Parker Thompson

NBL Final 4 Preview

May 18, 2026 by Parker Thompson

As we near the end of the NBL season, we are down to the final four teams. We have seen a ton of highly competitive teams and a lot of high-end plays and talent from a few players.

To kick things off with who we got in this year’s final 4, we have the very gritty and hardworking Casey Morrissey ’27, along with his very skilled teammate Chase Brock ’27, who had pretty good wins. With an 11-6 and 11-3 win over their opponents thus far, this duo could do some damage in their semifinal game as they take on Anton Stackow ’26 and Pierce Williams ’27, who are coming off 11-8 and 11-6 wins over their opponents. Pierce’s name came up often in MVP discussions; he has all the attributes of a successful basketball player. IQ, Height, Skill, and a natural finish to put the ball through the hoop, as he has carried his teammate Anton Stackow, to give him credit; he has also been a very good defensive player, while not really being a huge threat offensively. This will be a very good, highly competitive matchup. With my take, I am going with Pierce and Anton as I think Pierce will still bully his way to the rim.

On the other side of the bracket, we have Justin Macleod ’26 and Charles Pigeon ’26, who are both really skilled players and have taken a close 11-10 win and a blowout 11-1 win. This team probably has the most skill of the four, but they lack height, as both players stand under six feet tall. Their opponents are Miles Van Mullen ’27 and Henry Kress ’26. Both players stand over 6 feet tall. And even scarier, Van Mullen can dunk the ball. This may be the scariest duo Northwood Ball has ever seen, as they offer everything you do not want to see as the opposition. With my take on this one, it will be a very good game, but I do have Henry and Miles moving forward onto the final.

In the final, I have the two teams really battling it out to the end and giving it their all, but I have Henry and Miles coming out on top with a score of 11-6. They are just too big and strong, and I feel like Pierce may have a tough time getting to the basket. I really see Henry and Miles just using both of their height to their advantage, taking control of this game, pulling through with the victory, and being the 2026 Northwood ball (NBL) Champions.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

“Sack” Re-Gains Popularity

May 13, 2026 by Parker Thompson

Photo provided.

Here at Northwood, everyone enjoys the warm and sunny weather as the school year comes to an end. An old game has recently become popular again. We hockey players like to play a game called “sewer” to warm up, but a slightly different version called “sack” is becoming popular across campus. It is played with a small knitted sack ball.

It has become one of the most popular games here at Northwood. The game caught on as part of a larger national social media-driven trend. It has taken over pretty much every school across the East Coast.

The game is super fun and simple; you stand in a circle and keep the sack up in the air using anything but your hands. You hit it to someone else in that circle. Peter Amigh ’27, one of the main guys who brought this game to our school, was asked what he enjoys most about sacking. “It is a super easy game to play, and all you need is this little ball so that you can play anywhere. It is super fun playing with all your buddies,” Amigh said. When asked about how the sack game was brought to Northwood, he said, “I saw it over spring break online, and I saw that the schools were making their own social media accounts, and I thought to myself, why not bring it here. I know there will be guys who would want to play. So far, the number of people playing it here has been more than I thought,” Amigh said.

The game has brought fun, energetic vibes to school this Spring, bringing people together one last time just as the school year comes to a close. Hopefully, this game lasts as long as possible here. If you want to see the highlights from this game at Northwood, they are below.

Follow the new craze:

wood_sackk – Instagram

Wood_Sack – TikTok

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Humans of Northwood: Anton Stackow ’26

May 8, 2026 by Parker Thompson

“I am from Hockessin, Delaware, and I found out about Northwood through my older brother, who attended school here, so I basically grew up a little bit early on as a kid through my brother when I would come to visit him as a young kid.

“My experience at Northwood has been nothing but unbelievable. The people I have met here over the years will be the ones with whom I will stay in touch for the rest of my life. Some of my Favorite memories are just casual walks into town with the boys, and late-night talks about life in general. On the hockey side, it is for sure our First PHC championship and also the first in program history. The feeling of winning was something I can’t really explain.

“My advice for future Northwood students is to soak everything in and try new things. There are so many new things you can experience that are once-in-a-lifetime. It is such a tight-knit community, and you are close to everyone. One thing I have noticed is that time flies by here super quickly. It felt like yesterday I was walking through the doors for the first time last year, and now I am about to say goodbye to this place, which is crazy.

“Right now, my plan for the future is to play junior hockey. I am tendered with the Janesville Jets in the North American Hockey League, but I plan to attend other camps this summer, and from there we will see where it takes me with college and afterward.”

As told to Parker Thompson ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Catching up with Anton Malyshev ‘25

May 6, 2026 by Parker Thompson

Anton Malyshev ’26 on his first day at Northwood in 2024. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

As the school year winds down, we took a look back at last year and caught up with one-year senior Anton Malyshev ‘25. He was a member of the Prep hockey team last year and has spent this hockey season with the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). His first year at Northwood was also his first time in North America, as he was born in Moscow, Russia. Anton was a big part of the prep team’s success last year, as they were so close to a PHC championship but fell short in the final game.

“Being in North America for the first time was for sure a huge adjustment. Being so far from home and in a new environment was challenging. When I first got here in September, I did not go home or see my family until school ended in May, which was hard. But luckily, the group of staff and teammates made me feel so welcomed and very much appreciated, it was like my home away from home.”

As every Northwood alum can say when they reflect on their time at Northwood, it is how truly special the plays really are, a line that coach Mallaro often uses when talking to his team: “You don’t realize how special this place is until you leave this place,” and it is really a very true statement. “I miss the people, this big change coming here, I thought was not something I would like, but after all the people I met, really made the experience of Northwood for me that I will always remember.”

Right now, Anton and the New Mexico Ice Wolves are getting ready for their first round of playoffs on their chase to the Robertson Cup as they take on the El Paso Rhinos, which will be a fast-paced, hard-checking matchup. “Northwood has helped me with the jump to the next level, making sure I was ready for a faster pace and more physical league, as our practices included a lot of high-paced drills while getting a lot of good battles out of them, so Northwood has helped with my development a lot.”

“My plans following juniors? I plan to attend college and continue my hockey career, but right now, I have not figured out where that may be. Right now, I am just focused on what’s ahead of me here in New Mexico and working my hardest.”

Watch this clip of Anton’s first goal in the NAHL.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

NBL Preview

April 20, 2026 by Parker Thompson

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, you usually look toward graduation. Still, when you hit March, here at Northwood, we look to the NBL (Northwood Basketball League): a 16-team, single-elimination basketball tournament with teams of two players. Unfortunately, due to travel, the League is starting a little late this year and may end after spring break ends in April. Regardless, it is going to be a very competitive, high-emotion, and, as always, a very physical tournament. This tournament brings together all hockey players from the Prep, Varsity, and 16U teams, so there will be a ton of friendly yet hard and fierce competition this year.

For the first time in two years, we will have a new champion, not the power duo of Michael Peluso ’25 and William Schneid ’25, who won the League back-to-back. “I am looking forward to the League this year, I love the passion the players play with, and I’m excited about who will be the new top dogs this year,” Schneid ’25 said.

Here is the official bracket of the 2026 NBL season. Personally, with my experience in this League, I don’t think we will see many good games until we reach the elite eight. Many of these first-round games may be cake walks, but again, anything can happen. It’s March. One thing is for sure: it is going to be exciting, and if you are a student or faculty member, we encourage you to come down and support the teams competing for what is the hardest trophy to win in all of sports.

The first games will kick off Thursday night (March 12^th, 2026) in the fitness center’s shooting room.

Former League commissioner and widely known at Northwood, Jack Kent ’23, had a few words to say about the NBL this year. “It’s going to be a fun stretch of games, you don’t truly know how much the League means until you play a game, when you play your first game, you know the NBL is one of the top basketball Leagues in the world.” I also asked him for his pick as a champion this year. He said, “this is a bit off a tough one because I’ve been out of the school for a few years and there’s always the one player you don’t expect to come out of the water but right now I got parker and stacks against miles and henry in the finals, this game could go either way and a game you will not want to miss if you are at school.”

It is going to be a joyful March. One of the greatest times of the school year has finally arrived. We look forward to all the games, and we wish every team the best of luck. Make sure to follow the Instagram page “northwood_ball” to see every update and clip of the games. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this year’s NBL Season!

Happy March!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

NBL: First Round Recap

March 26, 2026 by Parker Thompson

Two NBL competitors last season under the familiar yellow glow of the court/hockey shooting area. Photo provided.

As the first round of the 2026 NBL tournament concludes, there is a lot of catching up to do, as some of your possible picks who you may have gone far in the tournament may be out already.

The first two games of the season were pretty good ones to watch, with high-level competition and a lot of skill displayed by Riley Doyle ’27 and Zach Klaich ’26, who came out with the 11-8 win after completing a huge comeback to punch their ticket into the elite 8, defeating Adam Sherman ’26 and Williem McArthur ’27.

With our second game of the opening night, we had the dynamic duo of Casey Morrissey ’27 who is one of the players to watch this tournament – possessing unique work ethic and skill – alongside his teammate Chase Brock ’27, with a controlling 11-6 win over Owen Maclean ’26 and Max Stracar ’26, Morrissey ’27 had this to say after the game “this was an easy game for me, I went out on the court and did what I am good at, I expect to go far in this tournament”

Night two had the matchups of Devin Smith ’26 and Luke Lalonde ’26 taking a dominant 11-4 win over Cody Betsch ’26 and Patrick McCormick ’26; the latter duo gave absolutely minimal effort in this game, which was very sad to see.

Game two of the night had Justin Macleod ’26 and Charles Pigeon ’26 winning a very close game, winning 11-10 over Cooper Plotts ’26 and Brennan Poole ’27, knocking them out of the tournament for good. This duo has really high hopes for this tournament, and I can see them doing damage down the stretch, as both players are skilled. They move on to the Elite 8.

Night three displayed some decent games with Drew Tulloch ’26 and Ethan Fitzpatrick ’27 moving on with a solid win over CJ Ericson ’27 and Kelly Matozzo ’28. This was a cake walk game for Drew and Ethan, and they now advance.

Also, in the last game of the night, Henry Kress ’26, with his teammate Miles van Mullen ’27, dominated the game over Ryan Demers ’27 and Elliot Murch ’26. They advanced to the elite 8 and could very well be the favorite to win this year’s tournament.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Team USA at the Top in Women’s Hockey

March 12, 2026 by Parker Thompson

Women’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina delivered a ton of excitement worldwide. In the last Olympics, Canada beat the US in the gold medal game in Beijing. The early stage of the tournament set the tone with high-paced matchups and dominant performances from traditional leaders like the United States and Canada Women’s National Hockey Teams. Both teams displayed offensive depth, structured defensive systems, and elite goaltending.

United States’ Megan Keller celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Canada during overtime at the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, February 19, 2026. AP photo: Carolyn Kaster.

European programs also showed what they had to offer, with disciplined neutral-zone play and improved special teams, creating tighter games than in previous Olympic cycles.

As the tournament moved into the knockout stage, the level of intensity increased. Every shift carried weight. Blocked shots, faceoff wins, and small defensive details became the difference between advancing and going home. The semifinals delivered fast, physical hockey, setting up a high-stakes gold medal matchup.

The championship game reflected everything Olympic hockey represents: speed, discipline, and composure under pressure. Both teams have limited time and space, are forced to make quick decisions, and capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes. The goaltending stood out, as the game was close at 2-1 and ended in overtime on a beautiful goal by Megan Keller.

The rivalry between Canada and the USA runs deep, especially in international play. It’s always a special treat to watch as the players of the countries battle it out against one another. For now, the USA has all the bragging rights, having beaten Canada twice in the tournament and the men in their gold medal game.

Team USA won its third gold medal for women’s hockey at the Olympics. 2018 and 1998 were the two years prior when they brought home gold.

It was a very exciting tournament to watch, especially when it got late in the medal rounds. The overall play of the tournament and how fast and competitive it was showed the growth of women’s hockey over time, as it continues to grow. Still, we look forward to the next Winter Olympics, which will once again showcase women’s hockey.

Filed Under: Sports

Humans of Northwood: Tianche “Tony” Yu ’26

March 12, 2026 by Parker Thompson

“Northwood is a very charming place and a really good place to be if the goal is self-improvement. The knowledge that I have gained has given me a better outlook on what I want to do with my life.

“A lot of schools admitted me, and Northwood was a place I felt was going to be great for me for better self-improvement.

“Northwood is a quiet place, and I really like being here. I always feel a sense of focus and peacefulness when I am doing my schoolwork. There are no distractions that interrupt me.

“After Northwood, I will go to college, and I want to be a writer or artist. I like these because I can be creative, and others can see my creativity.

“Northwood has helped me become a much calmer person. In my younger years, I was not very calm. Now I have learned to be more patient with stuff and to control the way I feel.”

As told to Parker Thompson ’26. Photo by Mr. John Spear.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

DoorDash Tips for Northwood Students

February 24, 2026 by Parker Thompson

The DoorDash logo.

Ordering DoorDash in a small town like Lake Placid can feel very different compared to ordering in a big city. At the same time, the app may show familiar spots like McDonald’s, Subway, Smoke Signals, China City, Bazzi’s Pizza, Heritage Indian Grill, and a few stores, such as Hannaford’s and Price Chopper. The overall number of restaurants is still limited. Because many local businesses run on smaller staff and shorter hours, availability can change quickly depending on the day, time, or how busy the kitchen is. Checking the app ahead of peak dinner hours can help avoid long waits or sudden cancellations.

One of the biggest challenges for customers is the limited number of dashers in the area. Unlike in larger cities, where drivers are almost always nearby, Lake Placid may have only a few people delivering at any given time. This means your order might take longer to be accepted, or in some cases, not get picked up at all. Ordering during busier meal windows, like early dinner, and tipping fairly can make your order more appealing to drivers deciding which deliveries to take.

Weather and distance also play a role in the delivery experience. Winter conditions and icy roads can all be factors that slow your delivery time, especially if you live outside the main village area. Clear delivery instructions and accurate location details help drivers find you faster and reduce confusion when they arrive.

Despite the challenges, DoorDash still gives Lake Placid residents and students a convenient way to enjoy local food without leaving home. The key is understanding that small-town delivery works differently. Being patient, planning, and having a backup option, such as pickup, can make the process smoother and more reliable.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Huskies Win MacPherson Invitational, Beat Rival St. Andrew’s Twice

February 12, 2026 by Parker Thompson

Earlier this month, the Prep hockey team competed in the MacPherson Invitational at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario. It was a successful weekend for the Huskies, who finished 4–1 and defeated rival St. Andrew’s twice in their own tournament.

The Prep hockey team won the MacPherson Invitational at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario. Photo provided.

The Huskies opened the weekend with a dominant 7–2 win over the Bishop Kearney Selects.

Game two was one you did not want to miss. In front of a sold-out crowd with a loud, heckling student section, the Huskies faced the Saints. Northwood shut out the noise early, scoring two goals before the 10-minute mark of the first period from Hunter Chadbourne ’27 and Anton Stackow ’27. The Saints pushed back with two quick goals in the second period, regaining momentum and getting the crowd back into the game. But the Huskies answered late in the second when Parker Thompson ’26 scored to make it 3–2, which held as the game-winner.

On Saturday morning, the Huskies looked a little tired from the night before and did not bring their A-game. They fell 2–1 to Victory Honda, with the lone goal coming from Cody Betsch ’26.

Game four was a semifinal matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. It was a late start at 8:30 p.m., and the Penguins struck first in the second period to take a 1–0 lead. With about 30 seconds left in regulation and the goalie pulled, Parker Thompson ’26 scored to tie the game and send it to overtime. After two overtimes, Henry Kress ’26 delivered a perfect pass to the front of the net, where Charles Pigeon ’26 finished the play to seal the win and send the Huskies to Championship Sunday against none other than St. Andrew’s.

The Huskies knew it would not be easy. The Saints were hungry for payback after losing in front of their home crowd earlier in the weekend. St. Andrew’s scored first, setting the tone. But late in the second period, Max Stracar ’26 buried a loose puck in the slot to tie the game 1–1.

Heading into the third period tied, the Huskies knew it was the final period of the weekend and that they had to find just a little more — and that’s exactly what they did. Two quick goals from Stracar ’26 and Thompson ’26 gave Northwood a 3–1 lead. The Saints pushed back and cut it to 3–2, but the Huskies weathered the storm, killing a penalty with two and a half minutes left, and the Saints’ goalie pulled to secure the championship.

It marked the third time in the last twenty years that Northwood has won the tournament, with previous titles coming in 2017 and 2006.

Several Huskies earned individual honors as well. Patrick McCormick ’26, Owen Maclean ’26, and Cody Betsch ’26 were named to the All-Tournament First Team, and Henry Kress ’26 was named Tournament MVP.

It was a big weekend for the Huskies — and one they will not forget anytime soon.