After making a Small School Tournament semifinal appearance last season, Caeden Herrington (Manchester, Vt.) and his Holderness teammates are out for more.
Herrington’s 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) through the first six games ranked second among New England prep defensemen and have led the way during the Bulls’ dominant six-win start.
“I feel like our team is stronger than ever. We have so much depth,” the 6-foot-1, 185-pound true senior said. “It’s been easy for me to just go out and play freely because every guy on our team can do their job really well. … It’s a lot easier to play because it’s my second year here. I feel so much more confidence in myself and my teammates have confidence in me.”
Herrington was a huge piece to the Bulls’ success during his first prep go-around, but coach Alan Thompson believes that the Vermont commit’s game has reached a new level this season.
Gaining strength — being “in the gym 24/7,” he said — was a main focus of Herrington’s summer training entering this season, helping him to take steps on the defensive side of his game to become a more complete player.
“The biggest improvement is that stronger defensive stick,” Thompson said. “He’s really good at taking away lanes with players off the rush. Whether it’s deflecting shots out of play or breaking up a 2-on-1 pass, he’s pretty good at anticipating oncoming rushers and what they’re thinking with regards to attacking.
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“He’s certainly an explosive skater, really quick and strong on his edges, and can create separation from the point easily,” the coach added. “He does a good job of getting shots through and quarterbacking our power play.”
Herrington also credits Thompson and assistant coach Joe Gaudet — the son of legendary Dartmouth head coach Bob Gaudet — for breaking down his video from summer hockey and USA Hockey national camps, which have helped him focus in on making those aforementioned improvements.
The coaching duo has been instrumental in Herrington and his teammates’ growth — not just on the ice.
“He’s a player’s coach. … He gets the grind of being a student-athlete,” Herrington said of Thompson. “So, those two have been massive support for me, obviously on the ice with some skills. The offensive side of the game has only grown working with them. … Off the ice, too. They really push us to grow as a hockey player, of course, but also as people.”
As for the season so far, Holderness has blown away its early competition by scoring at least six goals in every game while allowing more than two only once. So, Herrington has hardly been alone in marking the scoresheet.
The Bulls scored double-digit goals in consecutive games — 10 at Hebron and 11 against Pingree — to begin the season. Wins over Brewster Academy (a 9-0 shutout), Tilton and Vermont Academy have followed.
“He kind of provides that jump for us,” Thompson said. “We haven’t been in a tight game yet, but any good program is able to win in multiple ways. I’m hoping that when we do get into that one-goal, two-goal game, that he’s able to provide leadership there as well.”
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While Herrington has been a catalyst for the ultra-experienced Bulls, three of their four captains — fellow defenseman Colin Butters (York, Maine), and forwards Kaden Freelove (Tyngsboro, Mass.), Jake Boulanger (Barre, Vt.) and Caden Wells — are four-year members of the program.
“They’ve been here and experienced the past years first-hand, so it’s big for the guys like me who have only been on the team for one or two years to see their expectations,” Herrington said. “With 15 returning guys, everybody knows what it takes now and has done their job to the best of their abilities.”
Though Herrington is not wearing a letter on his jersey, he is just as much of an example to his teammates.
“You look for any senior to produce, especially if they’re at his skill level. He’s certainly doing that,” Thompson said. “The season’s young, but being able to be one of the top scorers on the team as a defenseman, certainly leading with his play (is impressive). And he’s a big vocal leader. … He’s good at picking other guys up and making them feel like a part of it as well.”
Herrington’s obvious offensive gifts coupled with that improvement have garnered attention. Both he and Boulanger earned spots on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch list ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Thompson has emphasized that the recognition and the possibility of hearing his name called by an NHL team are just steps in Herrington’s hockey journey, which is slated to continue in a couple of years with the dream-come-true experience of representing his home state as a Catamount.
While taking a day-by-day mentality may sound like typical coachspeak, that is exactly how Herrington has approached this season with all of the extra eyes that are drawn his way.
“The takeaway is that there’s going to be people at every one of your games … so you always have to be at your best,” Herrington said. “If you’re not one day, it motivates you to be even better the next day. … It’s been cool to get insight from scouts that are the best in the world, and to see that they’re coming to watch me and my guys. It’s special.”
