Another high school hockey season is upon us in Massachusetts. Memories are set to be made and players will engrave themselves as legends of their respective high schools.
New England Hockey Journal’s 2021-22 Player of the Year, Belmont right wing Cam Fici, is back for his senior season. Many of last year’s other award winners have moved on to prep schools and junior hockey, which paves the way for some less familiar players to make their mark this winter.
Below are the first, second and third Preseason All-MIAA Teams.
It will be fun to watch and evaluate these players and many others to determine who will be on the year-end teams.
First Team
Cole Blaeser
St. John’s Prep, 4/6/05, LW, left shot, 5-11/175
Blaeser is the best forward on a deep and talented group up front for Kristian Hanson’s Eagles. The Boxford, Mass., native enjoyed a monster junior season in 2021-22 and was a major part of the Eagles winning the state championship. He’ll be relied upon even more this winter with a few key seniors from last year’s team gone — including his older brother, Pierce. He's a good skater and he sees the ice extremely well for this level. He’s enjoyed success outside the MIAA over the past year, advancing to the Massachusetts Hockey CCM Final 40 in May and being a top player on the North Suburban Wings this fall.
Cam Fici
Belmont, 4/2/04, RW, right shot, 5-9/155
Fici led the Marauders to a terrific season last year. The team lost just one game in the regular season and fell to Xaverian in the state tournament. Fici scored 35 goals in 22 games. To put that in perspective, he scored more goals than the rest of the team combined. Fici has good breakaway speed and can separate from opposing defenders. He knows when to start cheating the zone. His shot is also elite for this level. He skated for Vancouver Canucks scout Frank Golden’s Valley Junior Warriors 18U during the fall.
Tyler Hamilton
Catholic Memorial, 12/7/06, C, right shot, 5-11/160
Hamilton is arguably the top prospect in all of Massachusetts high school hockey this winter. The Framingham, Mass., native centered the top line and skated in all situations for Larry Rooney’s Knights in 2021-22 as a freshman. He skates well, has an above-average stick, and competes for loose pucks. His hockey sense is strong and he showed well all fall for Ian Moran’s Boston Junior Eagles 16U team. A late '06 who can certainly be pegged as a late bloomer, Hamilton should have his sights set on Hockey East when college programs can start offering rising juniors a commitment next August 1.
Finn Burke
Catholic Memorial, 6/2/04, D, left shot, 6-1/160
NCAA: Bowdoin
Burke enters the MIAA season as the only player in the circuit with a college commitment. The Newton, Mass., native is a chiseled veteran who will lead the Knights’ blue line. He’s going to be a steadying presence who can make a solid first pass on breakout. He’s big, rangy and can defend well. He spent the fall playing for the Valley Junior Warriors 18U.
Nick Evans
Malden Catholic, 3/13/07, D, right shot, 5-10/141
Evans was the "other defenseman" at Malden Catholic last winter. With Boston University commit Owen Keefe (Saugus, Mass.) off to the USHL, where he’s playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Evans will no longer be in the shadows. The Malden, Mass., native is the undisputed leader of the Lancers’ blue line. Playing for coach Chris Kuchar, he’s a good skater, gaps well, and has good overall hockey sense. One of the most promising young prospects in the MIAA, he’s got the chance to play Division 1 college hockey down the road. He took to the ice for the Boston Junior Eagles 15O during the split season.
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Cole Pouliot-Porter
Xaverian, 7/24/06, G, catches left, 5-9/155
Pouliot-Porter has transferred to Dave Spinale’s program after starring at Franklin High School last winter. The undersized goaltender was impressive throughout the fall while playing split season for the Buffalo Regals 16U. Pouliot-Porter is one of the most entertaining goaltenders to watch in the region. He’s not exactly orthodox and he could be compared to former Vermont and Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas. He’ll make an acrobatic save or two each game. The biggest key for him is finding consistency, but he could be a difference-maker for a Hawks team looking to find a way to get past St. John’s Prep and Catholic Memorial.
Second Team
Aidan Brazel
Hingham, 11/20/03, RW, right shot, 6-3/170
Jake Russell
Arlington, 2/11/04, C, right shot, 5-9/160
CJ Watroba
Pope Francis, 2/2/07, LW, left shot, 5-11/168
Aidan Holland
St. John’s Prep, 4/21/05, D, right shot, 5-10/182
Cole Leblanc
Xaverian, 9/20/05, D, right shot, 6-0/170
Brady Quackenbush
Marshfield, 11/5/04, G, catches left, 5-10/152
IMPACT PLAYERS: Here are 11 players to watch in MIAA boys high school hockey this season
Third Team
Connor Fryberger
Catholic Memorial, 10/25/05, RW, right shot, 6-4/190
Laz Giardina
Reading, 6/29/06, C/LW, left shot, 6-4/185
Josh Iby
Pope Francis, 12/22/04, C, left shot, 5-11/175
Jake Vana
St. John’s Prep, 9/1/05, RW, right shot, 5-11/185
Chase McKenna
Hingham, 1/12/05, D, right shot, 5-9/165
Colin Davis
Canton, 9/8/06, G, catches left, 6-1/154
