Salisbury is running away from the field. There’s really nothing that hasn’t already been said to emphatically suggest the Crimson Knights are the undisputed top team in prep school hockey this season.
Tip of the Hat: Rivers head coach Shawn McEachern, who has more than solidified his spot among the top coaches in prep school hockey, was inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame this past week. He spoke at the Beanpot Luncheon and was honored at the TD Garden Monday evening. The former NHL star and Boston University alum brings passion and a love for the game to the Red Wings bench.
Questions? Comments? Complaints? Email jcox@hockeyjournal.com.
NEHJ Prep Hockey Top 10 Rankings – February 7, 2018
1. Salisbury (18-0-1)
Uncommitted ’99 senior forward Chris Brown scored the overtime game-winner in two consecutive games. Andrew Will’s team continues to roll along with relative ease. Senior captain Nick Hale (Holy Cross) is quietly putting together a very good final season in prep school hockey.
Last Week: W 3-0 Trinity-Pawling, W 7-2 Kent
This Week: vs. Taft (2/7), at Loomis-Chaffee (2/10), vs. Kent (2/12)
2. Rivers (20-1-2)
Outside of goaltender Aidan Porter, defensemen Cade Webber (BU) and Tony Andreozzi (Brown) and center Teddy Wooding (Yale), the Red Wings lack the marquee names of many of the other top teams in prep hockey. Shawn McEachern’s team makes up for it by executing the game plan, making in-game adjustments and competing hard. Watching Rivers, it’s clear the players buy in and will do whatever it takes to win hockey games. McEachern gets the most out of the talent he has. Senior forward Tyler Capello and sophomore defenseman Pat Lawn are two unheralded players who have stood out in recent games.
Last Week: W 4-0 Groton, W 3-1 Belmont Hill
This Week: at St. George’s (2/7), vs. Roxbury Latin (2/10)
3. Kimball Union (19-5-1)
The Wildcats were tripped up against Lakes Region rival New Hampton this past weekend. Tim Whitehead’s team has plenty of talent, headlined of course by Northeastern commit and 2018 NHL Draft prospect Jordan Harris on the blue line. Whether or not the team can produce offensively at a consistent pace come post-season is left up for debate. KUA will have a chance for revenge Friday night with a home date against the Huskies.
Last Week: W 2-0 Northfield Mt. Hermon, W 4-1 Holderness, L 2-4 New Hampton
This Week: vs. Andover (2/7), vs. New Hampton (2/9), vs. Holderness (2/10)
4. Milton (13-2-1)
Junior Quinton Fox has two goals and six assists over his last four games while senior captain Tyler Campbell has lit the lamp five times and added two helpers during that same period. The Mustangs are a very good hockey team, but they still need to prove they can beat the upper echelon of prep school hockey.
Last Week: W 3-2 (OT) St. Sebastian’s, W 3-0 Roxbury Latin
This Week: vs. Tabor (2/7), at Nobles (2/10), at Governor’s (2/12)
5. Dexter (15-4-2)
Dan Donato’s team has scored 49 goals during its current seven-game winning streak. Junior center John Farinacci (Harvard) has 13 of those 49 goals while the return of fellow Crimson commit Jack Rathbone has sparked the offense from the backend.
Last Week: W 7-2 Pomfret, W 7-4 Andover
This Week: vs. New Hampton (2/7)
6. Northfield Mount Hermon (17-3-3)
The Hoggers lost a tough game up at Meriden last Wednesday, but bounced back with a shutout of Vermont Academy over the weekend. The offense, especially secondary scoring, is still a big concern for Kevin Czepiel’s squad, but the goaltending of Eric Green has more than made up for it.
Last Week: L 0-2 Kimball Union, W 3-0 Vermont Academy
This Week: at Williston (2/7), vs. Worcester Academy (2/10), vs. Winchendon (2/11)
7. Cushing (17-6-1)
The Penguins have a good top line and Nolan McElhaney (UNH) to provide offense from the blue line, but scoring against top teams has proved difficult of late. Cushing is solidly in the top 10, but the team’s resume falls well short of being in the top 5.
Last Week: W 7-0 Tilton, W 5-2 Vermont Academy
This Week: at St. Paul’s (2/7), vs. Canterbury (2/10)
8. Exeter (20-3-1)
The Big Red got back on track with three easy wins over inferior opponents last week after a brief bump in the road. This week should provide three more wins for Dana Barbin’s team. Exeter has a schedule that should allow them to cement their status as an Elite 8 Tournament bound team, but the Big Red have yet to prove they’re a legit contender come March.
Last Week: W 4-0 Holderness, W 4-1 Berwick, W 6-2 Tilton
This Week: vs. Proctor (2/7), vs. Hebron (2/9), at Choate (2/10)
9. Westminster (12-5-0)
The Martlets have won five in a row after losing three straight and five of six. Senior Jagger LeClair has scored three of his four goals over the course of the winning streak. He has a goal and an assist in back-to-back games. With three home games against lesser opponents this week, it’s imperative Westy keeps its winning ways alive if it wants to make the Elite 8.
Last Week: W 6-2 Avon Old Farms
This Week: vs. Hotchkiss (2/7), vs. Choate (2/9), vs. Pomfret (2/10)
10. Winchendon (13-3-3)
Senior forward Matthew Fawcett (Quinnipiac) has taken over the prep scoring lead from Thayer’s Jay O’Brien. PG Ryan Black and senior Cam Gendron join Fawcett in the top five of prep hockey’s scoring leaders. The Wampitis are an older group that should bode well come post-season. ’98 PG goaltender James Corcoran has post-season experience after guiding Walpole into the MIAA Super 8 last season. Sunday’s game at NMH will be a pivotal one in the team’s quest to making the Elite 8.
Last Week: T 4-4 Hoosac, W 5-1 New Hampton, W 6-1 Albany Academy
This Week: vs. Brewster (2/7), at Vermont Academy (2/9), at Northfield Mt. Hermon (2/11)
