New England Hockey Journal’s RinkWise

Reacting to the First Week of Boys & Girls Prep Hockey

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly explore the early weeks of New England's high school hockey season. They discuss the current state of both girls and boys prep hockey, highlighting key games and standout performances. On the girls side, they cover the exciting changes in the rankings, with detailed breakdowns of significant matches such as Nobles vs. Loomis Chaffee. On the boys side, the discussion includes surprising results including Kimball Union rising to the top and a thrilling game between Dexter Southfield and Kent. The episode also touches on the challenges teams are facing early in the season and the impact of young talent on the ice. Evan and Pat offer insights into the evolving rankings, standout players, and what to expect as the season progresses.
Topics
01:06 Exploring New Prep Schools
01:45 Girls Prep Hockey Highlights
02:42 Loomis vs. Nobles Game Recap
05:26 Top Performers and Rankings
07:28 Cushing and Dexter Southfield Updates
11:06 Exeter and Governor's Game Analysis
15:17 Thayer and Milton Game Insights
17:30 Standout Performances of the Week
19:18 Boys Prep Hockey Rankings
23:49 The Importance of Early Season Challenges
24:57 Twitter Reactions to the Brawl
26:06 Caiden Pellegrino's Impressive Start
28:11 Notable Performances and Rankings
28:53 Opening Night Surprises
34:06 Belmont Hill's Young Talent
39:37 Prep Hockey Season Overview

Previewing MIAA Boys and Girls

Pat Donnelly and Evan Marinofsky preview the high school hockey season. They discuss the stress and excitement surrounding tryouts, recounting personal experiences from their own high school days. The duo provides detailed insights on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association boys and girls hockey seasons, offering in-depth analyses of top teams and players to watch. They highlight top-ranked boys teams such as Catholic Memorial, St. John's Prep and Pope Francis, as well as leading girls teams including Hingham, Archbishop Williams and Duxbury. The episode also touches on coverage expansion to other New England states, ensuring a comprehensive look at high school hockey across the region. The podcast concludes with a lighthearted trivia segment focusing on hockey-themed movies and TV shows.
Topics
02:42 Expanding Coverage Beyond MIAA
03:48 Boys MIAA Preseason Rankings
06:19 Top Teams Analysis
24:23 Players to Watch
26:50 Top Boys MIAA Players Recap
27:19 Transition to Girls MIAA Discussion
27:26 Top Girls MIAA Teams and Players
29:11 Archbishop Williams and Duxbury Analysis
32:05 Methuen and Tewksbury Insights
33:11 Milton and Malden Catholic Prospects
35:05 Notre Dame and Bishop Feehan Overview
37:39 St. Mary's and Waltham Highlights
40:55 Players to Watch Outside the Top 10
43:24 Trivia Throwdown: Hockey Movies and TV Shows

Prep Boys 2025-26 Season Preview

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly preview prep boys hockey. The hosts delve into Pat’s recent bout with the flu before launching into a detailed discussion on prep boys hockey, addressing the impact of the CHL ruling and how it has influenced player movement. They analyze the current landscape by highlighting top teams, including Dexter Southfield, Kimball Union and St. Mark's, and assess their strengths and weaknesses. The conversation also covers potential contenders and sleepers in the upcoming season, with a focus on specific players to watch. Pat and Evan also debate various fun questions in the 'Would You Rather' segment, including topics like best seating in a hockey arena and whether great food or loud fans make for a better game atmosphere. The show wraps up with bold predictions for the Elite 8 and discussions on MVP candidates. The hosts provide a mix of insightful hockey analysis and lighthearted banter, making for an engaging listen.
Topics
00:42 Health and Flu Season Woes
02:04 State of Prep Boys Hockey
06:22 Top Prep Boys Hockey Teams
07:07 Dexter Southfield: The Team to Beat
09:59 Kimball Union: A Strong Contender
11:34 St. Mark's: Rising Stars
15:38 Avon Old Farms: Consistent Performers
17:22 Kent: The Swing Team
18:55 Salisbury: Defensive Powerhouse
21:06 Brunswick: Overcoming Challenges
22:57 Cushing: Defending Champions
24:55 Berkshire and Deerfield: Western Mass. Teams
26:18 Next 15 Teams to Watch
26:32 Potential Top 10 Teams
26:39 Winchendon: Proving Its Worth
27:11 Belmont Hill's Challenges and Potential
28:29 Sleeper Teams: Thayer and Milton Academy
30:19 Other Potential Sleeper Teams
31:23 Elite 8 Predictions
33:00 MVP Candidates to Watch
35:45 Would You Rather: Fan Edition
39:05 Stadium Atmosphere vs. Food Debate

Girls Prep 2025-26 Season Preview

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly discuss the upcoming girls prep hockey season, focusing on team rankings and expectations. They delve into potential top contenders for the Elite 8 tournament, highlighting teams such as Loomis Chaffee, Andover, Williston and Cushing. They also discuss key players to watch and provide insights into which teams might surprise this season. The episode concludes with a bit of fun as they tackle hypothetical hockey scenarios in the Overtime segment.
NEPSAC, girls prep,  Elite 8, prep hockey
Topics
00:40 Girls Prep Hockey Focus
01:12 Team Rankings and Insights
02:55 Top Contenders Analysis
03:51 In-Depth Look at Loomis Chaffee
05:14 Andover's Strengths and Challenges
07:24 Williston Northampton's Potential
08:41 Nobles and Cushing Overview
11:58 Dexter and Deerfield Prospects
13:58 Tabor and Exeter Evaluations
16:28 Rivers and Beyond
18:50 Next-Tier Teams
20:21 Team Analysis: St. Paul's and New Hampton
21:20 Berkshire's New Lineup
22:21 Frederick Gunn and Other Teams to Watch
24:21 MVP Candidates and Top Performers
25:32 Elite 8 Predictions
27:17 Overtime: Would You Rather?
31:46 Winter Classic vs. All-Star Game
35:45 Creative Ideas for Hockey Events
37:13 Conclusion and Season Coverage

Avon Old Farms coach Mark Naclerio on the future of prep

Evan is joined by Mark Naclerio, head coach of Avon Old Farms. The discussion delves into Naclerio's perspective on the fall hockey landscape, changes in player development, and the influence of specialized sports programs. Naclerio reflects on his time as an associate coach and his transition to head coach, the legacy of his predecessor John Gardner, and the evolving landscape of prep versus academy hockey. The episode also covers the importance of building personal connections with players, the effects of the CHL ruling on recruitment, and provides advice for young players starting out in hockey. The conversation ends with a fun 'overtime' segment featuring questions on sports betting and the number of games watched.
 
Topics
00:18 Meet the Guest: Mark Naclerio
00:58 Fall Hockey Season Insights
01:24 Changes in Prep School Hockey
03:02 The Importance of Multi-Sport Athletes
03:22 Fall Hockey Leagues and Team Dynamics
08:21 Coaching Philosophy and Challenges
08:34 Legacy of John Gardner
14:40 Academy vs. Prep School Lifestyle
17:05 CHL Ruling and Future Implications
18:06 Deciding Between High School and Junior Hockey
19:02 The Value of Staying in High School
20:28 NHL Draft Prospects and Prep School Hockey
23:03 The Impact of Online Sports Betting on Hockey
23:17 Overtime: Fun Questions and Insights
31:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Duxbury Girls Coach Dan Najarian

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly discuss the state of MIAA hockey with Duxbury High School (Mass.) girls coach Dan Najarian. They delve into topics such as the development of young players, the benefits of playing multiple sports, and the dynamic between MIAA, prep schools and club hockey. Najarian shares his insights on how MIAA hockey can serve as both a developmental platform and a source of lasting, meaningful hockey experiences. The episode also touches on the challenges of college recruitment and the growth of girls hockey, providing a comprehensive look at the landscape of high school and junior hockey in New England.
Topics
00:29 Guest Introduction: Dan Najarian
01:38 Fall Hockey Insights
02:32 The Role of Multi-Sport Athletes
05:02 Debating the 15-Only Rule
09:58 MIAA Hockey: Current State and Future Prospects
18:31 Coaching Philosophy and Player Development
30:13 Highlighting Unsung Talent in Girls Hockey
31:08 The Rise of Club Hockey for Girls
33:52 Balancing Academics and Hockey Dreams
35:44 The Appeal of Club Hockey Over Traditional Paths
39:59 Overtime: Personal Stories and Unwritten Rules
50:29 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

The Future of Fall Hockey

Evan and Pat delve into the current state of fall hockey, particularly focusing on high school leagues like Connecticut's Cutting Edge Management (CEM). They discuss the potential future of fall hockey and whether more teams will adopt a model where school teams play together. The conversation shifts to college recruiting updates for both boys and girls, highlighting several key commitments. The episode concludes with a fun 'Overrated or Underrated' segment, covering topics like playoff beards, NHL team names without 'S', and NHL mascots.
 
Topics
01:04 Fall Hockey Season Overview
01:42 Connecticut's Cutting Edge Management (CEM) League
03:48 Challenges and Benefits of Fall Hockey
08:34 Girls' Hockey and Multi-Sport Athletes
12:53 Future of Prep School Hockey Seasons
25:28 Recent College Recruiting Highlights
29:15 Big Names in Hockey Recruitment
29:41 Hockey East Dominance
33:13 Notable Recruits and Commitments
39:05 Princeton's Strong Recruitment
41:11 Setting the Record Straight
41:42 Overtime: Overrated or Underrated

Cushing Coach Dan Fontas

Evan is joined by Dan Fontas, the new head coach of the Cushing Boys Hockey team. They discuss Dan's transition from head coach of the Varsity B team to his new role, his coaching philosophy, and the importance of relationship-building with players. They also delve into the challenges and changes in recruiting, impacted by recent CHL rulings, and the future of fall hockey for prep schools. The episode wraps up with anecdotes from Dan's own career, including his transition from player to coach and the influences that shaped his coaching style. The show ends with a fun segment called 'Overtime,' where they react to famous hockey-related quotes.
 
Topics
00:57 Meeting Dan Fontas: A Funny Encounter
01:51 Recruitment and Promotion Insights
05:09 Challenges and Changes in Prep Hockey
09:23 Varsity B Coaching Experience
15:34 Dan's Personal Hockey Journey
23:22 Coaching Philosophy and Influences
29:01 Commitment Beyond Hockey
29:26 Impact of Coaching Relationships
30:32 Evolution of Coaching Styles
32:00 Increased Skill Levels in Modern Players
35:58 The Future of Prep and Fall Hockey
43:22 Overtime: Fun and Insightful Hockey Quotes

Takeaways from 2025 Hockey Recruiting

Evan and Pat dive into the college hockey recruiting season. They discuss the landscape of hockey recruiting as fall hockey approaches. They explore notable recruits, the effects of the CHL ruling on recruiting, and the trend of players making more realistic commitments. The episode also covers significant commitments in the boys and girls hockey scenes, highlighting key players and their potential impacts on their future teams. Additionally, the show includes a nostalgic segment on memorable hockey experiences and locker room smells.
 
Topics
00:40 Recruiting Season and College Choices
03:32 Impact of CHL Ruling on Recruiting
05:20 Realistic Commitments and Player Strategies
10:46 BC and BU Commitments
20:41 Northeastern and Other Hockey East Schools
28:17 Dartmouth's Recruiting Strategy
30:25 Dartmouth's Strategic Recruiting Moves
30:50 Harvard's High-End Prep Kid Trend
31:22 Dartmouth's New Market Strategy
33:29 Notable College Commits
33:38 UMass and Other Local Commits
34:16 Notre Dame's Local Talent
34:46 Cornell and UNH Commits
35:21 Quinnipiac and Other Notable Commits
35:48 Transition to Girls' Recruiting
36:52 Big 10 and Local Girls' Commits
39:22 Trends in Girls' College Hockey
43:07 Notable Girls' Commits
48:42 Overtime: Hockey Nostalgia

The Hoops/Hockey Crossover Show

The Hoops/Hockey Crossover Show
This crossover episode between New England Hockey Journal's Rink Wise and New England Basketball Journal's Hoop Wise podcasts. The hosts discuss the idea of merging the discussions around the two sports, focusing on the differences and similarities in player development, recruitment, and the unique challenges each sport faces. Topics covered include the yearly schedules for basketball and hockey, the impact of club and prep teams on player growth, the role of advisors and agents, the rising cost of playing these sports at elite levels, and the potential of future changes in the structure and governance of these youth sports.
 
Topics
01:13 Basketball vs. Hockey: Seasonal Differences
01:38 Open Gyms and Recruitment in Basketball
04:18 Fall Hockey Showcases and College Scouting
05:33 The Role of Club Teams in Player Development
12:05 Prep School and Club Team Dynamics
16:52 Balancing Multiple Sports and Commitments
26:46 Shoe Circuits and Sponsorships in Basketball
31:25 Exploring Brand Influence in Basketball and Hockey
31:53 The Business of AAU and College Recruiting
35:09 Junior Hockey Pathways and College Eligibility
46:38 The Role of Advisors and Agents in Youth Sports
51:46 The Rising Costs of Youth Sports
57:45 The Impact of Club Teams on Local Hockey Programs
59:46 Conclusion and Future Discussions