Kimball Union Academy knows how to win games in March. Back-to-back Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 championships are proof of that. The Wildcats hit the ice this season with the usual strong array of playmakers up front — seniors Arlo Merritt (Ohio State) and Kyle Penney (Cornell) lead that group — and some early questions on defense...
Kimball Union Academy knows how to win games in March. Back-to-back Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 championships are proof of that.
The Wildcats hit the ice this season with the usual strong array of playmakers up front — seniors Arlo Merritt (Ohio State) and Kyle Penney (Cornell) lead that group — and some early questions on defense and in goal.
Plus one notable absence.
Jordan Harris (Haverhill, Mass.), who helped hold an undermanned blue line together during last year’s run to the title, is an impact freshman at Northeastern. He followed the path blazed by big brother Elijah Harris, who’s now at Division 3 program Endicott.
“First time in four years we won’t have a Haverhill Harris in our lineup,” noted KUA coach Tim Whitehead.
The versatile Penney, who dropped back to defense late last season to lend a hand, will be back up front, along with guys like Merritt and newcomers Zach Taylor and Brian Carrabes (Boston University).
The Wildcats should be formidable on the regional scene, and there’s little question they’re still the team to beat in the eight-team Lakes Region League. They’ve made four straight Elite 8 tournaments, winning the past two and reaching the semifinals in 2015 and ’16.
“KUA is always the team to beat,” noted New Hampton coach Casey Kesselring, whose squad can probably claim No. 1 challenger status, at least in the preseason.
The newest addition to the league — St. Paul’s, which left the Independent School League after the 2016-17 school year — slots in as the eighth team and is looking forward to the challenge.
“The Lakes Region is always tough, as we have the two-time defending New England champion in KUA,” noted St. Paul’s coach Daniel Murphy. “The league has great coaches that care deeply about fielding competitive and talented teams. Moreover, they are also great tacticians, so all the teams play with outstanding structure.”
