The 2022-23 season has been the most challenging to date to come up with power rankings in prep school hockey.
Outside of the top three teams — Avon Old Farms, Cushing and Nobles — it’s seemingly been a revolving door. Even teams inside of this week’s top 10 have struggled to maintain success on a consistent basis throughout the winter.
With less than a month to go in the regular season, there are still plenty of spots in the Elite 8 up for grabs. Outside of the top five or six teams, the bottom of the draw is completely up for grabs.
It should be a fun race to the finish in prep hockey.
1. Avon Old Farms (15-2-1)
After a two-game losing streak to start the calendar year, the Winged Beavers are unbeaten in seven and winners of four straight. Not much has changed in terms of John Gardner’s team relying on its top line of left wing Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.), center Charlie Gollob and right wing Joe Odyniec (Ridgefield, Conn.). The driver of the line is Connor, a Northeastern commit, who now has 13 goals and 18 assists in 18 games. Senior Stephen Peck has compiled one of the best seasons among goaltenders in prep school hockey.
Previous ranking: 3
2. Cushing (15-1-4)
The Penguins went through a brief rough stretch, losing and tying a game against inferior opponents. Paul Pearl’s team appears to be back on track with two consecutive shutout victories. Senior goaltender Cooper Rautenstrauch now has four shutouts this season. Boston College commit Landan Resendes (Marlboro, Mass.) has a four-game goal-scoring streak.
LAST TIME AROUND: Check how much the prep rankings have changed
Previous ranking: 1
3. Nobles (15-1-2)
Since an opening-game loss in the Flood-Marr Tournament, Nobles has gone 12-0-1, including two big wins over rival St. Sebastian’s and a victory against heavyweight Kimball Union. It will help to have Thatcher Bernstein (Brookline, Mass.), one of the best goaltenders in prep hockey, down the stretch and into the playoffs. While the forward group is on the younger side for the most part, having three '04s patrolling the blue line is certainly a benefit. All three have broken into double digits in the points column, led by Will Brophy (Worcester, Mass.) with 14.
Previous ranking: 3
4. Kimball Union (17-4-0)
The Wildcats haven’t lost a game against a NEPSAC opponent since the calendar flipped to 2023. Tim Whitehead’s team has a nine-game winning streak and is 10-0-1 in its last 11. KUA has won its last five games by three or more. To say the Wildcats are hitting their stride is an understatement. Whitehead is a terrific coach and he’s gradually building this young team up from the start of the season. A prime example is junior left wing Jack Sadowski (Arlington, Mass.) who has scored five goals and added two assists in his last three games. A newcomer from the MIAA ranks, he’s one of a handful of '06s and '07s who play key roles in the lineup.
Previous ranking: 5Â
BEST OF THE BEST: Top performers from the last week of January
5. Belmont Hill (11-4-3)
The Sextants are on a seven-game unbeaten streak, which has propelled them to potentially making the Elite 8. Brian Phinney is a great coach and has gotten the most out of this group that is missing a few key players from last year’s team who are now in the USHL. One player who has taken advantage of more ice time and an increased role is senior Brock Cummings. After scoring just 13 points in 2021-22, he’s racked up three goals and 21 assists so far this season. Perhaps just as importantly, he’s been a force on draws.
Previous ranking: NRÂ
6. Milton (12-4-3)
The Mustangs went 2-3-1 over a stretch of six games to start January. Outside of that, Paul Cannata’s team is 10-1-2. Milton is now on a five-game unbeaten streak heading into the weekend’s action. The top five scorers are all seniors, including defenseman Mason Chen, who is averaging a point per game from the blue line. Every NESCAC school should be coveting the puck-moving defender from Toronto. Sophomore Sam Caulfield (Needham, Mass.) continues to be a brick wall in the net, holding a .960 save percentage.
Previous ranking: 7Â
COACHING CHANGES: Milton's Paul Cannata set to retire at the end of the season
7. Brunswick (12-7-0)
The Bruins don’t have much margin for error in the remaining six games, but if they go undefeated, maybe they squeak into the Elite 8. Regardless, Mike Kennedy’s team has taken on all challengers and fared relatively well against tough competition as one of the younger teams in prep hockey. One player who is hot of late is junior Sean Gibbons (Ridgefield, Conn.) who has two or more points in seven of 10 games.
Previous ranking: NRÂ
8. St. Mark’s (14-3-0)
The Lions are a tricky team to figure out, due to not playing the same type of schedule that most of the other top teams do. St. Mark’s has taken care of business against inferior opponents but has struggled in their only two games against other teams in my top 10. The big story remains the scoring ability of '07 sophomore Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.). He has 10 goals and 20 assists in 14 games, making him the only player in the prep circuit averaging over two points per game.
Previous ranking: 8Â
9. Taft (12-6-0)
The Rhinos have struggled of late, losing four of six in a stretch in January. Ryan Shannon’s team has won two in a row and has the benefit of Yale commit Rudy Guimond being the last line of defense. One of the best goaltenders in prep hockey, he can carry this team on his back, if the Rhinos can get into the Elite 8. Two seniors, Jackson Holl (Avon, Conn.) and JJ Lemieux have stepped up to provide the offensive punch for Taft.
Previous ranking: 4Â
BEST OF THE FIRST TWO MONTHS: Top performers from the first two months of the season
10. Salisbury (11-6-3)
Obviously, Salisbury has significant work to do to get into the Elite 8. The Crimson Knights have dug themselves quite a hole, but if there’s one team that can get out and go on a run, it’s Andrew Will’s. They’ve already started doing just that, winning three in a row. Sophomore sensation Liam Kilfoil has been on a heater during the three games, scoring three goals and adding an assist.
Previous ranking: NRÂ
