Advertisement

Dynamic defensemen and more: 63 South Shore High School Boys Hockey Players to Watch

jason snow, the patriot ledger
·7 min read

The high school boys hockey scene on the South Shore is perennially loaded with a cast of strong contenders and surefire All-Star talent.

This year is no different.

In comes a wave of fiery goal-scorers like Archbishop Williams' Finn Kelly, dynamic defensemen like Bridgewater-Raynham's Anthony Mussari and unrelenting goaltenders like Hingham's Mike Karo manning the pipes. The South Shore and Brockton-area are home to all.

On top of those three, there are 60 more local players poised for breakout seasons.

Now unveiling the list of 63 South Shore high school boys hockey players to watch this winter, with data compiled via a preseason coaches poll and reported scores.

Cohasset/Hull goalie Luke Cosentino makes the third period save on Abington's Hunter Grafton during a game on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023.
Cohasset/Hull goalie Luke Cosentino makes the third period save on Abington's Hunter Grafton during a game on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023.

Hunter Grafton, Abington

Senior center has five goals and three assists through the Green Wave's first six games.

Nicholas Harris, Abington

Sophomore goaltender had 42 saves in a loss to Whitman-Hanson on Dec. 29, and posted a shutout against Rockland on Dec. 27.

Matt Deminico, Archbishop Williams

Senior center from Pembroke scored seven goals and had 14 assists for 21 points last season.

Ben Sylvester, Archbishop Williams

Senior wing from Carver had eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points last winter.

Casey Kelley, Archbishop Williams

Senior wing from Dorchester totaled seven goals and nine assists for 16 points last season.

Finn Kelly tries to get the puck from LS #19 Brett Martin.Archbishop Williams host Lincoln Sudbury in MIAA boys hockey action at the Canton Sportsplex on Wednesday March 1, 2023
Finn Kelly tries to get the puck from LS #19 Brett Martin.Archbishop Williams host Lincoln Sudbury in MIAA boys hockey action at the Canton Sportsplex on Wednesday March 1, 2023

Finn Kelly, Archbishop Williams

Junior center from Dorchester had 18 goals and eight assists for 26 points last season.

Sean O’Rourke and Jake Joyce, Braintree

Senior defensemen are team captains for the Wamps.

Anthony Mussari, Bridgewater-Raynham

Coach Dan Scott described this senior as a "big, physical defensemen."

Bobby Quill, Bridgewater-Raynham

Coach Dan Scott described this senior forward as "shifty with hard, quick shot."

Brendan McCarthy, BC High

Junior defenseman is a team captain.

Canton's Brendan Tourgee, a team captain, skates along the bench after scoring. The Canton High boys hockey team won the Division 2 state championship at TD Garden after defeating Hopkinton on Sunday, March 19, 2023
Canton's Brendan Tourgee, a team captain, skates along the bench after scoring. The Canton High boys hockey team won the Division 2 state championship at TD Garden after defeating Hopkinton on Sunday, March 19, 2023

Brendan Tourgee, Canton

Senior returns as one of the Bulldogs' top goal-scorers this season, coming off his 11-goal, 13-assist junior season last year.

Matt Anderson, Canton

Coach Brian Shuman said Anderson was "one of our best players last year. He will be leaned on heavily."

Connor Geoghan, Canton

Junior won the Bulldogs' starting goaltender job in the preseason and has impressed early this season.

Luke Dunham, Cohasset/Hull

Junior forward is a team captain who has three multi-point performances for the Skippers so far.

Cohasset-Hull's Robbie Casagrande scores a first period goal during a game versus Hamilton-Wenham at the Connell Rink and Pool in Weymouth on Saturday, March 05, 2022.
Cohasset-Hull's Robbie Casagrande scores a first period goal during a game versus Hamilton-Wenham at the Connell Rink and Pool in Weymouth on Saturday, March 05, 2022.

Robbie Casagrande, Cohasset/Hull

Senior forward has three multi-goal games for the Skippers this season.

Brady Walsh, Duxbury

Coach Mike Flaherty said this senior is a "rugged forward who is strong, fast and has a high compete level."

Michael Hussey, Duxbury

Coach Mike Flaherty said this senior defenseman "plays tough and has real good offensive capabilities."

Matt Reynolds, Mehki Bryan and John MacDonald, Hanover

These three seniors are team captains for the Hawks.

Hingham's Paul Dzavik goes on the attack during their exhibition game at Frozen Fenway at Fenway Park on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
Hingham's Paul Dzavik goes on the attack during their exhibition game at Frozen Fenway at Fenway Park on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.

Paul Dzavik, Hingham

Senior forward scored eight goals and made two assists in Hingham's first eight games of the season.

Travis Rugg, Hingham

Senior had two goals and two assists in a win over Framingham on Jan. 3 in his first game back from injury.

Mike Karo, Hingham

Sophomore goaltender boasted a 1.86 goals-against average and a 0.919 save percentage through Hingham's first seven games of the season.

Tommy Carroll, Marshfield

Senior center has three goals this season. He has 18 goals and 33 assists for 51 points in his career.

Xaverian #21 Michael McGrath and Rams #7 Cam McGettrick battle to each other to get to the loose puck.Marshfield hosted Xaverian in boys hockey at The Bog in Kingston on Thursday February 23, 2023
Xaverian #21 Michael McGrath and Rams #7 Cam McGettrick battle to each other to get to the loose puck.Marshfield hosted Xaverian in boys hockey at The Bog in Kingston on Thursday February 23, 2023

Cam McGettrick, Marshfield

Senior wing delivered two goals and two assists in the Rams first five games of the season. He has 29 goals and 42 assists (71 points) for his career.

Ryland McGlame, Marshfield

Senior center had three goals and three assists in the Rams' first six games of the season. He has 24 goals and 30 assists for 54 points in his career.

Sam Steinman, Middleboro

Junior All-Scholastic forward led the Sachems in scoring with 21 goals and 11 assists for 32 points last season.

Wyatt Goyette, Middleboro

Sophomore moved from second-line center to starting right wing this season. He finished second on the team in scoring last winter.

James Joyce, Middleboro

Senior center makes an impact both offensively and defensively for the Sachems.

North Quincy's Michael Silverman, right, keeps the puck away from Quincy's Declan Rogers, left, and Joe MacNeil, center, during the Holiday Tournament at the Quincy Youth Arena, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.
North Quincy's Michael Silverman, right, keeps the puck away from Quincy's Declan Rogers, left, and Joe MacNeil, center, during the Holiday Tournament at the Quincy Youth Arena, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.

Michael Silverman and Thomas Walsh, North Quincy

Junior forwards are looking to build off productive sophomore years, according to coach Matt Gibbons.

Aidan McGuinness, North Quincy

Senior goaltender is in his third year starting in the Raiders' net.

Nolan Petrucelli, Norwell

Senior forward returns as one of the mainstays from Norwell's 2023 championship team.

Quinn Simmons, Norwell

Senior forward returns to the reigning state champion Clippers as one of the team's top goal-scorers.

Matt Lawson, Oliver Ames

Senior two-way center has three years of varsity starting experience.

Andrew Livingstone, Oliver Ames

Senior forward returns to the Tigers with three years of starting varsity experience and a goal-scoring ability.

Jack Corey, Oliver Ames

Senior forward had a hat trick in a win over Taunton on Jan. 3.

Brandon Perry and Colin Blake, Pembroke

Perry, a senior, and Blake, a junior, are two of the Titans' top wings.

Plymouth North's Sean Hallissey looks to shoot a wrist shot during third period action of their game against Marshfield at Armstrong Arena in Plymouth on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Plymouth North's Sean Hallissey looks to shoot a wrist shot during third period action of their game against Marshfield at Armstrong Arena in Plymouth on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.

Aidan MacKenzie and Sean Hallissey, Plymouth North

These two seniors are team captains for the Eagles.

Carter McNamara and Nick Kendall, Plymouth South

These two seniors captain the Panthers' first line.

Edward Lynch and Jack Dunn, Quincy

Lynch, a forward, and Dunn, a defenseman, are two seniors leading the way for the Presidents.

Cooper Larouco, Rockland

Sophomore scored a hat trick in a win over Mashpee/Monomoy on Dec. 30.

Scituate’s Johnny Donahue and Nashoba Regional's Colin Ruschioni vie for the puck during second period action of their game against Nashoba Regional in the Division 3 state title game at the TD Garden on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Scituate fell to Nashoba Regional 2-1 in OT.
Scituate’s Johnny Donahue and Nashoba Regional's Colin Ruschioni vie for the puck during second period action of their game against Nashoba Regional in the Division 3 state title game at the TD Garden on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Scituate fell to Nashoba Regional 2-1 in OT.

Johnny Donahue, Scituate

Senior captain is a facilitating center, who made eight assists in the Sailors' first five games.

James Sullivan, Scituate

Senior captain had four goals and three assists through the Sailors' first five games.

Jackson Belsan, Scituate

Senior captain mans the second line left wing for the Sailors. He had three goals and three assists through the team's first five games.

Pat Murphy, Silver Lake

Senior wing finished last season with 20-plus points. He buried the overtime winner, and a hat trick, to give the Lakers a 5-4 come-from-behind win over Bridgewater-Raynham on Dec. 13. Said coach Colin Foley, "He can really shoot the puck along with his strong skating ability."

David Solari, Silver Lake

Junior defenseman is a team captain. Said coach Colin Foley, "He's someone who helps allow us to build up our attack from the defensive zone. David is a good skater and a puck moving defenseman who we will rely on to be our rock on defense."

Nick Sturdevant, left, and Cam Wilbur of Southeastern/Bristol-Plymouth celebrate a goal during a game against South Shore Tech at Raynham IcePlex on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.
Nick Sturdevant, left, and Cam Wilbur of Southeastern/Bristol-Plymouth celebrate a goal during a game against South Shore Tech at Raynham IcePlex on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.

Nick Sturdevant, Southeastern

Senior scored the winning goal 47 seconds into overtime to lift the Hawks to a 5-4 win over South Shore Tech on Dec. 30.

Tommy Jenkins, South Shore Voc. Tech

Coach Derek Mariani said this senior captain is "a solid center on both ends of the ice with speed and great shot."

Jack Shanteler, South Shore Voc. Tech

Coach Derek Mariani said this senior is "a good wing in the corners with good speed and a strong shot."

Brendan Twohig, Stoughton/Brockton

Senior is a three-year starter at center for the Knights.

Ryan Summers, Stougton/Brockton

Senior defenseman is a three-year starter for the Knights.

WEB's Christian Bates takes a shot on net during a game versus Abington on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
WEB's Christian Bates takes a shot on net during a game versus Abington on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

Christian Bates, West/East Bridgewater

Senior is a three-year starter for W.E.B. He leads the current team with 34 career points.

Evan Brew, West/East Bridgewater

Senior captain leads the defensive core as a four-year starter.

Jack Browning, Weymouth

Senior had 23 points last year. He scored the OT winner in the Wildcats' win over Walpole in the season-opener.

Brody Dearden, Weymouth

Coach Pat Kennedy said this senior forward is "big, strong with a high skill level and great work ethic."

Braintree's Nick Fasano checks Weymouth's Jack Brady into the boards during first period action of their game in the Round of 32 game in the Division 1 state tournament at Zapustas Ice Arena in Randolph on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
Braintree's Nick Fasano checks Weymouth's Jack Brady into the boards during first period action of their game in the Round of 32 game in the Division 1 state tournament at Zapustas Ice Arena in Randolph on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

Jack Brady, Weymouth

Coach Pat Kennedy said this senior defenseman "possesses some of the best offensive instincts in any defenseman we've had."

Luke Tropeano, Whitman-Hanson

Senior center is in his fourth year on varsity. Said coach Rob Peters, "He brings a very high skill set in all aspects of his game, matched with a great tenacious leadership attitude that is hard to come by. His ability to make players around him better every day is what we will need day in and day out."

Alex Ethier, Whitman-Hanson

Coach Rob Peters said this senior center is "fast, strong, has a great release, and really brought his game to another level this offseason."

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Here are the 63 South Shore High School Boys Hockey Players to Watch