Consistency may just be the key for Brooks this season.
After going 7-18-1 against a difficult schedule last winter, Brooks is hungry to take a step this time around.
They could be in position to do so after graduating just two seniors. A promising crop of sophomores and juniors returns to complement a group of dependable seniors.
Could it be enough for Brooks to make a move in an always-challenging ISL and even return to the postseason?
Third-year coach Michael Burns believes his group could begin its ascent this winter.
"We have a lot of talented players, especially the last two classes that came in, but because we're young and because we're not as experienced, we still have a lot of work to do," Burns said. "But I'm really optimistic about what this year will bring and kind of the progress we've made."
Zoomed-out view
Brooks graduated forwards Elsa Wood (Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.) and Michele Caiazzo (Andover, Mass.) from last season's squad.
As such, Brooks returns its five leading scorers, including sophomore Shelby Buckler (Sherborn, Mass.), who led the team in goals and points as a freshman. Between Wood, Buckler, sophomore Cassie Ling (Needham, Mass.), juniors Natasha Godfrey (Scarborough, Maine) and Isabel Previte (Andover, Mass.), as well as seniors Angela Fabbo (Peabody, Mass.) and Charlie Roberto (Topsfield, Mass.), just seven skaters accounted for 45 of Brooks' 49 goals (92 percent). Continued production from listed returners, plus additional depth scoring, is key.
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Another key is having both goalies, senior Ella Puleo (Newburyport, Mass.) and sophomore Maeve Phinney (Avon, Mass.), back in the fold.
Still, it will be all about process.
"I don't really have goals, as funny as that sounds, for making the playoffs or having a certain record," he said. "We're trying to focus on the day-to-day, and I think the word 'standard' is overused ... but it's consistent standards before consistent outcomes."
Brooks will likely be without Fabbo for a good portion of the season, as she recovers from a torn ACL. But the senior captain's impact will still be felt.
"She's a three-sport captain ... just a special kid," Burns said. "We're gonna have her serve almost as an assistant coach until she's ready. No one's more respected in the school. We've had awesome young assistants who are recent grads of Brooks, and I feel like Angela can play that role. Having her not just be there with her helmet on the bench, but actually having a role, participating and working with (assistant coach)Â Lori Charpentier and me will be huge."
The last few years
Brooks last made the postseason in 2022, when it reached the Small School tournament as the No. 6 seed. It was their sixth straight appearance in the playoffs.
Since then, Brooks is 29-64-8. When Burns first took over in 2024, Brooks was coming off a 5-18-2 run. After going 4-19-3 in his first season, Brooks took a step last season with a 7-18-1 mark, even if the overall record and 1-8-1 finish to the season didn't indicate it.
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"We were a pretty good team down the stretch," Burns said. "We only beat Governor's in our last game of the year, but in those six or seven games leading up to that, we were in a situation where we had the goalie pulled, like we were that close. So, it's just a young team learning how to win."
Seven of those final 10 contests were against postseason-bound teams.
"I was really optimistic about the way we played down the stretch," Burns said. "We would have loved to win a couple more of those games, but I thought that showed a lot of growth against some good teams."
The coach
Burns is entering his third season at the helm of Brooks. He's long been a fixture in the Massachusetts club hockey scene, guiding his teams to seven Tier 1 state titles and the USA Hockey 2025 14U Tier 1 girls national championship as coach of the Boston Junior Eagles.
He also created the Premier Prep League in 2025, a summer league featuring top girls prep and MIAA players.
Burns played four years of hockey and golf at Trinity College. His daughters, Simone (Winchester, Mass.; Yale) and Joelle, play for Rivers as well as the 19U and 16U Boston Americans, respectively.
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Who will the stars be?
Expect to see Buckler, Godfrey and Ling among Brooks' scoring leaders once again, while Puleo will hold things down in net.
"They're all really good players, but they're also our hardest-working kids," Burns said.
Buckler finished her freshman season with 12 goals and 20 points in 26 games, while Godfrey, formerly a North Yarmouth Academy standout, posted 19 points (13 assists), earning an All-ISL honorable mention. Ling had 17 points (eight goals).
Each brings good hockey sense. Buckler and Godfrey's speed make them key attacking threats off the rush and in middle ice, while Ling plays a three-zone game that's well beyond her years.
"They kind of bring up everyone else around them," Burns said. "To have that core is huge. You're either with them, or you're not. You'll get left behind."
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In the crease, Brooks needs Puleo to be the foundation of their success. She's proven herself, too, posting a .911 save percentage against one of the higher shot volumes in prep. It was enough to earn All-NEPSAC and All-ISL honorable mentions.
"She's a really fierce competitor, as mentally tough as any goalie I've ever had," Burns said.
Newcomers
One skater entering the fold who could make an immediate impact is Riley Bergeron (Acton, Mass.).
The former Acton-Boxboro standout had over 20 goals in the MIAA last season, and she eclipsed the 100-point mark in just her freshman season after making an impact as a middle-schooler. The '10 is smart, strong on her feet and has flashes of slick hands.
"If you watch her, she makes plays and sees things that a lot of kids don't," Burns said.
Macey Bell, an '09 out of Oklahoma, is entering the mix, too. The forward has previously skated for Team Colorado and the Dallas Stars Elite. She reached USA Hockey's National 16/17 Camp in 2025 and National 15 Camp in 2024.
"She's new, but she's got experience," Burns said. "I think she'll make a pretty quick adjustment and be an impact player."
On the blue line, Brooks is adding Addy Drinkwater (Lowell, Mass.) and Lydia Trytek (Greene, Maine). Trytek, also a field hockey standout, had 12 points in 54 games with North Yarmouth Academy over the last two seasons. Burns believes Drinkwater, a '12, could be a huge addition to Brooks' core.
"She's one of the better 14U-1 defensemen in the area," Burns said. "Really good skater, super tough, like really physical, which I love from our (defenders)."
Breakout prospects
Among the dependable returners to track is Previte. The junior brings plenty of versatility, capable of playing wing, center and defense.
Previte had 13 points (four goals) a season ago. She can quarterback a power play and forecheck hard.
"I think her toughness is the one thing that really stands out," Burns said. "She's one of our most reliable players in any situation — special teams, end of games, all of those things. She's just a really good hockey player."
There's also Phinney, who could give Brooks quality minutes behind Puleo. She had an .893 save percentage in nine appearances last year, including three appearances with 37 or more saves.
The ceiling
Life in the ISL is difficult with the likes of Nobles, Tabor and other powers dotting the schedule.
But Burns believes his group will be able to hang tough in those games and potentially push for a return to the postseason.
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"We should be more competitive, and maybe we can steal some of those games," Burns said. "But against the rest, yeah, we should be able to win more games."
