The Housatonic League is set for another strong year.
Avold Old Farms enters the season as the defending Elite 8 champions. Taft took home the Large School title over Salisbury. Westminster reached the Elite 8 last season, and Kent and Loomis Chaffee each reached the Large School tournament.
Each team should be in the mix once again. Avon will need some younger returners to grow into premier roles to replace last season's experience. The same goes for Salisbury. Meanwhile, Kent, Taft and Wesmintster will have deep cores this season, returning some of their top scorers and blue-liners.
Here's a breakdown of how the Housatonic League stacks up this winter:
Avon Old Farms
Coach: John Gardner
2022-23 record: 22-2-4, Elite 8 Champions
Players to watch: Hudson Miller, D; Blake Jones, D; Magnus Turcotte, D; Drew Pitts, D; Ryan Flaherty, F; Chuck Blanchard, F; Mike Munroe, F; Left Markonidis, F; Alex Pelletier, F;Won Jun Yun, F; Michael Heinke, G
Outlook: The reigning Elite 8 champions graduated their top line, their top defense pair and their starting goalie. With the departures, head coach John Gardner expects to see some role players from last year’s team step into premier roles this season. He hopes the adjustment for newcomers like Cooper Snee, F, and James Odyniec, D, is quick. Avon expects high competition in every game this season.
Choate
Coach: Jesse Minneman
2022-23 record: 3-19-3
Players to watch: Ben Darche, F; Jake Gelman, F; Will Underwood, F; Jacob Head, F; Michael Papaspyros, F; Easton Kinstler, F; Philippe Lucier, D; Will Henderson, D; Rowan Aggarwal, D; Paul Stearns, D
Outlook: Choate is prepared for a very competitive schedule once again as they look to finish above .500. Head coach Jesse Minneman expects more depth contributions to help replace Jake Kavanagh’s production. He looks forward to seeing continued growth and production from some of his younger defensemen, while senior Ryder Holloway and junior Gordie Leary should make for a solid goaltending platoon to replace Primo Baldassarre after each had strong fall seasons.
Deerfield
Coach: Tim McVaugh
2022-23 record: 9-15-2
Players to watch: Tom Molson, F; Jakub Kohn, F; Cam Herr, F; Drew Keiver, F; Ben Cook, D; Zach Chehade, D; Nate Watson, D
Outlook: Deerfield returns the bulk of their contributors from last season, including Molson, who had 39 points in 26 games. Head coach Tim McVaugh believes the team has “excellent senior leadership,” and he hopes Deerfield will lean on its experience. He expects to compete in every game this season.
Hotchkiss
Coach: Michael Doyle
2022-23 record: 8-14-2
Players to watch: Connor Towle, G; Michael Buenzow, D; Brennan Cail, F; Jake Owens, F
Outlook: Hotchkiss looks to add more scoring and improve on last season. Newcomers Landon Douthit, F, Jack McGregor, F, and Evan Jones, F, will look to add additional depth scoring. Head coach Michael Doyle expects a skilled, strong defender like Thomas Malawski, D, to fill the hole left by James Mackey. Doyle hopes to see the team finish above .500 and push to make a New England tournament since last making the Elite 8 in 2020.
Kent
Coach: Daile Reinhardt
2022-23 record: 12-12-2, lost in Large School tournament first round.
Players to watch: Teddy Mallgrave, D; Aiden Hopewell, G; Owen Mahar, F; Jack Roberts, F; Stefano Pietrantonio, F; Gio DiGiulian, F
Outlook: Kent did not graduate many key players, seeing their top-three leading scorers in DiGiulian, Mahar and Roberts return. On defense, Teddy Mallgrave is expected to lead the way for head coach Dale Reinhardt, and Nate DiChiara has a chance to help fill minutes lost by Alex Bales and Jacob Ingstrup’s departures to junior. Reinhardt’s expectations are high with Kent’s depth and experience, and he hopes to hit the ground running.
Loomis Chaffee
Coach: John Zavisza
2022-23 record: 12-8-5, lost in first round of Large School tournament
Players to watch: Drew Anastasio, D; Indy Grossbard, F; Cory Alissi, F; Eli Velepec, F; Ethan Woolcott, F; Ben Carfora, F
Outlook: Loomis Chaffee returns a senior-heavy team with tons of experience and grit. Head coach John Zavisza feels his team has a good leadership core. They’ll look to build on a strong season last year that saw them fall to Salisbury in overtime of the Large School tournament first round.
Taft
Coach: Ryan Shannon
2022-23 record: 20-8-0, won Large School tournament
Players to watch: Derek Tremblay, F; Archer Brown, F; Shane Mettler, F; Alex Kenerson, D; Leyland Johnson, D; Gerrit Lansing, D
Outlook: With a deep group of returning players, the Rhinos hope to continue their upward trajectory toward an Elite 8 berth. Head coach Ryan Shannon said last season’s success was driven by Rudy Guimond, Jackson Holl, Zave Greene and J.J. Lemieux. Their departures will provide big opportunities for returners like Trembly, Joey Crescimanni, Brady Smith and Brady Morris, as well as newcomers like Domenic Clarizio, Noah Jettelson and Matt Lemay.
Trinity-Pawling
Coach: Bob Ferraris
2022-23 record: 7-16-2
Player to watch: Tanner Duncan, F
Outlook: Trinity-Pawling returns their leading scorer, Tanner Duncan, a center who put up 12 goals and 25 points in 25 games last season. With a tough schedule this season, the Lions will need him to continue his production after five of their top six scorers were seniors last year. Head coach Bob Ferraris’ squad will see the returns of goaltenders Ethan Fehrenbaker and Gavin Geraghty as well.
Salisbury
Coach: Andrew Will
2022-23 record: 16-7-5, lost in Large School tournament final
Players to watch: Seamus Latta, Sr. F; Nic Petrut, Sr. F; Jared Rothman, Sr. F; Jesse Allecia, Sr. F; Duke Gentzler, Sr. F; Ty Creech, Sr. D; Anthony Biakabutuka, Sr. D; Cooper Flemming, Sr. G
Outlook: Salisbury lost 14 players from last year’s team, so head coach Andrew Will believes there will be plenty of opportunities for returning players and newcomers. Will expects to be able to rely on all four lines to play an aggressive, up-tempo style to go along with an experienced, mobile defense group. He is confident in both goaltenders, Flemming and Steven Luciano, too.
BEST OF THE BEST: Check out our First and Second All-Housatonic Teams
Westminster
Coach: Tim Joncas
2022-23 record: 17-8-0. Went 14-4-0 over final 18 games, advancing to Elite 8 quarterfinal against Avon
Players to watch: Quinn Pine, F; Blake Burke, F; Michael Bianco, F; Brian Judge, F; Timmy Donohue, F; Tommy Coccaro, F; George McCaffrey, F; Tino DeFazio, D; Patrick Dotson, D; Connor Murphy, D; Matteo De Luca, G
Outlook: Westminster expects to be as prepared as possible for every opponent, hoping to build off of a strong finish to last season. Head coach Tim Joncas is excited about his group and strong leadership core. Due to the competitiveness of the league and their schedule, Joncas wants his team to understand the importance of every game and puck battle.
