Of the three playoff fields in NEPSAC boys hockey, the Large School group has the most potential for volatility.
Tabor and Cushing were in the thick of the Elite 8 field last week, but fell into the Large School tournament at the 11th hour. Tabor finished as the No. 1 seed, while Cushing slots in at No. 2. Phillips Andover, the reigning Large School champ, is the No. 3 seed, and Brunswick got the No. 4 spot.
The bottom four seeds, however, have compelling cases for a championship. No. 5 Thayer has quite a bit of high-end talent, No. 6 St. Paul's was a breakout team, No. 7 Deerfield has a top goalie in prep and No. 8 Choate can beat good teams.
But what will it take for each of these teams to finish as Large School champ?
Let's dive in.
1. Tabor (19-7-0)
Record against Large School teams: 3-0-0
Why they could win: Vinnie D'Urso consistently gives Tabor an advantage in net. The junior has a dazzling 1.91 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. The Andover, Mass., native has been a top goaltender in prep for two seasons, and this is his first NEPSAC playoff experience. The Seawolves also boast a great defense. A core of seniors — Owen Carter (Warwick, R.I.), Alec Dzavik (Hingham, Mass.), Marcello Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) and Oliver Benoit — are nice puck-movers, but even better at shutting down opponents.
GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 field | Large School field | Small School field
2. Cushing (17-11-2)
Record against Large School teams: 3-1-1
Why they could win:Â The Penguins were outside of the playoff picture at the end of January. They had just lost Maine commit Joe Covelluzzi (Wakefield, Mass.) to the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints. Things were bleak. But like last season, they found themselves in a big way, winning six in a row from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11, going 8-2-1 down the stretch and making an actual push for the Elite 8. The way in which head coach Dan Fontas' team has been able to come together is impressive. Senior forwards like Axel Favreau (Auburn, Maine), Ben Marcolini, Blake Cash (Hampton Falls, N.H.) and Parker Murch (York, Maine) have stepped up quite a bit. Much of this core won the Elite 8 last season. They know what it takes.
3. Phillips Andover (15-10-4)
Record against Large School teams: 3-3-0Â
Why they could win: Andover has a lot of talent. Senior forwards Alex Small and David O'Neill have been top producers, along with junior Nate Kreppner and sophomore Michael Barrett (Lynnfield, Mass.), who is a '10. And you can't forget about Dartmouth commit Alex Theodore. On defense, sophomore Jack O'Dell has a whole bunch of Division 1 interest. Senior goalie Edouard Lord has put forth a good enough season to keep Andover in contention to repeat. Not for nothing, but I had Andover safely in the top 10 after the holiday tournaments.
4. Brunswick (17-9-0)
Record against Large School teams: 0-1-0
Why they could win:Â The Bruins' top forwards need to play like it to win. Dartmouth commit and senior Mason St. Louis must bring his best for Brunswick to go on a run. The same is true for senior forward Ben Lombardi (Cos Cob, Conn.) and junior Keegan Kazan (Wilton, Conn.). Both have been huge breakouts for the Bruins, with Kazan leading the team in points (41) and Lombardi not far behind at 31. Brunswick was also a team with Elite 8 hopes at the start of the season. Don't count out a big week from Princeton commit and senior defenseman Hampus Vandenberg (Riverside, Conn.).
READ MORE: Breaking down the Elite 8 | Why each Small School team could winÂ
5. Thayer (13-11-4)
Record against Large School teams: 1-4-0
Why they could win: High-end talent. Thayer had legitimate Elite 8 potential, but has had a relatively up-and-down season. That doesn't take away from the names on this team. Sophomore Jack Funk (Duxbury, Mass.), an '09, finished with the most goals (19) and second-most points (31) on the team. Names like Ty Hymovitz (Needham, Mass.) and Michael Federico (Hanover, Mass.) have been anchors down the middle. Northeastern commit Tommy Wilkinson (Duxbury, Mass.) had a strong year. Fellow Northeastern commit and 2026 NHL Draft prospect Brian McFadden (Holbrook, Mass.) is the stalwart on defense. If the big guns are the big guns, Thayer should make a run.
6. St. Paul's (18-11-1)
Record against Large School teams: 1-1-0Â
Why they could win: Of all teams in the Large School field, St. Paul's ranks third in total offense with 100 goals for. Junior forward Mitchell Smith has broken out with a team-leading 35 points, while seniors Harry Dermody (Bedford, N.H.) and Andersen Kilbourne (Duxbury, Mass.) have provided quite a bit of scoring. Don't discount the age and experience of Dermody, an '06, and Kilbourne, an '07, either. Another pertinent '06 is senior goalie Blake Truchon (South Burlington, Vt.). Head coach Scott Harff is building St. Paul's back up. A Large School run would further that.
7. Deerfield (11-11-3)
Record against Large School teams: 2-2-1Â
Why they could win: Deerfield's path will be dictated by senior goalie Elliot Lennon. The Brown commit is also a 2026 NHL Draft prospect. He boasts a 2.24 GAA and a .935 save percentage. The 6-foot-3 netminder was the biggest reason why Deerfield finished as the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8 last season and came oh-so-close to going to the championship. The scoring hasn't been as prolific this season, but Lennon will give Deerfield a chance this week.
BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 field | Large School field | Small School field
8. Choate (11-11-3)
Record against Large School teams: 1-2-0Â
Why they could win:Â With No. 8 seeds, it's all about upset potential. Choate isn't all about one player taking over and getting all the production, although senior forward Greg Najda is committed to Yale. But one thing I'd look at with the Wild Boars is that they beat Avon Old Farms twice down the stretch. The first was a 4-3 loss on Jan. 31, which was only Avon's second loss at that point, and the second came in a 5-4 victory on Feb. 18. It's not crazy to think head coach Mike Pereira's team could pull off an upset.
