The top teams in the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) have come out of the gates strong, leaving little doubt as to their expected supremacy in 2021-22.
With a week’s worth of games under everyone’s belt, the top contenders are all off to strong starts. The top five teams in the first edition of the NEHJ Prep Hockey Power Rankings for the 2021-22 season are undefeated, including Cushing, who won the game of the week over Dexter Southfield.
It’s still extremely early in the season and I expect a couple of teams to emerge from below the current top 10.
Whether it’s teams breaking in young players in key positions, such as Kent, or other teams having an early season hiccup, such as Frederick Gunn, there will certainly be new faces in the top 10 in the weeks to come.
1. Salisbury
League: Housatonic | Record: 2-0-0 | Previous: 1
Next game: Wednesday vs. Hotchkiss (4 p.m.)
The Crimson Knights have outscored their opponents 13-0. There’s likely to be a lot of lopsided results in the favor of Andrew Will’s team this winter. A pair of Northeastern commits, Ben Poitras and Dylan Hryckowian, have led the way offensively while Austin McNicholas and Andrew Palena have each recorded one shutout. After what should be an easy home contest versus Hotchkiss, Salisbury will face its toughest test yet on Saturday when Kent comes to town.
2. Kimball Union
League: Lakes Region | Record: 5-0-0 (1-0-0) | Previous: 2
Next game: Wednesday vs. Proctor (2:30 p.m.)
The Wildcats have played more games than any other team in the poll, winning three of those by seven goals or more. Tim Whitehead’s team had its closest game yet on Sunday at the Exeter Invitational, downing Kent, 4-2. Junior Jackson Kyrkostas (Windham, N.H.) and senior Jaiden Moriello (Saugus, Mass.) are leading the offensive attack. Vermont commit Dan Heroux has been solid in net.
3. Brunswick
League: Independent | Record: 3-0-0 (1-0-0) | Previous: 7
Next game: Wednesday vs. Kent (4 p.m.)
Brunswick is certainly the youngest team among all the contenders in prep hockey. That hasn’t hampered the Bruins in the early going as Mike Kennedy’s team has outscored its opponents 17-3. There hasn’t been a single cupcake on the schedule either as wins at Loomis Chaffee and over New Hampton and Phillips Exeter dot the resume so far. Young forwards Eli Friedman, a Yale commit, Sean Gibbons (Fairfield, Conn.), Brendan Giles (Ridgefield, Conn.), and Drew DellaSalla are all off to hot starts. Brendan Holahan (New Canaan, Conn.) has allowed just one goal in wins over Loomis and Exeter.
4. Avon Old Farms
League: Founders | Record: 2-0-0 | Previous: 4
Next game: Wednesday vs. Taft (3 p.m.)
Future Avon Old Farms opponents should probably be concerned by the fact that the Winged Beavers have yet to get their top players rolling. Notre Dame commit Brennan Ali and Penn State commit Matt DiMarsico have just one assist between the two through two games. Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.) and Charlie Gollob, both uncommitted, have been two of the more productive forwards to date. Senior goaltender Conor Callaghan has yet to give up a goal after shutting out both Williston and Hoosac.
5. Cushing
League: Independent| Record: 3-0-0 (2-0-0) | Previous: 5
Next game: Wednesday vs. Williston Northampton (3:30 p.m.)
The Penguins have had a flair for the dramatic over their first three games, winning all by just a single goal. Paul Pearl’s team prevailed in two low-scoring games against Dexter Southfield and Winchendon before winning a high-scoring affair against Stanstead College. Senior goaltender Jackson Irving (Newbury, Mass.) has allowed just one goal through two starts while the team’s top line has produced most of the offense. Senior and Boston College commit Billy Norcross (Lynn, Mass.) is tied for the team lead in scoring with sophomore Landan Resendes (Marlboro, Mass.).
6. Dexter Southfield
League: Independent | Record: 2-1-0 (0-1-0) | Previous: 3
Next game: Wednesday vs. Exeter (4:45 p.m.)
After a season-opening loss at Cushing, Dexter Southfield responded with two victories over St. Mark’s and Stanstead College. As expected, Northeastern commit Grayson Badger (Hyde Park, Mass.) and Harvard recruit Bobby Landry (Hingham, Mass.) are leading the way offensively. This week’s docket includes tough road games at Exeter and Nobles.
7. Belmont Hill
League: ISL (Keller) | Record: 0-0-1 (0-0-1) | Previous: 6
Next game: Wednesday vs. Governor's (5 p.m.)
The Sextants have only played one game, but it was a big one: a rivalry clash at home with Nobles. Thanks to a third-period goal from Dane Carter (Concord, Mass.) and superb goaltending from Sam Scopa (Lexington, Mass.), Brian Phinney’s first game as coach saw the team take one point in a 1-1 tie. Two more ISL games are on the schedule this week as the team hosts Governor’s Wednesday before hitting the road Saturday at Lawrence.
8. Nobles
League: ISL (Keller) | Record: 1-0-1 (0-0-1) | Previous: 8
Next game: Wednesday vs. Tabor (5:30 p.m.)
Scoring goals could prove challenging this season as Nobles has only found the back of the net three times over the first two games. Fortunately for Brian Day’s club, the team defense and goaltending have been up to the task, allowing just two goals in that stretch. Freshman Thatcher Bernstein (Brookline, Mass.) has two impressive starts under his belt, including a big performance at Belmont Hill Saturday.
9. St. Sebastian’s
League: ISL (Keller) | Record: 2-0-0 (1-0-0) | Previous: Unranked
Next game: Wednesday vs. Portsmouth Abbey (3:15 p.m.)
The Arrows have taken care of business with fairly convincing wins over Rivers and Milton. The team’s best players have produced with Princeton commit Brendan Gorman (Arlington, Mass.) leading the way with six assists. There is plenty of talent up front and the top two defensemen can chip in offensively. The goaltending remains the biggest question mark in whether or not St. Sebastian’s can keep up with the other top contenders in the ISL.
10. Holderness
League: Lakes Region | Record: 2-0-0 | Previous: Unranked
Next game: Wednesday vs. Brewster Academy (2:30 p.m.)
The Bulls might not hold on to this top 10 ranking for too long, but Alan Thompson’s squad deserves the nod after one week. A pair of nine-goal victories over Hebron and Pingree to start the season has padded the stats. Don’t let the easy schedule fool you. This team has some talent, including defenseman David Brandes and forwards Cooper Boulanger and Kaden Freelove.
Honorable mention: Kent (10), Frederick Gunn (9), St. Mark’s, Canterbury
