By HockomockSports.com Staff

2023-2024 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

Canton

2022-2023 Record: 19-3-4
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final
Coach: Nikki Petrich
Canton has made a habit of getting to the TD Garden in recent seasons. Last winter, under first-year head coach Nikki Petrich, the Bulldogs reached the state title game for the fifth time in the past seven seasons, but they’re still in search of that elusive first win in the final. This year, Canton looks to reload after the graduation of several key players at both ends of the ice while maintaining the expectation of being one of the top teams not only in the league but in the state.

Defense has been where the Bulldogs have excelled in past seasons and the blue line should remain a strength again this year. Senior Tori Carr is coming off a breakout season at the point, giving Canton a physical presence in the defensive zone and a solid skater and passer in the transition game. Senior Devan Spinale started as a forward but her move to the blue line has been a big success and gives the Bulldogs additional speed and energy on defense. Sophomore Kayleigh Koen impressed in her rookie season, growing in confidence and trusting her skill to make plays in all three zones. The graduation of goalie Carolyn Durand would be a big loss for any program, and Canton will turn to sophomores Caitlin Tureski and Kate Budway to step in between the pipes.

The Bulldogs lost a couple of first-line forwards from last year’s team but have a group of underclassmen who look ready to step in and contribute right away. Seniors Anna Lehan and Lila Spinelli will bring much-needed experience up front and both are strong forecheckers and have scored big goals in big games during their careers. Sophomore Izzy Cusack was the team’s leading scorer last year and her ability to finish around the net will be vital. Among the 11 freshmen on this year’s roster, forwards Nora McLean and Lauren Raffeto are two players to watch out for and who could see a lot of ice time this season.

Petrich said, “The team is working every day to build off of the trust in each other gained from last year’s season, which leads to phenomenal teamwork, effort, and accountability on the ice.”

Franklin

2022-2023 Record: 9-9-3
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Mike Lubin
The Panthers said goodbye to a small but talented group of seniors from last year’s team but that means there is plenty of opportunity for new players to step up in the 2023-2024 season.

While those new players work their way into the lineup, second-year head coach Mike Lubin will lean on his returning players to lead the way. Junior Julia Flynn had a breakout campaign as a sophomore and led the team in points. A captain this season, Flynn’s leadership both on and off the ice will be key to getting Franklin back to the state tournament. Junior Haley Wernig is looking to build off two strong seasons and will be a key piece in the offensive zone. Senior Bridget Haggerty, juniors Maddie O’Brien and Kaitlin Johnson, and sophomore Lily Santiago are all back from a year ago and look to bolster to offense.

There is some familiarity with Izzy Brown back for her third year in between the pipes. The junior has started for the past two seasons and impressed in each of them, and having an experienced netminder will give Franklin a boost. There’s also a lot of experience in front of Brown with senior captains Lindsay Dennett and Nina Iannuzzi anchoring the blue line group. With just four seniors and six juniors, the Panthers will need a couple of their nine underclassmen to step up as the season goes on.

“I like how we’ve practiced so far this year,” Lubin said. “Our focus is on maintaining a consistent effort each day and improving in all facets of the game throughout the season.”

King Philip

2022-2023 Record: 11-11-1
2022-2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Ken Assad
King Philip was on the verge of its first Hockomock League title last season, but losses in the final two games meant the Warriors had to settle for second. This year, the Warriors have only four seniors and a host of underclassmen to try and bring home that elusive first title and also to make a push deeper into the state tournament. KP has shown the ability to compete with the best teams (wins over Canton and Bishop Stang, and a tie with Milton) but will need to find consistency over the course of the season.

The Warriors will get boosted by the return of the league’s leading scorer, Kelly Holmes. The senior forward is a constant threat when she’s on the ice and her work rate helps push the rest of the team. Senior Nicole McDonald also returns up front to give KP a solid one-two punch. There should be plenty of depth at forward, albeit mostly inexperienced, for the Warriors to mix and match lines. Senior Ryley Ryan, sophomores Cam O’Shea and Katie McGann, and freshmen Tayla McDuff, Ella Morgan, Rylan McKillop, Molly Murphy, and Erin Steck all saw some ice time last season. Eighth graders Hadley Borst, Brooke Haltom, and Tess Dangelo will add to the competition at forward.

Defensively, KP returns most of its pairings from last season. Senior Mara Boldy will be back to give the team leadership and experience, but sophomores Lydia Maxwell and Grace Lehan-Allen will both be playing their third seasons on varsity and freshman Calleigh Brady is a two-year starter. The Warriors should be strong along the blue line. Sophomore Kiki Lynch has returned after a year playing juniors and will start in goal with junior Kaitlyn Parish backing her up.

“With only four seniors and no juniors we have a very young team but will use our speed and team defense to compete for the Hockomock and a deeper tournament run,” said KP coach Ken Assad. “We are young but experienced, which is a great asset.”

Mansfield/Oliver Ames

2022-2023 Record: 1-18-0
2022-2023 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Jamie Mullin
Back under the banner of the Mansfield/Oliver Ames Warriors, the program is hoping to have a bounce-back season in a big way.

No longer are the Hockomock Stars as North Attleboro and Attleboro are now a part of the Stoughton/Sharon co-op team. The Warriors were set to keep Taunton and Milford, but only boast one skater from Taunton. The majority of the team is from Mansfield with a half dozen players, Foxboro has five members of the team, and three are on the roster via Easton and Oliver Ames. With just 15 total players on the team, head coach Jamie Mullin will need contributions from each of them to find success.

MOA only has three seniors on the team but they are all top players and will log a lot of ice time: Maeve Anastasia (Mansfield), Cammy Shanteler (Mansfield), and Macy Quinn (Foxboro). All three are four-year players with the program and have a ton of varsity experience. Anastasia and Shanteler will be key pieces in the offense while Quinn anchors the blue line. OA’s three skaters Aimee Slomba, Bailey Mooers, and Kayla Isleib will look to bolster that attack. Quinn will be joined on the blue line by Taunton’s Hannah Albert while Foxboro freshman Cristina Coviello takes over in the net.

Stoughton/Sharon

2022-2023 Record: 1-17-0
2022-2023 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Chad Kelley
Stoughton/Sharon has added a couple of extra teams to its coop this season, bringing players from Attleboro and North Attleboro into the fold to give the Black Knights added depth. They are also back in the Hockomock League this winter, following a couple of seasons playing an independent schedule, expanding the league to five teams. With only four seniors, this young program boasts a young roster that will look to compete with some of the state’s best.

The Black Knights have a foundation of returning players whose experience will be crucial this season. Seniors Molly Corvino and Sam Calapai of Brockton will lead the group at the blue line in front of freshman goalie Sarah Scappaticci of Sharon, who stood out as an eighth-grader and will be one of the top shot-stoppers in the league. Sophomore Addison Strunk of Stoughton also returns in defense after seeing plenty of ice as a freshman. Returning up front are freshman Ella Cummings of Sharon and sophomores Megan McGowan, Julia Monaghan, and Amanda Reid, all of Stoughton.

Stoughton/Sharon will welcome newcomers from Attleboro, including senior goalie Emily Davignon and junior forward Avery Drainville, who both played for the Hockomock Stars last season. Freshman Adelle Frakelton will bring her youth team experience to the defense. From North Attleboro, senior Ava O’Dwyer and junior Grace Cabeceiras will bring experience, while sophomores Brittany Nordbeck and Alana Rice add versatility to the lineup.

“Our younger players gained valuable varsity experience that should help weather this difficult league,” said Stoughton/Sharon coach Chad Kelley. “Our biggest challenge will be getting players from five different communities on the same page, while also cultivating players that are new to the sport. Our goal is to compete every shift and be hard to play against in all three zones.”