The annual Kevin Mutch Christmas Tournament begins this week. It always features one of the more interesting fields of the prep holiday tournament slate.
From Friday through Sunday, eight teams will battle it out at St. Sebastian’s in Needham, Mass. The teams include Albany Academy, Brunswick, Northfield Mount Hermon, Northwood, Rivers, Williston Northampton, Winchendon and, of course, the hosts, St. Sebastian’s.
Brunswick won the Kevin Mutch for the third straight season last year, taking down Northwood, 4-3, in overtime. It was the fourth year in a row that Brunswick reached the championship. The No. 6 Bruins are the favorites once again, but Williston, Rivers, Winchendon and Seb's will surely challenge. Northwood, Albany and NMH will be tough outs, too.
Here's the full schedule.
Friday, Dec. 19Â
- Game 1: St. Sebastian’s vs. Northfield Mount Hermon, 2 p.m.
- Game 2: Winchendon vs. Albany Academy, 4 p.m.
- Game 3: Northwood vs. Williston Northampton, 6 p.m.
- Game 4: Rivers vs. Brunswick, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20Â
- Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 11 a.m.
- Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m.
- Game 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
- Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21Â
- Game 9: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 9 a.m.
- Game 10: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 11 a.m.
- Game 11: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 1 p.m.
- Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 3 p.m. (Championship)
Let's dive into the top storylines to watch in this year's tournament.
1. Will Brunswick run the table?
The highest-ranked team in the field, the Bruins (4-2-0) are coming off a pair of high-scoring wins over then-No. 3 Kent and Westminster, both via 5-2 finals.
Brunswick has put up five or more goals in each of its four wins this season, also beating Exeter, 5-1 and St. George's, 6-1. The offense was held in check in a 2-1 loss to Loomis Chaffee and a 3-2 loss to No. 1 Kimball Union.
Although Mike Kennedy's group lost key pieces to juniors from last season, the Bruins still boast plenty of high-end talent.
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Princeton commit Hampus Vandenberg (Riverside, Conn.) has come out firing on the blue line, leading Brunswick with seven points (two goals) in six games. Upperclassmen forwards Ben Lombardi (Cos Cob, Conn.), Ben Taylor (Greenwich, Conn.) and James Jackson (Darien, Conn.) each have six points in six games. Dartmouth commit Mason St. Louis (Old Greenwich, Conn.) has five points, along with Keegan Kazan (Wilton, Conn.).
In net, Zai Ferraro (New Canaan, Conn.) has emerged with most of the workload so far, sporting a .913 save percentage and a 2.03 goals-against average. Fellow '08 junior Evan Akerman has been good when called upon, too, with .929 and 1.50 markers.
The Bruins have the talent and depth at all three positions to get it done this weekend.
2. Can Winchendon get on track?
Hopes were high for Winchendon coming into the season, as they were right on the bubble of our top 10, checking in at No. 11 in our Next 15. It hasn't been an ideal start for the Wapiti, though, entering the Kevin Mutch at 1-3-2.
After beating Albany Academy, 7-0, on Nov. 22, Winchendon opened December with three straight losses to New Hampton (1-0), No. 8 Cushing (2-1) and then-No. 3 St. Mark's (6-3). They're also coming off back-to-back 2-2 draws with Roxbury Latin and Thayer.
Brady Knode, one of prep's better goalies, has been excellent out of the gate with a .932 save percentage and a 2.13 GAA.
Offensively, Jake West (Billerica, Mass.) leads the way with four goals and six points in six games, while Cooper Ludwar (Chelmsford, Mass.) has five points (three goals). Cornell commit Charlie Puglisi is one of four skaters with four points, including postgrad Laz Giardina (Reading, Mass.), who's committed to Marist for baseball. Merrimack commit Ben Short (Lunenburg, Mass.) and Vermont commit Jackson Small (Milton, Mass.) are dangerous threats, too.
Holiday tournaments can be turning points for teams, and Mike Busconi's group has the perfect opportunity to build momentum.
3. How will a new-look Rivers squad fare?
The Red Wings have a much different feel this winter after losing their top seven scorers from 2024-25.
Freddy Meyer's group now relies on stout defense, goaltending and hard-nosed play. So far, the returns have been strong.
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Rivers is 3-1-1 heading into the Kevin Mutch. They've taken down Seb's, Exeter and Groton, in addition to a 2-1 loss against No. 1 KUA and a 3-3 draw with St. George's.
Even with the new style, offense hasn't been hard to come by for Rivers' top skaters, including '10 freshman Carter Felt (Natick, Mass.), who is tied with senior Stephen Rousell (Roslindale, Mass.) as the top scorer with nine points in five games. Jonathan Rivard (Newton, Mass.) has seven points, while Luke Morin (Weston, Mass.) and defenseman Tavian Mandeville (Medway, Mass.) each have five points. Defensemen Evan Handler (Walpole, Mass.), Colin O'Leary (Medfield, Mass.) and Will Pratt (Newton, Mass.) are key, too.
Senior goalie Derrick Huang and '10 sophomore Will Torres have each seen ample time in the crease. Huang boasts a .967 save percentage and a 1.33 GAA, while Torress has .923 and 2.43 markers.
Rivers will have its work cut out for itself when it opens against Brunswick, but it offers a big proving ground for the new-look Red Wings.
4. Can Williston separate from the pack?
The Wildcats (2-2-1) have won two of three, with a 3-0 win over Vermont Academy and a 3-2 win over Frederick Gunn, bookending a 2-1 loss to Cushing. They've also tied Westminster, 1-1, and lost to Avon Old Farms, 1-0.
Declan Grenache (Sutton, Mass.), Brayden White (Wakefield, R.I.) and Landon Brawn (Cranston, R.I.) lead the way offensively with two goals apiece. UMass commit Easton Anello (Windsor, Mass.) leads the blue line. Add in Hayden Hunter and Cam Tabb (Wilbraham, Mass.), and the pieces are there for the offense to get going.
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The X-factor is sophomore goalie Kamden Jackson (Manchester, N.H.). The netminder has been one of the best goalies in prep this season with a sensational .968 save percentage and 1.19 GAA.
If the Wildcats can find their scoring touch, they could easily be in the mix to make noise in the Mutch Tournament. Even if it doesn't, Jackson is more than capable of stealing games.
5. Taking stock of Northwood
Northwood came within a goal of the title last season. It was their first championship appearance since beating Brunswick in 2021.
The Huskies (16-14-1) are in a rut right now, losing four straight. That streak includes a pair of losses at the hands of Dexter Southfield, falling 5-3 and 3-1. They also lost to Dexter's fall team, the Brookline Whalers, 5-2, in September.
Against other prep competition, Northwood is 1-0-1, beating Berkshire, 2-0, and tying Kent, 3-3, earlier this month.
Henry Kress (15 goals) and Parker Thompson (11 goals) lead the Huskies with 30 points apiece in 31 games. Charles Pigeon isn't far behind with 25 points (11 goals), while Anton Stackow has 11 goals as well. Five other skaters have double-digit points on the year, too, including defensemen Patrick McCormick with 18 (three goals) and Devin Smith with 13 (one goal). Forward Luke Lalonde, who has nine points (four goals), recently skated with the USNTDP U18s.
In net, Owen Maclean has gotten most of the work, going 12-8-1 with a .928 save percentage and a 2.38 GAA. Adam Sherman is 4-7-0 with an 8.97 save percentage and a 2.57 GAA.
6. What to make of Seb's
The hosts are 1-3-0, falling to Portsmouth Abbey, 5-2, and Exeter, 3-2, in overtime last week. They've also lost to Rivers in addition to a 2-1 win over Milton Academy.
Although the Arrows have 14 upperclassmen, Sean McCann's team has plenty of skilled youngsters playing key roles.
Sophomore Jack Queally (Milton, Mass.), one of the top '10s in the region, has three goals in four games. Defenseman Gavin Wainwright (West Roxbury, Mass.) and forwards Brendan Matthews (Westwood, Mass.) and Cade Noonan (Needham, Mass.) each have three points, too. Ty Curry (Carlisle, Mass.) and Charlie Delay (Hingham, Mass.) are critical leaders. Delay has a goal and an assist so far.
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Junior goalies Tommy Saulnier (Medfield, Mass.) and Ryan Walsh (Hanover, Mass.) have split the net. Saulnier has been excellent with a .943 save percentage and a 2.02 GAA.
Opening their slate against NMH, Seb's is sure to come out firing. It could be a galvanizing weekend for the hosts.
7. Could Albany Academy or NMH pull off upsets?
Albany Academy (2-7-0) and Northfield Mount Hermon (1-6-0) each enter the weekend in ruts. Albany has dropped four of its last five, while NMH has lost five straight.
The former has also faced NMH and Winchendon already this season, losing 2-1 and 7-0.
Tanner Smith paces the Cadets with seven points (four goals) in nine games, while Blake Rezendes (Franklin, Mass.), Joey Riganti and Jack Oliver each have three points. Josh Dietz (Waterbury, Vt.) is among a handful of skaters with two points each, so far, along with defensemen Jonah Lindsay and Travis Chatwin.
Both goalies have split the net fairly evenly thus far, with '10 sophomore Tucker Art (Williamstown, Mass.) faring the best with a .913 save percentage and a 2.37 GAA.
As for NMH, forward Isaac Hutchinson (three goals) and defenseman Marko Huo (one goal) each have five points in seven games. Teddy Farren (Hingham, Mass.) and Joey Dellacroce (Woodbridge, Conn.) each have four points. UMass Lowell lacrosse commit Hayden Addison is a key forward, too, with three points. Union lacrosse commit Liam Newell (Minot, Maine) is a big part of the blue line as well.
Kellen Ceraldi has gotten most of the work in the crease, posting an .898 save percentage and a 2.85 GAA.
NMH draws Seb's first, while Albany will face Winchendon.
8. Uncommitted prospects to watch
Several uncommitted players are looking to prove themselves this weekend, especially with sophomores looking at Jan. 1 in just about two weeks.
Among the underclassmen is Noonan. The '09 sophomore had 10 points (three goals) in 25 games as a freshman at Seb's. So far, he has three assists. He was at Select 16 Camp and had a good fall with the Boston Junior Eagles. Defenseman Brendan Martin (Dedham, Mass.) is a '10 to watch with Seb's as well. The youngster was reliable in the fall with the Neponset Valley River Rats, playing shut-down defense and getting pucks through from out high.
Rivers' O'Leary and Felt are surely on radars, too. Felt is a power forward who plays with energy, can finish and can agitate. Seven of his nine points this year are assists. O'Leary, an '09, is a physical defender on the back end. The sophomore plays a shutdown game.
Among the upperclassmen looking to make an impression, there's Wincendon's Matthew MacInnis (Stratham, N.H.). The '09 defenseman was previously with Seacoast Performance Academy. MacInnis, who is 5-foot-9, plays a responsible brand of hockey.
Grenache has been a solid prep producer for Williston, too. He had 23 points in 26 games as a junior, up from 19 points as a sophomore. The '07 is off to a solid start as a senior.
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The same goes for Rivard with Rivers. The '07 senior is well on his way to a career year. Four of his seven points are goals, which puts him two shy of his career best (six). He had 14 points as a junior and 15 as a sophomore. He's gotten more opportunities and run with it.
Lombardi had a strong year on a deep Brunswick team last season with 25 points (10 goals) in 35 games. He's off to a point-per-game start already this season.
Keep an eye on Brunswick's Ferraro and Williston's Jackson between the pipes as well. Ferraro was solid with Mount St. Charles' 16Us last season with a .914 save percentage and a 2.35 GAA. The '08 has solid size at 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds, and he had a big fall with Mid Fairfield, winning a regional title.
As for Jackson, the former Seacoast Performance Academy standout had .929 and 2.36 markers last season. He made Select 16 Camp and also has a solid frame at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. The '09 has posted 37 or more saves this season, including three games with 41 or more stops. He can absolutely steal games and carry Williston to wins.
