After realignment amongst Div. 3 and Div. 4 boys hockey groups, the 2023-24 season will see rivalries new and previous ignited alongside the way in which to the TD Garden. With Nashoba Regional shifting out of Div. 3, there shall be a brand new champion come March, whereas a powerful Norwell group goals to defend its title towards improved competitors with eyes on the Div. 4 throne.
Division 3
Scituate performed within the state last final 12 months, shedding to Nashoba Regional 2-1 in OT. Senior captain James Sullivan will lead the cost after amassing 16 objectives and 36 assists over the last marketing campaign, amassing 100 profession factors.
Goaltender Thomas McMellen returns for the Sailors after minding the web within the run to the ultimate.
An ever-dangerous Lynnfield group was within the quarterfinal final season and the semifinal two years in the past. The Pioneers return 18 gamers, together with 12 seniors, in a marketing campaign “deliberately put together against top tier D1 and D2 teams” to tune them up for the event, in line with coach Jon Gardner.
Watertown made it to the Final Four and must be primed for one more deep run. Led by a powerful core defensive core and “one of the best first lines” the group has seen in years, the Raiders’ success hinges on “playing three zones,” stated head coach John Vlachos.
Wakefield strikes to Div. 3 after being eradicated within the Elite 8 of the Div. 2 event. Coach Jon Vater believes this 12 months’s group possesses “a core that has the passion to push hard and get deeper than last year.”
The Warriors might want to play with tempo, led by speedster ahead Frank Leone, who’s “brings a ton of energy” to a talented offensive unit, Vater stated.
Methuen was eradicated by Lynnfield final season, however returns 13 gamers, together with junior netminder Owen O’Brien, who posted a 1.90 GAA in his sophomore marketing campaign.
Marblehead is new to Div. 3 after a stint in Div. 2, and may discover management from senior defenseman Hogan Sedke and senior ahead Charlie Grenier.
Led by senior Colin Underwood, Dracut/Tyngsboro incorporates a balanced lineup that believes it might probably get past final 12 months’s run to the Sweet 16. The group will should be profitable on particular groups to recover from the hump.
Division 4
Norwell is aiming for a repeat of final 12 months’s championship marketing campaign when it went 25-1-0. Experience and management will come from senior captains Nolan Petrucelli (F), Charlie Booras (D) and Aedan Coyle (D), who shall be leaned on closely. Fellow senior Quinn Simmons shall be regarded to for aim scoring.
The Clippers play a troublesome schedule, together with two towards their opponent in final 12 months’s title bout, Sandwich, which is hungry to return to the Garden.
A pair of four-year varsity gamers on the Sandwich roster, seniors Christopher Cardillo (profession 57 objectives, 39 assists) and Jack Connolly (profession 32 objectives, 33 assists) must be among the many most dynamic threats within the state.
Hanover has joined Division 4 after getting bounced within the Div. 3 Sweet 16. A troublesome schedule and management from three-sport captains John MacDonald and Mehki Bryan ought to make it a critical contender in a brand new division.
Martha’s Vineyard boasts a balanced core and performs a “no frills” type of protection, in line with head coach Matt Mincone. With energy and depth on the blue line, the Vineyarders ought to contend towards anybody. If they’ll discover their scoring contact they may make a deep run.
The Nauset roster could also be even stronger than final 12 months when it reached the Elite 8. With a number of new items, coach Connor Brickley believes the group boasts extra depth and a group identification that may carry over from final season.
Winthrop is a fast and expert group led by Northeastern Conference MVP Petey Silverman (29 objectives and 27 assists). The Vikings are a traditionally stingy unit that may take a look at any opponent. They are a group to observe down the stretch when protection issues most.
Dennis-Yarmouth was knocked out within the Elite 8 and must be a tricky out once more, whereas Cohasset will look to get out of the Sweet 16 come this season’s event.
Div. 3 Players to Watch
Colin Underwood, Dracut/Tyngsboro, sr. (F)
Mikey Desmarais, Dracut/Tyngsboro, sr. (F)
Drew DuRoss, Dracut/Tyngsboro, sr. (F)
Matt Lesniak, Dracut/Tyngsboro, sr. (D)
Joe Raffa, Lynnfield, sr. (F)
Jack Carpenter, Lynnfield, sr. (D)
Owen O’Brien, Methuen, jr. (G)
Noah Kneeland, Methuen, sr. (F)
Zachary Anderson, Methuen, jr. (F)
Hogan Sedke, Marblehead, sr. (D)
Charlie Grenier, Marblehead, sr. (F)
James Sullivan, Scituate, sr. (F)
Johnny Donahue, Scituate, sr. (F)
Jackson Belsan, Scituate, sr. (F)
Dylan Richman, Scituate, sr. (D)
Thomas McMellen, Scituate, sr. (G)
Frank Leone, Wakefield, sr. (F)
Liam McNeil, Wakefield, sr. (D)
Brian Precell, Wakefield, sr. (F)
Trevor Veilleux, Wakefield, jr. (D)
Joe Cavaluzzi, Wakefield, fr. (F)
James Erickson, Watertown/Wayland, sr. (F)
Alec Banosian, Watertown/Wayland, sr. (F)
Jack Ali, Watertown/Wayland, sr. (D)
Mauricio Souza, Watertown/Wayland, sr. (D)
Div. 4 Players to Watch
Matt Reynolds, Hanover, sr. (D)
John MacDonald, Hanover, sr. (D)
Billy Radzik, Hanover, sr. (F)
Mehki Bryan, Hanover, sr. (F)
Liam Conley, Martha’s Vineyard, sr. (F)
Aidan Conley, Martha’s Vineyard, sr. (D)
Hunter Johnson, Martha’s Vineyard, jr. (F)
Nathan Averill, Martha’s Vineyard, sr. (F)
Logan Poulin, Nauset, sr. (F)
Joe McManus, Nauset, sr. (D)
Julian Krivos, Nauset, sr. (F)
Cam Connery, Nauset, sr. (F)
Nolan Petrucelli, Norwell, sr. (F)
Charlie Booras, Norwell, sr. (D)
Aedan Coyle, Norwell, sr. (D)
Quinn Simmons, Norwell, sr. (F)
Christopher Cardillo, Sandwich, sr. (F)
Jack Connolly, Sandwich, sr. (F)
Shane Corcoran, Sandwich, sr. (D)
Petey Silverman, Winthrop, sr. (F)
Philip Bonocore, Winthrop, jr. (F)
Billy Hayes, Winthrop, sr. (D)
Hunter Fife, Winthrop, sr. (D)
Colin O’Leary, Winthrop, soph. (D)
Michael Donahue, Winthrop, jr. (G
Source: www.bostonherald.com