Area high school hockey teams are looking forward to playing a full schedule in the 2021-22 season, which is something to be thankful for after last season’s pandemic-shortened slate had several teams playing half as many games as normal.
Unfinished business is a theme for many schools ast the area saw no teams advance to the state title game a year ago. The Woodstock boys bowed out in the VPA Division I semifinals when a COVID-positive test forced the Wasps to forfeit a chance to play for the title. Hit hard by graduation, Woodstock looks to reload for this season in D-II after petitioning down a level.
The Hanover girls, Lebanon boys and Hartford girls also made runs to the semis. All three have rosters which may not be as deep as in some recent years, but all three boast a good group of returning athletes ready to make another deep playoff run.
Here’s a breakdown of each team as the pucks start dropping to open the winter:
Coach: John Dodds (17 years).
Last year: 12-2-0, lost to Bishop Guertin in semifinals.
League: NHIAA Division I.
Returnees: Seniors: Lily Seelig (D, captain), Gail Morse (F), Danielle Rudd (D, capt.), Kaye Lindsay (F), Greta Schutz (F/D), Katelyn Smith (G). Juniors: Kali McDonnell (D), Mackenzie Liu (F). Sophomores: Maeve Lee (F), Lorelei Seelig (F).
Newcomers: Sophomore: Alexandra Feldman (F). Freshmen: Hannah Gardner (D), Elleanor Bradley (F), Faith Lindsay (F/D), Julia Lawe (F), Rachel Rockmore (F), Eleanor Edson (G).
Analysis: After winning 10 straight state titles from 2010-19, Hanover now looks to rebound from a semifinal loss a year ago and return to championship-level play. Goal prevention should be a strength with co-captains Lily Seelig and Danielle Rudd each returning to the blue line along with a strong goaltender (Katelyn Smith). Hanover did graduate its top two leading scorers from a year ago (Sage McGinley-Smith and Natalie Morhun).
“We are excited for the upcoming season. It will be interesting because we have a solid core of returning players and seven newcomers, six of which are freshmen. It will take some time for the new players to adjust, but they are working hard and already showing improvements,” Coach John Dodds said.
Coach: Kylie Ammel Young (first year).
Last year: 5-5-0, lost in semifinals.
League: VPA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors: Nora Knudsen (D, captain), Grace Bazin (D, asst. capt.), , Brianna Roberts (F). Juniors: Nedra Dwinell (F), Sophie Trombley (F/D). Freshmen: Madison Barwood (F), Emma Bazin (F, Bellows Falls), Morgan Curtis (F).
Newcomers: Juniors: Madelyn Durkee (F, Thetford), Olivia Hastings (F, Thetford), Julie McDermid (D, Bellows Falls), Sydney Stillman (G). Freshman: Lucy Bloom (F/D). Eighth grade: Nella Bowen (G), Flynn Moreno (F/D), Braelyn Park (D), Aubree Vail (F/D), Zoe Zanleoni (F).
Analysis: The Hurricanes return a big group from last season and welcome four freshmen with multiple years of youth hockey experience. Last season’s goalie (Zoe Pfeiffer) was lost to graduation, so the Canes will be looking for someone to fill that void.
Four players (Madison Barwood, Morgan Curtis, Zoe Zanleoni and Braelyn Park) have fathers who are longtime youth coaches with UVHA Storm. Barwood’s grandfather is the namesake of the Canes’ home rink, Wendall A. Barwood Arena.
“We should have three solid lines. Goaltending will be a potential weakness, but we’re showing a lot of promise for quick improvement under assistant coach Erin Stevens,” coach Kyle Ammel Young said.
Coach: Mike Sheehan (three years).
Last year: 5-6-0, lost to Berlin in first round.
League: NHIAA Division I.
Returnees: Seniors: Paige Hoegler (G), Lilly Gogan (F), Emma Leute (F). Juniors: Claire Falcone (F), Greta Barber (F/D), Elena Robb (D). Sophomores: Phoebe Ballard (D), Olivia Pollard (D), Lily Hoegler (F), Natalee Pettersen (F).
Newcomers: Sophomores: Emily Stevens (F), Nitara Murray (F), Maria Ruas (F). Freshmen: Mackenzie Ray (F), Effie Makris (F).
Analysis: The Raiders will be rebuilding a bit this season due to graduation losses a year ago. Lilly Gogan missed all of last season due to injury and is a welcome addition back to the team for her senior campaign working alongside old linemate Claire Falcone and Greta Barber. Team depth and goal-scoring may be issues of concern, but senior goalie Paige Hoegler will anchor what hopes to be a stout defense.
“If we can play a structured, disciplined game and limit mistakes, we can hopefully surprise some teams this year,” coach Mike Sheehan said.
Coach: Ian Coates (nine years).
Last year: 6-1-0, lost in quarterfinals.
League: VPA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors: Sophie Yates (F, captain), Skylar Haley (F/D, captain), Brighton Martsolf-Tan (F), Alix Livingston (D/F). Juniors: Lily Gubbins (D, asst. capt.), Emma Allegretti (F), Isabel Konijnenberg (F, asst. capt.). Sophomores: Gracelyn Laperle (F), Hannah Gubbins (D), Lila Beckwith (F), Maggie Mello (F), Meridian Bremel (G). Freshman: Kassidy Haley (F).
Newcomers: Eighth grade: Fiona Piconi (F).
Analysis: Co-captain Skylar Haley has been accepted at Boston College and will lead, along with Sophie Yates, an experienced roster of returning players for the Wasps. While depth may be an issue, the remaining players on this team have been playing together for years through youth hockey and on varsity.
“The greatest strength of this team is the collective ability of skillsets,” coach Ian Coates said. “Despite losing so many players, it might be to our advantage this season to have more focused and concise practice time.”
Coach: Dick Dodds (40 years).
Last year: 3-9-0, lost in first round to Concord.
League: NHIAA Division I.
Returnees: Seniors: Luke Ives (G), Dill Eisendrath (G), Spencer Lawe (D), Curtis Rice (D), Matt Walsh (D), Nick Lee (D), Alex Rockmore (F), Casey Graham (F), John Hill (F), Jackson Fisher (F). Juniors: Jack Gardner (D), Jack Stadheim (F). Sophomore: Wyat Seelig (F).
Newcomers: Seniors: Ethan Derkesen (F), Van Bailey (F), Declan Flynn (G). Junior: Julian Correa (F). Sophomores: Jack Wilkinson (F), Mateo Trimble (F), Oliver Sperry (G). Freshmen: Gavin Miller (F), Henry Cotter (F), Andrew Rudd (D).
Analysis: Hanover is led by a core group of seniors who have played together for a multiple seasons. Team unity and chemistry is high and there’s plenty of reason for optimism as the season gets underway.
“On the ice, we want to be a tough team to play against and a team that is relentless,” longtime coach Dick Dodds said. “Off the ice, we want to be solid in the classroom and in the community.
“We’re grateful we get this opportunity to represent our school and community and aim to be a disciplined, hard-working team which knows sportsmanship is paramount.”
Coach: Todd Bebeau (24 years).
Last year: 3-6-0, lost in play-in round to Mount Mansfield.
League: VPA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors: Simon Spaulding (D), Gordie Willey (F), Aidan Boonyaharn (F). Juniors: Connor Tierney (D), Joseph Barwood (D), Ozzie DeFelice (F), James McReynolds (F), Blaine Gour (F), Sean Kelliher (G). Sophomores: Lochlan Park (D), Ezra Mock (F), Jaden Poirier (D/F), Nate Clark (F), Davey Bradley (G).
Newcomers: Sophomore: Matt Hayes (D). Freshmen: Cavan Benjamin (D), Tighe Hrabchak (D), Nick Daniels (F), Logan Caffrey (F), Nolan Morlock (F), Frankie Cushing (G).
Analysis: The Hurricanes have an athletic roster with plenty of strong skaters and hope to put pressure on their opponents in all three areas of the ice. Goal prevention was an issue for last year’s team during a pandemic-shortened season, so that’s been an area of focus in the early-going this season.
“The growth and success of the team will be determined by whether all three entities (forwards, defensemen and goalies) buy into the discipline, toughness and selflessness that comes with structure in all three areas of the ice,” coach Todd Bebeau said.
Coach: Jim Damren (five years).
Last year: 9-4-0, lost in semifinals to Berlin.
League: NHIAA Division III.
Returnees: Seniors: Griffin Auch (F, captain), Hunter Christian (F), Toby Cromwell (G), Luke Greene (D), Liam Oullette (F, asst. capt.), Nathan Stark (D). Juniors: Andrew Dannehy (D), Will McGee (F, asst. capt.), Cesar Salcedo (F), Ryan West (D), Easton Wykes (D). Sophomores: Paddy Mooney (F), Gabe Oullette (F), Tyler Christian (F).
Newcomers: Sophomores: James Barnett (D), Jack Clary (D), Maddox Castro (F). Freshmen: Nathan Dube (F).
Analysis: The Raiders, semifinalists a year ago, aren’t quite as deep as in recent years. The roster is still stacked with a good mix of returning players both up front and on the blue line, giving coach Jim Damren reason to think another postseason run is possible. “We will need to stay away from illness and injury as our bench is smaller than most years, but I expect we will again make a playoff run when March rolls around,” Damren said.
Coach: Jon Chamberlin (seven years).
Last year: 3-3-2, lost in VPA Division I semifinals due to COVID-19-related cancellation.
League: VPA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors: Evan Kurash (D, captain), Ryan Runstein (F), Riley Ward (D), Cameron Harriman (F), Keaton Piconi (G, asst. capt.), Chase Conway (D). Juniors: Ethan Dean (F), Will Coates (D), Graeme McKeon (F). Sophomores: Tanner Tarleton (F), Griffin Piconi (F), Ethan Havill (F).
Newcomers: Juniors: Simon North (F), Tydus Percy (F). Freshmen: Reid Allegretti (F), Ben Runstein (F), Reece Harriman (F).
Analysis: The Wasps return to D-II this season and do so with a roster slightly short on varsity experience. Captains Evan Kurash (a defenseman) and Keaton Piconi (goalie) will anchor the defense and provide leadership for this young team.
“Everybody, including the coaches, is excited to see what this team will be at the end of the season,” coach Jon Chamberlin said. “This team has one goal and that’s to improve each and every day and be ready for the last game we play in.”