This weekend, the games are on in Division 3.
After last winter provided the first traditional season – with a start and a finish – since 2018-19, the region’s 34 teams are back on the ice again.
Four teams skated away with conference tournament championships last season – Babson (NEHC), Trinity (NESCAC), the University of New England (Commonwealth Coast) and Plymouth State (MASCAC). UNE went on to reach the Frozen Four for the first time ever.
New season, new battles. Here is our New England preseason top 10.
1. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: Kevin Swallow, 8th year
2021-22 result: 23-4-1 (won CCC championship, lost to SUNY-Geneseo in NCAA tournament semifinals)
Opener: Nov. 4 vs. Western New England (7 p.m.)
Back on the ice after the best season in program history, the Nor’easters have 12 graduation holes to fill but some dangerous pieces back. Jake Fuss (Fairfield, Conn.), Jared Christy and Quinnipiac transfer Dan Winslow (Fairfield, Conn.) combined for 42 goals and 101 points. Billy Girard IV is back in goal after backstopping the Frozen Four run with a 2.35 GAA and .912 save percentage. Transfers from Providence and Adrian will add needed depth to a program that Swallow has built into one of the strongest in the region.
2. TRINITY
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Matt Greason (North Bridgton, Maine), 10th year
2021-22: 17-8-1 (won NESCAC championship, lost to Babson in NCAA tournament first round)
Opener: Nov. 18 vs. Tufts (7:30 p.m.)
The Bantams lose NESCAC Player of the Year Lucas Michaud but return a strong core, one that includes a pair of D-1 transfers who made an impact – Jax Murray and Devan Tongue (Hampden, Mass.) – leading goal-scorer Gerard Maretta, All-Conference defenseman John Campomenosi and goalie J.P. Mella of Stamford, Conn. (1.44 GAA, .944 save percentage). For as much movement as there has been up and down the NESCAC in recent years, Trinity is the one program that’s consistently a title contender – and this year should be no different.
3. NORWICH
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Cam Ellsworth, 5th year
2021-22 result: 12-6-5
Opener: Saturday at Endicott (7 p.m.)
Last year, with 16 new players, the Cadets were just a shade of their past dominant selves. Their offensive numbers weren’t bad – 82 goals in 23 games – but that total was padded by six-, seven- and eight-goal outings against the weaker opponents on their schedule. You figure they have to be better in 2022-23. Only one player, freshman Clark Kerner, scored double-digit goals (11), and he’s the only one of the team’s top four scorers back. There’s more stability on the defense, along with senior Drennen Atherton, who was Goalie of the Year last season in the NEHC. The Cadets were picked fourth in the loaded league so there’s something to prove.
4. BABSON
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Jamie Rice (Newton, Mass.), 19th year
2021-22 result: 20-6-2 (won NEHC championship, lost to the SUNY-Geneseo in NCAA tournament quarterfinals)
Opener: Saturday vs. Plymouth State (4 p.m.)
Every single top program in New England took significant graduation hits, including the Beavers, most notably first-liners Ryan Black (Pomfret, Conn.), who is finishing his career at Division 1 New Hampshire, and Mike Egan (Billerica, Mass.), who is playing at Division 1 Niagara. Junior Thomas Kramer (Bridgewater, Mass.) put up good numbers (11-13-24) and will be an offensive leader along with seniors like Chris Rooney (Milton, Mass.) and Max Torrez (Framingham, Mass.), and the roster features 14 freshmen. Babson also has to settle on a new goalie after Brad Arvanitis wrapped up his outstanding career.
5. ENDICOTT
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: RJ Tolan (Waltham, Mass.), 8th year
2021-22 result: 20-7-1 (lost to UNE in CCC championship game)
Opener: Friday vs. Salem State (7 p.m.)
The Gulls came within an overtime goal of winning the CCC and making the NCAA tournament last March, and now begin life without standout goalie Conor O’Brien, who’s moved on to the ECHL. Ryan Wilson (Shelton, Conn.) and Atticus Kelly are battling for those available minutes. There’s a good core back, including Andrew Kurapov (11-12-23) and Zach Mazur up front, and Eric Manoukian on defense. Expect the Gulls to be near or at the top again in a CCC that’s getting better every year.
6. PLYMOUTH STATE
Conference: MASCAC | Coach: Craig Russell (Northfield, Vt.), 13th season
2021-22 result: 19-6-2 (won MASCAC championship, lost to UNE in first round of NCAA tournament)
Opener: Friday vs. Plattsburgh State (6 p.m.)
The Panthers, who annually aim to make a mark beyond their league, need to replace two players from their top line after losing JR Barone and Mike McPherson to graduation, and at least at the start the strength of the team looks to be a deep defense led by senior captains Ted Austin and Ben Chipman. Kalle Andersson (2.48, .912) and Brendahn Brawley (1.55, .948) are both proven netminders, and Myles Abbate of Norwell, Mass. (17-23-40) was the team’s leading scorer last year, ranking 12th in Division 3 in points.
7. UMASS BOSTON
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Pete Belisle (Manville, R.I.), 17th year
2021-22 result: 14-8-4
Opener: Friday vs. UMass Dartmouth (7 p.m.)
This is another team that’s used to scoring goals in bunches but will be relying on its experienced defense early on as the offense sorts out. The Beacons graduated their top two scorers in Chris Peters and Ethan Nitkin, and though they’ve added several pieces up front, it could take time for them to mesh. Sophomore defenseman Nolan Barrett and senior goalie Sam Best of Woburn, Mass. (2.40 GAA, .914 save percentage) are both coming off strong seasons. Look for the Beacons to again finish in the top half of a strong conference.
8. COLBY
Conference: NESCAC | Coach: Blaise MacDonald (Billerica, Mass.), 11th year
2021-22 result: 17-6-2 (lost to Trinity in NESCAC championship game)
Opener: Nov. 18 at Middlebury (3 p.m.)
The Mules were one of the region’s best stories last winter, rebounding from a last-place finish in 2019-20 to winning the regular-season title and reaching the NESCAC final under MacDonald, the league’s Coach of the Year. The turnaround was fueled by a pair of young players eager to get on the ice and start producing after the lost season of 2020-21 – goalie Andy Beran (1.62 GAA, .937 save percentage) and defenseman Jack Sullivan, who was named the league’s Rookie of the Year after leading Colby in goals, assists and points. The Mules could be the second-best team in the NESCAC. So could Williams. Or Amherst. Or Bowdoin. Or Middlebury. Or Wesleyan.
9. SALVE REGINA
Conference: Commonwealth Coast | Coach: Zech Klann, 6th year
2021-22 result: 16-8-2
Opener: Nov. 4 at Suffolk (6 p.m.)
Salve broke in 19 new players last season and still made a run at first place in the CCC, a strong season ending with a disappointing upset loss to Nichols in the tournament quarterfinals. Now those players have a year of experience, and guys like forwards Mitch Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) and Seth Benson, and defensemen Anthony Azzano and Brendan Kim are back with plenty of motivation. Klann has guided the Seahawks to a 70-32-7 record since taking over behind the bench.
10. NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE
Conference: NEHC | Coach: Tom Carroll, 20th year
2021-22 result: 13-11-1
Opener: Friday at Fitchburg State (6 p.m.)
The Pilgrims head into battle with 39 rostered players, so there is still chemistry out there to be developed. Two known quantities are senior forward Alex LaPlante of Londonderry, N.H. (18-10-28) and sophomore forward David Novotny (10-8-18). The two goalies who split time effectively a year ago – Andrew Kormos and Spencer Kozlowski – are also back. NEC’s path to the top half of the NEHC has been typically blocked by Norwich, Babson and UMass Boston – and lately Hobart and Elmira – but this team should win some games.
@MikeZhe603
mzhe@hockeyjournal.com
