The battle for NEPSAC girls hockey supremacy gets more competitive as the game grows.
Last season Williston Northampton (Elite 8), Buckingham Browne & Nichols (Large School) and Rivers (Small School) emerged as champions after the tournaments in March.
Who will loft the trophies this time around?
With insight from the region’s coaches, here are New England Hockey Journal’s top 10 projections for the 2022-23 campaign.
1. Noble and Greenough School
2021-22 record: 25-3-1
Coach Tom Resor has another powerful squad. The Chuck Vernon Elite 8 runner-up looks to get the title back and will be led by Ellie Mabardy, Brooke Manning, Olivia Maffeo, Cali Cerruti, Sophia Levering, Anya Zupkofska, Clare O’Connor and Carly Ward. Nobles’ first league game is Nov. 30 at home against New Hampton.
2. Loomis Chaffee
2021-22 record: 13-6-4
Loomis finished as the No. 5 seed last year in the Chuck Vernon Elite 8 and many think the team will compete for a higher seed this year. Coach Liz Leyden will look to Maggie Johnson, Hamilton Doster, Annie Sun, Catie Collins and goalie Leila Fournier to lead. Loomis will open Nov. 30 at home against Choate Rosemary Hall.
3. Tabor
2021-22 record: 14-5-4
Those in the know expect Tabor to compete with Nobles this year for the league title. Coach Eric Long’s team was the No. 6 seed in the Chuck Vernon Elite 8 and will be led by Rebecca Murphy, Ava McGaffigan, Kayla McGaffigan and Kaitlin Sullivan. Tabor opens at Cushing Academy on Dec. 3 in a first-round rematch from last year’s playoffs in which Tabor won 4-0.
4. St. Paul’s School
2021-22 record: 17-6-1
Coach Kelli Mackey’s squad was the No. 7 seed in the Chuck Vernon Elite 8 tournament last year and is expected to compete for the title this year. St. Paul’s will look to captains Tessa Demain, Bree Ricker and Skyler Sharfman along with Alex Chisdak, Kaitlyn McKinnon, Cami Bell and Charlotte Wensley. St. Paul’s opens the season Nov. 30 at Brewster Academy.
5. Williston Northampton
2021-22 record: 24-1
Last year’s Chuck Vernon Elite 8 champions will need to replace some offense and might have growing pains in the early part of the year, but coach Christa Talbot-Syfu’s team should be in the mix to repeat. Ava DeCoste, Emily Crovo, Katherine Kang, Miranda Calderone and goalie Jenna Guglielmi will lead the way. Williston begins its title defense Dec. 3 at St Paul’s.
 
6. Buckingham Browne & Nichols
2021-22 record: 13-10-3
Coach Ed Bourget’s team earned the No. 2 seed in the Patsy Odden Large School Tournament last spring and went all the way, upsetting top seed Deerfield Academy 4-1 to win the championship. BB&N will be led by Meghan Britt, Alexsa Caron, Annabelle Najarian, Melissa Bulman and Cailey Larouco and begins its title defense at Dexter Southfield on Dec. 2.
7. Deerfield Academy
2021-22 record: 10-5-4
Coach Brooke Fernandez took Deerfield to the top seed and championship game last year in the Patsy Odden Tournament, with the team falling to BB&N in the finale. This year Deerfield will look to finish at the pinnacle, led by C.C. DesLauriers, Callia Ferraris, Kaley MacDonald, Annie Dinges and Lauryn Broecker. Deerfield gets back at it Dec. 3 at St. Marks.
8. Cushing Academy
2021-22 record: 17-5-4
After an excellent regular season last year and No. 3 seed in the Chuck Vernon Elite 8 Tournament, Cushing was upset by Tabor. Coach Valerie Bono-Bunker will look to Rylie Jones, Sammy Taber, Caroline Lilley, Courtney Lilley, Lily Prendergast and Emmy Archuleta. Cushing will be at Brooks on Nov. 30 to kick things off.
9. Phillips Andover Academy
2021-22 record: 14-5-4
Phillips Andover, coached by Martha Fenton, was the No. 4 seed last year in the Chuck Vernon Elite 8 and took eventual champion Williston to overtime in the semifinals before falling 3-2. The team will be young but should contend, led by Olivia McManus, Anne Averill, Lulu Rourke and Julia Simon. Andover opens Dec. 7 at Winchendon School.
10. Kent
2021-22 record: 12-6
Kent was the No. 8 seed last year in the Chuck Vernon Elite 8 Tournament, losing in the first round to Williston. Coach Shawn Rousseau’s team will be led by Aylah Cioffi, Megan Duplantie, Sophie Rousseau and Lauren Ferrari. Kent opens at Hoosac School on Nov. 30.
