If you spend any time around the Essex County rinks in mid-January, you’ll hear the same name whispered with a mix of reverence and genuine frustration: St. John's Prep. It’s unavoidable. The Danvers school has built a localized empire on the ice that feels less like a high school program and more like a developmental factory for the next level.
They win. A lot.
But looking at St. John's Prep hockey isn't just about counting the banners hanging in the Leo and Joan Mahoney Wellness Center or the trophies brought back from the TD Garden. It’s about the culture of the Catholic Conference, a gauntlet that eats less-prepared teams alive. To understand why this program stays at the top of the MIAA Division 1 rankings year after year, you have to look past the "Prep" jersey and into the brutal schedule, the alumni network, and the specific coaching philosophy that Kristian Hanson has refined over his long tenure.
The Grind of the Catholic Conference
High school hockey in Massachusetts is tiered, but the Catholic Conference is its own planet. St. John's Prep plays in a league where there are no "off" nights. When they aren't facing off against BC High, they’re dealing with Catholic Memorial, Xaverian, or Malden Catholic. It’s heavy. It’s physical.
Basically, every Tuesday night feels like a state quarterfinal.
This environment is what makes St. John's Prep hockey so resilient when the Super 8—or the modern Division 1 statewide tournament—rolls around. They’ve already been punched in the mouth by the best players in the state for three months. By the time March hits, they’ve seen every power play look and every neutral zone trap imaginable.
Honestly, the regular season is just a twenty-game stress test.
Success here isn't an accident of geography. While the North Shore is a talent hotbed, the school’s ability to draw from dozens of different towns creates a roster depth that most public schools simply can’t match. You might have a kid from Marblehead playing on the first line and a defenseman from Gloucester on the third. This "all-star" assembly is often criticized by rivals, but the real magic is how the coaching staff gets these disparate stars to play a selfless, defensive-first system.
The Coaching Factor: Kristian Hanson’s Blueprint
Kristian Hanson isn't just a coach; he’s an alum. He lived it. That matters in a place like Danvers where tradition is treated like law. Under his guidance, the Eagles have moved away from just relying on raw skill to employing a highly disciplined "2-1-2" forecheck that suffocates opponents.
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They don't just beat you; they tire you out.
I’ve watched games where the Prep doesn’t even look like the "faster" team in the first period, but by the third, their four-line depth has turned the other team’s defense into lead. They play a heavy game. It’s about puck puck possession and winning battles along the boards. If you can't win a puck battle at the hash marks against the Eagles, you aren't winning the game. Period.
Why St. John's Prep Hockey Dominates the Postseason
The 2024 season was a masterclass in this. The Prep took down Winchester 3-2 in a thriller to capture the MIAA Division 1 state title. It was their second championship in three years. What was interesting about that specific run wasn't just the scoring—it was the goaltending and the shot-blocking.
- Goalie composure: They always seem to have a netminder who doesn't blink.
- The "Prep" Identity: Every player, from the top scorer to the backup defenseman, buys into the "win for the brother next to you" mantra.
- Physicality: They are rarely out-hit in the playoffs.
You’ve got to realize that for these kids, playing for St. John's Prep hockey is a full-time job. They have access to strength and conditioning facilities that rival small colleges. When they aren't on the ice at the Essex Sports Center, they are in the film room or the weight room. It’s a professionalized approach to amateur sports that pays dividends when a game goes into overtime and the lungs are burning.
The Alumni Pipeline: From Danvers to the Pros
You can’t talk about this program without mentioning where the kids go afterward. It’s a literal pipeline to the NCAA and the NHL. Think about names like Bobby Carpenter or more recently, the guys popping up on Division I college rosters across Hockey East.
- Preparation: The academic rigor at the Prep prepares them for the balance required in college.
- Exposure: Scouts flock to Prep games because they know the level of competition is elite.
- Mentorship: Older alumni frequently return to talk to the team, reinforcing the "Eagles for life" sentiment.
It’s not just about getting a scholarship, though that’s a big part of it. It’s about the "Prep Hockey" brand. When a junior hockey scout sees "St. John's Prep" on a resume, they know the kid has been coached, he knows how to play in a system, and he’s been tested in high-pressure environments. That’s a massive advantage over a kid playing in a weaker public league where he might score 50 points but never learns how to play in his own defensive zone.
The Facilities and the "Home" Advantage
While the school is in Danvers, their reach is everywhere. Their partnership with the Essex Sports Center provides them with a top-tier home base. But even when they travel, the "Blue Army" follows. The student section at St. John's Prep is legendary—and sometimes a bit much for opposing players to handle.
Imagine being a seventeen-year-old goalie and having 400 kids in blue blazers screaming your name every time you drop the puck. It’s intimidating.
This atmosphere creates a feedback loop. The more the school supports the team, the more the players feel the weight of the jersey, and the harder they play. It’s a self-sustaining ecosystem of high expectations.
Facing the Critics: Is the "Private School Advantage" Real?
Look, people love to complain about the Prep. You’ll hear it in every rink lobby from Saugus to Amesbury. "They recruit." "It’s not fair for public schools." "They have all the money."
Kinda true, but also kinda missing the point.
While it’s true that St. John's Prep hockey has resources that a small-town high school doesn't, resources don't score goals. You still have to coach those kids. You still have to manage the egos of twenty-five elite athletes who were all "the man" on their youth teams. That is arguably harder than coaching a team with only one or two stars. Managing that chemistry is where the Prep’s staff excels. They take a group of "Alpha" players and turn them into a cohesive unit that cares more about the crest on the front than the name on the back.
What to Expect in the Coming Seasons
The landscape of Massachusetts high school hockey is shifting. With the rise of full-season midget programs and prep schools (the "true" preps like Belmont Hill or Phillips Academy) taking talent away from the MIAA, St. John's Prep remains the bridge. They offer a hybrid: a high-level MIAA experience with the "prep school" prestige.
As long as the Catholic Conference remains the premier destination for high school pucks in the state, St. John's Prep will be the standard. They aren't going anywhere. The roster might change, the stars might graduate to the USHL or the BCHL, but the system remains.
Actionable Insights for Players and Parents
If you are a young player or a parent looking at the St. John's Prep hockey program as a potential path, here is the reality of what it takes to make it there:
- Focus on Skating: The Eagles play a fast transition game. If you can't keep up with the pace of their fourth line, you won't make the cut.
- Embrace the Defensive Zone: Hanson doesn't tolerate "cherry-pickers." If you want to play at the Prep, you need to show you can backcheck and block shots.
- Attend the Camps: The school runs various clinics and summer programs. It’s the best way to get on the radar and understand the culture before you even step foot in a classroom.
- Prepare for Competition: You might be the best player in your town, but at the Prep, you’re competing with fifty other kids just as good as you. Mental toughness is a requirement.
To really get a feel for the program, skip the box scores and go watch a game against BC High in February. Watch how the bench moves. Watch how they react after a goal against. That’s where you see the real St. John's Prep. It’s not just a hockey team; it’s a machine designed for the long haul of the Massachusetts winter.
The banners don't lie.
Whether you love them or hate them, you have to respect the consistency. In a sport as volatile as hockey, where a bad bounce or a hot goalie can end a season in seconds, the Prep has found a way to stay relevant for decades. That isn't luck. That's a culture built on the ice of the North Shore, one 5 a.m. practice at a time.
For anyone serious about following the high school game in New England, keeping an eye on the Eagles isn't optional—it's the baseline. They are the barometer for the rest of the state. If you can beat the Prep, you can win it all. But more often than not, the Prep is the one doing the beating.
Next Steps for Followers of the Program:
- Check the MIAA Power Rankings: These are updated weekly during the season and often place the Prep in the top three based on their strength of schedule.
- Visit the Essex Sports Center: Catch a mid-week practice if you want to see the technical drills that define their defensive structure.
- Follow Local Sports Media: Outlets like the Salem News and the Boston Herald provide the most granular coverage of the team's line changes and injury reports.
- Review Alumni Tracks: Look at the current rosters of UMass, BU, and BC to see which former Eagles are making an impact at the next level.