The postseason is finally here in girls prep hockey.
The NEPSAC released its tournament brackets for the 2024 Chuck Vernon Elite 8, Patsy Odden Large School and Dorothy Howard Small School Tournaments late Saturday night. Click or tap here for the full brackets.
Groton and New Hampton, who each flirted with the Elite 8 at various points this season, seem like the clear front-runners in the Small School field.
But as we know, absolutely nothing is guaranteed this time of year. Perhaps No. 6 Rivers, who is red-hot of late, can make some noise. They did just that in 2022, winning it all as the No. 5 seed.
Let's break down each team in the 2024 NEPSAC girls Small School Tournament.
1. Groton (17-5-2)
Record against teams in Small School: 3-1-0
The Zebras were right on the Elite 8 bubble, but couldn't sneak their way in, settling for the top seed in the Small School Tournament. Last year's runner-up, Groton enters the playoffs after another strong season, earning a bye in the quarterfinals.
Tim LeRoy's group is unbeaten in seven straight (6-0-1) with wins in seven of their last nine as well (7-1-1). They went 12-3-1 since the calendar flipped. The Zebras also have wins over potential Small School opponents New Hampton, Tilton and Rivers. They fell to Millbrook in the Watkins holiday tournament.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
Sophomore Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.) took another step this season, already setting career highs across the board with 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points. It's on track to be her third year in a row leading the Zebras in scoring. Her linemate, junior Colgate commit Maddie Cronan (Ashland, Mass.), is enjoying another big year, too. She has a career-high 14 goals and 37 points entering the tournament.
Harvard commit and senior captain Keira Ley (Wayland, Mass.) leads the blue line as a do-it-all defender. She has 18 points (six goals) on the season. In net, the Zebras can lean on one of the NEPSAC's best goaltenders in senior Veronika Hadamovsky (Groton, Mass.). She has a .95 save percentage this season with seven shutouts. She's seen 492 shots on the season, the third-highest total in the Small School bracket.
2. New Hampton (16-6-6)
Record against teams in Small School: 1-1-0
The Huskies enter the Small School Tournament looking to defend their title after they beat Groton last season. Like Groton, they'll have a bye in the quarterfinals this year. Craig Churchill's team was also hovering around the Elite 8 bubble for much of the season.
New Hampton is battle-tested after enduring perhaps the toughest schedule of any Small School team. Their opponents' win percentage is .544, the highest of the Small School field. The Huskies are 5-1-2 in their last eight games as part of an 11-4-4 run since the start of 2024. They fell to Groton and beat Tilton earlier this season in head-to-head matchups against potential tournament opponents.
Six skaters have at least 20 points so far this season, while three have at least 25. Junior defender True Thompson leads the way with eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 28 games. Behind her, senior forward and captain Julia Loughlin (Scituate, Mass.) is also at a point per game with 28 (14 goals).
Junior forward Kennedy Walker has been strong as well with 25 points (11 goals). Meanwhile, sophomore forward Kelsey Baker (Concord, Mass.) has 12 goals. In net, senior Vera Lee has a .91 save percentage. The 543 shots that have come her way this season are the ninth-most in the NEPSAC and second-most among Small School Tournament goalies.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
3. Frederick Gunn (14-10-2)
Record against teams in Small School: 3-0-0
The Highlanders are back in a tournament for the first time since 2018. Daniel Allen's team had a tough schedule entering the Small School Tournament, losing three of five as part of a 5-4-1 run over their last 10. They'll draw a young Rivers team in the quarterfinals.
One thing Frederick Gunn can lean on this week is their success against tournament foes earlier in the season. They boast two wins over Millbrook as well as a victory over Tilton.
Three skaters have eclipsed the 20-point mark this season for the Highlanders, who are paced by senior Bowdoin commit Bella Schifano (South Portland, Maine). She has 26 points (13 goals) in 25 games this season. Behind her, senior captain and Amherst commit Bea Flynn (Berlin, Conn.) has 24 points (12 goals) in 25 games. Senior captain Jo Wimler (Portland, Conn.) also has 23 points (nine goals) on the season.
On defense, senior Ryleigh Gagnon (Guilford, Conn.) leads the way on the blue line with nine points (three goals). Between the pipes, seniors Emily Krauss and Emma Eschweiler have split the net evenly. Both have a .90 save percentage.
4. Millbrook (14-10-1)
Record against teams in Small School: 1-2-0
Like last season, Millbrook took the No. 4 seed. They'll face Tilton in the quarterfinals. The Mustangs are 5-5-0 in their last 10 heading into the postseason, including a loss to Frederick Gunn.
Erica Shapey's team had a great start to the season, which included a win over Groton for the Watkins tournament title before the holidays. Since going 7-3-1 out of the gates, they closed the season with a 7-7-0 stretch. Against Small School teams, they fell to Gunn (twice) on top of beating Groton.
BRACKET BREAKDOWNS: Elite 8 Tournament |Â Large School TournamentÂ
Senior Franklin Pierce commit Caleigh Murphy paces the Mustangs with 16 goals and 26 points in 25 games this season. Meanwhile, junior Piper Smith is in the midst of a career season with 12 goals and 24 points. Senior captain and Sacred Heart commit Lila Pannacciulli also has 11 goals and 18 points on the year.
Looking at the blue line, senior SUNY Oswego commit Shaye Jasiel has nine goals and 14 points. Senior Jessica Trocchio has taken on most of the work in net this season, putting up an .86 save percentage so far.
5. Tilton (17-9-3)
Record against teams in Small School: 0-3-0
The Rams are having their best season since 2016-17, earning the fifth seed in the tournament. Interim coach Zach Frement led his group to a big improvement on last year's 13-14-1 record.
Tilton enters the postseason with a 5-4-1 record in their last 10. They had a difficult schedule to finish the regular season, going 0-3-1 after previously winning five straight. In head-to-head games against Small School opponents, the Rams fell to Groton, New Hampton and Frederick Gunn.
Sophomore defender Ava Decourcey (Rockland, Mass.) has built on an impressive start to her prep career. She has a career-high 16 goals and 24 points from the blue line to this point in the season. Fellow sophomore blue-liner Alexine Beaulieu (Hudson, NH) is having a solid season with 14 points (six goals).
Sophomore Thea Arsenault (East Greenwich, R.I.) and junior Katherine Filippo (Medfield, Mass) each have 11 points, too. Sophomore goalie Evelyn Lacey (Braintree, Mass.) boasts a strong .94 save percentage, facing 632 shots this season. That's the sixth-highest total in the NEPSAC and the most in the Small School field.
6. Rivers (12-9-2)
Record against teams in Small School: 0-1-0
The 2022 Small School Tournament champions surged in the second half to make it in as the sixth seed, drawing Frederick Gunn in the quarterfinals. It's Rivers' first time making it since 2022, too. Coach Keith McLean certainly knows what it takes to make a run as a lower seed.
The Red Wings had a stretch of five losses in seven games in January, including a three-game skid, after starting the year 4-3-1. But they went 6-1-1 over their final eight games to make a last-second push. Their one meeting against a tournament opponent this season was a 3-1 loss to Groton.
BOYS PREVIEWS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
Just like on the boys side, Rivers is an extremely young team this season. The Red Wings have three seniors and six juniors, but 15 underclassmen (seven sophomores, six freshmen and two eighth-graders) round out the roster.
Junior Lindsay Morin (Weston, Mass.) has 12 goals and 19 points this season, while senior Sophie Rousell (Needham, Mass) has 15 points (five goals). Brooke Bartlett (Wayland, Mass.) leads the youngsters with 13 points (six goals). Junior goaltender Serafina Applegate (Lexington, Mass.) has a career-high .95 save percentage so far this season.
