NEPSIHA: 2007 New England Prep Preview Part 3

The Prep season is starting soon and Avon is looking to defend their title at the Division I level. In the NEPSHC East, Cushing will look to continue their dominance at the prep ranks but will face some tough competition with Exeter and Tabor. Andover and South Kent, in the independent division, will also be battling for playoff spots come March. McKeen's correspondent Vincent Montalbano offers this preview with additional comments from the coaches.

NEPSHC EAST

CUSHING ACADEMY

Nickname: Purple Penguins

Head Coach: Rob Gagnon

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

TJ Massie (Sr.), G – Committed to UMass Lowell for 2008 .. 2008 NHL Draft prospect and ranked by Central Scouting

Sean Whitney (Sr.), D – Committed to Cornell for 2008

Alex Gallen (Sr.), D – 2008 NHL Draft prospect and ranked by Central Scouting

Brian Maguire (Sr.), F - Expected to have standout years and should get Division 1 look

Josh Bernard (Sr.), F – Also expected to have standout year and should get Division 1 looks

Torin Snydeman (Jr.), F – 2008 NHL Draft prospect and ranked by Central Scouting .. expected to have a huge year

Jessyko Bernard (Jr.), F – 6-foot-3 forward who can shoot it

Casey Brugman (Jr.), F – Hockey Night in Boston (HNIB's) Top Scorer .. will be needed to fill the net

Kenny Simon (Jr.), F – Speedster and expected to contribute on one of the top three lines

Neil Lavanchy (Jr.), F – Also a speedster who should contribute

Woody Woodworth (Jr.), F – Another forward who is geared up to step into a top-three line spot

TOP NEWCOMERS

Zach Bradanick (Jr.), D, Salem, NH - Potential blue-chip

Grant Telfer (Jr.), D, Ann Arbor, MI – Also potential blue-chip

Mike Conderman (So.), F, Rochester, NY – Expected to contribute .. can be a valuable

playmaker

RJ Boyd (So.), D, Sarasota, FL – played last year for the Florida Eels

COACHES COMMENTS

"Cushing looks forward to a new season with a new coach and some new faces to help a hungry veteran group of talented players. Cushing's strengths will have to start in net with Senior TJ Massie (UMASS Lowell). Also anchoring the defense with be senior Sean Whitney (Cornell) and Alex Gallen. There are two newcomers on D, Zach Bradanick (Salem, NH, Jr.) and Grant Telfer (Ann Arbor, MI, Jr.). Cushing will also have depth at the forward position starting with the two seniors Brian Maguire and Josh Bernard. Both are expected to have standout years and should get Division 1 looks. Cushings question mark is really being put on the shoulders of a very deep junior-class-of-forwards. Expect huge years from Torin Snydeman. He is on the Central Scouting (along with Massie and Gallen) list. We also have some mixture of size and speed. Jessyko Bernard (6-3) who can shoot it along with Casey Brugman (HNIB's top scorer) will be needed to fill the net. Speedsters up front are Kenny Simom, Neil Lavanchy. Woody Woodworth is geared up to step into a top-three line spot as well. Cushing has a couple of incoming 10th graders that are expected to contribute, especially Rochester New York native forward Mike Conderman, who can be a valuable playmaker. Overall, Cushing will have to rely on goaltending, good team defense and equal forward depth to make a run for the New England Championship."

HOLDERNESS SCHOOL

Nickname: Bull

Head Coach: Frank Cirone

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Kyle Krulac (Sr.), F – Captain

Craig Leach (Sr.), D – Captain

TOP NEWCOMERS

David Grilk (Jr.), G, Lynnfield, MA – Transfer from Lawrence Academy

Josh Corrigan (Sr.), F, St. Albans, VT – Post-Graduate Vermont Academy

Ivan Delic (So.), D, Zagreb, Croatia

COACHES COMMENTS

"We are looking to improve from last year. We struggled to win games and were hit with some injuries. This year we appear to have more depth and will hopefully stay healthy. Our key returnees are captains Kyle Krulac and Craig Leach. Some new additions expected to make an impact are David Grilk (Jr. goalie transfer from Lawrence), Josh Corrigan (PG from Vermont) and Ivan Delic (So. from Croatia). We have a very tough schedule again, but we hope to have what it takes to win those close games."

NORTHFIELD MOUNT HERMON

Nickname: Hogger

Head Coach: Tom Pratt

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Tom DiDonato (Sr.), F – Gibsonia, PA

Colin Downey (Sr.), F – E. Sandwich, MA

Nick Gordon (So.), F – Export, PA

Phil DiDonato Jr.), D – Gibsonia, PA

TOP NEWCOMERS

Ryan Dillon (Jr.), G, Boxford, MA

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Chris Sullivan (Jr.), D, Needham, MA

COACHES COMMENTS

"Program just three-years removed from league title looks to get back on its feet under direction of new coach. We are going to have a couple of high-end forwards in DiDonato and Downey. They will be able to put some points up."

PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY

Nickname: Lion Rampant

Head Coach: Dana Barbin

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Tom Clayton (Sr.), F – Tri-Captain – committed to Middlebury (Div. III)

Jamie Core (Sr.), F – Tri-Captain

B.J. Lalonde (Sr.), D – Tri-Captain

Ryan Purdy (Sr.), G – Will be starting goalie

Jeff Repucci (Jr.), D

Tom Larkin (Jr.), D

Christian Stevens (So.), D

Michael Kennedy (So.), D

Brendan Cosgrove (So.), D

Cam Chaput (Sr.), F

Charlie Brewer (Sr.), F

Nick Kondiles (Jr.), F

Ryan Breen (So.), F

TOP NEWCOMERS

Luke Miller (Sr.), F, Post-Graduate .. committed to Holy Cross for 2008

Brent Mayo (Sr.), F, Post-Graduate from Scarborough, ME

Ted McKenna (Sr.), F, Post-Graduate from Westford, MA

Andrew Gibson (Sr.), F, Post-Graduate from Cape Elizabeth, ME

Joe Kestner (Sr.), F, Post-Graduate from Chagrin Falls, OH

Tim Matthews (Sr.), F, Post-Graduate from Mattapoisett, MA

James Shannon (So.), F, From Montreal, Quebec

Ryan Williamson (Jr.), F, From Concord, NH

TABOR ACADEMY

Nickname: Seawolf

Head Coach: Gerry Dineen

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Mike Jangro (Sr.), F

Mark Colp (Sr.), F

Wyatt Clarke (Sr.), F

Joe Coffin (Sr.), F

Evan Ellbogen (Sr.), F

Matt Hogan (Sr.), D

Tom Kader (Jr.), D

Drew Jelinek (Jr.), F

TOP NEWCOMERS

Andy Latta (So.), D

Ian Coleman (So.), D

Robert Kang (So.), G

COACHES COMMENTS

"We are solid, experienced, and deep. Very balanced attack with a strong corps of D (both old and new). Young in net and a lot will depend on how quickly our new goalies can adjust."

INDEPENDENT

PHILLIPS ACADEMY (ANDOVER)

Nickname: Gunga, the Gorilla

Head Coach: Dean Boylan

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Andrew Cox (Sr.), F – Committed to Holy Cross for 2008

Bobby Farnham (Sr.), F – Committed to Brown for 2008

Bennet Carroccio (So.), D

Steven Bury (Sr.), F

JJ McGregor (Sr.), F

Glenn Stowell (Jr.), G

Charlie DiGiulian (So.), F

Ryan Heavey (Jr.), D

Chase Potter (Jr.), G

TOP NEWCOMERS

Luke Duprey (So.), D, Concord, NH

Trevor Braun (So.), F, Windham, ME

Chris Kreider (So.), F, Boxford, MA

SOUTH KENT SCHOOL

Nickname: Cardinal

Head Coach: Geoff Marottolo

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS

Dillon O'Hara (Sr.), D – Captain .. one of the top defenseman in the league .. very good passer

John Tague (Sr.), F – Co-Captain .. had 35 points last year and will be the go-to-guy this season

David Benmocha (Jr.), F – From Tampa, FL .. Select 17 .. another guy that will be relied upon offensively

TOP NEWCOMERS

Bill Silengo (Sr.), F, Post-Graduate from Holderness .. very good skater and can fly

Jeff Silengo (Jr.), F, Transfer from Holderness

Garrett Clement (So.), D, From FL .. Select 16

Mike Pereira (So.), F, Brother of last year's top forward and current BU player Joe Pereira .. can absolutely fly and has goal scoring ability

Wade Megan (Jr.), F, Transfer from Canton H.S. (NY) .. Select 17

Frank O'Connor (Sr.), D, Post-Graduate .. will help strengthen the blueline

Mark Elliott (Sr.), G, Post-Graduate .. will be battling for playing time

Liam McInnerany (So.), G, Will be one of three goalies in the mix for playing time

Branislav Adam (So.), G, Last of three goalies who will need to step-up early

COACHES COMMENTS

"We are going to be a young team with only one Sr. forward in the top nine. Defense is going to be our strong point, with the best core we had in awhile. We want to compete every year and our main goal is to make the playoffs."