February 19, 2024

New England Prep Hockey Rankings

Rank Record The Skinny
1
Cushing		 24-3-0
(2 ) GPG/GAA: 4.96/1.41 -- The Penguins and KUA split a highly competitive home-and-home series last weekend, with the road team winning each night. Senior G Marko Bilic (1.46/.941), an Arizona State recruit, is statistically neck-and-neck with St. George's Ryan Shea. Junior D Ryland Randle, also an Arizona State recruit, is not shy about carrying the puck. Loves to lead the rush, and is playing with increasing confidence as the season moves toward its conclusion. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (5-1) Beat 'Wick, St. Mark's, Canterbury, Andover, and split with KUA. THIS WEEK: vs. New Hampton (Wed.), vs. Gov's (Sat.)
2
Kimball Union		 27-3-0
(3) GPG/GAA: 5.63/2.30 -- KUA got through the weekend without junior D Andrew O'Sullivan, who leads all prep blueliners in scoring. He should be back by this weekend. O'Sullivan, combined with snipers like Jack Sadowski and Sam LeDrew (both are averaging over two points per game) gives the Wildcats a potent powerplay. Senior F Malcolm Baar, another point-producer, is out for the season. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (5-1) Beat Andover, New Hampton, Holderness, Proctor, and split with Cushing. THIS WEEK: Lakes Region Tournament (Fri.-Sat.)
3
Avon Old Farms		 20-2-1
(1) GPG/GAA: 4.30/1.82 -- The Winged Beavers went into February undefeated at 17-0-1 but have hit a rough patch, losing two of their last five, the lowlight being a 5-1 beatdown at Salisbury Saturday. Two days later, they eked out a 2-1 OT win vs. Pomfret despite a 2-1 edge in shots. Alex Pelletier has 17 goals on the season, but only one over his last 10 games, though he has contributed 12 assists in those games. Coach John Gardner might have to reach into his bag of tricks to get his team back on track between now and a week from Wednesday. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (3-2) Lost to Gunn and Salisbury; beat Deerfield, Choate, and Pomfret. THIS WEEK: vs. Canterbury (Wed.), vs. Loomis (Sat.)
4
Brunswick		 20-3-2
(4) GPG/GAA: 4.44/2.39 -- In the Cushing game a couple of weeks ago, Wick came back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits before senior Luke Drury popped in a couple of PPGs midway through the third. Alas, they lost on a PPG in OT. But they haven't lost since. Brendan Giles leads prep goal-scorers with 38, while his center, Sean Gibbons, leads in assists with 42. With D Cooper Cleaves (7-29-36) at the point, 'Wick has one potent powerplay. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (5-1) Lost to Cushing; beat Gunn (2x), Berkshire, Salisbury, and Taft. THIS WEEK: vs. T-P (Sat.)
5
Salisbury		 17-5-1
(5) GPG/GAA: 3.91/2.42 --- This could be Andrew Will's best season as a coach. Salisbury's offense had struggled against the better teams, at least until Avon came to town Saturday night and got thumped, 5-1. Over its last 12 games, Salisbury is 10-1-1. Peaking at the right time? It certainly looks that way. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (4-1) Lost to 'Wick; beat Taft, Loomis, Avon, and Berkshire. THIS WEEK: @ Hotchkiss (Wed.), vs. Winchendon (Sat.)
6
Holderness		 22-3-0
(6) GPG/GAA: 6.04/2.04 -- Two of the Bulls' three losses to date have come at the hands of KUA, and, barring an upset, they'll meet again at the Lakes Region finals on Saturday. Before that, though, they'll host #9 Dexter. So it's a big week for them. PG Pavit Mehra (2.28) and senior Adam VanWie (2.20) are two of six prep players averaging over two points per game. The others are Sadowski and LeDrew (KUA), Sean Gibbons (Brunswick), and soph Parker Murch (Berwick). SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (4-1) Lost to KUA; beat Tilton, Winchendon, Vermont, and St. Paul's. THIS WEEK: vs. Dexter (Wed.), Lakes Region Tournament (Fri.-Sat.)
7
St. George's		 21-3-1
(10 ) GPG/GAA: 5.00/1.69 -- Senior Ryder Shea, statistically the top goalie in prep hockey (1.74/.943) has five shutouts and has only allowed more than three goals in a game once (he gave up four at Tabor last Friday). Junior defenseman Everett Baldwin will paste anyone who gets near his goalie. Sophomore Marco Senerchia and junior Nathan Walsh are other d-men to watch. The only team ranked in this poll that St. George's has faced is #9 Dexter. The Dragons won a 3-2 nailbiter on a Nathan Walsh goal with less than two minutes remaining. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (5-0) Beat Rivers, Brooks, RL, Tabor, and Groton. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Mark's (Wed.), vs. Middlesex (Sat.)
8
St. Sebastian's		 17-6-1
(N/R) GPG/GAA: 5.20/2.70 -- Ever since losing three of four over the first couple weeks of January, the Arrows have been on a tear, going 9-1-1. Over its last six, Seb's has outscored opponents, 34-15. Seb's strength is upfront where they have enough current and future Div. I recruits to fill up one of those SUVs with three rows of seating. That said, the defense has been key to their recent success, as they've cut down on goals against, having allowed as many as four goals twice (both to Tabor). SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (4-0) Beat Bel Hill, LA, Tabor, and Gov's. THIS WEEK: vs. LA (Wed.), vs. Thayer (Fri.).
9
Dexter		 16-7-2
(N/R) GPG/GAA: 4.31/2.88 -- Dexter has a slight chance for an Elite 8 spot, but to get there they'll need to beat Holderness and Belmont Hill this week. We wouldn't make that bet, but stranger things have happened. Dexter had difficulty at the Holiday Tournaments, over one 4-game stretch going 0-2-2. Since then, they've gone 12-4-0. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (3-1) Lost to New Hampton; beat P-Abbey, Winchendon, and Kents Hill. THIS WEEK: @ Holderness (Wed.), vs. Bel Hill (Fri.)
10
Noble & Greenough		 14-7-3
(7) GPG/GAA: 3.75/2.63 -- Ten of the Bulldogs' top 11 scorers are underclassmen. We pointed this out in the last poll, and probably several other times as well. That's their weakness as there's plenty of skill here, and the future looks bright. But, last Friday at Bel Hill, they held leads of 2-0 and 3-1 only to give up four goals in a second-period meltdown, losing 5-3. With that loss, they gave up control of their destiny. To gain an Elite 8 spot now would require both Seb's and Dexter to crumble like those barely edible Dunkin' Donuts muffins. SINCE FEB. 5 POLL: (2-1-1) Beat Milton and BB&N; tied Gov's; lost to Belmont Hill. THIS WEEK: vs. Gov's (Wed.), @ Milton (Sat.)
* Note: Only games between NEPSIHA Div. I schools -- the principal factor in determining seedings for the playoffs -- are included in the won-lost records above.