Salisbury was arguably the top team in New England boys prep hockey last year.
It sure looked like it over the final month.
Beating red-hot Winchendon, 6-4. Taking down Brunswick and Avon Old Farms 6-0 each in the same week. Losing to Hotchkiss, 4-2, but then winning by the same score the next day.
But the Crimson Knights got stonewalled by Kimball Union, 1-0, in the Elite 8 quarterfinals.
Salisbury hit the ice last fall with a talented but new group. For many players, it was their first season in prep.
"I remember when we spoke last year," Salisbury coach Andrew Will told me, "we were going into a season where we were going to have 20 new kids."
Even with the early Elite 8 exit, the season was a success. A final record of 24-5-2, the No. 3 seed in the Big Dance and several players who broke out and improved their hockey prospects after prep is something to celebrate.
But this season should be when a lot of that experience pays dividends.
"It's a little bit of a different story this season," Will said. "We have some really strong depth in returning guys at all three positions."
Add in the new recruits and Salisbury has a legitimate case for the No. 1 spot.
Zoomed-out view
Like a lot of other prep powerhouses, Salisbury lost players early, most notably Elliot Bibeau-Rivard and Luca Desjardins. Bibeau-Rivard had 34 points last season, while Desjardins had 27. Both '09s were go-to scorers for Will.
Desjardins left for the QJHL's Joliette Prédateurs, while Bibeau-Rivard is with Stanstead College Varsity's U18 team, which isn't all that different from Salisbury.
Both are from Quebec and serve as interesting data points in players leaving prep early to pursue junior hockey.
Had they stayed, it would be hard not to see Salisbury as the official No. 1 team in prep.
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The last few years
For most teams, three straight years in the Elite 8 would be a big deal. But Salisbury is one of those expected Elite 8 teams at this point.
That's because the Crimson Knights went back-to-back to begin this decade, and went for three in a row from 2013-15. Drawing them in the playoffs is scary, partially due to their history...
The coach
...and because of their coach.
Will has been at Salisbury since 2008. The Ontario native has led Salisbury to five Elite 8 titles and has developed countless players for college and pro hockey. Even before the CHL ruling, Will had deep connections in Canada, drawing players to Salisbury hoping to play college hockey.
Who will the stars be?
Even with Bibeau-Rivard and Desjardins gone, Salisbury's biggest offensive threat will undoubtedly be Greyson Espenshade. The Yale commit is one of the top 18U players in fall hockey, and that should continue in the prep season. He had 19 goals and 38 points in 31 games last season.
Seniors Landon Klein, Angus Proctor and Nate Burlock should also move into primary scoring roles. All three weren't far from being point-per-game players last season.
Senior Jack Mazzella and junior Elliott Watson are the returning leaders on defense. Mazzella, with 23 points in 31 games last season, is a do-it-all wiz. Watson notched 12 goals last year and is a dynamic, electrifying offensive presence.
If I were to put together top 10 candidates to lead the region in points for forwards and defensemen, Espenshade would be among the forwards, and Watson would be among the defensemen.
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Newcomers
Salisbury is a destination for players looking to make the move to prep. It's also a destination for players currently in prep.
Up front, Dylan Rothstein, a Yale commit, moved from Taft to Salisbury. The '10 should be a top-six fixture as a center or a wing.
"I think he's going to be able to be an impact guy right away," Will said.
Preston Abbott (Middleton, Mass.) and Gavin Holland (Topsfield, Mass.) joined the Crimson Knights from other prep spots. Abbott, formerly of New Hampton, can be a dynamic, offensive defenseman. The '09 had 19 points in 33 games last season. Holland came from Lawrence Academy. At 6-foot-2, he's a physical, shutdown defender.
In terms of newcomers from outside of prep, Joe Lenhard should be a lethal offensive force. The 5-foot-8, '09 forward played for Little Caesars last season and has a missile of a shot. Arnaud Desjardins captained the Lac St-Louis Lions last season and has been productive in the CEM Fall Development League so far, leading Salisbury with 21 points in 13 games. Dante Garea (East Haven, Conn.) moved from Mid Fairfield to Salisbury. He's 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds.
On defense, Rowan Schachter moved to Salisbury from the Toronto Nationals 18U squad. An '09, he's 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds.
Breakout prospects
Klein, Proctor and Burlock are all prime breakout prospects. The same is true for Rothstein, Abbott, Holland, Lenhard and Desjardins.
But there may be no bigger breakout player than goalie Christian Capone. An '09, he was a sophomore last season and posted a 1.74 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage as the backup to Jordan Rittenberg.
"He's had a great offseason," Will said of Capone. "And he's been terrific in the fall."
Some players who were further down Salisbury's lineup last season should have a bigger impact this winter. Two junior forwards fit that bill: Devin Cokinos and Dakota Downs, both '09 forwards.
"So far from their development, they're ready to take a big jump for us," Will said.
On defense, senior Michael Halvorsen should become a go-to name for Will in any situation.
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The ceiling
They will likely move into the No. 1 spot in my rankings throughout the season, and they are undoubtedly an Elite 8 favorite.
