There are two goals of the NEPSAC boys hockey playoffs.
The first is to crown three champions. Teams fight all season for spots in either the Elite 8, Large School or Small School Tournaments. Once the dances begin, squads battle to hoist a trophy on the final day of the season.
This year, it was Kimball Union in the Elite 8, Kent in the Large School and Canterbury in the Small School. Those teams will be bonded forever.
But there's a second objective of the NEPSAC playoffs — helping uncommitted prep prospects get more looks from colleges.
Coaches at the Division 1 and Division 3 levels routinely have the last week of the prep season circled on their calendars. They flocked to Harvard last Sunday for the three championships. Various Eastern schools were represented.
Let's dive into some of the uncommitted forwards who improved their stock throughout the NEPSAC playoffs.
Sam Ciappa
Canterbury, 12/9/2005, right shot, 5-8/155Â
Ciappa was a key cog all season for Canterbury, and one of the driving forces behind the Saints' run to the Small School championship. While undersized, he always found ways to get the job done, especially in the postseason. The Baldwinsville, N.Y., native tallied two goals and an assist in the two wins en route to the championship. He also notched an empty-netter in the championship 3-1 win over Rivers.
Max Dineen
Cushing, 7/5/2006, left shot, 5-10/155Â
Cushing was deep this season, especially at forward. There were various committed players, which can sometimes cast a shadow on the uncommitted prospects. Dineen scored the game-winning goals in Cushing's quarterfinal win over St. Sebastian's and semifinal win over Avon Old Farms. Both were scored with a high IQ around the net.
Cullen Emery
Dexter Southfield, 8/2/2005, right shot, 5-10/180Â
Emery was everything and more for Dexter in its run to the Large School final. He tallied three assists in the quarterfinals, before notching two goals in the semifinals and an assist in the championship game. He plays with a high compete and is creative offensively. True, things didn't work out in the BCHL the first time. But after posting a 44-point season, the Reading, Mass., native looks poised for success.
Antoine Gauthier
Berkshire, 2/8/2006, right shot, 6-0/176
No. 8 Berkshire came oh-so-close to getting past Kent to earn a spot in the Large School championship. Gauthier was a big reason why Berkshire got past No. 1 Nobles in the quarterfinals, as the Ottawa native scored a goal and added two assists. He added another assist in the 5-4 loss to Kent, too. Gauthier finished the season with 50 points and cemented himself as a Division 1 prospect.
Bronson Hunt
Cushing, 3/26/2005, left shot, 5-9/165Â
Hunt is known for his high compete and he got rewarded for it in the NEPSAC playoffs. He was a catalyst on Dineen's OT-winner against St. Sebastian's and assisted on Dineen's game-winner against Avon. In the championship game, Hunt drove to the net and knocked in his team's lone goal. Hunt quietly ranked second on Cushing in points this season with 38.
CHAMP RECAPS AND TAKEAWAYS: KUA wins Elite 8 | Kent wins Large School | Canterbury wins Small SchoolÂ
Seamus Latta
Salisbury, 4/8/2005, left shot, 5-10/175Â
Latta scored 38 seconds into Salisbury's quarterfinal win over Brunswick on a shot that stunned Brunswick goalie Will Baker. He assisted on defenseman Zach Walsh's goal against Kimball Union as well. Latta drove play for Salisbury in both games and was a key cog offensively all season. He plays the game with a high compete and a high IQ.
Owen Mahar
Kent, 10/25/2005, right shot, 6-2/185Â
While Kent forward and Cornell commit Gio DiGiulian grabbed the headlines on Sunday after his late game-winning goal against Dexter, Mahar was right at his side and produced a lot over Kent's run to the championship. The senior scored two goals and posted eight points in the three games, including putting Kent up, 2-1, in the third period with a nice goal off a great set-up from teammate Jack Roberts. Mahar has the added advantage of size.
Finn Sears
Rivers, 5/4/2009, left shot, 6-0/155Â
Sears scored two goals and added an assist in Rivers' lead-up to the championship game. But it was in the final that Sears impressed me the most. The '09 showed poise with the puck on his stick and was vital in his line hemming Canterbury in the offensive zone for as long as they did. He had a handful of chances, as well. He will be one of the most intriguing prospects to watch this spring, summer, fall and next prep season.
Corwith Simmers
Kimball Union, 4/13/2006, right shot, 5-9/175Â
Playing between seniors Jack Sadowski (Arlington, Mass.) and Sam LeDrew, Simmers shined in the regular season and the postseason. The Hailey, Idaho, native scored two goals to help KUA edge past St. George's in the quarterfinals and then scored two more (one was an empty-netter) in the championship. He made so many small plays throughout those three games that ended up making a huge impact. He's only a junior, so he will be the key piece on offense for head coach Tim Whitehead next season.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS & MVP: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Duncan Stewart
Canterbury, 3/12/2005, left shot, 6-0/180Â
Stewart was vital in Canterbury's run, centering the top line between Stratton and Ciappa. The postgrad had a goal and an assist in the quarterfinals and an assist in each of the semifinal and championship wins. His helper on Ryan Stratton's goal in the championship game was a high-skill play. He finished the season with 17 goals and 39 points in 28 games.
Ryan Stratton
Canterbury, 4/19/2005, left shot, 5-9/165Â
Stratton was a force this season for Canterbury, leading the Saints in points with 49. His biggest moment of the postseason came when he scored the eventual game-winning goal against Rivers. Stratton is slated to play for Rochester in the NAHL next season.
Noah Survilas
Dexter Southfield, 12/27/2008, right shot, 5-9/160
Survilas' postseason production came in Dexter's 6-3 quarterfinal win over Belmont Hill when the Winthrop, Mass., native scored two goals and added an assist. The '08 plays the game with a lot of confidence and high-end offensive creativity. Posting 12 goals and 30 points in 31 games as a freshman is pretty dang impressive.
BEST OF THE BEST: Top performers from NEPSAC playoffs
Evan Regan
Berkshire, 6/23/2006, right shot, 5-9/170Â
Regan's fingerprints were all over Berkshire's upset win over Nobles, as the Acton, Mass., native scored two goals and added an assist. He added another goal in the loss to Kent as he tried to complete the comeback for the Bears. Regan was a phenomenal add by head coach Kevin Czepiel. Regan will be huge for Berkshire next season.
