The NEPSAC boys Elite 8 quarterfinals are done and it's time for the semifinals.
You know what that means, right? More predictions.
For those keeping score, Jeff Cox went a perfect 4-0 on his Elite 8 quarterfinals predictions and 9-3 across the quarterfinals of the three boys tournaments. Evan Marinofsky went 3-1 in the Elite 8 quarterfinals and 8-4 across the three tournaments.
QUARTERFINALS PREDICTIONS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small SchoolÂ
In other words, we clearly know the future. We'll give you accurate weather forecasts, perfect Powerball numbers and even read your palms.
Here are our predictions for the Elite 8 semifinals.
No. 5 Brunswick at No. 1 Cushing
Cox: The Penguins and Bruins got to this semifinal matchup in vastly different ways. Cushing, the top seed, easily skated past Kimball Union. It took a comeback victory in overtime for Brunswick to dispatch Nobles at the latter’s home rink.
Both teams have offensive firepower. Cushing’s Landan Resendes (Marlborough, Mass.) and Brunswick’s Drew DellaSalla lead the way for their respective teams. Both teams have solid, veteran goaltenders in Cushing’s Cooper Rautenstrauch and Brunswick’s Brendan Holahan.
To me, the biggest difference in this game is on the blue line. While Brunswick boasts Cooper Cleaves and Sloan Farmer, Cushing can roll three pairs of good prep school defensemen.
Cushing plays with more pace generally. Having watched Brunswick against Nobles and a handful of other times this season, the Bruins will need to play harder, hunt more pucks, and hound for second chances.
FULL SCHEDULES AND BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small SchoolÂ
Prediction: Cushing wins this one, 4-3.
Marinofsky: Brunswick has a lot up front that I like — DellaSalla, along with Sean Gibbons (Fairfield, Conn.) and Eli Friedman are enough to cause havoc for opposing defenses. But I really like what Cushing boasts on the back end to shut down Brunswick's big guns. Ryan Philbrick (Concord, N.H.), Zach Rizzo, Troy Maldonado, Raphael Marcoux and Tyler Russo (Hamilton, Mass.) have proven that this year. The Penguins are highly motivated to get another chance at potentially playing Avon Old Farms after falling to them, 6-0, in last year's Elite 8 quarterfinal.
Prediction:Â Cushing wins, 3-1.
No. 6 Belmont Hill at No. 2 Avon Old Farms
Cox: The revenge tour kicks into high gear for Avon Old Farms in this one. Belmont Hill came into Jennings-Fairchild Rink and knocked out Avon in last year’s Elite 8. The Winged Beavers are poised to turn the tide in 2023.
Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.), Charlie Gollob, Jordin Palmer (Auburn, N.H.) and Stephen Peck give AOF the advantage at all three positions. Belmont Hill is well-coached and is playing loosely with nothing to lose. In a rebuilding year, the Sextants have exceeded expectations.
Prediction: Avon Old Farms makes sure the top two seeds will play in Sunday’s final. Winged Beavers win, 4-2.
ELITE 8 RECAPS: Cushing-Kimball Union | Avon Old Farms-Westminster | Belmont Hill-Milton | Brunswick-Nobles
Marinofsky:Â Belmont Hill is not a fun team to play against and it proved that against Milton in the quarterfinals. The Sextants' core on defense of Matthew Biotti (Cambridge, Mass.), Josh Doolan (Southborough, Mass.) and Lenny Greenberg can shut opponents down in their own end and create offense at the other. Belmont Hill's top line of Daniel Markham (Winchester, Mass.), Brock Cummings and Ronan O'Donnell (Fairfield, Conn.) is tough to stop. Still, Avon Old Farms has the depth, up front and on defense, to prevent Belmont Hill from earning another upset.
Prediction:Â Avon Old Farms wins, 4-1.
