By HockomockSports.com Staff

2024-2025 Hockomock Boys Hockey Preview

Attleboro

2023-2024 Record: 6-14
2023-2024 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Gary Warren

After taking some lumps through a challenging season last year, Attleboro is aiming to get back to the state tournament for the first time in five years.

With those lumps came valuable experience though as the Bombardiers return almost their entire lineup from a year ago. With just four seniors graduating from last year, there are plenty of familiar faces for head coach Gary Warren, who enters his third season on the bench for the Bombardiers. The biggest void is from the graduation of senior Dane Holske, who had a team-high 17 points. But sophomores Drew Bessette (12 points) and Brody Wolfe (10 points) both made an immediate impact as rookies last year and will be important pieces in the offensive end. Junior Cam Elliott and senior Alex Jarousky will provide key leadership; their move from defense to offense midway through last year gave the Attleboro scoring an instant boost. That group of four gives the Bombardiers a strong foundation to build on offensively.

The Bombardiers also got a familiar face back in sophomore Beckett Stone, who will anchor the blue line. Stone played two seasons ago as an eighth grader and was a contributor right off the bat with four goals and seven assists. His ability to anchor the defense while also contributing offensively is a huge plus for Attleboro. In net, sophomore Jake Westwater will see an expanded role after playing nearly 400 minutes as the backup last year. Sophomore Vinny Alviti will also push for minutes between the pipes. Freshmen newcomers Landon Deutscher and Cole Skaarup are in the mix to make contributions in their first season.

“If we can play to our full potential, I believe this team has a realistic chance of punching their ticket to the tournament,” Warren said.

Canton

2023-2024 Record: 16-5-2 (Davenport division champions)
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach: Brian Shuman
An early exit in the Round of 16 has left a sour taste in Canton’s mouth heading into this season. In an effort to orchestrate a deeper tournament run, the Bulldogs are looking for an improved season from the back end.

“As we begin the season, we have challenged the back end of our team, our defense, and goalies, to step up and bring back the stingy defense that defined our program for years,” said Canton head coach Brian Shuman.

Canton has typically been one of the toughest defenses not only in the Hock but across the state. After allowing over 40 goals last year (1.87 per game), the Bulldogs will be looking to rediscover its defense-first mentality; in each of the last eight seasons prior to last year, Canton averaged under 1.5 goals against per game. In order to improve the defense, Canton will look towards a group of players that picked up some vital experience a year ago. Senior Connor Geoghan is back between the pipes after starting last year with junior Matt Wright and senior Ryan Desmond pushing for minutes. The blue line will be anchored by a talented group of juniors including returners Will Doucette and Teddy Shuman, with classmates Graidy Carr, Liam Connolly, and Brannen Morris looking to make an impact defensively.

While defense is a big focus for the Bulldogs, there are some question marks in the offensive zone as well. Graduation took over more than half of Canton’s offensive production so there’s opportunity for new faces to step in. Senior Travis Thomas has a lot of varsity experience and is the top returning point producer. Sophomore Ryan Elrick had a breakout season and was named to the HockomockSports All-Underclassmen team. With Thomas and Elrick the only two returning forwards from Canton’s top six last year, Shuman will look for contributions from senior Huck McCready and juniors Andrew Gillis, Joey Ryan, and Cullen O’Brien.

“We graduated more than half of our team scoring that came from the Class of 2024, so we certainly need to replace some guys we relied heavily on to put the puck in the net for the last two, even three, years,” Shuman said.

Foxboro

2023-2024 Record: 10-12-1
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 32
Coach: Eric Galanti

Foxboro took another step forward last year and will look to continue that upward trajectory this winter.

The Warriors return four of their top leading scorers from last year, including sophomore Nikko Chiaradonna. Chiaradonna had a breakout season as a rookie and quickly emerged as one of the top forwards in the league and was named the HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year. He was fourth in the Hock with 37 points — 16 goals and 21 assists — and will look to spearhead the offense this winter. He’s joined by veteran senior Ryan Wood (10 goals, eight assists) and senior Finlay Campbell (six goals, nine assists) up front. Junior Owen McAuliffe was tied for second on the team in scoring, finishing with 12 goals and 11 assists, which was second most on the team.

In total, there’s a lot of experience on this team with 10 seniors. The blue group will be anchored by seniors Tommy Watts, Leo Campbell, Evan Paluzzi, and Connor Reardon. Sophomore James Watts will add some depth to that unit. The Warriors will have to replace HockomockSports Third Team goalie Trevor Marder but have two good candidates competing for minutes in senior Jack Pessa and junior Ryan LaCroix. Foxboro will also look to get contributions from sophomore Cam Russo and freshmen Bobby Jacobs and Colin Wells in the offensive zone.

“We have an experienced team with a core group of 10 seniors with many playing since their freshmen year,” said head coach Eric Galanti. “We are not only looking to make a deep run this season but also get some of that experience to rub off on some of our young players in their development to keep the program in good hands going forward. It’s an exciting and important season for many reasons.”

Franklin

2023-2024 Record: 16-8-0 (Kelley-Rex division co-champions)
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 quarterfinals
Coaches: Chris Spillane & Jake Brightbill
While Franklin saw the majority of its offensive production from last season graduate this past spring, the Panthers have plenty of candidates eager to leave their mark on the storied program.

The Panthers’ top five scorers from a year ago — all with 20 or more points — were part of a sizable senior class that helped the program clinch a share of the Kelley-Rex division title. But their departure creates an opportunity for co-head coaches Chris Spillane and Jake Brightbill. Senior captains Carter Balducci (9 goals, 10 assists) and Jack Wernig (10 points) will set the tone in the offensive end this season while classmates Robert Fletcher, Liam Lewandowski, and Rhys Greenwood are potential candidates for increased scoring production this winter. Juniors Drake McAlpine, Tom Quinn, and Cooper Taccini along with sophomore Joe Goguen are also in the mix offensively.

Along the blue line, Spillane and Brightbill will turn to the leadership of seniors Owen Ariente and Jake Harrington to anchor the defense. Offense wasn’t the only position hit hard by graduation but having the experience of Ariente and Harrington will help set the tone for the rest of the defensemen. Junior David Smith is another familiar face back in the mix and sophomore Quinn Taccini will be called upon for an increased role. In net, the Panthers have two veteran options in seniors Jack O’Connor and Joe Torraco.

“Our team success will come from being able to keep the puck out of our net and getting out of the zone with clean breakouts,” Brightbill said. “To make a deep run into the playoffs again, we will need to play with speed and win 1-v-1 battles.”

King Philip

2023-2024 Record: 13-5-3 (Kelley-Rex division co-champions)
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Head Coach: Toby Carlow
After earning a share of the Kelley-Rex title for the second time in the last four years a season ago, King Philip enters this winter in hopes of competing for the top spot in the division once again.

The Warriors graduated one of the largest senior classes in the league with over a dozen skaters gone from last year’s 13-win squad. King Philip had high expectations going into the postseason after some impressive results in the regular season but had its run abruptly cut short in the opening round. The goal for this year will be to get back to the tournament and make a run. Leading the way offensively will be junior Grady Bianculli, who finished third on the team in scoring and was named to the HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team. Bianculli posted five goals and a team-best 24 assists in the regular season. His ability to involve teammates will be key as the Warriors search for new offensive production, including expanded roles for Joe Robison, Jack Gresham, Finn Cunningham, and Braden Barros.

Defensively, juniors Sonny Bianculli (All Underclassmen Team) and Evan Regan along with senior Tom Gately will be leaders along the blue line. KP lost a lot of familiar faces along the blue line to graduation, and their ability to involve defensemen in the offensive zone was such a big part of the Warriors’ success last year. Newcomers Tom Frazier and Zach Foley will also look to make an impact in their first year on varsity. In goal, the Warriors will turn to senior Ted Dolan, who played over 200 minutes between the pipes last year and has some good varsity experience under his belt.

“This season we are looking to have a solid regular season and improve every day,” said third-year head coach Toby Carlow. “We play in a tough league and I think I have made a tough non-league schedule that will prepare us for the postseason. The goal is to have a successful postseason. To say the least, we did not have a positive postseason last year. That needs to change and will be the focus of our season. Prepare, improve, and finish strong. It is all in how we finish.”

Mansfield

2023-2024 Record: 9-10-2
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Mark O’Brien
A year older and a year stronger, Mansfield brings back almost its entire roster from last season and enters this winter as a legitimate challenger in the Davenport division.

The Hornets only graduated three seniors from last year’s team, which reached the state tournament despite a relatively young roster. That group has a lot more experience going into this season and a lot of familiar faces both offensively and defensively. Leading the charge up front is senior veteran Brendan Vokey (captain), who was selected as a Hockomock League all star and led all Hornet forwards with 19 points, Matt Tourigney (17 points), Matt Cromack, and Kevin O’Brien. There is a lot of depth up front too with juniors James Warren (12 points), Matt Kelly, and Cody Silver, along with sophomore Roman Gerr (13 points) all coming into the season with plenty of varsity experience.

Along the blue line, Mansfield has one of the best groups of defensemen in the league. Senior Thomas Gormley is one of the most experienced players in the Hock and posted a team-best 29 points last year, earning HockomockSports First Team honors. Senior Declan Foley is a captain along with both Gormley and Vokey and is a true leader on the ice. Junior Cole Gibson joins the quad this year to bolster the blue line while sophomores Logan Theroux and Anthony Diieso will look to help lock down defensive responsibilities. Newcomers Dillon Butler (senior) and Charlie Silver (freshman) are battling it out for the starting position in net for the Hornets.

“This team came into this season ready to work and wants to be rewarded for their effort,” said Mansfield head coach Mark O’Brien. “They understand that nothing comes easy in this league, and they are willing to put in the time. They are a fantastic group that pushes each other hard but also has a positive and supporting attitude. We will be a fun team to watch.”

North Attleboro

2023-2024 Record: 5-13-3
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Neil Hall
Although North Attleboro graduated a small senior class from last year, it was an impactful one. The Rocketeers are aiming to get back to the state tournament this year going through a challenging schedule.

There are some familiar faces up front with eight of its top 10 scorers back on the ice this winter. Junior Dom Bertino is the top point producer returning after three goals and a team-high 14 assists last year. His ability to set teammates up will be key in getting the North Attleboro offense. It will be a deep forward group with seniors Jake Santucci (13 points) and Cam Souza and juniors Caidan Alberigo (16 points), Caysen Gagner (10 points), and Alex Kojoian (eight points) back on the roster this winter.

Juniors Jameson Hardy and Jacob Conley are back to anchor the blue line after gaining some valuable experience last winter. North Attleboro has big shoes to fill with the graduation of goalies Kyle Gruber and Nate Kelly.

Oliver Ames

2023-2024 Record: 11-9-1
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div 2. Round of 32
Coach: Jimmy Tierney
It’s hard to ignore the production and talent that Oliver Ames lost to graduation from last year’s 11-win team. The Tigers said goodbye to 10 seniors, including 40-point producer Matt Lawson, three of its top four defensemen, and their starting goalie.

That means it’s a fresh start for head coach Jimmy Tierney, who enters his third year at the helm with double-digit wins in each of his first two years. Tierney and the Tigers will lean heavily on those players returning who do have varsity experience. Senior Shaun Teehan will shoulder the load offensively for the Tigers, and that’s a good thing as Teehan is one of the top offensive players in the league. Senior Patrick DeLoughrey is in line for an expanded role offensively while junior Brendan Teehan enters his third year on varsity and has shown improvement each year. Sophomore Adam Tobin is a candidate for a breakout season for the Tigers.

Senior Bryce Deibel’s experience and leadership will be crucial defensively. Entering his fourth year with the Tigers, he’s the only returner from OA’s top two defensive pairings last year. Sophomore Jace Peardon is making the switch from forward back to the blue line to help bolster the defense alongside classmate Lucas Gangi, who will see an expanded role this winter. Sophomore Josh DeVito and freshman Ronan Blaney will compete for the starting job in the net.

“We will look to build our team game from the D-zone out, and allow that to drive us offensively,” Tierney said. “We will rely on a lot of newcomers to step up and contribute to our team’s success.”

Stoughton/Brockton

2023-2024 Record: 4-18-0
2023-2024 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Dan Mark
The Stoughton/Brockton co-op team enters this season once again playing an independent schedule, though the Black Knights will play a handful of Hockomock teams in non-league action.

There will be plenty of youth on the roster for longtime head coach Dan Mark. There were a dozen seniors that graduated from last year’s squad, including both goalies, so there’s plenty of room for opportunity. This year’s squad features just one senior with a combined nine sophomores and freshmen. With eight juniors, Mark will lean on their leadership and varsity experience to lead the way. Junior Jake McSweeney finished second on the team in scoring last year with a team-high 10 goals and five assists for 15 points and will be a focal point in the offensive zone for the Black Knights. Junior Gavin Summers had a strong sophomore campaign and will be another talented offensive option.

Defensively, Mark will turn to juniors Aidan Lewis and Will Corvino to anchor the blue line. In net, freshman Jacob Michals will step between the pipes and take over as the starting goalie.

Taunton

2023-2024 Record: 15-8-1
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 32
Coach: Kris Metea
Coming off a 15-win season — the most the Tigers have had since joining the Hockomock League — Taunton has expectations to continue that success this winter.

Though they were important contributors, Taunton only graduated two players from last year. That means this year’s roster is full of varsity experience and the Tigers will be looking to replicate that overall success while trying to compete at a higher level in the Hock. All four of Taunton’s 20-point producers from last year are back: seniors Jonathan McGrath (24 points), Travis Cashman (21 points), Tre Nadeau (25 points), and sophomore Jameson Vallarelli (29 points). Nadeau and Vallarelli will spearhead the forward group but will have a lot of help from fellow returners Breighdyn Simmons (17 points), Drew Nadeau (11 points), and Cayden Clancy (15 points). The combination of skill and experience should make Taunton a strong candidate to return to the postseason.

Defensively, it all starts between the pipes with senior Cam Tomaszycki, who earned a selection to the HockomockSports Second Team after posting a 2.69 goals against average and a .900 save percentage with 505 saves. Having a senior leader in net will set the tone in front of a pretty talented defensive group. Both McGrath and Cashman can obviously contribute offensively as well but are also leaders on the blue line. Senior Brady Gomes and junior Braden LaChance give the Tigers even more experience defensively and junior newcomer Noah Bloom will add depth.

“The team is capable of accomplishing great things but must bring a hunger to succeed, an unrelenting work ethic, and personal self-sacrifice in exchange for team success,” said head coach Kris Metea, who begins his 14th year at the helm.