When we did this story last year, Jack Sadowski (Arlington, Mass.) was the lead photo. How about that for foreshadowing?
This time last year, Sadowski was mentioned as a player who could be the best in 2023-24. With 87 points to his name, that's what he turned out to be. Other names listed last year were New Hampton forward Cam Caron (Dracut, Mass.), Holderness defenseman Caeden Herrington (Manchester, Vt.), St. Mark's defenseman Calvin Beard (Southborough, Mass.), St. George's goalie Ryder Shea (Framingham, Mass.), St. Sebastian's forward Matt Cataldo (Norfolk, Mass.), Cushing defenseman Tyler Russo (Hamilton, Mass.), Frederick Gunn forward Alex LoGuercio (Monroe, Conn.) and Kent forward Gio DiGiulian (South Burlington, Vt.).
All had big impacts this past winter.
Coaches also pointed to St. George's as a team that would be a surprise contender this winter. The Dragons lived up to the hype, going 23-3-1 en route to the No. 7 seed in the Elite 8 Tournament.
Brunswick, Holderness, Berkshire and Deerfield all got votes last year to be good this past season. Brunswick and Holderness were Elite 8 teams, while Deerfield and Berkshire were in the Large School Tournament.
So, what do coaches think about next year?
Who will be the best player next season?
It's no surprise that answers were a bit all over the place with this question.
"The league was so senior-heavy this year that it'll be wide open for the race for the league's best [player] next season," one coach said.
Two players got multiple votes: Rivers forward Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) and Kimball Union defenseman Andrew O'Sullivan (Scituate, Mass.).
Meyer burst onto the scene this past season as an eighth grader, leading Rivers in points with 39. He helped lead the Red Wings' resurgence, getting Rivers the No. 1 seed in the Small School Tournament.
As an '09, all eyes will be on him next season for the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2025-26.
PART 1: Who were the best newcomers and biggest surprise teams of this past season?Â
"I think Carter Meyer will continue to generate a lot of buzz," a coach said. "Maybe not the best player (young), but exciting and will get a lot of well-earned attention."
O'Sullivan, however, is a different case. If the Colgate commit were coming back, he would project to lead the charge once again for Kimball Union as it defends its Elite 8 title. But he's slated to play for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers.
Typically, the best players are older. But one '08 mentioned was Taft's JT Rothstein.
"Don't know if he will be the best but keep an eye on him at Taft," another coach said. "I love his game. He was a really good player this year. But with another year under his belt, watch out."
As for older forwards, Nobles' Kyle O'Leary (Medfield, Mass.) was a name mentioned. The '06 saw a 26-point bump this winter, leading the Bulldogs in points with 43 in 27 games.
"He's tough to handle offensively and has a great supporting cast," a coach said.
Rian Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) and Indiana Grossbard (Wilton, Conn.), two high-end, '07 forwards, were listed. Both will play for new prep schools next winter. Chudzinski made the move from St. Sebastian's to Dexter Southfield.
"I just think he is going to blossom next year," one coach said. "He was in a limited role last year."
Grossbard will suit up for Avon Old Farms instead of Loomis Chaffee.
"With more talent around him, he will be even more elite," a coach said.
Another defenseman mentioned was Marco Senerchia (Greenville, R.I.). In his first year at St. George's, the '07 was a dynamo on defense, scoring 10 goals and totaling 33 points in 28 games.
Who will be the best team next season?
As is the case almost every year, many coaches mentioned usual top teams like Kimball Union, Cushing, Avon Old Farms and Salisbury.
"There are new teams emerging into the top 10 each year," a coach said. "But you can also count on the usual suspects to be in the hunt for the Elite 8 championship — Avon, Cushing, Kimball Union and Salisbury."
The first part of that answer is the really fun part — who are the new teams that will emerge into the top 10 next year?
Nobles got multiple votes. The Bulldogs project to bring back all of their leading scorers from last season.
THE PROS: What do the Bruins think about prep hockey and player development?Â
"They return a lot of firepower," said a coach.
Belmont Hill was another ISL team noted. While the Sextants lost forward Jake McManus (Winthrop, Mass.) to graduation, they have a nice blend of young talent in David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.), Jake Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) and Patrick Woods (Charlestown, Mass.) with rising seniors like Andrew Waugh (Norwell, Mass.), Grayson Cohen (Weston, Mass.), Stephen Fabiano (Charlestown, Mass.) and Jin Lee (Natick, Mass.).
Oh, and both goalies, Keagin Wilson (Hingham, Mass.) and JJ Thibodeau (Waltham, Mass.), are back.
"They have the most returning depth and they have two really good goalies," another coach said.
Rivers and Thayer were two other ISL teams who garnered votes for this question.
Who will be the surprise contenders next season?
This goes hand-in-hand with the last section.
Once again, Belmont Hill was a team mentioned multiple times.
"I anticipate Belmont Hill will be back in the hunt for the Elite 8 as their young team matures and comes back with more experience," a coach said.
COLLEGE HOCKEY RECRUITING: Will Moore commits to Boston College and other recruiting news
And, once again, Nobles got a vote.
"Not really a surprise," one coach said. "But Nobles, if all of their forwards are returning, has some real firepower up front."
Rivers, also in the ISL, earned recognition.
"With the youth they have and success this past year, I think they will make a big jump in 2024-25," a coach said.
Up in the Lakes Region, Tilton scored a vote. The Rams went 14-14-1 this past season in what could be a preview for a big 2024-25.
"They will be very old and have a good mix of returning and new players," another coach said.
Their top two leading scorers, Kayden Yeaman and Jeremy D'Souza, were juniors this past season. Forward Max Gagnon (Byfield, Mass.), an '07, was a sophomore. Defensemen Hunter Toms and Andrew Asconi-Feldman were juniors. In net, Matt Wood (Southington, Conn.), an '07, was a sophomore and saw the majority of minutes, while Marty Pierce (North Reading, Mass.) was a junior.
Taft was another team that got a vote. After winning the Large School title in 2022-23, the Rhinos went 10-11-4 this past winter.
"They're returning top players in all positions," a coach said.
A Holt Conference team scored a vote. Berwick, which went 15-13-2 this past winter, was labeled as a surprise contender.
"Coach Lem Randall is doing a great job developing players," another coach said. "At some point, those Berwick kids and parents are going to realize the grass isn't always greener somewhere else."
The big storyline with Berwick this season was sophomore '07 Parker Murch (York, Maine) tallying 30 goals and 61 points in 30 games.
Are coaches happy about the neck guard mandate?
On Jan. 28, USA Hockey approved legislation requiring the use of neck guards for players in all age classifications other than adults in games and practices beginning Aug. 1.
That means all prep players must wear them next season. Shortly after Adam Johnson, a forward for the Nottingham Panthers, died from taking a skate to the neck, there was momentum growing among prep hockey coaches to mandate them.
Now there isn't a choice — they must be worn.
THE JOURNEY: Inside the paths taken by Casey Mutryn, Jamie Glance and Luke Schairer to make USNTDP
There was an overwhelming amount of support from the coaches polled.
"Why would we not do it?" one coach said.
"Seems like a simple fix for the potential disaster not wearing one can cost," another coach said.
"If it protects one player, then that is enough," added a coach.
