Fri. 2/10/23
Changings of the Guard
Last week, three prep coaches, each with ten or more years of service (no, John Gardner is not one of them!), announced that they will be stepping down at the end of the season.
From where we stand, prep schools and their athletic programs are defined primarily by their coaches. The longest-tenured coaches are like the turning of the calendar. They're like the copper beech tree in the front yard, and the Canada geese on the flyway south. Every year, come November, they're at their places. We reporters become accustomed to them. And then, inevitably, they're gone.
Usually, we don't learn of three retirements in the same week. But that's exactly what happened last week. So let's look back at their careers, and send them off in high style.
***
Milton Academy head coach Paul Cannata has all the attributes of a terrific hockey analyst. There's very little he can't explain succinctly, and virtually nothing he can't explain with humor. Exposition, description, explanation, breaking things down, putting them back together. That's what Paul Cannata does. He's a teacher and a coach first, and a humorist of the top order secondarily. You want anecdotes? He's got 'em.
The resume: A Roxbury Latin grad ('85) and team captain, Cannata went on to play at Hamilton College. He began his coaching career at AIC, spending two years ('90-92) as an assistant there before heading further west and taking over as head coach at North Adams State College (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts). Soon, though, with his early dues paid, Cannata returned to the Boston area, joining Bruce Crowder's staff at Northeastern in '96-97. He'd spend seven years as an assistant there. But that wasn't all. Through his summer camps, and coaching kids in USA Hockey's Mass District camps, Cannata stayed close to his roots.
The 2003-04 season was Cannata's first as head coach at Milton. The squad he inherited won three games. Five years later, the Mustangs, behind senior defenseman Pat McNally (22-28-50 in 28 games played), went 26-3-1, and won the Elite 8 title, edging Matt Herr's Kent squad, 2-1, in the 2011 championship game, and giving the school its first-ever prep title.
Five years later, in '15-16, Milton went 20-6-2 and was back in the Elite 8 championship game, this time around falling, 3-2, to Gunnery.
Milton had another strong season in 2017-18, going 18-3-2, but falling to Dexter in an Elite 8 quarterfinal, 4-1. That squad had Matty Beniers, who was 11-16-27 in 23 games as a freshman before being whisked off to the NTDP and the University of Michigan. He's currently a strong -- perhaps strongest -- candidate for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) with the Seattle Kraken.
Thus far this season, Milton is 13-4-3 and, with a strong finish, stands to make, on Cannata's watch. a fourth trip to the Elite 8.
For Cannata, the decision to step away from coaching is, he said, "Simple math."
His two children were brought up at -- and educated by -- Milton. "But my daughter is in college now, and my son is about to be," said Cannata. "Plus this is my twentieth season at Milton. And I'm 55."
Cannata has plans, but he isn't tipping his hand. "I'll still be in hockey," he said, "in one way or another."
***
This is the 30th year that Berkshire's Dan Driscoll has been a head coach at the high school/prep level. That's a few turns around the sun.
A Lynn, Mass. resident who played for St. Mary's HS (Lynn), UConn, and professionally in Europe, Driscoll, after a stint at Hamilton-Wenham HS, took over at Winchendon in the 1996-97 season and won a Div. II title right off the bat, following that up with a second Div. II title in '99. Driscoll's formula was centered around moving top Boston-area high school players to Central Mass. Old-timers will remember the likes of Charlie Daniels, an East Boston High School forward, and Mark Concannon, from Hull High School. Both would go on to play at the Div. I level in college at, respectively, St. Lawrence and UMass-Lowell.
After five years at Winchendon, Driscoll took the reins at former Div. II Pomfret in '01-02. In his third year, '03-04, the Griffins reached the Div. I quarterfinals as the #4 seed in the West, meaning they had to take on #1 West seed Avon. Pomfret put a scare into the Winged Beavers, nicking Avon junior goaltender Jon Quick for four goals, but eventually falling, 5-4, in two OTs. Avon went on to win it all.
Leaving Pomfret, Driscoll moved on to Berkshire for the '06-07 season. In his first year, with stalwarts like future UVM and Bruins blueliner Kevan Miller, Berkshire came to life in February, finishing the season with seven straight wins, but falling short of the playoffs.
In Driscoll's second season, the school built the $35 million Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center, the school's spiffy two-sheet athletic center.
In '11-12, Berkshire won the Large School Tournament in Salem, NH, dispatching St. Sebastian's, 4-3, on Brendan McGovern's OT goal.
"This team," Driscoll told USHR after the game, "had ten OT games and 18 one-goal games over the course of the season. We have 'good soul'... good team character and a never-say-die leadership that really benefitted us today. There are 11 seniors on this team, and they were invested in playing for each other and in playing for the school."
Now, says Driscoll, who will remain as the school's AD, "It's been 30 years and it's time to pass the baton. There's a 12-month aspect to being a dad, a coach, and an AD. It's time for somebody else to take the reins. I'm ready."
"I'm grateful. I got to be at Berkshire when my kids were. The family connections meant a lot. It was a mission I really believed in.
"The highlight for me," Driscoll added, "was the relationship you build with kids and parents. You have an impact. It's a bond you carry forever."
***
Jeff Dwyer, currently in his tenth year as head coach at St. George's, has the program in a good position, having reached the quarterfinals of last season's Small School Playoffs, where a 3-1 loss to Gunn ended the Dragons' 13-6-4 campaign. This season, they're 13-8-0 as of this writing, and, with a strong finish, could get back to the postseason.
"I'm proud of where the program is," Dwyer said. "We have a competitive program that lines up with our admissions." (Note: the school's 9th-grade class is significantly larger than that of most other schools, hence there are a lot of ninth-grade players -- six on this year's team alone.)
Dwyer, a big d-man in his days at Choate, Yale, and in minor pro -- he was an Atlanta Thrashers sixth-round draft pick in 2000 -- got into coaching as soon as his pro career ended, first with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and then in the USHL, working with Mark Carlson at Cedar Rapids.
From there, Dwyer joined College Hockey, Inc. shortly after the organization's formation. College Hockey, Inc., as many of you know, advocates for the college game, educating young players on the benefits of college hockey, which may seem plain as day to many of us, though less so in some outposts, particularly north of the 49th Parallel.
After College Hockey, Inc., Dwyer joined Ryan Mulhern and Justin Cerenzia at St. George's. All three are still at St. George's and all are a part of the team. Dwyer took over the head position after Cerenzia was injured on the bench as a clearing attempt on a PK drilled him in the head in a December 2014 game, fracturing his skull.
Dwyer, who has three kids -- ages 10, 8, and 5 -- is moving on to Thayer, where he will be taking an administrative position, working in admissions and development. He's still young, so we expect to see him back on the bench somewhere, someday.
Sat. 2/25/23 -- updated
NEPSAC Girls' Hockey Tournament
* Quarterfinals Scoreboard *
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Chuck Vernon Tournament (Elite)
#8 Loomis @ #1 Williston Northampton, 4:00 pm -- Williston, 3-2
#7 Milton @ #2 Andover, 4:00 pm -- Andover, 3-1
#6 Southfield @ #3 Kent, 3:00 pm -- Kent, 4-3 (OT)
#5 Nobles @ #4 Tabor, 4:30 pm -- Nobles, 2-1
Semifinals Schedule, Saturday 3/4/23:
#5 Nobles @ #1 Williston, 2:00 pm
#3 Kent @ #2 Andover, 2:00 pm
Patsy Odden Tournament (Large School)
#1 St. Paul's -- bye
#2 Westminster -- bye
#6 Choate @ #3 Taft, 2:30 pm -- Taft, 4-1
#5 BB&N @ #4 Austin Prep, 6:00 pm -- BB&N, 2-1
Semifinals Schedule, Friday 3/3/23:
#5 BB&N @ #1 St. Paul's, 6:00 pm
#6 Taft @ #2 Westminster, 6:00 pm
Dorothy Howard Tournament (Small School)
#1 Groton -- bye
#2 Cushing -- bye
#6 Portsmouth Abbey @ #3 New Hampton, 4:00 pm -- New Hampton, 3-2
#5 Lawrence Academy @ #4 Millbrook -- Millbrook, 4-1
Semifinals Schedule, Saturday 3/4/23:
#4 Millbrook @ #1 Groton, 2:00 pm
#3 New Hampton @ #2 Cushing, 2:00 pm
Championship Sunday, 3/5/23 -- Hosted by Taft
Small School, 11:00 am
Large School, 1:15 pm
Elite 8, 4:00 pm
Sun. 2/19/23 -- Last Update Thurs. 2/23
Girls' Prep Composite Schedule:
Week of February 20, 2023
Monday, February 20, 2023
Holderness @ Brewster Academy, 4:00 pm
Berkshire @ Frederick Gunn School, 5:00 pm
Northfield Mt. Hermon @ Cushing, 5:00 pm
Hotchkiss @ Canterbury, 5:30 pm
Lawrence Academy @ Exeter, 5:30 pm
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Beaver Country Day @ Pingree, 4:00 pm
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Hoosac @ Cushing, 2:00 pm
Taft @ Berkshire, 2:30 pm
Kent @ Frederick Gunn School, 2:30 pm
Kimball Union @ New Hampton, 2:30 pm
Williston Northampton @ Deerfield, 2:30 pm
Proctor @ St. Paul's, 3:00 pm
Tabor @ St. George's, 3:00 pm
Brewster Academy @ Vermont Academy, 3:30 pm
Canterbury @ Greenwich Academy, 3:30 pm
Exeter @ Winchendon, 3:30 pm
Princeton Day School @ Portledge, 3:45 pm
Groton @ Thayer, 4:00 pm
Kents Hill @ Holderness, 4:00 pm
Pomfret @ Milton, 4:00 pm
Loomis Chaffee @ Andover, 4:00 pm
Winsor @ Newton Country Day, 4:15 pm
Middlesex @ BB&N, 4:30 pm
St. Mark's @ Brooks, 4:45 pm
Governor's @ Noble & Greenough, 4:45 pm
Lawrenceville @ Westminster, 5:00 pm
Hotchkiss @ Choate, 5:00 pm
Austin Prep @ Tilton, 5:00 pm
Lawrence Academy @ Rivers, 5:30 pm
Winchendon Green @ Beaver CD, 7:00 pm
Thursday, February 23, 2023
No Games Scheduled
Friday, February 24, 2023
Lakes Region Tournament (Semifinals)
#1 SPS will host #4 Tilton School at 6:30 p.m.
#2 New Hampton will host #3 KUA at 4:00 p.m.
#5 Vermont Academy will host #8 Brewster at 4:30 p.m.
#6 Holderness will host #7 Proctor at 3:30 p.m.
---------------------------------------------------------
Beaver Country Day @ Dana Hall, 3:30 pm
Hoosac @ Northfield Mt. Hermon, 4:30 pm
Rivers @ Southfield, 5:00 pm
BB&N @ Thayer, 5:00 pm
Austin Prep @ Kents Hill, 5:00 pm
Winchendon @ Williston Northampton, 6:00 pm
Millbrook @ Worcester Academy, 6:00 pm
Greenwich Country Day @ Winchendon Green, 6:30 pm
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Greenwich Country Day @ Winchendon Green, 11:30 am
Williston Northampton @ BB&N, 1:00 pm
Lawrence Academy @ Southfield, 1:00 pm
St. Mark's @ Groton, 2:00 pm
Milton @ Noble & Greenough, 2:00 pm
Governor's @ Brooks, 2:00 pm
St. George's @ Middlesex, 2:00 pm
Andover @ Exeter, 2:00 pm
Kent @ Westminster, 2:30 pm
Canterbury @ Worcester Academy, 3:00 pm
Berkshire @ Tabor, 4:00 pm
Deerfield @ Loomis Chaffee, 4:00 pm
Choate @ Cushing, 4:30 pm
Winchendon @ Pomfret, 4:30 pm
Northfield Mt. Hermon @ Frederick Gunn School, 4:30 pm
The Hill School vs. North Yarmouth Academy, 5:00 pm -- @ Lawrence Academy
Hoosac @ Millbrook, 5:00 pm
Hotchkiss @ Taft, 5:00 pm
END OF REGULAR SEASON
Sunday, February 26, 2023
The Hill School vs. Worcester Academy, 10:00 am (S) -- @ Lawrence Academy
Sun. 2/13/23
Girls' Prep Composite Schedule:
Week of February 13, 2023
Monday, February 13, 2023
Groton @ Northfield Mt. Hermon, 4:00 pm
Frederick Gunn School @ Westminster, 4:45 pm
Austin Prep @ Portsmouth Abbey, 4:45 pm
Rivers @ Thayer, 5:00 pm
Holderness @ Vermont Academy, 5:00 pm
Berwick @ Exeter, 5:00 pm
Greenwich Academy @ Greenwich Country Day, 6:15 pm
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Portledge vs. Hoosac, 3:15 pm -- at Brewster (NY) Ice Arena
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Proctor @ Holderness, 2:00 pm
Tilton @ Kimball Union, 2:30 pm
St. Paul's @ Exeter, 2:30 pm
Westminster @ Taft, 2:30 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ Greenwich Country Day, 2:30 pm
Millbrook @ Canterbury, 2:30 pm
Worcester Academy @ Winchendon, 2:30 pm
Hoosac @ Austin Prep, 3:00 pm
Deerfield @ Cushing, 3:00 pm
Lawrence Academy @ Middlesex, 3:00 pm
Pomfret @ Loomis Chaffee, 3:15 pm
St. Mark's @ Thayer, 3:30 pm
Milton @ St. George's, 4:00 pm
Berkshire @ Choate, 4:15 pm
Williston Northampton @ Northfield Mt. Hermon, 4:15 pm
Brooks @ Groton, 4:30 pm
Hotchkiss @ Kent, 4:30 pm
Kents Hill @ Brewster Academy, 4:30 pm
Frederick Gunn School @ Vermont Academy, 4:45 pm
Noble & Greenough @ Andover, 4:45 pm
Pingree @ North Yarmouth Academy, 4:45 pm
Southfield @ New Hampton, 4:45 pm
Rivers @ Governor's, 5:00 pm
BB&N @ Tabor, 5:00 pm
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Greenwich Country Day @ Newton Country Day, 4:15 pm
Friday, February 17, 2023
Beaver Country Day @ Winsor, 4:15 pm
Pomfret @ Deerfield, 4:30 pm
Newton Country Day @ Portsmouth Abbey, 5:00 pm
Tilton @ St. Paul's, 5:00 pm
Brewster Academy @ Pingree, 5:00 pm
Cushing @ Southfield, 5:15 pm
Thayer @ Noble & Greenough, 5:30 pm
Lawrence Academy @ BB&N, 5:30 pm
Middlesex @ Brooks, 5:30 pm
Kimball Union @ Vermont Academy, 6:00 pm
North Yarmouth Academy @ Kents Hill, 6:00 pm
Choate @ Frederick Gunn School, 6:00 pm
New Hampton @ Proctor, 6:30 pm
The Hill School @ Taft, 6:45 pm
Saturday, February 18, 2023
BB&N @ St. Mark's, 11:00 am
Governor's @ Lawrence Academy, 12:30 pm
Pomfret @ Cushing, 1:00 pm
Vermont Academy @ Portsmouth Abbey, 1:15 pm
Austin Prep @ Kimball Union, 2:00 pm
Canterbury @ Frederick Gunn School, 2:00 pm
New Hampton @ Brewster Academy, 2:30 pm
Worcester Academy @ Andover, 2:30 pm
Exeter @ Northfield Mt. Hermon, 2:30 pm
Middlesex @ Holderness, 2:45 pm
Proctor @ Rivers, 3:00 pm
St. Paul's @ Winchendon, 3:00 pm
Brooks @ Milton, 3:00 pm
St. George's @ Groton, 3:30 pm
Loomis Chaffee @ Williston Northampton, 3:30 pm
Noble & Greenough @ Tabor, 3:30 pm
Choate @ Taft, 4:00 pm
Tilton @ Berwick, 4:00 pm
Deerfield @ Hotchkiss, 4:15 pm
Westminster @ Berkshire, 4:30 pm
Millbrook @ Lawrenceville, 5:00 pm
Kents Hill @ North Yarmouth Academy, 5:30 pm
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Millbrook @ The Hill School, 12:00 pm
Monday, February 20, 2023
Holderness @ Brewster Academy, 4:00 pm
Berkshire @ Frederick Gunn School, 5:00 pm
Hotchkiss @ Canterbury, 5:30 pm
Sun. 2/5/23
Girls' Prep Composite Schedule:
Week of February 6, 2023
Monday, February 6, 2023
Beaver Country Day @ Newton Country Day, 4:15 pm
Andover @ Milton, 5:00 pm
Morristown Beard @ Portledge, 5:30 pm
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
No Games
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Northfield Mt. Hermon @ St. Paul's, 12:30 pm
Greenwich Academy @ Taft, 2:30 pm
Vermont Academy @ Tilton, 2:30 pm
Frederick Gunn School @ Millbrook, 2:30 pm
Hotchkiss @ Greenwich Country Day, 2:45 pm
Portsmouth Abbey @ North Yarmouth Academy, 3:00 pm
Cushing @ Lawrence Academy, 3:00 pm
Groton @ Noble & Greenough, 3:15 pm
Middlesex @ Tabor, 3:15 pm
Nobles JV @ Dana Hall, 3:15 pm
Pomfret @ Berkshire, 3:30 pm
Milton @ St. Mark's, 3:30 pm
Brooks @ Holderness, 3:30 pm
Exeter @ Kimball Union, 4:00 pm
Rivers @ Worcester Academy, 4:00 pm
Choate @ Williston Northampton, 4:00 pm
Brewster Academy @ Proctor, 4:00 pm
Pingree @ Beaver Country Day , 4:00 pm
BB&N @ St. George's, 4:15 pm
Canterbury @ Kent, 4:30 pm
Westminster @ Deerfield, 4:30 pm
Southfield @ Winchendon, 4:30 pm
Thayer @ Governor's, 4:30 pm
Portledge @ Lawrenceville, 5:00 pm
Austin Prep @ Andover, 6:00 pm
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Westminster @ Williston Northampton, 5:00 pm
Friday, February 10, 2023
Northwood Tournament
Dana Hall @ Pingree JV, 3:30 pm
Brewster Academy @ New Hampton, 4:00 pm
Pingree @ Worcester Academy, 4:00 pm
Berwick @ Thayer, 4:15 pm
Frederick Gunn School @ Taft, 4:45 pm
Greenwich Country Day @ Rye Country Day, 4:45 pm
Greenwich Academy @ Millbrook, 5:00 pm
Winsor @ Portsmouth Abbey, 6:00 pm
Noble & Greenough @ BB&N, 6:00 pm
Milton J.V. @ Beaver Country Day , 6:00 pm
Tabor @ St. Paul's, 6:30 pm
The Hill School @ Choate, 7:00 pm
St. Mark's @ Pomfret, 7:00 pm
Loomis Chaffee @ Cushing, 7:00 pm
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Austin Prep @ Southfield, 1:00 pm
Tabor @ Governor's, 1:00 pm
Frederick Gunn School @ Greenwich Academy, 1:00 pm
Exeter @ New Hampton, 1:30 pm
The Hill School @ Noble & Greenough, 2:00 pm
Kents Hill @ Portsmouth Abbey, 2:00 pm
Rivers @ St. Mark's, 2:00 pm
Middlesex @ Milton, 2:00 pm
Williston Northampton @ Andover, 2:15 pm
Taft @ Hotchkiss, 2:30 pm
Northfield Mt. Hermon @ Cushing, 2:30 pm
Proctor @ Brewster Academy, 2:30 pm
Kimball Union @ North Yarmouth Academy, 3:15 pm
Thayer @ Lawrence Academy, 3:30 pm
Holderness @ Worcester Academy, 3:30 pm
Vermont Academy @ Hoosac, 4:00 pm
Pomfret @ Pingree, 4:00 pm
Berkshire @ Deerfield, 4:30 pm
St. George's @ Brooks, 4:30 pm
Kent @ Millbrook, 4:45 pm
Loomis Chaffee @ Choate, 5:00 pm
Canterbury @ Westminster, 6:30 pm
Sunday, February 12, 2023
The Hill School @ Pomfret, 11:00 am
Lawrenceville @ Hotchkiss, 1:00 pm
Monday, February 13, 2023
Darien HS @ Rye Country Day, 3:30 pm
Frederick Gunn School @ Westminster, 4:45 pm
Austin Prep @ Portsmouth Abbey, 4:45 pm
Rivers @ Thayer, 5:00 pm
Holderness @ Vermont Academy, 5:00 pm
Berwick @ Exeter, 5:00 pm
Greenwich Academy @ Greenwich Country Day, 6:15 pm
New England Prep Hockey News
Around the Rinks
