The Northwood Prep hockey team officially kicks off their season in Rochester on September 13th. They have three games of tournament play and a championship game on Sunday if all goes well.
The annual blue vs white intrasquad scrimmages were a success this year, with lots of new players emerging as potential stars for the team. The prep team had only six returning athletes who played the full season with the team last year and four players have moved up from the varsity team. This opens lots of space for the new recruits to come in and make an impact right away.
The Prep team takes the ice during a 2022 game at the Olympic Center (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge).
The team has pulled in recruits from many successful programs around the country. Three kids are from the L.A. Jr Kings 16U team which made the national championship last year. One comes from Long Island Gulls 16U which won the national championship. Also, players from South Kent Selects, Pittsburgh Pens Elite, Minnesota High School and many other notable programs have made the jump to Northwood this year.
When veteran Will Schneid was asked to name a specific newcomer who may have a breakout this year, he said, “All the new guys look really good right now. Any one of them can step up and have a big year.” Schneid also mentioned, “The new guys are great kids; the team has clicked really well early, which is a good sign.”
I also asked Coach Mallaro and Will Schneid about their goals for the year, and they had one common goal: win the Prep Hockey Conference. Last year, Northwood was first seed in their division and narrowly lost in the championship, 2-1 to Shattuck St. Mary’s. Schneid said, “That game left a sour taste in our mouths and makes us returners want to win the PHC that much more.”
Last year, Northwood attracted attention from Division One colleges and junior teams nationwide. The prep team had three Division One commits last year and has started the year with one this season, Peter Morris (2007). The Lake Superior State commit is a strong power forward from New Jersey.
The team hopes to have even more Division One commitments than the previous year. “Last year, we did a good job moving kids on to different places, and I think we can do a better job moving kids on this year,” Coach Mallaro said when asked about any other goals for the year.
The Prep team has high standards to live up to and it will not be easy to replicate the season they had last year. However, the team leaders seem confident that they can have another great season with the new group of guys. The Huskies are going to strive to hit 40 wins again, which is a goal on their way to a PHC championship.
