With the prep school hockey season starting in earnest this week, here are the Preseason All-Prep Teams. As the NEPSIHA does, the teams are divided into East and West. For this, only juniors and seniors were eligible for the first and second teams. Freshmen and sophomores were eligible for the All-Underclassmen Team.
First Team All-East
Forward – Jay O’Brien, Sr., Thayer (Providence)
Little explanation is needed for this pick. The Hingham, Mass., native is expected to be selected in the second or third round of this year’s NHL draft. O’Brien will put up a ton of points for a very good Thayer team that is expected to contend for an Elite 8 title.
Forward – John Farinacci, Jr., Dexter (Harvard)
There is no shortage of hype around the Chatham, N.J., native who is new to prep hockey after playing for Delbarton and Shattuck-St. Mary’s previously. An ’01, Farinacci had a terrific fall season after coming up just short of making the NTDP.
Forward – Lynden Breen, Jr., New Hampton (Maine)
A native of Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick, Breen should put up gaudy offensive numbers for the Huskies. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s a great skater who thinks the game one step above many of his peers.
Defense – Jack Rathbone, Sr., Dexter (Harvard)
The West Roxbury, Mass., native returns to prep hockey after hearing his name called in this past summer’s draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Rathbone has dynamic puck skills. He has no problem joining the rush, activating, and becoming a fourth forward. His one-timer, and point shot in general, are lethal.
Defense – Jordan Harris, Jr., Kimball Union (Northeastern)
Few players in prep hockey are as poised and confident with the puck on their stick. Harris does a great job on retrievals and turns defense into offense quickly. The Haverhill, Mass., native can skate it up, sidestep forecheckers and make good outlets.
Goaltender – Aidan Porter, Sr., Rivers (Princeton)
The Wellesley, Mass. native was the shutout machine a season ago. With a lot of Shawn McEachern’s top players gone to graduation, Porter will once again be relied upon. He’ll have the benefit of a weak division within the ISL.
Second Team All-East
Forward – Neil Shea, Sr., Lawrence Academy (Northeastern)
The Marshfield, Mass., native is back in prep hockey after trying his hand at the USHL with Cedar Rapids. He should be able to dominate this level with his wall play, vision and overall hockey IQ.
Forward – Aidan McDonough, Sr., Thayer (Northeastern)
McDonough has complimented superstar Jay O’Brien nicely over the past two seasons. He’s a big body down low and he has the strength to separate from defenders and get shots off. His first step and physical presence are two areas some scouts feel needs work.
Forward – Jerry Harding, Sr., Nobles (Providence)
There’s no player in prep hockey who hits and plays with the physical edge that Harding delivers each shift. The knock is he needs to score more, but expect a big senior season from Harding for a team that will need his production.
Defense – Michael Kesselring, Sr., New Hampton (Merrimack)
The New Hampton, N.H., native is climbing the draft ladder with his size and skating ability. He’s athletic, likes to step up into the play, and has length while defending. His father Casey, a former Merrimack star, is the New Hampton coach.
Defense – Jack Cameron, Sr., Lawrence Academy (Dartmouth)
The Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, native was impressive this fall for the Neponset Valley River Rats. He’s a steady defender who has the ability to step into the offense. He was thought to be a possible NHL draft pick last year so he has upside.
Goaltender – Connor Hopkins, Sr., Belmont Hill (Yale)
Jeremiah McCarthy’s team lost a lot of offensive firepower to graduation, so Hopkins will be counted on to keep opponents off the scoreboard. The Malden, Mass. native combines good fundamentals with solid athleticism.
First Team All-West
Forward – Christian LeSueur, Sr., Brunswick (Dartmouth)
The Bruins captain gets critiqued for his stride, but he finishes consistently. He could be a big impact player for a team that many think could surprise in prep hockey.
Forward – Kevin Wall, Sr., Salisbury (Merrimack)
The Fairport, N.Y., native is a power forward who can get up and down the sheet. He retrieves pucks and engages in the defensive end. His production should take a jump this season if he plays to his full capabilities each night.
Forward – Joey Musa, Jr., Trinity-Pawling (Dartmouth)
The Floridian is small, but he’s not afraid to play with an edge. His biggest asset is his vision. He makes great passes through seams to make plays in the offensive zone. He’ll need to make a step to help T-P win more games.
Defense – Andrew Lucas, Sr., Loomis Chaffee (Vermont)
The Virginia native was one of the most improved players in the fall season. He’s always been a puck-moving, offensive-minded defender, but he seemed to add strength and a step to his skating. He should be a leader and big time force for the Pelicans.
Defense – Peter Diliberatore, Sr., Salisbury (Quinnipiac)
Diliberatore is a great skater who can move the puck up ice with his feet and vision. He makes effective outlet passes that help push the pace and transition from defense to offense quickly. He walks the blue line and gets a lot of shots on net.
Goaltender – Thomas Gale, Jr., Deerfield (Dartmouth)
The Kirkland, Quebec, native was the main reason Deerfield won the Flood-Marr last season. He should once again be a key piece to any success his team has.
Second Team All-West
Forward – Matt Fawcett, Sr., Winchendon (Quinnipiac)
The Rhode Islander is another player returning to prep hockey after spending the fall in the USHL. He’s small, but he will score a lot for Winchendon. The only question will be just how effective he can be without his two linemates from last year.
Forward – Ryan Doolin, Sr., Westminster (Harvard)
The Hingham, Mass., native has good size and has become a more effective player. He was a big part of the Mid-Fairfield team that won the USA Hockey Nationals last season. If he puts it all together and brings it each shift, he should have a monster year for Westy.
Forward – Marc Gatcomb, Sr., Gunnery
The Woburn, Mass., native is a big power forward who should have a big senior season for Craig Badger’s team. He’s likely destined to be a high-end Division III player, but his impact will be felt this year in prep.
Defense – Phip Waugh, Jr., Trinity-Pawling (Army)
The McLean, Va., native is a big blue liner with a mean streak. He’s still learning the position, but he has the physical tools that had a few Hockey East coaches intrigued before he committed to West Point. He likes to join the rush and play with flash, but he needs to choose his spots.
Defense – Nick Hale, Sr., Salisbury (Holy Cross)
The Raleigh, N.C., native is a smaller defenseman who moves the puck well. He has a good stick and will be a leader for the Sarum Knights.
Goaltender – Peyton Durand, Jr., Pomfret
The undersized goaltender from Newport, R.I., is consistently overlooked, but he’s a big reason Pomfret was able to capture the NEPSIHA Small School Championship last March. He had a good fall, and should once again be able to carry his team on his back.
All-Prep Underclassmen Team
Forward – Matt Beniers, Fr., Milton
The Hingham, Mass. native is the most coveted uncommitted prospect in prep hockey. The ’02 will assuredly get invited to NTDP Evaluation Camp and has a chance to make the program. He combines skating, skill and compete. BC, BU, Harvard, Northeastern, Providence are the front-runners for his services.
Forward – Jason Siedem, Fr., Avon Old Farms (Boston College)
The late ’02 joins the Winged Beavers after spending the fall with the North Jersey Avalanche. The Madison, N.J., native is a tall, lanky forward with a good stride and a solid overall offensive skill set. He’s another potential NTDP candidate.
Forward – Liam Connors, Soph., St. Sebastian’s (Boston University)
The Southboro, Mass., native has a great motor and thinks the game fairly well. His feet are always moving, and his speed is difficult for opposing defensemen to contain.
Defense – Cade Webber, Soph., Rivers (Boston University)
The Meadville, Pa., native spurned the NTDP to stay at home, which was huge for Rivers. He’s a tall, lanky defender with a high ceiling. His first step and overall physical tools have scouts excited for his future.
Defense – Malik Alishlalov, Soph., Westminster (UConn)
The Russian is the top incoming defenseman in prep school hockey. Alishlalov had a solid fall season and can be dynamic with the puck on his stick. He’s still learning when to reel it in, but he likes to jump into the rush. He has good size and skating ability.
Goaltender – Drew Commesso, Soph., St. Sebastian’s (Boston University)
Another local ’02, Commesso is considered one of the top goaltenders in the country at his age level. He moves well, attacks shooters at the top of the crease and can make the acrobatic save when necessary.
