December 22, 2014

New England Prep Hockey Rankings

Rank Record The Skinny
1
Loomis Chaffee		 9-0-0
(2) Jr. G Tim Birarelli -- the MVP of the Avon Tournament -- has allowed only 9 goals in 8 games, and with blueliners like Giuttari and Bryson in front of him, and 6 forwards with 10 or more points leading the attack...well, that's why they are #1.
2
Exeter		 10-0-0
(1) Didn't play over tournament weekend, and won't be back in action until Jan. 7 vs. Brooks (8-0-1) in a battle of the undefeateds. At that time Jr. C Devin Moore, Exeter's top distributor, will be back in action. Biggest win of December -- the 3-2 win @ Cushing Dec. 13.
3
Cushing		 8-1-1
(4) Lost to a powerful Culver club in the LA/Groton finale. Conger, Cotton, Simons line has 24 goals in 10 NEPSIHA games. Joey Daccord (.923) has been solid in net. Only NEPSIHA loss was to #2 Exeter.
4
Salisbury		 8-2-0
(6) Wednesday's loss to Albany Academy could turn out to be the best thing that's happened to them all season. Two days later, they were at the Flood-Marr in a pretty testy mood. They played hard, physical games, outscored opponents 13-4, and -- for the 2nd straight season -- left with the hardware. Sr. G McBurnie named MVP.
5
Choate		 5-1-1
(7) Three of last four wins have been shutouts -- the last a 78:07 minute 49 save effort by Sam Tucker vs. a game Bel Hill squad. Have allowed only 11 goals in 8 games. Charley Borek returned to action for the first time in a year, and reports on him were good. If he and Nick Sanchez remain healthy this will be a tough team.
6
Kimball Union		 9-2-0
(3) Went 2-2 in the Flood-Marr, which might not knock your socks off, but these were all hard-fought one-goal games. KUA doesn't have the one major line they had last year, but the defense and goaltending are far better.
7
St. Sebastian's		 6-0-1
(8) This is a good, solid, fundamentally strong team. They don't beat themselves. Up front, Sr. Will D'Orsi has 21 points in 7 games. Sr. D Matt Doherty is one of the most underrated d-men around, and, with soph. Eric Jeremiah make a potent pair on the back end. And Danny Higgins is having a solid season in net.
8
Brooks		 8-0-1
(NR) Quite similar to St. Seb's, It's not surprising the two teams played to a 4-4 tie in their only meeting this season. Seniors KJ Moore and PJ Kelleher have been the big guns up front. Jr. Connor Moore heads up the blue line, and Sr. Max Prawdzik (.939) has been excellent between the pipes.
9
Thayer		 5-0-0
(NR) Tony's Tigers have allowed more than 2 goals only once this season, and that was to St. Andrew's College. So no shame there. Jr. G Mike Royer, who we've never seen play a bad game, has a .945 save %.
10
Westminster		 6-2-0
(NR) Only two schools they've lost to are Choate (2-1 in OT) and, in the Flood-Marr title game yesterday, Salisbury, a one goal game with an empty netter with one second on the clock. They battled and 6'2" Jr. G Stephen Gasior (26/28) was really good. On the GWG, he made a great save on the initial shot but the puck was bouncing all over the place and Salisbury forward had two whacks at it. Westy forwards haven't taken off yet, but if they do, this club could climb the charts fast.
* 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.