Boys prep rankings: There’s a new No. 1 team in the region

The rankings changed a lot for one week in January. Don't get used to this every week.

There were some big matchups in the New England boys prep hockey world. One in particular created a new No. 1 team in the region.

However, there were also multiple upsets, and teams outside the top 10 made statements about getting back in.

Let's dive into the latest boys prep rankings.

1. Dexter Southfield (10-2-0)

Previous ranking: 4
Head coach: Danny Donato
Next game: vs. Winchendon, Jan. 17, 6 p.m.

If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best, and that's what Dexter Southfield did this past weekend, sweeping Brunswick in a two-game set on the road. Dexter took down the Bruins 6-3 on Friday night before taking them down 5-0 on Saturday afternoon. Dexter junior goalie Kyle Ready (Pembroke, Mass.) started Friday, making 23 saves. He made 23 saves again on Saturday after coming in for junior Colin Davis (Canton, Mass.), who broke a skate blade and made eight saves on eight shots before the break.

Another great development for Dexter: junior Jack Fitzpatrick (Canton, Mass.) posted a goal and three assists in Friday's win. If the 6-foot-5 forward can produce consistently, opponents are in trouble.

2. Avon Old Farms (8-2-0)

Previous ranking: 3 
Interim head coach: Mark Naclerio
Next game: at Hotchkiss, Jan. 15, 3:15 p.m. 

The Winged Beavers got bumped up to No. 2 due to some teams losing around them. Avon also took care of business in a 4-3 win over Taft on Saturday. Junior forward Jacob Jett got his second half off on the right foot after putting up two goals on the Rhinos, putting him third on the team in points with 11.

3. Kimball Union (12-3-2)

Previous ranking: 2
Head coach: Tim Whitehead
Next game: at Tilton, Jan. 17, 6:30 p.m. 

The Wildcats fell one spot after a 3-3 tie with New Hampton on Wednesday and a 3-2 OT loss to Stanstead College on Saturday. The Lakes Region is better than last season, which means the Wildcats will have some more difficult divisional games. New Hampton tying them is a great example of that. KUA will face a Tilton team looking to make a statement on Friday.

HIGH-SCORING NIGHT: 10 standouts, takeaways from Governor’s-Rivers 5-5 tie

4. Brunswick (13-3-2)

Previous ranking: 1 
Head coach: Mike Kennedy
Next game: vs. The Hill School, Jan. 18, 1:30 p.m. 

Losing both games to then-No. 4 Dexter put Brunswick in the No. 4 spot this week. Still, Brunswick has a lot going for it. It notoriously has a hard schedule, which means it will bounce around the top 10 for most of the season. The other thing is I love the two-game series idea. Next season, the two teams will play at Dexter. More of those back-to-backs between teams please.

5. Belmont Hill (10-2-2)

Previous ranking: 7
Head coach: Brian Phinney
Next game: vs. Thayer, Jan. 15, 5 p.m. 

Belmont Hill is rolling. Phinney's team hasn't lost in regulation in over a month. This past week, they took down Milton Academy 5-0 and then snuck past St. Sebastian's 4-2. Junior defenseman and Dartmouth commit Evan Jones (Arlington, Mass.) is on a heater with an 11-game point streak. He leads his team in points with 19.

6. Holderness (7-1-1)

Previous ranking: 6 
Head coach: Alan Thompson
Next game: at St. Paul's, Jan. 15, 2:30 p.m. 

Even with only one game this past week, Holderness took care of business, taking down Rivers, 5-2. Postgrad forward Connor Dozois (Grafton, Mass.) continued to be a smash hit. He tallied a hat trick and added an assist in the win. He leads the Bulls in goals (7) and points (14) through nine games.

LAST WEEK: Top boys prep performers from Jan. 1-7

7. Thayer (10-4-0)

Previous ranking: NR 
Head coach: David Hymovitz
Next game: at Belmont Hill, Jan. 15, 5 p.m. 

Thayer recently had a stretch where it lost to Holderness and Dexter, which kept it on the outside of the top 10. But the Tigers have since won four in a row, including a 7-2 takedown of Middlesex and a 4-3 win over Nobles on Saturday. Against Middlesex, senior defenseman (yes, defenseman) Declan Devin (Norwell, Mass.) had a hat trick, along with senior forward Mason Shea (Braintree, Mass.). A date with Belmont Hill on Wednesday will likely have a big impact on next week's top 10.

8. Cushing (9-3-1)

Previous ranking: 8 
Head coach: Ryan Bourque
Next game: at Salisbury, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m. 

The Penguins stayed at No. 8. After winning the Watkins Tournament, they took down Portsmouth Abbey, 6-3, in their lone game this week. Sophomore '09 Joseph Covelluzzi (Wakefield, Mass.) continued his strong start to his prep career with two goals, bringing his point total to 18. Junior forward Brian Yandle (Dorchester, Mass.) also tallied two goals, which were his first two of the season.

A big matchup with Salisbury awaits on Wednesday.

9. Berkshire (12-2-0)

Previous ranking: 9 
Head coach: Kevin Czepiel
Next game: vs. Wilbraham & Monson, Jan. 13, 5:30 p.m. 

Berkshire stayed put after a strong week. The Bears crushed Millbrook, 8-1, and then took down Williston Northampton, 4-1. Senior Duncan Thompson may be uncommitted, but he seems to be showing off in his final year at Berkshire. He scored two and added a helper against Millbrook before tallying a goal and two assists against Williston. He leads his team in goals (10) and points (23).

UPSET: 10 standouts, takeaways from Milton Academy's upset win over Tilton on Saturday

10. St. George's (8-3-1)

Previous ranking: NR 
Head coach: Allie Skelley
Next game: vs. Rivers, Jan. 14, 5 p.m. 

The Dragons got back in the top 10 after two big-time wins. The first came in a thriller on Wednesday when they took down then-No. 5 Phillips Andover, 5-4. Despite blowing a 4-1 lead, St. George's senior defenseman Nathan Walsh (Mendon, Mass.) was the hero, scoring the game-winning tally with seconds remaining. The Dragons followed that up with a 5-2 victory over Pomfret on Saturday.

DROPPED OUT: Phillips Andover (7-3-2; 5); Tilton (9-2-1; 10)

IN THE HUNT: Phillips Andover, Tilton, Deerfield, St. Mark's, Salisbury, Nobles, Rivers