Every year, no matter who it has back out on the ice, the expectations remain the same for the Lewiston High boys hockey team.
The squad has earned three straight Maine Class A titles and has a chance to make it four. Although the names and faces might differ, the talent is still there.
“We’re a young team,” Blue Devils head coach Jamie Belleau said. “We’re going to have a lot of new faces and a target on our backs. I think we’re good enough to compete, but there will be a lot more parity this year.”
Up front, the team’s experience is relatively limited. Lewiston returns five forwards who have varsity experience but plans to skate 12 in all. Belleau noted that there is parity throughout his forwards, so the team’s scoring effort will be spread out.
However, on defense and in net, the team has the opportunity to stand out. Much of the defense remains the same from last season. Returning goaltender Jacob Smith played in just about every regular season game last year, splitting time with the team’s senior starter, and got the job done. Shawn Cabot also has varsity experience in net.
Even if some of the JV players coming up do not have a lot of varsity experience, there is reason for the Blue Devils to be confident. After all, the JV team was unbeaten last season and picked up wins against NEPSAC JV squads such as Kents Hill and Hebron Academy.
Overall, Belleau said he expects to see more parity in Class A high school hockey this season and that there are a handful of competent teams who will be contenders. One advantage Lewiston might have over the competition is its past success — the upperclassmen already have multiple state titles, so they know what it takes to earn another.
“We’ve taken a lot of pride in establishing a winning culture here with hard work and discipline and sportsmanship,” Belleau said. “If you combine that with success, it creates a culture. When guys return and they have tasted that success, they know the expectations — that we expect to win day in and day out.”
Super 8: Who’s on top?
With four different winners in the past four years, the Massachusetts Super 8 tournament provides exciting and unpredictable bouts each year, and this season, it should be no different.
Pope Francis has as good of a chance as anyone to contend for the title again this season after finishing last year as the runner-up, losing 2-1 in overtime to BC High.
Pope Francis, which overcame adversity as the No. 10 seed last season, is well-equipped to compete, with an experienced squad returning. On the attack, three of the top four scorers are back — seniors Makem Demers (23 goals, 25 assists), Max Cocchi (13 goals, 34 assists) and John Tavella (15 goals, 27 assists). On defense, all but one of the regular skaters from last season return, and in net, Francis relied on three players last season, none of whom have graduated: Ben Zaranek (1.36 GAA), who is a sophomore, Gil Markman (2.64 GAA), a junior, and senior Victor Larssen (2.11 GAA).
Despite losing nine seniors to graduation, BC High should be in the mix again. The last time BC High did not make it to the tournament was 2010.
On defense, the team will need some of its younger players to step up after losing four skaters and starting goaltender Luke Garrity to St. Sebastien's.
Offensively, returning the likes of seniors Thomas Kramer and Matt Lakus, both of whom are four-year lettermen, should be a couple of the pieces the team needs to keep up its offensive production.
Although it is difficult to pinpoint which public schools could show up in the tournament on a year-by-year basis, Hingham might be in position to do so again. The town retains much of its top talent because it is independent of a conference and chooses to play one of the most difficult schedules in the state. The team made it back to the tournament last season after losing 17 seniors to graduation.
Hanover, N.H.: Hockey town
It’s not every year where the boys and girls hockey teams from the same school are out to defend a state title. That is the case for the defending Division 1 boys state champs and the girls state champs from New Hampshire — the Hanover High Marauders.
At this point, the girls are essentially the favorites every year to take state; they have won it in each of the past nine seasons, so they have the opportunity to make it 10 in a row this season. Hanover won it with a young team last season that featured only three seniors. The squad is expected to have a stout defense this season propelled by captains Clara Boland, Emma Tysinger and Bryn Kable, all of whom played big minutes. Plus, Hanover will have Claire Yegian back in net, so there will be no issue there.
On the boys side, Hanover looks ready to contend again after losing four seniors to graduation and just one player on defense. That said, the blueliners should be sharp and Hanover’s goals allowed could be low again if it can find an answer in net after losing Harris LaRock to graduation.
On the attack, senior Elias Zinman and junior Owen Stadheim’s experience should allow the team to continue to be productive; Stadheim made the New Hampshire High School Coaches Association’s Division 1 boys second team last season.
All back on board
Perhaps one of the safer bets on a team that could emerge with a state championship this season is Vermont’s defending Division 2 state champion, Stowe. The team outscored foes 16-0 in the playoffs last season and did not have a single senior on the roster. Stowe relied heavily upon underclassmen last season, including netminder Leo Clark and Allison Walker, who had a hat trick in the team’s Division 2 title game against Missisquoi.
Keeping it rolling
The defending girls state champs in Connecticut, Darien, and the Division 1 girls champs in Massachusetts, Woburn, each have an opportunity to keep dominant runs going. Darien has won three straight state titles while Woburn has earned back-to-back crowns.
Darien will be sharp in net again this season, returning goaltender Hallie Kreppein, who was named Most Outstanding Player in the tournament last season. Although the team lost six seniors to graduation, Darien’s depth and spread-out scoring effort should serve the team well again. The team had five different players score in the championship game last season, four of whom are returning — Shea van den Broek, Caitlin Chan, Lucie Edwards and Kate Bellissimo.
Woburn might be in position to contend again with defense and goaltending being obvious strengths, with Amanda Essigmann back in net after earning a shutout in the championship game last season. What Woburn will need to do is make up for lost offensive production. The team graduated players who put up about 70 total goals last season.
