Boys high school hockey in New York is usually loaded with high-level players, and this year looks to be no different.
Many of the players on our watch list are not only their teams’ top returning scorers but also leaders on and off the ice.
Here’s a look at some of the best players for this season.
Many will be hoping to raise state championships in Buffalo in March.
Clarence, Section VI
When you are the nephew of a Stanley Cup champion, there is a lot to live up to, but Luke Marchant has done a good job so far of carving his own hockey path.
Marchant, whose uncle, Todd, won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007, and father, Scott, played Division 3 at Geneseo, returns as one of Section VI’s top scorers.
As a junior, Marchant tallied 25 goals and 15 assists for 40 points, which led all large-school players in Section VI and helped Clarence reach the section’s large-schools final. His eight power-play goals also were the most among large-school players and tied for the section lead.
Clarence coach Rick Brooks is hoping Marchant, who served as assistant captain last year, repeats the scoring prowess that he demonstrated last year as well as show good leadership.
“He’s smart and respected by the other players,” Brooks said. “He does a lot behind the scenes for the team, both at practice and in the locker room, so this is his year to take on a leadership role. He has integrity and leads by example.”
At 5-foot-7, Marchant does not have a ton of size, but Brooks said that helps him understand the game more and forces him to play a different way.
“While his skating, stickhandling and shooting ability are very good, another player with the same abilities might not be as successful because (Luke) understands the game and knows what is going to be happening next as he reads the play developing,” Brooks said.
“I think my physical play and strength have definitely increased, and I am scoring more goals, but I think my best quality is my hockey IQ,” said Marchant, who wants to play junior hockey next year and eventually play in college. “I am good at knowing where the play is going to go, and that allows me to create turnovers for our team and produce goals. It happened a few times last year when opposing teams were trying to push the puck out of the zone, and I was in their passing lane, and I got it to a teammate, or I put it in the back of the net. It’s great because it limits the number of shots we’re getting and puts more shots on the other goalie and gets them hemmed in their zone, which makes us have more opportunities.”
Suffern, Section I
The Tyrrell last name is synonymous with Suffern hockey.
Cole Tyrrell is the third of four brothers to have played for the Mounties. His oldest brothers, Ray and Charlie, graduated in 2021 and 2023, respectively, and his youngest brother, Sean, is a sophomore forward on the roster.
Suffern coach Rob Schelling said Cole Tyrrell is the total player.
“Cole does everything,” Schelling said. “He can literally play at any spot, forechecks hard, is a really strong kid, has a good shot and is intense on the puck. He’s a great leader for us. He’s respectful and all the kids love him, but he’s also the hardest worker, so that is a tribute to his leadership skills.”
Tyrrell led Suffern last year with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. Perhaps the biggest goals of his high school career came when he scored both tallies, including the game-winner, in Suffern’s 2-1 double-overtime win over Section I foe Clarkstown in the Division I state semifinals, advancing the Mounties to their second straight final.
Skaneateles, Section II
There are high expectations for Andrew Gaglione and the reigning Division II state champion Skaneateles.
In his junior year, Gaglione was the Lakers’ second-highest scorer with 23 goals and 17 assists.
“He’s got a great shot, first and foremost,” coach Mitch Major said. “He can snipe the puck, and he showed that in the playoffs on our way to a state championship. He’s got some pace to his game, but he also has some grime and grit. He can bring a physical game as well as a goal-scoring game, so that is a combination that you don’t see very often. He has all the tools. He’s got that warrior mindset when he plays, which is going to make it a big year for him.”
Major said Gaglione, who is the team captain, does a good job of separating friendship from leadership with his teammates, which is not easy to do at his age.
“He understands our goal is to win another state championship, and he’s the type of kid who is going to show up every day and put the work in,” Major said. “If somebody is off the path — even if it’s his best friend — he’s going to let them know it. I think that is going to make for a productive season for us with him at the helm. This is going to be his team. If he has a big year, I think it is going to open some opportunities for him.”
Pelham, Section I
Playmaker is the first word Pelham coach Mike Cambria thought of when asked about Griffin Evans. The senior forward enters his fifth year on the squad and is coming off a strong junior year in which he tallied 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points in 26 games and helped Pelham reach the Division II state final and finish with a 17-8-1 record. Evans scored the game-winning goal in Pelham’s 6-4 win over Rye to repeat as Section I champions.
“I would say playmaker is his strong suit,” Cambria said. “He creates so much for his teammates and is a gifted player. He has great hockey IQ and sees plays before they happen. We’re excited he’s going to be a captain for us. I think he’s earned it. He leads by example, whether it’s killing a penalty or playing on the power play, which runs through him because of how crafty he is. If we are down by a goal or up by a goal, he’s the guy I want on the ice in all situations. He’s a good forechecker and backchecker, and an overall great leader.”
Beekmantown, Section VII
It’s not a question if Zach Lapier will make an impact in a game for Beekmantown this upcoming season, but when it will happen.
The senior forward is coming off a junior year in which he recorded 34 goals and 37 assists for 71 points, eclipsed 100 career points in the Eagles’ 9-2 win over Northeastern Clinton Central in the Section VII semifinals and was named Section VII MVP. Beekmantown won the Section VII title and reached the Division II state quarterfinals.
Coach Justin Frechette said Lapier, who played on the wing but will move to center for his senior year, has committed himself to being a 200-foot player.
“With Zach, I think the word is explosive,” Frechette said. “He can singlehandedly take over a game if the other team isn’t managing where he is on the ice and staying aware of where he is. He has elite-level finishing abilities. What has really separated him over the past two years is how he has committed himself off the ice. He’s not only playing year-round but also working out in the weight room and working on his conditioning, and all the things he needs to do off the ice to take his game to another level.
“His defensive game has come a long way in the past two years. He’s committed himself to blocking shots and doing a good job in our own end. On special teams, he kills penalties and takes key draws. If the goal for him is to move on and play at the next level, taking care of all three zones is really important, and he has done that. He’s also very supportive of his teammates.”
Ogdensburg, Section X
Tegan Frederick had a dynamite sophomore year at Ogdensburg, leading the Blue Devils with 28 goals and 31 assists for 59 points.
Ogdensburg coach Jonathan Frederick expects an even bigger season out of his son due to him working out all summer in the weight room. He enters the season 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds after standing 5-9 and weighing 145 pounds as a sophomore.
“He’s such a good kid,” Jonathan Frederick said. “He’s probably going to be one of our leaders. He’s got great hands and forechecks well.”
Frederick is a multisport athlete, playing multiple positions on the football team, and was a top scorer in the state in lacrosse.
“He has a high sports IQ,” the coach said.
Williamsville North, Section VI
Williamsville North coach Bob Rosen knows what he is getting whenever Sam Welgoss is on the ice.
“He’s so steady and does so many little things well,” Rosen said. “He doesn’t make many mistakes. He’s a good, solid defenseman with a good work ethic who comes and competes every day in practice. He’s a student of the game who watches a lot of game tapes and has big questions about what to do in certain situations and can adapt what we say in a quick way, and it shows up in the game. He’s also supportive of his teammates.”
Welgoss logged a ton of minutes as a sophomore, playing on the power play, penalty kill and regular shifts. Assistant coach Jake Rosen said the more you watch Welgoss play, the more he makes plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet, like a second assist.
“He makes a great first pass and is deceptive at pulling forwards and forecheckers away from him to open space up for everybody else,” Jake Rosen said. “He’s really solid with the puck. He continuously makes positive plays. He takes coaching well and wants to get better every day. You tell him to work on something and he’s doing it in the next drill. He’s the type of defenseman that makes your team go.”
West Genesee, Section III
As a sophomore, Luke Beck was a rock between the pipes in West Genesee’s run to the Division I state championship, so coach Frank Colabufo can’t wait to see what he can do as a junior.
Beck finished his 2022-23 campaign with a 22-3 record, made 377 saves on 407 shots for a 1.34 goals against average, and posted a .930 save percentage. The returning State Tournament Team All-Star saved some of his best performances for the postseason, allowing one goal in West Genessee’s final five playoff games and shutouts in four of six contests, including the regional, state semifinals and state finals.
Colabufo said Beck has matured a lot and his confidence has grown significantly since he joined the team as an eighth-grader.
“As a goaltender gains confidence back there, the kids gain more confidence playing in front of him,” he said. “As long as they believe that Luke is giving us the best chance to win, which he obviously is, they are willing to do the extra stuff and do anything they can in front of him. The defensive numbers we put up last year are a tribute to Luke, but it snowballs into a whole defensive pride team mantra, but it starts with your goaltender.”
Colabufo also noted Beck’s tremendous work ethic on and off the ice, focus and coachability.
“He’s such a super kid and is appreciative of where he is and is willing to pay it forward to help the next kid get to where he is,” Colabufo said. “He comes from a tight, close family and has old-school values, like volunteering at our summer camps and clinics. He ‘gets it.’ ”
