Rare is the time when a team enters the season in the sights of everyone else, despite not having won a championship the previous year.
Such are the expectations at Austin Prep, which nearly everyone has pegged as the team to beat entering the 2018-19 girls hockey season. And for good reason. The Cougars return a wealth of experience and talent, starting in net with All-Scholastic Hannah Aveni. Francesca Frelick leads the defense, while the AP offense is deep and balanced with Ella Saracco, Maeve Crehan, Sam Taber and newcomers Eryn Taber and Aylah Cioffi.
Austin Prep should be the favorite in the Catholic Central League, but St. Mary’s will be a dangerous team led by standout defenseman Mady Hentosh, as well as forward Codi Butt and goalie Lauren Vaccaro. Archbishop Williams will be one of the top Division 2 contenders with goalie Ali Delmonte, and Matignon has a new coach in Anthony Cornacchia.
The race for supremacy in Division 1 should be tight, as it was in 2017-18, when the top five seeds entered the tournament with a combined two losses.
Methuen/Tewksbury reached its first state final a season ago and the Red Rangers return All-Scholastic forward Carolyn Curley and a solid defense in front of veteran goalie Kaia Hollingsworth.
“Our core group is now mostly upperclassmen who have a strong understanding of what it takes to compete in our difficult league and the requirements of a long season,” M/T coach Sarah Oteri said.
Andover will push M/T in the Dual County/Merrimack Valley 1 with All-Scholastic Sean D’Urso in goal, and Westford Academy will be strong with top forwards Kaleigh Butler and Val Crory. In DCL/MVC 2, Boston Latin is loaded with experience with Kerri McLaughlin, Emma Tobin, Maggie Young and Sophia Temple at forward, Emma Kelly on defense and Ellen Linso in net. Waltham, Lincoln-Sudbury and Concord-Carlisle will be other teams to watch.
Shrewsbury will be the clear favorite out of the Central West and a Div. 1 contender with perhaps the state’s most dynamic player Delaney Couture, a Dream Teamer who has committed to Providence. Algonquin has plenty of talent back from last year’s Div. 2 semifinalist squad.
Of course, two-time defending state champion Woburn can’t be forgotten, but the Tanners will have a much different look this season after being hit hard by graduation and transfers. Coach Bob MacCurtain will lean on his tough defense, led by Sophia Gregory in front of goalie Amanda Essigmann.
“Small team, young, lots to learn,” MacCurtain said. (We) hope to be competitive.”
Arlington could emerge as the team to beat in the Middlesex League’s Liberty Division, with Winchester and Reading also in the race. Defending Freedom Division champ Melrose has a new coach in Frank Sorrenti, as does Wakefield (Chrissy Weeden), while Wilmington looks to be an early breakout team.
Masconomet was one of the surprises of last year’s tournament, but won’t sneak up on anyone this time around with All-Scholastic Molly Elmore in net. Peabody returns All-Scholastic Sammie Mirasolo as it looks to contend in the Northeast Conference, which has new coaches at Marblehead (Marisa Maccario) and Beverly/Danvers (Danielle Finocchiaro). Winthrop has two of the top defensemen around in Bella Perrotti and Abby Stafford.
The Bay State Conference has undergone some change in the offseason. Not only have the two divisions shuffled among the remaining 10 teams, but Newton North now has a co-op with Newton South (and co-coaches Scott Heslin and Amy Severance), leaving Brookline on a solo voyage again under new coach Nick Sama. Framingham also has a new coach in former Flyer Casey Diana.
Those teams will compete in the Bay State Carey, where defending Div. 2 state champ Wellesley could reign again with Dream Team defenseman Erin Fleming and goalie Liddy Schultz back. Natick will challenge as All-Scholastic Molly Burnes leads a strong group of forwards.
Braintree could be the team to beat in the new Bay State Herget as Abbey Holland leads a young but experienced team that reached the Div. 1 quarterfinals last season. Needham always will be dangerous, and Walpole also is poised for a strong season.
Duxbury appears to be the favorite in the Patriot League again with an experienced group led by captains Mairead Kennedy and Jackie Hayden. Hingham, Pembroke and Plymouth all are tournament-tested teams, and Quincy/North Quincy has one of the state’s top returning scorers in Cassandra Davis.
Canton reached the Div. 2 state final out of the Hockomock League, and the Bulldogs bring back four defensemen and their top two lines led by All-Scholastic Maggie Malloy. Ava Pacitti steps in as the starting goalie. Franklin and Mansfield/OA/Foxboro (with new coach Roy Bain) will contend in the Hockomock.
The Tri-Valley League welcomes Norwood this season and the Mustangs should challenge right away, but Westwood will be the favorite with All-Scholastic Kat Keith back. Karl Infanger takes over as new coach of Medway/Ashland.
Barnstable will be tough to beat in the SEMGHL, but Norwell could be ready to make a run with a dynamic scoring duo of All-Scholastic Casey Ward and Casey Messina. The BMWORR co-op broke through a season ago and will be a factor along with Cohasset/Hanover and Bishop Stang. Dennis-Yarmouth is an emerging power in the Atlantic Coast.
Notre Dame (Hingham) is just a couple of years removed from back-to-back Div. 2 state titles, but the Cougars will have their third coach in as many years. John Findley, a veteran assistant at Hingham, moves across town and will have a challenging independent schedule.
