The hardest time to do the boys prep top 10 is now — before the season begins. As of now, at least one thing is clear: the three teams at the top are in their own tier.
After that, it’s extremely debatable.
These rankings will change drastically every week throughout the season. Right now, it’s going off of how the rosters are on paper. No team is without holes, which means volatility will be high.
On Tuesday, we'll take a look at the next 15 teams — and they're ranked No. 11-25.
Let’s dive in for the first time this season.
1. Dexter Southfield
2024-25 record: 21-6-1; lost to Cushing in championship of Elite 8 tournament
Head coach: Danny Donato
The stars look to be aligned for Dexter. Nobody in prep has the depth up front that Donato's team has. Highlighted by Northeastern commits Noah Survilas (Winthrop, Mass.) and Owen McHale (Charlestown, Mass.), as well as Joe Marchi (Foxboro, Mass.), Dexter could probably roll five legitimate lines if it wanted to. NHL Draft prospect Myles Brosnan (Winchester, Mass.) leads the way on defense and should be one of the top players this winter. So long as goalies Drew Karlovits (Cohasset, Mass.) and Kyle Ready (Pembroke, Mass.) do enough to win, Dexter should be back in the final.
2. Kimball Union
2024-25 record: 27-8-2; won the Small School tournament
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
The Wildcats steamrolled the Small School tournament competition last spring after just missing the Elite 8. While there were losses, Josh Phillips should be the leader up front, with the potential to be one of the most dominant players in prep. Xander Boutilier, Alexis Gagne and Jackson Kimelman should be major players, too. Anthony Leech and Thomas Ojard had strong falls, showing themselves as reliable defensemen, while Luca Campo projects to get his chance at the net.
READ MORE:Â 9 uncommitted 16U standouts from the Mass. State Tournament
3. St. Mark's
2024-25 record: 23-5-2; lost to Rivers in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Head coach: Carl Corazzini
St. Mark's went from being a surprise Elite 8 team last season to one that should be expected to be there at the end this winter. The potential of a forward core featuring Evan Nee (Arlington, Mass.), Caiden Pellegrino (Uxbridge, Mass.), Will Manchuso (Concord, Mass.) and Cam MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.) is hard to fathom. The defense is mostly back with Phin Howard (Newton, Mass.), Blake Grislis (Narragansett, R.I.) and Jack Taylor (Framingham, Mass.), and Aaron Alves-Thomas (Boston, Mass.) finished strong in the fall and is entering the prep season hot.
4. Avon Old Farms
2024-25 record: 18-8-1; lost to Phillips Andover in semifinals of Large School tournament
Head coach: Mark Naclerio
Avon looked destined for a spot in the Elite 8 last season until it stumbled, ending up in the Large School tournament. While the Winged Beavers are deep up front, the strength of this team is on defense and in net. Defensemen Ryan Hecker, Matthew Koch and Maksim Yakub are a fantastic top three. Add in senior goalie Anthony Palmer (Lynnfield, Mass.), an '07 who is still uncommitted, and Avon should be hard to score against.
5. Kent
2024-25 record: 13-11-2; lost to Belmont Hill in quarterfinals of Large School tournament
Head coach: Dale Reinhardt
Kent missed expectations last season — no question about that. But they know it and return a majority of the high-end talent from last season. Forwards Jack Broderick, Will Schlechtweg, Lucas Husted-Edwards (Trumbull, Conn.) and Maddox Boyle are more experienced and are coming off very strong fall seasons. The Lions boast a strong defensive core with a lot more room to grow, too. While goaltending is a question mark, there's too much talent on this team not to be in the top five.
6. Salisbury
2024-25 record: 19-7-5; lost to Dexter Southfield in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Head coach: Andrew Will
The Crimson Knights lost most of their scoring from last season, with various high-end prospects with something to prove up front. Look for '09 Luca Desjardins to be a key, impactful forward. But Will's teams are always stout defensively, and this group can do that — and then some. Zach Gill and Quinnipiac commit Tyler Roccas (Fairfield, Conn.) are a fantastic duo to lead the charge on defense. Jordan Rittenberg will likely get most of the reps in net.
READ MORE:Â 15 standout 14U prospects from the Mass. State Tournament
7. Brunswick
2024-25 record: 22-10-3; lost to Cushing in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournament
Head coach: Mike Kennedy
The Bruins lost Joe Salandra, Cam Minella (Darien, Conn.) and Dylan Lee-Stack early to juniors. Top center, top defenseman and top goalie — all gone. Brunswick, however, shouldn't miss a beat. Dartmouth commit Mason St. Louis (Old Greenwich, Conn.) should lead the charge up front, while Princeton commit Hampus Vandenberg (Riverside, Conn.) has the tools to be one of the best defenders in prep this winter. In net, Zai Ferraro (New Canaan, Conn.) is coming off a fantastic New England regional championship with Mid Fairfield.
8. Cushing
2024-25 record: 23-7-2; won Elite 8 tournament
Head coach: Dan Fontas
It's Year No. 1 of the Fontas era, and he takes over right after Cushing won the Elite 8 title. This is a much different Penguins team than the one that skated off the ice in March. It's younger, but there is tremendous upside. Up front, having Maine commit Joseph Covelluzzi (Wakefield, Mass.), Brown commit Ben Marcolini, UNH commit Blake Cash (Hampton Falls, N.H.), Chase Warsofsky (Northborough, Mass.), Axel Favreau (Auburn, Maine) and Miles Mireault (Topsfield, Mass.) helps offset a young defensive core and inexperience in net.
9. Berkshire
2024-25 record: 25-7-1; lost to Kimball Union in championship of Small School tournament
Head coach: Kevin Czepiel
The Bears are deep at forward and on defense. Bringing back forwards like Matt Lacombe (Marlboro, Mass.), James McMurray and Jonah Rainisch should give Berkshire a consistent advantage. Czepiel's team is old on defense, too, with players like Gus Chong, James Reilly, Dominic Somma, Harry McLean and Lucas Smith. Alex Kim is a bit unproven in net, but he'll be playing behind a roster with depth. Berkshire has gotten better every year under Czepiel. A consistent top-10 team is the next step.
PREP PREVIEWS: Belmont Hill | Milton | Tilton | Berkshire | Deerfield | St. George’s | Brunswick | Winchendon | Salisbury | Choate | Nobles | Kent | Holderness | Dexter Southfield
10. Deerfield
2024-25 record: 22-5-0; lost to Cushing in semifinals of Elite 8 tournament
Head coach: Tim McVaugh
Just one season after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8, Deerfield debuts in the top 10. There's no question that the Big Green lost a lot, and having senior defenseman Nate Watson go down with a broken ankle in the fall doesn't help things. But having Brown commit Elliot Lennon in net is a consistent advantage. Deerfield will go as far as Lennon takes them.
