Expectations are always high at Loomis Chaffee.
The Pelicans went 18-5-2 last season, reaching the Elite 8 semifinals where they bowed out to eventual undefeated champion Nobles in a 1-0 loss.
Liz Leyden's group has a chance to run it back with much of the same core, returning nine of its top 10 leading scorers from 2023-24.
"Last year, we started the year with really no senior forwards who had meaningfully produced for us, so to now be returning so many players who had all of last season to learn, grow, develop and know what it was like to score at the prep school level, that is tremendous for us," Leyden said. "It's something that gives the girls more confidence in themselves. Our 2025s and 2026s who have done tremendously well in the past couple of years, they're incredibly excited for the season."
This year, the bar remains high.
"We want to be in that Elite 8, and that's known to all of us and a real goal," Leyden said. "As the league gets more competitive, achieving that in itself is something, but then breaking through. ... Winning isn't the only way to define success, but our players are competitive. Anytime there's a scoreboard, they want to be out on top."
So, how will Loomis achieve that?
It all starts on defense
The Pelicans have a pedigree of churning out strong defense prospects. This core continues that tradition.
Despite graduating captain Emma Hannah, who is a freshman at Middlebury this season, few programs in the NEPSAC boast a returning crop of blue-liners that compares to Loomis', which tied for the fifth-fewest goals against in the NEPSAC last season (32). They had a plus-42 scoring differential.
Be it Princeton commit and senior co-captain Catie Collins (South Burlington, Vt.), junior Cornell commit Carly Dann (Hanover, NH) or junior Penn State commit Megan Hosman, defense figures to be the Pelicans' top strength once again.
"A strong defense fundamentally changes the game for teams that have it," Leyden said. "Having D that can move, that can shoot, can distribute and do all those things allows us to have control of the puck so much more."
Collins broke out for career-highs across the board as a junior with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) last season, earning All-NEPSAC honorable mention. Hosman had a career-best 12 points (10 assists), while Dann added four helpers. Leyden believes there's a higher offensive ceiling to be had with Dann, too.
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"All three of them are different players, but they're all tall and can skate, which is the commonality," Leyden said.
Hattie Willard returns as well. Leyden expects the junior to continue to provide sound, stable defense with an increased role.
"She played a consistent role and played valuable minutes that allowed the other kids to be successful," Leyden said. "She's one of these kids that has flown under the radar."
Alexine Beaulieu (Hudson, NH) enters the fold as well, reclassifying to the class of 2027 after a breakout year at Tilton. She finished with 14 points (six goals) in 30 games on the blue line.
"I'm really excited for her," Leyden said. "I think she'll fit right in with our group."
Forwards looking to take another step
Not only does Loomis Chaffee have plenty coming back on defense, but they're reloading with plenty of firepower up front as well.
The Pelicans see nine of their top 10 scorers return after Brown commit Grace Morin transferred to Shattuck-St. Mary's. Leyden is hoping postgrad Megan Duplantie can step right in. The left-shot forward posted 18 points (six goals) in 18 games with Kent last season.
"She's played with a lot of our players. As a PG, she brings experience that's different from what the Loomis experience is, but she's committed to fitting in and being part of our culture," Leyden said.
Among the seniors, Ellie Lachance (West Hartford, Conn.) had a major breakout season in 2023-24 with 19 points (six goals) in 27 games. A clean bill of health for Chloe Obser, an RPI commit who had 17 points (eight goals) in 20 games, will go a long way, too. She's just a season removed from a point-per-game run.
"Chloe's been a real leader on our team for the past few years," Leyden said. "Her impact on and off the ice is tremendous, but when you're hurt for a third of last season, it's going to influence substantially how much you can produce."
Much of the attention from opposing defenses will focus on juniors Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) and Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.).
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Stepnowski, who recently committed to Harvard, made big strides as a sophomore with a career season, putting up 18 points (eight goals) in 24 games. A recent Yale commit, Schwarz led the Pelicans with 10 goals in 27 contests. Both are coming off strong offseasons. Stepnowski made USA Hockey's U18 series roster after impressing at U18 Select Camp in August.
Also in Loomis' vaunted junior class is Bella Zolezzi, who had 13 points in her debut prep season.
"She scored a number of goals for us in pretty important moments throughout last year and is a kid that really has a nose for the net," Leyden said. "Her no longer being new will make a big difference for her."
Leyden also hopes sophomores Brooke Murphy and Easton Pramuka build off strong freshman seasons. Each contributed 12 points as a rookie, including seven goals for Murphy.
"They had quite a few points for what a freshman typically as here," Leyden said. "So, how can they take their experience and transfer it into even greater success?"
Competition in net
After graduating Leila Fournier (West Kingston, R.I.), now a freshman at Assumption, Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine) stands as the most experienced goaltender on the roster. Loomis also brings freshman Emily Hosman, Megan's younger sister.
"Graduating Leila, she's obviously someone we have to replace, but I'm excited about both Adeline and Emily," Leyden said. "I'm curious to see how they continue to grow and develop."
Fournier had the bulk of the workload the last two seasons, but Roper showed well in her fair share of minutes. Roper posted a .933 save percentage as a sophomore after a .925 as a freshman.
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"Adeline has had two years with us, has done really well and earned meaningful minutes," Leyden said. "She's super athletic. For her, it's a lot about positioning, but her athleticism is something that's always stood out."
Emily Hosman, a 2009, has spent time skating with the Mid-Fairfield CT Stars U16s this fall. She's an intriguing prospect for the Pelicans.
"She's a tall goalie who's seen success at all the levels she's played," Leyden said. "It's always a jump and step up to play with the full high school students, seniors and postgraduates. Because Emily is such a tall goalie, it's also a lot about positioning and staying square to pucks."
There will be opportunity to go around for both netminders. Leyden hopes it pushes both to be the best they can be.
"They need to just play in the moment, be where they are, focus on the puck and focus on the game at hand," she said. "Both of them are really quite good goalies, and I think the key thing is being confident that when they're in the net, it's their net."
