The Cheverus co-op team has stolen the spotlight over the last three seasons in the Maine girls high school hockey field. And rightfully so.
A dynasty is one way to classify its utter dominance. Coach Scott Rousseau’s team is freshly removed from a third straight state championship to become the first girls program in state history to accomplish a run of that length.
But not all dynasties last forever. And there are plenty of teams on the rise built to take a shot at Cheverus this season.
There are only 13 teams in the North and South divisions. Teams quickly become familiar with each other. The parity is usually rampant. Our preliminary rankings boast some serious contenders at the top but are likely to experience plenty of shuffling throughout the winter.
1. Cheverus/Old Orchard Beach/Windham South
Last season: 14-1-1
Coach: Scott Rousseau
Cheverus is in uncharted territory after becoming the first-ever girls program to garner a third straight state championship after pulling out a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over Brunswick in the final. The Stags are also the only team in history with five state crowns, passing Lewiston (four) for the all-time lead. But the Stags certainly face a challenge if their dynasty is set to continue. Only one player — Briella Doherty — remains from the 2023 team, while the talented Caroline Rousseau (38-17-55) is repeating her sophomore year at The Hill School. But backboned by Ellie Skolnekovich (1.17 GAA) in goal, Cheverus is expected to be competitive yet again with defenders Briella Doherty, Grace Townsend and Anna Bowie, and will look for offense from Ashley Cloutier, Scottie Buxton, and Joey Pompeo.
PREP RANKINGS: Our preseason top 10
2. Yarmouth/Freeport North
Last season: 14-3-1
Coach: David Intraversato
Falling in the semifinals last season as the No. 1 seed, Yarmouth Freeport is built to contend yet again and throw a scare at Cheverus Co-op’s reign atop the girls hockey landscape. David Intraversato’s team returns a trio of all-state players in Adelaide Strout (15-21-36), Celia Zinman (16-10-26) and Erica O'Connor (11-7-18). Sophomore center Maya Nasveschuk (13-10-23) impressed last season and will round out Yarmouth’s offensive core. Lexi Wiles (1.58 GAA) and Lydia Costa (1.81 GAA) are back between the pipes.
3. Brunswick North
Last season: 14-4-0
Coach: Chris Ledwick
Brunswick nearly halted Cheverus Co-op’s dynasty in its tracks last winter in a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss in the state final. Returning six varsity seniors, head coach Chris Ledwick’s squad will rely on veteran leadership in its quest to return to the big stage. Despite graduating Lauren Labbe (30-14-44) and two-time all-state defenseman Lisi Palmer — who now plays at Plymouth State — Solveig Ledwick (30-10-40) headlines a strong returning class with seniors Natalie Perham (4-7-12), Gillian Countway (4-11-15), Sydney Perham (0-4-4) and Quinn McCormack (4-7-11). Hensleigh Labonte is back in the net after a stellar year between the pipes. Brunswick is the only program in the girls field that is a standalone town.
4. Portland/Deering/So. Portland/Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete South
Last season: 13-5-0
Coach: Bob Mills
The Portland Co-op made a deep run in last season’s tournament and pulled out a thrilling 3-2 win over the Gorham Co-op in the South regional semifinals before coming up just short of the ultimate goal. With the landscape shaping to be as wide open as its been in the last few years, there is certainly a path for Portland to be in the mix.
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5. Winslow/Gardiner/Cony/Lawrence/Messalonskee/Maranacook/Erskine North
Last season: 6-12-0
Coach: Elliot Emberley
The Winslow Black Tigers Co-op enjoyed a successful run to the North Regional semifinals a year ago and is now under the direction of first-year bench boss Elliot Emberley. The Black Tigers are shaping up to have a balanced roster of newcomers and returners, highlighted by familiar faces in seniors Leah Michaud (9-6-15), Elliotte Podey (4-2-6), Molly Hambrick (4-9-13) and Alexa Caccamo (4-5-9). Josi Kelley, a sophomore defender, is also back and has shown flashes of offensive upside with her lockdown defense.
6. Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland/Oxford Hills North
Last season: 12-4-2
Coach: Dana Berube
Edward Little Co-op formulated a strong season last year that yielded a postseason exit to Winslow Co-op in the North Regional by way of overtime. This winter, the Hornets have seven incoming freshmen and are poised to pack a powerful offense led by returning freshman-phenom Leksi Langevin, who lit the lamp 39 times and totaled 53 points en route to all-state honors. Also back for Edward Little Co-op are goalie Paige Fecteau and blueliners Avery Cologna and Adalyn Martin. Adeline Langan had a solid debut season as a freshman (8-7-15) and will supplement the Hornets’ scoring punch.
7. Biddeford/Thornton//Kennebunk/Wells South
Last season: 10-7-1
Coach: Joshua Williams
The Biddeford Co-op formulated a strong season last winter that included an instant classic 3-2 overtime win over Falmouth/Scarborough in the regional quarterfinals. Corinne Ramunno, the overtime hero in that game, is back for head coach Joshua Williams this winter. Sophia Auger, who also scored in that game, returns her offensive power with Alexis Hubbard.
8. Penobscot North
Last season: 6-9-2
Coach: Meghan MacDonald
Penobscot slid past the Lewiston Co-op, 4-1, in last season’s quarterfinal round before falling to Yarmouth/Freeport, 4-2, in the semifinals. Penobscot’s offensive firepower was a strong suit last winter, tallying 67 goals to find themselves atop the pack in the girls landscape in the scoring department.
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9. Lewiston/Lisbon/Monmouth/Morse/Mt. Ararat/Oak Hill North
Last season: 8-8-0
Coach: Sarah Pomerleau
The Lewiston Co-op squad saw its season conclude in the regional quarterfinal round last winter in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Penobscot. Kylie Dulac (29-9-38) was a force last season as a sophomore. Lewiston took the girls title in 2022 and 2020.
10. Gorham/Bonny South
Last season: 9-7-1
Coach: Dave Grant
The Gorham Co-op welcomes back a strong core of returning offensive stalwarts in Azalea Grant (15-11-26), Carlin Galligan (15-12-27) and Lia Collins (10-5-15), and will look to improve upon a season that came up just short in the regional semifinals last year in a 3-2 loss to the Portland Co-op. Grant and Galligan had big games in the team’s quarterfinal win over the York Co-op.
