In part 1 of the girls prep hockey coaches survey, we focused on last season. Now, it's time to look ahead.
We surveyed coaches across the NEPSAC to get their thoughts on everything prep hockey. We hurled plenty of questions toward the coaches, and we greatly appreciate all who participated.
All coaches were granted anonymity in their answers, too.
This story will be focused specifically on these topics, looking ahead to next season:
- Who will be the best player?
- Who will be the best team?
- Which teams could surprise?
- Who are some newcomers to keep an eye on?
This is Part 2. Part 3 will take a look at some big-picture questions.
Who will be the best player next season?
There were no repeat answers in this category, which could speak to the depth of young talent and experienced producers throughout prep.
One coach mentioned a pair of players who will surely be in the conversation: Cushing's Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.) and Loomis Chaffee's Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.).
Stepnowski was the NEPSAC Player of the Year, as voted by the coaches after posting 44 points in 27 games, good enough for third in the NEPSAC. Her 25 goals were tied for the second-most in prep, and she found another gear in the playoffs. The Harvard commit had six goals and seven points in three games as she led Loomis to the Elite 8 title.
Freitas, meanwhile, had a monster season of her own at Cushing after lighting up the MIAA the previous winter. She had 25 goals and 43 points in 33 games as the Penguins reached the Elite 8.
"They are both agile players who can finish in every situation and also have a strong defensive presence," that coach said.
Nobles had a pair of players mentioned in Francie Ames (Brookline, Mass.) and Ava Decourcey (Rockland, Mass.). Ames, a versatile 2010 forward, played defense as a freshman last year. She had 14 points (seven goals), replicating her eighth-grade production.
"She is fast, smart and plays on a great team," one coach said.
Decourcey, meanwhile, is a dynamic defender who has had a terrific spring at Mass. Hockey festival and Final 40, as well as the Wizards Showcase with Assabet. She had 11 points (four goals) on the blue line last winter, following 16 goals and 24 points at Tilton the season prior. Decourcey became eligible to commit on June 15. She drew high praise from one coach.
"She's the most talented D in the league and will only get better with the year at Nobles under her belt," they said.
One coach mentioned Groton's Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.). The Princeton commit has been one of the top players in prep since her first season at Groton, playing a strong 200-foot game and putting up a point per game in each of her four previous seasons. Now a senior, Scalese is coming off an Elite 8 appearance with Groton and 38 points (25 goals) in 22 games. She matched a career-high for goals last winter.
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"She'll be entering her fifth year at Groton and has been a leader in the league since Day 1," one coach said.
Thayer's Abby DeAnzeris (Needham, Mass.) got a nod as well. The productive blue-liner just committed to Saint Anselm, following a career year as a junior with 30 points (five goals) in 28 games.
Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) got some love, too. The uncommitted defender has been a standout with Lovell Academy. She's heading to Tabor after a 95-point, 34-goal season with the Lovell 16Us last winter.
Kents Hill's upperclassmen got some love. They return five of their top seven scorers from last season, including seniors like Marissa Payne (Casco, Maine), Maddysen Place (Lincolnville, Maine) and Avery Ross (China, Maine).
Who will be the best team next season?
Plenty of the usual suspects were noted here, including 2025 Elite 8 champion Loomis Chaffee, which was mentioned various times. The Pelicans' big group of eight seniors drew attention.
"Loomis will be up there again with their excellent 2026s," one coach said.
Loomis, who went 25-2-1, also returns both goalies, including starter Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine), along with forwards like Stepnowski, Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.), Bella Zolezzi and more. Carly Dann (Hanover, N.H.) and Megan Hosman are two top-flight defenders back for their senior seasons.
Another added, "They have a strong 2026 class and great incoming players."
Elite 8 runner-up Phillips Andover, as well as Nobles, Cushing and Williston Northampton (22-2-1) were each mentioned multiple times. The latter three were also Elite 8 teams last season.
The Big Blue's core has been knocking on the door in the Elite 8 for several seasons now. After going 17-5-4, they graduated three pillars in Molly Boyle (Scituate, Mass.), Peyton Kennedy (Sudbury, Mass.) and Emily Mara (Winchester, Mass.). However, most of the top-six forwards are expected back, including Caroline Averill (Wayland, Mass.), Sarah Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Kiera Bruen (West Roxbury, Mass.), among others. On defense, Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.), Kimee Duplessis (Framingham, Mass.) and Sienna Glass (Andover, Mass.) look poised to lead the way. Marie Lee (Southborough, Mass.) is coming off a strong season in the crease, too.
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"Andover brings back so much, and they have the experience," one coach said.
Nobles, meanwhile, graduated forwards like Calleigh Brown (Foxboro, Mass.) and Molly MacCurtain (Reading, Mass.) as well as defender Laney Mead (Bedford, Mass.) The Bulldogs also lost top scorer Alexa Georgantas (Foxboro, Mass.), who is off to Shattuck-St. Mary's. There is still a huge, young core in place, though. On defense, there's Decourcey and others like Reese Engel (Westwood, Mass.) and Nora Shea (Braintree, Mass.). Forwards like Ames, Gretta Hulbig (Foxboro, Mass.), Lily Bromley (Carlisle, Mass.) and Catherine McCool (West Roxbury, Mass.) will lead the way as well. Starting goalie Annika Jonas (Weston, Mass.) is expected back, too. The Bulldogs went 23-6-1.
"(Nobles) is a young team with loads of depth," one coach said.
Of Cushing, another coach noted how the Penguins (24-8-1) are returning "almost everybody."
Under new coach Brandy Fisher-Bailey, Cushing will have much of last year's core intact between goalie Sadie Bellissimo and forwards like Freitas, Brooke Harb (Atkinson, N.H.), Julia Lambert (Wilmington, Mass.) and more. The Penguins graduated key pieces on the blue line but will bring back talented youngsters like Jaclyn King (Hanover, Mass.) and Blake Metcalf (Scarborough, Maine).
Defending Large School champ Deerfield, who finished 20-6-2, also garnered some attention. The Big Green's biggest losses came on the blue line in defender Allie Corrieri (Devens, Mass.) and goalie Campbell Krotee (Darien, Conn.). The latter will play a postgraduate year at Williston. But Deerfield has a big core of 2026s and 2027s in place, including Keira and Olivia Austen (Darien, Conn.), Chloe Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.), Sophie Frost, Ava Giroux (St. Albans, Vt.) and more.
"Tons of returning upperclassmen with experience of winning a tournament," one coach said of the Big Green.
Groton (17-5-2) was another team that came up as well, thanks to its projected depth. After reaching two straight Small School title games, the Zebras reached the Elite 8 this past winter. Despite graduating top-liner Maddie Cronan (Ashland, Mass.) as well as others like Hazel Hughes (Lancaster, Mass.), Groton returns a strong core of its own. There's Scalese and linemate Jaelyn Trudell (Andover, Mass.). A deep defensive group could be ready for the next step with Tatum Friedholm (Sudbury, Mass.), Oona Kathan (Arlington, Mass.), Sydney Nelson (Lowell, Mass.) and Jamie Noonan (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Goalie Nora Wilson (Weybridge, Vt.) will be back in the crease, too.
"They will be right there, too," one coach said of the Zebras. "Lost only three forwards from the top three lines, and returning all their D and goalie with several key additions."
Which team could be a surprise contender?
The coaches didn't have a clear consensus with their answers here, but it might not be hard to guess some of the teams mentioned based on last year's results.
One team that got some love was Tabor, earning multiple nods.
Under coach Eric Long, the Seawolves (15-12-1) caught fire in the postseason after hovering around .500 all season while playing one of the more rigorous schedules in prep. Seven of their top 10 leading scorers are back, including Jen Birolini (Pembroke, Mass.), Giuliana Polcari (Marshfield, Mass.) and Lilly Shaughnessy (Medfield, Mass.). Tabor is also adding Martinelli and goalie Evelyn Lacey (Braintree, Mass.). Lacey has been one of prep's top goalies the past two seasons.
"Even though they had a slow start, they ended well in the championship game of the Large School," one coach said of the Seawolves. "I think they should be back competing for an Elite 8 spot. Big pickups this offseason and a great coach."
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Thayer (20-6-2) was mentioned, too, after being on the cusp of the Elite 8. The Tigers will have to account for NEPSAC leading scorer Morgan McGathey (Braintree, Mass.) graduating to the collegiate ranks along with Kate Sullivan (Hingham, Mass.), Wren Abboud (Weymouth, Mass.) and Veronica Taylor (Hingham, Mass.). DeAnzeris, alongside Lydia Kealty (Dedham, Mass.), Maddy Call (Norfolk, Mass.), Abby Macauley (Avon, Mass.), Emery DeRoeve (Charlestown, Mass.) and Abigail DeRoeve (Charlestown, Mass.), help headline a young core. Both goalies are expected back as well.
"They will be young but very fast," one coach said.
Phillips Exeter, meanwhile, returns nine of its top 10 leading scorers, including its entire first line in Maria Gray, Paisley Meyer (Greenland, N.H.) and Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.). Grace Riley is a dynamic presence on defense as well. The question mark will lie in net after Allie Bell (Rowley, Mass.) graduated. The Big Red went 14-9-2 last winter, falling in the Large School quarters.
"Exeter has lots of returning talent and good new kids," one coach said.
Governor's is another team to watch, according to the coaches. Govs returns eight of its top 10 scorers from last season as well as goalie Liz Luong (Framingham, Mass.), who had a strong season last winter and has been a standout with Assabet. Forwards like Brooke Carlson (North Andover, Mass.), Elena Gordon and Lana Hardin (Tyngsboro, Mass.) will be key, along with defender Megan Carlson (North Andover, Mass.). They went 14-13-2 and reached the Small School tournament.
"Govs had a solid year in its second season with a great recruiting class and a solid young goalie," one coach said.
Rivers was also mentioned. The Red Wings went 18-10-1 and were a top seed in the Small School field. Despite graduating top scorer Lindsay Morin (Weston, Mass.) and goalie Serafina Applegate (Lexington, Mass.), Rivers is in good hands. Keith McLean's team is deep and young at all three positions, and the core seems to be hitting its stride. Forwards Simone Burns (Winchester, Mass.), Brooke Bartlett (Wayland, Mass.), Nora Swaim (Concord, Mass.), Nora McLean (Canton, Mass.) and Chloe Chitkara (Wayland, Mass.) headline the offense. Defenders Mia MacDonald (Walpole, Mass.), Joelle Burns (Winchester, Mass.), Kyleigh Rabazzi (Burlington, Mass.) and Kathryn Butkus (Hopkinton, Mass.) are expected back, too.
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"Rivers has been young (but good) for the last two years, and their young stars are coming of age together," one coach said of the Red Wings. "They are ready to make the jump to the Elite 8."
What do you look for when evaluating if a player is ready for prep hockey?
Every year, there's an influx of exciting talent in prep hockey, be it seasoned high-school players from leagues like the MIAA or incoming youngsters jumping straight into prep hockey.
The upcoming season is no different.
There are former MIAA standouts headed to prep, like Liz Levering (Westwood, Mass.) to Nobles, Chloe Rabazzi (Burlington, Mass.) to Dexter Southfield, Izzy Cassady (South Grafton, Mass.) to Northfield-Mount Hermon, Emma Burke (Braintree, Mass.) to St. Paul's, Kelsey MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.) to St. Paul's and more.
You've got incoming youngsters from the club circuit, like Assabet's Elizabeth Averill (Wayland, Mass.) to Phillips Andover.
Some experienced players are also entering the fold, be it Martinelli to Tabor or Lovell goalie Moira Landsverk to Frederick Gunn.
So, what do prep coaches look for when evaluating a player for prep hockey?
A few things were almost universally mentioned: skating, speed, work ethic (compete), hockey sense and play away from the puck. Coaches also noted playmaking and a player's ability to make heads-up plays.
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Skating and compete level were two of the most popular traits that coaches said they look for.
"Those are the two hardest skills to teach," one coach said.
Other coaches went off the board.
"I look for attitude towards officials and teammates," one coach said. "I watch body language after a penalty kill or being scored on, and I also look at their skating ability."
Another echoed, "Maturity, kindness, compete and creativity."
One coach listed perhaps the most important trait of all.
"Kids who are fast, motivated and love hockey," they said.
