New Hampton will have a new look this year.
Last season, the top-seeded Huskies took down No. 6 St. Mark's, 4-1, in the Small School title game to finish 22-6-4, claiming their third straight title and ending the season on a 12-game winning streak.
The Huskies must turn the page after graduating 11 seniors, 10 of whom are now playing either Division 1 or 3 college hockey.
"It's going to be a very different group this year," coach Craig Churchill said. "We brought in 12 new players, and we have 14 freshmen and sophomores. It's going to be a very young team."
It will take some work to pick up where they left off. Seven of last season's top 10 scorers were part of the graduating class. Most of the top six forwards are gone, as is most of the top four on defense.
So, how do the Huskies plan to maintain the high standard?
Leaning on key veterans
New Hampton still has several foundational pieces in place from last season's group. The key for the returning upperclassmen will be establishing themselves as leaders.
"We've been very fortunate to have really strong, vocal leaders," Churchill said. "That group that graduated, captain or no captain, they were a very vocal group. They spoke up. They demanded respect, and they worked hard. For our group now, it's going to be to find their voice, to find that strength and find that leadership."
Among the forwards the Huskies will look to is senior captain Kelsey Baker (Concord, Mass.), a Colby commit who finished with 30 points (nine goals) in 31 games last season. Other veteran forwards, like junior captain Ella Fischetti and senior Trinity commit Katie Usilton, will have much more responsibility as well.
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New Hampton will also rely on senior defender Addy Peel (Scarborough, Maine), a Vermont commit. The rangy, skilled blue-liner had 18 points (five goals) in her first season with the Huskies after transferring from Brooks.
"They're gonna have to step up, and I think they will," Churchill said.
Churchill felt Peel took a backseat to experienced standouts like True Thompson and Reese Luber (Norwood, Mass.) at times last season. This time around, the Huskies expect Peel to be a commanding presence on the back end.
"Her game will pick up right where it left off, and I think you're going to see a much more dominant player this year," Churchill said. "You're going to see a little more offense out of her."
As for other veterans, junior forward Emma MacPherson (Sandwich, Mass.), along with Fischetti, has the chance to make an impact higher in the lineup.
"They've been third and fourth-line centers their whole careers, but they probably wouldn't be third or fourth-line centers on any other team," Churchill said. "Now, it's their shot to be ones and twos. They've gotta find their voice, find their game and step up to the plate, so to speak."
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New Hampton's backbone is still in place, too, with junior Elizabeth Vincent in net. The netminder took over the crease after the start of the season last winter, posting a .922 save percentage. Vincent also trained with Team Canada's goalie coach in the offseason.
"She started slow, acclimating to the girls game after playing boys hockey for so long," Churchill said. "She finished the year lights-out, one of the best single performances I've had from a goalie in my time here. I'm expecting her to be one of the top goalies in the league, which is another reason why I think we'll compete. She's going to steal some games for us. If we can put the puck in the net, we'll be fine."
Opportunity for youngsters and newcomers
With so many key spots to fill throughout the lineup, opportunity is afoot for underclassmen who played depth roles last season, including sophomore defender Roxie Merrick and sophomore forward Audra Custance (Campton, N.H.).
Merrick, who plays for the 16U Valley Jr. Warriors, had four points (two goals) last season on the blue line. After the season, Churchill wanted to see Merrick add strength and explosiveness. He's liked what he's seen from the young blue-liner during captain's practices.
"Her fall season has been incredible," Churchill said. "Her brain is there. The way she plays and the way she thinks the game, last year, you could see it. ... I'm super excited for her. She came back stronger, faster and hungrier, just so dialed. It's exciting to see."
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Custance, meanwhile, is poised to boost her production after lighting it up in captain's practices. She put up three points (one goal) on the fourth line a season ago.
"I want her to start scoring more goals," Churchill said. "I think she's capable. She's a phenomenal skater and someone who can shoot the puck."
New Hampton will thrust two experienced newcomers into important roles as well. Forward Merritt Fitch (Winchester, Mass.) comes to the Huskies after back-to-back seven-goal seasons at Middlesex. She had a career-best 13 points as a sophomore last winter. They also bring in forward Kiara Drake (Ridgefield, Conn.) from Choate. Drake had two goals as a sophomore for the Wild Boars a season ago.
"I'm expecting them to step in, have a big role for us right away and score some goals for us," Churchill said.
Churchill is also eager to see what youngsters like Avery Lucier, Lanah Quong (Williston, Vt.), Emily Hachey, Will Lindow and Liv Murray, among others, can do.
It's come full circle for Churchill, who attended UNH with Lucier and Lindow's parents. Lindow, a 5-foot-10 defender from Alaska, will add size to the back end. Lucier, a forward, plays for the 14U Valley Jr. Warriors after playing boys hockey with the New Hampshire Avalanche.
"(Lucier) is a freak. She's just so strong, so confident and athletic," Churchill said. "She's going to be a stud in this league."
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Hachey, a forward out of Vancouver, BC, trains with the same coach as young NHL stars Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini. Murray, a defender out of Toronto, is the daughter of Washington Capitals goalie coach Scott Murray.
Expectations are still high
With all the turnover, cracking the Elite 8 or making a run at a four-peat in the Small School tournament might be easier said than done.
"The model this year is going to be learning how to win because we're gonna need to do that, but I like the group we have," Churchill said. "There are some really, really talented kids. It's gonna take some time, but I also like the core group we have coming back."
Regardless, the bar remains high. Churchill sees this season as a "reload" rather than a rebuild.
It'll be up to the returners to carry on the culture that's been established, and Churchill knows they can't simply point to past results.
"The message is going to be very clear, like, 'Yeah, you're on one of the best teams in the NEPSAC, but you guys haven't done anything. So you have to be hungry. Don't expect things to just be handed to you.' There are some players on this team who have won stuff, but as it sits in that locker room as of today, they haven't accomplished anything yet," he said. "They have to play, train and develop with that thought in mind, that they have something to prove. ... I think the incentive is going to be there, and we'll see them respond to it."
