One could argue that the ISL Keller Division will be the toughest slate of teams in all of New England prep hockey.
St. Sebastian's is stacked. Nobles is really good, and so is Lawrence Academy. Milton Academy and Belmont Hill are always threats. Thayer is a year older. Governor's Academy and Tabor won't be easy outs.
Not to mention all the success the Keller had last season.
Milton, Nobles and Belmont Hill were all in the Elite 8, and Lawrence Academy won the Small School Tournament.
Here's a breakdown of how the ISL Keller Division breaks down this winter.
Belmont Hill
Coach: Brian Phinney
2022-23 result: 20-7-3, lost to Avon Old Farms in semifinals of Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 Tournament
Players to watch: Jake McManus, F; Andrew Waugh, F; Patrick Woods, F; Jack Duffy, D; Grayson Cohen, D; Lindan Verville, D; JJ Thibodeau, G; Keagin Wilson, G
Outlook: It’s year No. 3 of the Phinney era at Belmont Hill and the Sextants lost a lot of seniors over the offseason, along with dynamic defenseman and Sacred Heart commit Lenny Greenberg. Every player mentioned in the above section will be looked at to take a big step forward. The real strength of this team is in net. Both Thibodeau and Wilson are legitimate starters in prep hockey. “It’s going to be a week-to-week thing. We know that both of them have the ability to be really solid goalies,” Phinney said. “If it’s a situation where it makes sense to alternate, we’ll do that. If one of them rises to the surface, then that’s great.”
Governor’s Academy
Coach: Brian McGuirk
2022-23 result: 9-11-9, lost to Lawrence Academy in Piatelli/Simmons Small School Tournament
Players to watch: Cam Russo, F; Michael Ranaldi, F; Ian Crowley, D; Max Vieria, D
Outlook: Despite finishing with more losses than wins, McGuirk’s team secured a spot in the Small School Tournament due to strength of schedule. In a tough Keller Division, that will be the case again this season. Russo, a Brown commit, headlines the forwards as he looks to make an even greater impact as a senior.
Lawrence Academy
Coach: Robbie Barker
2022-23 result: 13-11-4, won the Piatelli/Simmons Small School Tournament
Players to watch: Owen Leahy, F; Brendan Hirsch, F; Spencer Hirsch, F; Ty Wood, F; Laz Giardina, F; Shawn Leary, D; Aiden MacIsaac, D
Outlook: The Spartans shocked the prep hockey world last March, going on an incredible run to win the Small School Tournament. While Lawrence Academy lost its two mainstay goalies and many of its defensemen to graduation, it returns tons of firepower up front. The headliner is Leahy, who led last year’s team in goals (16) and points (30). Leahy plays with a ton of compete and with a strong surrounding cast, Lawrence Academy should be in the conversation all season.
PREP PREVIEWS: Kimball Union | Milton Academy | Taft | St. Mark’s | Nobles | Avon Old Farms | Belmont Hill | Salisbury
Milton Academy
Coach: Jim Gaudet
2022-23 result: 17-5-5, lost to Belmont Hill in quarterfinals of the Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 Tournament
Players to watch: Will Cannata, F; Ryan Shea, F; Jonathan Careri, F; Anthony Sergeyev, F; Luis Valencia, F; Joe Feinberg, F; Jack Allieri, F; Dylan Hunt, D; Curt Heath, D; Chris Amodeo, D; Danny Lee, D; Connor Lee, D; Sam Caulfield, G
Outlook: A new era begins with Gaudet coaching Milton, and the former Babson assistant coach enters after an outstanding year for the Mustangs. The strength of this team is in net with Caulfield, who was one of the top three goalies in prep hockey last season. He is a sure bet to keep Milton near the top of the Keller Division. However, there are lots of breakout candidates on offense. If some of those players pop, Milton will be a force once again.
Noble & Greenough
Coach: Brian Day
2022-23 result: 17-5-5, lost to Brunswick in quarterfinals of the Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 Tournament
Players to watch: Dennis Davidson, F; Teddy MacAusland, F; Ethan Cox, F; Amir Jamal, F; Liam McCarthy, F; Ben Nakata, F; Kyle O’Leary, F; Matthew Welch, F; Ryan Callahan, F; Billy MacAusland, F; Andrew Higgins, D; Lou Munger, D; Tuck Gilbane, D; Jack Hartwell, D; Tyler Bloomfield, G
Outlook: Nobles lost star goalie Thatcher Bernstein to the USHL and important defensemen on the back end to graduation, but the sure thing with this group is the forward core. Davidson, Teddy MacAusland and Cox were the team’s three leading scorers last season and they’re entering their junior campaigns. As for the other end of the ice, Day says, “There is a lot of ice to be filled by our new and returning defensemen. We are expecting our goaltending to be a strength of our team. As always, how well we defend as a team will go a long way in determining how successful we are record-wise.” Bloomfield is a senior and it’s his time to shine.
St. Sebastian’s
Coach: Sean McCann
2022-23 result: 13-9-5, lost to Tabor in quarterfinals of Martin/Earl Large School Tournament
Players to watch: Matt Cataldo, F; Teddy Mutryn, F; Isaac Mitchell, F; Ben Merrill, F; Nolan Flynn, F; Colin Gorman, F; Casey Mutryn, F; Brendan Keaveney, F; Aidan Connors, D; Charlie Leverone, D; Jack Harney, D; Jack Connors, D; Owen Lynch, D; Pelle Russo, G
Outlook: St. Sebastian’s is stacked. Zero players left the group, as last season’s team had no seniors. Even Teddy Mutryn and Merrill, both of whom could’ve departed for the USHL, opted to stay in Needham, Mass. The 2022-23 Arrows faced some ups and downs, which will ultimately serve them well as they enter this winter with massive expectations.
ON THE RISE: 23 breakout forward candidates in prep | 17 breakout defender candidates in prep
Tabor
Coach: Gerry Dineen
2022-23 result: 14-10-5, lost to Taft in semifinals of Martin/Earl Large School Tournament
Players to watch: Cam Gaffney, F; Josh Itri, F; Kai Roberto, F; Adam Quinn, F; Cole Estey, D; Brad Guden, D
Outlook: The Seawolves lost a lot after last season. Top forwards Jack DesRuisseaux (graduation) and Keanan Dewberry (juniors) are gone. So, too, is defenseman Jason Zaccari and goalie Gus Ackerman — both were seniors. “Our team has big holes to fill,” Dineen said. “Fortunately we have a strong group of experienced returning players and have added a few new faces who should be able to contribute, too.” It may take some time for the lineup to come to fruition, but the expectation is still to be a tournament team come March.
Thayer
Coach: David Hymovitz
2022-23 result: 9-14-4
Players to watch: Josh Halliday, F; Ryan Mottau, F; Tommy Anderson, F; Kevin Delay, F; Brady Kudrick, F; Teddy Lally, F; Brady Erickson, D; Matt MacDonald, D
Outlook: Losing Beau Lane in net to graduation hurts, but Thayer has an older, balanced lineup at forward and defense than it did last year. It’s Year No. 2 of the Hymovitz era, so the goals should be bigger. “We expect to build off of how we finished last season and look forward to making gains every day,” Hymovitz said. There are lots of great teams in the Keller and Thayer will surely be a tough game on any team’s schedule.
