With the prep school postseason set to kick off on Wednesday, it is time for the final regular-season edition of New England Hockey Journal’s Prep School Coaches Poll.
Each of the top six clubs finished the regular season without losing last week, including a Salisbury team that is seeded first in the Elite 8 bracket and has had at least a share of the top spot in the NEHJ ranks for all but one week this winter. The Crimson Knights are followed by Kimball Union and Dexter Southfield, in that order, for the second straight week, while Lawrence climbs a spot for the first time in a couple of weeks.
Deerfield has climbed as high as fourth while being ranked in 11 of 12 editions this season. The Big Green enters this week as the No. 1 seed in the NEPSAC Large bracket. Four teams moved up from their positions last week with Exeter returning to the top 10 after a two-week absence.
Tilton, which is the No. 1 team in the Small postseason, is one of seven other teams that received top-10 consideration on at least one ballot. Teams receive 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for a second-place vote, eight for a third-place vote, etc.
Coaches from around New England make up the voting panel for the poll, which will be released for the final time this season next week following the conclusion of NEPSAC postseason tournaments. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to jkummins@hockeyjournal.com.
1. Salisbury (23-3)
119 points - 11 first-place votes
The Crimson Knights, seeded first in the Elite 8 bracket, earned their last three of seven consecutive wins this past week against Avon Old Farms, 5-3; Hotchkiss, 4-3 in overtime; and Canterbury, 8-0. Jake Quillan had a four-point week with two of his three goals coming against Avon. Matt Coronato scored once and added two assists before Lucas Mercuri netted the winning goal against Hotchkiss. Nick Capone (East Haven, Conn.) led the offense in the Canterbury shutout with a hat trick and five points. Goaltender Jared Levine earned two of the wins, including a 40-save effort against the Winged Beavers.
2. Kimball Union (27-4-2)
107 points - 1 first-place vote
The Wildcats earned the No. 2 seed in the Elite 8 bracket after concluding the regular season on a 13-0-2 run, including a 4-1 win over Proctor and 6-2 win over Tilton. Paul Dore scored twice and added an assist in the former game, while Sullivan Mack scored twice and Devan Newhook dished out a pair of helpers. Mack had a goal and two assists against Tilton, but Tomas Mazura led the offense in that game with a hat trick and five points. Zach Paputsakis (19 saves) and Veeti Kohvakka (20 saves) each earned a win in net.
3. Dexter Southfield (21-3-4)
87 points
Dexter opens the Elite 8 as the No. 5 seed after scoring 25 goals over its latest wins against Pingree and Hoosac. Head coach Dan Donato’s club improves to 15-0-2 since Dec. 30 with those results. Seventeen players marked the scoresheet in the 16-0 win over Pingree, including Chase McInnis (Hingham, Mass.) with three goals and two assists. In addition, John McElaney (Walpole, Mass.), Aidan Connolly (Marshfield, Mass.), Culin Wilson (Hingham, Mass.), and Ben Raymond (Newton, Mass.) all scored twice. Bobby Pearl (Wakefield, Mass.) led the offense with one goal and three assists against Hoosac. Derek Mullahy (Scituate, Mass.) and Jack McMahon (West Roxbury, Mass.) split both shutouts.
4. Lawrence (19-2-6)
85 points
Lawrence locked up the No. 3 seed in the Elite 8 bracket after posting a pair of wins last week. The Spartans doubled up St. Sebastian’s, 4-2, as David Sacco (Middleton, Mass.; 1-1-2) and Tyler Young (Lancaster, Mass.; 0-2-2) both had multiple-point games and Ian Graiff made 31 saves. Sam Colangelo (Stoneham, Mass.) scored his second hat trick of the season and added four assists to lead the offense in a 10-3 win over Tabor. Riley Duran (Woburn, Mass.) and Holt Oliphant had two goals apiece and finished among nine multi-point scorers.
5. St. Sebastian’s (21-5)
75 points
The Arrows split their final two games of the regular season but still managed the No. 4 seed in the Elite 8 and a home playoff game. Jayden Struble (Cumberland, R.I.; 1-1-2) and Liam Gorman (Arlington, Mass.; 0-2-2) factored into both goals and Luke Garrity (Duxbury, Mass.) made 24 saves in a 4-2 loss to Lawrence. St. Seb’s bounced back with a season-ending, 3-2 win over Thayer in which Gorman scored the game-winning goal, Liam Connors (Westborough, Mass.) handed out two assists, and Garrity stopped 35 shots.
6. Northfield Mount Hermon (22-5-2)
57 points
The Hoggers closed the regular season on a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) after defeating Andover, 4-2; and Hoosac, 3-0. Devan Tongue (Hampden, Mass.) scored twice against Andover, while Ean Small and Mike Kennedy (Holyoke, Mass.) both dished out a pair of assists. Tongue netted a pair of goals, Jack Quinn (Lancaster, Mass.) had two assists, and Connor Hasley stopped all 19 shots he saw against Hoosac.
7. Gunnery (22-5-3)
54 points
Since last Monday’s 9-2 win over Bishop’s College School, Gunnery skated to a scoreless draw with Westminster and then dropped a 4-3 decision to Berkshire. JP Mella (Stamford, Conn.) pitched a 28-save shutout in the 0-0 game. Alex Jefferies (Lunenburg, Mass.) netted a hat trick for all three goals in the losing effort, while Jimmy Rayhill and Robert Cronin (Plymouth, Mass.) each had two assists against Berkshire.
8. Westminster (14-5-6)
29 points
Westy went 1-0-2 over its final three games, earning a 4-0 shutout win over Belmont Hill in between a scoreless draw with Gunnery and 2-2 tie against Deerfield. Sean Clarke (2-1-3) and Ned Blanchard (West Hartford, Conn.; 1-2-3) led the offense against Belmont Hill, Jacob Monroe (Wethersfield, Conn.) also scored, and Ian Shane stopped all 34 shots he saw. Shane posted a clean sheet against Gunnery as well, making 36 saves. Against Deerfield, Clarke had assists on both goals off the sticks of Ignat Belov and Jordie McKenna.
9. Deerfield (14-8-3)
21 points
Deerfield paces the NEPSAC Large School Playoffs field after skating to back-to-back ties to conclude its regular season. Matt Miron (1-2-3) and Sasha Shogren (0-3-3) recorded three points in a 4-4 draw with Kent, while Shogren and Michael Holland were the goal scorers against Westy. Thomas Gale had a busy week in goal, making 39 and 45 saves, respectively.
10. Exeter (19-10-2)
7 points
The Big Red concluded its season on a high note, defeating Winchendon, 7-1; and archrival Andover in overtime, 3-2. Andrew Seaman and Michael Pitts (Raymond, N.H.) both finished the Winchendon game with 1-3-4 lines, while Paddy Bogart had two goals. Sam Willman completed the latter game with two points, including the game-winner in overtime. Ryan Welch (Swampscott, Mass.) made 31 of his 41 saves on the week against the rival Big Blue.
Others receiving votes: Kent, Millbrook, Cushing, Tilton, Andover, St. Paul’s, Nobles
