The top teams in prep hockey are certainly distancing themselves from the field as Avon Old Farms, Kimball Union and Belmont Hill appear clearly in the driver’s seat in terms of earning home-ice advantage in the NEPSAC Elite 8 quarterfinals.
The cream rising to the top is a trend across these rankings as the top eight and nine of 10 teams in this week’s New England Hockey Journal Prep Hockey Power Rankings are enjoying significant unbeaten streaks.
Only Nobles, a team that started off unbeaten in nine straight, is limping into the stretch run. A newcomer has emerged into this week’s rankings and a couple of other teams are nipping on the heels and looking for entry into the top 10.
1. Avon Old Farms
League: Founders | Record: 13-1-0 (4-0-0) | Previous: 1
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. Loomis Chaffee (3 p.m.)
The Winged Beavers won three games over the last week, including a 5-0 rout of nearby rival Westminster. AOF allowed just two goals while scoring 13 in the course of the three games. Junior Charlie Gollob had five assists in that span, including three against Westy. The Toronto, Ontario, native gets the most out of his ability, due to his hockey sense, playing to his identity, and his rugged frame.
2. Kimball Union
League: Lakes Region | Record: 16-1-1 (6-0-0) | Previous: 2
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. Exeter (4:30 p.m.)
The Wildcats also went 3-0 during the last week, albeit against inferior opposition. KUA put up 23 goals in the trio of contests against Brewster, Deerfield and Winchendon. Jackson Kyrkostas, a Windham, N.H., native, had his six-game scoring streak snapped against Winchendon. Prior to that, he had two goals and 13 assists in those six games. The '04 is one of the more skilled uncommitted players in prep hockey.
3. Belmont Hill
League: ISL Keller | Record: 10-0-2 (6-0-2) | Previous: 3
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. Brooks (5:30 p.m.)
In one of the most exciting prep games of the season, the Sextants got a buzzer-beater from Northeastern commit James Fisher (Wilmington, Mass.) to avoid overtime and defeat St. Mark’s by a score of 4-3. It was one of two wins for the last undefeated team in prep hockey. Senior backup goaltender Aaron Matthews (Newton, Mass.) recorded his first career shutout in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Tabor.
4. Brunswick
League: Independent | Record: 10-3-0 (3-1-0) | Previous: 5
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. South Kent (4 p.m.)
The Bruins took care of business with two easy wins over Hoosac and Delbarton. Harvard commit Lucas St. Louis (Riverside, Conn.) had an assist in each game to push his scoring streak to nine games. The third-leading scorer among defensemen in prep hockey has only been held scoreless in two games this season. Six Brunswick skaters are averaging over a point per game.
5. Cushing
League: Independent | Record: 9-1-2 (3-1-0) | Previous: 6
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. Northfield Mt. Hermon (2:45 p.m.)
The Penguins had two solid wins over Thayer and Loomis Chaffee. There are a number of local products that have been well covered over the past few years in this space. One unfamiliar name, late '04 junior winger Linas Dedinas, is starting to heat up. The Vilnius, Latvia, native had two goals and three assists in the two wins last week. Late '05 Landan Resendes (Hudson, Mass.) now has a five-game scoring streak, getting six points in that span. Defenseman Zach Rizzo, from Atlanta, scored a goal in both games last week to run his point streak to six games.
6. Dexter Southfield
League: Independent | Record: 11-3-2 (2-1-1) | Previous: 7
Next game: Jan. 29 vs. Lawrance Academy (3 p.m.)
Dexter Southfield won on back-to-back days last week to run its winning streak to five games. Speaking of staying hot, '03 senior Cully Wilson (Hingham, Mass.) has at least a point in six straight games. He’s scored six goals and four assists during that time. '06 freshman Nate Porter found the score sheet in both games. One of the better players in his birth year in the region, he started the season out of the lineup, but he’s proven he belongs.
7. Salisbury
League: Housatonic | Record: 10-4-0 (4-1-0) | Previous: 8
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. Frederick Gunn (3 p.m.)
Another team on a five-game winning streak is Salisbury. Last week, the Crimson Knights downed Trinity-Pawling and Berkshire. The team’s two Northeastern commits, Dylan Hryckowian and Ben Poitras, both had four points in the two games. Syracuse lacrosse commit Trey Deere had a goal and an assist in the two games. Obviously better known for his excellence in another sport, he’s caught my eye as a pretty good hockey player this winter.
8. St. Sebastian’s
League: ISL Keller | Record: 10-2-1 (4-0-1) | Previous: Unranked
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. Nobles (5 p.m.)
The Arrows are unbeaten in their last six, a span that includes a tie against Belmont Hill and a win on the road over Nobles. Last week, the team downed Phillips Andover and Governor’s. It’s safe to say Jayden Grier (Needham, Mass.) is on fire. He has seven goals and one assist over the last three games. Senior winger Mike Cataldo (Norfolk, Mass.) had a hat trick against Andover in the midst of a four-game point streak. Boston College commit Nolan Joyce didn’t score against Governor’s, but before that, he was buzzing. The Dedham, Mass., native had three goals and 11 assists in a four-game span that included a six-point day at Nobles.
9. Nobles
League: ISL Keller | Record: 8-4-1 (1-3-1) | Previous: 4
Next game: Jan. 26 vs. St. Sebastian's (5 p.m.)
It’s been a rough stretch for the Bulldogs. After starting out 8-0-1, Nobles has lost four straight. There’s still plenty of talent on this team and it’s far too early to write the Bulldogs off, but it’s concerning. Giving up 23 goals in four games is certainly alarming. There haven’t been a lot of bright spots, but '03 senior John Logan (Hanover, Mass.) had a three-game scoring streak with two goals and three assists prior to being held scoreless against Andover.
10. St. George’s
League: ISL Eberhart | Record: 8-2-2 (6-0-0) | Previous: Unranked
Next game: Jan. 31 vs. Portsmouth Abbey (4:45 p.m.)
This was a tough call, but I gave the Dragons the slight nod over Holderness, Kent and St. Mark’s. On a five-game unbeaten streak, St. George’s is a team on the rise. The Buckley brothers have been playing well during this span. '05 Ben has a goal in three straight games while '04 Ryan, a Holy Cross commit, has two assists in each of the last three contests. The Warwick, R.I., natives make up two-thirds of the Buckleys on the Dragons roster with '06 Danny a newcomer. Yale commit Donovan Frias (Hudson, Mass.) has 10 points in his last four games. The late '04 is a player to watch for the 2023 NHL draft.
In the hunt: Holderness, Kent, St. Mark’s, Westminster, Frederick Gunn
