Predictions: Who will win the 2026 NEPSAC girls championships?

Everything has come down to this.

Just two teams remain in each tournament as Sunday's NEPSAC girls hockey championship bouts loom.

In the Elite 8, it'll be No. 5 Loomis Chaffee against No. 6 Deerfield. The Pelicans staged multiple comebacks against No. 1 Nobles in Saturday's semifinals, winning in overtime, 5-4, after trailing 3-1 entering the third and 4-3 late in regulation. The Big Green, meanwhile, took an early lead over No. 7 Tabor before holding off a comeback bid.

The Large School bracket went chalk as No. 1 Phillips Exeter will take on No. 2 Choate. Exeter's top guns led a 5-1 win over No. 4 BB&N in the semis, while Choate took a 3-1 victory over No. 3 Taft.

In the Small School final, two rivals will meet again as No. 1 Groton will face No. 7 New Hampton. The Huskies, who upset No. 3 Cushing in a 4-2 win in the semis, beat the Zebras in the Small School final in 2023 and 2024. Groton, meanwhile, held off No. 5 St. Mark's in a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Here’s the full schedule for Sunday’s NEPSAC championships at Dexter Southfield:

• Large School: No. 1 Phillips Exeter vs. No. 2 Chaote | 11 a.m.
• Small School: No. 1 Groton vs. No. 7 New Hampton | 1:30 p.m.
• Elite 8: No. 5 Loomis Chaffee vs. No. 6 Deerfield | 4 p.m.

As for my predictions, I was a perfect 6-for-6 in the semifinals. Putting me at 13-for-18, overall, across the three tournaments thus far. Naturally, I'm back for more.

Let's dive into our championship predictions.

Elite 8: No. 5 Loomis Chaffee vs. No. 6 Deerfield

Loomis and Deerfield met just one week ago in the regular-season finale.

The Big Green got the better of the Pelicans in the 2-1 overtime win. Peyton Wierl scored the third-period equalizer before Brianne Martin ended it in overtime. Izzy Kirby made 24 saves. Adeline Roper (Kennebunkport, Maine) made 19 saves for Loomis, and Megan Hosman scored.

Loomis, however, took home a 3-1 win over Deerfield way back on Dec. 10. That game might as well be ancient history, but some notable names came up big. Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) had two goals and an assist for the Pelicans, while Easton Pramuka scored. Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) had two assists, and Roper made 16 saves. Ana Makrogiannis made 33 saves for Deerfield, and Nicole Sciarretta scored.

So what does that all mean for Sunday?

For Deerfield, Kirby has continued her strong play into the postseason, as have Wierl and Sciarretta. Kirby made 22 saves in the semis against Tabor after stopping 25 in an upset of No. 3 Williston Northampton.

GIRLS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School

Wierl, along with twin Brady, made huge defensive plays as they protected the lead late in the semis, and both were key offensively against Williston. Sciarretta set up Sophie Frost's eventual game-winner against Tabor with a terrific stretch pass, too. Offense has been coming from everywhere, with Chloe Cleaves (Riverside, Conn.) catalyzing much of it. Sophomores Milana Shuman (Westfield, Mass.) and Reagan Deery (Darien, Conn.) provided the first two goals against Tabor. Freshman Alessandra Picard (Madison, Conn.) has had a strong postseason as well. She scored twice against Williston.

As for Loomis, Schwarz and Stepnowski continue to lead the charge. Each scored twice in the quarterfinals against No. 4 Dexter Southfield, and Stepnowski added two assists. She scored the overtime-winner over Nobles after setting up a pair of third-period goals for Schwarz. Linemate Carly Dann (Hanover, N.H.) scored as well. Hosman and Hattie Willard have continued their success as a pair in the postseason. Others, like Brooke Murphy, Scarlett Robertson (Fairfield, Conn.), Amaya McNeil (Fairfield, Conn.) and Lexi Buco (North Providence, R.I.) have made huge plays as well.

In net, Roper has had some ups and downs in the postseason, but she's proven capable of rising to the moment in big spots. Just look at last year's Elite 8 championship.

It's close, but Stepnowski and Schwarz are playing at such a high level right now. They can power Loomis to one more win.

Prediction: Loomis Chaffee wins, 3-2

Large School: No. 1 Phillips Exeter vs. No. 2 Choate

This matchup might be the toughest to pick.

You've got Exeter, which has perhaps the best line in all of the NEPSAC.

Paisley Meyer (Greenland, N.H.), Maria Gray and Erin Sears (Cornwall, Vt.) have continued to lead the charge in the postseason, along with defender Grace Riley. Riley had a goal and an assist in the semifinals against BB&N after posting a goal and an assist against No. 8 Middlesex in the quarterfinals. Gray scored twice in the semis after she had two assists in the quarterfinals. Sears, who scored against BB&N, and Meyer came up with key plays again, too. Mia Griffith, Emma Shu (Westwood, Mass.) and Laney Fortney have made strong impacts in the postseason as well. Eva Mai Whyte (Natick, Mass.) wasn't overly tested against the Knights, but made the saves she needed to make for the win.

Choate, meanwhile, can play anyone tight and shut down opposing offenses.

BOYS BRACKETS: Elite 8 | Large School | Small School

They'll need Noel Schaab (Sherman, Conn.) to continue her strong play in net. It'll also be critical that Kate Tortorella (Westport, Conn.), Sophia Lind (Madison, Conn.) and Julianna Iannace continue their strong play in all three zones. Up front, it'll be up to Annie Forker (Stratford, Conn.) and Natalie Beach (Darien, Conn.) to match Exeter's top guns. Forker had a goal and an assist in the semis after scoring the overtime game-winner in the quarterfinals. Victoire Devillers (Darien, Conn.) and Claire Chanfrau also came through with goals in the semis.

Exeter and Choate are very different on paper. The Big Red have scored 93 total goals this season, while giving up 64. The Big Red have scored four or more goals 15 times this season. Choate, meanwhile, has scored 59 goals and allowed just 37. The Wild Boars have held opponents to two or fewer goals in all but three games all season.

I could see Exeter's top line going nuclear again, just as easily as I could see Choate holding them in check.

Prediction: Exeter wins, 4-2

Small School: No. 1 Groton vs. No. 7 New Hampton

Groton and New Hampton meet again. There's plenty of history here.

Every meeting is full of drama. There were the Small School final meetings in 2023 and 2024. Then, Groton edged New Hampton, 2-1, in overtime at the Watkins Tournament last December. The Zebras got the better of the Huskies again, 2-0, at the Watkins this season.

Who will get the last laugh this time?

Groton has played tight games in the tournament, despite largely carrying the play against No. 8 Frederick Gunn in the quarterfinals and St. Mark's in the semis. Jaelyn Trudell (Andover, Mass.) has had a strong tournament, and she was rewarded with both goals in the semis. Groton's penalty kill has been effective, too, whether it's Nora Wilson (Weybridge, Vt.) making big stops in net, or key defensive plays from Tatum Friedholm (Sudbury, Mass.) and Oona Kathan (Arlington, Mass.). You can't forget about a key play-driver like Tina Scalese (West Boylston, Mass.), too.

TAKEAWAYS: 24 observations from the 2026 NEPSAC girls quarterfinals

New Hampton, meanwhile, is flat-out rolling. The Huskies are 7-2-1 in their last 10 after upsetting Cushing and No. 2 Rivers (3-1) in the postseason. Emma MacPherson (Sandwich, Mass.) has been nails in the tournament, posting two goals and an assist against Rivers and adding another goal and an assist against Cushing. Her setup for Katie Usilton's power-play goal on Saturday was a beauty. Kelsey Baker (Concord, Mass.) and Lily Thomas have come through on the scoreboard of late as well. After making 17 saves against Rivers, Elizabeth Vincent made 31 against Cushing.

Maybe I'm getting too caught up in New Hampton's postseason matchup as they try for a four-peat, but it's so hard to pick against the hot hand.

Prediction: New Hampton wins, 3-1

WATCH: Reacting to the NEPSAC girls quarterfinals