HNIB News High School Hockey's Best Coverage | Est. 1972
New Hampshire Division 1 Boys Poll
| Rank | Team | W | L | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Thomas Aquinas | 15 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2 | Londonderry | 17 | 5 | 1 | |
| 3 | Salem | 11 | 8 | 3 | |
| 4 | Manchester Central | 16 | 5 | 0 | |
| 5 | Bishop Guertin | 10 | 12 | 0 | |
| 6 | Manchester Memorial | 17 | 4 | 0 | |
| 7 | Trinity | 11 | 6 | 2 | |
| 8 | Pinkerton | 12 | 10 | 0 | |
| 9 | Hanover | 7 | 11 | 4 | |
| 10 | Concord | 6 | 12 | 2 |
No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (15-6-1) came within an overtime goal of bouncing eventual State Champion Memorial in the semifinals last season. Coach Andrew Leach’s Saints have proven experience in all phases, paced by senior forward Glenn Wiswell, senior defenseman Niall Foster and junior goalie Zane Angelopoulos.
No. 2 Londonderry (17-5-1) welcomes back a Top 5 goalie in senior Joe McGrath, a Top 5 scorer in senior Eric Coburn and a solid core on the back line as it looks to step beyond last year’s semifinal appearance.
No. 3 Salem (11-8-3) returns depth at forward and strength in the back from last year’s quarterfinal club. Junior Paul Antkowiak is among the state’s top returning defensemen.
No. 4 Manchester Central (16-5-0) lost significant firepower from last year’s State finalist and will lean on senior keeper Ian Beliveau (2.34, .904 gaa) while the offense forges an identity.
No. 5 Bishop Guertin (10-12-0) returns a group of high-end players. Whether the Cardinals possess the quality depth to mount a championship challenge remains to be seen.
Defending champion No. 6 Manchester Memorial (17-4-0) lost heavily to graduation and Juniors. Coach Mark Putney will look to a group of young forwards to re-tool the attack.
No. 7 Trinity (11-6-2) is thin on experience and must overcome the loss of graduated three-year goalie Ryan Slatky
New coach Joey Lee takes the helm at No. 8 Pinkerton (12-10-0) and hopes to keep the young Astros in the upper echelon. He has the luxury of a veteran forward unit.
How perennial contenders No. 9 Hanover (7-11-4) and No. 10 Concord (6-12-2) fare will be determined largely by the development of underclassmen abundant on both teams’ rosters.
Kevin Doyle
