Happy New Year High School Hockey Fans! Up here in New Hampshire our High School Hockey programs are off to a robust start in each division. Here is where we currently stand...
New Hampshire D1 Poll
| Rank | Team | PR* | W | L | T |
|---|
| 1 | Bedford | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Concord | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Bp. Guertin | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Londonderry | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Salem | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Pinkerton | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Hanover | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | Bp. Brady | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Manchester Central | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | Nashua North/Souhegan | 9 | 1 | 3 |
0
|
Bedford, last year's champion is at it again. The Marty Myers led squad has a great feeder system in the local youth hockey programs, and has adequately replaced their strong graduating class (Danato Tempesta, Nate John and others). Currently leading the team are forwards #12 Griffin Gagne and #11 Jay Roberto.
Concord, who was a top 4 team and graduated All- State goaltender Ben Nelson in 2015-16. Has started off strong and grabbed the first BIG Win of the year, beating Bishop Guertin 2-1 last week.
Londonderry, Salem, Pinkerton and Hanover (with Senior Forward Jensen Dodge leading the way) all are in the mix.
Big games this weekend include:
Friday, Pinkerton vs Londonderry
Saturday, Salem vs Bishop Brady
New Hampshire D2 Poll
| Rank | Team | PR* | W | L | T |
|---|
| 1 | Keene | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Bow | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Goffstown | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Windham | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | St. Thomas Aquinas | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | Spaulding | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Dover | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | Kingswood | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | Lebanon/Stevens | NR | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | Portsmouth/Newmarket | NR | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Bow and Windham, last year's finalists, are off to strong starts, but have recorded their first losses of the season in surprising upsets, when Windham lost to Portsmouth- Newmarket 3-2 on January 4, and Bow lost to Keene 3-0 on Dec. 21.
Keene has been building over the last 3 years in more ways than one... The construction of Keene Ice center finally gives them an all-season place to play, and the team has been improving on the ice going from out of the playoffs, to in the playoffs, to now being Ranked #1!
Look for Spaulding and Goffstown to compete the top teams, and great efforts every night from Dover, and the Forward combo of Burke Ruel/ Andy Contrada in Kingswood.
Big games this week include:
Saturday, Dover vs Goffstown
Saturday, Bow vs Spaulding
New Hampshire D3 Poll
| Rank | Team | PR* | W | L | T |
|---|
| 1 | Berlin/Gorham | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Kennett | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Belmont-Gilford | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | John Stark/Hopkinton | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Somersworth/Coe Brown | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Pembroke/Campbell | NR | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | Moultonboro/Inter-Lakes | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | Monadnock | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Berlin/Gorham graduated 11 Seniors off the 2015-16 championship squad, but have started strong with a key win over Belmont- Gilford the first week of the season. Berlin is led by Senior Power Forward Owen Dorval.
Where Berlin/ Gorham has experience, the young and hungry squad in North Conway (Kennett) has proven they are a force. Led by outstanding Defenseman Kenzie Murphy and Connor Furtado, and Forwards Connor Doucet, Colby Couture and Michael Seavey, Kennett has started 5-0 and on Wednesday shocked Berlin/ Gorham with a 6-1 victory. John Biggio has been solid in nets.
The top 5 teams (Berlin/ Gorham, Kennett, Belmont/ Gilford, John Stark Hopkinton and Somersworth/Coe Brown) appear to be a step above the rest of the field and will be jockeying for playoff seeding all winter long.
Big Games this week include:
Next Wednesday, Belmont/ Gilford vs Kennett
