Nauset, Sandwich pace talented field: Final Cape Cod high school boys hockey rankings

Boys hockey teams always mean business on Cape Cod and this season was no different.

For the third consecutive season, Cape Cod was represented at TD Garden in the state championships. This time it wasn't the Sandwich Blue Knights (though they still had a great season), but the Nauset Warriors who finished as state runners-up in Division 3.

Beyond those two, who take the first two spots in these final rankings, there are five other playoff teams, with all but two of the programs on this list reaching at least the Sweet 16.

Individually, this was a year that saw Cape teams have some of the most premier skaters in the area, and some of the best teams at a statewide level. Safe to say, boys hockey on the Cape isn't going anywhere.

Presenting, the final Cape Cod Times Boys Hockey Rankings:

1. Nauset Warriors (23-2-1)

The Warriors lost their second game of the season to the Nantucket Whalers on Dec. 13, and didn't lose again until they fell in the MIAA Division 3 State Championship game. How they got to that point is a testament to what can happen when a team is totally aligned on a collective goal. The Warriors set out to reach the Garden, and left no doubt along the way as to why they belonged there. The team dominated opposition both on the Cape, and in the tournament. The Warriors were the top team in the D3 tournament, and had both the No. 1 scoring offense, and the No. 1 tightest defense, of any team on the Cape. Nauset finished the year with a +96-goal difference for the entire season, scoring 121 goals, while only allowing 25. Depth was the calling card for the Warriors this year, featuring no shortage of skaters capable of threatening opposition nets. Captain Logan Poulin was one of the stars, but Colin Ward, Jake Eldredge, Cam Connery, Julian Krivos and more, all played significant offensive roles. Defensively, goalie Zach Coehlo anchored the Warriors, while Joe McManus, Max Lanzetta and Oscar Escher were just a few of the skaters helping defend in front of him.

2. Sandwich Blue Knights (19-5-1)

Sandwich has been the model of consistency over the past few seasons, having reached back-to-back state title games in 2022 and 2023. This season, the Blue Knights were once again one of the premier teams in the area and were the No. 4 seed in the MIAA Division 4 Tournament. The Blue Knights won 17 regular season games and were led by South Shore League player of the season, senior captain Chris Cardillo. He finished the season with 57 points (33 goals/24 assists), further establishing himself as one of the top players in the state. Cardillo also eclipsed the 150-point mark for his Sandwich career. Jack Connolly was another Blue Knight who reached a personal milestone, topping 100 career points with a goal against Bourne back on Feb. 3. Those two made up 2/3 of Sandwich's lethal top line this season, with the third member being sophomore forward Ty Creighton. The Blue Knights had postseason wins over No. 29 Taconic and No. 20 Gardner, before falling to eventual state champion No. 6 Dover-Sherborn/Weston in the Elite Eight.

3. Nantucket Whalers (17-5-1)

Nantucket's season was one filled with high-flying offense, and tons of regular season success. The Whalers ran through their regular season, finishing 15-4-1, and earning the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Division 4 Tournament. The Whalers had one of the best goalies, Griffin Starr, who helped lead the Whalers to the third stingiest defense in the area, only allowing 48 goals all season (2.18) per game. At the other end, the Whalers scored 92 goals as a team, which was the fourth highest total. Driving that offensive production were experienced players like Ryan Davis, Colby O'Keefe, Michael Culkins and Braden Knapp. The Whalers also got consistent contributions from younger players like Jeremy Jenkinson and Nico Tedeschi. The Whalers got wins over No. 31 St. John Paul II in the Round of 32, and No. 15 Bourne in the Sweet 16, before they fell to No. 6 Stoneham in the Elite Eight. Though some controversy clouded the end of their season, the Whalers still had plenty to be proud of this season.

4. Bourne Canalmen

The Canalmen were quietly one of the most consistent teams on the Cape this season and reached double-digit wins this year, after posting totals of five in 2022 and eight last season. The continued evolution was thanks in large part to the Canalmen's experienced core, led by seniors Ty Kelley, Dom Bonito and Dana Leach, and juniors Griffin Kelly and Joziah DeSouza. Those five were five of the Canalmen's six leading point scorers (the other being sophomore James Crowell), with Kelley (40) and Bonito (30) leading the way. Collectively, the Canalmen were one of the best offensive units on Cape Cod, scoring 96 goals this year, good for third in the area. Bourne started the season strong, going 5-1 in the first six games. Tough scheduling may have cost the Canalmen in the win-loss record down the stretch, but they were rewarded in the postseason with the No. 15 seed in the MIAA Division 4 playoffs. Bourne took down No. 18 Abington in the Round of 32, before narrowly losing to No. 2 Nantucket in the Sweet 16.

5. Martha's Vineyard Vineyarders (10-10-2)

The Vineyarders' record may not jump off the page, but the team was undoubtedly better than their record suggests, as evident by their No. 8 ranking in the MIAA Division 4 Tournament. All of the Vineyarders regular season losses came against playoff teams, with all of them coming against teams above them in D4, or in higher Divisions altogether. In short, out of 10 losses this season, none could be considered bad losses, and the .500 record hardly indicates the talent on this team. Martha's Vineyard won their opening playoff matchup 10-0 over No. 25 Greenfield, but fell in the Sweet 16 at the hands of No. 24 Ashland. Hunter Johnson, Aiden Conley, Liam Conley and Nate Averill were some of the leaders for the Vineyarders this year, with Zach Mathias holding down the back end.

6. Falmouth Clippers (12-11)

The Clippers had an up and down season, but ended the year qualifying for the playoffs as the No. 17 seed in the MIAA Division 2 playoffs. Charlie Bardelis and Chris Shanahan were the captains for the Clippers and made their presence felt on the ice and in the locker room. Bardelis was one of the team's leading scorers, driving the Falmouth offense forward all season, along with other forwards like Ethan Santos and Chase Briggs. Shanahan meanwhile, was a rock at the back for the Clippers defensively, alongside Will Hostetter. The Clippers getting to the postseason was a testament to the players in that locker room. After a 1-4 start to the year, Falmouth was left searching for answers. They were able to steady the ship and played well enough down the stretch to make the tournament. Though they were eliminated in the first round by No. 16 Plymouth North, head coach Paul Moore was left with nothing but pride for his 2024 group.

Honorable Mention: St. John Paul II (6-15-2)

The Lions made the playoffs as the No. 31 seed in the MIAA Division 4 State Tournament, where they fell to No. 2 Nantucket.

André Simms covers high school sports for the Times. Contact him at asimms@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @that1guyandre.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Final Cape Cod high school boys hockey rankings