KINGSTON, Mass. — The Tenney Cup marks one of the best events on the Massachusetts girls high school hockey calendar.
The field always includes some of the MIAA's best teams. Entering this season's tournament, seven of the eight teams in the field were ranked in our top 10. Naturally, there was plenty of fallout to unpack in our latest rankings.
Duxbury took home this year's championship with a thorough, 3-1 win over a scorching Milton squad. It was the second time in the tournament's five years that the Dragons won the title.
But what about the rest of the action?
I made it down to the Bog on New Year's Eve to catch all four of the final day's games. Aside from Duxbury and Milton, you also had Malden Catholic against Sandwich, Notre Dame (Hingham) taking on Bishop Feehan and Hingham battling Archbishop Williams.
We broke down 10 standouts from the title bout last week, so it's time to get into other players who impressed throughout the day.
Earlier this week, we broke down 13 standout forwards from the day. Now, let's get into nine defenders and goalies who impressed.
Erin Kral
Notre Dame (Hingham), Class of 2026, G, catches left, 5-7
Kral was outstanding in NDA's 2-0 shutout of Bishop Feehan. She made big saves in key spots as Feehan pushed for offense in the second and third periods. Her positioning was sound, and she was calm and poised throughout the game. In the second, Kral denied Mia Lampasona on a shorthanded breakaway before stoning Ellie Gartman, who got in alone after powering past the defense. In the third, Kral stopped a pair of Grade-A looks for Mia Zammiello, including a one-timer in the slot. She also stood tall against Gartman again late in regulation, denying her twice in the slot and shutting the door as she dug for the rebound.
Aviva Olitsky
Bishop Feehan, Class of 2026, G, catches leftÂ
Olitsky was just as good as Kral at the other end. NDA only beat her, thanks to a breakdown in coverage and a well-placed shot from Abigail Gropman in the first before an empty-netter in the third. Olitsky stood tall against heavy pressure, especially in the second period, as NDA tried to build on the lead. One of her best saves came against Grace Durkin all alone in the slot, bailing the Shamrocks out after a turnover. Olitsky also robbed Abigail Burke on a 2-on-0, snaring her shot with the glove.
RANKINGS:Â Tenney Cup leads to big shakeup in MIAA girls top 10 to ring in new year
Rose Pietrzak
Malden Catholic, Class of 2029, D, right shot
Pietrzak played beyond her years in MC's 2-1 win over Sandwich. She made good decisions at the offensive blue line and when stepping up in the neutral zone, including a nice steal in the second period after cutting off the outlet pass at the red line. Pietrzak also played with a good stick defensively and had good instincts against forechecking pressure, making good reverses and cut-backs to evade pressure. She had a strong play in the second, forcing a turnover down low before finding an outlet for an exit.
Isabella Silva
Malden Catholic, Class of 2028, G, catches left, 5-8
Silva wasn't terribly busy against Sandwich, making 13 saves, but she made big stops in key spots. She made a terrific blocker save against Elisabeth Stutzman in the slot in the second. She also came up big on a late penalty kill in the second, reacting quickly to tips and rebound bids in some scrambles. In the third, Silva made a sprawling save to deny Rylie MacQuade's rebound bid on the doorstep, and she came through again on a great look for Stutzman in the slot as Sandwich pushed for an equalizer.
Ella Feherty
Notre Dame (Hingham), Class of 2027, D, right shot
Feherty was a force in all three zones against Feehan, making heads-up plays and using her reach to her advantage. She was critical to Gropman's goal, making a great keep-in at the point before feeding Abigail Burke for an initial chance. Feherty also made some terrific stick checks against Georgia Murray to hold the defensive blue line, stopping her in her tracks as she tried to dangle by and preventing a breakaway in the first.
TENNEY CUP: 10 standouts from Duxbury’s title win over Milton
CC Flynn
Hingham, Class of 2026, D, left shot
Flynn was steady on the blue line in Hingham's win over Archies, making some key defensive plays and generating solid shots from the blue line. One of her best shots came from the top of the right circle in the first, and it nearly snuck through on the blocker side. Flynn also made a great recovery in the first to get back into the slot and lift Ella Cumming's stick to prevent a chance. She also prevented a potential 2-on-1 late with a terrific stick in the neutral zone with McKenzie Lima-Tower flying in with speed.
Kaitlyn Ryan
Notre Dame (Hingham), Class of 2026, D, right shot, 5-6
Ryan played with urgency and with her head up throughout NDA's win over Feehan. She moved the puck quickly on regroups and breakouts, identifying outlets and exploiting passing lanes in the neutral zone. She also had quick feet to change angles and open seams. Ryan made a great play against Mackenzie Bryda in the first, poke-checking her as she tried to split the defense.
Aliya Greenwood
Archbishop Williams, Class of 2026, D, right shot, 5-5
Greenwood will want overtime back after Hingham's Hannah Lasch stole the puck from her in the lead-up to Callie Crean's game-winner. Nevertheless, Greenwood was a good presence both offensively and defensively in Archies' loss to Hingham. She had a strong stick check while defending Cummings' rush, stopping her in her tracks and getting the play going the other way. It came after Greenwood intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and drove back into the attacking end to keep up the pressure. She was also effective playing forward on the power play.
TENNEY CUP: 13 standout forwards from the final day
Kendyl Nolan
Archbishop Williams, Class of 2026, D, right shot
Nolan kept things simple with the puck and made good plays on regroups in the neutral zone. She came through with an equalizer on the power play in the second against Hingham. She got the loose puck at the top of the circle and caught Izzi Puleo sleeping when she threw it toward goal and beat her five-hole.
