Last week, I wrote about what boys prep hockey might look like in 2024. Who is the best team? How would the Elite 8 shape out? Heck, could Holderness go undefeated?
One of the teams I put in the Elite 8 favorites category was St. Sebastian's. Despite having lost two games at that time, the Arrows had too good of a roster not to put them in the Elite 8 discussion. They were our cover team after all.
But then this week happened and head coach Sean McCann's team fell to Nobles, 4-2, and Belmont Hill, 5-2. According to USHR's playoff seedings, St. Sebastian's is currently the No. 7 seed in the Large School Tournament.
We knew the ISL Keller was supposed to be difficult. Every team is poised to compete. But this Arrows team was supposed to be different. With the most loaded offensive roster up front and 16 seniors, it looked like St. Sebastian's wasn't just going to be Elite 8-worthy — they were going to be in the top 3.
It's Jan. 8. The season is far from over. But the Arrows fell out of my top 10 this week.
Ultimately, what will define their season is how they respond to this. Seven of their final 15 games are on the road, which is a place they struggled mightily last season. Does this team continue to spiral or do the seniors get back on course for one final act?
Anyways, let's dive into this week's top 10.
1. Kimball Union (13-2-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
Next game: at Vermont Academy, Jan. 10 at 4 p.m.Â
Despite losing to Northwood, 4-3, in the GameSheet Prep Cup championship, there's no reason to move the Wildcats out of the No. 1 spot. Whitehead's team started the tournament by beating Mount St. Charles, 6-3. They followed it up with a gutsy, thrilling win over St. Andrew's College, 6-5, in overtime. Corwith Simmers had a hat trick and Jack Sadowski (Arlington, Mass.) and Sam LeDrew continued being their dominant selves.
2. Brunswick (11-1-2)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Mike Kennedy
Next game: at Hotchkiss, Jan. 8, 5 p.m.Â
Since winning the Kevin Mutch tournament, Brunswick has played a whopping six games, and has one on Monday. The Bruins went a perfect 6-0 during that stretch, with big wins over Belmont Hill, St. Francis Prep, Gilmour Academy and two over Upper Canada College. Kennedy's team continues to prove why it's one of prep hockey's best.
3. Avon Old Farms (9-0-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: John Gardner
Next game: vs. Hotchkiss, Jan. 10, 3:15 p.m.Â
In contrast, the Winged Beavers have only played one game since the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic, taking down Taft, 4-1, on Saturday. Former St. Mary's standout goalie Anthony Palmer (Lynnfield, Mass.) was terrific, making 22 of 23 saves. His 1.33 goals-against average is No. 1 in the region and his .957 save percentage is tied for second-best.
4. Cushing (11-2-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Paul Pearl
Next game: vs. Salisbury, Jan. 10, 4:30 p.m.Â
Cushing held the Edward G. Watkins tournament right before the calendar flipped to 2024. While the Penguins stumbled in the second game by losing to Lawrence Academy, 6-3, they earned wins over a strong Canterbury team and finished off Stanstead College on the final day. Most recently, they took down Portsmouth Abbey and Proctor in a back-to-back.
5. Holderness (9-0-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Alan Thompson
Next game: vs. St. Paul's, Jan. 10, 2:30 p.m.Â
On Saturday, Holderness went to Rivers and beat them handily, coming away with a 6-1 win. Props to senior defenseman Will Russell, who was an offensive dynamo in the game, notching three assists, which is more than his point total from last season. With the Rivers game out of the way, Holderness going undefeated became a tad bit more possible.
FORECASTING: What to expect from boys prep hockey in 2024
6. Loomis Chaffee (8-2-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: John Zavisza
Next game: vs. Deerfield, Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m.Â
I'm sure Loomis Chaffee fans are thinking "It's about time, Evan." It is about time, as Loomis Chaffee might just be the most surprising team of the first half. Zavisza's team's only game since going 2-2-0 at the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic was against Kent on Saturday and they won, 5-4. Indiana Grossbard (Wilton, Conn.) has continued to be a force in prep, scoring one goal and adding two assists in the win.
The most telling Loomis Chaffee stat is if the playoffs began Monday, the Pelicans wouldn't just be in the Elite 8. As the No. 4 seed, they would host a quarterfinal game.
7. St. George's (9-1-1)
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: Allie Skelley
Next game: vs. Brooks, Jan. 10, 4 p.m.Â
St. George's moves up two spots after going 3-0-1 since the holiday tournaments. On Jan. 1, the Dragons beat Proctor, 6-2, before falling to Milton Academy, 4-3, in a shootout. Since then, Skelley's team beat Winchendon, 5-1, and Pomfret, 5-2. With eight points in those four games, Yale commit Ryan Staples (Middletown, R.I.) is hitting his stride at the perfect time.
8. Kent (7-3-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Dale Reinhardt
Next game: vs. Millbrook, Jan. 8, 5 p.m.Â
Since winning the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic, Kent falls only one spot after losing to Loomis Chaffee, 5-4, on Saturday. Reinhardt's team will have the chance to rebound against Millbrook and Trinity-Pawling before facing a big test in Avon Old Farms on Saturday.
BEST OF THE FIRST MONTH: Top performers from the first month of boys prep hockey
9. Salisbury (7-3-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Head coach: Andrew Will
Next game: at Cushing, Jan. 10, 4:30 p.m.Â
Salisbury only falls one spot because of St. George's and Loomis Chaffee rising. The lone win came on Saturday when the Crimson Knights scored a big, 8-5 win over Deerfield. A strong showing against Cushing on Wednesday should move Salisbury back into the top 8. The big news out of Salisbury is that senior defenseman Anthony Biakabutuka committed to Holy Cross on Sunday.
10. Belmont Hill
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Brian Phinney
Next game: at Thayer, Jan. 10, 5 p.m.Â
It was only a matter of time before Phinney got his team into the top 10. First, the Sextants won the Lawrenceville Tournament. After Christmas, they lost to Brunswick at the Belmont Hill-Nichols Holiday Tournament, but followed that up with wins over St. Francis Prep, Brewster Academy and Nichols. Most recently, Belmont Hill tied Milton, 3-3, and took down St. Sebastian's, 5-2. While senior Jake McManus (Winthrop, Mass.) has been dominant with 21 points in 13 games, sophomore '07 Jake Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) can't stop scoring goals and freshman '08 David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.) is also averaging well over a point per game.
Dropped out:Â St. Sebastian's (8-4-0; 6), Deerfield (5-3-1; 10)
In the hunt:Â Nobles, St. Sebastian's, Lawrence Academy, Deerfield
