New England Hockey Journal’s RinkWise

BB&N's Ed Bourget on Development and Recruiting

The guest is Ed Bourget, Director of Hockey Operations at Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N). The discussion delves into Ed's extensive background in hockey, from playing high school hockey at Shrewsbury High and Sacred Heart to his professional stint in Europe. Ed provides insights into his new role at BB&N, focusing on supporting both the boys' and girls' hockey programs. The conversation also explores player development, managing the grueling prep school hockey schedule, and balancing the demands of athletics with academic and personal life. Ed emphasizes the importance of rest, development beyond just hockey skills, and preparing for life after the sport. The episode concludes with reflections on the evolving landscape of hockey recruitment and the significance of enjoying the process.
 
Topics
00:19 Ed's Hockey Background
01:26 Coaching Philosophy and New Role
03:09 Player Development and Training
09:51 Recruiting Process Insights
17:49 Balancing Academics and Athletics
21:59 Life After Hockey
22:55 Path to Coaching
25:28 Future of Prep School Hockey
30:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Reacting to the 2025 QMJHL Draft

In this episode of the New England Hockey Journal's Rink Wise Podcast, hosts Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly discuss various updates in the sports world, focusing particularly on the recent US Open and the New England D1 Championship in baseball at Polar Park. While updating on baseball, the hosts delve into the major topic of the week—the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft. They provide insights into significant picks, including a detailed analysis of picks from New England and the implications for prep schools, junior hockey leagues, and the National Team Development Program (NTDP). The podcast also explores potential recruiting battles between the USHL and Canadian junior leagues, value picks, snubs, and the future of New England players in junior hockey. The episode wraps up with insights into what the changes in draft dynamics might mean for the evolving landscape of prep and junior hockey.
 
Topics
00:31 High School Baseball Championships
02:30 QMJHL Draft Overview
05:29 Impact on New England Players
10:36 Future of Junior Hockey and Prep Schools
13:18 Quebec Ramparts' Bold Move
15:47 Carter Meyer Draft Reactions
16:41 Quebec's Strategic Draft Picks
18:46 Notable Draft Picks and Surprises
20:09 Underrated Draft Picks and Value Finds
22:45 Draft Snubs and Missed Opportunities
27:10 USHL vs. QMJHL: The Recruiting Battle
30:31 Concluding Thoughts and Future Updates

Scout & Former NHL Player Eric Boguniecki

Evan and Patrick Donnelly are joined by Eric Boguniecki, a former NHL player and current scout for the Arizona Coyotes and Utah Mammoth. They discuss Eric's impressive career, his transition from coaching to scouting, and his insights on player development. Eric shares personal stories about his son's unique path from baseball to hockey, emphasizing the importance of multi-sport participation for young athletes. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of prep school and junior hockey, the impact of the CHL ruling on college commitments, and the potential for new NCAA Division I programs. Additionally, they dive into personal anecdotes about their love for hockey and the emotional highs and lows of being a sports fan.
 
Topics
00:46 Introducing the Special Guest: Eric Boguniecki
01:22 Eric’s Career Journey
01:51 Life on the Road as a Scout
03:21 Transition from Coaching to Scouting
04:58 Scouting Insights and Player Evaluation
06:21 The Importance of Hockey Sense
12:26 Balancing Sports and Family Life
16:53 Jake Boggan's Unique Path in Sports
17:15 Challenges and Changes in Prep School Hockey
36:45 Hockey Prep School Culture
37:16 Memorable Football Moments
38:25 Jake's College Recruitment Journey
40:37 NCAA Recruitment Rules and Challenges
42:00 The Impact of Transfer Portals
44:03 The Future of College Hockey
47:46 Hockey's Growing Popularity
55:12 Overtime: Personal Hockey Stories

Takeaways from the Mass. Hockey Festivals

Evan and Pat discuss the recent Mass. Hockey Festival for both boys and girls, providing insights on standout players, snubs, and potential future stars. The conversation also touches on the unpredictability of New England weather, their personal gripes about hockey, the impact of youth sports' financial demands, and fun insights into their hypothetical Zamboni ride theme songs.
 
Topics
01:38 Mass Hockey Festival Overview
02:06 Boys' Festival Highlights
04:28 Rising Stars: Oh Eights and Oh Nines
10:23 Notable Snubs and Surprises
12:22 2000 Tens: Future Prospects
15:22 NTDP Aspirations for 2010s
18:13 Personal Anecdotes and Girls' Festival
19:05 Stock Risers: Girls in Hockey
19:37 Standout Performances at the Festival
22:32 Young Talents to Watch
24:55 Future Stars: The 2010s
30:24 Unpopular Opinions in Hockey
37:04 Overtime: Fun and Final Thoughts

Boys Prep Season Recap

Evan and Pat reflect on the recently concluded boys prep hockey season, discussing standout teams, surprising performances, and key players. They highlight teams like Deerfield, St. Mark's, Dexter, Rivers, and more for their unexpected success. They delve into the contributions of standout players such as Carter Meyer, Joe Salandra, Billy McCaslin, and others. Additionally, they discuss the potential impact of the CHL on the future of prep hockey and look ahead to how teams might shape up next season. The episode concludes with an 'overrated or underrated' segment, adding a fun twist to the in-depth hockey analysis.
Topics
00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter
00:34 Reflecting on the Bruins' Season
01:34 Prep Hockey Season Recap
02:21 Surprising Teams of the Season
12:59 Standout Players and Performances
17:42 NTDP Evaluation Camp Insights
21:48 Analyzing Pandolfo's Potential
22:22 Lessons from Sears' Development Path
24:14 Impact of CHL on Prep Hockey
27:50 Teams to Watch Next Season
29:52 NHL Draft Prospects
33:28 Overtime: Underrated or Overrated
39:46 Wrapping Up the Prep Season

Girls Hockey Season Recap

Evan and Pat reunite in the studio to discuss the end of the girls' hockey season. They reflect on the exciting season, highlighting standout teams like Loomis Chaffee and Nobles. The discussion covers how various teams performed, their top players, and expectations for the next season. Goal-tending performances and uncommitted prospects are also spotlighted. The episode concludes with a fun 'overrated or underrated' segment featuring items like wearing jerseys to games and bubble hockey.
 
Topics
00:37 Reflecting on the Girls Season
01:18 Loomis Chaffee's Dominant Performance
03:14 Nobles and Andover: Season Highlights
05:29 Rivers and Exeter: Rising Teams
06:26 New Hampton's Elite Eight Aspirations
07:50 Dexter and BB&N's Strong Seasons
09:29 Thayer and St. Mark's: Surprising Runs
11:25 Tabor's Competitive Season
12:46 Deerfield's Adaptable Strategy
13:46 Standout Players of the Season
17:17 Williston's Unexpected Playoff Exit
19:06 Top Goalies of the Year
21:38 The Lone Goalie's Journey
22:07 Uncommitted Standouts to Watch
25:17 Prep Transfers and Future Prospects
26:52 Teams to Watch Next Season
30:18 Overtime: Overrated or Underrated?
38:18 Wrapping Up and Future Coverage

Previewing the MIAA State Championships

Evan and Pat preview the MIAA State Championships, scheduled for Sunday. They discuss the format of the preview, likening it to their 'Rinkwise' podcast, and emphasize the appeal of concise and direct coverage. The preview covers multiple divisions, starting with the Division 4 boys' matchup between Winthrop and Dedham, analyzing their paths to the final. They move on to the Division 1 girls' game, highlighting the journey of top-seeded Hingham and underdog Bishop Stang, and consider the potential for an upset. The Division 1 boys' final between St. John Shrewsbury and Catholic Memorial (CM) presents a similar narrative of an unexpected finalist versus a dominant favorite. Division 2 boys see Billerica facing Canton, both teams with impressive seasons, followed by Division 3 boys' clash between Nauset and Medfield, illustrating Nauset's dominance. Finally, they preview the Division 2 girls' game between Milton and Medfield, noting Medfield's impressive run as a lower seed. Throughout, the hosts reflect on past tournament experiences, the impact of team momentum, and the excitement of unexpected matchups in the championship.
 
Topics
00:43 MIAA State Championships Preview
02:02 Division 4 Boys Championship Preview
03:36 Division 1 Girls Championship Preview
07:07 Division 1 Boys Championship Preview
13:11 Division 2 Boys Championship Preview
15:17 Division 3 Boys Championship Preview
18:09 Division 2 Girls Championship Preview
21:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

NEPSAC Boys Hockey Championship Takeaways

Pat and Evan provide a detailed recap of the boys prep hockey championship games. Key highlights include Cushing's dramatic 4-3 victory over Dexter in the Elite Eight, Andover's commanding 4-1 win over Westminster in the large school bracket, and Kimball Union's 5-3 triumph over Berkshire in the small school final. The episode delves into critical moments, standout players, and season trajectories for the teams, emphasizing Cushing's underdog story and the exceptional performances of individual athletes across all games. The discussion also touches on Cushing's improbable rise and key strategic elements in Andover and Kimball Union's wins.
Topics
00:55 Cushing vs. Dexter: An All-Time Classic
01:35 Cushing's Remarkable Journey to the Elite Eight Title
03:14 Key Moments and Players in the Cushing vs. Dexter Game
06:56 Andover vs. Westminster: Large School Championship Recap
11:05 Kimball Union vs. Berkshire: Small School Championship Recap
14:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

NEPSAC Girls Hockey Championship Takeaways

Evan and Pat recap the NEPSAC Girls Championships, highlighting three thrilling games that took place at Taft on Sunday. Loomis Chaffee triumphed over Phillips Andover in an intense Elite Eight final, characterized by heavy penalties and relentless gameplay. Deerfield claimed victory against Tabor in the large school bracket, powered by a solid performance from goalie Campbell Croate. New Hampton secured their third consecutive title in the small school bracket by defeating St. Mark's, with standout performances from both teams. The hosts also reflect on the unexpected results and overarching themes of the tournament, noting the depth and competitiveness across all brackets.
Topics
00:38 Elite Eight Championship Recap
04:32 Andover's Surprising Path
06:32 Large School Bracket Highlights
09:20 Small School Bracket Dominance
11:41 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Breaking Down the NEPSAC Girls' Hockey Brackets

Evan and Pat discuss the freshly released NEPSAC Girls' Hockey Brackets. They review and analyze the seedings, highlighting late-season drama and upsets, significant team performances, and critical matchups. Notable teams and players are discussed, including the unexpected rise and falls of teams like Groton, Thayer, and New Hampton. They go further into detailing the Elite Eight, Large School, and Small School brackets, providing insights and predictions for each game while emphasizing key players and strategies. 
 
Topics
 
00:00 Introduction to NEPSAC Girls Brackets
00:21 Surprises and Drama in Seedings
01:38 Elite Eight Matchups Breakdown
07:50 Large School Bracket Analysis
13:17 Small School Bracket Insights
17:58 Conclusion and Upcoming Content