The NEPSAC hockey season comes down to one day, and that day has finally come.
Six teams will battle for the three prep championships on Sunday at Saint Anselm College.
All three matchups present intriguing storylines. While the Elite 8 and Large School finals are between the No. 1 and 2 seeds, the Small School championship features two teams on impressive runs.
Here is the full schedule for the day.
- Martin/Earl Large School: No. 1 Taft vs. No. 2 Salisbury, 12 p.m.
- Piatelli/Simmons Small School: No. 3 Frederick Gunn vs. No. 4 Lawrence Academy, 2:30 p.m.
- Stuart/Corkery Elite 8: No. 1 Cushing vs. No. 2 Avon Old Farms, 5 p.m.
Here are the five biggest storylines entering Championship Sunday.
1.) Can Cushing get revenge on Avon Old Farms?
Cushing and Avon Old Farms have been the two best teams in prep hockey and it's only fitting they face each other in the Elite 8 championship. While they never faced off this season, the two did have quite the meeting in last year's Elite 8 quarterfinals.
The Winged Beavers wiped the Penguins off the ice, beating them 6-0. The loss is still fresh in Cushing's mind.
"It was definitely really embarrassing," Cushing defenseman Zach Rizzo said back in November. "I hear about it from my friends back home who play at prep school, too."
FULL SCHEDULES AND BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School
This year's Cushing squad is a much better one than last year's. Our prep preview magazine cover feature was how Cushing looked to use last year's loss as motivation.
Well, the Penguins got their wish — not only have they made it to the Elite 8 championship game, but they get a shot at Avon Old Farms.
2.) Landan Resendes vs. Joe Connor
Both Cushing and Avon Old Farms feature lots of great, prep hockey players. Cushing has UConn commit Ethan Gardula (Princeton, Mass.), UNH commit Ryan Philbrick (Concord, N.H.) and Rizzo. Brown commit Charlie Gollob, UConn commit Joe Odyniec (Ridgefield, Conn.), Jack Kennedy (Granby, Mass.) and Jordin Palmer (Auburn, N.H.) headline the Winged Beavers.
But two players are difference-makers every single time they take the ice for their respective teams: Cushing's Landan Resendes (Marlborough, Mass.) and Avon Old Farms' Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.).
Resendes is dynamic and uses his speed and skill to constantly create offense. He's flashy. Connor can also create offense any time he's on the ice, whether it's setting up linemates for goals (like he did in Saturday's semifinal) or lighting the lamp himself.
Resendes is a Boston College commit; Connor's commitment lies with Northeastern.
Those two players will see a lot of each other on Sunday. It will be fascinating to see who comes out on top.
3.) Can Rudy Guimond finish off his incredible year with a championship?
Taft goalie Rudy Guimond has faced no shortage of pucks this season. His team's journey to the Large School championship reflects that.
Guimond stopped 35 of 38 shots to take down Kent, 5-3, in the quarterfinals. To beat Tabor in the semifinals, the Yale commit turned aside a whopping 46 of 47 shots to send the Rhinos to Saint Anselm. He has the most saves in the region (910) and his save percentage ranks sixth (.942).
To write the perfect final chapter of his amazing season, he will need to beat No. 2 Salisbury.
While Salisbury doesn't have an elite offensive cast, head coach Andrew Will and the Crimson Knights know how to win. Salisbury snuck past Loomis Chaffee and Dexter to get here.
4.) Taft and Salisbury's previous meetings influencing the championship
Salisbury and Taft are Housatonic rivals. They played each other twice this season.
In the first matchup, Taft won, 3-2, in overtime. Guimond made 42 saves to win. On Feb. 8, in the team's second meeting, Salisbury won, 3-2, in overtime. Guimond made 54 saves in the loss.
ELITE 8 SEMIFINAL RECAPS: Cushing-Brunswick | Avon Old Farms-Belmont Hill
Aside from Guimond, Taft boasts some big guns on offense with seniors Jackson Holl (Avon, Conn.) and J.J. Lemieux, as well as junior Derek Tremblay. Salisbury has been fortunate to get lots of contributions from postgrad Garrett Krieger and junior Seamus Latta.
It's an easy bet that Taft and Salisbury's championship game on Sunday will be a close one.
5.) Lawrence Academy goalie Vincent Lamberti
While Guimond carries the hype, Lawrence Academy senior goalie Vincent Lamberti burst onto the scene late in the season, helping the Spartans to the No. 4 seed in the Small School Tournament.
Lamberti posted a 28-save shutout to beat Governor's Academy in the quarterfinals. He stopped 25 shots to edge out New Hampton, 4-3, in the semifinals.
With his 1.42 goals-against average and .949 save percentage, the senior has posted impressive numbers since owning the net for Lawrence Academy.
Sunday will be a legitimate test for Lamberti. Frederick Gunn boasts Alex LoGuercio and Jacob Rothman — two breakout offensive players. LoGuercio ranks fourth in the region in goals with 26.
