With the 2018-19 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association high school hockey season over, it’s time to look at the top 100 players in the Bay State circuit.
New England Hockey Journal has begun unveiling the top 100 players who played high school hockey this winter. Already released are the top 13 freshmen, top 32 sophomores, and top 24 juniors. Today, it’s time to publish the top seniors.
Over the course of the three-month season, there were several seniors who stood out as being worthy of recognition. Many of these players will move on to junior hockey, prep school as a PG, Division II or Division III, or club hockey.
No player in Massachusetts high school hockey stood out more this winter than BC High captain and first line center Thomas Kramer. As his coach, John Flaherty, put it, he simply willed his team, as he did in the state championship game.
Mass. High School Hockey’s Top Seniors
1. Thomas Kramer
BC High, 8/8/00, C, Left Shot, 6-0/183
Kramer drew the penalty that led to the game-tying goal that he assisted on to send the Super 8 championship game to overtime. It was just one of many moments this winter where Kramer was able to take over a game physically. He finished the season with 17 goals and 21 assists. He’ll likely find a home in junior hockey next winter.
2. Makem Demers
Pope Francis, 10/1/00, C, Left Shot, 5-11/170
Demers has an intriguing offensive skill set and can play at pace. He’s generating some Division I interest, mainly Atlantic Hockey, but he’ll take his game to prep school or junior hockey before deciding where to go. He racked up 18 goals and 24 assists as the Cardinals fell just short of a state title for a second straight season.
3. Jon Tavella
Pope Francis, 11/17/00, RW, Right Shot, 5-7/170
Tavella was the best player on his team, and arguably the best player on the ice, in many of the Super 8 games. He’s a relentless worker who competes each shift. He seemingly caused chaos each time he got in on the forecheck and was a menace on the penalty kill. He’s quick, gritty, and fun to watch. He had 17 goals and 20 assists for Brian Foley’s club.
4. Josh Barton
Xaverian, 10/3/00, C, Left Shot, 6-1/195
Barton, a big power forward, put up huge numbers for Dave Spinale’s Hawks. He was a dominating force with his ability to protect pucks and drive the net. He finished the season with 21 goals and 27 assists while leading Xaverian to one of its best seasons in school history. He’s off to play club hockey at Boston University, the school where his dad works.
5. Ryan Nolte
Canton, 1/4/01, C, Left Shot, 6-0/160
Nolte was on the ice for all six of his team’s goals for in the state championship game win over Tewksbury. He had 32 goals and 39 assists in total on the season. He’s reportedly heading for a PG year at Kent’s Hill.
6. Michael Tersoni
Framingham, 3/29/01, LW, Left Shot, 5-9/190
It was the best season for the Flyers in a long time and Tersoni was the catalyst. The senior wing had 18 goals and 14 assists. He has plenty of interest among top prep school programs as a PG.
7. Max Pineo
Austin Prep, 8/7/00, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/170
Pineo is strong on his skates and has a hard shot. He had the skill set to produce more than he did, but he still put up good numbers: 13 goals and nine assists. He’s getting prep and Division III interest.
8. Matt Lakus
BC High, 9/28/00, C, Right Shot, 5-11/180
Lakus had eight goals and nine assists while centering the second line for the Eagles. He’s a power forward who should make a nice PG player for a prep school next winter.
9. Jake Higgins
Hingham, 6/9/01, D, Right Shot, 6-1/175
Higgins had seven goals and 22 assists while patrolling the blue line for the Harbormen. He’s an athletic, two-way defenseman at this level who will reportedly be heading to do a PG year at Deerfield.
10. Mike Tobin
Reading, 9/25/00, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/175
Tobin had nine goals and 19 assists to lead the Rockets in scoring. A tenacious winger who plays hard, he was a force for Mark Doherty’s team over his four-year career. An even better lacrosse player, he’s committed to play that sport at UMass Amherst.
11. Rob Farrell
Austin Prep, 3/20/01, G, Catches Left, 5-10/180
When he was on his game, there was no goaltender in the state who was as good as Farrell was this winter. He finished with a .943 save percentage and helped the Cougars advance to the Super 8.
12. Max Cocchi
Pope Francis, 10/3/00, LW, Right Shot, 5-7/155
Cocchi was the third member of the vaunted first line that terrorized many opposing teams this winter. He finished the season with 22 goals and 18 assists. Prep school as a PG will likely be his next destination.
13. Jack Garland
Mansfield, 6/28/01, RW, Right Shot, 6-3/195
Garland is a big power forward who can rip it. He has good length and if his skating can improve some, he’d be a very good bottom six player at a top Division III school. He could potentially play Division I in Atlantic Hockey.
14. George Deroche
Lynnfield, 7/2/00, LW, Left Shot, 5-5/145
Deroche was the smartest and most skilled player in the Cape Ann League this winter. He was a huge part of the Pioneers’ success as he finished with over 100 points on his career. He’s on the smaller side, but he sees the ice well and plays with an edge. He’s the younger brother of Vermont freshman forward John DeRoche.
15. Jacob Clark
Hingham, 1/10/01, LW, Left Shot, 5-6/150
Clark led the Harbormen in scoring with 16 goals and 15 assists while bringing the team to yet another Super 8.
16. Chris Rooney
Catholic Memorial, 11/19/99, C, Left Shot 5-10/175
Rooney centered the Knights’ top line and put up six goals and added 17 assists. He’s heading to play college hockey for Stonehill.
17. Kevin Buckley
Marshfield, 1/11/01, D, Right Shot, 5-10/145
Buckley was one of the better senior defensemen among public school teams. He had three goals and nine assists and will be taking his game to Stonehill College in the fall.
18. Connor Doherty
Lowell Catholic, 10/15/99, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/150
Doherty lit the lamp 31 times this winter to finish off a stellar high school hockey career. He was a big reason his team won the state championship during his sophomore season.
19. Zach Reiser
Pope Francis, 6/13/01, D, Left Shot, 6-0/180
Reiser had nine goals and eight assists while logging a ton of minutes and manning the first unit power play. He’ll most likely take his game to prep school as a PG in the fall.
20. Paul Rorke
Marshfield, 10/13/00, C, Right Shot, 5-11/160
Rorke led the Rams in scoring with 13 goals and 10 assists. With a play-in game win over St. Mary’s, the team advanced to the Super 8 before falling short against BC High and Framingham.
21. Brendan Tully
Foxboro, 9/18/00, D, Left Shot, 6-0/170
Tully racked up 18 goals and 17 assists as the Warriors made the Division 3 South Tournament before losing to Bourne, 3-0.
22. Frank Linso
Boston Latin, 6/20/01, D, Left Shot, 5-11/170
Linso put up some of the best numbers among defensemen in the state. He finished the season with 12 goals and 21 assists for the Wolf Pack. The team lost to Tewksbury in the Division 2 North Final.
23. Andrew Gotts
Masconomet, 1/1/00, C/LW, Left Shot, 5-11/150
Gotts racked up 27 goals and 19 assists for the Chieftans as they pulled off a major upset over Melrose towards the end of the regular season before moving into the Division 2 North Tournament.
24. Colin Reddy
St. Mary’s, 5/13/01, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/160
Reddy led the Spartans in scoring with 18 goals and 11 assists. He’s a good-sized right wing who would make a nice addition for a prep school as a PG.
25. Connor Quinlan
Burlington, 1/9/01, RW, Right Shot, 6-0/170
In most Red Devils’ games, Quinlan played on the right wing alongside star junior center Ryan O’Halloran. It was a big final season of high school hockey for the big winger as Quinlan tallied 20 goals and 17 assists.
Honorable Mention
Chase Congdon
BC High, 1/1/01, G, Catches Left, 5-11/150
Congdon saved his best hockey of the season for the end. After splitting time as a junior, he took over the full-time role. He made a couple of highlight reel saves in the quadruple overtime thriller against Pope Francis.
Dara Conneely
Arlington, 6/1/00, LW, Left Shot, 6-1/170
Conneely missed some time this winter, but he was a valuable forward for John Messuri’s Spy Ponders over the last couple of seasons.
PJ Conzo
Framingham, 2/5/01, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Conzo had five goals and 11 assists as a secondary scoring threat for Will Ortiz’s team that advanced deep into the Super 8.
Alex Graves
Lowell Catholic, 9/19/00, RW, Right Shot, 5-11/150
Graves was the second biggest scoring threat for the Crusaders, finishing with 13 goals and 18 assists.
Jacob Grossi-Hogg
Newburyport, 1/1/01, RW, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Grossi-Hogg had 18 goals and 20 assists as the Clippers enjoyed another tournament-bound season.
Will Jennings
Arlington, 4/6/01, LW, Left Shot, 5-11/193
Jennings was a hard-working left winger who scored a couple of key goals in the post-season for John Messuri’s team.
CJ Martin
BC High, 1/1/00, C, Right Shot, 5-10/155
Martin had three goals and 13 assists as the team’s third line center. He played a lot of minutes and was a valuable asset in the quadruple overtime game against Pope Francis.
Chris Masta
Essex Tech, 1/1/01, C, Right Shot, 6-0/150
Masta put up huge numbers for a third consecutive season at Essex Tech. He skates well and can drive the net for that level. He reportedly wants to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Nicholas Napolitano
St. Mary’s, 5/16/01, C, Right Shot, 5-8/170
It was yet another good season for the Spartans and Napolitano was a major reason for it. He had 12 goals and 11 assists from the center position.
Kyle Ouellette
St. Mary’s, 9/15/00, D, Right Shot, 5-11/170
Ouellette had three goals and 10 assists while playing first pairing minutes alongside freshman Davis Kinne.
Joey Salvon
Pope Francis, 2/22/01, D, Right Shot, 6-1/200
Salvon had five assists, but he was a steady contributor on the Cardinals’ blue line over the course of his high school career.
Matthew Schuhwerk
Andover, 4/4/01, F/D, Right Shot, 6-2/180
Schuhwerk is a big versatile player who is all about the team. He moved back to defense for the betterment of the team and still contributed offensively with four goals and nine assists. While some of the fine details of the game defensively were a work in progress, he was a nice player for Chris Kuchar’s Warriors.
Jack Simon
Arlington, 12/7/00, D, Left Shot, 6-0/175
Simon was a steady presence on the Spy Ponders’ blue line over the last three years. He logged a ton of minutes and could move the puck at this level.
