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Tues. Jan. 3rd, 2017 Tournament Scoreboard

Phillips Exeter Tournament (Day 2 of 2)
At Phillips Exeter Academy; Exeter, NH
Stanstead Goes Undefeated; Wins Championship

Stanstead 1, Brooks 0
, 8:45 am
Kings 4, Vermont 1, 9:00 am
Milton 2, Exeter 0, 10:15 am
Rivers 2, Proctor 1, 10:30 am

Playoffs:
2 Cardinal vs. 2 Grey, 3:15 pm   Exeter 2, Brooks 2
3 Cardinal vs. 3 Grey, 3:30 pm   Rivers 5, Kings 3
1 Cardinal vs. 1 Grey, 4:30 pm   Stanstead 6, Milton 0 Championship Game
4 Cardinal vs. 4 Grey, 4:45 pm   Proctor 6, Vermont 0

Round-robin Standings:

Cardinal Division:
1. Milton (8 pts.)
2. Exeter (6 pts.)
3. Kings (4 pts.)
4. Vermont (0 pts.)

Grey Division:
1. Stanstead (9 pts.)
2. Brooks (4 pts.)
3. Rivers (4 pts.)
4. Proctor (1 pt.)


 

Nine Teams in Race for #8 Spot?

With only a month left in the season, it’s time to take a close look at the race for the eight teams that will qualify for the NEPSAC Division I Championship. As we have noted, we have never seen so many quality teams in Division I, but what was really surprising to us is that, in our opinion, the top five teams appear pretty much set (though not in order), the 6th/7th seeds are pretty close to being locks, and, incredibly, there are nine really good teams battling for the eighth – and final – spot. This last month of the regular season should be great fun to watch. Make sure to follow us on Twitter (@USHRgirls).

Here are the locks as we see it coming down the stretch:

1.     Williston (14-1-2)

2.     Nobles (14-2-1)

3.     Kent (11-1-2)

4.     Loomis (14-2-1)

5.     New Hampton (14-2-1)

As far as the two that we think are locks, we have to go with:

6. St. Paul’s (13-3-1) SPS is in great shape but has some tough games left including St. Mark’s, Tabor, BB&N, Nobles, and Lawrence.

7. Tabor (10-3-1) Tabor still has a bunch of games left but has fewer challenges down the stretch than some of the other teams. Still have to play Lawrence, St. Mark’s, Andover, St. Paul’s, and Berkshire.

And here are the nine teams battling for the #8 spot:

-- Andover (11-4-0) May have the hardest stretch schedule of any D-I team. PA has their work cut out for them if they want to make the tournament again.

-- Lawrence (10-6-1) We’ve been saying all year that a lack of depth could really hurt LA down the stretch. Not a super-hard schedule to finish.

-- Deerfield (6-5-3) Deerfield is absolutely in the mix but finishes the season with Williston and Loomis. That’s about as hard as it gets when trying to qualify for the tourney for the first time in years.

-- NMH (10-6-2) NMH is also very much in the hunt. Has a bunch of winnable games left to play. Choate on Wednesday is big for both teams.

-- St. Mark’s (8-7-3) Has as good a chance as any. Face a huge test at SPS Wednesday.

-- Choate (6-7-1) Choate lost to Kent yesterday, 6-1. Has NMH, Williston, and Loomis as their next three opponents.

-- BB&N (8-7-1) Still has to play Nobles, Williston, St. Paul’s, and Lawrence.

-- Milton (7-7-3) Very friendly schedule to finish season with despite their final game being at Nobles.

-- Berkshire (6-7-0) Berkshire has a pretty friendly schedule to finish the season. So don’t count the Bears out yet.

  

 

Girls’ Prep Composite, Week of Jan. 30, 2017
Mon. Jan. 30
Taft @ Canterbury, 4:00 pm
New Hampton @ Tilton, 5:00 pm
Brooks @ Andover, 5:15 pm
Kent @ Choate, 5:45 pm

Tues. Jan. 31
Mater Dei @ Rye Country Day, 4:45 pm

Wed. Feb. 1
Hotchkiss @ Berkshire, 2:30 pm
Hebron @ Holderness, 3:00 pm
Middlesex @ Groton, 3:00 pm
Worcester Academy @ Southfield, 3:00 pm
Brooks @ Thayer, 3:00 pm
Kent @ Greenwich, 3:00 pm
Exeter @ Andover, 3:15 pm
Canterbury @ Lawrenceville, 3:15 pm
Cushing @ New Hampton, 3:30 pm
St. George's @ Noble & Greenough, 3:30 pm
St. Mark's @ St. Paul's, 3:30 pm
Rivers @ Tabor, 3:30 pm
Milton @ Lawrence Academy, 3:30 pm
Winsor @ Newton CD, 3:45 pm
North Yarmouth Academy @ Berwick, 3:45 pm
Vermont Academy @ Proctor, 4:00 pm
Hill School @ Princeton Day School, 4:00 pm
Pomfret @ Westminster, 4:00 pm
Williston-Northampton @ Taft, 4:30 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ Pingree, 4:45 pm
BB&N @ Governor's, 5:00 pm
Gunnery @ Loomis-Chaffee, 5:00 pm
Choate @ Northfield - Mt. Hermon, 5:00 pm
Hoosac School @ Tilton, 5:00 pm

Thurs. Feb. 2
Rye Country Day @ Princeton HS, 5:00 pm

Fri. Feb. 3
New Hampton @ St. Paul's, 2:30 pm
Beaver Country Day @ Newton CD, 3:30 pm
North Yarmouth Academy @ Holderness, 4:00 pm
Proctor @ Berwick, 4:00 pm
Vermont Academy @ Albany Academy, 4:00 pm
Pingree @ Winsor, 4:30 pm
Milton @ Rivers, 5:00 pm
Northwood Prep @ Lawrenceville, 5:00 pm
Cushing @ Northfield - Mt. Hermon, 5:15 pm
Hebron @ Middlesex, 5:30 pm
Tabor @ Lawrence Academy, 6:30 pm

Sat. Feb. 4
Greenwich @ Albany Academy, 12:00 pm
Northwood Prep @ Lawrenceville, 1:00 pm
Andover @ New Hampton, 1:30 pm
BB&N @ Exeter, 2:00 pm
Southfield @ Middlesex, 2:00 pm
Thayer @ Milton, 2:45 pm
St. Mark's @ Tabor, 3:00 pm
Pingree @ Tilton, 3:00 pm
Kimball Union @ Proctor, 3:00 pm
Governor's @ Groton, 3:15 pm
Noble & Greenough @ Brooks, 3:30 pm
Worcester Academy @ Winchendon, 4:00 pm
Kents Hill vs. St. George's, 4:15 pm – at Belmont Hill
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Vermont Academy, 4:30 pm

Sun. Feb. 5
Northwood Prep @ Hill School, 2:00 pm

Mon. Feb. 6
Greenwich @ Rye Country Day, 3:30 pm
Hoosac School @ Newton CD, 4:30 pm
Groton @ BB&N, 5:30 pm


 

Girls’ Div. II Prep Poll
With a month to go in the regular season, there is some clarity at the top, and a number of teams a notch below all battling for one of the eight coveted playoff spots.  Barring an epic collapse, it appears that Rivers, Thayer, Worcester Academy and KUA look to be solid picks to be playing on the first Wednesday in March. The battle for home ice and the remaining four slots appear up for grabs.

Records against D-II opponents are in parentheses.

1. Rivers (7-0-4) – Rivers’ impressive D-II record looks better when you consider its overall record of 11-2-5 and the fact that its only two losses came against Nobles and Canadian powerhouse Stanstead College. Previous: #1

2. Thayer (11-2-3) – A 3-3 tie with Rivers justifies the second slot for the Thayer. Five D-I ISL opponents over the next month will test the Tigers.  Previous: #3

3. Worcester Academy (7-2) – Since dropping two straight in mid-December the Hilltoppers have won 8 of 9 while outscoring opponents 29-4 with 7 shutouts. Upcoming games with Southfield (2/1) and Rivers (2/8) should provide good tests.  Previous: #4

4. Kimball Union (9-2-1) – 5-1-1 since the star of 2017 with the only loss to Canadian power Stanstead College indicates that KUA’s early season success was no fluke. A February 4th match with Proctor should be interesting. Previous: #5

5. Canterbury (6-1-4) – Undefeated entering 2017, Canterbury has struggled to repeat its early- season success, going 3-4-3 overall since January 1st. With D-I foes Taft, Lawrenceville and Kent its next three opponents, the Saints will be challenged.  Previous: #2

6. Gunnery (3-2-1) – Incredibly, Gunnery has only played one D-II opponent -- a 2-2 tie with Canterbury -- since our last poll. Going 3-3-1 against a steady diet of D-I opponents indicates that The Gunnery has the depth to take on any opponent.  Previous: #7

7. Southfield (7-3-2) – Southfield has gone 4-1 against D-II opponents since the last poll, including a 1-0 win over high-scoring Thayer. They will have a chance to justify a higher slot with success against their next two opponents, Brooks and Worcester Academy. Previous: #9.

8. St. George’s (6-3-1) – After starting the season 1-4 the Dragons have been on a roll, going 5-2-1 with the only blemishes being losses to D-I opponents Tabor and St. Mark’s and a 1-1 tie with #1 Rivers. Previous: NR

9. Proctor (8-5-3) – Proctor has been very busy this month with 11 games since the calendar flipped to 2017. Their overall 5-5-1 record will need to improve in order to maintain their spot in the poll. Previous: #8

10. Tilton (8-4-3) – The Rams make their debut in the poll, having gone 6-2-1 in January. They will be tested Mon. Jan. 30th when they host D-I power New Hampton. Previous: NR

Others in the mix:  Groton (8-4-1), Brooks (4-5-0), and Governor’s (8-3-0)

 

 

USHR Girls Div. I Poll of Jan. 24, 2017
It’s a tough call with the top four teams all very close, but we give the nod to Williston. And although it’s still too early to start making predictions, the top seven teams seem like locks to make the tourney, meaning the race is on for the eighth and final slot.

1. Williston (12-1-2) -- Coach Christa Talbot has assembled another powerhouse loaded with D-I talent. Their only loss was by one goal to Nobles at the Harrington. Junior goalie Dani Marquez has been very impressive.

2. Kent (10-1-2) -- Kent is also very deep. Only loss was to Loomis. Tied Williston 2-2 on Saturday in a tremendous game. Has only given up 15 goals all year.

3. Nobles (12-2-1) -- Not as deep as usual but Nobles has a first line that is tremendous. The loss vs. Choate is a real head-scratcher.

4. Loomis (12-2-1) -- Dropped in poll after a tough loss to Tabor, but still a very dangerous hockey team.

5. Tabor (9-3-2) -- Hottest team in the league right now after wins vs. New Hampton and Loomis and a tie at Nobles.

6. New Hampton (11-2-2) -- New Hampton is not playing its best hockey right now but don’t count this team out.

7. St. Paul’s (11-3-1) – St. Paul’s is on a roll right now, having won six in a row.

8. Andover (8-3-0) -- Had lost two out of three and were looking a bit out of sync. However, they have three tough games this week and got things started on the right foot with a 3-0 win over BB&N on Monday.

 

 

Weekend Highlights
Forgive the tardiness of our recaps from the games of last weekend, but here they are:

Sat. 1/21/17

Kent and Williston Battle to 2-2 Tie

Kent, Conn. -- In one of the most highly-anticipated girls’ hockey games of the year, Kent battled Williston to a 2-2 tie at the beautiful Kent School Saturday. Weather had prevented these two prep powerhouses from playing the last two seasons so this was a must-see game; it certainly did not disappoint as both teams battled back and forth throughout the game and into overtime.

Williston struck first when Marykate O’Brien converted a nice feed from Kate Holmes (Northeastern). Kent answered quickly as junior Lizzy Gross scored to make it 1-1 on a great individual effort. In the second period, Williston standout Gaby Jones scored to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The third period was exciting as both teams had power play opportunities. But it was Kent capitalizing as sophomore Cec Ehrhard tied it at 2-2. Kent actually had a power play late in the third that carried into overtime but the Williston PK was very strong at crunch time.  The OT was very exciting as well but both goalies – Kent senior Becky Dutton (Harvard) and Williston junior Dani Marquez -- were excellent all game.

This was the first time we had seen Williston play since the Harrington Tourney and once again they were impressive. They have some dynamic forwards upfront led by Jones, Holmes, and Marielle McHale; and freshman Bryn Saarela looks like a real prospect. The Williston defense is also very strong with Julia Maclean (Merrimack) and Tori Palumbo (UNH) playing well all night, especially on the PK. Marquez looks like a future star in the net.

Kent is also loaded with Div. I talent and are much improved since we saw them early in the season. Gross and Ehrhard were standouts up front as well as dynamic senior Keely Moy, sophomore Kiersten Goode (Yale) and junior Tina Paolillo (Brown). Kent is solid on the blue line with senior Jess Ebzery a standout. Dutton is a real star in net. It is going to be very difficult to bet against Kent -- they are very deep -- once the tourney starts.

The past weekend was a great one for girls prep hockey. We have never seen so much talent and we have never seen so many talented teams. It looks like the next few weeks will be fun ones. Please make sure you stay tuned to the USHR girls section.

***


Tabor Ties Up Nobles

Dedham, Mass. -- In one of the best girls’ prep hockey games we have seen in some time, a late power play goal by Tabor senior defenseman Taylor Matheson (Dartmouth) lifted the Seawolves to a 2-2 tie Friday at Nobles in a matchup of two of the best teams in girls’ hockey.

In a back-and-forth game it was Nobles striking first, as freshman Casey O’Brien (Wisconsin) scored off a spectacular feed from senior Becca Gilmore (Harvard). Tabor junior sensation Kelly Browne (BC) tied it up 1-1 early in the third, taking a pass from Annie Berry and unleashing a beautiful snap shot from just inside the blue line. Sophomore D Lily Farden (Harvard) put Nobles up 2-1 halfway through the third period on a great individual effort and it looked like Nobles would hang on for the win until Tabor got its power play opportunity late and Matheson wasted no time taking advantage of it. Nobles looked like they might have won it in OT, but a  goal was called back as it looked like goalie interference was called on the play.

We have been felt all season that the championship will have to go through the Nobles again -- and after watching this game there is no doubt that the Bulldogs are as strong as anyone. Their first line of Gilmore, O’Brien and junior Katie Tresca (Harvard) is pretty much unstoppable every time they touch the ice, and Nobles’ second and third lines both chip in with solid minutes. The Nobles defense is also very deep with Farden, sophomores Nicki Lutschaunig and Rose O’Connor, and junior Steph Nomicos all very solid. Junior goalie Kelly Pickreign (BC) is consistently strong. 

Tabor is also very impressive, though not nearly as deep as Nobles. Browne is as good as anyone we have watched all year and is a threat to score every time she is on the ice. Up front, Olivia Finocchiaro (BC), Annie Berry (UNH) and Olivia O’Brien were on their game all night. On defense, Tabor is still missing top defenseman Jackie Leone but Matheson and Jillian Fey (BC) were very strong dealing with the Gilmore line most of the night. Lizzie Hanson continues to really impress in the net for the Seawolves.

It would be a big surprise if both of these teams were not in contention by the time the prep championships start in March. Both teams are loaded with talent, have solid D, and very good goaltending. Let us add that we wish all games were as enjoyable to watch as this one. 

***


Rivers Tops Groton, 4-1
Groton, Mass. -USHR traveled to Groton on Friday to see Rivers take on Groton in an ISL Div. II matchup. Coach Malcolm Spurling has Rivers on a roll this season and they didn’t disappoint, knocking off their hosts, 4-1.

In the first, after some initial back-and-forth play, Rivers took over the game midway through the period and finally – with just 18 seconds to go – went up 1-0 when Camille Phelan beat Groton goalie Sara Glawe. Shot totals for the first -- our estimate – were 14 to 4 in favor of Rivers.

The second period followed a course somewhat similar to the first, with Rivers controlling the play but unable to put any distance between them and their opponent until Jenna Letterie capitalized on a power play midway through the period. Rivers went up 3-0 on a flukey goal with 1.8 seconds left when Groton won a defensive zone faceoff directly into its own net. Emily Smith was credited with the goal for Rivers.

In the third, Groton cut into the Rivers lead when Angelina Joyce scored off the opening faceoff, picking up a puck in the neutral zone and beating Rivers junior goaltender Meghan Gazard upstairs to cut the lead to 3–1. Groton tried to apply pressure for the balance of the third but was unable to cut further into the lead. Rivers put the game away with an empty-netter for the 4-1 final.

Rivers improved to 11-2-3 overall (7-1-3 D-II) and showed why it is on the top of Div. II teams in New England girls prep hockey. Groton has now lost three straight and fell to 6-6-1 overall (6-4-1 in D-II) on the season. They will have their work cut out for them if they harbor hopes of getting into the top eight. 

Rivers's game Wednesday (Jan. 25, 3:00 pm; Boch Ice Center) with Thayer should have playoff seeding implications.

 

 

Girls’ Prep Composite, Week of Jan. 23, 2017

Mon. Jan. 23
Gunnery @ Taft, 5:00 pm
BB&N @ Andover, 5:15 pm

Tues. Jan. 24
Thayer @ Newton CD, 4:30 pm

Wed. Jan. 25
Berkshire @ Gunnery, 2:00 pm
Millbrook @ Hotchkiss, 2:30 pm
Exeter @ Tilton, 2:30 pm
Loomis-Chaffee @ Taft, 2:30 pm
Westminster @ Williston-Northampton, 2:45 pm
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ St. Paul's, 3:00 pm
Rivers @ Thayer, 3:00 pm
Governor's @ Southfield, 3:00 pm
Cushing @ Andover, 3:15 pm
Brooks @ Worcester Academy, 3:30 pm
Groton @ Pingree, 4:00 pm
St. Mark's @ St. George's, 4:00 pm
Kents Hill @ Proctor, 4:00 pm
Hill School @ Morristown Beard, 4:00 pm
Beaver Country Day @ Winsor, 4:15 pm
Dana Hall @ BB&N JV, 4:15 pm
Noble & Greenough @ Lawrence Academy, 4:30 pm
Hebron vs. Vermont Academy, 4:30 pm (at Exeter)
Rye Country Day @ Canterbury, 4:30 pm
Berwick @ Brewster Academy, 4:30 pm
Pomfret @ Deerfield, 5:00 pm
New Hampton @ Winchendon, 5:30 pm
Kimball Union @ Holderness, 5:30 pm
Kent @ Choate, 5:30 pm
Hoosac School @ Albany Academy, 6:00 pm

Fri. Jan. 27
Cambridge Rindge & Latin @ Beaver Country Day , 3:15 pm
New Hampton @ Vermont Academy, 4:30 pm
Groton @ Lawrence Academy, 4:30 pm
Cushing @ Noble & Greenough, 4:45 pm
St. Paul's @ Winchendon, 5:00 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ Middlesex, 5:00 pm
Rye Country Day @ Morristown Beard, 5:00 pm
BB&N @ Berkshire, 6:00 pm
Greenwich @ Loomis-Chaffee, 6:30 pm
Kimball Union @ Governor's, 6:30 pm
Worcester Academy @ Holderness, 7:00 pm
Brewster Academy @ Loomis-Chaffee, 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 28
Brewster Academy @ Choate, 12:00 pm
Governor's @ Tilton, 1:00 pm
Winchendon @ Vermont Academy, 1:00 pm
Tabor @ Westminster, 2:00 pm
Hebron @ Exeter, 2:00 pm
Middlesex @ Thayer, 2:15 pm
North Yarmouth Academy @ Pingree, 3:00 pm
Brooks @ Southfield, 3:30 pm
Winsor @ Berwick, 3:45 pm
Cushing @ BB&N, 4:00 pm
Gunnery @ Hill School, 4:00 pm
Holderness @ Groton, 4:00 pm
Hotchkiss @ Williston-Northampton, 4:30 pm
Berkshire @ Millbrook, 4:30 pm
Portsmouth Abbey vs. Beaver Country Day , 4:30 pm (at Southfield)
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Pomfret, 4:45 pm
St. Mark's @ New Hampton, 5:30 pm
Andover @ Deerfield, 6:15 pm
Lawrenceville @ Washington Pride, 6:15 pm (S)
Taft @ Kent, 7:00 pm

Sun. Jan. 29
Lawrenceville @ Washington Pride, 9:15 am (S)

Mon. Jan. 30
Taft @ Canterbury, 4:00 pm
New Hampton @ Tilton, 5:00 pm
Brooks @ Andover, 5:15 pm


 

Deerfield and New Hampton Battle to a Draw

New Hampton, NH -- A power play goal from sophomore defenseman Deirdre Mullowney late in the second period lifted Deerfield Academy to a 2-2 tie with host New Hampton Friday night.

New Hampton jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead just a few shifts into the game when BC commit Savannah Norcross stuffed one on a nice wraparound play. Deerfield’s first line responded quickly with a strong shift that that led to a goal when sophomore Mary Edmonds snapped one home to tie it 1-1.

New Hampton took a 2-1 lead halfway through the second period when Providence College bound Lauren Dublois walked in from the point and ripped one from the top of the circle. Deerfield then tied it late in the second period on the power play, with Edmonds making a nice feed to BC-bound Mullowney, who blasted one from the point. And that was it for the game’s scoring.

The third period and overtime was exciting to watch and, surprisingly, Deerfield carried the play but they just could not find the back of the net. New Hampton goalie Cierra San Roman and Deerfield goalie Jordan Manning were both very solid.

For Deerfield , they looked more like the team we saw in December when they almost beat Nobles. Coach Genevieve Pitt has an excellent first line in Edmunds, Williams-bound Meghan Halloran and Jenna Greenbaum. The Big Green’s second line -- freshmen Aurora Devereaux and Christina Halloran, and sophomore Mae Emerson -- is much improved. They also have three impressive sophomore defensemen in Mullowney, Ali Fujiyoshi and Erin Demarco. In net,  Manning is a rock.

As for New Hampton, for the second week in a row we left a little disappointed after watching another lackluster performance by a talented team loaded with D-I talent.

Coach Craig Churchill will likely right the ship but the Huskies are just not playing well right now. They looked like a very different team than the one we saw beat Nobles in the season opener. It was surprising to see all-world defenseman Cayla Barnes playing right wing for most of the game, and their other five or six D-I recruits did not seem to accomplish much most of the night. That said, senior forward Taylor Curtis was very strong, sophomore defenseman Lauren Dublois was a force every time she took the ice, and senior defenseman Kayla Milofsky was also very good.

It’s looking more and more like the race for the Final 8 is going to be a fun one to watch.

 

 

Girls’ Prep Composite, Week of Jan. 16, 2017


Mon. Jan. 16 (MLK Day)
Worcester Academy @ Proctor, 5:15 pm
Hotchkiss @ Gunnery, 5:45 pm
Loomis-Chaffee @ Westminster, 6:00 pm

Tues. Jan. 17
Hill School vs. Portledge, 5:15 pm (at Lawrenceville)

Wed. Jan. 18
St.
Mark's @ BB&N, 1:00 pm
Holderness @ Exeter, 2:45 pm
Tilton @ Brooks, 2:45 pm
Brewster Academy @ Noble & Greenough, 3:00 pm
Tabor @ St. George's, 3:00 pm
Canterbury @ Gunnery, 3:00 pm
Hebron @ North Yarmouth Academy, 3:00 pm
Middlesex @ St. Mark's, 3:00 pm
Berkshire @ Northfield - Mt. Hermon, 3:00 pm
Westminster @ Millbrook, 3:00 pm
Deerfield @ Choate, 3:15 pm
Williston-Northampton @ Winchendon, 3:15 pm
Cushing vs. Hotchkiss, 3:30 pm (at Trinity College)
Portledge @ Rye Country Day, 3:30 pm
Kents Hill @ PV Ice Breakers, 3:30 pm (S)
BB&N @ Rivers, 3:45 pm
Thayer @ St. Paul's, 4:00 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ Newton CD, 4:00 pm
Groton @ Proctor, 4:00 pm
Morristown Beard @ Hill School, 4:00 pm
Vermont Academy @ Kimball Union, 4:00 pm
Milton @ Governor's, 4:15 pm
Taft @ Loomis-Chaffee, 4:30 pm
Kent @ Pomfret, 4:30 pm
Dana Hall @ Nobles JV, 5:00 pm
Southfield @ Berwick, 5:15 pm
Lawrence Academy @ Andover, 5:15 pm

Fri. Jan. 20
Newton CD @ Winsor, 4:15 pm
Middlesex @ Cushing, 4:45 pm
Pingree @ Rye Country Day, 4:45 pm
Rivers @ Groton, 5:00 pm
Kents Hill @ Berwick, 5:00 pm
Dana Hall @ Middlesex JV, 5:00 pm
St. Paul's @ Exeter, 5:30 pm
Noble & Greenough @ Tabor, 5:45 pm
Holton Arms @ Hill School, 5:45 pm
Deerfield @ New Hampton, 6:00 pm
Albany Academy @ Tilton, 6:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 21
Southfield @ Holderness, 1:30 pm
Pingree @ Portsmouth Abbey, 1:30 pm
Loomis-Chaffee @ Tabor, 2:30 pm
Immaculate Heart @ Rye Country Day, 2:45 pm
Proctor @ Brooks, 3:00 pm
Newton CD @ Middlesex, 3:15 pm
Worcester Academy @ North Yarmouth Academy, 3:15 pm
Winchendon @ BB&N, 3:30 pm
Westminster @ Hotchkiss, 3:30 pm
Exeter @ Noble & Greenough, 3:30 pm
Milton @ St. Paul's, 3:30 pm
Andover @ St. Mark's, 3:45 pm
Greenwich @ Millbrook, 4:00 pm
Vermont Academy @ Groton, 4:00 pm
Thayer vs. Kents Hill, 4:30 pm (at Exeter)
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Tilton, 4:30 pm
Williston-Northampton @ Kent, 4:30 pm
New Hampton @ Pomfret, 5:00 pm
Gunnery @ Lawrenceville, 5:00 pm
Kimball Union @ Hebron, 5:00 pm
Rivers @ Brewster Academy, 5:00 pm
Taft @ Deerfield, 5:00 pm
Governor's @ St. George's, 5:30 pm
Lawrence @ Berkshire, 5:30 pm  ppd (a number of LA players are battling the flu)
Canterbury @ Albany Academy, 7:00 pm
Shady Side Academy @ Hill School, 7:30 pm

Sun. Jan. 22
Holton Arms @ Hill School, 11:45 am
Cushing @ Berkshire, 12:00 pm
Stanstead College vs. Nobles, 1:30 pm (S) (at Harvard)

Mon. Jan. 23
Gunnery @ Taft, 5:00 pm
BB&N @ Andover, 5:15 pm


 

Andover Tops Lawrence, 4-2

On Wednesday afternoon, in a matchup of Top 10 teams, host Andover topped Lawrence Academy 4-2 behind two goals apiece from freshman Lily Feeney and Yale commit Charlotte Welch.

Lawrence came out buzzing, with their dynamic first line controlling the play, but it was Andover striking first on a Feeney goal late in the period. In the second period, Lawrence answered early on a goal from senior Emily Lanci, tying it at 1-1, but Feeney scored her second goal late in the period to put Andover up 2-1 at the second intermission. The third period was great fun to watch as both teams had multiple chances. But Welch connected for two goals to put this one in the win column for Andover.

Shots on goal were 28-25 in favor of Lawrence.

We were impressed with both teams in this game, but Andover looks like a squad that is ready to make another tournament run. Coach Martha Fenton has done a great job turning around this program, as they are loaded with both veteran and young talent. Feeney and both Welch sisters really stood out up front and senior captain Kaitlin Hoang was terrific, too. On the back end Andover is also solid with sophomore Erin Kelley impressing with her smart decisions. Junior goaltender Ashley Tucker was very steady as well.

As for Lawrence, their first line is a threat to score every time they are on the ice. Quinnipiac commit Laura Lundblad handles the puck as well as anyone we have seen and junior Corinne McCool and senior Kelsey Ryan work very well together. Junior center Grace Bellefeuille has returned from a serious injury and was impressive. Her return should really help LA as they try to make a playoff run. On defense both senior Rachel Walsh and sophomore Jamie Comeau stood out. Junior goalie Maddox Angerhoffer was solid.

If any one thing prevents Lawrence from making the tourney, it could be a lack of depth. But we wouldn’t bet against coach Kevin Potter and the Spartans just yet.

 

 

Tilton Edges Brooks, 3-2

North Andover, Mass. -- Tilton got goals from three different scorers en route to extending their undefeated streak to five games with a 3-2 road win over Brooks on Wednesday.

PG AnnMargaret DiSciscio put Tilton up 1-0 early in the first, but Brooks got it back as freshman Carly Stefanini tied it up at 1-1. But less than a minute later Rams sophomore defenseman Ashlyn Brown scored to give Tilton a 2-1 lead at the end of the first.

The Rams wouldn’t relinquish that lead, either. In the second period, junior defenseman Tia Raspante scored the only goal of the frame to extend the lead to 3-1.

Brooks came out firing in the third period, and sophomore Caroline O'Keefe cashed in on the power play to cut into Tilton’s lead and make it a one-goal game. Brooks, led by outstanding junior defenseman Emma English, continued their surge. But Tilton senior goalie MaryClare Hanley was having none of it, shutting the door to give Tilton the win.

Tilton, now 7-1-2 over its last ten games, was impressive. After hosting Albany Academy Friday night, Tilton has a ten-day stretch during which they face D-II leader Governor’s and three D-I teams. If the Rams can continue to show progress throughout this period, they could set themselves up nicely for a possible playoff run as their final six regular-season games are within their division. As for individual players, we thought DiSciscio was very impressive up front and Hanley was rock-solid in net.

Brooks's early schedule was loaded with D-I teams, and their overall record is not what last season's D-II finalists would like it to be. However, they have some strong underclassmen and we expect to see them show continued improvement as they battle five Top 10 D-II teams over the next three weeks.

 

 

Tabor Upsets #2 New Hampton, 3-0

On Saturday, USHR took a drive up to New Hampton to see its beautiful new rink and watch their #2-ranked girls team take on the Tabor Seawolves. In a bit of a surprise, Tabor, behind a three-point day from BC commit Kelly Browne (2g, 1a) and a shutout from Lizzie Hanson, beat New Hampton 3-0, handing the Huskies just their second loss of the season.

After a back-and-forth first period, Browne just took over the game. First, she took a feed from Olivia Finocchiaro and scored a short-handed goal to go up 1-0. Annie Berry then put Tabor up 2-0 on a great pass from Browne. To cap the day off, Browne put a bow on the win with a great individual effort for the 3-0 final.

It’s a fact that New Hampton was hurt by the absence of star defenseman Cayla Barnes, who was in Prague helping the US U18 Team to a 3-1 win over Canada in the Gold Medal Game (Barnes was named U.S. Player of the Game.) Perhaps her absence gave Tabor’s top line a bit more room to operate.

Tabor is better than we thought on defense, with Jillian Fey moving back because top defenseman Jackie Leone was injured. And if Hanson plays as well in net as she did tonight the Seawolves will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season.

New Hampton is loaded with D-I talent but were a bit of a disappointment. We saw the Huskies play the season’s opener when they stunned Nobles, 4-2, but they looked like a disinterested team Saturday. That said, Mackenzie Haberl and Taylor Curtis were impressive up front and Lauren Deblois was very solid on the back end. Look for coach Craig Churchill to get his charges back on track quickly.

We have felt all season that there has never been as much parity in girls prep school hockey as there is this year. We have now seen most of the top teams play at least once and, in our opinion, there are five or six teams – and maybe more -- good enough to win the championship. Has this ever been the case before? We don’t think so.

It’s going to very enjoyable watching this all play out as we get into the teeth of the season. Stay tuned!

 

 

Leone Leads Tabor Past BB&N

Cambridge, Mass. Senior captain Jackie Leone scored two goals to propel Tabor to a 3-1 victory over BB&N here Wednesday.

In a game between two teams looking to bolster their playoff credentials, Martha Peppes – off a feed from Olivia O'Brien -- put Tabor up 1-0 near the end of the first period. The Seawolves used a 5-on-3 advantage to extend their lead to 2-0 when Kelly Browne set up Leone for a one-timer. BB&N responded less than a minute later to cut the Tabor lead to 2-1. Knights’ captains Shannon Griffin and Kate Piacenza continued to pressure Tabor goalie Lizzie Hanson in the third period but could not tie the game. Leone scored her second of the game for the 3-1 final. Tabor improves to 6-3-0 on the season while BB&N falls to 7-5-1.

We were impressed with both teams but feel a lack of depth is going to be a problem for both teams as they try to make a run for the post-season. We’re not sure either team has enough to pull this off. Tabor is very good but relies heavily on their very talented first line of BC commit Kelly Browne, Jillian Fey and UNH commit Annie Berry. BB&N is also thin up front but their top line led by the two Griffin sisters can play with anyone. The BB&N defense did an excellent job keeping Tabor’s top line off the scoreboard.

 

 

Girls’ Prep Composite, Week of Jan. 9, 2017
Mon. Jan. 9
Holderness @ New Hampton, 4:30 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ St. George's, 4:45 pm
BB&N @ Milton, 5:15 pm
Rivers @ Noble & Greenough, 5:30 pm
Governor's @ St. Mark's, 5:45 pm (makeup of Sat. 1/7 snow-out)

Tues. Jan. 10
BB&N vs. Noble & Greenough, 3:00 pm (S) (at Fenway Park)
Mater Dei @ Rye Country Day, 4:45 pm

Wed. Jan. 11
Tilton @ Holderness, 2:00 pm
Worcester Academy @ Exeter, 2:00 pm
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Deerfield, 2:30 pm
Berkshire @ Williston-Northampton, 2:30 pm
Canterbury @ Millbrook, 2:30 pm
Taft @ Pomfret, 3:00 pm
Hotchkiss @ Greenwich, 3:00 pm
St. Paul's @ Brooks, 3:00 pm
Brewster Academy @ Cushing, 3:00 pm
Choate @ Westminster, 3:00 pm
Taft @ Pomfret, 3:00 pm
Tabor @ BB&N, 3:30 pm
Lawrence Academy @ St. Mark's, 3:30 pm
Proctor @ Winchendon, 4:00 pm
North Yarmouth Academy @ Groton, 4:00 pm
Portledge @ Lawrenceville, 4:00 pm
Pingree @ Newton CD, 4:15 pm
Princeton Day School @ Hill School, 4:15 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ Winsor, 4:15 pm
Noble & Greenough @ Middlesex, 4:30 pm
Vermont Academy @ Gunnery, 4:30 pm
Stanstead College @ Kimball Union, 4:30 pm
Loomis-Chaffee @ Kent, 4:30 pm
Berwick @ Hebron, 5:00 pm
St. George's @ Rivers, 5:00 pm

Fri. Jan. 13
Hebron @ Kents Hill, 4:00 pm
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Winchendon, 4:30 pm
Princeton High @ Rye Country Day, 4:45 pm
Dana Hall @ Milton J.V., 4:45 pm
Thayer @ Berwick, 5:00 pm
Beaver Country Day @ Pingree, 5:15 pm
St. Mark's @ Cushing, 5:15 pm
Southfield @ St. George's, 6:00 pm
Brewster Academy @ Andover, 6:00 pm
Pomfret @ Lawrence Academy, 6:30 pm
Canterbury @ Greenwich, 6:30 pm
BB&N @ New Hampton, 7:00 pm

Sat. Jan. 14
Rivers @ Winchendon, 1:00 pm
Hill School @ Albany Academy, 1:00 pm
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Westminster, 1:30 pm
Governor's @ Middlesex, 2:00 pm
Groton @ Milton, 2:00 pm
St. Paul's @ Andover, 3:00 pm
Thayer @ Southfield, 3:00 pm
Exeter @ Deerfield, 3:00 pm
Tilton @ North Yarmouth Academy, 3:15 pm
Worcester Academy @ Portsmouth Abbey, 3:30 pm
Brooks @ Lawrence Academy, 3:45 pm
Hotchkiss @ Loomis-Chaffee, 4:00 pm
Tabor @ New Hampton, 4:00 pm
Berkshire @ Noble & Greenough, 4:00 pm
Gunnery @ Williston-Northampton, 4:00 pm
Proctor @ Hebron, 4:00 pm
Holderness @ Kimball Union, 4:30 pm
Lawrenceville @ Kent, 4:30 pm
Taft @ Choate, 5:00 pm
Lawrenceville @ Kent, 6:00 pm
Millbrook @ Vermont Academy, 6:00 pm
Kents Hill @ Brewster Academy, 6:30 pm

Mon. Jan. 16
Worcester Academy @ Proctor, 5:15 pm
Loomis-Chaffee @ Westminster, 6:00 pm



Saturday's Storm Cancellations

With a winter storm warning across much of the area, a number of games will get scratched today. Please let us know, via text, email, or Twitter, if you learn of any cancellations we don't know about. We will keep this page up to date. Thank you.

Scheduled Games of Sat. Jan. 7, 2017:

Choate @ New Hampton, 1:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Kents Hill @ Pingree, 1:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Hill School vs. Team Cleveland, 1:15 pm (at Gilmour Academy)
Groton @ BB&N, 2:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Williston-Northampton @ Tabor, 2:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Lawrence Academy @ Cushing, 2:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Governor's @ St. Mark's, 2:00 pm  ppd. to Mon. 1/9 at 5:45 pm
Dana Hall @ Beaver Country Day, 2:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Lawrenceville @ St. Paul's, 2:30 pm
Rivers @ Brooks, 2:30 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Greenwich @ Vermont Academy, 3:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Holderness @ North Yarmouth Academy, 3:15 pm
St. George's @ Gunnery, 3:30 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Proctor, 4:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Kent @ Noble & Greenough, 4:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Exeter @ Brewster Academy, 4:15 pm
Pomfret @ Hotchkiss, 4:30 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Portsmouth Abbey @ Berwick, 4:30 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA
Kimball Union @ Canterbury, 5:00 pm
Taft @ Westminster, 6:00 pm  moved up to 2:45 pm start
Tilton @ Millbrook, 6:30 pm
Hill School @ Gilmour Academy, 6:45 pm
Berkshire @ Loomis-Chaffee, 7:00 pm  ppd, makeup date TBA

 

 

Wed. Jan. 4, 2017 Notes
USHR was busy Wednesday, kicking off the New Year with the Southfield-St. Mark’s game in Southborough, Mass. Unfortunately, the game was over early as St. Mark’s jumped out to an early 2-0 first period lead, with Providence commit Caroline Peterson scoring both goals. Southfield did a nice job trying to get back into the game but the Lions were just too strong. Julianna Gong was a standout for St. Mark’s as she was all over both ends of the ice and UNH commit Lindsey Dumont also had a strong game.

Southfield looks like a team that could be there at the end with new head coach Charles Capone behind the bench. He has a decent first line to work with -- Karly Aguirre played a strong game -- and the defense looks solid, with junior defenseman Claudia Capone a standout.

***

USHR also was in Cambridge to watch perennial girls powerhouse Loomis Chaffee take on the up-and-coming BB&N Knights. In a fast-paced game, Loomis won 2-0 in a game that was much closer than the score might indicate. Loomis has a first line that at times looks to be unstoppable. Both Sharon Frankel and Jess Schryver were all over the ice and seemed to have tons of offensive zonetime. Emma Flynn also had a strong game and scored a goal.

For BB&N it looks like coach Ed Bourget has done a great job of getting BB&N’s girls program back on the map with a team that can play with anyone. BB&N has several standout freshmen in Maya Mangiafico, Jenna Hallice and Morgan Griffin. Eighth grader Mia Biotti also looks like a real prospect on the blue line. Seniors Shannon Griffin and Kate Piacenza were both very effective but couldn’t buy a goal. Kim Vetrano looks like a very solid goaltender who has emerged as the #1 after a competitive tryout.

 

 

Mon. Jan. 2nd, 2017 Tournament Scoreboard

2017 Winchendon Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
Williston Blanks NMH, 4-0; Wins Championship
At the Winchendon School; Winchendon, Mass.
NMH 5, Canterbury 0
, 9:00 am
Williston-Northampton 4, Lawrence 1, 10:30 am
5th Place Game: Winchendon 2, Canterbury 1, 1:00 pm
3rd Place Game: Lawrence 7, Cushing 3, 2:30 pm
Championship Game: Williston-Northampton 4, NMH 0, 4:00 pm

Phillips Exeter Tournament (Day 1 of 2)
At Phillips Exeter Academy; Exeter, NH
Mon. Jan. 2, 2017
Milton 2, Kings 1 (OT), 9:30 am
Stanstead 4, Rivers 1, 9:45 am
Exeter 3, Vermont 0, 11:00 am
Brooks 3, Proctor 0, 11:15 am
Break
Exeter 3, Kings 0, 6:15 pm
Rivers 1, Brooks 0 (OT), 6:30 pm
Stanstead 11, Proctor 1, 7:45 pm
Milton 7, Vermont 1, 8:00 pm


 

Girls' Prep Composite, Week of Jan. 2, 2017


Mon. Jan. 2, 2017


2017 Winchendon Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
At the Winchendon School; Winchendon, Mass.
Canterbury vs. NMH, 9:00 am
Williston-Northampton vs. Lawrence, 10:30 am
Ritchie 3 vs. Wapiti 3, 1:00 pm
Ritchie 2 vs. Wapiti 2, 2:30 pm
Ritchie 1 vs. Wapiti 1, 4:00 pm

Phillips Exeter Tournament (Day 1 of 2)
At Phillips Exeter Academy; Exeter, NH
Mon. Jan. 2, 2017
Kings vs. Milton, 9:30 am
Rivers vs. Stanstead, 9:45 am
Exeter vs. Vermont, 11:00 am
Brooks vs. Proctor, 11:15 am
Break
Exeter vs. Kings, 6:15 pm
Brooks vs. Rivers, 6:30 pm
Stanstead vs. Proctor7:45 pm
Vermont vs. Milton, 8:00 pm


Tues. Jan. 3, 2017

Phillips Exeter Tournament (Day 2 of 2)
At Phillips Exeter Academy; Exeter, NH
Stanstead vs. Brooks, 8:45 am
Kings vs. Vermont, 9:00 am
Exeter vs. Milton, 10:15 am
Proctor vs. Rivers, 10:30 am
Playoffs:
2 Cardinal vs. 2 Grey, 3:15 pm
3 Cardinalvs. 3 Grey, 3:30 pm
1 Cardinalvs. 1 Grey, 4:30 pm
4 Cardinalvs. 4 Grey, 4:45 pm


Wed. Jan. 4, 2017

Tilton @ Proctor, 2:00 pm
Exeter @ Pomfret, 2:00 pm
Rye Country Day @ Greenwich, 3:00 pm
Berwick @ Governor's, 3:00 pm
Noble & Greenough @ Winchendon, 3:30 pm
Portledge @ Albany Academy, 3:30 pm
Berwick @ Holderness, 3:30 pm
Pingree @ Groton, 4:00 pm
Brewster Academy @ Kimball Union, 4:00 pm
Loomis-Chaffee @ BB&N, 4:15 pm
Thayer @ Winsor, 4:15 pm
North Yarmouth Academy @ Kents Hill, 4:30 pm
Southfield @ St. Mark's, 5:00 pm  3:30 pm
St. George's vs. Millbrook, 5:30 pm (at Choate)

Fri. Jan 6, 2017

Holderness @ Vermont Academy, 4:00 pm
Albany Academy @ Rye Country Day, 4:45 pm
Hebron @ Pingree, 5:00 pm
Winsor @ Middlesex, 5:00 pm
Southfield @ Milton, 5:00 pm
Thayer @ Tabor, 5:30 pm
St. Mark's @ Worcester Academy, 5:30 pm
Winchendon @ New Hampton, 6:00 pm

Sat. Jan 7, 2017

Dietrich Tournament @ Gilmour Academy
Choate @ New Hampton, 1:00 pm
Kents Hill @ Pingree, 1:00 pm
Hill School vs. Team Cleveland, 1:15 pm (at Gilmour Academy)
Groton @ BB&N, 2:00 pm
Williston-Northampton @ Tabor, 2:00 pm
Lawrence Academy @ Cushing, 2:00 pm (Pink the Rink Fundraiser)
Governor's @ St. Mark's, 2:00 pm
Dana Hall @ Beaver Country Day , 2:00 pm
Lawrenceville @ St. Paul's, 2:30 pm
Rivers @ Brooks, 2:30 pm
Greenwich @ Vermont Academy, 3:00 pm
Holderness @ North Yarmouth Academy, 3:15 pm
St. George's @ Gunnery, 3:30 pm
Northfield - Mt. Hermon @ Proctor, 4:00 pm
Kent @ Noble & Greenough, 4:00 pm
Exeter @ Brewster Academy, 4:15 pm
Pomfret @ Hotchkiss, 4:30 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ Berwick, 4:30 pm
Kimball Union @ Canterbury, 5:00 pm
Taft @ Westminster, 6:00 pm
Tilton @ Millbrook, 6:30 pm
Hill School @ Gilmour Academy, 6:45 pm
Berkshire @ Loomis-Chaffee, 7:00 pm

Sun. Jan 8, 2017

Wyoming Seminary vs. Hill School, 8:45 am (at Gilmour Academy)
Lawrenceville @ Northfield - Mt. Hermon, 11:00 am
Kimball Union @ Millbrook, 12:00 pm
Tilton @ Canterbury, 1:00 pm
Wyoming Seminary @ Lawrenceville, 4:30 pm (at Gilmour Academy)

Mon. Jan 9, 2017

Holderness @ New Hampton, 4:30 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ St. George's, 4:45 pm
BB&N @ Milton, 5:15 pm
Rivers @ Noble & Greenough, 5:30 pm

 

 

Sun. Jan. 1st, 2017 Tournament Scoreboard

2017 Winchendon Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
At the Winchendon School; Winchendon, Mass.
Lawrence 7, Winchendon 3
, 4:00 pm
Cushing 1, Canterbury 0, 5:30 pm
Williston-Northampton 6, Winchendon 1, 7:00 pm
NMH 3, Cushing 0, 8:30 pm


Around the Rinks

BB&N's Kayla Dunn (12) and Nobles' Abby Volo (9) battle for net-front position in Nobles' 4-0 win at the Harrington Tournament Saturday morning.
BB&N's Kayla Dunn (12) and Nobles' Abby Volo (9) battle for net-front position in Nobles' 4-0 win at the Harrington Tournament Saturday morning. (Photo: Dave Arnold Photography)
 
Nobles freshman Cassidy Piersiak in action at the Harrington Tournament Saturday.
Nobles freshman Cassidy Piersiak in action at the Harrington Tournament Saturday. (Photo: Dave Arnold Photography)
 
The puck is right there on the doorstep -- and Becca Gilmore has that look in her eyes. Nobles topped BB&N 4-1 at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
The puck is right there on the doorstep -- and Becca Gilmore has that look in her eyes. Nobles topped BB&N 4-1 at Fenway Park on Tuesday. (Photo: Dave Arnold Photography)
 
Jenna MacDonald, Lauren Jackson, and Taylor Hyland (pictured L-R) at Tuesday's Denna Laing benefit game at Fenway Park.
Jenna MacDonald, Lauren Jackson, and Taylor Hyland (pictured L-R) at Tuesday's Denna Laing benefit game at Fenway Park. (Photo: Dave Arnold Photography)