As the New England boys prep hockey season rolls along, we're getting a better idea of the top teams.
Dexter Southfield, Avon Old Farms, Kimball Union and Brunswick have done enough to safely be in our top four (for now).
As for spots 5-10, much has changed — and much will continue to change. Multiple matchups over the last week resulted in changes to this area. There are even a handful of teams just outside the top 10 who have legitimate cases to be inside.
Let's dive in.
1. Dexter Southfield (12-2-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Danny Donato
Next game: vs. Austin Prep, Jan. 22, 2:45 p.m.Â
Dexter stayed at No. 1 after two wins over the last week. Both, however, were close. While thet beat Winchendon 6-3, the game was tied entering the third period. In the 4-3 win over New Hampton on Saturday, the game was headed to overtime until senior forward and Boston University commit Rian Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) scored with 18 seconds left.
2. Avon Old Farms (9-2-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Interim head coach: Mark Naclerio
Next game: vs. Northfield Mount Hermon, Jan. 22, 4:30 p.m.Â
The Winged Beavers had one game over the last week...and boy, did they take care of business. They took down Kent 7-0, scoring six goals in the final period. The offseason addition of Dartmouth commit Indiana Grossbard (Wilton, Conn.) has continued to pay big dividends, as he scored twice and assisted on two other goals in the win. He leads the team with 22 points in 11 games.
BEST OF THE BEST:Â Top boys prep performers from the last week
3. Kimball Union (15-3-2)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
Next game: at Deerfield, Jan. 22, 4:30 p.m.Â
Over the last week, Kimball Union faced three Lakes Region opponents and won each matchup. It started with a 5-1 takedown against Vermont Academy on Wednesday. Then the Wildcats showed well in a back-to-back, beating Tilton, 5-3, before taking down St. Paul's, 6-1, on Saturday. Senior forward Iain Olsen (Vergennes, Vt.) had a great week, putting up a goal and seven assists over the three wins.
4. Brunswick (14-3-2)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Mike Kennedy
Next game: vs. Delbarton, Jan. 22, 4 p.m.Â
The Bruins got back on track with a 6-2 win over The Hill School on Saturday. Harvard commit Joe Salandra scored another two goals, bringing his season total to a whopping 18 with 38 points in 19 games. He's tied for No. 1 in the region in points.
5. Holderness (10-1-1)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Alan Thompson
Next game: vs. New Hampton, Jan. 20, 4:30 p.m.Â
Holderness moved up one spot after a dominant week. It featured the Bulls beating St. Paul's 7-4 and then outscoring Proctor in a home-and-home, 18-4. Senior defenseman Jeremy Poirier (Salem, N.H.) continued to make a compelling pitch to Division 1 coaches, posting a goal and an assist against St. Paul's and then scoring two more and adding on four assists in both games against Proctor.
6. Belmont Hill (11-2-3)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Brian Phinney
Next game: vs. St. Mark's, Jan. 22, 5 p.m.Â
The Sextants fell one spot due to tying then-No. 7 Thayer, 3-3, on Wednesday. That might be harsh but hey, the margins are thin. Phinney's team rebounded on Saturday, beating Governor's Academy, 4-1. Junior defenseman Evan Jones (Arlington, Mass.) has been a smash hit since joining the Sextants and that was evident again this week. He scored in the tie with Thayer and then assisted on three of his team's four goals against Governor's.
TOP-10 CLASH: 11 uncommitted standouts, takeaways from Belmont Hill and Thayer's 3-3 tie
7. St. Mark's (10-1-2)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Carl Corazzini
Next game: at Belmont Hill, Jan. 22, 5 p.m.Â
The Lions are back in the top 10 after beating Roxbury Latin, 6-3, and edging out Rivers, 4-3. One of the main storylines with St. Mark's is its depth. While junior Evan Nee (Arlington, Mass.) leads the team with 21 points, two others have 20 and five total are averaging over a point per game. On defense, senior Jack O'Connor and junior Moussa Seydi have pitched in with offense, too. A big test awaits on Wednesday against Belmont Hill.
8. Berkshire (14-2-0)
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: Kevin Czepiel
Next game: at Choate, Jan. 22, 5:30 p.m.Â
Berkshire faced Northfield Mount Hermon and Williston Northampton over the last week and had no problem with either. The Bears defeated NMH, 11-3, before taking down Williston, 5-1. Senior Evan Regan (Acton, Mass.) and junior James McMurray both had hat tricks against Northfield Mount Hermon. Both are averaging well over one point per game so far.
9. Salisbury (9-4-2)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Andrew Will
Next game: vs. Choate, Jan. 20, 5:15 p.m.Â
Our preseason No. 1 team is back in the top 10. The Crimson Knights extended their win streak to five with a 3-1 win over Cushing and a 6-4 victory against Stanstead College. Senior Ryan Hedley had a big showing against Cushing, scoring the game-winning goal late in the third after assisting on Oliver Morris' goal in the first period. Hedley also added an empty-netter.
ISL EBERHART MATCHUP: 10 takeaways from St. Mark's 4-3 win over Rivers
10. St. George's (10-4-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Allie Skelley
Next game: at BB&N, Jan. 22, 5 p.m.Â
Sure, St. George's lost, 6-5, to Rivers in a make-up game on Tuesday. But the Dragons rebounded with a 3-2 win at Brooks and a 4-1 victory over Groton. It was a big week for junior forward Ryan Magaletta (Southboro, Mass.) who put up two goals and an assist against St. George's, and one goal and one assist in each of the victories.
It was a tough call not to put Deerfield in this spot or have Thayer fall out entirely. But Deerfield fell to Trinity-Pawling, 5-3, and Thayer tied Belmont Hill and lost to Lawrence Academy, 5-1. There's always next week.
DROPPED OUT:Â Thayer (10-5-1; 7); Cushing (9-5-1; 8)
IN THE HUNT:Â Thayer, Deerfield, Nobles, Phillips Andover, Tilton, Cushing, Frederick Gunn, Rivers, Pomfret
