While lots of focus is paid to the Elite 8 and there are a bunch of heavy hitters in the Large School Tournament, the Small School Tournament field is interesting.
There are some strong teams at the top. Rivers features some of the best young talent in the region, while St. Mark's, Canterbury and Frederick Gunn boast veterans hoping for one last run at a championship.
But then in the bottom four teams, each has a strength that could be a reason they go on runs.
Let's break down each team in the 2024 NEPSAC Small School Tournament.
Click or tap here to access the full bracket for the Small School Tournament.
1. Rivers (17-9-1)
Record against teams in Small School field: 1-2-1
The story of Rivers has been the youth infusion. Eighth-grader Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.), son of head coach Freddy Meyer, has been a sensation, leading the Red Wings in goals with 17 and points with 37. Finn Sears (Medford, Mass.), also an '09 eighth grader, ranks third on the team in points with 31. Sophomore Justin Graf (Lincoln, Mass.) is between them with 13 goals and 33 points in 27 games. Veterans like seniors Cayden Miceli (Natick, Mass.) and Jacob Kulas (Stow, Mass.), as well as junior Will Hatten (Wayland, Mass.) have provided solid depth scoring and eighth grader Sam Pandolfo (Winchester, Mass.) is averaging just under a point per game.
The youth extends to defense, too. Freshman Freddy Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) transitioned back to defense this year, while sophomore Evan Handler (Walpole, Mass.) is a strong puck-moving defender. Eighth-grader Eben Alden (Dover, Mass.) has played significant minutes, as has junior Darren Iversen (Framingham, Mass.).
Goaltending has been up and down for Rivers, but senior Jason Delehoy (Brockton, Mass.) enters the postseason coming off three straight wins.
2. St. Mark's (18-10-0)
Record against teams in Small School field:Â 2-3-0
The Lions finished as the No. 1 seed in the Small School Tournament last season, but with a much deeper roster. They were decimated by injury and fell in Round 1. This season, the big injury is to senior forward Jonathan Balzarini (Milford, Mass.), who was out to start the season, too.
Even without Balzarini, the story of St. Mark's is the seniors. Senior forwards Andrew Gibbons (South Kingstown, R.I.) and Austin Borggaard (Worcester, Mass.), as well as senior defenseman Calvin Beard (Southboro, Mass.) have carried the load offensively. Gibbons ranks top 10 in the region in points with 58, while Borggaard has 24 goals and 49 points. Beard, who is still uncommitted, ranks first in the region among defensemen in goals (17) and third in points (44).
BRACKET BREAKDOWNS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament
A breakout prospect has been freshman '08 Cam MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.), who has 10 goals and 30 points in 28 games. Sophomores Max Santos and Evan Nee (Arlington, Mass.) have pitched in quite a bit up front, too.
Along with Beard on defense, head coach Carl Corazzini rolls out freshmen Blake Grislis (Narragansett, R.I.) and Phin Howard (Newton, Mass.), sophomore Jack Taylor (Framingham, Mass.) and juniors Diego Bass and Jack O'Connor.
Goaltending hasn't been a strength, but junior '07 Cassidy Kittredge has been the go-to of late with his 2.29 goals-against average and .918 save percentage on the season.
3. Canterbury (18-10-2)
Record against teams in Small School field:Â 3-1-0
Head coach Paddy McCarthy's team has had no issue scoring goals this season, as they rank seventh in the region with 123.
That's thanks in large part to a veteran forward group of postgrads Jackson Powers (Woburn, Mass.) and Duncan Stewart, seniors Ryan Stratton and Sam Ciappa, and junior Ryan Lucarelli (Westport, Conn.). Those five are all well over point-per-game players. So, too, is senior defenseman Jake Stevens, who is a phenomenal puck mover. Those six players are dangerous and will undoubtedly be difference-makers in the postseason.
Senior Logan Goodman, junior Robert Savaglio and sophomore Logan Martel have also had strong seasons on defense.
Canterbury will need junior goalie Maxim Pitts at his best if the squad is to make a run.
4. Frederick Gunn (17-10-5)
Record against teams in Small School field:Â 1-1-1
Early in the season, Frederick Gunn looked like an Elite 8 candidate. Then came a 2-7-2 stretch during the middle of the season and head coach Craig Badger's team fell out of the playoff race. Since Jan. 17, however, Frederick Gunn has gone 10-3-3 with a win over Avon Old Farms in there.
PREP PLAYOFFS: Elite 8 bracket | Large School bracket
Senior forward Alex LoGuercio (Monroe, Conn.) has been on a tear of late, finishing the season with 31 goals and 46 points in 29 games. Just like last season, LoGuercio is a big-time threat. Outside of LoGuercio, a lot of the production has come from junior defenseman Luke Calabria, a Colgate commit, who has 28 points in 33 games. Senior Mark Pizzo (Redding, Conn.) and juniors Will Jackson and Billy Collins have provided a lot of depth scoring. Postgrad defenseman Jake Johner has also pitched in quite a bit with eight goals and 20 points.
Senior Mitchell McCusker has been the main man in net with his 2.94 GAA and .905 save percentage.
5. Groton (12-7-6)
Record against teams in Small School field:Â 3-1-1
Groton has been one of the surprising teams this season, but has stumbled a bit of late, going 1-2-2 in its final five games.
The one advantage the Zebras have on everyone is Ethan Ramonetti, their goaltender. The senior has a sparkling 2.23 GAA and a .934 save percentage. That save percentage is tied for third-best in the region with Avon Old Farms' Anthony Palmer (Lynnfield, Mass.).
Offensively, seniors Allen Fang, Devin Fitzgerald (Woburn, Mass.) and Will Koukopoulos, as well as junior Zach Baker (Williston, Vt.) have been the primary point getters. Harrison Freelove (Tyngsboro, Mass.), an '08 freshman, has been a welcome surprise with his nine goals and 18 points in 25 games.
Senior Christian Armaly and sophomores Alejandro Hassan, Connor Wig (Holliston, Mass.) and Kaiden Donia (Townsend, Mass.) have led the defense.
6. Tilton (14-13-1)
Record against teams in Small School field:Â 1-1-0
Tilton had an interesting season, putting up a good number of goals (104), but also giving up a good number of goals (104).
Junior forwards Kayden Yeaman and Jeremy D'Souza lead the way for the Rams, with both averaging a point per game or more. Senior Danny Storella (Stoneham, Mass.) and sophomore Max Gagnon (Byfield, Mass.), an '07, also did well in providing offense. Head coach Brooks McQuade's team got some offense from the back end with junior defender Hunter Toms posting 20 points, while fellow junior Andrew Asconi-Feldman notched 18 assists. Postgrad Matt Cox (Braintree, Mass.) and senior Mason Scanlon were also valuable pieces on defense.
GIRLS PREVIEWS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
Sophomore Matt Wood (Southington, Conn.) has seen the majority of the reps this season. The '07 has a solid 2.95 GAA and a .910 save percentage.
7. Pomfret (13-13-3)
Record against teams in Small School field:Â 1-1-1
Pomfret had a rough start to the season, but went 6-2-1 in the final stretch of the regular season, powering its way into the Small School Tournament.
Louie Marcellino is the big scorer up front, leading the team in goals (23) and points (41). Junior Luke Corrigan (Hudson, Mass.) ranks second on the team in points with 39, while senior Jesse Heinberg is right behind him with 34. Postgrad Drew Fecteau (Arlington, Mass.) and juniors Ethan Chiweshe (Stamford, Conn.) and Matthew Itzkovitz have provided the majority of the secondary scoring.
The defensive core is made up of senior Isaac Rice, junior Cole Leblanc (Burrillville, R.I.) and sophomores Sean Farrell (Burrillville, R.I.) and Ian Sherman (Brooklyn, Conn.).
Senior goalie Beau Johnson (New Canaan, Conn.) has been outstanding of late, boasting a 2.85 GAA and a .911 save percentage on the season.
8. Proctor (11-16-2)
Record against teams in Small School field:Â 1-3-1
Proctor worked its way into the Small School Tournament at the 11th hour, taking down Kimball Union in the first round of the Lakes Region playoffs.
The big storyline with the Hornets is their veteran depth up front. Senior Finn Connor (Hampton, N.H.) leads the team in goals (22) and points (32), while juniors Beckett Homlish and Ryan McInnis (Bridgewater, Mass.) are right behind. Seniors Nolan Davis and Max O'Connell (Norwell, N.H.), both '04s, have also produced this season.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
Defensively, junior Kevin Delaney has led the way with six goals and 19 points. Postgrad Gerald Cahill (Charlestown, Mass.), senior Ben Mensforth and sophomore Charlie O'Connell (Norwell, Mass.) have also been important on the back end.
Senior Caden Pasqualone has been the main netminder, posting a 3.54 GAA and an .899 save percentage.
