Top ranked Salisbury continues to roll along. Andrew Will’s Crimson Knights remain undefeated with a 13-0-1 record, and will once again head the New England Hockey Journal Prep School Hockey Top 10 Rankings.
Tip of the Hat: Four prep school hockey stars were ranked inside the top 100 of NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings, released Monday. Thayer Academy senior center Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.), Kimball Union Academy senior defenseman Jordan Harris (Haverhill, Mass.), New Hampton defenseman Michael Kesselring (New Hampton, N.H.), and St. Sebastian’s right wing Riley Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) were ranked 44th, 46th, 55th and 92nd, respectively. In total, 15 prep school players were ranked with three prep alums also seeing their names on the list.
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NEHJ Prep Hockey Top 10 Rankings – January 23, 2018
1. Salisbury (13-0-1)
The Crimson Knights have won eight straight after their only blemish, a 2-2 tie against KUA, in the Flood-Marr Tournament. The depth is measured in the fact seven players have a point per game or more with several others close. Holy Cross commit Nick Hale has three multi-point games in the last four from the blue line. Wednesday’s clash with Gunnery poses the greatest threat to Salisbury’s undefeated record of any of the remaining games.
Last Week: W 6-1 Trinity-Pawling
This Week: vs. Gunnery (1/24), vs. Berkshire (1/27), at Brunswick (1/29)
2. Kimball Union (15-4-1)
Tim Whitehead’s team has been maddeningly inconsistent this season considering all the talent compiled at the Meriden, N.H. school. KUA has three players ranked in the top 109 of NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings with another player highly touted for the 2018 NHL draft. Still, there’s a lot of the season left and no team in prep hockey wants anything to do with the Wildcats come the post-season.
Last Week: W 6-1 Deerfield, W 2-0 Brewster, L 2-3 (OT) Stanstead College
This Week: at Exeter (1/24), vs. Tilton (1/26)
3. Exeter (16-1-1)
Dana Barbin’s team squeaked past Tabor and Hotchkiss last week ahead of Wednesday’s huge game against in-state rival Kimball Union. Senior Bobby Murray, who had a goal against the Bearcats, has 10 goals over the past nine games. Another former North Yarmouth Academy player, Michael Pitts, has taken a huge step in his junior season. He’s almost doubled his point total from a year ago with several games left.
Last Week: W 3-2 Tabor, W 3-1 Hotchkiss
This Week: vs. Kimball Union (1/24), vs. Cushing (1/26), at BB&N (1/27)
4. Rivers (15-1-2)
The Red Wings are going through a relatively easy portion of the schedule. Shawn McEachern’s team came away with two lopsided victories last week. The team shouldn’t break much of a sweat in two of the three games this week. Led by Princeton commit Aidan Porter in net, Rivers has allowed just 22 goals in 18 games played.
Last Week: W 4-0 Brooks, W 15-0 BB&N
This Week: at Roxbury Latin (1/24), vs. Nobles (1/26), at Middlesex (1/27)
5. Milton (11-2-1)
Trailing 2-0 after two periods at Lawrence Academy, the Mustangs rallied for a 3-2 victory. Late ’99 Tyler Campbell, hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, had two assists in the game. He might not be a Division I player, but he’s worth a look. He’s absolutely better than some current prep forwards who are committed to play college hockey. Paul Cannata’s carried an eight game unbeaten streak into a bye week.
Last Week: W 3-2 Lawrence Academy,
This Week: Off
6. Dexter (10-4-2)
Dan Donato’s team received three-point nights from a pair of recent commits in the 6-2 win over Thayer. Babson commit Jack Nisbet had a goal and two assists while Chase McInnis (Northeastern) had three assists. Dexter’s schedule becomes favorable from here on out. They will be heavy favorites in every remaining game during the regular season.
Last Week: W 6-2 Thayer
This Week: at St. George’s (1/24), at St. Mark’s (1/27), vs. Brooks (1/29)
7. Cushing (14-5-1)
The team defense hasn’t fared as well recently. The Penguins have given up 22 goals over the past six games after conceding the same amount of goals in the first 14 games. Steve Jacobs’ team will be tested twice this week with tough road contests at NMH and Exeter.
Last Week: L 3-4 Thayer, W 7-3 Hebron
This Week: at Northfield Mount Hermon (1/24), at Exeter (1/26)
8. Gunnery (11-3-2)
Craig Badger’s team won three close contests last week, including one in overtime. The defense played a big role in the scoring. Cornell commit Jimmy Rayhill had a goal and an assist in the win over Williston and Hunter Sansbury scored both goals against Stanstead.
Last Week: W 3-2 (OT) Millbrook, W 2-1 Williston, W 2-0 Stanstead College
This Week: at Salisbury (1/24), vs. Vermont Academy (1/26), vs. Hill School (1/27)
9. Northfield Mount Hermon (14-2-3)
Senior Ben Stefanini, a former star at Framingham High, has a four-game scoring streak and has three multi-point games in the last six. He’s been a nice addition to the offensive punch to go along with Devon Tongue and Kyle Kazeroid. The Hoggers, winners of seven straight, haven’t lost a game in regulation since the second game of the season.
Last Week: W 3-1 Avon Old Farms, W 7-0 Lawrenceville, W 2-1 Taft
This Week: vs. Cushing (1/24), vs. Tilton (1/28)
10. Westminster (8-5-0)
After three straight losses the Martlets bounced back with a 2-0 win against Avon on Monday evening. Jagger LeClair and Jacob Monroe scored third period goals to lift Tim Joncas’ team. Westminster passes the eye test, but it will need to play well down the stretch in order to make the Elite 8 Tournament.
Last Week: L 0-2 Canterbury, L 2-5 Loomis-Chaffee, W 2-0 Avon Old Farms
This Week: vs. Deerfield (1/24), vs. Kent (1/27), at Williston (1/29)
