When the NEPSAC boys playoff hockey brackets were released, all the attention was on the Elite 8, as it always is. It makes sense. It has the best eight teams in prep. It's the most exciting tournament. It's the biggest to win.
But the Large School field was arguably the most interesting, with all eight teams consistently vying for the Elite 8 throughout the season.
It only made sense that it was the closest championship game, with Kent winning, 3-2, after senior Gio DiGiulian (South Burlington, Vt.) netted the winner with 47 seconds left.
Kent, the No. 5 seed, made quite a run. The Lions disposed of No. 4 Deerfield, 5-1, in the quarterfinals, before ending No. 8 Berkshire's title hopes with a close, 5-4 win. Then came No. 3 Dexter Southfield and a meeting of strong offenses.
Head coach Dale Reinhardt has led his teams to Large School titles in three of the last five years, with the Lions winning in 2018-19, 2021-22 and this season.
A group of players from the Large School Tournament brought their best in the playoffs.
Let's take a look at my NEPSAC Martin/Earl Large School All-tournament team and MVP.
Most Valuable Player: Gio DiGiulian
Slam dunk. Easy. No contest here. The senior Cornell commit showed up in a big way in every game of the tournament, potting two goals and adding an assist against Deerfield and then scoring the eventual game-winning goal against Berkshire and adding an assist in that game, too. In the championship, DiGiulian brought his best, scoring twice, including another game-winning tally, but this one came in the final minute on a nice spin-around play in front of the net. The 6-foot-1 forward is a legitimate NHL Draft prospect and undoubtedly improved his stock in the championship game with various NHL scouts in attendance. He also did that consistently throughout the season, leading Kent in goals (25) and points (49).
All-Large School Team
Forward:Â Gio DiGiulian, Kent
Go figure.
CHAMP RECAPS AND TAKEAWAYS: KUA wins Elite 8 | Kent wins Large School | Canterbury wins Small SchoolÂ
Forward:Â Owen Mahar, Kent
Mahar entered this season uncommitted and exploded for 17 goals and 44 points, ranking second on the team in both categories. He ran on DiGiulian's left flank and was vital to Kent's run. It started with a goal and three assists to beat Deerfield. Against Berkshire, he assisted on goals by Nathan DiChiara (Fairfield, Conn.) and Stefano Pietrantonio. In the championship, Dexter pressed for most of the game and controlled it. But Mahar's goal midway through the third period to put Kent up one was massive. He also assisted on DiGiulian's first goal in the first period.
Forward:Â Cullen Emery, Dexter Southfield
Emery was Dexter's offensive leader all season, so it made sense the senior was instrumental in getting head coach Danny Donato's team to the championship. Emery notched three assists in his team's 6-3 win over Belmont Hill in the quarterfinals before scoring two goals in Dexter's 3-1 win over Phillips Andover. Emery's second goal ended up being the game-winner. In the championship, he registered an assist on sophomore defender Matt Hines' (Hingham, Mass.) goal and consistently drove play. Emery, who was initially in the BCHL but came back to prep for the start of the season, finished with a team-leading 18 goals and 44 points.
Defenseman:Â Teddy Mallgrave, Kent
There are plenty of flashy, highly offensive defenders in prep. So, it can be easy to miss the ones who are best at shutting plays down. Still, Mallgrave is hard to miss. He's a shutdown defenseman committed to St. Lawrence and he was instrumental in getting Kent a championship. In the win over Deerfield, he potted a goal and assisted on two more. He added an assist in the win over Berkshire, too. But in the championship, as Dexter ramped up the pressure, he used his good stick and high IQ to keep opposing forwards to the outside. The senior finished the season with three goals and 20 points in 28 games.
Defenseman:Â Carson Nickulas, Dexter Southfield
With senior Cam Smith out, Dexter was fortunate to have Nickulas back for the playoffs in a big role. He's not the flashiest or highest point-getting defender. But the Barnstable, Mass., native moved pucks well and did a fine job defending his own zone. He was a reliable leader in all three games.
TOP OF THE TOP: All-tournament team after KUA's Elite 8 win over Cushing
Goaltender:Â Aidan Hopewell, Kent
Offense was the biggest strength of Kent all season but it was Hopewell who was the backbone for the Lions, especially come the postseason. The senior '05 made 26 saves to beat Deerfield, 5-1, but then was massive in his team's 5-4 win over Berkshire, making 32 saves as the Bears fought back hard late. His best performance, by far, was against Dexter on Sunday. Hopewell made 36 saves on 38 shots, carrying Kent through large portions of that game. The Trinity College commit ended his prep career on the highest note possible.
