have been in two. Rivers, St. Mark's and Deerfield have all gotten in once.
Loomis Chaffee, Phillips Andover and Phillips Exeter have gotten out to strong starts. Belmont Hill won the Lawrenceville Tournament and seems to be figuring out how to win after losing key players to graduation. Lawrence Academy just beat Cushing and has a strong roster. Dexter Southfield, despite a poor showing at the Groton-Lawrence Holiday Tournament, is full of enticing talent.
All of these teams look poised to compete through January and February.
4. Which team emerges from the ISL Keller?
The ISL Keller looked like the most difficult prep division at the start of the season. Through one month, it still looks that way.
While I still think St. Sebastian's is top dog, it's not by much. Nobles, Belmont Hill and Lawrence Academy all have X-factors that could put them above the Arrows. Nobles' offensive array of talent with Dennis Davidson (Newton, Mass.), the MacAusland brothers, Ethan Cox (Westboro, Mass.) and Kyle O'Leary (Medfield, Mass.) is impressive. Belmont Hill has Jake McManus (Winthrop, Mass.), a senior, surrounded by strong young talent headlined by Jake Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) and Patrick Woods (Charlestown, Mass.). Head coach Brian Phinney also has JJ Thibodeau (Waltham, Mass.) and Keagin Wilson (Hingham, Mass.) in net. Lawrence Academy has a plethora of seniors like Owen Leahy (Providence, R.I.), Brendan Hirsch (Arlington, Mass.), Spencer Hirsch and Shawn Leary (Dorchester, Mass.) who will keep the Spartans in it.
It's impossible to forget about Governor's Academy, Milton, Thayer and Tabor.
Governor's has good offense from senior Cam Russo (Middleton, Mass.) and an intriguing prospect in Spencer Thornborough (Boxford, Mass.), a freshman we'll talk more about in a few moments. Milton has Sam Caulfield (Needham, Mass.) — one of the top goalies in prep hockey. Thayer just took down Lawrence Academy, 6-1, for the Watkins Tournament title. Tabor can bring an extra level of intensity against better teams, as evidenced by Avon Old Farms needing overtime to take the Seawolves down.
5. Could Holderness go undefeated?
While Avon Old Farms has yet to lose in regulation, Holderness carries a clean 8-0-0 record. Its lone big win came against Cushing in the Groton/Lawrence Tournament.
There actually are a few legitimate arguments as to why Holderness could pull off the feat.
For starters, the Lakes Region is weak this season. There isn't a super threat to either Holderness or Kimball Union. Holderness also has a loaded roster of older players like postgrad Pavit Mehra (Hopkinton, Mass.) and seniors Aaron VanWie, Caeden Herrington (Manchester, Vt.), Jake Boulanger (Barre, Vt.), Caden Wells and Ryan Nolan (Hampton, N.H.).
Holderness has 18 scheduled opponents left in the regular season (that doesn't include the Lakes Region tournament). The tough non-league opponents are Rivers, Phillips Exeter and Dexter Southfield. Where things will get really difficult is two matchups with Kimball Union at the start of February.
Is it impossible for Holderness to do it? No, but KUA is KUA and hockey is hockey.
6. U. S. National Team Development Program candidates
Last season, St. Mark's forward Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.) was the only New England prep hockey player to make the NTDP team, while Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) scored an invite to Evaluation Camp and was called up once in the fall for injury-fill in.
I'd be shocked if Casey Mutryn, Teddy's younger brother, didn't make the team come the spring. The '08 is tied for the team lead in points (16) for St. Sebastian's. The sophomore plays at a high pace with high skill and high compete. A strong hockey IQ complements his game perfectly.
Along with Casey Mutryn, Thornborough is a candidate to be invited to Evaluation Camp. At 6-feet and 170 pounds, the freshman plays a power-forward style and can power through defenders. Through nine games, he has one goal and 10 points playing on Governor's top line.
Two other names to keep an eye on are Belmont Hill forward David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.) and Dexter forward Noah Survilas (Winthrop, Mass.).
7. NHL Draft candidates
We'll have a lot more on this in the coming weeks, as I compile a ranking of the most draft-eligible New England players for this year. Spoiler alert: Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) is No. 1. Crazy, right?
I'm not going to give away the rest of the rankings, but the four most draft-eligible players in prep right now are St. Sebastian's forward Ben Merrill (Hingham, Mass.), Kent forward Gio DiGiulian (South Burlington, Vt.), Cushing goalie Marko Bilic and Herrington. Cushing forward Luke Goukler is making a strong case this year and Kole Hyles (Newfields, N.H.) isn't far off. Goukler and Bilic won't be included in the rankings because they're not from New England.
