Cushing has made it to the Elite 8 championship game the last two seasons. The Penguins lost both times.
Things, however, have changed in Ashburnham, Mass.
Lots of the talent from the last two teams is gone. They've graduated and many are playing in junior hockey. But there is also a new leader in the program. After Paul Pearl left to become Dexter Southfield's athletic director, former U.S. National Team Development Program assistant coach Ryan Bourque took over.
"It's been seamless," Bourque said of acclimating to the new gig. "The kids have adjusted well, my wife is extremely happy here and I'm extremely happy. In terms of continuing to develop as a coach, it's a perfect spot for me and I'm extremely excited about the day-to-day challenges that we face as a staff. There's a lot to look forward to this winter."
Bourque will have a much younger team this season and a much different approach.
"It's really not about trying to match up or be what Cushing has been throughout all the years or what we're going to be in the future," Bourque said. "It's the learning experience, the habits and the winning hockey habits that drive a winning hockey team. I think the only way to achieve that is to focus on the day-to-day."
That will take time. Cushing already lost its first game this season, 4-1, to Phillips Andover. Still, the seeds are being planted for a strong, dominant Bourque era. This is only the beginning.
The strongest defense in prep
That is not an over exaggeration. Four Division 1 commits headline the Penguins on defense. It is undoubtedly the team's biggest strength.
Tyler Russo. Ryland Randle. Tommy Bleyl. Kristopher Richards.
Russo is committed to Minnesota State and is one of the best shutdown defenders in prep. He's also Cushing's captain and been with the program since 2022.
"He's just the backbone of our D core," Bourque said. "The ultimate leadership skills. We're going to depend on him to push the pace each and every day. He's a warrior type, a trench guy that you can rely on to eat heavy minutes."
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Randle entered the fray last season and is committed to Arizona State. He scored 10 goals and posted 34 points in 32 games. It would surprise no one if he finished this season leading the region's defensemen in points.
"He's just a dynamic hockey player in general," Bourque said. "He produces a ton and really facilitates that offense from even our own end."
While Russo and Randle are returners, Bourque is fortunate to inherit two high-end newbies in Bleyl and Richards.
Bleyl has been a long-time Mid Fairfield Ranger and was with Albany Academy last season. The 5-foot-11, 161-pound defenseman is a two-way force committed to Michigan State.
"A guy like Tommy Bleyl doesn't come around very often," Bourque said. "Just his natural skating ability and really exceptional talent that I'm super excited to work with and groom his game. He's got a ton of upside moving forward."
Bleyl should finish with a lot of points this winter. On the other side, Cushing will rely on Richards to prevent them.
The '07 was a standout with the New Jersey Rockets' 16U team last season. He stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 209 pounds. Opposing forwards should avoid his side of the ice.
"Very big body," Richards. "Super athletic like specimen-type athlete. He's mean. Through his athleticism, he's able to create a lot as well."
Not to be forgotten on defense is Oliver Svoboda. The '08 enters after playing with Florida Alliance last season.
"He's come in ready," Bourque said. "He's a high motor, high energy. He does everything the right way and competes and plays hard out there."
New names looking to step up offensively
The days of Landan Resendes (Marlboro, Mass.), Ethan Gardula (Princeton, Mass.), Emerson Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.) and Bronson Hunt are long gone. Resendes and Gardula were the powers behind the 2022-23 team that made it to the Elite 8 final, while Marshall and Hunt led Cushing offensively last winter.
This team's offense will start with Max Dineen. The Brentwood, N.H., native ranked fourth on the team in points last season with 33.
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"He's probably our most dynamic forward," Bourque said. "Great kid, does everything the right way. He is pretty contagious when it comes to the positive impact he's having day in and day out."
The Penguins will also look to returning seniors Axel Favreau (Auburn, Maine), Eric Lund (Bridgewater, Mass.) and Alex Gomes (Ludlow, Mass.) to up their production.
Internally, Cole Ladas (Southboro, Mass.), Sebastian Mogull, Brian Yandle (Dorchester, Mass.) and Cam McDonough (Milton, Mass.) have all moved up from Varsity B.
"They're all going to be able to make an impact this year and they're coming up from Varsity B," Bourque said. "That's something that we really believe in here at Cushing is the development within the program. For those guys to come up and make that jump, it says a lot about the job that's been done here and how we look moving forward."
An assortment of '08s joined Cushing in the offseason. Aidan Fitzpatrick came by way of St. Mary's Lynn, while Jeff Swartz arrived via Perkiomen Valley High in Pennsylvania. Swartz, who is 5-foot-10 and 141 pounds, posted 43 points last winter for Perkiomen Valley.
"He's been working hard in the fall trying to put some weight on," Bourque said. "He's a good, 200-foot forward."
Miles Mireault is another '08 who projects to make an impact. He has been with the Boston Junior Eagles for the past two seasons and played for Masconomet Regional High in the MIAA last winter.
"He's going to get a really good opportunity," Bourque said. "He's shown a lot of upside throughout the fall."
Joining from Berwick is Parker Murch (York, Maine) who exploded for 60 points last winter. The 6-foot, 161-pound forward should be a big piece for Cushing.
"He's got a lot of offensive upside, has a really good shot and we expect him to come in and produce right away," Bourque said.
Two newcomers who project to be part of Cushing's core for at least two seasons are sophomore '09s Chase Warsofsky (Northboro, Mass.) and Joseph Covelluzi (Wakefield, Mass.). Both were with the Boston Junior Eagles' 14U squad last season and moved to the Neponset Valley River Rats' 15O team this fall. They've taken steps to ensure they will be go-to forwards for Bourque.
"High end for the '09 birth year," Bourque said of the duo. "It will be a good year for them to come in and make an impact right away."
Replacing Marko Bilic
Last season, Marko Bilic occupied the net for Cushing. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound goalie may have been the most technically sound netminder in the region. He finished with a 1.45 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage. He was committed to Arizona State.
Bilic graduated. Hoping to fill his shoes is Maksim Corovic.
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The '08 from Stoney Creek, Ontario, is coming off a nice season with the Niagara North Stars' 16U team last winter. He's 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds.
"Unbelievable kid," Bourque said. "Super upbeat. He is exceptional. He's a big body and he seems to have that gamer mentality that goalies need to be able to dominate and compete. He's come in right away and everyone loves him and has made a super positive impact. We expect big things out of him."
Corovic also isn't short on Division 1 interest.
"It's been really relevant through the fall that he's able to compete and play at an extremely high level and I fully expect him to be getting a lot of attention and interest from the Division 1 ranks and colleges," Bourque said.
Backing him up will be Zach White, who is an '06 senior, and Devin Mehta, an '07 junior.
