The 2023-24 boys prep hockey season doesn't start for another five-plus months, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to it.
In the second part of the 2023 prep coaches survey, coaches from around the region gave their thoughts on who might be some of the best players next season and which teams could be surprise contenders.
Some coaches surveyed opted not to answer these questions, which was fine. But the majority offered up their opinions on next season. Every coach was granted anonymity in their answers.
The first part of the survey focused on the best players, goalies, newcomers and teams from the past season.
Let's dive into these responses from Part 2.
MORE SURVEY: Part 1: Best players? |Â Part 3: Changes in prep hockey?
Who will be the best player in prep hockey next season?
Obviously, rosters aren't set for next season. But coaches did their best to project.
While 13 different players got at least a vote in this section, Cushing's Landan Resendes (Marlborough, Mass.) gathered the most as the player who coaches think will be the best next season.
The question is if he returns to Cushing. Resendes, who was a junior this year, spent four games with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders after the prep season ended, scoring a goal. No one would blame him if he opted for the USHL.
But if he does come back, coaches are understandably high on him.
COLLEGE HOCKEY CHANCES: How many players from the Mass. Hockey Festival play college hockey?Â
While Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.) made the U.S. National Team Development Program for 2023-24, he scored a vote. Gallant was a sophomore this past season and came close to averaging two points per game despite battling injuries.
One coach listed five players who all had breakout seasons in 2022-23 who are safe bets on rising to the top in 2023-24: Kimball Union's Jack Sadwoski (Arlington, Mass.), New Hampton's Cam Caron (Dracut, Mass.), St. Mark's Calvin Beard (Southborough, Mass.), Holderness' Caeden Herrington (Manchester, Vt.) and Westminster's Ryan Shaw (East Longmeadow, Mass.).
Sadowski was already an offensive leader for Kimball Union in his first season after transferring in from Arlington (Mass.) High, posting a team-high 24 goals and 42 points. Caron led all freshmen in scoring with his 18 goals and 47 points. Shaw, a junior at Westminster this past season, willed the Martlets to the Elite 8 Tournament with his 18 goals and 45 points.
Beard ranked second in the region in points by a defenseman with 33. Herrington's dynamic offensive game helped him earn 21 points. Both will be expected to take a big step forward in 2023-24.
In net, one name mentioned was Ryder Shea (Framingham, Mass.). The University of Maine commit slumped a bit in his second season of prep hockey.
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"He has the most to prove after having a down year," a coach said.
Others receiving votes were Matt Cataldo (Norfolk, Mass.), Tyler Russo (Hamilton, Mass.), Alex LoGuercio (Monroe, Conn.), Derek Tremblay and Gio DiGiulian (South Burlington, Vt.).
Which team could be a surprise contender next season?
The usual suspects will most likely be good again next season. Nobles looks like an early favorite, while Kimball Union and Avon Old Farms will be near the top again. Salisbury head coach Andrew Will always finds a way for his team to be tough to play against.
But which new teams will shimmy their way to the top?
St. George's was the most popular answer among coaches surveyed. St. George's went 15-12-0 this past season and will have Allie Skelley as its new bench boss next season.
"They will have depth at defense with three high-end players," A coach said. "They will have three strong lines and a Division 1 goalie."
Along with Everett Baldwin, who will be a junior next season, St. George's added defenders Marco Senerchia (Greenville, R.I.) and Nathan Walsh (Mendon, Mass.). Those three will be expected to be major players in front of Shea.
Up front, the Dragons will boast Colin Walsh (East Greenwich, R.I.), Tate Pecknold (Fairfield, Conn.), Danny Buckley (Warwick, R.I.) and Max Donatelli (Barrington, R.I.).
"Still young," one coach said of St. George's. "But after a year of experience, some good young talent will break out."
Elsewhere in the ISL Eberhart, Groton received multiple votes.
"It's a young team with very good playmakers," another coach said.
Groton went 6-14-5 this past season, but had Zach Baker (Williston, Vt.) and Allen Fang, two '06s, leading the way offensively. Junior forward Devin Fitzgerald (Woburn, Mass.), an '05, was tied for third on the team in points (12) with freshman '07 defender Alejandro Hassan.
In net, Ethan Ramontetti, an '06, posted a great season with a 2.41 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
Others receiving votes were Westminster, Berkshire, Taft, Deerfield, Brunswick and Holderness.
PART 1: Who's the best player in prep hockey? Check out part 1 of the coaches survey
The reality is there are many other teams who could easily be surprise contenders next season because, well, hockey is hockey.
"Every team is good, which is what makes prep hockey great," a coach said. "I am never surprised by anyone — all it takes is a few bounces to go a team's way and they are suddenly a contender."
