Here are 23 Seacoast high school boys hockey players to watch in 2023-24

Gio Green, Somersworth/Coe-Brown, senior, forward

Green is the Bearcats' leading returning scorer with 16 goals and 21 points last season.

“He brings a lot of skill,” said coach Fred Strum. “He has a good shot and he’s tall. He protects the puck well.”

In addition to the offensive numbers the senior co-captain is a two-way player as evidenced by his plus-19 rating.

J.R. Norris, Somersworth/Coe-Brown, senior, forward

Norris, a team captain, finished with 10 goals and 16 points last season for Somersworth/Coe-Brown.

“He’s so big and strong,” Somersworth head coach Fred Strum said, “and he shoots so hard.”

James Sawyer, Somersworth/Coe-Brown, senior, defenseman

Sawyer is on the Bearcats’ top defensive pair. The senior co-captain also contributes offensively as he did last year with four goals and four assists.

“He walks the (blue) line well and keeps the puck in,” Somersworth coach Fred Strum said. “He’s got a really quick wrist shot that if it gets through can be dangerous. He keeps it low where people can tip it. It’s just nice and quick.” 

Seacoast high school boys hockey: Key players and what to know about every local team

Hockey previews: Concord looking for more scoring options this season

SOMERSWORTH/COE-BROWN

Division: II

Coach: Fred Strum (2nd year).

Last year: 10-9, reached quarterfinals

Top returners: JR Norris, sr., F; Gio Green, sr., F; Tully Keefe, sr., F; AJ Kozlowski, so., F; James Sawyer, sr., D; Dylan Burovac, sr., D; Owen Perra, sr., D; Dylan Cossette, sr., G;

Top newcomers: Chris Matthews, sr., D.

Outlook: The Bearcats are a veteran-laden squad led by senior captains Norris (10 goals, six assists last season), Green (16 goals, five assists) and Sawyer.

"We are very excited about our season ahead," Strum said. "The team feels we have three solid lines with good depth. We feel the team is strong in all areas on the ice and off the ice, focusing on being good students, role models and hockey players. Our goal is to play a tough, hard style of play. Battle every shift and always move forward in our development. Finishing with a playoff spot and continuing to hopefully be playing in the last game of the year (are the team's goals)."

Late Drew Ceppetelli honored at Somersworth/Coe-Brown game: 'Just amazing,' mom says

ROCHESTER — Mindful. Grateful. Positive. Honest. Organic.

Those are the five words Melissa Ceppetelli, mother of the late Drew Ceppetelli, said best describe the type of person her daughter was.

On Wednesday night, the support of multiple communities for the Ceppetelli family could be felt inside a packed house for the Somersworth/Coe-Brown boys hockey team's scrimmage at Rochester Ice Arena. The main purpose of the event was to honor Drew Ceppetelli, whose brother, Dante, is a senior on the team. Drew Ceppetelli, whose 23rd birthday would have been Thursday, died as the result of a car accident in Portsmouth early Thanksgiving morning in 2022. She grew up in Barrington and at the time of her death was a senior at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, where she was a member of the school's softball team. 

She attended Coe-Brown in high school.

"The Bearcats have just continued to keep supporting and stepping up," Melissa Ceppetelli said. "Tons of family and friends here ... people are amazing. Really just amazing."

Many people, of all ages, showed their support by wearing 'DC7' hoodies that were available for purchase at the game. All proceeds went to the Drew Ceppetelli Foundation. Donations can be sent to the foundation at Holy Rosary Credit Union or by Venmo at @DrewCeppScholarshipFund.

"I think a lot of time the support kind of fizzles as time goes on," Melissa Ceppetelli said. "But people have really just stayed strong and steady in their approach. It really means the world to us. Drew's birthday is (December 7), and on the days that are harder than others, we just have an amazing support system in the community and with our family and friends in general."

The Bearcats team also honored the Ceppetelli family prior to a game last season.

"Obviously with the Ceppetelli's being a big part of the hockey community, it's very important to us," Somersworth/Coe-Brown head coach Fred Strum said. "And Dante (Drew's brother) being on our team, his senior year, it means a lot. The hockey community is very small, so we really enjoy helping out and having it go to the (Ceppetelli) cause and scholarship fund."

Strum called the Ceppetelli's "just a great family."

"The Ceppetellis have been around this rink since I was a little kid 40 years ago," Strum said. "We really are very fortunate that we can help them out in a tough situation."

Senior forward J.R. Norris represented the Bearcats in a pregame ceremonial puck drop, and proceeded to score two goals in Somersworth's 5-2 win over Sanborn/Epping/Raymond.

"It's really nice to bring (the Ceppetelli family) out here and do something nice for them, and everyone who has been effected by (her passing)," Norris said. "It's always nice to do something for them."

Norris called the pregame puck drop special.

"It's not everyday you get to do that for A - the family and B - the family and everyone watching around the rink," Norris said. "Definitely a special moment."

Along with hoodies, T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, stickers and bracelets were also available for purchase and support the foundation.

"The sweatshirts are really for us to keep her legacy going," Melissa Ceppetelli said. "We came up with the DC7 logo, with some of the words would be used to describe her. You can see it's mindful, grateful, positive, organic. That's how she chose to live her life and those were the things she was constantly talking about and trying to work into her own life and helping other people."

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Division 2 Team Previews: Dover Lost Some Key Parts; Don’t Sleep On Oyster River

ByBrett Ricci

Saturday roundup: Portsmouth swim teams sweep quad meet

Staff Reports: Sports@seacoastonline.com

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 6 

Timberlane 2 

ROCHESTER - Aidan Tibbetts, Giovanni Green and Matt Bayko all had a goal and an assist for Somersworth/Coe-Brown (1-1) in this Division II win at Rochester Ice Arena. 

Tully Keefe, AJ Kozlowski and Mateo Damren all scored for Bearcats, who got assists from James Sawyer, Patrick Norris, Landon Midwood and Chris Matthews. Somersworth goalie Caleb Jobin had 12 saves.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Early Season Highlights: Concord Topples Windham; Two Big Wins For Winnacunnet

Seacoast Roundup: Swiez nets two goals as Oyster River boys hockey skates off with win

December 21, 2023 

Goffstown 4

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 3, OT

MANCHESTER - Somersworth/Coe-Brown fell to 1-2 on the season with this Division II overtime loss at Sullivan Arena.

JR Norris had a goal and an assist in the loss, while Tully Keefe and Giovanni Green had a goal.

Landon Midwood and Owen Perra both had an assist for the BearCats, and Dylan Cossette had 23 saves.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Highlights: Concord Catches Exeter; Merrimack Keeps Rolling

 Goffstown pulled out a 4-3 overtime win over the visiting Somersworth/Coe-Brown Bearcats. Sam Chapman’s breakaway goal sealed the victory for Goffstown who trailed most of the game. Chapman also added an assist and Zach Tarrier notched a goal and an assist for the Grizzlies. Tyler Lessard and Dylan Elbeg also scored for Goffstown. The Bearcats’ JR Norris had a goal and an assist in the loss, while Tully Keefe and Giovanni Green had a goal.

Seacoast roundup: Bolduc's team-high 15 points leads St. Thomas Aquinas past Gilford

BOYS HOCKEY

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 6

Spaulding 3

ROCHESTER - J.R. Norris had two goals and one assist, and Giovanni Green had one goal and two assists for Somersworth/Coe-Brown in this Division II win at Rochester Ice Arena.

Somersworth/CB improved to 2-2, while Spaulding is 1-1-1.

Chris Matthews, Aidan Tibbetts, and Landon Midwood all had one goal in the win. Teammates Tully Keefe and AJ Kozlowski had three and two assists, respectively, and Dylan Burovac and Owen Perra both had one.

Somersworth/CB goalie Dylan Cossette had 22 saves. 

Owen Nesbitt, Anthony Allen and Trevor Brennan all scored for Spaulding. Nesbitt, Hunter Peplinski and Cole Enman all had an assist. Spaulding goalie Annabel Prochilo had 40 saves.

Seacoast roundup: Emery's second goal gives Winnacunnet boys hockey OT win over Spaulding

January 7, 2024

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 9

Monadnock/ConVal 1

KEENE - Tully Keefe had three goals and one assist for Somersworth/Coe-Brown in this Division II win at Keene Ice Arena.

AJ Kozlowski added two goals for the Bearcats, while Aidan Tibbetts, Giovanni Green, James Sawyer all had a goal and an assist.

Dylan Burovac also scored in the win, while teammates J.R. Norris and Landon Midwood both had two assists.

Somersworth/Coe-Brown goalie Caleb Jobin had 15 saves.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Division 2 Top 8: #1 Merrimack, #2 Winnacunnet Remain Unbeaten

HNIB News

January 8, 2024

Making a big jump in the rankings is No. 4 Somersworth/Coe-Brown. They doubled up Spaulding in a Rochester Arena rivalry matchup and looked good doing it. They closed out their week by going on the road and rolling over Mon-Fall Mtn/Conval. The Bearcats will be busy this week with three games including games with Portsmouth-Newmarket and Alvirne-Milford. A date with unbeaten Winnacunnet awaits at the end of the week.

Vote now for Seacoast high school girls and boys Athletes of Week for Jan. 1-6

Seacoast Online Brandon Brown January 8, 2024

Tully Keefe, Somersworth/Coe-Brown, hockey

Keefe had three goals and one assist for Somersworth/Coe-Brown in a 9-1 win over Monadnock/ConVal on Saturday.

Seacoast roundup: Green, Keefe each net 2 goals for Somersworth/CB in win over Portsmouth

January 9, 2024 Seacoast Online

ROCHESTER-- Giovanni Green and Tully Keefe each scored two goals, and AJ Kozlowski had one as the Somersworth/Coe-Brown boys hockey team beat Portsmouth/Newmarket, 5-0 on Monday in a Division II game at Rochester Ice Arena.

Green and Keefe also had one assist for the Bearcats, while Kozlowski, Chris Matthews, Aidan Tibbetts and Owen Perra all had one.

Somersworth/Coe-Brown goalie Dylan Cossette had 16 saves, earning the shutout.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Checking Out Some Of The Week’s Highlights

HNIB January 9, 2024 Brett Ricci

* Spaulding took on Somersworth/Coe-Brown earlier in the week and the Bearcats came out on top, 6-3. J.R. Norris had two goals and one assist, and Giovanni Green had one goal and two assists for Somersworth/Coe-Brown. Chris Matthews, Aidan Tibbetts, and Landon Midwood all had one goal in the win. Bearcats’ forwards Tully Keefe and AJ Kozlowski each logged multiple assists and Dylan Burovac and Owen Perra both had one. Somersworth/CB goalie Dylan Cossette had 22 saves. Owen Nesbitt, Anthony Allen, and Trevor Brennan all scored for Spaulding. Nesbitt, Hunter Peplinski and Cole Enman all had an assist. Spaulding goalie Annabel Prochilo had 40 saves.

* Somersworth Coe-Brown also traveled north to take on the Mon-Fall Mtn/Conval team and skated to a 9-1 victory. Tully Keefe had three goals and one assist while AJ Kozlowski added two goals for the Bearcats. Aidan Tibbetts, Giovanni Green, and James Sawyer all had a goal and an assist. Dylan Burovac also scored in the win and J.R. Norris and Landon Midwood both had two assists. Caleb Jobin got the win stopping 15 shots. Portsmouth and Dover skated to a 2-2 tie in late Saturday action. Owen Wood and Tyler Buchanon scored for the Green Wave. Cal Rothstein and Johnny Forrest both recorded goals. Ben Purcell and Max Durkin chipped in with helpers.

Seacoast roundup: von der Linden leads STA past Somersworth; Dover hockey edges WHS

January 10, 2024 Seacoast Online

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 4

Alvirne/Milford 0

ROCHESTER - Aidan Tibbetts and AJ Kozlowski both had one goal and one assist, lifting Somersworth/Coe-Brown to this Division II win at Rochester Ice Arena. 

It was the fourth straight win for the Bearcats, now 5-2 on the season.

Giovanni Green and J.R. Norris also scored in the win, while Tully Keefe and Owen Perra both had two assists, and Landon Midwood and Chris Matthews each had one.

Somersworth goalie Dylan Cossette had 26 saves, earning his second straight shutout.

Exeter's McGuinness, Somersworth/Coe-Brown's Keefe win Athletes of Week honors

January 12, 2024 Brandon Brown

The Seacoast high school Athletes of the Week winners for the week of Jan. 1-6 are Somersworth/Coe-Brown hockey player Tully Keefe and Exeter High School basketball player Anna McGuinness. The weekly vote highlighting outstanding high school athletes is presented by York County Community College.

Keefe joins previous winter boys winners: Oyster River basketball players Ethan Brewer and Matthew Jernigan, while McGuinness joins Spaulding wrestler Sadie Nadeau and Dover basketball player Avery Littlefield as this winter season's girls winners so far. 

Keefe secured more than 35% of online voting, as his total of 296 votes earned him boys athlete of the week. Spaulding basketball player Paul Butler finished second with 205 votes.

Portsmouth swimmer Kian Chan had 193 votes, York basketball player Lukas Bouchard had 88 votes and Portsmouth Christian Academy track and field athlete Ivan Sturgis had 55 votes, for third through fifth, respectively.

Keefe had three goals and one assist for Somersworth/Coe-Brown in a 9-1 win over Monadnock/ConVal on Saturday.

"Tully has proven to be a tremendous leader on our team," Somersworth/Coe-Brown head coach Fred Strum said. "He has been working extremely hard lately to be a better player and student. His hard work is paying off, and we are very proud to have him represent the Bearcats as the Athlete of the Week."

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Highlights: Windham Braces For Upcoming Battle With Londonderry; PAC’s Plumb Has Huge Offensive Week Brett Ricci 1/16/24

• Aidan Tibbetts and AJ Kozlowski both had one goal and an assist kickstarting Somersworth/Coe-Brown to a 4-0 victory over Alvirne-Milford. Bearcats tendy Dylan Cossette recorded his second shutout, this time turning away all 26 shots he faced. Giovanni Green and J.R. Norris each scored while Tully Keefe and Owen Perra both chipped in with two assists each.
• * Winnacunnet goalie Owen Helton had 20 saves in the Warriors 3-1 win over the streaking Somersworth/Coe-Brown. Winnacunnet improved to 5-1 overall after getting timely offense from Brady Thompson and Tyler Blank. Both Thompson and Blank had a goal and an assist and Alex Santora also found the back of the net. Tully Keefe scored with an assist going to AJ Kozlowski and Dylan Cossette had 35 saves for Somersworth/Coe-Brown.

Saturday Seacoast Roundup: Winnacunnet basketball guard sets school indoor track record

1/20/24 Seacoast Online

Oyster River 5 

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 5 

ROCHESTER – Braiden Moriarty had two goals and Cole Levesque, Talon Beyer and Liam Eddy all had one for Oyster River in a Division II tie at Rochester Ice Arena. 

Tully Keefe had three goals for Somersworth/Coe-Brown, and AJ Kozlowski had two. JR Norris added two assists for the Bearcats, and Giovanni Green, Owen Perra, Matt Bayko, and Kasey Siering all had one. 

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Division 2 Top 8: Winnacunnet Leapfrogs Merrimack To Assume #1 Spot After Solid Week 

Brett Ricci 1/22/24

Winless in their last three games, No. 5 Somersworth/Coe-Brown is still playing tough. They did suffer a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Lebanon-Stevens but also skated to a 5-5 tie with the Bobcats of Oyster River. At the end of the week, they play Dover in a game that could go either way.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Highlights: Trinity Slips Past Keene; Pinkerton Edges Bedford

By Brett Rici 1/23/24

* Braiden Moriarty had two goals and Cole Levesque, Talon Beyer and Liam Eddy all had one for the Bobcats of Oyster River in their 5-5 tie with Somersworth/Coe-Brown. Tully Keefe had a hat trick to lead Somersworth/Coe-Brown, and AJ Kozlowski had two of his own. JR Norris added two assists for the Bearcats.

Meet 19 surprise players in Seacoast high school boys hockey in 2023-24

By Jay Pinsonnault 1/26/24

Tully Keefe, Somersworth/Coe-Brown, senior, forward

Keefe has had a stellar final season with the Bearcats with a plus/minus of +15. He also has 10 goals and 10 assists, including multiple three-goal games. 

“(Keefe) has been a big part or offensive success,” Somersworth/Coe-Brown head coach Fred Strum said. “We’re very proud of what he has done.”

His most recent hat trick was in a 5-5 tie against Oyster River; his final tally tied the game with 15 seconds left in regulation. 

“Even though it ended in a tie game, it was a great moment for him,” Strum said. 

AJ Kozlowski, Somersworth/Coe-Brown, sophomore, forward

Kozlowski has emerged as a scoring threat for the Bearcats in his second season playing varsity hockey. 

Kozlowski has 5 goals and 15 assists on the season, and has a plus/minus of +10. 

“(Kozlowski) has continued to grow and progress in his second year,” Somersworth/Coe-Brown head coach Fred Strum said. “He has given our second line an offensive punch, and has played well defensively.” 

Kozlowski had two goals in Somersworth/Coe-Brown’s 5-0 win over Portsmouth/Newmarket. 

“AJ scored some goals early for us, then went into a little slump,” Strum said. “He was getting frustrated with not burying his chances. But against Portsmouth he had a breakaway. When he scored that first one, the smile on his face was great.” 

Saturday Seacoast roundup: Exeter's Vaillant leads Blue Hawks to second straight win

1/27/24

BOYS HOCKEY 

Dover 6

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 5, OT

ROCHESTER - Dover's Caleb Marasca, with an assist from Kyle Behan, scored the game-winning goal in overtime of this Division II game at Rochester Ice Arena.

Marasca had two goals and two assists, while Nick Carrier, Grant Davis, Owen Culcasi and Carter Bell all scored in the win. Teammates Owen Wood and Logan Delisle both had an assist.

For Somersworth/Coe-Brown, AJ Kozlowski and Tully Keefe both had two goals, and JR Norris had one. Dylan Burovac had two assists, and Kasey Siering, Bryden Mercier and Norris had one.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Division 2 Top 8: #1 Winnacunnet, #2 Merrimack Tangle Saturday; Lebanon Makes Appearance In Rankings

Brett Ricci 1/29/2024

No. 6 Somersworth/Coe-Brown, having lost its only game of the week, 6-5 to Dover, could really use a win. They’ll have all week to game plan for Spaulding at the end of the week.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Highlights: Londonderry Works Extra Time To Down Pinkerton; Balanced Attack Fuels Winnacunnet

By Brett Ricci 1/20/2024

* Dover’s Caleb Maresca continued his torrid pace as he racked up two goals and two assists, including the overtime game winner against Somersworth/Coe-Brown. Nick Carrier, Grant Davis, Owen Culcasi and Carter Bell all scored in the 6-5 win. For the Somersworth/Coe-Brown Bearcats, AJ Kozlowski, and Tully Keefe both had two goals, and JR Norris added one. Dylan Burovac had two assists in the defeat.

Saturday Roundup: Winnacunnet's Duffy, Portsmouth's Nada, Jenkins set school marks

2/3/24 Seacoast Sports

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 4

Spaulding 3

ROCHESTER - Tully Keefe had two goals and Giovanni Green and Aidan Tibbets both scored one for Somersworth/Coe-Brown (6-5-1) in this Division II win over rival Spaulding at Rochester Ice Arena.

Green, Chris Matthews, Owen Perra, and Landon Midwood all had one assist for the Bearcats. Somersworth/CB goalie Dylan Cossette had 22 saves.

Cole Enman, Ryan Dube and Brayden Roy all scored for Spaulding (5-5-2), while Anthony Allen, Jackson Shapleigh, Tyler Jean and Wil Godbout all had an assist. Spaulding goalie Collin McIntyre had 33 saves.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Highlights: Concord Passes Tests; Merrimack Turns Tables On Winnacunnet

By Bret Ricci 2/6/24

Spaulding fell to Somersworth/Coe-Brown, 4-3 in a heated rivalry game. Tully Keefe did most of the damage burying two goals to lead the Bearcats. Giovanni Green and Aidan Tibbets completed the scoring for Somersworth/Coe-Brown. Green added an assist as well. Dylan Cossette had 22 saves to ice the win. Cole Enman, Ryan Dube and Brayden Roy all scored for Spaulding and Collin McIntyre turned away 33 shots in the loss.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Division 2 Top 8: #3 Oyster River, #2 Winnacunnet Face Off Wednesday

2/14/24 Brett Ricci

No. 7 Somersworth/Coe-Brown dropped both of its games this week with a 4-3 loss to St Thomas in overtime and a 7-2 loss to Merrimack. They’ll get another crack at Merrimack this week followed by games against Timberlane and Alvirne-Milford.

New Hampshire HS Hockey – Highlights: Bedford Blanks Bishop Guertin; Oyster River Edges Dover

2/13/24-Brett Ricci

• Saint Thomas won its second consecutive overtime game, this time pulling out a 4-3 win over Somersworth/Coe-Brown. Connor Gray fired home the game winner just 30 seconds into overtime while the Saints were on a 5-on-3 advantage. Jackson Estes had a goal and two assists and Rolly Edgerly added a goal and an assist. Colton Woods buried a goal to start the scoring for the Saints. Zack Pattow made 24 saves for the win. Tully Keefe, Landon Midwood and Dylan Burovac all scored for the Bearcats.
• Cam Bellemore and Conor Dunn had two goals each in Merrimack’s 7-2 win over Somersworth/Coe-Brown. Eliot Medlock, Joseph Raymond, and Will Farrell also scored and Jackson Woods chipped in with two assists. Farrell, Medlock, and Raymond were also credited with assists in the win. AJ Kozlowski and Giovanni Green scored for the Bearcats.

Wednesday Seacoast roundup: Balanced attack leads Spaulding past Portsmouth/Newmarket

2/14/24 SeacoastOnline

Somersworth/Coe-Brown 10

Timberlane 1

SALEM - Tully Keefe had three goals and two assists, and JR Norris had two goals and two assists for Somersworth/Coe-Brown in its Division II win at the Icenter. Patrick Norris added two goals for the Bearcats, while Giovanni Green (goal, three assists), Dylan Burovac (goal), AJ Kozlowski (goal) and Owen Perra (assist) all contributed.

Somersworth/CB goalie Colby Strum had 18 saves