With most of prep school hockey on a hiatus until after the calendar turns to 2019, sans Cushing’s Watkins Tournament, a lot of the region’s attention can be turned to high school hockey over the next week.
While much of the hockey world’s focus is on the World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia until Jan. 5, 2019, games must go on in New England.
Cushing’s Watkins Tournament takes place Dec. 28-Dec. 30 at Theodore Iorio Arena on the school’s campus in Ashburnham, Mass. In addition to the host Penguins, the other seven teams competing are Dexter, Culver, Lawrence Academy, Thayer, Northfield Mount Hermon, Governor’s, and Canterbury.
During the same time period, Belmont Hill, Brunswick, Rivers, Kimball Union, New Hampton and Millbrook will be in Buffalo, N.Y. for the Nichols-Belmont Hill Tournament.
The St. Sebastian’s-Nobles New Year’s Showcase also takes place Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 on the two campuses. Williston Northampton and Berkshire are the two visiting schools in the event.
While those events will rightfully earn plenty of watchful eyes of college coaches and scouts, there are some intriguing high school hockey tournaments of interest.
Fifth Annual Pete Frates Classic
The Fifth Annual Pete Frates Classic returns to the Essex Sports Center in Middleton, Mass., Dec. 27-28. St. John’s Prep, the hosts, take on defending Super 8 champ BC High in the nightcap on Thursday. The other semifinal pits Pope Francis and Central Catholic in a matchup the Cardinals should win easily.
BC High has the three Kramer brothers, ’00 Thomas and ‘02s Joseph and Peter. All three are good players who at the very least can play high level Division III college hockey. In addition, keep an eye on ’03 defenseman Declan Loughnane.
For St. John’s Prep, Kristian Hanson’s team lost its heavy artillery to prep school. UNH commit David Sacco left for Lawrence and BU-bound Brian Carrabes to Kimball Union. Late ’02 Zach McKennelly and junior captain Patrick Moran, another ’02, are the players to watch. There are a couple of ‘04s who might or might not get ice time who could be worth watching into the future.
Pope Francis, coached by longtime bench boss Brian Foley, has a few players who could contribute at the prep and Division III levels in the future. Keep an eye on senior forwards Jon Tavella, Makes Demers, and Max Cocchi as well as sophomore forward Brandon Spaulding.
Central Catholic lost most of its roster when Kim Brandvold left the bench to focus more on his responsibilities with the Bruins, the NHL team he works for as a skating and skills coach.
Schedule
Thu., Dec. 27, 2018
3:00 p.m. — Central Catholic vs. Pope Francis
5:20 p.m. — BC High vs. St. John’s Prep
Fri., Dec. 28, 2018
3:00 p.m. — Consolation Game
5:20 p.m. — Championship Game
Christie Serino Christmas Classic
This tournament, named after the late Chris Serino, who was the head coach at Merrimack, Malden Catholic and Saugus, as well as a well-known assistant at UNH, has lost its luster in recent years due to the downturn in the programs at MC and Austin Prep.
In addition to the Lancers and Cougars, this tournament features perennial contender St. Mary’s of Lynn and Hingham, consistently one of the top public school programs in the state.
Hingham is worth watching for top Division III programs and USPHL NCDC teams who might be interested in the services of senior defenseman Jake Higgins. The Harbormen, undefeated on the year, have a few other solid players.
St. Mary’s of Lynn, led by longtime head coach Mark Lee, has a few intriguing younger players. The Spartans have outscored their opponents, 18-1, in four games — all wins — to start the season 4-0. The team’s top player is ’03 freshman defenseman Davis Kinne, who played last year as an eighth grader. There are a few other players who could potentially make it to the Division III level.
For Austin Prep, keep an eye on ’02 defenseman Will Cohen and ’00 right wing Max Pineo. Just about everyone left Malden Catholic, including Providence commit Riley Duran, now at Lawrence, and ’03 defenseman Brendan Fitzgerald, who skating for the Islanders HC 16-U.
Schedule
Thu., Dec. 27, 2018
5:00 p.m. — Austin Prep vs. St. Mary’s of Lynn
7:00 p.m. — Hingham vs. Malden Catholic
Fri., Dec. 28, 2018
5:30 p.m. — Consolation Game
7:30 p.m. — Championship Game
- All games will be at the Valley Forum II in Malden, Mass.
Other MIAA games of interest
One of the top prospects in the MIAA is ’03 Matt Copponi of Mansfield High School. College coaches and scouts will remember seeing him this fall with the Neponset Valley River Rats 15 Pure team. He has 11 points in four games. The Hornets will face Shrewsbury on Wednesday night at 5:20 p.m. in one semifinal at the Walter H. Songin Winter Classic at the Rodman Arena in Walpole, Mass. On Friday, the team will take on either Walpole or Lowell Catholic in the consolation or championship game.
The MHL Cup at Loring Arena in Framingham, Mass. will be another decent tournament to keep an eye on if in the area. St. John’s Shrewsbury, Xaverian and Marshfield join the host Flyers of Framingham High School. Games are Thursday and Friday at 5:30 and 7:30. ’02 Dhillon Wilde of St. John’s Shrewsbury will be the most coveted prospect in the tournament.
NCHC schools visit Hockey East land
Denver, one of the top teams in the country, will play Merrimack on Fri., Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. A night later, the Pioneers will move about 20 minutes across the Merrimack Valley to take on UMass Lowell at 7 p.m.
Colorado College faces Merrimack on Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. before making the trek up Interstate 95 to face the Black Bears in Orono on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.
