Fall hockey is officially over after this past weekend. The boys prep season, the big event on the calendar, is next up.
We're going to be releasing a top 10, previews for each division, all-division teams and a lot more, including our prep preview magazine.
But before that, let's take a look at some more breakout prospects. This time we're looking at defensemen and goalies since we already highlighted forwards last week.
Let's dive in.
Will Baker
Brunswick, 3/4/2005, G, catches left, 6-0/159
Hometown: Norwalk, Conn.Â
Baker saw a little bit of time behind starter Brendan Holahan last season, but head coach Mike Kennedy has every expectation that the Norwalk, Conn., native will successfully handle the starter's job this winter. Baker played for Mid Fairfield's 18U team this past fall and went out to the Powell River Kings of the BCHL for five games. At Brunswick, he will play behind one of the best and most experienced defenses in the region.
Anthony Biakabutuka
Salisbury, 6/20/2006, D, left shot, 6-2/181
Hometown: Longueuil, QuebecÂ
Salisbury lost its top four defensemen from last season, paving the way for Biakabutuka to be the team's preseason No. 1 defenseman. He plays a steady, two-way game that should allow him to thrive in prep hockey and be a key cog in returning Salisbury to the Elite 8.
Marko Bilic
Cushing, 3/3/2006, G, catches left, 6-3/179
NCAA: Arizona State
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
It's hard to put a college commit on this list, but Bilic is worthy of it. With Cooper Rautenstrauch gone, it should be Bilic's net. He's big, athletic and has a high level of poise. He will also draw NHL scouts to his games, as he's NHL Draft eligible.
Tyler Bloomfield
Nobles, 4/21/2005, G, catches left, 6-0/174
Hometown: Hudson, Mass.Â
Bloomfield has had to play behind Thatcher Bernstein for the last two seasons. Now, with Bernstein off to the USHL, it's Bloomfield's net. In limited time, however, the Hudson, Mass., native has been strong, posting a 2.24 goals-against average and .915 save percentage over the last two seasons. He will be busy, as he plays behind a young Nobles defensive core.
Colby Boyce
Kimball Union, 11/20/2004, G, catches left, 5-11/181
Hometown: Hartford, Vt.Â
Like Bloomfield, Boyce had to sit behind another goalie for the last two seasons. In Boyce's situation, it was Vermont commit Dan Heroux. Boyce actually saw a good amount of time last season and posted staggeringly good numbers, boasting a 1.52 GAA and a .944 save percentage. KUA is a lot deeper than last season, which should benefit Boyce.
PREP HOCKEY SEASON PREVIEWS: Kimball Union | Milton Academy | Taft | St. Mark’s | Nobles | Avon Old Farms | Belmont Hill
Justin BriseBois
St. Mark's, 6/12/2007, G, catches left, 6-2/165
Hometown: Montreal, QuebecÂ
BriseBois, the son of Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois, enters St. Mark's as a highly-touted 16-year-old. After starring for Jesuit High in Florida last winter, he was at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp this summer and had a strong showing. BriseBois has all the traits of a goalie who should keep St. Mark's in the mix for the Elite 8.
Grayson Cohen
Belmont Hill, 10/18/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/195
Hometown: Concord, Mass.Â
Belmont Hill had a lot of roster turnover last season, catapulting Cohen into a prominent position on the team. Fortunately for the Sextants, Cohen plays a hard-nosed, two-way game and is coming off a great fall for the 18U Cape Cod Whalers. He should have a large impact at both ends of the ice this winter.
Denver Damphousse
Kent, 3/6/2005, D, left shot, 6-3/181
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.Â
Damphousse, the son of former NHL player Vincent Damphousse, has a big frame and makes life difficult on opposing forwards in his own zone. With Alex Bales off to the USHL, Damphousse's strong play will be even more necessary for what should be a strong Kent team this winter.
Nathan DiChiara
Kent, 4/12/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.Â
Are you guys sick of Kent yet? Hopefully not, because head coach Dale Reinhardt is fortunate to have many strong pieces still on defense. DiChiara had a solid sophomore year. But after a great fall session with the 16U Yale Jr. Bulldogs, DiChiara's big frame and high IQ should allow him to continue to progress in his junior year.
STANDOUTS FROM MASS. STATE TOURNAMENT: 12 forwards at 18U level | 5 defenders at 18U level | 12 at 16U level
Steven Luciano
Salisbury, 3/1/2007, G, catches left, 6-1/179
Hometown: New Canaan, Conn.Â
Cooper Flemming, a senior, will be Salisbury's go-to option in net. But Luciano enters Salisbury after a great fall with the 16U Mid Fairfield Rangers and scoring a spot at Select 16 Camp over the summer. He's athletic and tracks pucks well, which should allow him to have success this winter alongside Flemming.
Brady Morris
Taft, 2/1/2006, G, catches left, 5-10/160
Hometown: Rye, N.Y.Â
Taft has a massive hole to fill with Rudy Guimond, a Yale commit and NHL Draft pick this year, departing for the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Head coach Ryan Shannon is fortunate to have Morris ready to step in after a great fall with the 18U Mid Fairfield team.
Drew Pitts
Avon Old Farms, 3/31/2005, D, right shot, 5-11/174
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.Â
Avon Old Farms has a slew of defensemen ready to break out in Blake Jones, Hudson Miller and Magnus Turcotte (North Haven, Conn.). Pitts is really stout in his own zone and has the ability to shut down some of the best forwards in prep hockey. He also moves the puck well and can generate offense from the blue line.
Brady Quackenbush
Phillips Exeter, 11/5/04, G, catches left, 5-10/152
Hometown: Marshfield, Mass.Â
Quackenbush wrapped up an amazing MIAA career with Marshfield last March. He posted a whopping .953 save percentage for his senior year and should be one of the better goalies in prep hockey this winter for Phillips Exeter.
Ryland Randle
Cushing, 5/16/2006, D, left shot, 5-8/143
Hometown: Winnipeg, ManitobaÂ
Randle enters Cushing and prep hockey after a standout career with Dallas Stars Elite's 16U squad. He was drafted in the 13th round (192nd overall) by the Green Bay Gamblers earlier this year. He's smaller, but a brilliant puck-moving defenseman who has no shortage of great forwards to pass the puck to at Cushing.
William Rob
Holderness, 8/2/2007, D, left shot, 5-9/165
Home state: Montpelier, Vt. Â
Rob thoroughly impressed me last season when I saw Holderness play Dexter Southfield. He showcased boatloads of confidence and poise when moving the puck. That continued when I saw Rob play with the Islanders Hockey Club this fall. He had two goals and 11 points last season. I'd expect those numbers to jump this winter.
DUE FOR A RAISE: 23 breakout forwards candidates in prep this season
Owen Tatro
Cushing, 1/1/2005, D, right shot, 6-0/183
Hometown: Colchester, Vt.Â
Even after losing Ryan Philbrick (Concord, N.H.) and Zach Rizzo to graduation last season, Cushing boasts a strong defensive core for this winter. Tatro will be a big part of that. He's one of the more physical defensemen I watched around the fall circuit and can chip in offensively when it's needed. He projects to be a reliable force for head coach Paul Pearl to use.
Nathan Walsh
St. George's, 7/9/2006, D, left shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Mendon, Mass.Â
St. George's reloaded this offseason and Walsh is one of the pieces new head coach Allie Skelley will have at his disposal. He comes to the Rhode Island prep school after spending time with the Boston Jr. Bruins. His puck-moving abilities should have him posting a fair amount of points this winter.
