MANCHESTER, N.H. — The fast-paced final of the NEPSAC Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 Tournament was a fitting end to the prep school hockey season.
Avon Old Farms defeated Cushing, 3-1, in front of a packed house at Sullivan Arena on the campus of Saint Anselm College. It was a terrific showcase of the high-level hockey being played by the top teams in prep hockey. In addition to the loud and enthusiastic partisans on each side, there were dozens of NHL scouts and college coaches in attendance.
The Winged Beavers’ vaunted first line was the catalyst for most of the regular season, but it is fair to say John Gardner’s team captured the title thanks to a total team effort. All three defensive pairs did a good job in the final of getting pucks up ice quickly and evading the forecheck pressure from Cushing. The fourth line got in on the action on AOF’s first goal Sunday and scored earlier in the postseason. In one game, all four lines contributed offensively. Senior goaltender Stephen Peck allowed just four goals in three postseason games.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Check out the game recap and takeaways from Avon's win over Cushing
As he has much of the season, Avon Old Farms left wing Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.) made a key play when it counted most. He had the secondary assist on the game-winning power play goal in the third period. For that, and how he performed throughout the postseason, the Northeastern commit earned MVP honors of the NEPSAC Elite 8 Tournament.
Below is a look at the NEPSAC Elite 8 All-Tournament Team, as selected by New England Hockey Journal’s Jeff Cox:
All-Tournament Team
Joe Connor
Avon Old Farms, 3/31/05, LW, left shot, 5-9/172
NCAA: Northeastern
Connor picked up the secondary assist on the five-on-three power play goal that gave AOF a 2-1 lead in the third period. For the prep level, his skating and compete are elite. Connor had the puck a lot and had a noticeable impact on the game. He scored a goal and three assists in three postseason games. His only goal was the game-winner against Westminster in the quarterfinals.
Landan Resendes
Cushing, 12/10/05, RW, right shot, 5-10/165 NCAA: Boston College
Resendes was held off the score sheet for the first time in 16 games. Even without a goal or assist, he had the puck, made plays, and was a threat to score or dish out an assist almost every shift. He plays with swagger and leaves you on the edge of your seat when watching him. The Marlboro, Mass., native has always been a good player, but he stepped up his game in a big way this season. He was really good in both postseason games I watched, scoring a goal against Brunswick in the semifinals.
FULL RESULTS AND BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small SchoolÂ
Sean Gibbons
Brunswick, 8/1/05, RW, right shot, 5-9/165
Gibbons is the only player from outside the two finalists to make the All-Tournament team. The Ridgefield, Conn., native did so as a result of scoring two goals, including the game-winner, in the quarterfinal and another one in the semifinal. He’s on the smaller side, but he was quick, skilled and crafty all season long. He played a crucial role in Brunswick getting to the semifinals and keeping it close against a deeper Cushing team.
Jordin Palmer
Avon Old Farms, 1/6/04, D, left shot, 6-1/185
Palmer led a defensive group that did what very few teams could do this season: keep Resendes and the Cushing first line off the score sheet. Palmer skates well and has great edges. That allows him to sidestep opposing forecheckers and make simple and efficient outlets. He does a good job defending by utilizing tight gaps and having a good stick on poke checks. The Auburn, N.H., native is expected to spend the 2023-24 season in the BCHL.
Zach Rizzo
Cushing, 8/7/04, D, right shot, 6-0/165
Rizzo was one of my favorite Penguins all season. He had an assist on the first goal of the semifinals, but his impact was felt throughout the postseason. He’s not the biggest blue liner in the game, but he might have been the hardest. He skates, has jam, defends well, and also has a good shot when he has the chance to get it off. From Atlanta, Ga., he spent two quality seasons under the guidance of Paul Pearl at Cushing.
IN PHOTOS: Check out the best photos from the Elite 8 final
Stephen Peck
Avon Old Farms, 1/18/05, G, catches left, 6-2/170
Peck was good all season but saved some of his best hockey for the postseason. He stopped 44 of 45 shots he faced in the final and 100 of 104 overall in the three playoff games. The New York, N.Y., native has good size and stayed quieter than he had at times this season.
Avon Old Farms lines
Connor - Gollob - Odyniec
Pelletier - Capasso - Munroe
Markonidis - Blanchard - Flaherty
Yun - Mirante - Houston
Palmer - Kennedy
Jones - Miller
Turcotte - Pitts
Peck
Cushing lines
Gardula - Costanzo - Resendes
Marshall - Favreau - Dedinas
Sacco - Markevych - Quinn
Bennett - Agnew - Wallace
Philbrick - Rizzo
Maldonado - Ross
Russo - Marcoux
Rautenstrauch
