They don't carry the same hype as the pre-Christmas holiday tournaments, but there were multiple action-packed New England boys prep hockey showcases this past weekend.
Those had the biggest impact on our latest ranking.
It's an exciting time in the prep season. Conference play picks up quite a bit over the next few weeks. The postseason is roughly two months away, so seeding becomes a storyline, too.
Let's dive into our latest rankings.
1. Brunswick (13-1-2)
Previous ranking: 1
Head coach: Mike Kennedy
Next game: vs. Dexter Southfield, Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m.Â
The Bruins have been busy since Christmas. At the Nichols-Belmont Hill Tournament, they crushed St. Francis and Ridley College, while falling to Belmont Hill, 4-3, in double overtime. However, the game against Belmont Hill counted as a tie. Kennedy's team faced Upper Canada College in a back-to-back, winning the first game, 6-2, and falling in the second, 5-1. It was their first loss of the season. No reason to move Brunswick out of No. 1.
This weekend will be big, as Brunswick hosts Dexter Southfield for games on Friday and Saturday.
COLLEGE HOCKEY RECRUITING: 21 forwards who should be called | 14 defenders
2. Kimball Union (12-2-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
Next game: at New Hampton, Jan. 8, 3 p.m.Â
Kimball Union was the New England prep team that fared the best at the GameSheet Prep Cup, taking down South Kent, 2-1, and walloping St. Andrew's College, 7-2, before falling to Northwood in the championship, 4-3. The five-goal win over St. Andrew's College was impressive and showcased KUA's depth. Just like with Brunswick, there's no reason to move KUA out of No. 2.
3. Avon Old Farms (7-2-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Interim head coach: Mark Naclerio
Next game: vs. Taft, Jan. 11, 2:45 p.m.Â
No games for the Winged Beavers since the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic championship, so they stay at No. 3. They have a challenging month coming up, as they take on Taft, Hotchkiss, Kent, Northfield Mount Hermon, Berkshire, Westminster and Loomis Chaffee.
4. Dexter Southfield (8-2-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Danny Donato
Next game: at Brunswick, Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m.Â
Dexter was on the verge of moving into the top three until it fell to Cushing, 6-3, in the Watkins Tournament championship. Prior to that, Donato's team edged Thayer, 5-4, and then crushed Governor's Academy, 6-1. Sophomore defenseman Myles Brosnan had a strong weekend, scoring two goals and tallying two assists over the three games. Dexter will have a chance to move into the top three with a strong showing against Brunswick this weekend.
HOW THEY FARED: Full results from post-Christmas boys prep hockey tournaments
5. Phillips Andover (7-1-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Head coach: Paul Tortorella
Next game: vs. St. George's, Jan. 8, 3:15 p.m.Â
Phillips Andover hasn't been in action since winning the Flood-Marr Tournament, so no reason to move the Big Blue out of the top five. A date with St. George's this Wednesday should certainly draw a fair amount of NHL scouts with the matchup of Andover forward Grayden Robertson-Palmer and St. George's defenseman Everett Baldwin (Providence, R.I.).
6. Holderness (6-1-1)
Previous ranking: 6
Head coach: Alan Thompson
Next game: vs. Rivers, Jan. 11, 2:30 p.m.Â
Holderness also hasn't played any games since winning the Groton/Lawrence Tournament before Christmas. The Bulls face a good Rivers team this Saturday.
7. Belmont Hill (8-2-2)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Brian Phinney
Next game: vs. Milton Academy, Jan. 9, 5 p.m.Â
The Sextants are back in the top 10. They won the Lawrenceville Tournament before Christmas, earning wins over Elite Hockey Academy, Lawrenceville, Nichols and Upper Canada College. They followed that up by coming oh-so-close to winning the Nichols-Belmont Hill Tournament, getting huge wins over Ridley College and St. Francis Prep, while beating Brunswick, 4-3, in double overtime (counts as a tie) and losing to Gilmour Academy, 4-3, in triple overtime of the championship (also counts as a tie).
ALTERNATE REALITY: What would the MIAA look like without preps, academies and junior?Â
Forward and Dartmouth commit Jake Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) has had a phenomenal start to his junior year with seven goals and 15 points in 12 games.
8. Cushing (8-3-1)
Previous ranking: NR
Head coach: Ryan Bourque
Next game: vs. Portsmouth Abbey, Jan. 10, 4:45 p.m.Â
Sure, Cushing went 1-1-1 in the Groton/Lawrence Tournament. But the Penguins got back into our top 10 after winning the Watkins Tournament this past weekend. It started with a come-from-behind, 4-3 win over Canterbury in overtime. Then, Cushing crushed Lawrence Academy, 8-0, and convincingly beat Dexter Southfield, 6-3.
Senior forward Max Dineen (Brentwood, N.H.) had an outstanding three-game stretch, posting 11 points over the three games, bringing his season total to 27 in 12.
9. Berkshire (10-2-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Kevin Czepiel
Next game: vs. Millbrook, Jan. 8, 2:30 p.m.Â
Berkshire slipped two spots after beating St. Sebastian's, 4-1, and then losing to Nobles, 6-3. While the Bears have lost two of their last three games, they're too good to move out of the top 10 considering they won their first nine games.
10. Tilton (8-1-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Head coach: Brooks McQuade
Next game: vs. Vermont Academy, Jan. 10, 6 p.n.Â
Tilton hasn't played since winning the Brooks/Pingree Tournament. After facing Vermont Academy this Friday, the Rams have a tough stretch against Milton Academy, Phillips Andover and Kimball Union. That stretch will determine which way head coach Brooks McQuade's team goes in these rankings.
FIRST MONTH: Top boys prep performers from the first month
It was a tough call to have Deerfield drop out. While Deerfield has beaten better teams, Tilton has won seven straight while Deerfield lost two of its last three games. I'll give the edge to the hotter squad.
DROPPED OUT:Â Nobles (5-3-1; 8); Deerfield (6-2-0; 9)
IN THE HUNT:Â Deerfield, St. Mark's, Nobles, Kent, Salisbury, Thayer, Rivers, St. George's
