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'Amazing pair of hands' Top Cape Cod high school boys hockey players to know this season

andré simms, cape cod times
·7 min read

The 2023 boys hockey season is only days away.

Last season, teams across the Cape shone on a statewide level, making noise in the postseason across the divisions, with Sandwich reaching their second consecutive state championship game.

This season, teams are gearing up for another push, and with the talent that will be on display across Cape Cod, it's easy to see why coaches are excited and why area schools could very well make noise again come tournament time.

Here are the 2023 Cape Cod Times Boys Hockey Players to Watch:

Sandwich's Christopher Cardillo heads up ice as Nantucket and Sandwich faced off in a tournament semi-final game in Bourne. Sandwich won the game 3-0 on March 11 advancing to the state finals.
Sandwich's Christopher Cardillo heads up ice as Nantucket and Sandwich faced off in a tournament semi-final game in Bourne. Sandwich won the game 3-0 on March 11 advancing to the state finals.

Christopher Cardillo, Sandwich

Cardillo returns for his senior season for Blue Knights as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the entire state. Cardillo finished last season tied for the Blue Knights team lead in points with 51 (33 goals/18 assists) and had an overall rating of +38. Sandwich head coach Jordan Mohre calls him a "dynamic offensive threat with explosive speed." Cardillo will eclipse the 100 career points total this season for Sandwich.

Jack Connolly, Sandwich

Connolly is another senior leader for this season's Sandwich team. The senior winger had 11 goals and 16 assists in a highly productive junior season and will be looking to up those totals in his final season. Mohre said Connolly is a "gifted scorer with an amazing pair of hands, creative with the puck, and always a threat to score."

Shane Corcoran of Sandwich puts a shot on Norwell goalie Sean Donovan that just misses in the MIAA Division 4 final hockey match on March 19.
Shane Corcoran of Sandwich puts a shot on Norwell goalie Sean Donovan that just misses in the MIAA Division 4 final hockey match on March 19.

Shane Corcoran, Sandwich

Mohre called Corcoran the "leader of the defensive group that plays the game with a physical edge and willingness to compete." Corcoran last season led all Blue Knights defensemen in points (11) tallying a goal and dishing out ten assists as a junior. Mohre also said that Corcoran is, "a force on our special teams unit for both the power play and penalty kill."

Sean Willis, St. John Paul II

Jack Billings of Nantucket and Sean Willis and Jamie Erikson (12) of John Paul II attempt to control the puck during a Feb. 23rd game.
Jack Billings of Nantucket and Sean Willis and Jamie Erikson (12) of John Paul II attempt to control the puck during a Feb. 23rd game.

Lions head coach Brian Eastman said that Willis has "proven himself as a leader and should have a bounce-back year after being sidelined much of last season due to injury." The junior forward is looking to have a big season offensively.

Brady Meyer, St. John Paul II

Meyer is a senior and will be counted on to be one of the leaders for the Lions' team this season. Eastman said that Meyer "has stepped up as a voice in the locker room and we are looking for him to be a force in all three zones." Eastman also highlighted Meyer's versatility and said the senior could see ice time on offense and defense.

Liam Monaghan, St. John Paul II

Monaghan is poised to have a "breakout year" in 2023, Eastman said. The junior enters the season more comfortable and confident after learning a new style of play in his sophomore season. Now that he has the experience, Eastman said he, "should thrive," after closing last season on a hot streak.

Casey Huse, Monomoy/Mashpee

Huse is a junior forward who head coach Chris Peterson said will "bring leadership to a young team" in 2023. Huse will be looked to for points this season and to lead the line.

Gavin O’Leary, Monomoy/Mashpee

Dan Deering of Nauset puts a shot on the Mashpee/Monomoy goal defended by Gavin O'Leary during a Feb. 20th game.
Dan Deering of Nauset puts a shot on the Mashpee/Monomoy goal defended by Gavin O'Leary during a Feb. 20th game.

Despite only being an eighth grader last season, O'Leary saw plenty of ice time, with Peterson calling him a "top 4 defenseman." Now a freshman, O'Leary has "done a lot of off-season work to prepare for this season, and has shown some great potential and leadership thus far," Peterson said.

Jake Eldredge of Nauset and Luke Raferty of Mashpee/Monomoy collide along the boards during a Feb. 20th game.
Jake Eldredge of Nauset and Luke Raferty of Mashpee/Monomoy collide along the boards during a Feb. 20th game.

Luke Raferty, Monomoy/Mashpee

Raferty is another of Sharks returning corps of defensemen, and Peterson said the sophomore is a "quiet leader who most players respect and follow due to his actions and ability on the ice."

Jake Eldredge, Nauset

Eldredge is entering his sophomore season for the Warriors but Nauset head coach Connor Brickley said the forward is, "poised for a breakout year" after spending the off-season working on his strength and skill.

Logan Poulin, Nauset

Nauset's Logan Poulin moves the puck down the ice in third period action during a March 8th game.
Nauset's Logan Poulin moves the puck down the ice in third period action during a March 8th game.

Poulin was the Warriors' leading goal scorer in 2022 and enters his junior season as one of the most lethal scorers in the entire state. Coach Brickley said that Poulin "has game-changing ability and is a huge threat on the offensive side of the puck with his elite shooting ability."

Zach Coelho, Nauset

Coelho is new to the Warriors this season, but Brickley expects the junior to make a huge impact. Coelho is a goalie, who Brickley said is "going to give our club an opportunity to win every game."

Andrew Popovich, Dennis-Yarmouth/Cape Cod Academy/Cape Tech

Dennis-Yarmouth's Andrew Popovich takes the puck up the center at the D-Y vs. Upper Cape Tech game at Gallo Arena in Bourne on Feb. 18th.
Dennis-Yarmouth's Andrew Popovich takes the puck up the center at the D-Y vs. Upper Cape Tech game at Gallo Arena in Bourne on Feb. 18th.

Popovich is a senior defenseman, who head coach Lewis Alberti said "is a leader on and off the ice and will be critical to a successful season."

Max Hulten, Dennis-Yarmouth/Cape Cod Academy/Cape Tech

Hulten will be another key defenseman for Alberti's team this season. Alberti highlighted the fact that Hulten is an offensive threat from his defensive position, saying the junior is both "looking to score and keep the opponent off the scoreboard."

Ashland's Jake Keaveny moves the puck down the ice followed by D-Y's Max Hulten in second period action on March 5th.
Ashland's Jake Keaveny moves the puck down the ice followed by D-Y's Max Hulten in second period action on March 5th.

Will McAdams, Dennis-Yarmouth/Cape Cod Academy/Cape Tech

McAdams will be the starting goalie this season, despite only being a freshman. Alberti said he "will lead the youth movement we are experiencing as a team this year."

Chris Shanahan, Falmouth

Falmouth head coach Paul Moore said that Shanahan is a, "a shutdown defenseman with great speed and versatility." The senior will be a captain this season for the Clippers.

Eddie Leary, Falmouth

Leary will be the starter in the cage to begin the year for the Clippers, after earning the job part way through last season. Moore is excited about Leary's potential this season, after seeing his efforts during Hockey Night in Boston.

Charlie Bardelis, Falmouth

Bardelis is another senior captain for the Clippers, and Moore said he "possesses a deadly wrist shot and is a 200-foot player" while also highlighting the senior forward's leadership skills.

Ty Kelley, Bourne

Bourne head coach Frank Carpenito described Kelley as "one of the more impactful players we have." Kelley enters his senior season for the Canalmen and was Bourne's leading point scorer last season (12 goals, 25 assists). Kelley will be counted on again offensively this year, but Carpenito highlighted Kelley's work defensively as well, saying Kelley is one of Bourne's best forwards defensively, and on the penalty kill.

Dom Bonito, Bourne

Bonito is another senior forward for the Canalmen, who like Kelley, will be counted on for offensive production this year. Last season, Bonito finished with 14 goals and 13 assists, and Carpenito said, "His ability to read the play limits the opposition, causes turnovers and creates opportunities for his linemates." The Canalmen head coach added that Bonito, "excels on the power play, is a valuable penalty killer, and demonstrates great leadership abilities.

Joziah DeSouza, Bourne

DeSouza is a new, but old face among the Canalmen this season, returning to the Bourne team after a year away. Carpenito said the junior forward "has the ability to play all over the ice, and will create a lot of depth along our top lines, power play, and penalty-killing units." Carpenito said DeSouza's skill set and hockey IQ will propel him this year.

Chad Tordone, Barnstable

Todone is a senior, and will be counted on as one of the leaders of this year's Barnstable team. He enters the season as the Red Hawks captain. The forward was one of the Red Hawks' main offensive threats last season and will be looked to again to lead the line in 2023.

Chase Field, Barnstable

Field will be one of the Red Hawks' assistant captains this season. He earns the title, despite being a sophomore, and already brings a couple of years of experience to the varsity level.

Ian Devito, Barnstable

Devito is only in his second varsity season, but head coach Tim Grace is expecting big things from the senior this season.

Nantucket

John Moran, the Whalers head coach, opted for a different approach with his nominations. Moran said, "I hold all of my players on an equal level. There’s no one better than the other. They all work equally as hard and all have the same potential to do great things. Giving you just three names would be doing my team an injustice."

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod boys hockey: Our list of 24 players to watch this season