After just about a month of the prep school hockey season, it’s apparent that Kimball Union and Salisbury are in a class all by themselves. The two behemoths skated to a 2-2 tie at the Flood-Marr. Hopefully the Hockey Gods have everything aligned so the two teams could face each other next March with a prep school title on the line.
Thayer, a team that most observers felt would challenge for the top spot all season, has fallen out of this week’s New England Hockey Journal Prep School Rankings due to a lackadaisical start that now includes Tuesday’s lopsided loss to Exeter. It would be shocking if the Tigers don't make an appearance again soon.
Tip of the Hat: Coming in cold off the bench as a backup goaltender is never easy. The task gets that much harder when you’re making your first varsity appearance in the championship game of the Flood-Marr Tournament against juggernaut Kimball Union. While he didn’t lead his team to victory, senior Alex Gadowski made 28 saves in relief. The Dummerston, Vt., native is in his first year with the varsity after playing JV previously.
This week’s prep hockey rankings are two days late due to the busy schedule this past weekend and waiting until the last game was played before the holiday break.
Questions? Comments? Complaints? Email [email protected].
NEHJ Prep Hockey Top 10 Rankings – Dec. 21, 2017
1. Kimball Union (8-1-1)
After scoring four goals in the Flood-Marr, Ohio State recruit Arlo Merritt has surpassed his point total of a season ago and has almost doubled his goal total with 12 points, nine of those goals.
Last Week: T 2-2 Salisbury, W 3-2 Deerfield, W 6-2 Milton, W 4-2 Westminster
Next Week: vs. Milbrook (12/28), at Belmont Hill (12/28), vs. St. Francis (12/29)
2. Salisbury (8-0-1)
Continuing the trend of players taking advantage of increased ice time and developing in prep hockey, senior Brett Willits’s 17 points matches his career total of his previous two seasons for the Crimson Knights. Andrew Will’s team is talented and deep and has a good mix of skill, size and grit.
Last Week: T 2-2 Kimball Union, W 6-2 Milton, W 3-2 Deerfield, W 5-2 Nobles
Next Week: --
3. Rivers (6-0-1)
The Red Wings just keep plugging along with solid defense and stellar goaltending. Princeton commit Aidan Porter has allowed just nine goals in seven games. Rivers doesn’t have as many prospects as KUA or Salisbury, but Shawn McEachern’s group plays well as a team and executes the game plan to perfection.
Last Week: T 2-2 (OT) Brunswick, W 4-0 Williston, W 3-2 (OT) St. Sebastian’s
Next Week: vs. New Hampton (12/28), vs. Brunswick (12/29), vs. Nichols (12/29)
4. Cushing (8-1-1)
The Penguins announced their re-emergence on the prep school hockey scene with a win at the Groton/Lawrence Tournament. Steve Jacobs’s team is older and will challenge the top dogs all season. Forward Vilho Saariluoma (Union) and defenseman Nolan McElhaney (UNH) both made commitments after the weekend.
Last Week: W 3-2 (OT) Lawrence, W 5-0 Pomfret, W 4-1 Holderness, W 3-1 Culver
Next Week: Watkins Cushing New Year’s Tournament
5. Exeter (8-1-1)
The Big Red might not have a Division I player on its roster, but Dana Barbin’s team has a lot of potentially strong Division III prospects. The team’s first line of Bobby Murray, Kyle Jadatz and Garrett Foster are fun to watch.
Last Week: W 6-3 New Hampton, W 8-1 Hoosac, W 7-2 Thayer
Next Week: --
6. Westminster (6-1-0)
The Martlets were easily the third best team at the Flood-Marr in back of KUA and Salisbury. Outside of the team’s three Division I commits, Tim Joncas’s team has several smaller players who could make great Division III recruits down the road.
Last Week: W 4-3 Brunswick, W 6-2 Andover, W 5-1 Nobles, W 4-0 Hotchkiss, L 2-4 Kimball Union
Next Week: --
7. Gunnery (5-2-2)
Craig Badger’s team captured the title at the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic. Seniors Marc Gatcomb and Zach Pellegrino each had three goals over the four games while JP Mella was strong in net.
Last Week: T 2-2 (OT) Trinity-Pawling, W 4-0 Berkshire, W 7-3 Loomis, T 1-1 Kent
Next Week: --
8. Dexter (4-2-1)
Dan Donato’s team lost twice last week, but once the team regains full health, it will be fine. Jack Rathbone is what makes the team go. Uncommitted senior Jack Nisbet had a good weekend at the Groton/Lawrence Tournament.
Last Week: L 2-4 Proctor, W 6-1 Groton, L 1-3 Culver, W 2-1 (OT) Holderness
Next Week: vs. Culver (12/28), vs. Canterbury (12/29), vs. Thayer (12/29)
9. Milton (5-2-0)
Few players have as high a compete level as freshman Matt Beniers, who is the most sought after uncommitted prospect in New England. He scored the game-winning goal with 13.7 seconds to go against Andover in the Flood-Marr and was terrific throughout, even going up against much older players.
Last Week: W 3-2 Deerfield, L 2-6 Salisbury, L 2-6 Kimball Union, W 4-3 Andover
Next Week: Tabor Invitational
10. St. Sebastian’s (5-3-0)
After starting the season 0-2, the Arrows won five in a row before an overtime setback against Rivers in the final of the St. Sebastian’s Tournament. 2018 NHL draft prospect Riley Hughes has really shown off his physical tools lately. Sean McCann’s team has two very good lines.
Last Week: W 4-1 Brooks, W 3-0 Albany, W 5-2 Winchendon, L 2-3 (OT) Rivers
Next Week: vs. Berkshire (12/29), vs. Williston (12/30)
