For over 45 years, John Gardner has led the Avon Old Farms boys’ hockey program and, in that time, Avon has become a national power and highly sought-after school by top players from around the country. Gardner has more than 800 career victories and eight New England Preparatory School Athletic Council championships since taking over as coach in 1975.
Despite all of that success, Avon hasn't won a championship since 2010 — something not lost on Gardner.
“We have had good chances to win in 2016 and 2020, really good teams but we have been a little snake bit lately,” Gardner said.
Last year was another talented Avon squad that went 23-4 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Elite 8 Tournament, but lost to Belmont Hill in the semifinals, 4-2.
“Been a little frustrating lately. I felt we had a really good team last year and fell short to Belmont Hill,” Gardner said.
Avon, as usual, lost a lot of talent off of last year’s team, including Brennan Ali, who is now with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars, committed to Notre Dame and a seventh-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings. Nikita Nikora is in the NAHL and committed to Dartmouth. Matthew DiMarsico is with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers and committed to Penn State. Sam Court is in the AJHL and committed to UNH. And goalie Conor Callaghan is with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks and recently committed to Princeton.
This year’s Avon Old Farms team is expected once again to compete for the NEPSAC Championship. “I think we have some talent, some talented kids. We did lose some really good kids that graduated but I think in hockey it comes down to goaltending and defense and if we get that then we will be right in there,” Gardner said.
Stephen Peck will be the No. 1 goaltender. “Good player, tall and lanky and I think can really blossom here at Avon,” Gardner said. Peck is coming in as a senior.
On defense, Gardner believes he has a really solid top four.
Jordin Palmer (Auburn, N.H.), who earned All-New England Prep status last year, is back on defense. Jack Kennedy (Granby, Mass.) will be back as well and has grown a lot in his time at Avon, according to Gardner. Hudson Miller's return to the back end will be welcomed. He recently committed to Yale. A newcomer to Avon expected to be a top-four defenseman is junior Andrew Pitts. Gardner thinks he will solidify their defense.
Up front, Avon will be led by Joe Connor (Amherst, N.H.), a Northeastern commit. This past summer, Connor played for Team USA in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He notched two goals and an assist in four games. Connor was also drafted by Muskegon in the USHL and was drafted fifth overall by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2021 QMJHL American Draft.
Also up front will be Nick Capasso (Northford, Conn.), who can slot in many places throughout the lineup and posted 10 goals and 23 points in 26 games last season. Charlie Gollob endured some injuries last year, but Gardner feels that with him healthy now, he’s primed for a big season. Charlie Blanchard (West Hartford, Conn.), a junior, will have a prominent spot down the middle.
Alex Pelletier (Granby, Conn.) will be someone Gardner looks to for scoring this winter. Ryan Flaherty (Milton, Mass.) comes to Avon this year from Boston College High School. Michael Munroe (Hanover, Mass.), a sophomore, is “really talented and already has recruiters watching him,” Gardner said. Munroe led the 15O Neponset Valley River Rats this fall with 47 points in 33 games en route to a state championship.
Overall, how does Gardner see the upcoming season?
“I think there will be a lot of parity this year in the ranks,” he said. “I think a lot of schools that were not all that good last year will be significantly better. I think there will be a lot of good teams this year.”
And you can bet Avon will be right there, as usual, battling for that ninth championship.
