There are a multitude of storylines to watch in the ISL Eberhart this season.
St. George's has a potential NHL Draft pick. Rivers has three prospects who could be on next year's U.S. National Team Development Program's U17 team. St. Mark's has a plethora of breakout prospects. Can any of those three teams slip into the Elite 8 like the Dragons did last season?
And then there's everyone else. Can Groton, Brooks and Middlesex build off of last season? How about Roxbury Latin? And then, of course, there's BB&N — what should be expected from last season's three-win team?
Let's dive into a team-by-team breakdown of the ISL Eberhart.
BB&N
Coach: Anthony Moccia
2023-24 record: 3-24-0
Players to watch: Alex Mohsen, F; Cortez Heyworth, F; Ben Romer, F; Alex Robbins, F; James Ferreira, F; Noah Rosado, D; Daigo Hotta, D; Ryan Clay, D; Scott Crabtree, D; Matt Angelino, G; James Potter, G
Outlook: Will this be the year BB&N breaks out? It’s been a rough go for BB&N as the program has 17 wins since 2017. The Knights had three last season. Mocia still believes BB&N is a destination for players: “The draw for players at BB&N is the opportunity to compete at the highest hockey levels, while also engaging in a challenging and life-changing academic program. Every one of our players is a student-athlete. They were chosen to attend BB&N not just for their skills on the ice, but also for their dedication to their academics and other extracurricular activities.
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Brooks
Coach: Dave Ries
2023-24 record: 9-15-1
Players to watch: Griffin Bucci, F; Nick Sumner, F; Brendan Peck, F; Andrew Martin, F; Tom Lacoste, D; Ethan Roy, G
Outlook: Ries expects this team to be more consistent since there were so many new players last season. “These guys have returned to school more mature and ready to step up,” Ries said. It’s an exciting forward core with Bucci, Sumner and Peck leading the way. If those three, along with Martin, can produce at levels they’re capable of, Brooks will be in the playoff conversation.
Groton
Coach: Bill Riley
2023-24 record: 12-8-6; lost to Frederick Gunn in quarterfinals of Piatelli/Simmons Small School tournament
Players to watch: Zach Baker, F; Angus Frew, F; Jason Mah, F; Kaiden Donia, D; Elliot Wood, D; Connor Wig, D; Alejandro Hassan, D; Alex Wang, G; Wes Dimodica, G
Outlook: After a six-win season in 2022-23, Groton took a big step forward last winter, getting to 12 wins and making the playoffs. Goalie Ethan Ramonetti was a big part of that and he graduated. But with an older cast of forwards and a strong group of juniors on defense, Riley has high hopes: “With strong leadership and a competitive mindset, we expect to be in the mix for another championship run this winter.”
Middlesex
Coach: Bobby Jay
2023-24 record: 13-14-0
Players to watch: Matt Egan, F; Jack Francini, F; Luke Sardone, F; Sam Karp, D; Nolan Marsters, D; Connor Wright, D; Caio Bernardini, G;
Outlook: Middlesex came oh-so-close to the postseason last year, getting bumped on the last day of the season when Pomfret upset Kimball Union. Middlesex is full of seniors, which usually equates to success and, often, a playoff berth. Egan is the leader up front after posting 30 points in 23 games last season. Jay's team has a stout group in back led by Marsters who had 15 points last season. The key to this team will be Bernardini. The senior netminder had a 2.98 GAA and a .920 save percentage last season.
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Rivers
Coach: Freddy Meyer
2023-24 record: 19-10-1; lost to Canterbury in championship of Piatelli/Simmons Small School tournament
Players to watch: Carter Meyer, F; Finn Sears, F; Sam Pandolfo, F; Justin Graf, F; Will Hatten, F; Jonathan Rivard, F; Stephen Rousell, F; Freddy Meyer Jr., D; Evan Handler, D; Darren Iversen, D; Derrick Huang, G
Outlook: Rivers burst onto the scene with a young, explosive roster last season, pushing things all the way to the Small School tournament final. The USNTDP will be watching this team closely, as Carter Meyer, Sears and Pandolfo are all candidates for next season’s U17 team. If you’re a sucker for young talent, this is your team. Up front, Graf, a Merrimack commit, is due for a big jump from posting 35 points last season. On defense, Freddy Meyer, Handler and Iversen provide two-way abilities. Huang helped Rivers to the championship last season. The question will be whether or not they’re too young to be an Elite 8 team.
Roxbury Latin
Coach: David Cataruzolo
2023-24 record: 8-13-2
Players to watch: Joe Meade, D; Luke Campanella, F; Tom Pender, F; Cole Oberg, F; Nathan Rooney, D; Will Archibald, D; Ben Dearden, D
Outlook: This is a young team that has experience. Even with just five seniors, the team has 18 returning players. There’s enough of a core on defense to make life easier for the goalies — senior Sam DiFiore and freshman Lucas Dolan. They will battle for the net after Evan Zhang, who is now at Harvard, graduated. “Our expectations for the upcoming season are to be competitive in every game while continuously growing and improving as a team.”
St. George’s
Coach: Allie Skelley
2023-24 record: 23-4-1; lost to Kimball Union in quarterfinals of Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 tournament
Players to watch: Max Donatelli, F; Danny Buckley, F; Owen Mulhern, F; Everett Baldwin, D; Marco Senerchia, D; Nathan Walsh, D
Outlook: In the first year with Skelley at the helm, St. George’s notched an Elite 8 appearance. Losing forwards Ryan Staples and Tate Pecknold will hurt, but there’s still more than enough offense to go around among the forwards. That’s not even to mention the amount of offense a defense led by Baldwin, Senerchia and Walsh should generate. But the big question over this team will be in net after losing Maine commit and stalwart Ryder Shea. If they can get adequate goaltending, the Dragons should be back in the Elite 8.
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St. Mark’s
Coach: Carl Corazzini
2023-24 record: 18-11-0; lost to Pomfret in quarterfinals of Piatelli/Simmons Small School tournament
Players to watch: Cam MacPherson, F; Evan Nee, F; Max Santos, F; Drew Carr, F; Teddy Drury, F; Grady Bishop, F; Caiden Pellegrino, F; Will Manchuso, F; Blake Grislis, D; Phin Howard, D; Jack O’Connor, D; Moussa Seydi, D; Cassidy Kittredge, G; Justin BriseBois, G
Outlook: Corazzini’s team lost a fair amount of scoring to graduation with forwards Andrew Gibbons, Austin Borggaard and Jonathan Balzarini, as well as defenseman Calvin Beard. But the Lions have a nice blend of young talent up front and in back that should serve them well. A lot hinges on how much growth that young talent can undergo in one season. Expect this team to have a few breakout candidates who pop and compete for a spot in the Small School tournament all season.
