The 2018-19 season marks a milestone year for the Rice Memorial Prep hockey team, as they enter their 10th season in program history.  After finishing their 9th season with a record of 13-35-3, the Knights have enjoyed early success with a 8-3-0 start to the year, including multiple wins against Bridgton Academy and a decisive victory over a formidable Northwood Prep team.  The Knights are optimistic about the road ahead.  With a strong schedule that includes two New England Prep tournaments at Albany Academy (NY) and St. George’s School (RI), and five MPHL league-play weekends.  Look for the Knights to challenge perennial frontrunners Ridley College and Stanstead College for a top spot in the Bower’s Division this year. 

The Rice Memorial Prep hockey team returns 11 players from last year’s team, led up front by senior Eetu Maki-Soini (Rauma, Finland) who was the team’s leading scorer last season and has posted 7 goals and 3 assists in the team’s first 11 games.  The Knights also return a strong defensive core of seniors including captain Oliver Gignoux (Rutland, VT), Matiss Petrovics (Liepaja, Latvia), Guillaume Sercia (Rosemere, QC), Paulius Macijauskas (Kedainiai, Lithuania) and Ryan Houle (Drummondville, QC).  The Knights will be experienced at the netminder position as well this year with a returning senior tandem of Nico Gamarra (Fort Lauderdale, FL) and Zach Pare (Mascouche, QC) in goal. 

Returning junior forward Mac Miller (Shelburne, VT) brings some offensive firepower to the Knights’ junior class, as newcomers Mason Marcellus (Greely, ON), Julien Blouin (Lorraine, QC) and Frederic Nicolas (St-Jerome, QC) have already combined for 30 points in the Knights’ first 11 games this season.  Look for junior defenseman Henrik Salonsaari (Jyvaskyla, Finland) to play a strong defensive role for the Knights as well. 

Sophomore forwards Zach Woxland (Guilford, CT) and Jaden Brignoni (Boca Raton, FL) will round out the lineup for the Knights upfront while goalie Nick Golis (New Hartford, NY) will compete for time in net. 

Also, new this season is Assistant Coach, Brendan Boyce (St. Albans, VT).  Brendan comes to the Knights having completed his career at Norwich University and St. Paul’s School prior to that.  “Brendan coming in with experience at both the prep and NCAA level is a big bonus, not only for our program but our guys.  Being able to pass on those experiences to our players and the fact that he cares and wants them to be successful is a big plus,” stated Head Coach Dennis Vickers. 

“The MPHL is a great league, and it gets harder and harder every season.  Also, every season is different and I’m sure the season will be full of some ups and downs, but thus far I’m really excited about our group and the potential we have moving forward to be competitive in the MPHL,” Vickers continued.  The Knights look forward to seeing where they stack up when the rest of the MPHL comes to Burlington, VT for the MPHL Kick-Off Nov. 9-11, 2018.