Longtime Shrewsbury head girls hockey coach Frank Panarelli can recite how each star aligned for his program to secure its first Div. 1 state title in a special year.

Panarelli recognizes that the dominoes might not fall the same way this time. Realignments have shifted several of the state’s best programs into Div. 1, and programs across the board have improved. This is perhaps the most wide open the field has been since the pandemic.

And yet, Shrewsbury still ranks among the contenders, anchored by senior Risa Montoya’s return in net. Senior defenders Bridget McLaughlin and Kealy Fay are back behind key returning forwards Mia Ryder (junior) and Paige Umile (senior).

The St. Mary’s of Lynn team they topped at TD Garden looks a lot different, but again like a formidable power. Eighth-grader Vanessa Hall and Kasey Litwin anchor four returning defensemen.

Notre Dame Academy of Hingham boasts quality depth as an early title favorite. Juniors Sarah White and Devon Moore lead a well-balanced attack, while seniors Sarah Francis and Lucy DelGallo are top-tier defenders. Premier forwards Caroline Doherty, Addy Garrity, and Reese Pompeo, as well as returning goalie Izzy McGarr, return for a talented Hingham group.

Out of the packed MVC/DCL Large, Billerica/Chelmsford features a top forward in Giovanna Gulinello, and junior goalie Hailey Graybeal won’t be allowing much. The same goes for defensive power Methuen/Tewksbury behind key blueliners MJ Petisce and Lyla Chapman, and leading scorers Breena Lawrence and Kat Schille both return. A new-look HPNA is also in the mix behind a top-tier goalie in Julianna Taylor, while Kendall LaRiviere, Gabby Harty and Gabi Locke take the lead on a deep attack, and Paige Nottingham stands out on defense.

Lincoln-Sudbury moves up, boasting point machines Harper Friedholm, Ally Quinn and Torrey Winrow in front of top defenders Anna Leverone and Tatum Friedholm. Star goalie Allie Batchelder is back in net for Andover in its first year of Div. 1, complemented by a tough defense and experienced scorers Rose Memmolo and Scarlett Glass.

A young but reloaded Archbishop Williams team also moves up and will be ready for contention off a trip to the Final Four, led by forwards Caroline Batchelder and Shea Nolan in front of top defender Alexis Galvin. Malden Catholic added former Matignon and St. Mary’s standouts Mia Moretti (defense), Taylor Daley (goalie) and Abbie Poole (forward), building a deep roster alongside Ava Baker (defense), Alyssa Jankowski (forward) and Antonia DiZoglio (forward).

Wellesley, Winchester, Framingham and Barnstable are other competitive former Div. 2 teams.

Well-balanced Pope Francis returns its whole defensive core and top two lines, as Lily Hayes and Ivorie Arguin lead up front and Kaitlyn Ondrick stars on defense. Bishop Feehan is rich offensively through stars Caitlin Kelley, Chloe Bryda and Molly Braga, while Alison Stiles is a defensive fixture.

Alyse Mutti returns in net for Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading, highlighting an experienced group bolstered by forwards Catie Kampersal and Ava Buckley. Winthrop graduated just four and is stacked with scoring threats Sami DiMento, Talia Martucci and Hannah Parker in front of returning goalie Riley Towse.

Braintree challenges with standout goalie Eva Surrette behind senior blueliners Callie Burchill, Maggie Carey and Kate Lee. Arlington always puts a competitive group on the ice. Belmont joins Watertown in a co-op and will play tough. Arlington Catholic, Needham and Reading won’t be easy outs. Waltham features 100-point scorer Angalisa Caceda.

Under the new realignment, Div. 2 doesn’t have quite the same strength it did last year. Many coaches felt the best competition used to be in Div. 2, but now it’s reversed.

Yet Duxbury remains, making a strong case as the state’s top team coming off its first Div. 2 state title under head coach Dan Najarian. And now that the Dragons’ nearly decade-long title drought is over, there’s compelling reasons for them to repeat and bring back the dynasty of old.

Dream-teamer senior Anna McGinty returns in net. Senior Reese Porter and juniors Maddie ‘Mad-Dog’ Greenwood, Meghan Carney and Zoey Madigan lead a loaded attack. Cammy Holloway, Sami Norton, and sophomores Alannah Gallagher and Lucia Rose are returning defenders.

Canton has made the state final in all but one of the last six tournaments. It graduated key cogs, but seniors Tori Carr and Devan Spinale lead a strong defense in front of a new starting goalie while sophomore Izzy Cusack and Anna Lehan return as scoring threats.

Falmouth’s slew of 30-point threats up front in Avery Johnsen, Casey Roth and Riley Devlin, as well as top defenseman Gabby Ferreira, lead a young group ready to contend. The same goes for Sandwich in its first year of a co-op, featuring a solid defensive group through Darby Rounseville, Callie Kent, Quinn Jordan and Maddie Butler.

Nauset returns premier talent at each position and substantial depth, led by Olivia Avellar in net, Gaby Bassett, Sophia Boucher and transfer Carly Brand up front, and Sienna Reeves on defense. Martha’s Vineyard also figures to be competitive.

Pembroke brings back almost everyone around junior 100-point scorer Jen Birolini. Forwards Maria Cantino and Hannah D’Angelo come off big years and the defensive core is intact in front of returning goalies. Star forward Kelly Holmes will help King Philip compete, aided by Nikki McDonald up front and Mara Boldy at the blue line. Dedham and Norwood look to be strong out of the Tri-Valley League.

Tournament hero Emily Johns headlines a large returning cast for Algonquin. Longmeadow drops down to Div. 2 and should compete. Star goalies Lila Chamoun (Milton) and Isa Fischer (Burlington) are back in net, anchoring both teams. All of Walpole’s top scorers return.

Players to Watch

Forwards

Gaby Bassett, Nauset

Caroline Batchelder, Archbishop Williams

Jen Birolini, Pembroke

Angalisa Caceda, Waltham

Caroline Doherty, Hingham

Harper Friedholm, Lincoln-Sudbury

Addy Garrity, Hingham

Maddie Greenwood, Duxbury

Giovanna Gulinello, Billerica/Chelmsford

Lily Hayes, Pope Francis

Kelly Holmes, King Philip

Emily Johns, Algonquin

Avery Johnsen, Falmouth

Caitlin Kelley, Bishop Feehan

Talia Martucci, Winthrop

Shea Nolan, Archbishop Williams

Abbie Poole, Malden Catholic

Casey Roth, Falmouth

Sarah White, NDA (H)

Defenders

Ava Baker, Malden Catholic

Tori Carr, Canton

Sarah Francis, NDA (H)

Vanessa Hall, St. Mary’s (L)

Kasey Litwin, St. Mary’s (L)

Bridget McLaughlin, Shrewsbury

Paige Nottingham, HPNA

MJ Petisce, Methuen/Tewksbury

Darby Rounseville, Sandwich

Alison Stiles, Bishop Feehan

Goalies

Olivia Avellar, Nauset

Allie Batchelder, Andover

Lila Chamoun, Milton

Isa Fischer, Burlington

Hailey Graybeal, Billerica/Chelmsford

Anna McGinty, Duxbury

Risa Montoya, Shrewsbury

Alyse Mutti, Peabody/Lynnf./NR

Eva Surrette, Braintree

Julianna Taylor, HPNA