Girls Prep Hockey

[topgun20]

Here is one opinion of the rankings of Division 1 in New England Prep schools so far this season.

1. Berkshire

2. Lawrence

3. Pomfret

4. Nobles

5. Choate

6. Taft

7. Loomis

8. Phillips Andover

9. Hotchkiss

10. Deerfield

11. Cushing

12. Wait til next year prep.

Any other opinions, thoughts?
Brewster Academy deserves to be on your list

[toots]

Brewster Academy deserves to be on your list
The qualifier is, this is someone's opinion of Division I. Brewster is the class of the field this year in Division II.

[Black Bear]

The qualifier is, this is someone's opinion of Division I. Brewster is the class of the field this year in Division II.

I agree. Brewster currently at 20-2-2 deserves a mention in any list you care to make about the top teams in this year's girl's prep hockey season. They proved that when they went 4-0-0 at Deerfield back in December as the only D2 team in the field.

[Atlantic Puck]

Why can they not compete at Division 1 level, is it school size??
If they are capable of playing at a higher level they should play at that level.

[toots]

Why can they not compete at Division 1 level, is it school size??
I have been told (emphasize: what I have heard. Don't know for sure and if anyone can shed light, please do) that Division II schools do not recruit for the sports at which they compete at the Division II level.
There are some oddities out there - Brooks School is Division II in girls ice hockey, but I know just last year (fall 2004), they won New Englands in Field Hockey, but maybe there is no Div I and Div II in field hockey. I just don't know enough.

If they are capable of playing at a higher level they should play at that level. They do - that is why they went to Deerfield Tournament and won as the only Div II school. They seek out the competition where they can. Good for them! But if it is true they can't/don't recruit for ice hockey, then tournament selection can vary from year-to-year depending on the players they get.

[nut_case]

I am not sure of the criteria which relate to the process of classifying schools by Division, although I suspect that the size of a school's enrollment may be a factor. There is simply no possible way that any rules relating to recruitment are a factor

[BKDad]

Well given that Ben Smith and the team have been hanging around Connecticut the past week or so, it is probably a safe bet that he has seen her, and if he was impressed, is figuring how she will work into his plans in the near future.

How about a direct comparison?

This morning I saw the Polar Bear U-19 team practice some with the Olympic squad. That group included Ms. Knight.

I'd have to say that at this point, she isn't quite at the same level as Ms. Parsons. There was a noticeable difference in skating speed, shot velocity, and creativity around the net.

The qualifier is that the Polar Bear team was only on the ice for about 25 minutes, while they were doing skating and shooting drills. No scrimmaging. Beyond that, there is no question that the entire Olympic team has benefitted from a couple months of instruction since again they showed that they are clearly better than they were at the beginning of November. If Ms. Knight had been able to take advantage of that, who knows?

The question I have is: What can be done to trickle that same level of development down to the younger levels?

[Radar3535]

There are some oddities out there - Brooks School is Division II in girls ice hockey, but I know just last year (fall 2004), they won New Englands in Field Hockey, but maybe there is no Div I and Div II in field hockey. I just don't know enough.
I do know for a fact that Brooks did not win or play in the top level("Group A" I think it is called) New England Field Hockey Championship game.

[nescacman]

The prep schools are a little different from the public schools in terms of divisions and classes. If a smaller school(i.e. Nobles with only about 55 girls in a class)has a strong season in a sport(see soccer the last several years), they will allow them to play in the top playoff category. Hockey is different-you are either div1 or div 2, and you have to play in your dvision in the post-season(8 teams in each division make in New England.)

[futurestar]

The prep schools are a little different from the public schools in terms of divisions and classes. If a smaller school(i.e. Nobles with only about 55 girls in a class)has a strong season in a sport(see soccer the last several years), they will allow them to play in the top playoff category. Hockey is different-you are either div1 or div 2, and you have to play in your dvision in the post-season(8 teams in each division make in New England.)

Can you please tell me how they select the teams to make the playoffs? With all the cross division play, it can't really just be the top eight in the division based on points or win pct is it?

[Slug79]

Can you please tell me how they select the teams to make the playoffs? With all the cross division play, it can't really just be the top eight in the division based on points or win pct is it?

It's based on an average of three sets of rankings.
1. Overall winning %
2. D1 Winning % (assuming you're D1)
3. Winning % agianst D1 teams over .500 x Total D1 teams played (again assuming D1)

The place your team finishes in each poll is averaged equally together, and that's the ranking.

[toots]

so nice to have a definitive answer.
THANK YOU, Slug79!

this was posted by a poster named Prep Watcher on another fan forum for Mass girls youth hockey. I got a kick out it:
They put some drunk guy in a barrel at a barbeque each summer with legos marked with about 10 or so Division I teams that the HNIB editors think will have a good season. Then they bang on the sides with goalie sticks until he pushes 8 legos out the hole with the playoff teams. That's the playoff teams and the sequence gives them the seeding. For Divison II they use a younger guy.

It's a complicated process but it's the only fair way to do it.
:D

[ref11]

Can you please tell me how they select the teams to make the playoffs? With all the cross division play, it can't really just be the top eight in the division based on points or win pct is it?

It's based on an average of three sets of rankings.
1. Overall winning %
2. D1 Winning % (assuming you're D1)
3. Winning % agianst D1 teams over .500 x Total D1 teams played (again assuming D1)

The place your team finishes in each poll is averaged equally together, and that's the ranking.

Slug is correct. In addition each of the teams' coach and athletic director are invited to a meeting the Sunday after the season is over where final seeds are decided. In more than one instance, there are "ties" after the first three screens are done. Other factors come into play. It is all done in the open with the athletic director / coach's input. The semi finals and final are typically done at a "neutral site" (IMO opinion this neutral site should be moved more frequently than it has in the past). The quarter finals are at the home ice of the team with the highest seed, unless it is more than two hours of travel for the lower seed. IMO this practice negates the home ice advantage of the higher seed. :cool:

[Icelady9]

Question - Is there comprehensive training for refs in the prep league? College? I know it is difficult to get consistent calls, but this year IMO there are way, way to many whistles. Last few prep games, the refs slowed the game to a snail pace, taking all the fun & spontaneity out of the game. Has anyone noticed a pattern here? I feel some refs treat like players like mites & squirts and not elite players. Is there a suggetion box somewhere in hockey land?

[ref11]

Question - Is there comprehensive training for refs in the prep league? College? I know it is difficult to get consistent calls, but this year IMO there are way, way to many whistles. Last few prep games, the refs slowed the game to a snail pace, taking all the fun & spontaneity out of the game. Has anyone noticed a pattern here? I feel some refs treat like players like mites & squirts and not elite players. Is there a suggetion box somewhere in hockey land?

Wow! Great question! I don't there is enough memory on the computer to cover this fully but here goes.

Consistancy. The players will react to the type of calls being made. Good refs will be consistant from the opening to the last whistle. In addition they must communicate with their partner and the coach's. It does not help having a ref pair where one ref is calling one infraction consistantly and the other is not.

Suggestion Box. There are two places to go. First wait 24 hours. Second factually recount the concern. Three call / e mail the athletic director of the home school and / or the NIHOA president.

What is NIHOA? National Ice Hockey Officials Association. NIHOA.com

Why? They are the organization that assigns officials for the prep games, not USA Hockey. At NIHOA.com there are links to the local chapter where you can get an e mail of the chapter officers. I'd be surprised if either does not address your concern

FYI - Prep games use NCAA rules. Not USA Hockey rules.

Stupid things I have seen this year?

A double minor call for a hit from behind (not in the rule book). Ref made it up.

Penalty shot call for gathering the puck by a position player. Fortunately the other ref over ruled him.

Most frequent omissions / errors. Position of faceoff after penalty called. Not controlling line changes.

Rumor has it the officials at the Taft home games have had trouble with consistancy. These is heresay but I've heard it with some frequency. If valid follow my answer to the suggestion box.

Hope this helps :cool:

[Radar3535]

Berkshire School lost to Lawrence Academy this afternoon, 5-1. Only goal they scored was on a penalty shot.They fell again, to Hotchkiss 1-0.No goals for their high powered offense.

[canuck]

Great to see Berkshire come back with a victory over Cushing this afternoon 2-0.

[WFR]

Any thoughts on the New England Prep School Division I playoffs. Every time I think I have an clue somebody beats somebody they are not supposed to.

Possible

1 Berkshire vs. 8 Phillips Andover
4 Nobles vs. 5 Choate


2 Lawrence vs 7 Loomis
3 Pomfret vs 6 Taft



1 Berkshire vs 5 Choate

2 Lawrence vs 6 Taft


1 Berkshire vs 6 Taft


Winner-Berkshire.

[ref11]

Any thoughts on the New England Prep School Division I playoffs. Every time I think I have an clue somebody beats somebody they are not supposed to.

Possible

1 Berkshire vs. 8 Phillips Andover
4 Nobles vs. 5 Choate


2 Lawrence vs 7 Loomis
3 Pomfret vs 6 Taft



1 Berkshire vs 5 Choate

2 Lawrence vs 6 Taft


1 Berkshire vs 6 Taft


Winner-Berkshire.

Agree with everyone knocking off each other and throwing predictions off. Close friend re*** the Berkshire / Cushing game. Cushing is having an off year so wouldn't put much weight on the win. He felt Berkshire was solid, but not spectatcular in any way or player. Based on what I've seen. Berkshire, Lawrence, Pomfret and Nobles are the top 4. Choate, aka Hillary, does not have enough depth, nor Taft to break the top four. But to your point, two weeks from now we could all think differently. :cool:

[slapshot2]

They fell again, to Hotchkiss 1-0.No goals for their high powered offense.

Just curious if you know which Hotchkiss goalie played in that game to earn the shutout? Their Sr. or their Jr. goalie? I have seen their Sr. goalie play a few times this year and noticed she was not as good as I have seen her play in previous years. (rebound control) Nevertheless it was a great win for Hotchkiss.