Prep Hockey Coaches Poll: Salisbury sits atop Elite 8 bracket

Salisbury remains the No. 1 team in prep hockey. (Dave Arnold/NYHJ)

With the prep school postseason set to kick off on Wednesday, it is time for the final regular-season edition of New England Hockey Journal’s Prep School Coaches Poll.

Each of the top six clubs finished the regular season without losing last week, including a Salisbury team that is seeded first in the Elite 8 bracket and has had at least a share of the top spot in the NEHJ ranks for all but one week this winter. The Crimson Knights are followed by Kimball Union and Dexter Southfield, in that order, for the second straight week, while Lawrence climbs a spot for the first time in a couple of weeks.

Deerfield has climbed as high as fourth while being ranked in 11 of 12 editions this season. The Big Green enters this week as the No. 1 seed in the NEPSAC Large bracket. Four teams moved up from their positions last week with Exeter returning to the top 10 after a two-week absence.

Tilton, which is the No. 1 team in the Small postseason, is one of seven other teams that received top-10 consideration on at least one ballot. Teams receive 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for a second-place vote, eight for a third-place vote, etc.