When I sit down on Sundays to make my New England boys prep hockey rankings, obviously, the first thing I do is list out all the scores for each team from the previous week.
But when it comes time to rank the teams, I have to write them down. It's easier for me to visualize it by writing instead of typing. My old age of 26 is showing.
There will often be a few scribbles and cross-outs, but in previous years, teams somehow fell into place.
Not this year. And certainly not this week.
My notepad of teams this week had multiple cross-outs, and there were several teams outside of last week's top 10 that I haggled over putting in. Some made it, while some didn't.
It was a wild week of upsets and off-the-wall results.
Let's dive in.
1. Dexter Southfield (11-1-2)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Danny Donato
Next game: vs. Winchendon, Jan. 16, 4 p.m.Â
Of all the overthinking that could be done with the top 10 this week, this was an easy one not to overthink. Dexter scored two decisive wins this weekend, taking down Worcester Academy (7-0) and Brewster Academy (8-1). Much of the attention at Dexter goes to the veterans on the roster (and rightfully so), but Donato has two 2011-born forwards who are good enough to play in Max Prudovsky (Newton, Mass.) and Carter Watson (Bridgewater, Mass.). Both had a goal and an assist against Worcester, while Prudovsky had two helpers and Watson had one against Brewster. Prudovsky has nine points in 14 games, while Watson has six. That's extremely encouraging.
2. Avon Old Farms (9-1-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Head coach: Mark Naclerio
Next game: vs. Hotchkiss, Jan. 14, 3:15 p.m.Â
Avon got a bump up because of St. Mark's loss to Tabor, which we'll get to in a bit. The Winged Beavers were only in action once over the previous week, scoring a 4-2 win at Taft. Junior defenseman Max Yakub, who is still uncommitted, had a goal and an assist against the Rhinos, while junior forward Grover Henderson had two assists. It's worth noting that Avon Old Farms ranks No. 1 in JSPR.
3. St. Mark's (10-1-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Carl Corazzini
Next game: at Roxbury Latin, Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m.Â
St. Mark's moved down a spot because Tabor was one of the first big tests for St. Mark's, and the Lions lost (5-3). They went up 2-0 on Tabor and allowed the Seawolves back into the game with a lack of urgency on defense and offense. NHL Draft prospect Will Manchuso (Concord, Mass.) still had two points in the defeat. The Lions are too talented up front and will be motivated by Saturday's loss to let something like that happen again.
READ MORE: Top boys prep performers from New Year’s tournaments and games
4. Kimball Union (13-3-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
Next game: at Vermont Academy, Jan. 14, 2 p.m.Â
While Kimball Union lost its first matchup of the GameSheet Prep Cup, falling to Northwood (5-3), the Wildcats' offense showed up big in the next two games: a 7-2 win over Nichols and a 6-4 victory against South Kent. Before the showcase, KUA got a 4-0 win over New Hampton, too. Senior forward Josh Phillips, who is still uncommitted, had a huge showing at the tournament, posting a goal and an assist against Northwood, notching a hat trick (and an assist) in the win over Nichols and then another goal on Sunday against South Kent. He has 28 points in 17 games.
5. Salisbury (9-2-1)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Andrew Will
Next game: at Cushing, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m.Â
The Crimson Knights had a good showing in the GameSheet Prep Cup, taking down South Kent (7-3) and Frederick Gunn (4-3) in overtime, but fell in the championship to Culver (6-1). Senior forward Luke Walkauskas had two goals and a helper against South Kent, while junior forwards Landon Klein, Angus Proctor, Greyson Espenshade and Elliott Bibeau-Rivard all registered two points each. The Crimson Knights got production from the blue line in the win over Frederick Gunn with senior Zach Gill registering two assists and sophomore Elliott Watson scoring a goal.
6. Tabor (9-2-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Gerry Dineen
Next game: vs. Milton Academy, Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m.
Tabor only played once over the last week, but it was a big one. Without star forward and Sacred Heart commit Ethan Travis (Narragansett, R.I.), the Seawolves went into St. Mark's and beat the then-No. 2 Lions, 5-3. Along with Tabor's ability to simply take care of business, its defense and goaltending will be what determines if this keeps up. The Seawolves are big on defense and have junior Vinnie D'Urso (Andover, Mass.) in net, who boasts a 1.77 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. They're for real.
READ MORE: 11 standouts, takeaways from Tabor's upset win over St. Mark's
7. Phillips Andover (8-4-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Paul Tortorella
Next game: at Tilton, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m.Â
Andover only went down two spots because of the developments around it. The Big Blue took care of business this week, taking down St. George's (8-4) and Choate (4-1). Against St. George's, sophomore forward Nolan Roberts and freshman forward Jack Cannon (Barnstable, Mass.) both had a goal and two assists, while junior forward Kieran McIntosh had three assists. Dartmouth commit Alex Theodore posted two goals in each win, which is key for the Big Blue. The junior forward had been struggling to produce before this week. If Theodore keeps this up, Andover will be a top-five contender the rest of the way.
8. Hotchkiss (5-2-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Mike Doyle
Next game: at Avon Old Farms, Jan. 14, 3:15 p.m.Â
Because of Holderness and Belmont Hill's losses, Hotchkiss moved up two spots this week. The Bearcats returned from their Flood-Marr win by taking care of Millbrook (2-1) and beating St. Paul's (4-2). Junior forward Finley Walsh had two lamplighters against Millbrook, while junior forwards Austin Groves, Ryan Murray and Jake Harrison, as well as senior defenseman Evan Seow, all had two-point showings against St. Paul's. The Bearcats have a huge opportunity to pull off a major upset this Wednesday at Avon.
9. Canterbury (9-3-1)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Paddy McCarthy
Next game: vs. Choate, Jan. 14, 4:45 p.m.
Canterbury enjoyed a big week. The Saints took down Williston Northampton (3-2) in overtime before trouncing Lawrence Academy (7-1) on Saturday. Senior defenseman Tommy Browne, whom I talked about on the latest RinkWise podcast, had a huge stretch, posting a goal and an assist against Williston before exploding for a hat trick (and another helper) to beat Lawrence Academy. Senior goalie Cody Hew made 34 saves and then 43 in the wins.
READ MORE:Â 14 takeaways from college hockey recruiting over the last few months
10. Belmont Hill (9-3-2)
Previous ranking: 9
Head coach: Brian Phinney
Next game: at Thayer, Jan. 14, 5 p.m.Â
The Sextants had an up-and-down week, beating Milton (4-2), but falling to St. Sebastian's at home (5-2). The one massive positive: freshman Sam Lee (Woburn, Mass.) is breaking out this season. The '10 had two goals in both games and leads the team in goals (nine) and points (18). Entering the prep season, it wasn't super clear which '10s would push for an invite to the U.S. National Team Development Program Camp. Lee has put himself at the front of that line.
Dropped out:Â Holderness (8-2-0; 8)
In the hunt:Â Holderness, Brunswick (9-4-0), St. Sebastian's (8-4-0), Governor's Academy (6-2-3), Thayer (5-4-3)
