The 2022-23 prep and high school seasons, on both the boys and girls sides, offered lots of exciting action.
On the prep side, the Avon Old Farms boys took down Cushing to win the Elite 8 title, while the Williston Northampton girls beat Phillips Andover to win its second-straight Elite 8 championship.
The Pope Francis boys took care of business on the way to a Division 1 MIAA state championship, ending Xaverian's Cinderella run to TD Garden. The Shrewsbury girls upset No. 1 St. Mary's, denying the Spartans an undefeated season.
There were a bunch of other championships, too. For prep, it was Small and Large School Tournaments for both the boys and girls. Divisions 2, 3 and 4 for the MIAA boys crowned champions. So did Division 2 for girls.
With all these champions and outstanding performances, awards must be handed out. Let's dive in.
MIAA Boys Coach of the Year
Brian Foley, Pope Francis
On Feb. 4, Pope Francis lost to Hingham, 4-1. It would be Pope Francis’ final loss of the season. Pope Francis finished the regular season with a record of 16-2-4, securing the fourth No. 1 seed. In the postseason, Foley’s team took care of business, led by sophomore goalie Nick Ritchie. The Cardinals defeated Bishop Feehan, 6-1, in the round of 32 then proceeded to win four-straight one-goal games en route to the Division 1 title.
MIAA Boys Player of the Year
Cole Pouliot-Porter, Xaverian
Every year, the MIAA hockey world wonders who will be the goalie to carry their team deep into the tournament. It was Pouliot-Porter this season with his superb netminding elevating Xaverian, the No. 7 seed, all the way to TD Garden. Pouliot-Porter’s most impressive performance came in the round of 16 when he took down No. 2 Catholic Memorial, 2-1. He was also phenomenal in the final four against Reading, shutting out the Rockets, 1-0.
MIAA Girls Coach of the Year
Frank Panarelli, Shrewsbury
After going 16-2-2 during the regular season, No. 3 Shrewsbury endured an incredible path to win the Division 1 state title. After taking down Old Rochester Region and Pope Francis in the first two rounds, Panarelli helped his team get past Hingham, 3-2, in double overtime. Shrewsbury edged No. 2 Notre Dame (Hingham) in the final four before capturing a huge upset win over No. 1 St. Mary’s High. Panarelli’s defensive game plan effectively neutralized St. Mary’s outstanding offense, giving Shrewsbury its first state championship.
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MIAA Girls Player of the Year
Jenna Chaplain, St. Mary’s
Chaplain might not have finished her high school career with a state championship, but she made sure to do everything else. She finished her senior season with 27 goals and 59 points en route to making the title game. For her career, she amassed 126 goals and 232 points, which ranks her third all-time in St. Mary’s history for points. After graduation, she will play for Division 1 Assumption College next year.
Prep Boys Coach of the Year
Ryan Shannon, Taft
Taft didn’t enter the 2022-23 campaign with lofty expectations from those around the prep circuit. But come season’s end, Shannon had led his team to a thrilling Large School tournament victory, taking down Salisbury, the reigning Elite 8 champion, in overtime. Shannon was fortunate to have Rudy Guimond between the pipes and senior Jackson Holl (50 points) up front.
Prep Boys Player of the Year
Landan Resendes, Cushing
Resendes entered the season with high expectations and found a way to surpass them. The Boston College commit notched 27 goals and 54 points in 32 games, good for third in the region. His dynamic play helped get Cushing the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8 tournament and into the title game against Avon Old Farms. The 5-10, 165-pound forward played both center and right wing for Paul Pearl’s Penguins, making a big impact in both spots.
Prep Girls Player of the Year
Emily Crovo, Williston Northampton
Crovo was a catalyst in delivering Williston Northampton its second straight Elite 8 title. After an outstanding regular season, Crovo saved her best for the postseason. She hit her 100th career point in the quarterfinal win over Loomis Chaffee when she notched two points. She scored the OT winner in the semifinals against Nobles and posted three points in the championship against Andover. Her 200-foot game also greatly improved this year. She will play for Holy Cross next winter.
LATEST MAGAZINE: Check out the awards in the May/June New England Hockey Journal magazine
Prep Girls Coach of the Year
Christa Talbot Syfu, Williston Northampton
After consistently making it into the Division 1 and Elite 8 tournaments for many years, Talbot Syfu’s squads have won two straight Elite 8 titles, cementing their place at the top of the NEPSAC. She’s been bench boss since 2004 and also coaches boys cross-country.
