In a week that saw a lot of ranked teams faceoff against eachother we are finally starting to see signifcant movement outside of the top three teams. Salisbury led the way beating both Cushing and Brunswick in a single week which saw them jump to #4 but could also make the argument they are the hottest team in prep the past month. Holderness had a key overtime win over Exeter, Avon defeated Westminster, KUA beat NMH, Dexter and Pomfret tied and then Andover beat Dexter and St. Sebastian’s beat St. Mark’s. An exciting week which has made some major moves in the prep standings and playoff picture.
The top 8 were pretty easy based on record and strength of schedule but the bottom 2 were difficult for this weeks poll and therefore we have a much larger group of honorable mentions as there could be an argument for another of those 9 teams to be in the 9 and 10 spots. We chose Pomfret because of their strong record recently and some quality games and Westminster for their quality wins and strength of schedule.
NZ Prep Poll Top 10
1. Kimball Union
2. Avon Old Farms
3. Belmont Hill
4. Salisbury School
5. Holderness School
6. St. Sebastian’s
7. Brunswick
8. Cushing Academy
9. Pomfret
10. Westminster
Honorable Mentions: St. Georges, St. Marks, Dexter, NMH, Exeter, Nobles, Andover
- Kimball Union
Key Wins: Kent, #10 Westminster, #4 Salisbury, NMH, Exeter
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 5-0
Important Upcoming Games: #5 Holderenss, #8 Cushing
Kimball Union has not lost a game against a NEPSHIA opponent this season and their undefeated record against playoff contender teams is very impressive. They have a few tough matchups to close out the season but this is the team to beat at this point.
2. Avon Old Farms
Key Wins: Kent, #10 Westminster (2x), NMH
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 4-1
Important Upcoming Games: #4 Salisbury, #9 Pomfret and Loomis Chaffee
Avon has only 2 wins over Top 10 opponents but their wins over Loomis, NMH and Kent are looking better and better as those teams are having late season success. They have some big games left on the schedule and a strong finish will position themselves well for home ice in the Elite 8 playoffs.
3. Belmont Hill
Key Wins: NMH and St. Mark’s
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 2-0-2
Important Upcoming Games: #6 St. Sebastian’s, Nobles, Dexter, #10 Westminster
Belmont Hill is the only remaining undefeated team in prep play but have yet to beat a Top 10 opponent so their upcoming stretch will prove their standing as they make a run for home ice in the Elite 8 playoffs. They have a rematch with St. Sebastian’s and Nobles whom they tied with earlier in the season and close it out against Dexter and #10 Westminster. The last two weeks in February will define this teams playoff seeding.
4. Salisbury School
Key Wins: Andover, #10 Westminster, # 7 Brunswick and #8 Cushing Academy
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 4-3-0
Important Upcoming Games: Kent, Loomis and #2 Avon
A rocky start but a strong January and February thus far have put this team in the hunt for home ice in the Elite 8 playoffs. They have a few more tough tests down the stretch but their recent run including this past week with wins over two ranked opponents is impressive.
5. Holderness School
Key Wins: Andover, #9 Pomfret and Phillips Exeter
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 2-0-0
Important Upcoming Games: #1 Kimball Union
Holderness hasn’t had the toughest schedule comparitiviely but they have two quality wins over Pomfret and Exeter and will get a big matchup against Kimball Union this week. They can’t afford any misteps down the stretch but if they continue their stellar play (15-1-1 record) then this is an Elite 8 team.
6. St. Sebastian’s
Key Wins: Andover, Exeter, Nobles, St. Mark’s
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 2-4-0
Important Upcoming Games: #3 Belmont Hill
St. Seb’s has played 7 teams in contention and has a strong win percentage but they haven’t beaten at team in our Top 10 yet so their matchup against #3 Belmont Hill this week will be a big one. They tied eachother earlier in the season. A win there for St. Sebastian’s and a strong close could move them up the Elite 8 Seedings.
7. Brunswick
Key Wins: Exeter and #6 St. Sebastian’s
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 4-3-0
Important Upcoming Games: Gunnery (x2)
Brunswick has had a hard schedule and they have a pair of quality wins especially at St. Seb’s but their losing record against top teams could put them on the outside looking in come Elite 8 time so they can’t afford missteps in the final weeks; they have two games against a talent Gunnery team and their play there will go a long way in determining their playoff fate.
8. Cushing Academy
Key Wins: Dexter
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 1-3-2
Important Upcoming Games: St. Mark’s, Andover, #1 KUA
Cushing is a team none of the top seeds will want to face in the first round of the Elite 8 playoffs because they have a deep lineup but they’ve fallen short this season against the top teams with a 1-3-2 record. They have St. Mark’s and Andover down the stretch which are important games for them to win if they want to make the Elite 8 and then #1 KUA which will have major playoff ramificiations.
9. Pomfret School
Key Wins: Andover
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 1-2-2
Important Upcoming Games: #10 Westminster, Gunnery, #2 Avon Old Farms
Pomfret is on the outside looking in for an Elite 8 berth but they have an opportunity with their remaining schedule to play ranked teams down the stretch to bolster their position. A team playing their best at the right time wouldn’t shock us if they pull some upsets off in the final weeks.
10. Westminster
Key Wins: Andover, NMH, #7 Brunswick
Record Against Teams in Poll + Honorable Mentions: 3-4-0
Important Upcoming Games: #9 Pomfret, Loomis, Kent, Gunnery, #3 Belmont Hill
Westminster has had quite a schedule having to play #1 KUA, #2 Avon (twice), #4 Salisbury and #7 Brunswick so far this year. They have some tough matchups down the stretch which is important for them to get some more wins and claw their way into the Elite 8 discussion. Nobody has more remaining games on teams over .500 then Westminster so from an RPI/JSPR standpoint they could be in the best position to make a late season run.
Game of the Week:
2/11 #1 KUA vs. #5 Holderness
Other Key Matchups:
2/7 #4 Salisbury @ Kent
2/9 #5 Holderness @ Tilton
2/9 Gunnery @ #2 Avon
2/9 #3 Belmont Hill @ #6 St. Sebastian’s
2/11 #9 Pomfret @ Worcester
2/11 #8 Cushing @ St. Mark’s
2/11 Gunnery @ #7 Brunswick
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling / Hickling Images