There was not a better league in the Massachusetts high school hockey circuit than the Middlesex League in 2019-20.
MIAA Division 1A Super 8 co-champion Arlington led the way, but Burlington and Reading were also clearly among the best eight teams in the state. Belmont, co-champs in Division 1, and Woburn and Melrose were good high school hockey teams. Even Winchester, a team that finished below .500, has some good hockey players on the roster.
There are quite a few individual players who deserve recognition in the Middlesex League. I saw each league team at least once and saw the top teams play more than a handful of times. Picking first, second and third All-Middlesex League teams was a challenge. A few good players were left off and a few were on a lower team than they’d have been on in any other league in the state.
Below are my picks for first, second and third All-Middlesex League performers plus a “Young Guns” team that is made up of six players born in 2004 or 2005 who are worthy of recognition.
NEHJ’s First Team All-Middlesex League
Brendan Jones
Arlington, 7/30/01, LW, left shot, 5-10/180
NCAA commit: Holy Cross (baseball)
Jones often gets overlooked due to playing on Anthony Messuri’s line and by hockey not being his primary sport. However, the Holy Cross baseball commit also is a terrific hockey player who could without a doubt play hockey in college. Jones skates well and plays with an edge.
Anthony Messuri
Arlington, 7/24/01, C, left shot, 5-9/165
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Messuri was the only player in Massachusetts high school hockey this winter with a Division 1 hockey commit. The speedster centered the top line for the Spy Ponders and used his playmaking ability to his advantage. He played in all situations and is slated to join the NAHL’s Northeast Generals in the fall.
Ryan O’Halloran
Burlington, 5/2/02, C, left shot, 5-10/145
O’Halloran was a stellar four-year contributor for Bob Conceison’s Red Devils. His habits could use some work, but he’s a versatile forward who could be counted on in all situations at this level. O’Halloran led Burlington in scoring with 16 goals and 17 assists while the team made yet another deep run into the postseason.
Ryan Davies
Arlington, 3/27/01, D, right shot, 5-11/160
Davies stepped up and filled a huge void for Arlington when it came to needing a true No. 1 defender with the graduation of Jack Simon. He did just that and got better as the season moved along. He logged a ton of minutes and had a positive impact for the Spy Ponders in all three zones.
Cam Lawhorne
Reading, 11/6/01, D, left shot, 5-9/165
Lawhorne was a reliable, puck-moving defenseman who also had a good shot from the point. He had five goals and six assists for the Rockets. He progressed nicely over his high school career.
Nico Carere
Belmont, 1/9/02, G, catches left, 6-1/180
I admittedly was late to the party when it came to giving Carere his rightful recognition. I had already started to appreciate how good he was, but a 1-0 overtime win over St. Mary’s in the playoffs sealed the deal. He has good size, athleticism and concentration. Carere is reportedly heading to Tilton for a PG year.
NEHJ’s Second Team All-Middlesex League
Brendan Fennell
Melrose, 1/1/02, LW, left shot, 5-10/180
Fennell, a terrific three-sport athlete at Melrose, put up huge numbers as a junior. He recorded 22 goals and 28 assists. He’s a big, rugged winger who is tough to knock off pucks. He can protect pucks and shoot it hard. While his skating needs some work, he was flat-out dominant at times this winter. Fennell was the top player, but his linemates, Charlie Haggerty and Quinn McCarthy, also deserve recognition.
Landyn Greatorex
Reading, 7/26/03, LW, left shot, 5-8/145
Greatorex has the physical tools to blossom into an even better player than he was this winter. He skates well and has the hockey sense and skill to produce at this level. He had nine goals and 16 assists for the Rockets. If he can be more consistent and more engaged, he should continue to get better.
Jonathan Surrette
Woburn, 8/6/03, C/LW, left shot, 5-11/160
Surrette has Division 1 potential with his explosiveness and he’s gained some strength this year, it would appear. He had 21 goals and 16 assists for Jim Duran’s Tanners. He certainly has some skill and he’s tough to knock off the puck.
Matthew Fiorenza
Reading, 10/13/01, D, right shot, 5-10/150
It was a difficult decision of who to put on the first team and who to put on the second team when it came to Fiorenza and his aforementioned ‘D’ partner, Lawhorne. I gave the nod to Lawhorne, but Fiorenza put together a terrific career. He captained the Rockets and had a goal and 10 assists this season. He’s mobile and has a good stick.
Michael Martignetti
Winchester, 3/13/02, D, left shot, 5-11/180
Martignetti is a physically rugged defenseman who plays with jam. He moves well and could certainly play in prep as a PG or for a couple of junior organizations in New England, if he so chooses.
Dylan Emery
Reading, 4/18/02, G, catches left, 6-1/160
Emery had his ups and downs during his time as the Reading starter, but he saved some of his best performances for the playoffs. He made some huge saves in the Super 8 play-in game against Framingham. Emery has good size and surely will land a spot on a prep roster as a PG or on a Tier 3 junior roster.
NEHJ’s Third Team All-Middlesex League
Ben Fici
Belmont, 4/15/02, RW, right shot, 5-10/160
Fici, a junior, led the Marauders in scoring with 12 goals and 16 assists. His speed allowed him to create offense on the rush. Along with his linemates, Matt Brody and Justin Rocha, he formed one of the top lines in the state.
Riley Fitzgerald
Wilmington, 6/2/03, RW, right shot, 5-9/135
Fitzgerald led the Wildcats with 11 goals. He’s still growing into his frame, but he’s a good skater who sees the ice well. He played in all situations for Steve Scanlon’s team.
Ryan McCarthy
Winchester, 1/1/02, C, right shot, 6-1/190
NCAA commit: Union (lacrosse)
McCarthy centered the top line for the Sachems. He’s an athletic power forward who was able to bull his way to the scoring areas and fend off opposing defenders. The Union lacrosse commit also is a standout on the football field.
Colin Browne
Burlington, 1/1/03, D, left shot, 6-3/180
Browne started to gain my attention later in the season with his ability to bring it physically. He has good size and played with a mean streak.
Nolan Duffy
Belmont, 3/19/03, D, right shot, 6-1/150
Duffy, a good-sized defender, has mobility and can jump into the offensive attack. He finished with three goals and five assists from the back end.
Nathan Brennan
Arlington, 3/15/02, G, catches left, 6-0/160
Brennan didn’t face a lot of rubber on most nights, but he came up with some key saves when Arlington needed him to most.
NEHJ’s Middlesex League Young Guns Team
Brendan Janis
Burlington, 4/11/05, LW, left shot, 5-10/140
Janis is a player who I think deserved more ice time than he got this winter. He’s a solid-looking prospect who will be watched as he gets older.
Jake Murphy
Arlington, 1/28/04, RW, right shot, 5-11/180
Murphy skates well, is heavy on pucks and can control possession along the walls and down low. He’ll be making the jump to prep school next fall, joining Robbie Barker’s program at Lawrence Academy.
Michael Nigro
Winchester, 3/22/05, C, left shot, 5-8/135
Nigro is a smart, two-way center who played point on the power play for the Sachems. He has the ability to slow the game down and his vision is an asset.
Evan Pennucci
Reading, 10/24/04, RW, right shot, 5-9/150
Pennucci had a really good freshman season playing on the top line for the Rockets. He played in all situations and even scored a really nice shorthanded goal in one game I saw. He has a second gear and had some length to shoot it hard.
Jackson Powers
Woburn, 4/30/05, C, left shot, 5-8/140
Powers had four goals and nine assists as he moved into the first-line center role at Woburn. A smart, cerebral player, Powers could be slid up and down the lineup. He plays with an edge and he sees the ice well.
Max Tong
Winchester, 9/13/05, RW, right shot, 5-10/132
Tong was on the first-line wing for much of the season. He’s quick, has the puck on his stick a lot, and can make plays.
