No. 2 Ranked Chaminade Flyers Team Preview

At number two in the LILJ top 26 preseason rankings it’s the Chaminade Flyers who are always one of the premier teams in the country. This season the sidelines won’t look the same after the retirement of long time and legendary head coach Jack Moran who helped establish a strong culture that lasted for 45 years, producing plenty of winning and a number of championships. Stepping in as the new leader of the program is Greg Kay as they look to maintain that level of greatness that the program upheld for years. As for the players on the field, Chaminade enters 2026 with another loaded roster with players that have already made a sizable impact and players that will be poised for expanded roles as they step in to fill the shoes of those that were part of last year’s graduating class that accounted for a massive share of the offensive production and defensive identity. The Flyers won 14 games with just two losses a year ago, but will be looking to wipe away the sting last year’s defeat in the NSCHSAA Championship Game against rival St. Anthony’s and end the season on top of the mountain.

The Class of 2025 leaves behind significant firepower. Midfielder Gavin Lynch (61 points) provided explosive dodging and scoring from up top, while Connor Kuttin (50 points) added balance and consistency at attack. Additional midfield production from Sean Connolly who also graduated in last year’s class. The face-off X will also have new look with the departure of Quinn Ball, one of the top face-off specialists in the class. Defensively, seniors William Arendt, and Gavin Fitzpatrick move on, along with long stick midfielders Louis D’Agostino and Peter Gerbasi. Replacing that leadership and scoring punch will be the central storyline this spring.

The good news for Chaminade is the strength of its Class of 2026. Attackmen John Balsamo (UVA) and James Gillis (Duke) return as two of the most dynamic scorers on the island after posting 72 and 61 points respectively, creating a lethal one-two punch as each are poised for another explosive spring in their senior campaigns. Around them, midfielders Sam Fox (Michigan) and Will Ferraro-Reich (Richmond) bring versatility, while attackers Michael Mayerhofer (Towson) Harrison Voorhees (Hobart) and others will look to expand their production. Holding down the face-off responsibilities this season looks to potentially be George Mavlios (Rutgers). Defensively, it will be a different unit this season that will see an uptick in playing time with last seasons departures, but in goal, they welcome back Kieran Walsh (Notre Dame) who is a major asset after a strong 2025 season that included 143 saves and nearly a 60% save percentage, giving the Flyers a distinct advantage between the pipes in virtually every game.

The Class of 2027 also brings emerging contributors such as midfielders Finn Pizzo (Cornell), Brendan Sim (Cornell), and Hayden Sipress (Yale), who should continue to grow into larger roles after seeing valuable minutes as sophomores, a rarity for the program.

With elite offensive talent returning, proven goaltending, and new faces that will be emerging, Chaminade once again has the pieces to compete at the highest level as one of the top teams on a national scale. If the Flyers can successfully replace their graduated scoring through depth and ball movement while maintaining their defensive discipline, they will have an excellent chance to hoist the NSCSHAA trophy at seasons end for the first time since 2018. They open up the new season on March 14th on the home turf of Ott Field against Loyola Blakefield.