By HockomockSports.com Staff

2024-2025 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

Canton

2023-2024 Record: 19-5-1 (Hockomock League champions)
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 quarterfinals
Coach: Marissa Massaro

A new chapter begins for the Canton girls hockey team, starting with new head coach Marissa Massaro.

Massaro played locally in high school at Brockton and played over 120 games at the collegiate level at Franklin Pierce, with her name scattered all over the program’s record book. That experience will be key as the Bulldogs will have a number of new faces in the lineup following graduation and other departures. Canton is without its top six scorers from last year’s team that reached the Elite Eight in Division 2. But with departure comes opportunity, and Canton still has talent up front with juniors Abby Stock (three goals, eight assists) and Georgia Penders (five goals, two assists), and sophomore Cassidy Lyons (two goals, six assists).

Junior Kate Budway logged over 1,300 minutes in the cage last season, gaining valuable experience, and is back between the pipes for another season to anchor the Canton defense. Junior Georgia Campbell is another familiar face back along the blue line and also played a big role in the offensive zone, registering 10 assists a season ago.

Franklin

2023-2024 Record: 7-14-0
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Brendan LaMarre

With key players back at all positions, expectations are high for the Panthers under first-year head coach Brendan LaMarre.

There’s plenty of familiarity for LaMarre, who has been an assistant coach for the Panthers the past two seasons, and this group of players — the majority of which already have varsity experience coming into this winter. Franklin boasts five of its top six forwards back in the mix including its three leading scorers: Julia Flynn (21G, 12A, 33 pts), Maddie O’Brien (7G, 6A, 13 pts), and Haley Wernig (6G, 6A, 12 pts). That trio gives the Panthers a big advantage right off the bat as they look to build depth at the position with both returning and new players battling it out this preseason.

Defensively, another big advantage Franklin has is the experience and talent in net with returning starter Izzy Brown, back between the pipes for her fourth season. The Panthers have a veteran blue line group that features returning senior Hannah Auerr, junior Jenny McLaughlin, and sophomore Madison Reardon. With only five total seniors on the team, Auerr’s leadership in the defensive zone will be crucial.

“We will have to play disciplined, structured hockey and that has been my challenge to the team for the year,” LaMarre said. “We have a strong leadership group who are smart, athletic, and work hard and I am looking at my leaders to hold the team to a high standard when it comes to those attributes.”

King Philip

2023-2024 Record: 15-9-0
2023-2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Head Coach: Ken Assad

Following a 15-win campaign and a second-place finish in the Hockomock League last year, King Philip brings a boatload of familiar faces back into the fold for this winter.

It’s still a young squad — no seniors and 11 eighth graders — and the Warriors have some work to do to replicate the offensive production of last year’s small but impactful senior class, which featured Hockomock League MVP Kelly Holmes. But with four players back who had double-digit points and a roster full of players eager to make their mark, the Warriors will certainly be in the mix for the league title this season. Up front, freshman Annabelle Curran already has a year of varsity experience and had 18 goals and 10 assists last year. She’ll be joined up front by a pair of experienced juniors in Katie McGann and Cam O’Shea. Sophomores Ella Morgan, Tayla McDuff, Rylan McKillop, and Molly Morgan will also be in the mix offensively for KP.

There’s some familiarity among the blue line group too. Junior Grace Lehan-Allen and sophomore Calleigh Brady both played pivotal roles last year and will anchor the defensive group this season. Sophomore Erin Steck and freshmen Caitlyn McManus and Lanie O’Shea are also going to be leaned on to handle opposing offenses in front of returning starting goalie Kiki Lynch, who is coming off a very strong sophomore season. With Lynch back in net, the Warriors already have a very strong foundation defensively to build on. Sophomore Olivia Klein and eighth grader Hayden McDuff offer stable depth at the goaltending position.

“This year’s team will rely on our team speed and toughness in all three zones,” said King Philip head coach Ken Assad. “Our eighth graders are very talented and they all will get playing time and will contribute. I never say rebuild, I expect to compete first for the Hock title and move on to the states and take it one game at a time from there.”

Mansfield/Oliver Ames

2023-2024 Record: 7-10-3
2023-2024 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Jamie Mullen

The Warriors finished just two spots out of the final playoff spot a year ago so this winter presents a new chance for Mansfield/Oliver Ames to make a push for the playoffs.

In order to make a run at the state tournament, and potentially a league title, the Warriors will look for some new faces to produce on the offensive end. Mansfield/Oliver Ames graduated its two leading scorers from a year ago but that void offers an opportunity for the returning (and new) players to make a mark. Offensively, senior captains Emma Rabinovich and Madeline Martin — both from Mansfield — will lead the way, both on and off of the ice. Rabinovich was a Hockomock League all star a season ago and both are entering their fourth year with the team. Sophomore Kayla Isleib (OA) will look to build on an impressive rookie year where she tied for third on the team in both goals and assists.

Mansfield/Oliver Ames’ third captain is senior Madison Guilfoyle, another four-year veteran, who will anchor the defensive group. In net, sophomore Cristina Coviello is back between the pipes after emerging as a top goalie for the Warriors, who also have players from North Attleboro and Taunton this season.

Stoughton/Sharon

2023-2024 Record: 0-20-0
2023-2024 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Chad Kelley

With another year of experience as a program and the addition of some talented newcomers, Stoughton/Sharon is set to take the next step forward this winter.

While the majority of the Black Knights’ roster is made up of players from Stoughton, there are four players from Attleboro and three from Sharon. The strength of the team starts in the back end with sophomore Sarah Scappaticci back in the cage for a second straight season. Even though she was just a freshman last year, Scappaticci quickly emerged as a top goalie and earned Hockomock League honorable mention for all stars. Along the blue line, junior captain Addie Strunk (Stoughton) and sophomore Ella Cummings (sophomore) anchor the defensive unit. Strunk has a lot of experience at the varsity level and Cummings was the team’s leading scorer last year and a Hockomock League all star. Attleboro freshman Adelle Frackleton returns for a second straight year while Stoughton freshman Kayla Monaghan could make an instant impact for the Black Knights.

Senior captains Avery Drainville (Attleboro) and Peri Rodman (Sharon) are the key pieces on the offensive end and will be relied upon for their leadership both on and off of the ice, especially with a team that is primarily sophomores and freshmen. Junior Megan McGowan (Stoughton) is another returner with varsity experience. The Black Knights will turn to some new faces to fill out the rest of the forward lines including Stoughton freshmen Raegan Costello and Keira Moenius and Attleboro sophomore Simone Meixler.

“I really like this group of kids,” said Stoughton/Sharon head coach Chad Kelley. “They have been working their tails off in the pre-season and I am optimistic we can surprise some people this year. We need to get off to a fast start and grind out shifts one at a time. Our success will be the result of being responsible in our own end and making the most of our chances in the offensive zone.”