Stop me if you've heard this before, but this year’s girls Elite 8 field is stacked with high-end talent.
Each roster is filled with dazzling skill, college commits and impact players at every position, giving them a shot to win it all.
Nobles is the top seed as the Bulldogs search for a second title in three years after last winning it all in 2024. They'll have to go through fellow juggernauts like Phillips Andover, Williston Northampton (which won in 2022 and 2023) or defending champion Loomis Chaffee. That's not to mention another strong contender in Dexter Southfield or lower seeds with plenty of upset potential in Tabor, Deerfield and St. Paul's.
Every year, there are individual runs for the ages as players lead their squads to glory. Last season, it was Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) earning Elite 8 MVP after a monster playoff run that featured seven points (six goals) in three games, including a goal and an assist in the championship.
Who could those players be this season? Here are 20 candidates.
Let's dive in.
Nobles: Francie Ames
The far-and-away leader in the NEPSAC scoring race, Ames (Brookline, Mass.) is in the midst of a massive breakout season. The sophomore has 61 points (25 goals) in 28 games, thriving on a line with Lily Bromley (Carlisle, Mass.) and Rachel Zhao (Westwood, Mass.). Ames has found the scoresheet in every single game this season, too, and she has the ability for big single-game outputs. She has high compete, facilitates chances and finishes her own looks. Ames also became the first player since 2021-22 to hit 60 points. If Nobles makes a run at a second title in three seasons, it's safe to expect her to be at the forefront.
Or maybe it'll be: Ava Decourcey or Annika Jonas
Decourcey (Rockland, Mass.) has been a monster on the back end for the Bulldogs. Since Jan. 23, she has 19 points in 13 games, helping her reach a career-high 31 points (13 goals) in 28 games. The junior Yale commit is a tremendous puck-mover with her vision and skating, and her playmaking and shot make her a threat at the point. Jonas (Weston, Mass.), meanwhile, has been just as good, if not better, in her second season as the Bulldogs' starter. The junior Yale commit has 12 shutouts this season, and she has passed every test. She enters the postseason with a .961 save percentage. Against Elite 8 opponents, she has a .958 save percentage.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Phillips Andover: Caroline Averill
Averill (Wayland, Mass.) is having a tremendous final act at Andover with career highs across the board, posting 25 goals and 51 points in 24 games, ranking third for points in prep. The Princeton commit has 38 points in 17 games since Jan. 7. She has dominated as she's centered a dominant top line with Sarah Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) and younger sister Liz Averill (Wayland, Mass.). Caroline's ability to see the ice and exploit passing lanes also opens up more space for her to take advantage of her own looks. Averill is among the Big Blue's leaders with droves of playoff experience, including a run to the Elite 8 final last season.
Or maybe it'll be: Sarah Powers or Maggie Averill
There is no shortage of options at the top of the Big Blue's roster. Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.) is right there with Caroline Averill as the frontrunner. The former has 34 assists and has a tremendous connection with Caroline Averill on the top trio. Powers' energy and compete level help her change momentum and take over games, too. It makes her difficult to play against. She ranks second in prep wth 52 points. Meanwhile, Maggie Averill (Wayland, Mass.) can control games from the blue line. Her ability to find stretch passes while also jumping into the rush makes her a challenging matchup in any situation. She also has a rocket of a shot, making her a constant threat on the power play. The junior Princeton commit has 29 points (13 goals) in 18 games.
Williston Northampton: Mia Daley
Daley (Lynnfield, Mass.) has been a consistent producer since her freshman season at Williston, and she's a dependable center that gets it done in every situation. The junior Yale commit has 30 points (11 goals) in 22 games this season to lead the Wildcats in scoring. She plays hard, drives play up the middle, executes on the penalty kill and consistently gets to the scoring areas. Daley is capable of anchoring a title run.
Or maybe it'll be: Nina Coffee
Coffee (Old Lyme, Conn.) may not jump off the page with her production, but the left-shot defender is the kind of player you want on your side in the postseason. Her strong, rangy frame at 6-feet, to go along with a long reach, helps her shut down opposing forwards in the defensive zone. Coffee's ability as a puck-mover has made strides, too. She makes quick decisions and strong passes with anticipation, and she's capable of skating it herself. It's that type of steady. three-zone impact that pays off at this time of year. She has 15 points (seven goals).
Dexter Southfield: Evelyn Doyle
Doyle (Needham, Mass.) is having perhaps her best season yet as a senior at Dexter. The Yale commit leads the Shields with 15 goals and 28 points in 24 games. Add in her defensive acumen as one of the most complete centers in prep, and it's safe to assume Doyle's fingerprints will be all over any potential run that Dexter makes in the postseason. She was clutch in 2024 when Dexter reached the Large School title game, posting two goals and an assist across the quarterfinals and semis.
Or maybe it'll be: Annabelle Aitken
Dexter has the luxury of having two strong, experienced goaltenders on a given night as Aitken (Winchester, Mass.) and senior Assumption commit Addie Sutherland (West Roxbury, Mass.) have split the net for the better part of the last two-plus seasons. Sutherland has gotten the work in the postseason, though, and she's proven capable in key spots. She led Dexter to the Large School final two seasons ago, posting a .962 save percentage in three playoff games. Against Elite 8 opponents this season, the uncommitted junior holds a .939 save percentage. For this season, as a whole, Aitken has a .955.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
Loomis Chaffee: Lindsay Stepnowski
The reigning Elite 8 MVP and NEPSAC Player of the Year, Stepnowski is a game-breaker who can turn a game on its head at a moment's notice, whether at 5-on-5 or on the power play. The senior Harvard commit is enjoying another big season for the Pelicans with 31 points (15 goals) in 19 games. We know she already has a penchant for rising to the occasion after last season's postseason dominance, too.
Or maybe it'll be: Annie Schwarz
Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) has led the charge for Loomis this season, leading the Pelicans with 42 points in 25 games. She's among the top goal-scorers in prep, too, with 21. Schwarz, Stepnowski and defender Carly Dann (Hanover, N.H.), a senior Cornell commit, have formed a dominant trio on Loomis Chaffee's top forward line this season. Schwarz, a senior Yale commit, is a huge part of that with her 200-foot game, and she's consistently produced. In last season's title run, Schwarz put up a goal and three assists in three games.
Tabor: Evelyn Lacey
After establishing herself as a top-flight goaltender at Tilton, Lacey (Braintree, Mass.) has continued that in her first season at Tabor. The junior Brown commit has been the bedrock of the Seawolves' Elite 8 hopes this season, boasting a .956 save percentage amid a busy workload. She's risen to the moment in key spots throughout the year, too, be it 43 saves against St. Paul's, 59 and 33 against Andover, 51 in a shutout of Dexter, 31 against Loomis and 45 against Williston. Lacey can absolutely steal a game, and Tabor may need her to do just that in the postseason.
Or maybe it'll be: Jen Birolini or Mirella Martinelli
The Seawolves still have key experience that helped lead them to the Large School final last season, including Birolini (Pembroke, Mass.). The senior St. Michael's commit is a natural scorer, leading Tabor in scoring this season. She's a threat at 5-on-5 and on the power-play, and her timely scoring could be clutch in the postseason. Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.), meanwhile, has added a dynamic element to the back end. So much of the play runs through the senior Providence commit in every situation. When the puck is on her stick, good things happen.
Deerfield: Chloe Cleaves
Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.) does it all in every situation for Deerfield. The senior Yale commit leads the Big Green in scoring with 27 points (14 goals) from the blue line. She's a dynamic puck-mover with a heavy shot from the point, and her 5-foot-10 frame and strength make her a difficult matchup in the defensive zone. Cleaves was clutch last postseason, leading Deerfield to the Large School title with five points (three goals) in three games. She authored a third-period comeback with two goals in the quarterfinals against Milton Academy before adding a goal and an assist in the championship over Tabor.
Or maybe it'll be: Sophie Frost
Frost is having a career season with a new-best 16 goals in 25 games to lead Deerfield. She's right behind Cleaves with 25 points. The senior Yale commit is as consistent as they come offensively, and she was strong in last season's championship run with a goal and two assists in three games.
WHAT IF?:Â What would a New England girls prep Olympics look like?
St. Paul's: Erin Flaherty
Flaherty (Boston, Mass.) is the heartbeat of St. Paul's forward group. The junior Boston University commit leads the Big Red with a career-best 36 points and 23 goals in 29 games. Flaherty's relentless compete in all three zones should shine in a playoff setting, and she's come through in clutch moments for the Boston Junior Eagles in the past. She's had a monster finish to the season with 12 points (seven goals) in her last six games. If SPS is going to make a run, Flaherty's fingerprints will be all over it.
Or maybe it'll be: Kelsey MacPherson or Paige MacPhee
MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.) has had a tremendous freshman season for the Big Red, even after missing significant time with injury. MacPherson opened the season with 10 points in five games before missing 10 games. Since returning, she has 13 points (seven goals) in nine games. She ranks third in overall scoring for the Big Red. The strong, powerful forward should thrive in the playoffs. MacPhee, meanwhile, has been terrific in net throughout the season with a .930 save percentage. Against Elite 8 opponents, the junior holds a .925 save percentage.
