This is the poll leading into the Holiday Tournaments throughout New England which are the best early indication for where the teams stand. Week two saw a lot of undefeated teams earn their first losses on the season with only a few still remaining. Again, same as last week we like a few teams with losses this season, inclduing Kent who has two losses, but based on merit thus far we are going to primarily prioritize records as we head into the Holiday tournaments. The No. 1 team reamins but there are three new entrants into the poll: Kimball Union, Andover and St. Georges. The three teams who were bounced out (St. Sebastian’s, Noble & Greenough and Lawrence Academy) were all coming off losses this week.
1. Avon Old Farms (5-0-0): The reigning New England Prep Champions remain undefeated at 5-0-0 heading into their Christmas tournament this week. They are outscoring teams 29-8 (+21) which is the third highest margin in the league and coming off a big win against undefeated Deerfield at home. Should be the favorites in a highly competitive Christmas Tournament but haven’t shown a blemish yet and have no obvious holes in their lineup.
2. Cushing Academy (5-0-0): Cushing, last years Elite 8 runner up, is showing no signs of slowing down heading into the Lawrence-Groton Holiday tournament opening up the season 5-0-0 and outscoring their opponents 28-4 (+24) for the second highest margin in the league. The Peguins haven’t had the strongest schedule as of yet but they have only given up four goals against in five games and goaltender Marko Bilic looks to be the top goalie in prep school with a .987 SV% thus far in the season.
3. Loomis Chaffee (4-0-0): Loomis will likely head to the Avon Christmas Tournament undefeated and doesn’t have to face the Winged Beavers until the championship (if they make it). The team is averaging 4.75 goals per game which is one of the highest in prep at this point in the season. They’ll need to tighten things up defensively in order to have success against better competition in the Avon tournament but they have shown ability to win tight games thus far.
4. Holderness (5-0-0): The Bulls are undefeated entering the Lawrence-Groton Holiday Tournament and are the highest scoring offense and scoring margin in prep hockey with 43 goals in 5 games and a +36 margin, meaning they are outscoring teams by an average of over 7 goals per game. They sit at fourth currently because they have the weakest schedule thus far of the undefeated teams but they’ve more than proven their dominance over weaker competition. There is a very real chance they’ll face an undefeated Cushing squad on Friday at 5pm which could be the biggest matchup in the Hoiday tournament series.
5. Phillips Andover (5-0-0): Andover has yet to face a .500 team but they are 5-0-0 through their first five games and will likely be undefeated heading into the gauntlet which is the Flood Marr Holiday Tournament. Andover is averaging 4.8 goals per game and let in two or less goals in four of their five games. Robertson-Palmer leads the way up front but they get balanced scoring up and down the lineup which gives them the depth to play with the stronger teams at Flood Marr.
6. Westminster (3-0-1): The Martlets remain unbeaten and have a quality win against NMH and a tie against Brunswick. They’ll have their hands full facing Kimball Union in the opening round of the Flood Marr but the team has been tough to score against giving up two or less goals in all four contests this season. They’ll be favored in their next two games against Milton and Hotchkiss so their start to the tournament against a talented KUA will likely dictate their destiny in that tournament.
7. Kimball Union (7-1-0): The loss to Rivers at the Exeter Invitational is looking more and more like a fluke after they’ve gone on to win four straight including impressive wins against Kent and earlier today a 10-0 win over a one-loss St. Paul’s team. KUA has an abundance of fire power offensively averaging six goals per game in their last six games. They have a tough test ahead with undefeated Westminster to open up the Flood Marr Holiday Tournament but they have as good a chance as any to win the tournament.
8. Salisbury (3-1-0): The Crimson Knights were allowing under two goals per game against heading into a home showdown against rival Kent but were handed their first loss of the season by a 4-2 margin. Despite the loss, Salisbury outshot the Lions in that game and is a team that has earned the right to remain in the top 10. They should be favored in their next three games for a chance to get back into the Flood Marr finals.
9. Frederick Gunn (5-1-0): Like Salisbury, Frederick Gunn was handed their first loss of the season to Kent in a 7-3 blowout. With that being said, they might have the best resume of all the one-loss teams with wins over Brunswick, Berkshire and Exeter. They have scored four or more goals in all five of their wins this season. They have a tough road ahead at the Avon Christmas Tournament but they certainly have a chance to compete for the championship.
10. St. George’s (3-1-0): St. George’s lost their opening game of the season against Thayer and since has run the table outscoring their next three opponents 18-3; all of which over solid teams in Rivers, NMH and Roxbury Latin. They are talented on the backend, have decent depth up front and one of the top goalies in the league. They will be heavily favored to win their holiday tournament and then will head to Tabor New Years tournament after the break.
Honorable Mentions: Brunswick, St. Sebastian’s, Belmont Hill, Dexter, Noble & Greenough, Berwick, Kent & Lawrence Academy.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
