There’s no shortage of talent in Rhode Island high school hockey — the challenge is keeping top players in the state, as many choose to leave for prep schools across New England.
In Division 1, the top players are often younger. In Division 2, the standout players tend to be older, putting up big point totals as they dominate the league.
Of course, there are always outliers and surprises.
Here’s a look at 15 players in Rhode Island who we expect to stand out above the rest in the new season — plus a list of honorable mentions.
Logan Addison West Warwick/Exeter-West Greenwich
Forward
Senior
The top returning point getter in Division 2, Addison tallied a whopping 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) as a junior after recording 30 as a sophomore. He’s a threat to score from everywhere.
Chase Birmingham | La Salle Academy
Forward
Junior
After transferring in from East Greenwich/Toll Gate, Birmingham was productive for La Salle as a sophomore, recording 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 14 games. He’s a skilled playmaker who loves to get dirty in the corners to win puck battles.
Luke Brule | Portsmouth
Defenseman
Junior
As a junior captain, Brule is a natural leader who makes everyone around him better, says his coach Greg Cunningham. After a half-point per game freshman season, Brule upped his scoring output to 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) as a sophomore. There’s no reason those numbers shouldn’t improve again this season.
READ MORE: What’s the state of boys prep hockey?
Austen Dufresne | East Greenwich/Toll Gate
Forward
Senior
Dufresne will be playing alongside the talented Brady Parks this season, so the points are bound to roll in. He’s a fast, skilled forward who plays a 200-foot game. After recording just three points as a sophomore, Dufresne popped for 25 (13 goals, 12 assists) in 17 games as a junior.
Zach Fontenault | Bishop Hendricken
Goaltender
Junior
Bishop Hendricken graduated every netminder on last year’s team besides Fontenault. He’ll enter his junior season as the Rams’ No. 1 goaltender. Despite only appearing in three games as a sophomore, Fontenault is tabbed as one of the best in the state at his position.
Will Gaffney | junior forward | Prout School
Forward
Junior
A high-motor player, Gaffney was fourth in Division 1 in scoring as a sophomore, tallying 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 14 games. He’ll be Prout’s top forward this season.
Shane Gaudreau | La Salle Academy
Forward
Junior
A well-rounded, 2009-born winger, Gaudreau is poised for a breakout in his junior season. He’s a mainstay on the Rams' power play and penalty kill, who combines skill and physicality to his advantage.
Brady Grislis | Narragansett/Chariho
Forward
Senior
Grislis was the team's leading scorer as a junior with 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists). Through three seasons of high school hockey, he’s tallied 34 goals and 61 points. Grislis does a lot of his damage on the power play.
Alan Jaffe | junior goaltender | Moses Brown
Goaltender
Junior
As a sophomore, Jaffe was excellent for Moses Brown, posting a .945 save percentage with two shutouts. Now, as a junior, he has a chance to be the state’s best backstop. He’s a calming presence for the Quakers and gives them a chance to win every game.
READ MORE: 17 standouts, takeaways from St. Paul’s Jamboree
Joe Magiera | Moses Brown
Forward
Junior
Magiera plays in all situations. He recorded four goals and six assists in 14 games as a sophomore and has the ability to surpass those numbers this season. His coach, Frank Fede, says Magiera will need to play a prominent offensive role for Moses Brown to have success.
Brady Parks | East Greenwich/Toll Gate
Forward
Senior
Compared to the Boston Bruins’ Morgan Geekie, according to his coach, Jeff Giusti, Parks is a power forward. Despite playing a heavy game, Parks has a good skill set with a strong shot. Parks tallied 30 points as a junior and will likely eclipse that number this year.
JD Plante | La Salle Academy
Forward
Junior
Plante is a skilled, offensively driven center who has a knack for finding the back of the net. As a sophomore, Plante paced the Rams in scoring with 17 points and 11 goals in 14 games.
Ethan Polak | Smithfield
Defenseman
Senior
A defensive anchor for Smithfield, Polak is described as an “absolute force” by his coach, Rob Jackson. He’s a heavy player who blocks shots, finishes checks, and possesses a strong shot from the point. While his offense was limited as a junior, Polak has some offensive juice in him.
Connor Rogers | Portsmouth
Forward
Senior
Rogers averaged over two points per game as a junior for Portsmouth, tallying 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 15 games. He’s one of the best skaters in the state who can cover a lot of ice in little time. Rogers is a playmaker who plays in all situations.
Nick Stevens | Bishop Hendricken
Forward
Junior
As a sophomore, Stevens led the Hawks with 22 points in 14 games. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound forward can play down the middle and on the wing. He’s a powerful skater with a great skill set who makes the players around him better. Stevens is the best player in the state.
READ MORE: Our preseason top 10 rankings for Rhode Island boys high school hockey
Honorable Mentions
- Ty Leaman, sophomore defenseman, La Salle Academy
- Cullen Crain, senior forward, Bishop Hendricken
- Mason Crain, senior defenseman, Bishop Hendricken
- Jesse Humes, senior goaltender, La Salle Academy
- Jacob Sylvester, senior forward, Smithfield
- Wyatt Gelzhiser, senior goaltender, East Greenwich/Toll Gate
- John Gaffney, senior defenseman, Prout School
- Brendan Darcey, senior forward, East Greenwich/Toll Gate
- Grant Bailey, senior defenseman, Cranston
- Joey King, freshman forward, East Greenwich/Toll Gate
- Kane Brule, freshman forward, Portsmouth
