Headlines.
7.0 years ago by Celina Lariviere
Valley News Staff Writer
An exodus of offensive talent from Upper Valley hockey squads is leaving some coaches wondering where the goals will come from this season.
Woodstock’s Steven Townley and Hanover’s Seth Stadheim left their respective teams in favor of prep school; Stadheim landed at Kimball Union, Townley at Williston Northampton. Hanover girls hockey star Matti Hartman now plays for Northeastern University. Hartford’s Meghan Boardman and Nate Lemieux have graduated.
What’s left in their wake are rosters with more questions than answers.
Luckily for most teams, goaltending talent is still in abundance. Cici Barton, from the Hanover girls, and Richie Morrill, from the Hartford boys, could steal games for their teams with talented defensive units in front of them. Hanover’s boys feature a goaltending duo of Luke Ratliff and Gabe Loud that makes the Marauders’ lack of offensive depth a non-issue. Low-scoring games could be the norm this season.
Nathan Gariepy, Lebanon: The Raiders forward is eight points away from 100 for his career and he is slated to be one of the team’s go-to offensive options this season with Nate Damren and Nate Chickering.
Luke Ratliff, Hanover: One half Hanover’s senior goaltending duo with Gabe Loud that give the Marauders a combined seven years of experience at hockey’s most important position.
Mahler Meyerrose, Hanover: It won’t be easy to replace Matti Hartman and the Marauders’ offensive depth from last season, but Meyerrose should get heavy minutes and a highlighted role in Hanover’s offense as a senior.
Cullen McCarthy, Woodstock: With Steven Townley at Northampton Prep, McCarthy is suddenly the Wasps’ most prominent offensive weapon on a team that is suddenly young and inexperienced.
Elizabeth Jones, Lebanon: The Raiders’ defenseman will log heavy minutes on a Lebanon team that lacks defensive depth and will have something to play for with teammate and best friend Julie Barber going through rehab.
Summer Parkhurst, Hartford: Hartford’s lone senior serves as its captain and will take on a heavy workload on Hurricanes team that looks to rebuild its ranks.
Ben Roulliard, Hartford: With linemates Nate Lemieux and Kyle Weeks now gone, Roulliard becomes the Hurricanes’ go-to returning scorer. He had 17 goals and 16 assists on Hartford’s top line last season.
Coach: Dick Dodds (35).
Last Year: 12-11-1, lost to Bedford in quarterfinals.
League: NHIAA Division I.
Returnees: Seniors — Gabe Loud (G), Patrick Logan (D), Jonathan Goff (F), Jensen Dodge (D), Will Smith (D), Luke Ratliff (G), Grant Morhun (F), Jake Acker (F), Casey Starr (F). Juniors — Harris LaRock (G), David Lehmann (F), Braxton McNulty (D). Sophomores — T.J. Beaver (D), Hans Williams (F), Elias Zinman (F), Charlie Plottner (F).
Newcomers: Sophomores — Sam Seelig (D), Duncan Bailey (D), Joseph Goff (F). Freshmen — Owen Stadheim (F).
Analysis: The Marauders will miss offensive leader Seth Stadheim and his 15 goals and 18 assists from last season after the dynamic scorer left for Kimball Union. But Dick Dodds’ group features an experienced core of nine seniors to help fill the offensive void, along with two experienced goalies — Gabe Loud and Luke Ratliff — whom Dodds believes will gives his team its best chance to win.
“We really don’t have one over the other,” Dodds said. “We’re going to be riding the hot hand. Both will get lots of opportunities to play. If one gets hot, that who we’ll go with.”
Jake Acker (nine goals, nine assists), Jonathan Goff (eight goals, two assists) and Will Smith (six goals, five assists) all return for Hanover and will get featured roles in the offense with Stadheim not on the roster. Top defenseman Alan Baker will not play this season because of a concussion, paving the way for Patrick Logan to be the team’s defensive star.
“We’re going to have to find the offense, but we expect it to come from several different areas,” Dodds said. “The sky’s the limit for this group; it all depends on how fast we can meld as a team.”
Coach: Todd Bebeau (19).
Last Year: 14-8-0, lost to Middlebury in quarterfinals.
League: VPA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors — Matt Libuda (G), Richie Morrill (G), Nate Robinson (D), Ben Rouillard (F), Jordan McReynolds (F), Jordy Allard (D). Juniors — Korrigan Allen (F), Andrew Daley (D), Adam Parker (F), Tyler Hamilton (F), Patrick McGlone (D). Sophomores — Nick Cameron (D), Jacob Derosier (F), Jonas Spaulding (F).
Newcomers: Junior — Clayton Groenewald (D). Sophomores — Billy Mann. Freshmen — Kyle Atkinson (F), Kyle Hamilton (F/D), Cody Chapman (D), Sam Johnson (F), Charlie Scribner (D), Kaj Boeri (F).
Analysis: First-liners Kyle Weeks and Nate Lemieux, who combined for 68 points and 30 goals for the Hurricanes this season, have since graduated, leaving Hartford with senior Ben Rouillard (17 goals, 16 assists last season) to lead the offense one year after falling, 3-2, to Middlebury in the second round of the D-II tournament.
The Hurricanes’ strength is their talent at multiple positions, with senior defenseman Jordy Allard and senior goaltender Richie Morrill both returning. Veteran head coach Todd Bebeau will need to find secondary scoring and linemates to pair with Roulliard on Hartford’s top line. Jordan McReynolds (four goals, three assists) and Tyler Hamilton (five goals, three assists) should make developmental strides in larger roles.
Coach: Gary Smith (8).
Last Year: 8-11-2, lost to Goffstown in first round.
League: NHIAA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors — Nathan Damren (F), Nathan Gariepy (F), Peter Elder (F), Sam Lawrence (D), Carter Adams (D), Jordan Hammond (G). Juniors — Hunter Boutin (F), Ethan Daly (D), Ian Garland (F), Sophomores — Jared Audette (G), Jordan Sandmann (F), Joseph Dupree (D), Nathan Chickering (F), Aaron Damren (D).
Newcomers: Junior — Andrew Friend (G). Sophomore — Trent Porter (F). Freshmen — Will Forman (D), Mason Adams (D), Jonathan Cloud (F), Brian Daly (F), Jackson Kapuscinski (G).
Analysis: Last season’s nine seniors marked the biggest class Gary Smith has ever coached, bringing the positives of a deep, solidified roster along with the negatives of very little room to grow the team’s younger athletes. This season will be back to basics for the Raiders, who feature a top-heavy first line and highlighted power play unit with plenty of space for the team’s younger players to get significant playing time in secondary scoring roles.
“We’re young,” Smith said. “We’ve got a lot of new kids and players that have been on the team and seen significant playing time. I’d say two thirds of our team is new, with one third being very experienced and very skilled. … It’s a good group.”
Lebanon will be led by the three Nates offensively. Nate Gariepy is eight points away from becoming the Raiders’ first 100-point scorer since 2007 and has shown preseason chemistry with sophomore Nate Chickering and senior Nate Damren, who was injured in a preseason scrimmage and should miss the first few weeks.
“Those three, when they’re on the power play together, there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s one of the top lines in Division II, if not the entire state,” Smith said. “Our power play is really crucial; we’re focusing on that.”
Coach: Jon Chamberlin (2).
Last Year: 17-2-1, lost to Burr & Burton in first round.
League: VPA Division I.
Returnees: Seniors — Ben Beaudoin (D), Luc Issa (F), Daniel Robinson (D), Jack Kamb (D), Curtis Lessard (F), Jason Drebber (G). Juniors — Josh Kennedy (F), Cullen McCarthy (F). Sophomores — Ely Chynoweth (D), Lucas Piconi (F).
Newcomers: Freshmen — Henry Greene (G), Tristan Black (D), Michael Cimis (F), Max Dodson (F), Nathan Kennedy (F), Sam Mitchell (F), Trevor White (F), Owen Coates (F).
Analysis: How things have changed in just 12 months. The Wasps, one year after finishing as the top seed in VPA Division II, will play their first season in D-I with freshmen representing eight of their 18 skaters. What’s more, second-year head coach Jon Chamberlin and the Woodstock coaching staff will have to reconfigure the offense with top scorer Steven Townley (24 goals, 19 assists last season) at Williston Northampton.
“You can’t replace a guy like Steven, not only on the ice but in the locker room,” Chamberlin said. “We’re shifting our focus from offense to defense.”
Cullen McCarthy (14 goals, 19 assists) should take a highlighted role in the Wasps’ offense, as will Luc Issa (13 goals, 13 assists). Dan Robinson (two goals, 10 assists) should be Woodstock’s go-to option on the blue line. Senior Jason Drebber is expected to get most of the starts this season over freshman Henry Greene. Still, Chamberlin’s group transitions from a high-powered, experienced D-II force to a young, inexperienced unknown in D-I. McCarthy, Robinson and Issa were named captains in the preseason.
“The thing we lost most of last season was our leadership,” Chamberlin said. “We’re still trying to fill that void.”
Coach: John Dodds (12).
Last Year: 20-1-2, won seventh straight state title.
League: NHIAA Division I.
Returnees: Seniors — J.J. Taube (D), Mahler Meyerrose (F), Leslie McNamara (D), Sarah MacCormick (D), Maddie Lyons (F), Clare Gardner (F). Juniors — Hannah Curtis (F), Cate Wagner (F). Sophomores — Cici Barton (G), Bryn Kable (D).
Newcomers: Seniors — Sylvie Alexander (F), Brittany Richard (F). Juniors — Briland Laycock (F). Sophomores — Clara Boland (D), Margaret Lee (F), Emma Tysinger (D). Freshmen — Meredith Morhun (F), Claire Yegian (G).
Analysis: The Marauders are locked and loaded once again after last year’s squad, led by Northeastern-bound Matti Hartman and a slew of offensive talent, won Hanover’s seventh straight NHIAA D-I title, its eighth title in nine years of NHIAA sanctioning, by outscoring their opponents, 19-3, in three postseason games.
Mahler Meyerrose (11 goals, seven assists), Clare Gardner (seven goals, seven assists) and Maddie Lyons (seven goals, 10 assists) all return for the Marauders. J.J. Taube and Sarah MacCormick will get plenty of minutes on the Hanover blue line in front of sophomore goaltender Cici Barton one year after allowing just 24 goals in 23 games and earning 20 wins.
Coach: Marc Gattie (4).
Last Year: 7-13-1, lost to Colchester in first round.
League: VPA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors — Summer Parkhurst (F). Juniors — Morgan Pero (F), Morgan Fisk (D), Havailah Arnold (F), Emily Ballou (F), Olivia DeFelice (D), Lauren Miller (D), Hannah Cooney (F), Hannah Ballou (F), Jasmine Wilson (F). Sophomores — Maggie Gilman (G), Alice Dwyer (F), Caitlin Gaudette (F), Madison Duranleau (D).
Newcomers: Freshmen — Georgia Flynn (D), Greer McCarty (F), Cayden Shaw (F), Kendyl Boisvert (F), Cecilia Spaulding (F), Jacqueline Gour (G).
Analysis: Summer Parkhurst represents the lone senior in a Hartford offense that will try to rebuild itself after the departure of leading goal scorer Meghan Boardman. Emily Ballou (seven goals, eight assists last season) and Caitlin Gaudet (11 goals, 11 assists) will also take on larger roles.
“We’re young,” said Canes head coach Marc Gattie. “We lost a decent amount of strong seniors last year who played a lot. Right now, we’re all very competitive with each other to fill in those spots. So far, it’s gone really well.”
Gattie said he was impressed with the development of sophomore goaltender Maggie Gilman, who should continue to improve with a year of experience under her belt.
Coach: Brad Shaw (8)
Last Year: 9-10, lost to Berlin-Gorham in first round.
League: NHIAA Division I.
Returnees: Seniors — Isabella Harriman (F), Grace Lindsey (F), Sage Ballard (F). Juniors — Erin White (F), Elizabeth Jones (D), Julie Barber (D), Julia Tibbits (F).
Newcomers: Juniors — Halle Drew (G). Freshmen — Celia Barnett (D), Gianna Bagley (F), Mackayla O’Meara (D), Kayleigh Trietsch (F), Ella Lindsay (F), Brianna Meeker (F), Adrianna Maccioli (G).
Analysis: The Raiders, for the second straight season, are working with one of their smallest rosters in program history, and the group has gotten even smaller since its first day of practice despite beginning a cooperative program with Stevens High. Top defenseman Julie Barber was hospitalized for a tumor in her spine, and Stevens goaltender Halle Drew suffered a preseason hamstring injury that will likely keep her out for the season. Coupled with standout goaltender Hope Brown not returning to the team, Lebanon is back to the drawing board with its most important position.
“Next year, there is a decent group coming up. It’s just that way,” Shaw said. “There’s a couple of programs that are light on numbers. Our goalie (Hope Brown) didn’t return, so we’re training another new goalie.”
Freshman Adrianna Maccioli takes over the goaltending duties. Shaw said his team is likely to roll only two offensive lines and two defensive pairings throughout the season.
Coach: Ian Coates (4).
Last Year: 10-10-1, lost to Stowe in first round.
League: VPA Division II.
Returnees: Seniors — Miranda Johnson (F), Hannah Milstone (D), Teale Bohen (F), Heather Blanchard (F), Holly Weglarz. Juniors — Lauren Forgione (F), Sadie Kuhn (F/D), Maria Shontz (F), Annabelle Lessard (G), Liz Currier (D). Sophomores — Anna Hepler (F), Adrianna Gray (F), Hannah Coates (F), Khara Brettell (D), Sidney Pilot (F), Bridgit Black (G).
Analysis: The offseason left Ian Coates’ squad largely intact after last year’s team had no seniors. And after breaking out for 10 wins after three straight losing seasons, Woodstock is slated to compete as one of the top teams in Vermont D-II behind a dynamic offense.
Sadie Kuhn returns after 22 goals and two assists last season, as do Hannah Coates (nine goals, 11 assists), Anna Hepler (seven goals, 10 assists), Lauren Forgione and Audrey Lee. Annabelle Lessard returns between the pipes.
