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Masconomet Girls Ice Hockey Preview

Last year's record: 5-12-2

Coach: Bill Haines (6th year)

Key returnees: Julia Croyle, Sr., Defense; Hannah Koenig, Jr., Center; Lauren Cerretani, Jr., Defense; Brianna Doyle, Soph., Defense; Danielle Hall, Sr., Forward; Meghan Twomey, Soph., Forward;

Key departures: Fran DeLuca, Catherine Hill, Kaitlin Sullivan, Emily Freeman

Strengths: Team defense should be a strength for the Chieftains with second year captain Julia Croyle headlining a deep group that also includes returnees Lauren Cerretani, Brianna Doyle and Molly Monroe. Newcomers Ellie Koenig and Alyssa Sady will also bolster the backline, which will need to be in top shape as new Masco netminders Stephanie Twomey and Allison McCarthy get their feet wet.

Concerns: Though Danielle Hall, Hannah Koenig and Meghan Twomey are among the area's top forwards, a lack of depth up front and the defense-first mentality needed to protect the young goaltenders could put scoring at a premium again this year. Overall, the Chieftains are very young, sporting 19 underclassmen among their 26 players. That will put the emphasis on basic skills early with an eye on improving as the season progresses.

Coach's outlook: "We won't overpower anybody but if we play smart hockey we'll be OK. We've really slowed down, revamped our routine and committed ourselves to skill development. That will will start kicking in later in the year, especially with a young team, but with the youngsters come a lot of enthausism and positive energy."