Evan and Pat talk about recent holiday hockey tournaments, including detailed analyses of the Boys and Girls Prep tournaments, highlighting standout performances and memorable moments. To close the episode, they reflect on the most memorable hockey moments of 2025 and what they look forward to in covering New England hockey in 2026.

Topics

01:12 Holiday Cooking and Traditions

02:50 Holiday Tournament Recap

06:33 Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic

08:05 Flood-Marr Tournament Highlights

16:07 Girls Prep Hockey Highlights

23:58 Loomis and Kent Game Recap

25:17 Andover's Impressive Performance

27:06 Dexter Tournament Highlights

29:12 Rivers and New Hampton Analysis

29:43 Deerfield and New Hampton Insights

33:17 Governors' Promising Season

34:13 St. Mark's Dominance

36:16 Milton's Close Matches

37:19 Condolences to King Philip Community

38:54 Year-End Reflections and Overtime

Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly focus on the holiday hockey tournaments and the latest prep girls rankings. They discuss the excitement around holiday tournaments, with Evan expressing his frustration with technical issues but highlighting his anticipation for the holiday season. They delve deep into prep girls hockey rankings, with a new No. 1 team, Williston Northampton, and examine the performances of top teams and standout players. The episode also covers predictions and key matchups for upcoming tournaments. On the boys side, they discuss the Groton Lawrence tournament and the Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic. They conclude with highlights from boys and girls MIAA hockey and some engaging “Overtime” questions.

Topics

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly explore the early weeks of New England's high school hockey season. They discuss the current state of both girls and boys prep hockey, highlighting key games and standout performances. On the girls side, they cover the exciting changes in the rankings, with detailed breakdowns of significant matches such as Nobles vs. Loomis Chaffee. On the boys side, the discussion includes surprising results including Kimball Union rising to the top and a thrilling game between Dexter Southfield and Kent. The episode also touches on the challenges teams are facing early in the season and the impact of young talent on the ice. Evan and Pat offer insights into the evolving rankings, standout players, and what to expect as the season progresses.

01:06 Exploring New Prep Schools

01:45 Girls Prep Hockey Highlights

02:42 Loomis vs. Nobles Game Recap

05:26 Top Performers and Rankings

07:28 Cushing and Dexter Southfield Updates

11:06 Exeter and Governor's Game Analysis

15:17 Thayer and Milton Game Insights

17:30 Standout Performances of the Week

19:18 Boys Prep Hockey Rankings

23:49 The Importance of Early Season Challenges

24:57 Twitter Reactions to the Brawl

26:06 Caiden Pellegrino's Impressive Start

28:11 Notable Performances and Rankings

28:53 Opening Night Surprises

34:06 Belmont Hill's Young Talent

39:37 Prep Hockey Season Overview

Pat Donnelly and Evan Marinofsky preview the high school hockey season. They discuss the stress and excitement surrounding tryouts, recounting personal experiences from their own high school days. The duo provides detailed insights on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association boys and girls hockey seasons, offering in-depth analyses of top teams and players to watch. They highlight top-ranked boys teams such as Catholic Memorial, St. John's Prep and Pope Francis, as well as leading girls teams including Hingham, Archbishop Williams and Duxbury. The episode also touches on coverage expansion to other New England states, ensuring a comprehensive look at high school hockey across the region. The podcast concludes with a lighthearted trivia segment focusing on hockey-themed movies and TV shows.

02:42 Expanding Coverage Beyond MIAA

03:48 Boys MIAA Preseason Rankings

06:19 Top Teams Analysis

24:23 Players to Watch

26:50 Top Boys MIAA Players Recap

27:19 Transition to Girls MIAA Discussion

27:26 Top Girls MIAA Teams and Players

29:11 Archbishop Williams and Duxbury Analysis

32:05 Methuen and Tewksbury Insights

33:11 Milton and Malden Catholic Prospects

35:05 Notre Dame and Bishop Feehan Overview

37:39 St. Mary's and Waltham Highlights

40:55 Players to Watch Outside the Top 10

43:24 Trivia Throwdown: Hockey Movies and TV Shows

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly preview prep boys hockey. The hosts delve into Pat’s recent bout with the flu before launching into a detailed discussion on prep boys hockey, addressing the impact of the CHL ruling and how it has influenced player movement. They analyze the current landscape by highlighting top teams, including Dexter Southfield, Kimball Union and St. Mark's, and assess their strengths and weaknesses. The conversation also covers potential contenders and sleepers in the upcoming season, with a focus on specific players to watch. Pat and Evan also debate various fun questions in the 'Would You Rather' segment, including topics like best seating in a hockey arena and whether great food or loud fans make for a better game atmosphere. The show wraps up with bold predictions for the Elite 8 and discussions on MVP candidates. The hosts provide a mix of insightful hockey analysis and lighthearted banter, making for an engaging listen.

00:42 Health and Flu Season Woes

02:04 State of Prep Boys Hockey

06:22 Top Prep Boys Hockey Teams

07:07 Dexter Southfield: The Team to Beat

09:59 Kimball Union: A Strong Contender

11:34 St. Mark's: Rising Stars

15:38 Avon Old Farms: Consistent Performers

17:22 Kent: The Swing Team

18:55 Salisbury: Defensive Powerhouse

21:06 Brunswick: Overcoming Challenges

22:57 Cushing: Defending Champions

24:55 Berkshire and Deerfield: Western Mass. Teams

26:18 Next 15 Teams to Watch

26:32 Potential Top 10 Teams

26:39 Winchendon: Proving Its Worth

27:11 Belmont Hill's Challenges and Potential

28:29 Sleeper Teams: Thayer and Milton Academy

30:19 Other Potential Sleeper Teams

31:23 Elite 8 Predictions

33:00 MVP Candidates to Watch

35:45 Would You Rather: Fan Edition

39:05 Stadium Atmosphere vs. Food Debate

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly discuss the upcoming girls prep hockey season, focusing on team rankings and expectations. They delve into potential top contenders for the Elite 8 tournament, highlighting teams such as Loomis Chaffee, Andover, Williston and Cushing. They also discuss key players to watch and provide insights into which teams might surprise this season. The episode concludes with a bit of fun as they tackle hypothetical hockey scenarios in the Overtime segment.

NEPSAC, girls prep,  Elite 8, prep hockey

00:40 Girls Prep Hockey Focus

01:12 Team Rankings and Insights

02:55 Top Contenders Analysis

03:51 In-Depth Look at Loomis Chaffee

05:14 Andover's Strengths and Challenges

07:24 Williston Northampton's Potential

08:41 Nobles and Cushing Overview

11:58 Dexter and Deerfield Prospects

13:58 Tabor and Exeter Evaluations

16:28 Rivers and Beyond

18:50 Next-Tier Teams

20:21 Team Analysis: St. Paul's and New Hampton

21:20 Berkshire's New Lineup

22:21 Frederick Gunn and Other Teams to Watch

24:21 MVP Candidates and Top Performers

25:32 Elite 8 Predictions

27:17 Overtime: Would You Rather?

31:46 Winter Classic vs. All-Star Game

35:45 Creative Ideas for Hockey Events

37:13 Conclusion and Season Coverage

Evan is joined by Mark Naclerio, head coach of Avon Old Farms. The discussion delves into Naclerio's perspective on the fall hockey landscape, changes in player development, and the influence of specialized sports programs. Naclerio reflects on his time as an associate coach and his transition to head coach, the legacy of his predecessor John Gardner, and the evolving landscape of prep versus academy hockey. The episode also covers the importance of building personal connections with players, the effects of the CHL ruling on recruitment, and provides advice for young players starting out in hockey. The conversation ends with a fun 'overtime' segment featuring questions on sports betting and the number of games watched.

Topics

00:18 Meet the Guest: Mark Naclerio

00:58 Fall Hockey Season Insights

01:24 Changes in Prep School Hockey

03:02 The Importance of Multi-Sport Athletes

03:22 Fall Hockey Leagues and Team Dynamics

08:21 Coaching Philosophy and Challenges

08:34 Legacy of John Gardner

14:40 Academy vs. Prep School Lifestyle

17:05 CHL Ruling and Future Implications

18:06 Deciding Between High School and Junior Hockey

19:02 The Value of Staying in High School

20:28 NHL Draft Prospects and Prep School Hockey

23:03 The Impact of Online Sports Betting on Hockey

23:17 Overtime: Fun Questions and Insights

31:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Evan Marinofsky and Pat Donnelly discuss the state of MIAA hockey with Duxbury High School (Mass.) girls coach Dan Najarian. They delve into topics such as the development of young players, the benefits of playing multiple sports, and the dynamic between MIAA, prep schools and club hockey. Najarian shares his insights on how MIAA hockey can serve as both a developmental platform and a source of lasting, meaningful hockey experiences. The episode also touches on the challenges of college recruitment and the growth of girls hockey, providing a comprehensive look at the landscape of high school and junior hockey in New England.

00:29 Guest Introduction: Dan Najarian

01:38 Fall Hockey Insights

02:32 The Role of Multi-Sport Athletes

05:02 Debating the 15-Only Rule

09:58 MIAA Hockey: Current State and Future Prospects

18:31 Coaching Philosophy and Player Development

30:13 Highlighting Unsung Talent in Girls Hockey

31:08 The Rise of Club Hockey for Girls

33:52 Balancing Academics and Hockey Dreams

35:44 The Appeal of Club Hockey Over Traditional Paths

39:59 Overtime: Personal Stories and Unwritten Rules

50:29 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

Evan and Pat delve into the current state of fall hockey, particularly focusing on high school leagues like Connecticut's Cutting Edge Management (CEM). They discuss the potential future of fall hockey and whether more teams will adopt a model where school teams play together. The conversation shifts to college recruiting updates for both boys and girls, highlighting several key commitments. The episode concludes with a fun 'Overrated or Underrated' segment, covering topics like playoff beards, NHL team names without 'S', and NHL mascots.

Topics

01:04 Fall Hockey Season Overview

01:42 Connecticut's Cutting Edge Management (CEM) League

03:48 Challenges and Benefits of Fall Hockey

08:34 Girls' Hockey and Multi-Sport Athletes

12:53 Future of Prep School Hockey Seasons

25:28 Recent College Recruiting Highlights

29:15 Big Names in Hockey Recruitment

29:41 Hockey East Dominance

33:13 Notable Recruits and Commitments

39:05 Princeton's Strong Recruitment

41:11 Setting the Record Straight

41:42 Overtime: Overrated or Underrated

Evan is joined by Dan Fontas, the new head coach of the Cushing Boys Hockey team. They discuss Dan's transition from head coach of the Varsity B team to his new role, his coaching philosophy, and the importance of relationship-building with players. They also delve into the challenges and changes in recruiting, impacted by recent CHL rulings, and the future of fall hockey for prep schools. The episode wraps up with anecdotes from Dan's own career, including his transition from player to coach and the influences that shaped his coaching style. The show ends with a fun segment called 'Overtime,' where they react to famous hockey-related quotes.

Topics

00:57 Meeting Dan Fontas: A Funny Encounter

01:51 Recruitment and Promotion Insights

05:09 Challenges and Changes in Prep Hockey

09:23 Varsity B Coaching Experience

15:34 Dan's Personal Hockey Journey

23:22 Coaching Philosophy and Influences

29:01 Commitment Beyond Hockey

29:26 Impact of Coaching Relationships

30:32 Evolution of Coaching Styles

32:00 Increased Skill Levels in Modern Players

35:58 The Future of Prep and Fall Hockey

43:22 Overtime: Fun and Insightful Hockey Quotes