There is a misnomer that all good hockey players leave the MIAA before reaching their senior season of high school.
While it is true that some good young prospects opt out of the MIAA for prep school, this year’s senior class proves that good players stick around to finish what they started. The ultimate proof of that is Northeastern commit Anthony Messuri, who stayed all four years at Arlington High School and helped the Spy Ponders win two Super 8 championships.
There were several other seniors deserving of recognition for staying and playing high school hockey. With the season and school year cut short due to the Coronavirus, I wanted to salute 35 top seniors in the Massachusetts high school circuit from this past winter. In addition to summarizing their hockey abilities, I also tried to track down where they’ll be heading in the fall. Some are doing a postgrad year at a prep school and others are playing junior hockey. Many are going straight to college to play Division 3, club, or another sport, or to just be a regular student.
Anthony Messuri
Arlington, 7/24/01, C, left shot, 5-9/165
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Messuri had 14 goals and 23 assists. Playing for his dad, John Messuri, he was the leader of the team on and off the ice. He’ll play two years of junior hockey before heading to Northeastern. The plan for 2020-21 is skating for the Northeast Generals in the North American Hockey League.
Brendan Jones
Arlington, 7/30/01, LW, left shot, 5-10/180
NCAA commit: Holy Cross (baseball)
Jones was actually the leading scorer for the Spy Ponders, scoring 18 goals and adding 20 assists. While he certainly has the skating ability, hockey sense and skill to play college hockey, he’ll play baseball at Holy Cross.
Will Trischitta
Framingham, 10/9/01, C, left shot, 5-9/130
Trischitta carried the Flyers on his back as he scored 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points in 25 games. Centering the team’s first line, playing point on the top power-play unit, and killing penalties, it sometime appeared as if he never left the ice. A good student, Trischitta will be attending UMass Amherst in the Isenberg School of Management, where he will also try out for the club hockey team.
John Hagan
Canton, 9/7/01, RW, left shot, 5-10/145
Hagan again was the offensive catalyst for the Bulldogs. In his senior season, he potted 18 goals and 31 assists. He amassed a whopping 61 goals and 99 assists in his career to easily surpass the century club. He also leaves Canton with two state championships. A good all-around athlete, Hagan will be heading to Tilton for a postgrad year, where he’ll play for head coach Brooks McQuade.
Ryan O’Halloran
Burlington, 5/2/02, C, left shot, 5-10/145
O’Halloran enjoyed a terrific career playing for Bob Conceison’s Red Devils. In 25 games as a senior, he posted 16 goals and 19 assists. He’s signed on to play for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs in the USPHL NCDC.
Matt Keohane
BC High, 1/1/01, C, right shot, 5-9/190
NCAA commit: Assumption
Keohane is a testament to working hard and good things will happen. He didn’t leave school for another program when he was lower on the depth chart as an underclassman. He just kept plugging along and had a monster senior season for John Flaherty’s crew. Keohane had 14 goals and 15 assists to lead the Eagles in scoring. Next season, he’ll hit the ice for the Greyhounds at Assumption.
Matt Ryan
Xaverian, 4/29/01, C, right shot, 6-1/185
Ryan had 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 2019-20. He finished his high school career with 114 points for Dave Spinale’s program. Up next will be a year spent in the EHL with the Walpole Express.
Ryan Pomposelli
Xaverian, 6/5/01, C, left shot, 5-11/190
Pomposelli posted 17 goals and added 12 helpers this past winter. He finished just three points shy of the century mark for his career. He’s heading to Tilton for a PG year.
Sean Walsh
Hopkinton, 4/19/02, C, right shot, 5-9/160
Walsh leaves Hopkinton as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 73 goals and 85 assists for 158 points. He had a career-high 36 goals as a junior and finished this season with 25 tallies. Walsh is another MIAA standout who is heading to Tilton for a PG year.
Logan Dapprich
Pope Francis, 2/13/02, D, right shot, 6-2/175
Dapprich had three goals and 16 assists to lead the way for the Pope Francis blue line. He’s a good-sized, mobile defender with offensive upside. As a young senior, he’s exploring options to play 18-U for either the North Jersey Avalanche or Mount Saint Charles, or to play for the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL.
Thomas Milne
Arlington Catholic, 6/2/01, C, left shot, 5-9/160
Milne, who is a speedy center, was the offensive stalwart for Dan Shine’s Cougars over the past few seasons. He’ll be heading play a postgrad year for Paul Tortorella at Phillips Andover.
Matt Myers
St. John’s Shrewsbury, 2/19/02, C, left shot, 5-11/165
Myers enjoyed a solid career for the Pioneers. He had nine goals and 10 assists as a senior and will be joining the Islanders Hockey Club in the USPHL NCDC for 2020-21.
Tom Barbati
Tewksbury, 3/5/02, D, left shot, 6-1/175
Barbati, who returned to his hometown high school after playing at South Kent Selects Academy, was a solid two-way defenseman on the top pairing. He averaged nearly a point per game for the Redmen in 2019-20. The first American taken in the 2018 QMJHL draft, Barbati is exploring options to play junior hockey next season.
Cam Lawhorne
Reading, 11/6/01, D, left shot, 5-9/165
Lawhorne steadily got better over his career at Reading. A mobile, puck-moving defenseman, he scored five goals and added six assists this season. He’s slated to join the Islanders HC in the USPHL NCDC.
Ryan Davies
Arlington, 3/27/01, D, right shot, 5-11/160
Davies had five goals and 18 assists as he turned himself into one of the better blueliners in the state. He logged a ton of minutes and was solid in his own zone as well. Davies is expected to play for the USPHL NCDC’s South Shore Kings next season.
Ian Worthley
Bishop Fenwick, 2/2/02, C, right shot, 6-1/160
Worthley had a breakthrough summer in 2019, gaining some attention at a couple of showcases. He continued his strong play this winter on the ice for the Crusaders. Worthley scored 15 goals and added 13 assists to guide Jim Quinlan’s team to the Division 1 North Tournament. Next up for Worthley is a postgrad year at Winchendon.
Jack Gilligan
St. John’s Prep, 5/29/02, D, right shot, 6-1/201
Gilligan was one of the better two-way defensemen in high school hockey this winter. He had four goals and six assists but also was reliable in his end. Gilligan will be playing for the Junior Bruins in the USPHL Premier.
Ned Malolepszy
St. John’s Prep, 8/27/02, C, right shot, 5-11/170
Malolepszy scored a bunch of big goals for Kristian Hanson’s Eagles this winter. He had seven goals and 13 assists in 20 regular-season games before adding a few more in the playoffs. He’s deciding between going to Fairfield and playing on the club team or skating for the East Coast Wizards in the EHL.
Robbie Lopez
Framingham, 10/18/01, C, left shot, 5-8/175
Lopez had five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 25 games while playing on the team’s second line. He’ll be attending Plymouth State with the hockey portion of his future still up in the air.
Tim Carroll
Hingham, 8/20/02, C, right shot, 5-10/165
Carroll was a three-year varsity player for Tony Messina’s Harbormen. In 2019-20, he posted nine goals and 18 assists while excelling at the faceoff dot. He finished his Hingham career with 16 goals and 35 assists. While he had interest from prep schools to do a postgrad year, he was accepted into Providence College, early decision, and will be heading there. He’s expected to play club hockey.
Matthew Fiorenza
Reading, 10/13/01, D, right shot, 5-10/150
Fiorenza is a mobile defenseman who skates well. For a few years now, he’s been on the top pairing for Mark Doherty’s Rockets. He had a goal and nine assists this winter. He’s headed to play a PG year for the Rams of Tilton.
Nico Carere
Belmont, 1/9/02, G, catches left, 6-0/180
Carere had seven shutouts for Belmont this past winter, including an epic performance in the Division 1 North Tournament against St. Mary’s. He’ll be bringing his goaltending talents to Tilton for a postgrad season.
Michael Dragon
BC High, 10/5/01, D, right shot, 6-2/170
NCAA commit: Merrimack (baseball)
Dragon had three goals and nine assists for John Flaherty’s team. He’s a big, athletic kid who is committed to play baseball at Merrimack. However, he could absolutely play college hockey at some level, if he wanted to. He’s strong and plays with a mean streak. He’s somewhat of a jack of all trades. He’d sometimes be spotted in front of the net on BC High power plays.
Tucker Hanson
Masconomet, 1/1/01, G, catches left, 5-10/155
Hanson also is a little undersized for a modern-era goaltender, but he’s quick and makes the saves he’s supposed to make. In multiple viewings of the Chieftains, he shows that he was athletic and could be counted on by how his coaches and teammates. Hanson is slated to play for the Valley Juniors Warriors in the EHL.
Jake Handy
Framingham, 1/1/02, G, catches left, 5-11/160
There were numerous times this winter where Handy stood on his head late in games to keep Framingham ahead or keep the team in it. He was a terrific goaltender for Will Ortiz’s squad. Handy is off to basic training for the National Guard in July with hopes of pursuing a career as a police officer or firefighter.
Nathan Brennan
Arlington, 3/15/02, G, catches left, 6-0/160
Brennan didn’t always face a ton of rubber, but he made some key saves at crucial times to keep Arlington’s stellar season going. He’s expected to play for the Valley Junior Warriors in the EHL.
Ben Cheney
Duxbury, 1/17/02, C, right shot, 5-8/155
Cheney was second on the Dragons in goal scoring with nine. A Division 1 state champion in 2019, he’s off to do a postgrad season for Derek Cunha at Williston.
Matt Brody
Belmont, 8/12/02, LW, right shot, 5-9/140
Brody had 11 goals and 15 assists while playing left wing on the team’s dynamic top line. He’s headed to Bates College, where he plans on playing for the club team.
Justin Rocha
Belmont, 1/22/02, C, right shot, 6-0/170
NCAA commit: Dickinson (football)
Rocha had eight goals and 17 assists this season. As the team’s big first-line center, he did a good job of going to the dirty areas and getting his linemates time and space. He’s headed to Dickinson College in Pennsylvania to play college football.
Jason Bunyon
Westford Academy, 8/9/01, LW, left shot, 5-11/165
NCAA commit: Assumption (lacrosse)
Bunyon had 13 goals and 21 assists to lead the Grey Ghosts deep into the MIAA Division 1 North Tournament. His coach, Bob Carpenter, praised him for his work ethic and selfless play. His father, Jeff Bunyon, and late grandfather, Ned Bunyon, were both longtime Hockey East referees. Jason will be heading to Assumption College to play on the lacrosse team.
Zach McKenelley
St. John’s Prep, 4/11/02, RW, right shot, 6-1/185
McKenelley had a team-high 10 goals for the Eagles. A solid three-year contributor at St. John’s Prep, he’s weighing his options in Tier 3 junior hockey.
Ryan McCarthy
Winchester, 1/1/02, C, right shot, 6-1/190
NCAA commit: Union (lacrosse)
McCarthy led the Sachems in scoring with 12 goals and 11 assists. A big power forward at the high school level, McCarthy also is a standout on the lacrosse field. He’ll be playing that sport for the Dutchmen of Union College.
Michael Martignetti
Winchester, 3/13/02, D, left shot, 5-11/180
Martignetti was one of the highest-scoring defensemen in high school hockey. He scored six goals and dished out 14 helpers while serving as co-captain with McCarthy. Next season, he’s expected to play a postgrad year for Dana Barbin at Phillips Exeter.
Noah Dorsey-Sorofman
St. John’s Prep, 1/1/01, G, catches left, 6-3/170
Dorsey-Sorofman is a big goaltender who will draw interest from numerous Tier 3 junior teams in the area. He had his ups and downs during his career at St. John’s Prep, but he saved much of his best for last.
Luke Roberts
Wakefield, 6/1/02, G, catches left, 6-2/160
Roberts, a big goaltender, was a key to Wakefield’s return to the Division 2 North Tournament after a prolonged absence. He had some interest from Tier 3 junior teams in the area but has chosen to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology and try out for the club team.
