2026 Vermont high school boys hockey playoff primer and round-by-round predictions

Rice Memorial seeks a three-peat in Division I. Harwood can secure the second of back-to-back crowns in Division II. The top seeds in their respective divisions, Rice and Harwood enter playoff hockey as the favorites. But if 2025-26 season taught us anything, the postseason should be wide-open. In D-I, the top seven seeds are all capable of deep runs and all were competitive against each other during the regular season. And while D-II has a potential for a championship rematch with rivals Harwood and U-32, North Country put up 75 goals this winter, and Stowe and Middlebury combined for 28 wins. To set the stage before the puck drops on a play-in game later today on Tuesday, March 3, here's...