Some boys prep seasons feature two or three teams at the top that are much better than everyone else. They are heavily favored to be in the Elite 8 championship game. Everyone else is vying for the spots below them.
This is not one of those seasons.
The field is wide open. Multiple high-end teams lost many players to graduation and are full of newer, younger players. Even our top two teams will look much different from how they ended last season.
What does all that mean? This season is bound to be one of the most interesting in recent seasons. It wouldn’t be surprising if any team on this list won the Elite 8.
As always, there will be lots of movement throughout these rankings as the season rolls on. Teams will fall off and others will enter. Some teams, like St. Sebastian’s last year, will drop out of the rankings and then make a last-ditch effort to get back on, eventually snagging a lower seed in the Elite 8.
For the first of many times this season, let’s dive in.
1. Salisbury
Head coach: Andrew Will
Last season: 20-6-1, lost to Kimball Union in semifinals of Elite 8 tournamentÂ
There's a reason Salisbury is our No. 1 team. The Knights boast a blend of high-end returning forwards with new guys who will make immediate impacts. Northeastern commit Connor Davis, who was included in NHL Central Scouting's preliminary watch list, will lead the group up front, along with players like Ryan Hedley, Nick Petrut and Jake Novak. Will brought in various '08s on defense, who will be expected to blossom. In net, Steven Luciano has earned the crease. It will be up to him to keep the Crimson Knights near the top of prep.
2. Avon Old Farms
Head coach: John Gardner
Last season: 23-3-1, lost to Cushing in semifinals of Elite 8 tournamentÂ
Avon Old Farms is big-time boom or bust. The Winged Beavers lost their top seven scorers from last season. But Gardner, who enters his 50th season as the boss, brought in a slew of intriguing '08 forwards, highlighted by Liam Donnelly, Jacob Jett and Nico Ciardiello. Still, Cooper Snee, a Providence commit, will lead the forwards. On defense, returners like James Odyniec and James Tucker will be boosted by Matthew Koch and Oskar Drabczynski. Anthony Palmer is a top prep goalie and has Michael Heinke to push him. With so many new players, this team has a very high ceiling — and a low floor.
OFF TO JUNIORS:Â 12 ex-prep players to track in junior hockey this season
3. Dexter Southfield
Head coach: Danny Donato
Last season: 19-10-2, lost to Kent in championship of Large School tournamentÂ
Dexter enters this season with high expectations in large part due to their impressive array of forwards. Sean Leetch (Boston, Mass.), Noah Survilas (Winthrop, Mass.), Joe Marchi (Foxboro, Mass.), Nate Porter (Hingham, Mass.) and Tyler Hamilton (Framingham, Mass.) are all back. The group was boosted by Rian Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.), who could be the best player in prep, and Nick D'Olympio (Rockland, Mass.) and Jack Fitzpatrick (Canton, Mass.) who came from the MIAA. Myles Brosnan (Winchester, Mass.) is a legitimate, No. 1 defenseman in prep and Colin Davis (Canton, Mass.) returns to the net. This team will be one of the most high-flying in prep.
4. Kimball Union
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
Last season: 32-5-0, beat Cushing in championship of Elite 8Â
The reigning champs lost three key pieces from last season: 87-point getter Jack Sadowski (Arlington, Mass.), 75-point getter Sam LeDrew and 55-point getter Andrew O'Sullivan (Scituate, Mass.). Sadowski and LeDrew led the region in points, while O'Sullivan topped all defensemen in points. Stepping in those massive shoes will be forwards Corwith Simmers, who had 54 points last season, CJ Watroba (West Springfield, Mass.), a Merrimack commit, and Iain Olsen (Vergennes, Vt.). On defense, it will be Nick Evans (Malden, Mass.) and newbie Lucas Siomos. And, of course, Blake McMeniman (Revere, Mass.) is back after an outstanding run to an Elite 8 title.
5. Cushing
Head coach: Ryan Bourque
Last season: 28-4-0, lost to Kimball Union in championship of Elite 8Â
Cushing lost in the final game the last two seasons. However, this is a very different team than the previous two. The Penguins will go as far as their defense and goaltending takes them. On defense, it will be all about Minnesota State commit Tyler Russo (Hamilton, Mass.), Arizona State commit Ryland Randle and Michigan State commit Tommy Bleyl. In net, Maks Corovic, an '08, will fill the crease left by Marko Bilic. Up front, there are a number of breakout candidates. What Bourque and co., must figure out is which ones will rise to the top?
PREP PREVIEWS: Avon Old Farms | Belmont Hill | Berkshire | Brunswick | Frederick Gunn | Holderness | Kent |  Phillips Andover Â
6. Belmont Hill
Head coach: Brian Phinney
Last season: 18-11-2, lost to Dexter Southfield in quarterfinals of Large School tournamentÂ
Older teams tend to do well in prep. One year after being a relatively young team, Belmont Hill has veterans throughout the roster, especially on defense. Senior Grayson Cohen (Weston, Mass.) proved he could be a legitimate No. 1 defenseman as a junior. There are also seniors Stephen Fabiano (Charlestown, Mass.), Lindan Verville (Needham, Mass.), Evan Dresser (Everett, Mass.) and Jack Duffy (Walpole, Mass.). Two other X-factors on defense will be Dartmouth commit Evan Jones (Arlington, Mass.) and Brady Sloper (North Andover, Mass.). That defense will be boosted by the goalie tandem of senior Keagin Wilson (Hingham, Mass.) and junior JJ Thibodeau (Waltham, Mass.). Oh, and by the way, this is the same team that has David Bosco (Winchester, Mass.) leading the offense along with Dartmouth commit Jake Tavares (Belmont, Mass.), Andrew Waugh (Norwell, Mass.) and Patrick Woods (Charlestown, Mass.).
7. Holderness
Head coach: Alan Thompson
Last season: 25-4-0, lost to Avon Old Farms in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournamentÂ
A lot of scoring graduated after last season, leaving a huge void. Still, Thompson reloaded well with high-end forwards like Viktor Samal and Brayden Wade. Connor Dozois (Grafton, Mass.) arrives at Holderness after posting 42 points at Worcester Academy last season. With players like Jacob Duval (Andover, Mass.), Eli Chilicki (Berwick, Maine), Tanner Petalas (Brentwood, N.H.) and Luka Pazzia (Burlington, Mass.), Holderness will be deep up front. Jeremy Poirier (Salem, N.H.) and Will Rob (Montpelier, Vt.) will lead the defense, while Luca Torriero and Mark Bierwirth (Chelmsford, Mass.), two newcomers to prep, will have to be good enough to keep their team in the Elite 8 hunt.
8. Nobles
Head coach: Brian Day
Last season: 15-8-4, lost to Berkshire in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournamentÂ
There is no question that the strength of this team is up front. Seniors Kyle O'Leary (Medfield, Mass.), who is a Yale commit, Teddy MacAusland (Westwood, Mass.), Dennis Davidson (Newton, Mass.), Ethan Cox (Westboro, Mass.) and Ben Nakata (West Barnstable, Mass.) will be relied upon heavily. So, too, will junior Billy MacAusland (Westwood, Mass.), who has hit a whole new level over the last year. The Bulldogs should be able to outscore opponents with ease. Where things get interesting is in net. Justin Lee, an '09, and Tucker Monroe (Wellesley, Mass.), an '07, will fight for the net.
9. St. George's
Head coach: Allie Skelley
Last season: 23-4-1, lost to Kimball Union in quarterfinals of Elite 8 tournamentÂ
It was a breakout season for St. George's last year, when they made the Elite 8. The Dragons aren't without their losses from last season, but they should be able to contend again for the Elite 8. The big story with St. George's will be the progression of Providence College commit Everett Baldwin (East Providence, R.I.). Arguably the most dynamic player in prep, NHL scouts will be watching his every move this season. If things go right, Baldwin, along with impact players such as fellow Providence College commit Marco Senerchia (Greenville, R.I.) and forwards Max Donatelli (Barrington, R.I.), Danny Buckley (Warwick, R.I.), Colin Walsh (East Greenwich, R.I.), Ryan Magaletta (Southboro, Mass.) and Owen Mulhern (Middletown, R.I.) should elevate St. George's.
BIG BOOST: 32 breakout forward candidates in 2024-25 boys prep hockey
10. Kent
Head coach: Dale Reinhardt
Last season: 15-8-2, beat Dexter Southfield in championship of Large School tournamentÂ
Kent won the Large School tournament championship last season. But can the Lions take that next step into Elite 8 territory? This recent comment from Reinhardt stood out to me: "I haven't been as excited about a group from a talent perspective in a long time." It's easy to see why. Up front, Dartmouth commit Stefano Pietrantonio and Luke Dow (Orange, Conn.) are back. But Cornell commit Jack Broderick will be added to the mix. So will forwards like Maddox Boyle, Richard Shin and Will Schlechtweg. Harvard commit Ryan Poirier (Salem, N.H.) and Nathan Di Chiara, who was on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary watch list, will lead the defense. Reinhardt also bolstered the crease with Jacoby Weiner (Riverside, Conn.), who was at U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp earlier this year and committed to Harvard.
NEXT UP: Brunswick, Rivers, Frederick Gunn, St. Mark's
