It's the most exciting time of year in prep.
The coming week will be an all-out sprint to the finish with the Large School, Small School and Elite 8 tournaments. The quarterfinals kick off Wednesday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday. A Small School champion will be crowned Sunday at 1 p.m. at Taft School.
Thayer enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed, coming in at 19-5-2. They reached the semifinals last season. Deerfield is the No. 2 seed at 17-6-2. Meanwhile, Berkshire (14-7-2) is No. 3, and Phillips Exeter (14-8-2) is No. 4.
Last year's champion, BB&N, and runner-up, Dexter Southfield, will compete in the Elite 8.
So, how does every team stack up in this year’s Large bracket?
Let's look at each team and why they could win it all.
1. Thayer (19-5-2)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 2-1-1Â
Why they could win: Morgan McGathey (Braintree, Mass.) is the short answer. The region's most dynamic prospect and a Harvard commit, the senior is the region's leader in goals (36) and points (53). She can take over games.
Behind her, there's plenty of depth. Her linemate, senior UNH commit Kate Sullivan (Hingham, Mass.), has 36 points (11 goals). Freshman Maddy Call (Dedham, Mass.) rounds out the top trio with 21 points (nine goals). Senior Delaware commit Wren Abboud (Weymouth, Mass.) leads the second line with 24 points (13 goals), while freshman Lydia Kealty (Norfolk, Mass.) and senior Sacred Heart commit Veronica Taylor (Hingham, Mass.) have chipped in nicely, too. On defense, junior Abby DeAnzeris (Needham, Mass.) has set the pace for a young core with 27 points (22 assists). Youngsters like freshmen Emersyn Fisher-Bailey (Duxbury, Mass.) and Abigail DeRoeve (Charlestown, Mass.) have been strong as well. In net, sophomore Madison Hayes (Foxboro, Mass.) and freshman Coleen Wallace (Duxbury, Mass.) have had strong seasons sharing the crease.
After making the Large School semifinals last year, their first tournament appearance since 2020, the Tigers came out hot under first-year coach Michael Flynn. They were undefeated until losing to Dexter Southfield on Jan. 24. Losses to Lawrence Academy, Nobles and BB&N over the final few weeks of the season ultimately took them out of the Elite 8. Thayer's resume this season includes wins over Nobles, Rivers (twice), New Hampton, Tabor and St. George's. They also tied Dexter.
ELITE 8 PREVIEW: Breaking down every team in this year’s bracket
2. Deerfield (17-6-2)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 3-1-1Â
Why they could win: Deerfield has two of the best puck-movers in the field on defense. Most of their production has come from junior Yale commit Chloe Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.) and senior Colby commit Allie Corrieri (Devens, Mass.). Cleaves has 24 points (13 goals), and Corrieri has 22 points (eight goals). Junior Brown commit Keira Austen also has 14 points (four goals) in defense. Up front, junior Sophie Frost leads the way with 19 points (10 goals), and sophomore Olivia Austen (Darien, Conn.) has 18 points (eight goals). Juniors Gia Thompson, Brady Wierl and Ava Giroux (St. Alban's, Vt.) are key factors, too. In net, senior Holy Cross commit Campbell Krotee (Darien, Conn.) is one of the stronger netminders in the region. She holds a .940 save percentage this season with two shutouts. Junior Izzy Kirby has been solid when called upon, too.
The Big Green reached the Elite 8 last year and had a valiant late push, handing Williston its first loss and taking Loomis Chaffee to overtime, but it wasn't enough. Instead, they enter the Large School tournament as one of the strongest contenders. Brooke Fernandez's team has impressive wins in addition to the Williston upset, including Andover, Berkshire, New Hampton and Andover. They've also lost to Cushing, Berkshire, Groton, BB&N and Loomis in addition to a tie with New Hampton and Exeter.
3. Berkshire (14-7-2)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 1-3-0
Why they could win: Berkshire is red-hot. Before Saturday's loss to Tabor, they were in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, which included a win over Deerfield. Goaltending has been a strength, too. Senior Julia Echavarria (Newtown, Conn.) is having a career season with a .935 save percentage, and sophomore Katie Hurley has been just as strong with a .943 save percentage. Junior Sophia Busa (16 goals, 22 points) has been a major source of offense, too, along with junior Maddy McCready (five goals, 17 points).
Notably, Lisa Marshall's group has played well against good teams. They've beaten Deerfield (twice) and New Hampton in addition to a tie with Groton and a one-goal loss versus Williston.
PREP BRACKETS: Girls Elite 8 | Girls Large School | Girls Small School | Boys Elite 8 | Boys Large School | Boys Small School
4. Phillips Exeter (14-8-2)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 2-1-1
Why they could win: Exeter has one of the strongest first lines and goaltenders in the field. Vermont commit Maria Gray has been on a tear this season with 39 points (17 goals), leading a potent top trio with Paisley Meyer (Greenland, N.H.; 12 goals, 30 points) and Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.; 13 goals, 29 points). UConn commit Grace Riley also brings a dynamic presence to the blue line. In the crease, senior Allie Bell (Rowley, Mass.) gives the Big Red an advantage. She's hitting her stride with a career-best .944 save percentage. Sally Komarek's team has faced a rough schedule over the last month-plus. They'll be battle-tested.
5. Tabor (13-11-1)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 2-2-1
Why they could win:Â Speaking of battle-tested, hardly anyone played a harder schedule than Eric Long's Seawolves, who have the second-highest opponent winning percentage in the field. Tabor faced a gauntlet this season, and they gave good teams plenty of trouble, playing spoiler at times, too. They've got wins over New Hampton and Rivers, plus tight losses against Loomis Chaffee, Thayer and Cushing, among others. The Seawolves are also riding high after a massive 3-1 win over Large School foe Berkshire in the regular-season finale.
Senior Connecticut College commit Avery Olson (Rockport, Mass.) is much-improved between the pipes with a .925 save percentage, and three skaters have at least 10 goals. Junior Jen Birolini leads the way with 13 goals (21 points). The Seawolves will need timely scoring from her, senior RPI commit Julianna Goffredo and freshman Giuliana Polcari (Marshfield, Mass.). Senior Colby commit Adeline Paskowski (Plymouth, Mass.) is a good three-zone presence on defense, too.
WHY EACH TEAM COULD WIN: Girls Small School breakdown
6. Kent (12-8-1)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 1-1-1
Why they could win: The Lions are hot entering the playoffs, winners of four straight and seven of their last nine. It's a big response for Elena Gaultieri's squad since a five-game skid in January. Junior Cornell commit Renee Bishop has been strong of late with 15 points (nine goals) in her last nine games, too. Her sister, Rachel, also committed to Cornell, is having a productive season on the blue line. Senior Delaware commit Eva Mayo has been key, too, with 15 points (seven goals) in addition to Chloe Pittinaro, Louise Roper (Kennebunk, Maine) and Ainsley Moffitt.
7. Milton Academy (10-12-2)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 1-3-1
Why they could win: The Mustangs are riding high after upsetting Nobles in overtime in the regular-season finale, thanks to Mary Quatrale's (Pembroke, Mass.) game-winner. They had a rough start to the season but have since stabilized under interim coach Liz Keady Norton. Milton has a strong first line, led by Quatrale, senior Bowdoin commit Jessie Ward (Dedham, Mass.) and senior Maddie Bonavita (Longmeadow, Mass.). Senior Williams commit Becca White (Orono, Maine) provides good depth along with sophomore Sadie Quatrale (Pembroke, Mass.). On defense, they have two strong do-it-all puck-movers in senior Middlebury commit Susannah Ward (Dedham, Mass.) and sophomore McKenna Ruland. Milton will be ready for a battle after facing the strongest schedule of any team in the Large School field.
MVP CANDIDATES: 18 players who could win MVP in the girls Elite 8
8. St. Paul's (15-3-1)
Record against teams in the Large School tournament: 3-3-0
Why they could win:Â The Big Red are also playing their best hockey at the right time. After some ups and downs to end January and start February, Kelli Mackey's squad has won six of their last nine, including wins over Thayer, Tabor and Exeter as well as losses to Exeter and New Hampton. The overtime loss to New Hampton in the Lakes Region championship ended a four-game winning streak. SPS has a good mix of senior leadership and youth, too.
Four skaters have double-digit goals, while eight have reached double-digit points. Sophomore Erin Flaherty (Boston, Mass.) has taken off, leading the way with 11 goals and 23 points. Behind her a trio of seniors bolster strong depth, including top goal-scorer and Delaware commit Charlotte Vogue (14 goals, 20 points) as well as Boston College commit Maude Niemann and Wesleyan commit Caroline Humber (Concord, Mass.). Freshman Maddy Humber (Concord, Mass.) and junior Tess Mulkerron (Concord, Mass.) have been key factors, too. On defense, senior Chelsea Bell (Barre, Vt.) and junior Brown commit Maggie Berleth (Manchester, Vt.) are ones to watch.
