Summer is over. The New England boys prep hockey season is roughly three months away.
It’s a good time to look ahead to the upcoming season, which should be an interesting one, to say the least.
Lots of questions surround prep. Players are leaving at a higher rate than before, with more junior hockey options open (thanks, CHL ruling).
And we don’t yet have the answers.
It will still be highly competitive this winter. There aren’t any teams that strike me as true powerhouses yet, although some will definitely emerge once fall hockey gets underway.
Let’s dive into some early storylines.
Will even more kids leave prep early?
Leading up to last season, the best players tended to leave prep before graduation. The top rising seniors typically went to the USHL.
That changed with the CHL ruling. With players able to go to the CHL and still be eligible for college, more roster spots opened up.
And locals certainly took advantage of that last season.
Prep was still at a high level this past season. Multiple 2026 NHL Draft prospects (18-year-olds) opted to play for their prep school. But it’s uncertain if as many will opt to stay this winter.
Word around the rinks is that QMJHL teams (who have regional rights to New Englanders) want multiple New England players on their teams — even the non-English-speaking teams. They know that will strengthen their league, too.
Already, St. Mark’s defenseman Logan Cotter (Marlboro, Mass.) and Milton Academy forward Blake Wilichoski (Danvers, Mass.) both tendered in the USHL. In past seasons, those two top ‘10s would’ve likely returned to prep.
QMJHL camps are well underway, but haven’t finished yet. Top ‘10s like Sam Fishbone (St. Sebastian’s) and Jamie Calla (Governor’s Academy) are still with the Halifax Mooseheads.
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Who will be the best teams next season?
The last storyline factors into this one — it’s hard to tell how each team will look without knowing who is returning.
But that’s never going to stop me from speculating.
Your usual suspects will still be really good. Avon Old Farms, the defending Elite 8 champs, will be back near the top. They look like early favorites.
You really think head coach Andrew Will at Salisbury and Tim Whitehead at Kimball Union will let their teams take steps back? No way. Both Salisbury and Kimball Union will be Elite 8 contenders again.
Cushing was a young, inexperienced team last season and won the Large School tournament. The Penguins should undoubtedly push for an Elite 8 spot come this winter.
Dexter has become a prep powerhouse, but the Shields could lose up to 10 of their top scorers from last season, along with even more players.
One team that should take a big step this winter is Belmont Hill. The Sextants return a high-end group of ‘10s and ‘11s who should supplement the older talent on the roster. Another potential breakout team is Choate. Head coach Mike Pereira brought in an impressive recruiting class.
St. Sebastian’s is another team that, despite losing forward Jack Queally (Milton, Mass.) to the U.S. National Team Development Program, should maintain its standing as one of the best teams in prep.
Who will vie for Player of the Year?
While we don’t know for sure who will be back, there are a slew of high-end players who should make an impact if they are back.
Avon Old Farms senior Ethan Gingeleskie (West Hartford, Conn.) should be back and be one of the top players in prep. His blend of skill and a wicked shot should have him as one of the top point producers.
In terms of rising juniors, that starts with St. Mark’s forward Cam MacPherson (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Brunswick forward Keegan Kazan (Wilton, Conn.). Those two have been consistent forces in prep over the last few seasons. MacPherson has quietly been one of prep’s best players over the last three seasons, posting point totals of 30, 37 and 46. Kazan posted 34 points in 34 games as a sophomore two seasons ago before notching 44 points as a junior.
Yale commit Greyson Espenshade had a big junior season for Salisbury with 38 points in 31 games. He’s due for a huge winter.
Other rising seniors who could be in Player of the Year contention are Tabor’s Ethan Travis (Narragansett, R.I.), Phillips Exeter’s Noah Poinsett-Yoshida, Holderness’ Chris Delaney, Phillips Andover’s Alex Theodore, St. Paul’s Mitchell Smith, Cushing’s Danny Patch (Melrose, Mass.) and Winchendon’s Ryan Mogielnicki (Hudson, N.H.).
READ MORE: Top 50 ’09 boys entering the season | Top 50 ’10 boys entering the season | 30 ’11 boys to watch entering the season
But prep has become younger in recent seasons. So the top player may come from a non-senior, as it did in 2024-25 when Rivers freshman Carter Meyer (Winchester, Mass.) won it. Phillips Andover defenseman Jack O’Dell seems ripe to step into Player of the Year contention. He just finished his sophomore season.
Rivers forward Carter Felt (Natick, Mass.), St. George’s forward Cam Daigle (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Winchendon defenseman Tyler Poti (Sandwich, N.H.) are all ‘10s who could make the jump. If Calla and Fishbone are back, count them in, too.
One ‘11 to watch: Dexter Southfield’s Max Prudovsky (Newton, Mass.). More on him in a bit.
Which ‘11s will pop for NTDP, USHL tenders and QMJHL first-round picks?
Prep had two ‘10s make the NTDP in Queally and Sam Lee (Woburn, Mass.). Cotter and Wilichoski were tendered by USHL teams. No prep player was picked in the first round of the QMJHL Draft.
Can the ‘11s match, or even exceed, four moving on?
Prudovsky is the first name that comes to mind. The highly skilled ‘11 is a phenomenal center who still managed to put up 10 goals and 22 points on a stacked Dexter team this past winter. With Dexter set to lose most of its team from last season, Prudovsky should have a huge role and thrive, which would further boost his stock.
Also at Dexter is forward Carter Watson (Bridgewater, Mass.), who had nine points this past season. His powerful play should come in handy on the wings. A strong winter would put him in a good spot to at least get an invite to NTDP Evaluation Camp.
On defense, Belmont Hill’s Emmett Aufiero (Winchester, Mass.) is the big name. He played a consistent shift for the Sextants this past winter and posted five points in 30 games. He’s a two-way, do-it-all force who should see a big uptick in points this winter.
Who will be the best goalies?
This is also where players leaving early plays a factor. Williston Northampton’s Kamden Jackson and Hotchkiss’ Neilan Johnson won’t be back.
The clear leader is Tabor’s Vinnie D’Urso. The Andover, Mass., native has been sensational for the Seawolves over the last two seasons, most recently putting up a 1.99 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage this past winter.
Ethan Bauer (Belmont, Mass.) should have the net full-time for Belmont Hill, which is good news for the Sextants. Berkshire’s Alex Kim is a rising senior who had a big winter as a junior with a 1.62 GAA and a .930 save percentage. Fellow ‘08 Timmy Heaslip had a 2.14 GAA and a .923 save percentage for Governor’s Academy.
There's also St. Sebastian's '08 Tommy Saulnier. The Medfield, Mass., native was outstanding last winter with a .943 save percentage and a 1.80 GAA as a junior.
As for ‘09s, look to St. Mark’s Aaron Alves-Thomas (Uxbridge, Mass.).
And, oh yeah — remember Will Bagot? The junior who stepped into the Elite 8 championship and made 48 saves to win a title? He’ll be a senior. Big things should be expected.
Who are the early 2027 NHL Draft candidates?
It’s not saying much, but this past season was the best in prep since 2022, with four prospects picked right out of prep.
While it’s still early, I don’t see it being a big year for 2027 NHL Draft prospects in prep.
The big one is O’Dell if he chooses to come back. The 6-foot defender is a great skater, hard hitter and phenomenal with the puck. He does everything really well, and makes a whole lot of sense as an early mid-round pick.
READ MORE: What's the future of fall hockey?
At Avon Old Farms, Marshall Paul, a 6-foot-2 defenseman, should get NHL attention. So should his teammate Gingeleskie. Another dark horse is Hotchkiss’ Ethan Hung. The defenseman’s stock has skyrocketed since the end of last season.
