Prep Hockey Coaches Poll: Connecticut schools hold 2 of top 3 spots

Gunnery captain Jimmy Rayhill (New Hartford, N.Y.) scored twice in Monday’s 4-1 win over Taft. (Dave Arnold/NYHJ)

The top teams in New England Hockey Journal’s Prep School Coaches Poll remain crystal clear as the post-holiday portion of the schedule commences in earnest this week.

Eight of the ranked teams remained the same from last week, including three holding steady in their respective slots. Salisbury remains the unmatched No. 1 team in the voting for the third straight week, while Kimball Union is again the Crimson Knights’ closest competitor. Salisbury and KUA were the only teams to receive first-place votes from at least one of the 16 coaches who voted in this week’s fifth installment of the poll.

In addition, Gunnery and Avon Old Farms earned their highest rankings of the season, and 13 other schools received top-10 votes from at least one coach. Teams receive 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for a second-place vote, eight for a third-place vote, etc.

The poll, featuring head coaches from all leagues around the region, will be released on Tuesday afternoons during the season here on hockeyjournal.com.