December 23, 2013

New England Prep Hockey Rankings

Rank Record The Skinny
1
Salisbury		 9-0-1
(1) The Flood-Marr was no cakewalk for the Knights. All the games were tight affairs. They had to sweat and persevere, which is exactly what they did.
2
Kent		 7-1-1
(6) Plowed through the field at the Avon Xmas Classic, outscoring opponents 19-4. Team is older and wiser than the squad that bowed to Salisbury in the prep finals last season.
3
Cushing		 8-1-0
(3) A 4-2 loss to Dexter three weeks ago was the last time the Penguins lost. There is depth on this team -- six players have 10 or more points -- and the D and goaltending have been excellent, having allowed a shade over two goals per game.
4
Exeter		 10-2-0
(4) They've beaten Dexter and Kent; lost to Gunnery and Cushing. So we know they are competitive with the iron -- and they crush weak teams.
5
Dexter		 6-2-0
(2) Ryan Donato, averaging 3 ppg, came through big time, scoring Dexter's final two goals in an 8-7 OT win over Lawrence. However, a top team shouldn't need eight goals to get a W.
6
Kimball Union		 7-1-2
(5) Leading scorer AJ Greer, who has decommitted from Penn State, was injured in the first game at the Flood-Marr and missed the rest of the tournament. The Wildcats hung in there, though. Bird and Dudek picked up the slack -- and then some.
7
Thayer		 5-0-0
(9) They're undefeated but the game that really showed their mettle was Friday night's 2-1 OT loss to St. Andrew's College, a tough, physical, demanding game played at a very high tempo -- and with few whistles -- from start to finish. McGovern was terrific in net.
8
Noble & Greenough		 5-2-1
(8) After giving up 12 goals over two games, they got it together at the Flood-Marr, allowing 2.5 goals per game, reaching the finals, and going toe-to-toe with Salisbury.
9
Berkshire		 5-2-1
(7) The Bears lost two games last December before going on a major roll. This year's team, a year older, has lost two games in December too. Is another hot streak in the cards?
10
St. Paul's		 6-3-0
(NR) St. Paul's moves into the #10 spot, though a very good argument could be made for Trinity-Pawling, Millbrook, Brooks, Loomis -- and perhaps a couple of other teams too.
* Note: Only games between NEPSIHA Div. I schools -- the principal factor in determining seedings for the playoffs -- are included in the won-lost records above.