As we make our way into the third week of October, the 2021-22 prep school hockey season is inching closer by the day.
With fall hockey in full swing and winter not far off, we continue to ramp up our coverage for the coming season with a series of local prep school previews to see how things are shaping up after last year’s COVID-stricken campaign.
After playing just two games in 2020-21, Dan Driscoll’s (Lynn, Mass.) squad at Berkshire is eager to return to action.
“We made the best out of a tough situation,” said Driscoll, who’s entering his 16th year as head coach after arriving at the Independent prep school in Sheffield, Mass., in 2006.
“We only played two games, but at the same time, it was great to really dive in and develop and get better. We were able to start from September on and really focus on things that kids individually needed to focus on and work with them closely for more of an extended period of time, so I think in the long run -- I’m hoping -- that will translate to some positives coming into this season.
“We had some great intrasquad competitions and small-game tournaments, but really it was just focused on getting better each and every day. I think, for a lot of kids, they really benefited from it.”
Like most prep teams, the Bears will look much different this season compared to the last time they took the ice for an official prep game. For them, that was against Dexter Southfield in the semifinals of the 2020 NEPSAC Stuart/Corkey Elite 8 Tournament.
From the team that upset top-seed Lawrence Academy on the road in the Elite 8 quarterfinals 19 months ago, top scorers ’02 Aidan Thompson (Lincoln Stars/Denver commit) and ’01 Briggs Gammill (New Canaan, Conn./Yale) are the most notable losses.
'02 goalie Jed Baliotti (New Canaan, Conn./Northeast Generals), who spent three years with the team, has also moved on, leaving a year ahead of schedule to spend two seasons in junior before matriculating to New Hampshire.
Up front, the Bears will be led by seniors Pratt Stetson and Ben Boren (Middlebury commit), and returning second-year forward Cal Osterberger.
In the back end, returning D-men Will Sinclair (River Rats 18-U), Nick Donaldson (New Canaan, Conn./Mid Fairfield 18-U), Davis Kinne (Swampscott, Mass./River Rats 18-U) and Liam Bard (Southboro, Mass.) will lead the defensive charge.
Another returner on Berkshire's blue line, who joined the team last season, is Chicago area native Nico Pasquale (River Rats 16-U). The '05 Team Illinois product has been on NEHJ's radar since coming to the region last fall and is poised for an impactful season. Pasquale was a tenth-round pick by Omaha in the 2021 USHL Futures Draft.
“We’re really happy with our D," Driscoll said. "Sinclair is back with us from Idaho, Donaldson has been with us for four years, Kinne was with us last year and he’s back again. Bard is another good defenseman and Pasquale is a very good, skilled player, so we’re excited.”
To make up for the loss of Baliotti in net, the Bears are bringing in a pair of junior goalies: ’05 Danick Leroux (River Rats 16-U) out of Montreal and ‘03 Cole O’Donnell (Rochester Coalition 18-U) from New York.
The team is also adding a pair of post-graduates.
2003-born forward Boden Gammill (Mid Fairfield 18-U), the younger brother of Briggs, Barclay, and Brooks -- all three of whom played at Berkshire -- joins the team from New Canaan High. ‘03 forward Reid Capello (Wellesley, Mass.) arrives at Berkshire after fours seasons at Rivers School.
Another notable newcomer is ’06 forward Walker Bright (New Canaan, Conn.) who joins his older brother, returning forward Stanley Bright, after coming up through the Mid Fairfield ranks. The younger Bright, who plays split season with the Rangers 15-U team, attended USA Hockey Select 15 Camp over the summer.
While the outcome of this coming prep season is more difficult to project than years past, Driscoll and the Bears are looking forward to establishing some goals and returning to a sense of normalcy.
“I can’t wait,” said Driscoll, with more than 400 wins in his 26-year prep school hockey career.
“The kids are dying to play for their school and something bigger than themselves, so we’re excited to get going.”
(Previously in New England Hockey Journal’s prep school preview series: Brunswick, Gunnery, New Hampton, St. Mark’s, Tabor, Loomis Chaffee)
Liam Flaherty can be reached at liam.flaherty@hockeyjournal.com and on Twitter @_LiamFlaherty.
