Boys Prep Hockey – Holt Conference Team Previews: League Race Wide Open

Berwick Academy rejoins the Holt Conference for this year and should be in the mix for a league title. It should be a pretty competitive race.

BERWICK

Coach: Lem Randall

Returning to the Holt Conference this winter, the Bulldogs will look to be right in the league race right away.

Key holdover forwards are senior Nick McSorley and senior Liam Martin.  A couple of freshmen to keep an eye on are Justin Massa and Eli Chilicki.

Wes Anderson, a senior, and Josh Felton, a junior will be defensive cornerstones. Sophomore newcomer Jake McGonagle looks for a role.

Senior Jared Swisher is a returning netminder for coach Randall.

HEBRON

Coach: Jack O’Brien

Coach O’Brien says his Lumberjacks are “over-the-top excited” about geting to play a normal season this winter. He looks to have a strong, hard-working unit.

Seniors Dan Kral and Jack Madden, and junior Ryan Teehan are back for another season.  A couple of key post-grads in the lineup will be Luke Festa (Sheehan HS CT) and Jake Mastrangelo (Marshfield HS MA).

Senior Freddy Essiembre and junior Nick Theodos return on the blue line where Hebron has added the likes of post-grad Zach Montecalvo (Malden Catholic), post-grad Albert Lien (Darien HS CT), Owen Cannon and Devdan Young.

Jackson O’Brien and Dylan Brand, both seniors, will be in the goaltending mix.

KENTS HILL

Coach: Pavel Navrat

Talk about turnover. The Huskies have 18 new players in the lineup, returning just a handful from last year’s abbreviated season.

“The kids bonded incredibly well and created a team-first culture,” Navrat said. “Our team unity will be our strength.”

Two key holdovers will be senior forward David Hauptvoge and junior goalie Ernest Imazarov.

New forwards who will key additions include post-grads Kevin McElaney (Walpole HS) and Seth Chernik (Springfield Jr. Pics), and seniors Justin Tremblay and Pavol Stastny.

The Huskies also added two post-grad netminders in Jack Curran (Walpole HS MA) and Gary Mandia (Franklin HS MA).

NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY

Coach: Michael Warde

Uppeclassmen leadership will be vital to the Panthers success this winter.

Two seniors – Nathaniel Peretz and Michael Belleau – will be offensive catalysts for coach Warde, Post-grad Jack Tuite will be counted on.

Senior Henry Bergeron will key the defense, while senior Caleb Waterman will be solid between the pipes.

PINGREE

Coach: Dan Gordon

A young team, the Highlanders will have just five seniors.

“We will need our five seniors to lead the way and have very good years,” coach Gordon said. “I am looking forward to seeing how our seniors can be role models for our younger players and instill our team culture.”

Senior captain Michael Lynch will highlight the offensive attack, buoyed by returning sophomores Ryan Kavanagh and Quinn Moses.

On defense, a senior braintrust of assistant captains Tommy Tavenner and Cody Plaza and Bryce Bedard will log a lot of minutes. The team’s final senior – Matt Cusolito – will be the main cog in the nets.

PORTSMOUTH ABBEY

Coach: Allie Skelley

Now in his seventh season with the Ravens, coach Skelley feels his team’s strengths are goaltending and defense, with some good experience up front.

In the forward ranks, that experience comes from the likes of returning seniors Jacob Ierfino and Logan Furlong, and junior Michael Patko. A huge crew of forwards are in the fold – juniors Josh Bonrouhi, and Jack Lucey, sophomores Tyler Corbett, Luke Stock, Chris Hahn and Mark Anstiss, and freshmen Matthew Burgner and Jack Beauchamp.

A deep defense will have four returning seniors – Peter Scarlozzi, Toby Oliveira, J.J. Humenay and Michael Stephenson – and juniorJack Baird. Joining that group is new jnnior Joe Verderber.

A goalie triumvirate will boast seniors Rorke Applebee and Ryan Rosenau, and new sophomore Patrick McDevitt.

WORCESTER ACADEMY

Coach: Bob Lavin

The Hilltoppers are more than eager to drop the puck on the season and be a force in the Holt Conference.

A balanced and experienced offensive attack will be keyed by seniors Atticus Roop, Mike Locke, Dom Silvestri, Max Shustak and Matt Milotte.

Seniors Owen Locke and Connor Gethings are two rock-solid blueliners, while senior Jesse Pelletier is a veteran presence between the pipes.