When a program has won eight straight titles in the Lakes Region League and established itself as one of the powers in the region, the way Kimball Union Academy has, opponents don’t shed too many tears over its graduation losses.
But there’s no denying that it’s a very different — and younger — KUA team taking the ice this winter, aiming to win the Lakes Region for the ninth straight time and return to the Stuart/Corkery tournament, where it was a semifinalist a year ago.
There’s also no denying the Wildcats still have the target on their back.
“The team to beat is KUA,” said Tilton coach Brooks McQuade.
“KUA will and always has been the team to beat in the Lakes Region over the past 10 seasons, and I think they will be strong again,” added Holderness coach Alan Thompson.
First and foremost for the Wildcats is replenishing a defense that lost its top four players. Juniors Jack McMinn, Ian Ramsay and Luke Clarner (East Burke, Vt.), and sophomore Andrew O’Sullivan (Boston, Mass.) will eat up most of those minutes and hopefully grow into a formidable unit.
“It’s really about protecting our ‘D’ early in the year until they get their skates under them,” said KUA coach Tim Whitehead.
There’s more experience up front, where RPI commit Jackson Kyrkostas (Windham, N.H.) leads a strong crop of forwards and UNH commit Jack Sadowski (Arlington, Mass.) is a high-profile newcomer; and in goal, where Vermont commit Dan Heroux returns.
Holderness is coming off its best season in decades, going 20-4-3 and getting selected for the Stuart/Corkery, where it was matched up against KUA in the quarterfinals and dispatched, 4-2.
Thompson lost 12 seniors from that team but returns senior All-Star goalie Evan Plunkett, who should give his team a chance to win most nights the way he did in last year’s quarterfinal when he saved 35 of 38 shots.
“I voted for him, that’s for sure,” said Whitehead. “They have a steady presence on the back end.”
New addition Caeden Herrington will bring a big boost to the defense, and Max Charbonneau and Aidan O'Connell (Wilmington, Mass.) were both among the top five scorers last year for a team that potted 125 goals in 27 games (4.63 per game).
Beyond those two teams, one could make a case that New Hampton (12-17-2) is the team best poised to challenge for the top spot.
“We’re excited about this group,” said coach Connor Gorman (Shrewsbury, Mass.). “We return a great group of seniors who are experienced, strong leaders and understand what we want our team culture to be. I think we may be one of the youngest teams in the NEPSAC with five 2007s and two 2006s on the roster, but all are talented players who will get meaningful time right away.”
Tilton (13-10-1) was the only other team in the league with a winning record last season, though the Rams were bypassed for NEPSAC tourney selection.
For starters, they’ll need to replace last year’s productive top line; seniors Nick Fontaine (8-8-16) and Quinn Booth (2-9-11) are the only returning forwards who managed double-digit points.
St. Paul’s (9-14-1) is another team that said goodbye to a good chunk of its offseason production.
Proctor (8-15) will try to climb the league ladder built around a defense that features seniors Colin Kwak and Cam Gwatkin (Lyndonville, V.t.) in front of junior goalie Caden Pasqualone.
Part of the excitement at Brewster (11-16-2) is the construction of a new on-campus rink that will be open-air this winter but give the team all kinds of flexibility with practices. Seniors Dalton Kane and Doyle Coughlin (Glastonbury, Conn.) combined for 76 points last season.
MORE NEPSAC PREVIEWS: Housatonic | ISL | Independents
Nowhere to go but up for Vermont Academy (4-21-1), which has 15 new players on its roster, including six talented sophomores who could help build the foundation for future improvement.
Here's a full look at all teams in the Lakes Region.
BREWSTER
Coach: Billy Rivellini
2021-22 record: 11-16-2
Players to watch: Dalton Kane, F; Doyle Coughlin, F; Zach Glinski, D; Patrick Green, G
Outlook: The Bobcats increased their win total by seven from their last full season and are hoping to continue that upward progression. Kane (17-23-40) and Coughlin (19-17-36) were among the team’s leading scorers last season. Glinski delivered 16 assists from the blue line and Green posted a .904 save percentage. Keys will be improving scoring depth beyond the top line and getting a relatively young defensive core up to the speed of prep hockey. Rivellini, who played at Colgate, joined the program as an assistant coach last year.
HOLDERNESS
Coach: Alan Thompson
2021-22 record: 20-4-3, lost to Kimball Union in Stuart/Corkery tournament quarterfinals
Players to watch: Max Charbonneau, F; Aidan O'Connell, F; Jake Boulanger, F; Caeden Herrington, D; Evan Plunkett, G
Outlook: Holderness graduated 12 seniors off a team that produced one of the best seasons in school history. Its 125 goals scored and 50 goals allowed were the best figures in at least the past two decades of the program. Charbonneau and O’Connell were among the team’s leading scorers last season, and there’s strength in the net, with Plunkett a proven asset, and good depth with juniors Ryan Nolan and Kolin Belliveau. Herrington is a solid addition to a new-look defense.
KIMBALL UNION
Coach: Tim Whitehead
2021-22 record: 29-3-1, won Lakes Region championship; lost to Salisbury in Stuart/Corkery tournament semifinals
Players to watch: Jackson Kyrkostas, F; Michael Sullo, F; AJ Noel, C; Malcolm Baar, C; Sam Ledrew, F; Kyle Murray-Smith, F; Jack Sadowski, F; Jack McMinn, D; Ian Ramsay, D; Luke Clarner, D; Andrew O’Sullivan, D; Dan Heroux, G
Outlook: This is not the same KUA team that battled Salisbury to the end in the Elite 8 semis in March. Whitehead calls it “probably the youngest team I’ve had since I’ve been here” and the youth is most evident on defense, which graduated its top four. Heroux brings stability in net and Kyrkostas (RPI commit) leads a group of dangerous forwards. Still the team to beat in the Lakes Region League and a strong candidate to return to the Elite 8.
NEW HAMPTON
Coach: Connor Gorman
2021-22 record: 12-17-2
Players to watch: Matt Babineau, F; Scott Lagos, F; Christian Day, F; Jackson Weglarz, D; Josh Sacco, D; Nate Zerrenner, G
Outlook: On a team without any college-committed players yet, the Huskies will lean on their seniors to enhance the culture and several younger players who will see ice time right away. “We want to play fast, relentless, in-your-face hockey,” said Gorman. “If we do that, we will be fine. … I believe a number of players can have breakout seasons this year. That’s always good when that happens. We will need strong goaltending and I am confident in the guys we have.”
PROCTOR
Coach: Mike Walsh
2021-22 record: 8-15
Players to watch: Jon Groth, F; Finn Connor, F; Maks Watton, F; Nick Marrocco, F; Kevin Delaney, D; Colin Kwak, D; Caden Pasqualone, G
Outlook: Proctor is poised to take a step forward this season, anchored by a solid core of veteran defenders, a group led by seniors Kwak and Cam Gwatkin. There’s improved depth up front, with lines that will also include Groth, Connor, Watton, Marrocco, and juniors Ty Gwatkin, Avan Pyle and Nolan Davis. Pasqualone is an experienced netminder. The team currently has no college-committed players.
ST. PAUL’S
Coach: Daniel Murphy
2021-22 record: 9-14-1
Players to watch: Josh Halliday, F; Bryce Terry, F; Jack Roberts, F
Outlook: St. Paul’s graduated eight seniors off last year’s team that collected most of its wins against teams near or below it in the standings, and took down a pair of ISL programs — Milton and Lawrence. Terry scored 10 goals, one of two players last year in double figures in that category. After KUA and Holderness, St. Paul’s is on the next tier of teams hoping to play their way into NEPSAC tourney consideration.
TILTON
Coach: Brooks McQuade
2021-22 record: 13-10-1
Players to watch: Kai Tsoar, F; Aidan Dres, F; Andrew Tice, D; Nick Fontaine, F; Quinn Booth, F; Derek Greer, D; Aidan Rufa, D; Patrick Poirier, D; Conor Waldron, G
Outlook: The Rams have turned over completely since McQuade led them to the Piatelli/Simmons tournament championship in 2019. Like that team, this Tilton squad does not currently have a Division 1 committed player. Fontaine, the team captain, is the top returning scorer (8-8-16) from a team that graduated a dynamic top line. The emphasis is on playing tough, disciplined hockey, said McQuade.
VERMONT ACADEMY
Coach: Brian Allen
2021-22 record: 4-21-1
Players to watch: Joshua Swan, C; Jack Pattison, RW; Phil Longchamps, LW; Cole Robinson, F; Ivan Miasoedenkov, F; Lucas Sinacola, F; Logan Sinacola, F; Tristen Ayojiak, F/D; Billy Durand, D; Thor Martin, D; Mathison Hole, D; Owen Willgos, G
Outlook: VA turned over half its roster, graduating 14 players and bringing in 15 new ones. The senior core should be bolstered by a talented class of six sophomores who are expected to make an immediate impact. Willgos is a strong goaltender who should give his team a chance to win on many nights. Still quite a bit of distance between Vermont and the top of the league, but VA hopes to shrink that gap this winter.
