HAVERHILL, Mass. — Despite what Sunday's seasonable temperatures may suggest, the prep hockey season is drawing closer and closer with each passing weekend of fall hockey.
There was hardly a shortage of local NEPSAC talent, many with collegiate commitments in hand, on the ice at the Haverhill Valley Forum on Sunday as the Valley Jr. Warriors 19Us took down the Boston Americans, 5-1, behind a flurry of offense.
After being deadlocked at one apiece late in the first period, the Jr. Warriors rattled off four straight goals, starting with Peyton Wierl's go-ahead, power-play redirect late in the first period, before Grace Riley made it 3-1 with a minute left in the period.
Kiera Bruen (West Roxbury, Mass.) made it 4-1 three minutes into the third, and Addy Peel (Scarborough, Maine) tacked on another as time expired for the 5-1 final.
Let's dive into nine standouts from the game.
Addy Peel
Valley Jr. Warriors/New Hampton, 12/24/07, D, left shot, 5-11
Hometown: Scarborough, Maine
NCAA: Vermont
Peel showcased some slick playmaking and quick decision-making at the point and on breakouts. She set up Wierl's goal late in the first with a low, hard shot-pass right on the money to the side of the net for a redirect. Later, Peel sent Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.) in for a nice look after finding her flying up the middle after a good cutback around a forechecker in the defensive zone. Peel got rewarded late with a wrister from the point that tumbled in as the horn sounded.
‘UNSTOPPABLE’: Lindsay Stepnowski plans for big final act at Loomis Chaffee
Peyton Wierl
Valley Jr. Warriors/Deerfield, 6/18/07, F, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: Mount Kisco, N.Y.
NCAA: Middlebury
Wierl played a detailed game in all three zones and brought a ton of compete on every shift, highlighted by some terrific back-checking efforts. She did a great job of making herself available to the right of the net on the power play in the first, perfectly redirecting Peel's setup for the score. In the second, she had a terrific effort to spring Alexandra Kent up the middle, sending a pass to her tape as she fell in the defensive zone.
Kiera Bruen
Valley Jr. Warriors/Phillips Andover, 4/14/07, F, right shot, 5-10
Hometown: West Roxbury, Mass.
NCAA: Cornell
Bruen was at her strongest in the third period as she helped the Jr. Warriors put the game away. She scored a slick goal early in the frame, driving wide around a defender as she led the rush before making a power move to the net and scoring five-hole. Later, she had another good chance as she cut to the middle at the left dot and put a heavy wrister on net before winning the puck back down low. She did a good job of using her imposing frame and strength to her advantage.
Kiara Drake
Boston Americans/New Hampton, 2008, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
Drake played an up-tempo game for the Americans and was strong in transition, thanks to some good vision and puck-handling. In the second, she had a nice sequence in the neutral zone, picking up the loose puck and weaving through traffic. She powered past a defender with some strong strides and gained the zone with possession. Later, Drake made another strong play high in the defensive zone, breaking up Bruen as she cut into the slot with a quick stick check.
‘THE REAL WORK STARTS’: What comes next after committing to play college hockey?
Sydney Nelson
Boston Americans/Groton, 07/2007, D, left shot, 5-7
Hometown: Lowell, Mass.
NCAA: Dartmouth (rowing)
Nelson, a defensive defender, did a good job defending the rush, especially in the second period. She made good decisions when stepping up and broke up rushes. She stymied a 2-on-1 for Wierl and Kelsey Baker (Concord, Mass.) in the second with a strong poke check. Nelson came through again in a 1-on-1 with Sarah Lackley (Woodstock, Vt.), stepping up inside the blue line and easily blocking her shot before getting the play going the other way. She later had a good block against Riley in a 1-on-1.
Sarah Lackley
Valley Jr. Warriors/Phillips Andover, 1/14/07, D, right shot, 5-8
Hometown: Woodstock, Vt.
NCAA: Colby
Lackley played a steady, consistent game on the blue line for the Jr. Warriors, and she showcased some nice vision in the neutral zone. That was on full display on a regroup in the second. Lackley got a D-to-D pass just beyond her own blue line and immediately sent a saucer pass through a seam right to Brady Wierl's tape on the far side. She had her head up and knew where she was going with the puck before it even got to her. It was well-timed and a great read.
STORYLINES:Â 6 early girls prep hockey storylines to watch for 2024-25
Gia Thompson
Valley Jr. Warriors/Deerfield, 11/12/2006, F, right shot, 5-4
Hometown: Sun Prairie, Wisc.
NCAA: Williams
Thompson was a smart, competitive difference-maker for the Jr. Warriors. She helped set up Peyton Wierl's goal in the first with some good movement on the power play. She was in constant motion in the offensive zone, rotating to the slot and giving to Peel out high before another pitch-and-catch from the half-wall, before Peel set up Wierl. Thompson also had some strong efforts on the forecheck, including one late in regulation when she hounded the puck carrier, won the puck and fired a heavy shot on net, leading to a close call for Wierl in the scramble in front.
Grace Riley
Valley Jr. Warriors/Phillips Exeter, 8/14/2007, D, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: Winter Garden, Fla.
NCAA: UConn
Riley was active throughout the game, and her release from distance was impressive. Her goal in the first was a pretty finish from the point as she put a quick, low bullet on net that went just inside the right post. Riley was also strong in activating into the play, showing smooth, powerful strides with her head always up. Her strong lower body made it difficult to knock off her pucks, too. She had a strong chance in the second, winning the race to a loose puck in the neutral zone, dangling around a defender on the entry and driving in for a good look. In the third, she had a great keep-in out high, batting the puck out of mid-air and sending it back in deep.
Ali Sprissler
Boston Americans/Kimball Union, Class of 2026, D, right shot, 5-6
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
NCAA: Trinity
Sprissler was an active presence on the blue line for the Americans, especially in the third period when she had a couple of coast-to-coast rushes. She got a great look on her first rush midway through the frame, going end-to-end with her head up the whole way as she carved through the neutral zone. She found a lane and broke in for a clean look on goal, but Elizabeth Vincent made a good pad save.
