2015-16 PREP SCHOOL SEASON PREVIEw Boys Standout crop of offensiveminded blueliners will make this an exciting winter in the prep ranks St. Sebastian's Jack McCool DEFENSE NE By Mike Zhe o n Nov. 16, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin (Norwood, Mass.) drifted across the blue line on a rush, took a drop pass on the left from Joakim Nordstrom and whistled a onetimer past Anaheim goalie Anton Khudobin. It was the first career goal for the 18-year-old in his 15th NHL game, less than five months after the Canes selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the draft. "I'll remember that forever," he said afterward. Hanifin has left his mark at several levels, but he's still remembered well in these parts for the three productive seasons he spent on the blue line for St. Sebastian's, generating five goals and 29 points as a freshman and 10-24-34 as a sophomore before moving on to the U.S. National Team Development Program. With a new season of prep hockey in New England set to unfold, there is no shortage of promising two-way talent on the back end. Maybe there's not another Hanifin in the mix, but there are plenty of guys who can generate offense from the position while taking care of responsibilities in their own end. 32 NEw ENGLAND HOCKEY JOURNAL December 2015