Every winter in New England, dozens of prep school hockey players step up and make names for themselves at their respective schools and across the region.
This year is poised to be no different. While prep hockey might be down and there won’t be as many NHL draft picks out of the circuit come next June in Nashville, there are still plenty of talented players across campuses.
The 2022-23 New England Hockey Journal Preseason All-NEPSAC Teams were chosen based on hundreds of viewings of these players during past prep seasons, fall hockey and summer showcases and camps.
Due to already posting the Preseason NEPSAC All-Rookie Team, only returning players were eligible for first, second or third-team accolades.
First Team
Joe Connor
Avon Old Farms, 3/31/05, LW, left shot, 5-10/172
NCAA: Northeastern
Connor (Amherst, N.H.) has always been a good player, but his stock soared this summer with his performance at USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp and the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. It helped earn him a commitment to Northeastern. He’s gritty, competitive, wins battles, and plays in the greasy areas. He’ll likely put up huge numbers on a loaded top line for the Winged Beavers.
Landan Resendes
Cushing, 12/10/05, RW, right shot, 5-9/165
NCAA: Boston College
Resendes (Hudson, Mass.) is the true definition of a spark plug. He’s small in stature, but he plays bigger than he is. He’s tenacious on the forecheck, throws his weight around, and has swagger with the puck on his stick. He’s fast, skilled and fun to watch. He’ll be the catalyst for a loaded Penguins team.
Drew DellaSalla
Brunswick, 5/8/06, LW, left shot, 6-0/165
NCAA: Harvard
DellaSalla was invited to the NTDP Evaluation Camp and earned a chance to represent his country at the Five Nations Tournament in August. His height, skating, stick and offensive instincts allow him to be an electric player with the puck on his stick. He accomplished the rare feat of scoring over a point per game as an '06 last winter. He’ll likely take another step this upcoming season.
Sean Keohane
Dexter Southfield, 11/4/04, D, left shot, 6-4/182
NCAA: Harvard
Keohane (Milton, Mass.) is prep school hockey’s top 2023 NHL draft prospect. He spurned the USHL to return to school and graduate with his classmates. The big, rangy left defenseman increased his offensive output in 2021-22. He’ll be relied upon even more heavily this winter.
Alex Bales
Kent, 7/6/06, D, left shot, 5-9/180
NCAA: Providence
Bales is wearing a letter as a junior in just his second prep school season. The future Friar leads by example on the ice. He’s steady, reliable, smart and tough. While he’s not the biggest defenseman in prep hockey, he might be one of the more physical ones. Over the past few months, he’s gained confidence and is playing with more jump offensively. He’ll be a key to Kent’s bid to win another Large School Championship or make the step up to the Elite 8 Tournament.
Thatcher Bernstein
Nobles, 7/17/06, G, catches left, 6-3/209
Bernstein (Brookline, Mass.) has a ton of upside and is slated to be the leader between the pipes for the Bulldogs. The reigning Flood-Marr Tournament MVP had a little bit of a slump down the stretch as a freshman, but he should be even better as a sophomore. The defense in front of him is older and experienced. He should put up good numbers and be the defining factor in whether or not Nobles makes a run to the Elite 8.
PREP SCHOOL PREVIEWS: ISL | Housatonic | Lakes | IndependentsÂ
Second Team
Richard Gallant
St. Mark’s, 6/12/07, C, left shot, 5-7/160
Ethan Gardula
Cushing, 2/28/05, LW, left shot, 6-1/178
NCAA: UConn
Teddy Mutryn
St. Sebastian’s, 2/16/07, C/RW, right shot, 6-1/196
Matthew Biotti
Belmont Hill, 8/27/04, D, right shot, 6-4/180
NCAA: Harvard
Zach Rizzo
Cushing, 8/7/04, D, right shot, 6-0/165
Daniel Heroux
Kimball Union, 1/14/05, catches left, 6-2/190
NCAA: Vermont
Third Team
Jackson Kyrkostas
Kimball Union, 8/19/04, C, right shot, 5-10/170
NCAA: RPI
Ronan O’Donnell
Belmont Hill, 2/26/04, RW, right shot, 6-2/175
NCAA: Yale
Eli Friedman
Brunswick, 4/29/05, C, right shot, 5-10/173
NCAA: Yale
Dylan Hunt
Milton, 2/9/06, D, left shot, 6-1/175
Jordin Palmer
Avon Old Farms, 1/6/04, D, left shot, 6-1/185
Rudy Guimond
Taft, 5/19/05, G, catches left, 6-3/180
NCAA: Yale
