When Megan Keller scored a highlight-reel goal in overtime to lift the United States to a gold medal over Canada, it was a fitting end for the biggest best-on-best stage in women's hockey.
I couldn't help but wonder, ‘What if there was a best-on-best style tournament in girls prep hockey?’
What type of drama and dazzling skill would we see if players had the chance to represent their state, their region or even their country? We present to you our New England girls prep hockey Olympic tournament.
I can’t take all the credit for this idea. NEHJ editor Evan Marinofsky got the ball rolling with his boys prep Olympics and 4 Nations pieces.
Now, let’s be clear. None of this is real, and it’s all just for fun. This is our bizarro world. We made the rules. We picked the players and the lines. Injuries do not exist in this hypothetical.
Like the boys stories, we included a Team Massachusetts, a Team New England, a Team New York/New Jersey and a Team Canada. I also added a fifth Team Rest of U.S. Apologies in advance to any players who fell outside of those parameters. Everything was based on hometowns listed on USHR.
Let’s dive in.
WHAT IF?: What would a New England boys prep Olympics look like?
Team Massachusetts
Sarah Powers - Caroline Averill - Bella Freitas
Evelyn Doyle - Tina Scalese - Maddie Lahah
Simone Burns - Mia Daley - Erin Flaherty
Lily Bromley - Francie Ames - Anika Singh
Extras: Brooke Carlson, Catherine McCool
Maggie Averill - Ava Decourcey
Maddy Humber - Maggie Chudzinski
Nora Shea - Kimee Duplessis
Extras: Abby DeAnzeris, Catie Putt, Reese Engel
Evelyn Lacey
Annika Jonas
Liz Luong
GOLDEN GOAL: New England well-represented as Keller's winner lifts Team USA to Olympic gold over Canada
ANALYSIS: This team would rock. You could probably even make a second Team Massachusetts that would also be a strong contender.
This forward group is deep, skilled and balanced. Powers, Averill and Freitas on the top line make for three legitimate, high-end scoring threats. The second line could do it all with three of the best two-way players in prep. Each can take face-offs. Each can score. It would be a hell of a shutdown line in late-game situations. Burns and Flaherty bring plenty of finishing prowess on the third line, and Daley is dependable in all three zones. That fourth line would be a nightmare to play against as Bromley and Singh are relentless, combined with high compete and skill with Ames. McCool and Carlson have the skill and energy to fit anywhere in the forward group.
The blue line features a great mix of experienced and youthful skill. Each pair features strong puck-movers. It's hard to imagine anyone else touching the puck whenever Averill and Decourcey would be on the ice. It's not all about offense. Chudzinski, Shea and Humber have size and strength, and Duplessis is dependable in all situations.
In the crease, you've got three of the absolute best netminders in prep, and there were several others in the running as well. Each goalie has proven themselves on big stages, either on the club circuit or in prep. It's tough to single out a clear No. 1.
Team New England
Brooke Harb - Lindsay Stepnowski - Brenna Ziter
Sofia Nardelli - Annie Schwarz - Annie Forker
Erin Sears - Paisley Meyer - Olivia Austen
Maria Gilshannon - Ava Giroux - Tess Mulkerron
Extras: Alessandra Picard, Charlotte Matusovich
Carly Dann - Mirella Martinelli
Chloe Cleaves - Keira Austen
Nina Coffee - Maggie Berleth
Extras: Addy Peel, Raven Bennett, Kate Tortorella
Adeline Roper
Nora Wilson
Noel Schaab
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ANALYSIS: I would put this group of centers against any other in the tournament. There's plenty of skill on the first line, but it would also be a pain to play against, especially with Harb, Ziter and Stepnowski’s compete level. That's not to mention the chances they'd finish. You've got dependability on the second line, too. New England may also have the best third line in the tournament, with a premier scoring threat in Meyer, plus two consistent and creative setup options with Sears and Austen. I also went with "hard to play against” for the fourth line. You've got strong power forwards with Giroux and Mulkerron, and each can finish their chances, along with Gilshannon. You could plug Picard in anywhere as another scoring option.
I would give a lot to see this defensive group play in real life. Everyone can move the puck. Everyone is strong, and everyone can play in all situations. It's safe to assume that possession would be lopsided with either of these pairs on the ice. Coffee and Berleth would be an intriguing shutdown pair with upside in transition. Berleth is one of the more underrated defenders in the region. She can absolutely get it done on her off-side.
Like Massachusetts, there are several No. 1 options in net, including those not mentioned. I'll give the edge to Roper, given her championship acumen with Loomis Chaffee.
Team New York/New Jersey
Bella Zapata - Easton Pramuka - Riley Stocker
Peyton Wierl - Brady Wierl - Genevieve Smart
Meghan Grace - Jillian Smith - Lily Kennedy
Sophia Busa - Chloe Pittinaro - Selkie Brown
Extras: Hailey Vigna, Carly Greer
Nicole Sciarretta - Keira Gould
Layla Smart - Sienna DeAngelis
McKenna Ruland - Hattie Willard
Extras: Hayden Printz
Kate Rubinstein
Bea McLean
Grace Kepler
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ANALYSIS: New York/New Jersey's top line could give others fits. Pramuka is quickly ascending thanks to her compete and pace, especially on the forecheck. Stocker’s strength and energy would also create problems for opposing defenses. Zapata’s smooth skating and playmaking would complement them well. On the second line, the Wierl twins bring experience and details that would go well alongside a skilled youngster like Smart. Each skater on the third line is capable of providing added scoring punch, while Busa would be a strong play-driver on the fourth line.
On the blue line, there's plenty of young skill. The top two pairs would push the pace and create chances inside the offensive blue line. Gould and DeAngelis could absolutely drive transition. Willard would be a steady, reliable fixture on the third pair. Ruland’s ability to skate the puck in transition would allow her to slot in anywhere.
In net, Rubinstein would be my clear starter, but the younger McLean and Kepler each have promise.
Team Rest of U.S.
Maria Gray - Brooke Schlutter - Maddy Allen
Dominique Reiher - Bella Zolezzi - Allie Sauls
Sarah Lawson - Lily Winckler - Violet Dittman
Ainsley Moffitt - Gia Thompson - Brooke Murphy
Extras: Maealie Glanzer, Charleigh Milburn
Juliana Iannace - Megan Hosman
Roxie Merrick - Grace Riley
Natalia Masersati - Caroline Harrington
Extras: Julia Slaney, Ruth Chen, Penelope Davies
Sadie Bellissimo
Moira Landsverk
Emily Hosman
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ANALYSIS: Featuring players from the likes of Wisconsin, California, Pennsylvania, Colorado and more, this team would be my darkhorse contender in the tournament.
You have two of the very best scores in the NEPSAC with Gray and Schlutter on the top line, combined with a power forward who can finish her chances with Allen. Sauls and Reiher add skill to a second line that would be driven by Zolezzi's compete and details. Cushing teammates Winckler and Dittman would have a strong connection on the third line to go along with some added scoring punch from Lawson. Thompson can anchor the fourth line with her experience and reliability.
Hosman and Riley offer two elite skill sets down the right side in the top four on defense. A steady veteran like Iannace, plus a physical presence in Merrick, should complement them well. Cushing teammates Harrington and Maserati should have strong chemistry. Slaney and Chen would also be good in all three zones on the right side of the Third pair.
Like several of the other teams, there was no shortage of goaltending options. Bellissimo has a proven track record at Cushing, while Landsverk has been terrific in her first season at Frederick Gunn. I don’t think you could go wrong with either as the starter.
Team Canada
Sophie Frost - Ava Barbour - Quinn Toll
Grace White - Olivia Machan - Georgia MacInnis
JC Bernard - Mackenzie Richardson - Kaida Okamura
Maddy McCready - Lydia Libis - Nadia Smith
Extras: Emily Hachey, Ella McGarvey
Gabby Ogunnupe - Charlotte McFadzean
Maya Kou - Rylie Richardson
Megan Tremblay - Gracie Penney
Extras: Sasha Bahia, Talia Tavuchis
Katie Hurley
Paige MacPhee
Eve-Marie Leclerc
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ANALYSIS: Canada's strength would easily be its goaltending. Just as it was for practically every other team, a handful of goalies not mentioned could have been in the mix. I don't think you could go wrong with either of these three as a No. 1.
The left side of the defense is a strength as well. Tremblay could be a puck-moving X-factor on the third pair, while Kou and Ogunnupe can get it done in all three zones. Ogunnupe and McFadzean would make for a sizable, steady top pair.
Up front, I tried to stack chemistry in the bottom six with Kimball Union teammates Bernard and Okamura on the third line, plus Berkshire teammates McCready and Smith on the fourth line. In the top six, it would be intriguing to see a promising youngster like Barbour center a power forward like Toll and a high-end finisher like Frost. MacInnis has the skill to create chances in middle ice on the second line, and White can help control possession below the dots.
Final thoughts
Obviously, this isn't a real tournament, but it would freaking rule if it were. When, where and how do you pull this off? Now, that's where the extent of my expertise runs out.
As for the favorite to win? It's hard not to pick Massachusetts. That team checks every box, and there would be a ton of other worthy Mass. natives waiting in the wings if needed. New England is right there, too. That group also checks every box, and that blue line would be a spectacle. It's skilled, big, hard to play against and everything else you could want. Don't sleep on the Rest of the U.S. either.
