It was a turn-back-the-clock type of preseason for Kimball Union and coach Tim Whitehead.
The three-time defending Stuart/Corkery (elite) tournament champions still have high aspirations. But those aims are trying to come into focus with a young team that said goodbye to a lot of critical pieces in last year’s run.
“We’ve got good depth, particularly young depth,” said Whitehead. “It’s kind of where we were three years ago, the first year we won the title. It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
Youth or not, any talk in the Lakes Region League starts with KUA (30-5-2), which has been the measuring stick for the better part of this decade.
“Once again it’s KUA and then everyone else,” noted Proctor coach Mike Walsh.
Who’s poised to unseat them? The preseason opinion is someone from the group that includes Tilton (22-8), Proctor (19-12-1), New Hampton (15-16-4) and Holderness (15-12-4). All those teams — plus St. Paul’s (17-10-1) — were selected for NEPSAC tournaments last year.
“I think the Lakes Region will be tough again,” said Brewster Academy coach Mike Doyle. “Six of eight teams made a playoff appearance in 2018-19, and I would expect the same this year. There’s strength from top to bottom of the league.”
Tilton surged to the Piatelli/Simmons crown last year and brings back talent all over the ice. Superb two-way defenseman Jagger Benson likely will be back, and how quickly the team can develop around him could determine the direction this season points.
Proctor looks solid up front, with Ronan Walsh, a Vermont commit, and James Tepper leading the way, and in goal. If the Hornets can develop some reliability on the blue line, they could be right in the mix.
KUA has question marks, mostly related to how some talented newcomers can slot in. They boast a pair of strong goalies, including senior Veeti Kohvakka, who was the winner in last year’s championship game against Salisbury, and veteran defensemen like Teddy Griffin and Andrew Noel.
Up front, Providence commit and Edmonton Oilers draft pick Tomas Mazura is coming off a season that saw him produce a 14-40-54 scoring line. The team again will play an aggressive schedule to harden itself for the big games in March.
“We have a lot of sophomores coming in,” said Whitehead, “a lot of ’03 (birthdates) and an ’04. But we’ve got a strong senior class and a good group, and we feel like we should be competing (for a title).
“Whether or not that’s realistic or not, I don’t know, but that’s what we’re shooting for.”
Lakes Region League
Brewster
Coach: Mike Doyle
2018-19 record: 9-19-1
Players to watch: Grant Sikich, sr., ; Brett Daubert, sr., F; Sam Livecchi, jr., G; Mason Rosado, fr., G
Outlook: Lots of new faces dot the roster at Brewster, which has Doyle behind the bench in his second year as coach. Sikich and Daubert both put up 20-plus points last year and are the known quantities up front. It’s a senior-heavy group, and if they can come together in time, Doyle could have one of the better Brewster teams in years. Multiple league coaches cited the Bobcats as a candidate for “most improved.”
Holderness
Coach: Alan Thompson
2018-19 record: 15-12-4, lost to Tilton in Piatelli/Simmons championship
Players to watch: Carter Rose, jr., D; Adam McNabney, jr., F; Tim Manning, sr., F; Jake Waterman, jr., F; Matteo Turrin, jr., F; Alexei Dikranian, jr., D; Thomas Larson, sr., D
Outlook: Holderness solidified things down the stretch last year and played itself into a championship game. Whether it can make a postseason return could depend largely on how its goaltending evolves. Both of last year’s netminders graduated, and three goalies new to the team have no prep varsity experience. Beyond that, there’s good depth up front and on defense.
Kimball Union
Coach: Tim Whitehead
2018-19 record: 30-5-2, won Stuart/Corkery championship
Players to watch: Teddy Griffin, sr., D Andrew Noel, sr., D; Luca Fantilli, jr., D Adamo Fantilli, soph., D; Tomas Mazura, sr., F; Veeti Kohvakka, sr., G; Zak Brice, jr., G
Outlook: The three-time defending Stuart/Corkery champion Wildcats are a bit younger than they’ve been in recent years but still expect to compete against the region’s best. They’re solid in goal with two capable guys, and newcomer Adamo Fantilli should give a jolt to the offense. Whitehead likes the team’s depth, particularly its young depth, so if a team wants to keep KUA from hoisting another trophy, this year might be the window.
New Hampton
Coach: Connor Gorman
2018-19 record: 15-16-4, lost to Rivers in Piatelli/Simmons quarterfinals
Players to watch: Isaac MacLeod, sr., F Marcus Joughrin, sr., F; Jack Ring, sr., F; Ryan Mahlmeister, sr., F; Cory Morris, sr., F; Adam Shuchart, sr., D; Steve Ardagna, sr., D; Will Hilfiker, sr., D Lucas Brine, jr., G; Robbie Farrell, sr., G
Outlook: MacLeod (Dartmouth) is the leader of a senior-heavy New Hampton team looking to qualify for the postseason for the sixth year in a row. Gorman takes over the team after serving as an assistant coach last year. “I believe the strength of our team is that we’re older and experienced,” he said. “We have a good balance of playing styles at forward, defense and goalie. We have grit, physicality, toughness, skill, IQ. We have guys here who want to win.”
Proctor
Coach: Mike Walsh
2018-19 record: 19-12-1, lost to Holderness in Piatelli/Simmons quarterfinals
Players to watch: Ronan Walsh, sr., F; Nate Chickering, sr., F; TJ Beaver, sr., D; Kevin Urquhart, sr., F; Cole Chingris, sr., G; Cam Joslin, sr., F; James Tepper, jr., F
Outlook: The Hornets increased their win total by seven last year and look ready to do more damage behind a deep, talented crop of forwards. Walsh (Vermont), a power forward who likes to play north-south on the wing, and Tepper headline that group, and two proven goalies should take some of the pressure off what is largely an untested back line. Look for Proctor to develop as the season goes on.
St. Paul’s
Coach: Daniel Murphy
2018-19 record: 17-10-1, lost to Noble & Greenough in Martin/Earl semifinals
Players to watch: Charlie Murphy, sr., G; Charlie Culver, sr., F Owen Stadheim, sr., F; Joe Schubert, jr., F; Malcolm Bussey, jr., F; Bryson Russell, sr., D; Alex Lavigne, jr., D
Outlook: The 123rd year of hockey at St. Paul’s opens with hope that the momentum gained from the 122nd season can be carried on. Last year’s team, which lost in overtime in the Martin/Earl quarterfinals, graduated a solid crop of senior forwards, so this time around it could be the defense and goaltending leading the way.
Tilton
Coach: Brooks McQuade
2018-19 record: 22-8, won Piatelli/Simmons championship
Players to watch: Brett Lockhart, sr., D; Jamie Cates, sr., F; Jagger Benson, sr., D; Jack Seymour, sr., F;
Outlook: The Rams were one of last winter’s feel-good stories, winning the program’s first New England title in 17 years without a Division 1-committed player on the roster. They could take a step back after graduating several key seniors, but the cupboard’s hardly bare. Benson, a Vermont commit, can create all sorts of opportunities from the blue line.
Vermont Academy
Coach: Dan Allen
2018-19 record: 4-24-1
Players to watch: Andrew Peloso, sr., F; Charles Gagnon, sr., D; Mason Kucenski, jr., G; Jack Luzzi, sr., F; Ben Potvin, jr., D; Chen Zadik, jr., D Michael Libutti, jr., G
Outlook: Vermont Academy will have a new look, after graduating 15 players and bringing Allen aboard as the team’s new coach. One of the new faces is Luzzi, who led Notre Dame-West Haven to the Connecticut state championship game. Allen thinks the team can be strong in goal and on defense, and that would be a good starting point as the Wildcats try to climb in a tough league.
