The Elite 8 is almost here.
This season feels like it could be wide open.
Nobles and Williston have the inside track, naturally, as the top two seeds. They've earned their status as favorites, especially the Bulldogs, who are undefeated.
But upsets can — and usually do — always happen. Behind the top two are several teams who could each make a deep run this week. In order to do that, they'll need their top players to be at their absolute best when it matters most. That's true for the favorites, too.
So who are some potential MVP candidates in this year's tournament?
Let's dive in.
Nobles: Olivia Maffeo
It says a lot about Nobles that they could have at least five or six legitimate candidates for Elite 8 MVP if they win it all. Really. The Bulldogs have been that good all season. I'll give Maffeo (Canton, Mass.) the inside track right now. She's been flat-out dominant in the second half, finishing the regular season with 44 points (15 goals) in 28 games, good enough for fourth in the NEPSAC. It's her second straight season leading Nobles in points, only this time she's doing it on defense, her natural position. The Boston College commit is a dynamic presence on the blue line, and she can completely take over games at a moment's notice.
Or maybe it'll be: Sophia Levering or Anya Zupkofska
Levering (Westwood, Mass.) deserves a nod here, too. The Yale commit may be the best all-around defender in the NEPSAC. She defends well in transition and in 1-on-1s in the defensive zone. She's constantly pushing the pace up the ice, quickly starting the breakout with good first passes or leading the rush with her legs. She's a strong skater with powerful strides, which allow her to jump into the offense plenty. It's resulted in 35 points (14 goals) from the blue line, second among the Bulldogs and 12th in the NEPSAC. She can do it all.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
As for Zupkofska (Braintree, Mass.), the Brown commit is as big a reason for Nobles' success as anyone. She holds a .96 save percentage and has only given up 13 goals this season. You always need your goaltender to be at her best at this time of year, and if she can keep it up, Nobles should like its chances.
Williston Northampton:Â Monique Lyons
A Brown commit, Lyons (Bedford, Mass.) is as dangerous as they come in the NEPSAC. She's second in the NEPSAC with 52 points and third with 26 goals. It's her second straight season with at least 50 points and her third straight with at least 20 goals and 40 points. She has the speed, skill and hockey sense — all of it in spades — to make an impact in all three zones. Lyons has been a model of consistency this season, and she was at her best down the stretch last season, too. If Williston wants the three-peat, those will need to continue.
Or maybe it'll be: Violet Carroll
Carroll (Milton, Mass.) was Lyons' linemate as a forward last year. This season, the Wildcats have needed her on defense, where she spent some time as a freshman. The transition wasn't a problem at all for the junior, who has 24 points and a career-high 18 assists from the blue line this season. Her presence on the blue line was really interesting when I saw Williston earlier this season. She's very aggressive from an offensive standpoint, constantly looking to jumpstart the offense up the ice, especially with her skating ability. Carroll has a great shot, a strong offensive IQ and she's trusted defensively, too, maintaining good gaps and strong stick positioning.
Phillips Andover: Sarah Powers
Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) has been one of the heartbeats of the Big Blue this season. The sophomore is having a career season, leading Andover with 13 goals and ranking second on the team with 22 points. She plays with a ton of energy and makes an impact each time she's on the ice, always looking to get to the net. Her game just seems built for big moments, too. Her line with leading-scorer Peyton Kennedy (Sudbury, Mass.; 23 points) and Emily Mara (Winchester, Mass.; 22 points) has been Andover's most consistent unit this season.
Or maybe it'll be: Caroline Averill
Averill, one of the best 2007-born prospects, is worth the price of admission by herself. The Wayland, Mass., native has 17 points (eight goals) the Big Blue this season, missing part of the season when she was with Team USA for its gold-medal run at the IIHF U18 Women's Worlds. She's a cerebral playmaker, who creates chances for herself and others. The game seems to slow down whenever she has the puck, and her strong edges help her to navigate through traffic and protect the puck well. Her skillset and ability to dominate shifts put her firmly in this conversation.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
Loomis Chaffee: Leila Fournier
The Pelicans' depth, especially among the forward group, allows them to match up well with a lot of the top contenders in the Elite 8. So the true difference-maker may need to be between the pipes with Fournier (West Kingston, R.I.). The senior boasts a .95 save percentage this season, the highest mark of her career. She was fantastic in tournament games earlier this season, leading Loomis to the Patsy K. Odden Tournament title with a shutout over Andover. She had two shutouts and only allowed one goal in the other two games. Fournier will need to rise to the occasion again with another trophy on the line.
Or maybe it'll be: Grace MorinÂ
Like Fournier, Morin was at her best in the PKO Tourney earlier this season. She had three goals and three assists in the four games, including the lone goal in the championship win over Andover. The Brown commit has missed some time this season but is still at a point per game with 17 (eight goals) in 17 contests. She could be the X-factor in a forward group that has had balanced production all season.
Kent: Mia Montanari
Montanari (East Hampton, Conn.), an RPI commit, is having a big season with 20 points in 17 games. She leads the Lions with 15 goals, too. No other skater on Kent has more than six goals this season, so Montanari will need to keep up her near-goal-per-game pace through the postseason if the Lions want to make a run.
Or maybe it'll be: Lauren Ferrari
Ferrari is Kent's "security blanket" in the eyes of coach Sam Ftorek. She's been just that this season, posting a .92 save percentage and playing every game. The senior has shutouts in two straight entering the postseason, and she's surrendered more than two goals just four times this season. With Kent's relatively low scoring output as far as Elite 8 teams go, she'll need to replicate that pace in the tournament.
GIRLS PREVIEWS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
Deerfield: Annie Dinges
The Big Green's offense seems to come and go with Dinges (Woodstock, Conn.). The Harvard commit was red-hot for most of the season, but has had a somewhat quiet finish, as has Deerfield with a 2-4-2 stretch over the last few weeks. Nevertheless, Dinges is a dynamic, powerful forward. She can take over shifts, win physical matchups and has a great release. She ranks seventh in both goals (22) and points (37) in the NEPSAC. If she can find the pace she was on earlier in the season, she could lead Deerfield on a run.
Or maybe it'll be: Campbell Krotee
Krotee (Darien, Conn.) has been the Big Green's bedrock in net. She has a .93 save percentage this season, and she's been busy. The 466 shots she's faced this year are the second-most among any Elite 8 goaltender. She's handled the workload pretty well, too, posting five shutouts this season and allowing more than two goals just four times.
Tabor: Ayla Abban
Abban (Duxbury, Mass.), an Amherst commit, is having a huge season, and she's had a terrific second half as the Seawolves made a charge back into the Elite 8. Her career-high 18 goals and 26 points lead Tabor. They have a tall order against Williston in the first round, but if anyone can help the Seawolves keep pace against that potent attack, it's Abban.
Or maybe it'll be: Adeline Paskowski
Paskowski (Plymouth, Mass.), a junior, is also having a career season with 24 points (19 assists) on defense. She plays a strong all-around game, makes good passes on the breakout and can get shots on net from range. She's helped facilitate offense from the blue line all season for the Seawolves. Tabor needs her to keep it up on a strong pair with captain Kaitlin Sullivan (Needham, Mass.), a Holy Cross commit.
BOYS PREVIEWS: Elite 8 Tournament | Large School Tournament | Small School Tournament
St. Paul's: Ally Martiniello
Martiniello came through in the clutch during St. Paul's run to the Large School title last season, pitching shutouts in both the semifinals and finals. She's had another fantastic season, posting a .94 save percentage while facing 654 shots, the fifth-most in the NEPSAC. It's also the most any goaltender in the Elite 8 has seen, and it's not close. The Colby commit is one of the region's very best, and the Big Red need her to keep it up if they want to upset No. 1 Nobles in the quarterfinals and make a run.
Or maybe it'll be: Cami Bell
The Big Red's offense goes with Bell (Barre, Vt.). The Yale commit is SPS' clear leader in goals (23) and points (30). Bell is a dangerous offensive presence each time she's on the ice with a strong release and an ability to completely dominate shifts. Offense was hard to come by in their first two meetings with Nobles this season, and if anyone is going to lead the attack in a potential run for SPS, it's Bell.
