As the boys prep hockey holiday tournaments approach, there have been two weeks of action. We have an idea of what some teams are, while many have yet to hit their stride.
Cushing started last season 1-0-3. The Penguins were originally our No. 1 team and soon fell out of that top spot quickly. They responded by winning 22 of their final 25 regular season games and earning the No. 1 spot in the Elite 8 Tournament.
This is all to say that there are teams low in our top 10, or even outside of it, who will go on runs that elevate them to prominence.
St. Sebastian's, our preseason No. 1 team, fell this past week, moving the Arrows out of the No. 1 spot.
Let's dive into this week's rankings.
1. Cushing (5-0-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Paul Pearl
Next game: at Lawrence Academy, Dec. 14, 8 p.m.Â
It was only a matter of time until Cushing found its way back into No. 1. The past week featured the Penguins taking down Williston Northampton and The Hill School with ease. That's not the big reason for them being No. 1. First, St. Sebastian's suffered a tough defeat to Phillips Exeter. But, more importantly, Pearl has assembled a team without holes. Cushing's biggest test will come this week in the Groton/Lawrence Holiday Tournament.
2. Avon Old Farms (5-0-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: John Gardner
Next game: vs. St. Paul's, Dec. 14, 5 p.m.Â
The reigning Elite 8 champs move up to No. 2 after a strong week. Gardner's team outscored Taft, Trinity-Pawling and Deerfield, 16-6. The Winged Beavers have gotten production from everywhere, but postgrad Alex Pelletier (West Hartford, Conn.), senior Brendan Tighe and junior Michael Munroe (Hanover, Mass.) have been extra special. Like Cushing, Avon Old Farms is still waiting for its biggest test. It will get that at their Christmas tournament, which starts Thursday.
A CLASSIC: Check out our full preview for the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic
3. St. Sebastian's (3-1-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Sean McCann
Next game: vs. Brooks, Dec. 14, 3:30 p.m.Â
After beating Portsmouth Abbey, 8-1, last Wednesday, the Arrows fell to Phillips Exeter, 4-1. It's one loss. It's not the end of the world. Phillips Exeter is an emerging team that was in heavy consideration for this week's top 10. But it's not great. And in a crowded top five, losses are going to hurt. Before the Kevin Mutch Tournament, McCann's team has an opportunity to get right against Brooks.
4. Kimball Union (7-1-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
Next game: vs. Westminster, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.Â
The Wildcats disposed of Proctor, Brewster Academy and St. Paul's this week. There are a number of players off to hot starts on the roster. Kimball Union will enter the Flood-Marr Tournament as the highest-ranked team at the event, though not by much. It's going to be a gauntlet, but KUA has the pieces to be able to do it.
5. Salisbury (3-1-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Andrew Will
Next game: at Canterbury, Dec. 13, 2:30 p.m.Â
Salisbury falls one spot from last week after losing to Kent, 4-2, on Saturday. The Crimson Knights are more than good enough to stay inside the top five. Like Kimball Union, Salisbury will head to Nobles and Milton Academy for the Flood-Marr this week with an opportunity to move up in these rankings.
6. Holderness (5-0-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Alan Thompson
Next game: vs. Pomfret, Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m.Â
Holderness has been running over its competition. This past week, Thompson's team outscored Brewster Academy, Tilton and Vermont Academy, 22-4. Holderness is good...but top-five good? We don't really know yet. We'll have a better idea after the Groton-Lawrence Holiday Tournament. What we do know is that it's going to be another banner week for Holderness players on Top Performers.
7. Brunswick (2-1-2)
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: Mike Kennedy
Next game: vs. Rivers, Dec. 15, 8 p.m.Â
Kennedy's team had a tough week lined up after starting 1-1-1, and mostly took care of business. First, Brunswick took care of a very good Kent team, 5-4. The Bruins followed it up with a 2-2 tie at Westminster. The Bruins still have some things to clean up, but going 1-0-1 on the road against two very good teams is enough to put Brunswick back at No. 7.
BEST OF THE BEST: Top performers from the first week of prep hockey
8. Nobles (3-1-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Brian Day
Next game: vs. Phillips Andover, Dec. 15, 1 p.m.Â
Nobles needed overtime to beat Tabor, 5-4, on Wednesday and fell to Dexter Southfield, 5-2, on Saturday. This is where Nobles falls victim to me having watched them. I took in its game against Tabor. While they're definitely a top-10 team as of now, I left Nobles A.) very cold and B.) feeling like they could fall anywhere from No. 6-10. The loss to a strong Dexter team, which sits as the first team out of the top 10, moves them to No. 8.
9. Kent (4-2-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Dale Reinhardt
Next game: vs. Trinity-Pawling, Dec. 14, 3 p.m.Â
This was a very tough call. Dexter Southfield and St. George's both have good rosters, have been playing well and are deserving of spots in here. But Kent took down Frederick Gunn and Salisbury over the last week and narrowly lost to Brunswick. The Lions are 2-2 against top-10 opponents. They have depth at forward and on defense. In net, senior Aidan Hopewell scored a 35-save win against Salisbury and junior Keegan Waldo stopped 23 shots to beat Frederick Gunn, 7-3.
HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTS: Click or tap here for the full schedules and results from each boys prep holiday tournament
10. Frederick Gunn (5-1-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Head coach: Craig Badger
Next game: vs. Loomis Chaffee, Dec. 14, 1 p.m.Â
Frederick Gunn joined the top 10 last week. I wanted to put Badger's team at No. 9, but it would've been hard to justify putting them over Kent, whom they just lost to. Aside from the loss, Frederick Gunn took down Berkshire, 5-4, and Williston Northampton, 5-0, over the last week. Up next is the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic, which is an opportunity for Frederick Gunn to make a big statement.
