Our Crimson Knights

Knights close regular season with 2–1 victory over Deerfield; Slovis scores game-winner with playoffs on deck

In its final tune-up of the 2025–2026 regular season, Salisbury welcomed Deerfield to the Rudd Rink this evening for Senior Night. The matchup marked the second time the programs have faced off this season, the first being a 1–1 draw at the Flood-Marr Tournament on December 20. This time, however, Salisbury found the goal it lacked two months ago, earning a 2–1 victory.

After an uncharacteristic two-game stretch of surrendering the first goal, Salisbury returned to its typical dominance by jumping ahead 1–0 at the 5:32 mark of the first period. Angus Proctor ’27 advanced the puck into the Deerfield zone along the boards before slinging a pass toward the net, allowing Grayson Espenshade ’27 to poke it into the twine. The Enola, PA, native fell to the ice as he made contact with the puck but got just enough on it to beat visiting goaltender Elliot Lennon.

On the other end, sixth-form goalie Jordan Rittenberg looked sharp in net, kicking pucks aside and covering them when necessary. The score held at 1–0 in favor of the Knights entering the first intermission.

Deerfield wasted little time finding the equalizer in the second period. Defenseman Ezra Jones lifted a puck into the air that Matteo Alvarez redirected from above his waist. The sudden deflection left Rittenberg with little chance, tying the game at one apiece just 2:39 into the frame.

A mere 90 seconds later, it appeared Salisbury had regained the lead when assistant captain Avery Tymus ’26 batted a puck past Lennon, but the referees waved it off, ruling that Lennon had already covered the puck. The eruption from the crowd was halted before it even had a chance to build.

The draw carried into the final period of regulation.

And there, with the home crowd as lively as ever, the Knights went ahead once more. This time, it was for good.

Devin Cokinos ’28 played the puck behind Lennon with under seven minutes remaining — purposefully staying out of the goaltender's peripheral vision — and patiently waited for Riley Slovis ’26 to skate by. The fourth former quickly slipped it to his senior teammate, and Slovis rocketed home a one-timer to give his team the advantage. A senior scoring the go-ahead goal on Senior Night. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The Knights came close to adding an empty-netter in the game’s final minutes but couldn’t push one across. Even so, Rittenberg & Co. stayed composed in crunch time and got it done, securing the win.

The victory puts an exclamation point on a stellar regular season for the Knights, who finish with a 23–4–2 record. Those 23 wins are the program’s most since 2021–2022. And what did that group go on to do in the postseason? Oh, only win the New England Championship.

Buckle up. Playoff hockey begins Wednesday, March 4. Details to follow.

Knights avenge loss, top Bearcats 4-2

Just 20 hours removed from a 4-2 loss on home ice, Salisbury made the short trip to Hotchkiss this afternoon for a second-straight clash. The quick turnaround, while grueling, might have been a best-case scenario for the Knights, tying the season series with an identical 4-2 win of their own today.

Much like the first matchup, the Bearcats scored first – something that has proven to be a key to knocking off Salisbury this season. A strong possession in the Knights’ third allowed a Hotchkiss defender to get a wrist shot off, and Ty Higginbotham was able to redirect it out of midair into the twine. Salisbury goaltender Christian Capone ‘28 -- who last started a week ago in the Knights’ 11-3 victory over Trinity-Pawling – made a strong save attempt but came up short.

Luckily, Capone’s teammates had his back. With 6:04 to play in the first period, Grayson Espenshade ‘27 swiped the puck in the Salisbury zone while killing a penalty. He then blazed down the ice – alone – and pocketed it, tying the game at one apiece. The timing to jump the puck, secure it calmly, then out-race all would-be pursuers was truly a thing of beauty.

Then, 134 seconds later, Team Captain and Student Body President Zach Gill ‘26 sniped a wrist shot to the top left corner – giving his team their first lead against the Bearcats in either game.

If only that initial advantage lasted longer than it did.

A mere 13 ticks later, Hotchkiss responded in unreal fashion. A faceoff to Capone’s left put Higginbotham against Salisbury’s Luca Desjardins ‘27. The Bearcat forward choked up on his stick like a standard puck drop, but the moment it hit the ice he blasted a shot on net – whizzing over Capone’s right shoulder and into the goal. It happened so quickly that the players, coaches, and fans—nearly everyone other than Higginbotham—were confused at first.

Those 13 seconds of holding a lead didn’t sit well with Gill and his teammates, though. As the clock dipped under one minute to go in the opening period, the captain blitzed to the front of the net and redirected a shot into the net – putting his team back on top. Salisbury carried the 3-2 advantage into the first intermission.

Salisbury continued to apply pressure to Hotchkiss goaltender Neilan Johnson in the second period, earning a power play just over four minutes in. A prime scoring chance emerged 30 seconds into the man advantage when a Luke Walkauskas ‘26 shot trickled out to Nate Burlock ‘27. The latter tried to nudge the puck across but was narrowly denied, with Johnson covering it to give his team a clean reset.

It was at even strength that the Knights doubled their lead, however, with Elliot Bibeau-Rivard ‘27 firing home a shot from just inside the blue line to beat Johnson at 10:37 in the second. Few were as excited for the score as Assistant Captain Caden Creech ‘26, who rushed to celebrate with his teammate.

The score held entering the final period of regulation.

In the third, Capone built off the strong second frame and stood tall in net. Hotchkiss had several great chances but never pushed one across, keeping the score as is until the final buzzer.

The two games in two days may not be the last time the programs face off this season, either. Following yesterday’s result, Salisbury dropped two spots to No. 3 in the Elite 8 field, while Hotchkiss stayed put at No. 6. In the projected field – which comes out on Sunday – the Knights claim No. 2 and Hotchkiss slips to No. 7. Both of those scenarios would set up a rubber match at the Rudd Rink on Wednesday, March 4. Stay tuned.

Until then, Salisbury closes out the regular season Saturday, February 28, when it hosts Deerfield for Senior Day. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Knights top Avon 6-0 to win seventh straight 

Three days removed from its most lopsided win of the season – an 11-3 drubbing of Trinity-Pawling – Salisbury welcomed Avon Old Farms to the Rudd Rink this afternoon. The game had been touted all week as a postseason preview, with the Winged Beavers firmly in the mix for the Elite 8 Tournament. The Knights, meanwhile, are the projected No. 1 seed in the field. 

And if today is an accurate depiction of what the playoffs will look like for Salisbury, banner No. 7 in the Coach Andrew Will era may be hung in the not-so-distant future. Today’s 6-0 thumping of Avon is the latest example of the Knights’ dominance during their seven-game winning streak, scoring seven a contest and surrendering less than two per game during the stretch. 

Avon controlled the puck for much of the opening minutes of the game, testing Salisbury goaltender Jordan Rittenberg ’26 repeatedly. Much of the early contest was spent in the Knights’ third – something that has not been commonplace this season. 

Despite the heavy pressure from the Winged Beavers, it was Salisbury who broke through first at 7:15 in the period. While Avon was attempting to reset after a play was cut off in the neutral zone, Parker Tumelty ’27 skated in on his opponent and stuck a poke check in using only his left hand. The poke check was timed to perfection, though, as it occurred right when the Winged Beaver skater was crossing in front of goaltender Anthony Palmer. The puck caught Palmer off guard and slid right behind him into the net – giving Salisbury the 1-0 advantage. 

Back on the other end of the ice, Rittenberg continued to play nearly flawless hockey, making a key save on a breakaway right before the midpoint of the period. He also stood strong during several power plays for the visitors. 

The Knights’ appreciation for their goalie was demonstrated promptly in the second period, with Salisbury going ahead 2-0 just 1:19 into the frame. Luke Walkauskas ’26 battled hard on the boards behind Palmer and swiftly found Grayson Espenshade ’27, who rocketed home a one-timer from one knee. A noticeable increase in physicality and chippiness started after the goal. 

It took less than 10 minutes for Espenshade to find the back of the twine once more, capitalizing on a great feed from defenseman Jack Mazzella ’27 to make it 3-0 Salisbury with 7:48 remaining in the period. The Enola, PA, native accepted the puck right in front of Palmer on his forehand, switched to the backhand and pivoted his hips, then flipped it in – all in one motion. 

Rittenberg stayed steady for the rest of the period and into the third, keeping the shutout intact heading into the final frame of regulation. 

Salisbury extended its lead to four with 10:44 remaining, thanks to Luca Desjardins ’27 cashing in on a feed from Elliot Watson ’28. But before the home crowd could even finish celebrating, the Knights doubled up – scoring a fifth 26 seconds later. A deflection off the stick of Espenshade gave the fifth former his third of the day, and with it his second hat trick in the last week (Loomis Chaffee on February 14). 

Sixth former Riley Slovis ’26 capped off the scoring on the day, utilizing a pinpoint-accurate wrist shot to beat Palmer with 2:09 remaining. Even after the sixth goal, the Salisbury student section was as loud as it had been for the first. Each one was worth enjoying. 

Rittenberg closed out the game with a donut between the pipes – his second straight shutout. Salisbury has outscored its opponents 12-0 in his last two starts. 

The victory improves the Knights’ record to 21-3-2 with three games to go. They’ll face Hotchkiss on both Monday and Wednesday this week, with the first being at home. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. 

Knights net season-high 11(!) goals against Pride, win sixth straight

It was only 15 days ago that Salisbury ventured down to Pawling, NY, to take on Trinity-Pawling for the first time this season. The two sides played to a 4-4 draw then — a game in which the Knights held a lead on three separate occasions. Since then, however, a different Salisbury team has existed. One that very well may be the best in New England.

After tonight’s 11-3 thumping, Head Coach Andrew Will’s team has now won six straight, averaging more than seven goals per contest while giving up fewer than two. They’ve outscored their opponents 43-11 during the unprecedented stretch.

Elliott Watson ‘28 scored the game’s first goal, firing home a one-timer behind Trinity-Pawling goaltender Bennett Lisi to put the Knights ahead 1-0 less than five minutes into the first. The shot was so powerful Lisi’s water bottle jumped into the air from atop the net.

T-P had an answer for the initial score — finding the equalizer with a little over two minutes to play in the opening period. Salisbury goaltender Christian Capone ‘28 had looked sharp in net all frame until a low slapshot off the stick of defenseman Zachary Martsching fluttered into the back of the twine.

There were no more equalizers, though.

With 56 seconds to go in the first, heavy traffic in front of the Pride net created a rebound opportunity for Nate Burlock ‘27, and the fifth former from Toronto capitalized, putting Salisbury back on top 2-1. The Knight faithful — many of whom donned Salisbury baseball jackets — erupted at the goal, breathing energy into Rudd Rink.

They weren’t done celebrating, either. A mere 23 ticks later, Grayson Espenshade ‘27 played a pass from Quinnipiac commit Tyler Roccas ‘26 off his skate and flipped a wrist shot on net — beating Lisi once more. The two-goal margin — something Salisbury never had on February 2 — held entering the first intermission.

Even when playing shorthanded, Salisbury was dominating. The Pride were awarded a power play early in the second period and hoped to use it as a momentum starter. No sale.

Zach Gill ‘26 pursued a puck just past the blue line in the Knights’ third and looked up ice right before he reached it, locating a streaking Walkauskas on the other end. The team captain rifled a pass to his fellow sixth former, and Walkauskas did the rest himself — making it 4-1 at 2:10 in the period.

A second penalty on the Knights was called shortly after the shortie, and on that one, T-P took advantage — beating Capone to make it a two-score game once more.

But like clockwork, Salisbury made it 5-2 with 10 minutes remaining in the second. A sloppy turnover in the T-P zone gave Walkauskas and Espenshade a 2-on-1 against Lisi, and after the sixth former tapped a backhanded pass to Espenshade, the Enola, PA, native faked both a forehand and backhand before going five-hole — for the fifth goal, of course — on the Pride goalie.

The margin ballooned to not just four, but also five, in the 15th minute of the frame. First, it was assistant captain Avery Tymus ‘26 pocketing one off a feed from Landon Klein ‘27 to make it 6-2. And then, 30 seconds later, fellow assistant captain Caden Creech ‘26 stepped in front of a Pride pass in the T-P zone and made a last-second feed to Angus Proctor ‘27, who fired it into the twine — giving Salisbury a 7-2 advantage.

In the third, the Knights did not take their foot off the gas. Even remotely. Salisbury netted three more goals within the first three minutes of the final period of regulation.

Watson notched his second of the day 110 seconds into the period after an initial shot by Proctor generated a rebound opportunity. Gill then joined in on the fun with a slapshot 20 seconds later, and Devin Cokinos ‘28 brought the scoring to double digits at 2:45 in the frame.

On the other end of the ice, though quiet, goaltender Vaughn McAuliffe '27 made several saves to keep the home crowd happy. He allowed one through a little more than midway through the period.

Riley Slovis ‘26 capped off the day with 3:15 to play by redirecting a Roccas shot into the net, tying a nice bow on the dominant win.

The victory improves Salisbury’s record to a stellar 20-3-2 and keeps momentum at an all-time high as a critical matchup with Avon Old Farms on Saturday, February 21, awaits. The Winged Beavers, boasting a strong 14-6-1 record of their own, are also projected to be in the playoff field. The game should be one for the books. Puck drop is 3 p.m.

Knights dominate Brunswick, pick up second shutout of season in 6-0 thumping 

Two days after appearing at the No. 1 spot in this week’s U.S. Hockey Report Prep Rankings, Salisbury showed why it deserved the distinction — shutting out a strong Brunswick team en route to a 6-0 victory. Head Coach Andrew Will’s team outshot its opponents 38-19 in the contest. 

The Knights grabbed their standard 1-0 lead at the 8:15 mark of the opening period, with Sebastian Ball '27 positioned perfectly to tap in a feed that came from behind the net. The speed at which the sequence developed left Brunswick goaltender Evan Akerman with little he could do — something that was also the case on Salisbury’s second goal of the day. 

With 5:15 to play in the first, Salisbury passed the puck to both sides of the ice before a deflection on Akerman’s right caught the goalie leaning. This slight miscalculation created a wide-open net for Grayson Espenshade ‘27, who emphatically pocketed it into the twine, giving the Knights a 2-0 advantage. The score held entering the first intermission. 

In the middle frame, Brunswick started to apply legitimate pressure on Salisbury goaltender Jordan Rittenberg ‘26. It took several highlight-reel saves to keep the Bruins off the board, but the sixth former found a way. There were also multiple instances in which Brunswick couldn’t capitalize on key opportunities. One of these occurred six minutes into the period when Rittenberg was slightly out of position and fell to the ground while a Bruin forward skated in on him. Thankfully, though, the home team launched the puck over the net — preserving the shutout. 

Salisbury showed its appreciation for its goalie with 3:42 to go in the period, extending the lead to 3-0. Luca Desjardins ‘27 won a face-off to Akerman’s right and sent the puck to defenseman Michael Halvorsen ‘27, who fired it into the boards behind the net. Desjardins recovered the shot-like pass and acted promptly — sliding it to a wide-open Landon Klein ‘27, who punched it home. 

Salisbury continued its stellar play in the third, pushing the margin to four at the 10:06 mark of the period. Espenshade skated in on Akerman’s right and patiently waited for the correct moment to send a cross-ice pass to Ball — toying with the goalie’s eyes throughout. Eventually, the Enola, PA, native saw his chance, took it, and Ball cashed in to make it 4-0. 

The Knights were awarded a power play with 5:12 remaining and, to the surprise of few, capitalized. Nate Burlock ‘27 was in the ideal place to tap in a rebound with four ticks to go on the man advantage, pushing it to 5-0. 

The sixth — and final — goal of the day occurred with under two minutes remaining. Desjardins gathered the puck behind Akerman and utilized a nifty backhanded pass to get it to Klein, who rifled home a one-timer without hesitation. Celebrations were quite minimal following the goal, as expected. 

The win improves Salisbury’s record to 19-3-2 on the season, with a chance to capture win No. 20 tomorrow, February 19, against Trinity-Pawling. Puck drop at Rudd Rink is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. 

Espenshade notches hat trick, Knights top Loomis 5-1

Donning alternate black and neon green jerseys as part of its Hidden Opponent Mental Health Awareness Games — a cause supporting student-athlete mental health — Loomis Chaffee hosted Salisbury this evening. The uniforms not only looked excellent opposite the visiting Knights’ whites, but what they represented made them that much classier.

The initiative also seemed to inspire the Pelicans, who punched above their weight class throughout. The difference in record — Loomis entered at 6-9-3 and Salisbury at 17-3-2 — meant little to the home team, which trailed by just one until the game’s final six minutes.

As has become tradition at this point in the season, Salisbury grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period. While this one took a little longer than usual — just over 10 minutes into the frame — it still put the Knights ahead. Luke Walkauskas ‘26 first played the puck along the boards before passing it out to a teammate positioned just inside the blue line. A powerful shot on Loomis goaltender Markus Weber was initially saved, but a rebound trickled out to a streaking Grayson Espenshade ‘27, who tapped the puck in for the easy score.

Salisbury maintained control until 4:16 remaining in the period, when the Pelicans evened the score, beating Knights goalie Christian Capone ‘28. The Loomis Girls Varsity Hockey Team — lining the glass in their matching jerseys — erupted after the goal, adding to an already excellent atmosphere.

The game remained tied until 3:57 into the second period, when Walkauskas found a wide-open Avery Tymus ‘26 to make it 2-1. The assistant captain patiently waited before rifling a left-handed wrister that glanced off the post and into the twine. Weber struggled to locate the puck once it left Tymus’ stick, as heavy traffic crowded the crease.

Capone settled in nicely in the period, communicating effectively with his defense to maintain the 2-1 advantage entering the final frame.

In the third, Salisbury doubled its lead with 5:35 remaining thanks to an unsuspecting participant: the referee. Defenseman Tyler Roccas ‘26 carried the puck through the neutral zone and attempted to dump it into the Loomis zone, but it inadvertently hit the referee’s arm and dropped to the feet of a speeding Espenshade. The forward did the rest himself, beating Weber in a close-range 1-on-1 to make it 3-1.

The Knights got their fourth of the night less than two minutes later, with Luca Desjardins ‘27 tapping in a rebound off an initial Elliot Bibeau Rivard ‘27 shot. Suddenly — in no more than 120 seconds — a nail-biter had become stress-free.

The official sigh of relief came with 54 ticks to play, as Espenshade found the back of the empty net to make it 5-1. The goal also served as his third of the night, giving him the coveted hat trick.

The win improves Salisbury’s record to 18-3-2 and keeps the Knights firmly in the running for the No. 1 seed in the Elite 8 Tournament. Next up is a trip to Greenwich, CT, to take on Brunswick. Puck drop is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, at 5 p.m.

Knights score 6-plus for third straight game, top Taft 7-3 

Three games, 21 goals, no losses. That’s how good Salisbury hockey has been since a tie against Trinity-Pawling followed a loss to Berkshire last week. Tonight’s 7-3 drubbing of Taft came on the heels of an 8-0 thumping of Lawrenceville Academy on Sunday—with the Knights showing no signs of slowing down. 

Salisbury kept up its tradition of starting fast—grabbing a 1-0 lead at 3:15 in the opening period. Angus Proctor ‘27 snagged the puck out of mid-air in the neutral zone, dropped it to his stick, then passed it along the boards to himself as he moved in on Taft goaltender Charlie Rodrigue. The fifth former then drew closer on Rodrigue’s right before pocketing the puck into the top-right corner, giving the Knights an early advantage. 

The Rhinos were able to get the initial goal back with 5:38 to play in the period after a Salisbury penalty gave the visitors a power play. Taft’s Jason Rothstein received a feed from his teammate and skated to his left, drawing Knights goalie Jordan Rittenberg ‘26 slightly out of the net. Rothstein used this newly created space wisely—rifling home a pinpoint-accurate wrist shot to the upper right corner, tying the game at one apiece. 

Luckily for Rittenberg, the Knights just so happen to be one of the most potent offensive attacks in prep hockey this season. They almost always have their goalie’s back. 

Salisbury regained the lead less than a minute after the Rhinos’ equalizer, thanks to a beautiful play by Landon Klein ‘27. The forward from Venetia, PA, leaked through the Taft defense in the neutral zone and received a great feed just before crossing the blue line, giving him a 1-on-1 with Rodrigue. Advantage: Klein. 

The Knights then made it 3-1 at 17:55 in the opening frame, with Devin Cokinos ‘28 capitalizing on a beautiful backhanded pass from Parker Tumelty ‘27. The fourth former found a soft spot in the Rhinos defense and sprinted toward the net, allowing him to simply tap in the Tumelty set-up. 

Salisbury continued to apply pressure in the Taft zone in the second period, highlighted by several great chances generated by Riley Slovis ‘26. The sixth former handled the puck excellently on multiple possessions to give his team an opportunity to make it 4-1, but nothing materialized. 

That was until Nate Burlock ‘27 handled the puck behind the net and slid it to a streaking Dakota Downs ‘28 with 3:32 to go in the frame. Downs dropped nearly to his knees to get the necessary lift on the puck to beat Rodrigue—and he did, extending Salisbury’s lead. 

Taft got one back at 2:32 in the final period, with Joe Gannon beating Rittenberg from close range. 

The 4-2 score didn’t last long, however, as Burlock scored a goal of his own with just under 10 minutes remaining after redirecting a one-timer by Luke Walkauskas ‘26 into the back of the twine. Walkauskas was set up for his initial shot by team captain Zach Gill ‘26. 

The lead ballooned to 6-2 shortly after, courtesy of Proctor’s second goal of the day. The fifth former was in perfect position to tap in a rebound off a Tyler Roccas ‘26 shot from the point. 

And though Taft’s Dylan Chery cut it back down to 6-3 with 3:12 to play, an empty-netter by Grayson Espenshade ‘27 made it 7-3 and, with it, put the game on ice. 

The victory propels Salisbury to a stellar 17-3-2 record this season as the home stretch approaches. Next up is a trip to Loomis Chaffee for a game against the Pelicans on Saturday, February 14. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. 

Line of Bibeau-Rivard, Espenshade, Walkauskas accounts for three goals, Knights roll past Frederick Gunn

Salisbury entered tonight’s game against Frederick Gunn atop the New England Prep Hockey standings, boasting an incredible 12-1-1 record. And after this evening’s 4-1 victory over the Highlanders, Coach Will’s team isn’t falling off its throne.

Salisbury wasted no time—well, six seconds to be precise—grabbing a 1-0 lead in the first period. Luca Desjardins ’27 won the game’s opening faceoff, giving the Knights quick possession. A setup pass by Zach Gill ’26 found a streaking Landon Klein ’27 at the blue line, who dumped it behind for Angus Proctor ’27. Proctor then rifled home a snappy wrist shot right into the twine, beating Frederick Gunn goaltender Alex Schnarr to put Salisbury ahead 1-0 (very) early on.

The initial lightning strike was the only such instance for the Knights in the remainder of the frame; however, a Highlander goal with 12:34 remaining tied the game at one apiece entering the intermission.

Salisbury regained its lead in the second, largely due to stellar goaltending from Christian Capone ’28. The fourth former settled in nicely following the equalizer in the first, shutting out the Highlanders the rest of the way. The offensive attack showed its appreciation for the goalie’s efforts with 6:01 to play in the period. Elliot Bibeau-Rivard ’27 managed to find a hidden Avery Tymus ’26 on the opposite side of the ice, completely flipping the game. This key pass caught Schnarr out of position, giving Luke Walkauskas ’26 a prime scoring opportunity, and, as he has done so many times this season, the sixth former cashed in.

In the third, Salisbury added two more goals, putting the game out of reach. The first came off the stick of Grayson Espenshade '27, integral linemate of Bibeau-Rivard and Walkauskas. He was assisted by the latter on this one, tucking the puck tightly behind Schnarr to make it 3-1 Knights. As for the fourth of the day, Bibeau-Rivard made an absolute beauty of a play, nearly bringing a Frederick Gunn defender to his knees with his stickhandling before pocketing the puck with 3:32 remaining.

As chippiness arose in the game’s final minutes, Capone & Co. remained collected, securing the 4-1 triumph.

The win brings Salisbury’s league record to 13-1-1, with a matchup against a highly talented Berkshire team next on the docket. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, at the Rudd Rink.

Knights pull off more third-period heroics, beat Choate 2-1

Two games, two third-period deficits, two wins. Just how you draw it up.

Fresh off a thrilling come-from-behind 7-5 triumph against Westminster on Saturday, Salisbury visited Choate Rosemary Hall this evening looking to make it six straight wins against league opponents. And despite facing a 1-0 deficit entering the final period of regulation, the Knights rallied once more, topping the Wild Boars 2-1.

The two sides played an even contest for most of the opening minutes, with Salisbury’s first line generating several chances. The trio of Luke Walkauskas ’26, Elliot Bibeau-Rivard ’27, and Grayson Espenshade ’27 has been among the most productive in New England this season, and they regularly tested Choate goaltender Jacob Saldanha early.

On the other end of the ice, Christian Capone ’28 got the start between the pipes and made several solid saves. The fourth former and fellow goalie Jordan Rittenberg ’26 have both been excellent all season, allowing an impressive 2.17 goals against in 12 league games entering tonight—good enough for sixth in prep hockey (minimum 10 games played).

Physicality increased for both sides as the first period wore on, highlighted by countless big hits from Quinnipiac commit Tyler Roccas ’26. The defenseman helped generate numerous scoring chances as well, but despite his strong play, the game remained scoreless entering the first intermission.

The tight, physical play continued in the second, with Choate ultimately generating a power-play opportunity a little less than five minutes into the frame. Salisbury did well for the first half of the penalty kill, clearing the puck efficiently, but a turnover in the neutral zone gave the Wild Boars a golden opportunity in transition. The home team made quick work of the chance, sneaking it past Capone to take a 1-0 advantage with 12:04 to go in the period. A second man-advantage opportunity for Choate developed a few minutes later, but this time Coach Will’s team stood strong, limiting the Wild Boars’ chances.

The remainder of the second period went by quietly, with neither team able to distance itself.

Penalties by both teams—ironically Choate’s Keenan Hauser and Salisbury’s Bibeau-Rivard, No. 27 for each side—created a four-on-four game midway through the period. The Knights gained their No. 27 back slightly before Choate, and simultaneously, the home team committed a second penalty, leading to a man advantage for Salisbury. And just like their opponents did earlier, the Knights cashed in, with Assistant Captain Avery Tymus ’26 netting the equalizer with 7:54 remaining.

A tie wasn't the end-goal for Salisbury, though. For simply tying a game is not the standard for the Knights.

Winning is.

It took Salisbury exactly one additional minute to grab its first lead of the contest—an advantage it never surrendered. Jack Mazzella ’27 dodged a would-be Choate defender just inside the blue line, showcased his magnificent stickhandling as he skated to his left, then ripped a bullet into the top-right corner of the twine, beating Saldanha to give Salisbury a 2-1 lead.

Some late-game frantic 6-on-5 hockey ensued in the final minutes when Choate pulled Saldanha, but Capone & Co. held firm, securing the victory.

The win brings Salisbury to a stellar 11-1-1 record in league play this season. Mind you, the loss and draw came at the Flood-Marr Tournament on consecutive days on neutral ice. Next up: a home contest against Trinity-Pawling on Wednesday, January 21. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.

Knights score seven goals against Stanstead in dominant showing

What’s better than Friday night hockey? Friday night hockey with no study hall, of course. That’s what Salisbury enjoyed this evening, taking full advantage of the first “real Friday night” of the winter trimester in a 7-2 thumping over Quebec’s Stanstead College.

Salisbury opened play with a clear intention: put the puck on net. The strategy has worked wonders for teams against the Spartans this season, with Stanstead allowing over 4.4 goals per game in its losses entering tonight.

And to the delight of a packed Rudd Rink, the tactic paid dividends midway through the first period (and all game). A deflection off a Stanstead defenseman—set up by a pass from Luke Walkauskas ‘26—slid right to the stick of Elliot Bibeau-Rivard ‘27, and the Canadian fifth former rifled the puck home, putting the Knights ahead 1-0 early. A roar erupted from the Salisbury student section, prompting the five home team skaters to celebrate by crashing into the boards below their classmates.

At the other end of the ice, fourth form goaltender Christian Capone ‘28 stood strong in net—shutting out the Spartans for the first frame.

In the second, Salisbury doubled its lead with urgency—grabbing a 2-0 advantage just 38 ticks into the period. Team Captain Zach Gill ‘26 located a free Luca Desjardins ‘27, who found a soft spot in the Stanstead defense. And although Spartans goalie Renaud Auger-Mongrain made the first save, the rebound greatly took him out of position, allowing Desjardins to pass the puck to an open Landon Klein ‘27, who buried it.

Stanstead was able to get one by Capone following the Knights’ second of the day, but like clockwork, Salisbury responded.

A takeaway by Grayson Espenshade ‘27 set up the fifth former for a breakaway chance against Auger-Mongrain, and similarly to the Klein goal, the Stanstead netminder could keep the first shot out—but not the second. After the first attempt gleamed off the post, a streaking Walkauskas arrived for clean-up duty and found the back of the twine with 13:20 to play in the period.

When a power play was awarded to Salisbury as the clock drifted under five minutes remaining, it felt inevitable that a fourth goal would be in the near future. Only a minute was needed for the concept to come to fruition, with Desjardins ripping a beautiful wrist shot behind Auger-Mongrain after he recovered the puck from the boards. The goal made it 4-1 entering the final period of regulation.

Just one man-up score wasn’t enough for the Knights, however. A great feed by Devin Cokinos ‘28 to Nate Burlock ‘27 was capitalized on by the fifth former with a brilliant, backhanded goal right next to the near post five and a half minutes into the frame.

Stanstead got a power-play goal of its own later in the period, trimming the deficit to 5-2, but Salisbury only needed a minute to get it right back. Riley Slovis ‘26 carried the puck in on Auger-Mongrain and patiently waited before dishing it to Angus Proctor ‘27, who went top shelf to make it 6-2 “good guys.”

The Knights added one more as chippiness increased in the game’s closing minutes, with Jack Mazzella ‘27 sending a no-look pass to Walkauskas. The Pittsburgh, PA, native blasted a one-timer into the back of the net—capping off the scoring.

The win brings Salisbury to 10-1-1 on the season, with a chance to pick up a win No. 11 tomorrow against Westminster. Start time is 2:45 p.m. at the Rudd Rink.

Knights score two in first, top Cushing 3–2

Three days of play against some of the nation’s best prep teams, two full days of class (plus a half day), and a quick three-hour bus ride to Ashburnham, MA, today. That’s what Head Coach Andrew Will’s team has endured in the last six days. Those action-packed six days may cause problems for other teams, but Salisbury clearly is not like its opponents—enjoying a 3–2 triumph over Cushing this evening, improving its record to a stellar 9–1–1.

The Knights started hot in their return to league play (Sunday’s GameSheet Cup Final was against Indiana’s Culver Academy), grabbing a 1–0 advantage a mere 78 seconds into the contest. Nate Burlock ‘27 fired an initial shot on goal shortly after passing the blue line, with Cushing goaltender Harper Hubbard kicking the puck back into play. The sliding puck trickled right in front of a speeding Riley Slovis '26, though, who wasted little time firing home the one-timer, putting Salisbury ahead.

After a very strong penalty kill for the Knights, a second goal came in transition—doubling the lead. The play began in the Salisbury third when defenseman Jack Mazzella ‘27 recovered the puck from a Penguins player and quickly found a streaking Grayson Espenshade ‘27 between the blue lines. Espenshade then skated in on Hubbard before dumping it off to Elliott Bibeau-Rivard ‘27. The fifth former from Boucherville, QC, then promptly found the back of the twine, making it 2–0 Salisbury just over midway through the first.

Despite several minutes of special-teams play in the period—on both power plays for Cushing and 4-on-4 situations—Salisbury goaltender Jordan Rittenberg ‘26 stood strong, denying the home team any goals. He communicated excellently with his defensemen, helping to maintain the lead at 2–0 heading into the first intermission.

In the second, Salisbury continued its dominant ways, imposing its physicality at both ends of the ice while simultaneously skating with grace. A third goal of the game came with 11:27 to go in the second, set up by Espenshade once more. The fifth former brought the puck up in the neutral zone before passing it off to Bibeau-Rivard, who advanced it toward Hubbard. From there, Bibeau-Rivard found an open Luke Walkauskas ‘26, who pocketed it—making it 3–0 Knights.

Rittenberg remained composed throughout the period, keeping it at 3–0 entering the third.

Early in the final period of regulation, however, the home team was able to sneak one past Rittenberg, cutting the score to 3–1. They got a second back with just over three minutes remaining, leaving the margin at just one entering the final stretch.

Rittenberg & Co. were not interested in a fairy-tale comeback, though.

The sixth former tightened up in net, promptly covering the puck when accessible and punching it to the boards if it popped up in the air on him. Excellent forechecking in the corners helped kill time when Cushing pulled Hubbard as well, securing the victory.

The win made for a happy 130 miles back to the Hilltop. The Knights will aim to win once more on Friday, January 16, when they host Stanstead College. Puck drop is 6 p.m.

Knights win OT thriller to reach GameSheet Cup Finals

Down 0–2 less than 10 minutes into the game, Salisbury showed everything it is made of in its grittiest win of the season today — topping an excellent Frederick Gunn team in overtime to advance to the GameSheet Cup Finals.

The Highlanders wasted little time jumping ahead, sneaking two pucks behind Knights goaltender Christian Capone ’28 to grab a 2–0 advantage a little over midway through the first period. It seemed the shutout would continue into the second, but a last-minute goal by Luca Desjardins ’27 cut the margin in half. The fifth former from Mascouche, QC, was set up for the score by assistant captain Avery Tymus ’26.

That one-goal game didn’t last long, however, as Frederick Gunn efficiently netted its third goal of the day a little over 90 seconds into the period to grab a 3–1 lead.

But just like the first multi-goal margin, Salisbury chipped away — with Riley Slovis ’26 beating Frederick Gunn goalie Alex Schnarr to make it 2–3 early in the second. Slovis was assisted by Zach Gill ’26 and Nate Burlock ’27 on the play.

In the third, Capone and his defense unit settled in nicely — keeping the Highlanders out of the net to allow his team a chance to complete the comeback.

And that they did.

First came the game-tying goal at the 6:30 mark of the period, with Elliott Watson ’28 finding the back of the twine off an assist from Elliott Bibeau-Rivard ’27. Then, in overtime, assistant captain Caden Creech ’26 called game — giving Salisbury a 4–3 triumph. The Princeton lacrosse commit was set up by Tyler Roccas ’26 on the winner.

The victory sets up the Knights for a championship tilt against Culver Academy tomorrow, January 11, with an opportunity to hoist the GameSheet Cup. Puck drop is at 12 p.m. Follow along here.

Knights top South Kent in first round of GameSheet Cup 

Salisbury opened play in the GameSheet Cup against South Kent this morning, topping the fellow all-boys school by a score of 7-3.

The GameSheet Cup, established in 2020, is an annual tournament that features some of the best prep hockey in North America. This year, it is being played at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Despite a long drive up to New Hampshire from the northwest corner of Connecticut, the Knights came out hungry—grabbing a 2-0 lead after the first period. Luca Desjardins ’27 netted the first goal of the day for Salisbury off a feed from Landon Klein ’27 and Angus Proctor ’27. Defenseman Elliott Watson ’28 followed up the opening score eight minutes later, finding the twine thanks to passes from Elliot Bibeau-Rivard ’27 and Grayson Espenshade ’27.

In the second frame, South Kent was able to get one by Knights goaltender Jordan Rittenberg ’26, making it 2-1. Salisbury responded, however, with Bibeau-Rivard finding Luke Walkauskas ’26 to extend the margin back to two. A prompt Cardinal response on the other end cut the score to 3-2 entering the final period of regulation.

The game tilted heavily in Salisbury’s favor in the third, with the team netting four goals in a 13-minute time span. A Parker Tumelty ’27 score made it 4-2 quickly in the period, with Devin Cokinos ’28 and Klein both assisting on the play. Soon after, Walkauskas captured his second goal of the day, pushing it to 5-2. And while a South Kent goal midway through the frame halted the momentum, the Knights pulled away in the end.

Following a pass from Proctor, Klein notched a goal of his own, capping off a three-point day for the fifth former. Sabastian Ball ’27 joined the scoring party in the final minutes of the game off a feed from team captain Zach Gill ’26, bringing it to the game’s final score, 7-3.

The victory sets Salisbury up for a semifinal-round clash with Frederick Gunn on Saturday, January 10. Puck drop is set for 2:30 p.m. Follow along here.

Knights dominant once more, top Canterbury 4–1 to stay unbeaten 

At nearly every prep hockey game, you’ll find two consistencies: a high level of play and niche, relatively unknown connections between opposing teams. Today, in Salisbury’s matchup against Canterbury, both were certainly present. 

The two teams entered with identical perfect records of 4–0–0, and the latter was demonstrated between Knights Assistant Coach Kurt Colling and Canterbury Associate Coach Andrey Uryadov. The two were teammates on the ice at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute nearly two decades ago. 

This afternoon, it was Colling who had the upper hand on his former college mate, with the Knights winning 4–1. 

Salisbury started fast, holding the puck in the Canterbury zone for much of the opening minutes of the contest. It was in transition, however, that Landon Klein ’27 scored the first goal of the day—giving the Knights a 1–0 advantage less than five minutes in. The fifth former patiently waited at the blue line before attacking the net and was in perfect position to drive the puck home past Saints goaltender Cody Hew. 

On the other end of the ice, fourth-form goalie Christian Capone ’28 came ready to play—making solid saves and communicating with his defense efficiently. The score sat at 1–0 when the first intermission arrived. 

The second period saw special teams become a major aspect of the game, with both teams being penalized multiple times. This notable change in play greatly benefited the Knights, as Elliott Watson ’28 was able to fire home a one-timer off a feed from team captain Zach Gill ’26 while on a 4-on-3 advantage. The goal put Salisbury ahead 2–0 just over midway through the period. 

The Saints were able to get one back as the clock neared the second intermission, with the skater using a magnificent wrist shot to beat Capone, making it 2–1 at the break. 

Chippiness and physicality increased in the third, evident following Salisbury’s third goal of the day—this one by Nate Burlock ’27. The 6’2” Toronto, ON, native pocketed the puck without much trouble before absorbing a big hit by the Canterbury defense, causing some extracurricular activity to burgeon. Even so, the goal counted, and Salisbury held a 3–1 lead a few minutes into the final period. 

The Knights pushed their lead to 4–1 later in the frame, with Watson pocketing his second of the day. Much like his first tally, the fourth former ripped a one-timer into the twine, leaving Hew very little time to react. Capone & Co. held firm the rest of the way, putting the game on ice. 

The win keeps the good times rolling for Salisbury, as they’ve now reached 5–0–0 heading into the Flood-Marr Tournament. Their first game in the holiday classic will be against Andover on Friday, December 19. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be played at Milton Academy. 

Knights top Kent to improve to 4-0-0 

As Salisbury warmed up on the basketball court at the Flood Athletic Center this evening, Assistant Captain Avery Tymus ’26—by no means a “hooper”—lined up for a straightaway three. The result? Nothing but net. 

Unbeknownst to him, the make was a sign of things to come for Tymus’ group, as the Knights rode a four-goal second period to a 5-3 victory over Kent. 

Salisbury dominated the opening minutes of the contest, peppering Lions goaltender Donovan Dunlay with shots for the first five minutes. The aggressive attack quickly paid dividends for the Knights, as a Grayson Espenshade ’27 shot rebounded out to an uncovered Luke Walkauskas ’26 with 12:47 remaining in the period. The Pittsburgh, PA, native calmly tapped the puck in with his backhand, giving Salisbury a 1-0 advantage. The early goal adequately showcased why the Knights entered Saturday scoring the second-most goals per game in prep hockey (six). 

Salisbury continued to possess the puck for much of the frame following the goal, and it wasn’t until a turnover in the Knights’ zone nearly 11 minutes in allowed Kent to tie the game at one apiece. Lions forward Jake Broderick—the team’s leading goal scorer this season—wasted little time recovering the errant pass and fired home a goal to the top-left corner, beating Salisbury’s Jordan Rittenberg ’26. 

Kent was able to generate some more pressure following the equalizer, making the game much more competitive when the first intermission arrived. 

Chances came for both sides early in the second, but just like in the opening period, it was Salisbury who scored the first goal of the frame. Elliott Bibeau-Rivard ’27 received a feed from Angus Proctor ’27 in transition, leaving him in a 1-on-1 with Dunlay. And while the netminder was able to deflect the initial left-handed wrist shot, it was the Canadian forward who got the last laugh, recovering his own rebound and flicking a backhander into the twine to put Salisbury ahead 2-1, 4:22 into the second. Fifth former Luca Desjardins ’27 was excellent on the shift as well, battling on the boards and freeing up multiple scoring opportunities. 

Salisbury doubled its lead seconds after the midpoint of the period, thanks to a close-range goal by Assistant Captain Caden Creech ’26. The Princeton lacrosse commit started the play back in the Knights’ third, jarring the puck free on a big hit along the boards. He then efficiently found Riley Slovis ’26 on the other side of the rink in the neutral zone, who dished it back to the initial side to a streaking Nate Burlock ’27. Burlock moved in on Cooper Ranawat—who minutes prior had replaced an injured Dunlay—and sent a shot flying over the net. He smoothly collected the puck in Ranawat’s blind spot, however, and slid it to Creech, who tapped it in. 

The 3-1 lead didn’t last long, as less than a minute later Walkauskas found the twine once more, making it 4-1 Knights. Similarly to his first goal, the sixth former recovered an Espenshade shot and performed a simple tap-in on the open net to extend his team’s lead. 

It seemed only right that Espenshade inevitably got a goal of his own—and right on cue with just over a minute to play in the second, Walkauskas found him. The fifth former from Enola, PA, had a marvelous redirection into the net, pushing Salisbury’s lead to 5-1. Landon Klein ’27, hailing from Venetia, PA, could be called the initial play creator, as he found Walkauskas a little past the blue line to help set up the goal. 

Must be something about those Pennsylvanian hockey players. 

In the third, Kent was able to trim the lead to 5-3, scoring both goals less than two minutes apart. The late push meant little, though, as Rittenberg’s defense settled in for the closing minutes and secured the victory. 

Salisbury will look to reach an impressive 5-0-0 on Wednesday, December 17, when they visit Canterbury. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. 

Knights top Millbrook 5–2 in home opener 

Salisbury welcomed Millbrook to the Rudd Rink this evening for the Knights’ first home game of the season. In front of a lively student section — and crowd as a whole — Head Coach Andrew Will’s team looked to improve to 3–0–0 in league play. And while the Mustangs made things interesting for a bit in the third, Salisbury pulled away for a 5–2 triumph. 

The Knights started fast — like they have done repeatedly this young season — and came within inches of a goal on multiple occasions early. The biggest opportunity came for team captain Zach Gill ’26, who, following a scamper in front of the net, had a prime chance to find the back of the twine. The sixth former couldn’t get his stick in the right place, though, and the puck drifted wide, keeping the score deadlocked at zero. 

That 0–0 affair didn’t last long following the Gill opportunity, however. After a bone-crushing hit in the neutral zone jarred the puck free, Elliot Bibeau-Rivard ’27 recovered it and skated in on Millbrook goalie Andre Moawad’s right side. The fifth former from Boucherville, QC, rifled the puck home — finding the back of the net with 5:40 to play in the opening period. The score sat at 1–0 home team at the first intermission. 

In the second, Salisbury’s defense stepped up time and time again — alongside goaltender Christian Capone ’28. The unit kicked aside breakaways, saw through traffic with a cool demeanor, and communicated excellently. 

The offense rewarded Capone’s stellar play with a second goal, this one by Luca Desjardins ’27 off a feed from Bibeau-Rivard. A third came a little less than six minutes later, with assistant captain Avery Tymus ’26 pocketing it just over halfway through the frame. Tymus located a bouncing puck that had initially been shot by Nate Burlock ’27 — making Moawad’s life particularly difficult. 

Despite the strong all-around play, the Mustangs were able to get one back during a 4-on-4 — cutting the lead to 3–1 Salisbury entering the second intermission. 

Millbrook didn’t go away quietly in the third, either, beating Capone on a deflection to shrink the margin to 3–2 less than a minute into the period. 

But as they did earlier in the contest, Salisbury returned to its scoring ways — doubling its lead with 5:30 remaining in the contest. Luke Walkauskas ’26 was the goal-scorer — and it was a thing of beauty. The Pittsburgh, PA, native caught the puck in mid-air while skating in on Moawad, dropped it to the ice, weaved through traffic, then whipped a backhander home to make it 4–2 Knights. 

Salisbury relieved even more pressure from Capone & Co. two minutes later, as Elliott Watson ’28 beat Moawad on the blocker side — giving the Knights a 5–2 advantage. That wound up being the final. 

Knights strike for three in the second, cruise to 5–1 win 

Salisbury visited Taft this evening, looking to continue their recent strong play against the Rhinos. The Knights entered the contest having gone 5-1-1 against their intra-state foe since 2022, and after tonight’s commanding 5-1 victory, that record has improved. 

Salisbury controlled the puck in the Taft third for much of the opening period, helping to create countless scoring chances against Rhinos goaltender Hunter Dryden. And though Dryden and his defense were able to push the opportunities aside for the first half of the period, a power play opportunity proved to be too much for him. Just 36 seconds into the man-up advantage for Salisbury, team captain Zach Gill ‘26 fired home a one-timer into the bottom left of the twine – putting the Knights ahead 1-0 with 12:17 to play in the frame. 

Taft was able to generate a little more pressure following the initial goal, but Knights goaltender Jordan Rittenberg ‘26 had an answer for each shot attempt early on. Angus Proctor ‘27 showed his appreciation for his goalie’s strong start, tapping home a close-range goal off a backhanded feed from Tyler Roccas ‘26. The score made it 2-0 visitors with 3:29 remaining in the first. 

A breakaway for the Rhinos developed with under a minute to go in the period, but Rittenberg prevailed – staying calm and collected in the net and poking the puck aside. The score held at 2-0 entering the second. 

The Knights wasted little time extending their lead in the second period, with Nate Burlock ‘27 finding the puck to Dryden’s left following a faceoff in the Rhino end. The fifth former from Toronto, ON, quickly found Devin Cokinos ‘28, who buried the puck a mere 22 seconds into the frame. 

Multiple strong chances for Taft developed midway through the period. First came a breakaway opportunity that Rittenberg narrowly got his right shoulder pad on, causing the puck to deflect off the crossbar. Then, less than a minute later, the Rhinos had a 3-on-1 break with only Jack Mazella ‘27 back on defense. The 5’11”, 170-pound defenseman was able to cut off a key setup pass between the Taft forwards, though – denying their chance to score. 

Despite the stellar play from Rittenberg and the defensive unit as a whole, the home team was eventually able to pocket one on a power play opportunity. The special teams goal made it 3-1 with 3:52 to play in the second. 

That margin of two didn’t last long, however, as a goal in transition by Landon Klein ‘27 pushed the score to 4-1 less than two minutes after the Rhinos’ goal. Klein carried the puck to the blue line before sliding a backhand pass over to Grayson Espenshade ‘27, who skated in on Dryden’s left before slinging it back to Klein, who capitalized on the easy tap-in. 

Salisbury was awarded a power play following a skirmish after the goal, and like clockwork, they made the most of their chances. Luke Walkauskas ‘26 slapped his stick on the ice – signifying he wanted the puck – and Elliott Watson ‘28 urgently found the sixth former. The Pittsburgh, PA, native rocketed home the goal – giving Salisbury a 5-1 edge at the second intermission. 

The Knights took their foot off the gas on the offensive end in the third, playing a much more conservative game with an emphasis on limiting Taft chances. The approach worked – helping Salisbury preserve its 5-1 advantage. 

The win serves as a strong start to the month of December for the Knights. They’ll look to do it again on Monday, December 8, when they welcome Millbrook to the Rudd Rink for the home opener. Puck drop is 5:30 p.m.