With the NHIAA basketball season underway, we now turn our attention to the ice and the start of the high school hockey season.
Nearly all area teams open their 2021-22 campaigns on Wednesday.
Concord will travel to Salem in a rematch of last year’s Division I championship. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 3:50 p.m.
Bow will be at Nashua North-Souhegan, while Bishop Brady hosts Pinkerton in other D-I action.
In Division III, the Belmont-Gilford Bulldogs will face the Laconia-Winnisquam-InterLakes Lakers, the John Stark-Hopkinton/Hillsboro-Deering General Hawks will host Lebanon-Stevens-Mount Royal, the Kearsarge-Plymouth Cats play at Monadnock-Fall Mountain and Pembroke-Campbell hosts Sanborn-Epping.
The Concord girls’ hockey team opens on Wednesday as well, taking on Keene-Monadnock-Fall Mountain at 5:30 p.m. at Everett Arena. The other area girls’ team – Bishop Brady-Trinity – opened its season on Tuesday against Bedford.
Previews for the area teams are below.
For a closer look at the Concord boys’ team, be sure to see Monitor sports writer Matt Parker’s interview with long-time head coach Dunc Walsh online at https://www.concordmonitor.com/concord-boys-ice-hockey-dunc-walsh-question-and-answer-2021-2022-43913742 and in Monday’s print edition.
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Coach: Dunc Walsh (32nd year).
Last year: 16-2, D-I champions.
Returning starters: Brooks Craigue, jr., F; Colin Nelson, sr., F; Cam McGonigle, sr., F; Tyler Coskren, sr., F; Kevin Jones, sr., G; Jack Shoemaker, so., D; AJ Fennelly, sr., D; Joey Tarbell, jr., D.
Outlook: The Tide return some key talent from last year’s champion team, including First Team All-State forward Craigue – who is a captain along with Coskren – and Second Team goalie Jones, but this will “be a different type of team,” according to Walsh, one that will rely more heavily on defense and goaltending than the powerhouse attack that characterized last year’s squad.
“We will need to play good team defense,” Walsh said. “We have two good goalies. We just need to work hard, continue to improve and play together.”
Nelson and McGonigle will serve as assistant captains.
Coach: John Thomas (first year).
Last year: 8-7, lost in D-I preliminary round.
Returning starters: Owen Currier, sr., G; Ben Mordarski, sr., F; Jake Tash, so., F; Jack Allen, jr., D; Dominic DuBreuil, sr., D; Ethan Piotrowski, sr., D.
Top newcomers: William Brochu, fr., D; Henri Brochu, fr., F; Jason Doyle, fr., D.
Outlook: “We have some strong returning players from last season and some new players that will help round out the team,” Thomas said. “This team has a lot to prove to Oysthemselves, but I have full confidence in their enthusiasm and passion for working hard.”
Teams to beat: Concord, Bedford, Salem.
Coach: Tim Walsh (21st year).
Last year: 4-8, lost in D-I quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Mason Marquis so., G; Brodie O’Neil, so., D; Cole Billow, sr., D; Finn Benoit, jr., D; Billy Smethurst, so., F; Josh Billow, jr., F; Ethan Tobeler, jr., F; Dominic Jurcins, jr., F; Aidan Labrecque, so., F.
Top newcomers: Owen Webber, fr., F; Blake Scarinza, jr., D; Patrik Jurcins, fr., D.
Outlook: The Falcons return several players from last year’s team – especially along the blue line – that picked up the program’s first playoff victory in its third year in D-I
“With many returners from last year’s team that are now a year older and have gained a lot of experience, the Falcons look to challenge the top teams in D-I,” Walsh said. ”
Teams to beat: Concord, Salem, Bedford, Exeter, Trinity.
Coach: Jason Parent (fifth year).
Last year: 7-8-1, lost in D-III quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Owen Guerin, jr., C; Zoltan Stefan, sr., D; Brendan Folan, so., D.
Top newcomers: Evan Guerin, fr., C; Colin Logan, so., G; Nathan Gerbig, fr., D.
Outlook: “We have an excellent balance of veteran and new players with diverse skill sets,” coach Parent said. “Players to put the puck in the net could be at times problematic. The team will have to compete everyday in practice to develop the needed skills required for a late season run.”
Team to beat: Berlin-Gorham, Pembroke-Campbell, Lebanon-Stevens-Mount Royal.
Coach: Denis Kolehmainen.
Last year: 2-5, lost in D-III quarterfinals.
Returner starters: Ethan Molnar, sr., F; Logan Pike, sr., D; Nick Osborne, sr., F/D; Bobby Arnold, jr., F; Nick Martel, jr., D; Thaddeus Maughan, so., F; Lucas Gagnon, so., F; Hal Stokes, jr., D; Colton Murphy, so., D.
Top newcomers: Ethan Guevin, so., D; Chris Gagnon, fr., F/D; Avery Condon, so., F; Gavin Nestler, so., F; Deegan Tomaz, fr., F; Sam Foote, fr., F; Jackson Lochmandy, fr., F/D; Joey Ouellet, so., F/D; Paulo Vazquez, fr., G.
Outlook: “We’re a young, talented team with a lot of potential,” Kolehmainen said. “Half the team is new to the program, and it will take a little while getting everyone on the same page. Relying on the experience of our seniors and juniors will be essential to a good start of the season.”
Teams to beat: Berlin-Gorham, Belmont-Gilford, Kennett.
Coach: Justin Garzia (fourth year).
Last year: 2-6, lost in D-III quarterfinals.
Outlook: After bowing out in the quarterfinals to the champions from Berlin-Gorham, the Cats are looking to improve upon last year’s record.
Coach: David Wheaton (third year).
Last year: 3-6, lost in D-III preliminary round.
Returning starters: Ryan Bousquet, Evan Rollins, Ethan Bickford, Patrick Goodwin, Austin Keenan, JP Harriman.
Top newcomers: John Shea, Brendan Goodwin.
Outlook: “We have a good core group of returning players to provide sound leadership,” Wheaton said. “The younger players seem eager to learn and I look forward to a competitive season.”
Teams to beat: Berlin-Gorham, Kennett, Belmont-Gilford.
Coach: Marc Noel (21st year).
Last year: 5-3, lost in D-III quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Cameron Plumb, so., F; Matt Dunn, so., G; Logan Daigle, so., F; Nate Perry, sr., F; Cooper Fisher, jr., D; Matt Tetreault, sr., D.
Top newcomers: Patrick Chamberlain, so., D; Colby Despres, jr., F; Liam Cripps, so., G; Trevor Lemaire, fr., F.
Outlook: Chamberlain, Fisher, Tetreault and sophomore Tyler Reynolds give Pembroke a solid defensive core. “The outlook of our season this year is very promising. Albeit, we have a very young team. With the strong sophomore and freshmen talent, this team should be fun to coach and watch,” said Noel.
Teams to beat: Berlin-Gorham, Lebanon-Stevens-Mount Royal, Kennett.
Coach: Dan Earley (11th year).
Last year: 0-12, lost in preliminary round.
Returning starters: Courtney Ingham, sr., F; Vern Landry, sr., D; Finley Hollenberg, so., F.
Outlook: Brinity only has 10 players on the roster and six of them are freshmen, giving the Giant Pioneers a fresh look after a winless season last year. “It has been a battle to get 10 girls, but they are talented girls,” Earley said.
Coach: Tim Herbert (second year).
Last year: 10-6, lost in quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Elizabeth Brown, Sophia Branch, Leah Beauregard, Greta Norton, Julia Kirrane, Ayva Walsh, Taylor Lamb, Lily Hillsgrove.
Top newcomers: Tess Mulkerron, Abigal Colby, Anna Moreira, Claire Brown.
Outlook: The Tide boasts a mostly veteran group that has played together for three years and will need to rely on that team chemistry and cohesiveness to rebuild its attack. “Working together has been our key to success and, as a team, the girls continue to progress,” Herbert said. “The team has lost 85% of our goal scoring from last year’s team due to graduation. We’ll look for both veterans and newcomers to produce goals. This year’s team is an exciting team to watch. The play well together and progress every day at practice.”
Teams to beat: Bishop Guertin, Pinkerton, Berlin-Gorham-Kennett, ter River-Portsmouth.